FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to the area of provisioning of plurality of services. Particularly, the present invention discloses an automated provisioning system for enabling a customer to simultaneously provision plurality of services as offered by a service provider.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
The rapid advances in communications technologies of recent years have greatly expanded the service options available to consumers. Today consumers have choices over the types of services they choose to employ, as well as the technology platforms on which they elect to receive such services. By way of non-limiting example, consumers may subscribe in a telecommunication network to voice communication, email, instant messaging, text messaging, internet access, audio and video broadcast services, value added services, television services and so on.

While in most cases a service provider makes each of the service offered by him to be separately provisioned by the customer, it has also been observed that for the purposes of convenience or for other benefits, the service provider creates “composite service” and allows the customer to provision the composite service. Generally, it has been observed that the service provider creates a few composite services and because of the same, the customer is restricted to choosing from this restricted list of composite services at the time of provisioning.

Let’s consider a scenario wherein a service provider is providing five services namely S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5. The service provider also provides two composite services namely CS1 and CS2, wherein CS1 includes S1 and S4; and CS2 includes S2, S3 and S5.

In the aforesaid scenario, it can be observed that in case a customer wishes to provision services S1 and S3, he/she is required to complete a first provisioning process for S1 and a second provisioning profess for S3. Likewise, in case the customer wishes to provision services S1, S3 and S5, he/she is required to complete a first provisioning process for S1, a second provisioning profess for S3 and a third provisioning process for S5. In case the customer wishes to provision all the five services, he/she is required to complete a first provisioning process for CS1 and a second provisioning process for CS2.

In case the service provider is offering substantially large number of services, for example, more than 5 services (which may be the case when we are considering a telecommunication network operator) or more than 10 services (which may be the case when we are considering a television channel provider), it can be observed creating composite services covering every envisage-able combination may not be feasible.

It has also been observed that the customer receives recommendations for providing details of plurality of services by way of SMS or USSD push notifications or e-mail. In case the customer is interested in provisioning two or more services simultaneously, there is no mechanism made available as per the teachings of the prior art.

In case an intermediary (such as a charging entity) is involved for the purposes of collecting a transaction value prior to provisioning the service, it becomes tedious on part of the intermediary to provision all the services against the customer as the intermediary is required to undertake plurality of provisioning steps.

If one is to consider a mobile network, currently a customer receives the recommendations for mobile charge or recharge (top-up) via sms. The SMS generally does not provide for a “click to action” option. Even if the SMS provides for a “click to action” option, the only way of making payment is via his own current account balance. In case the customer account does not have any balance, the customer is required to go to a retailer and provide cash to avail that offer. The options however available to the retailer is limited and the retailer is required to follow a tedious process including entering the number and entering the amount of recharge (for that particular offer). For each offer the customer charges or recharges, the retailer has to perform the charge action separately.

Because of the fact that plurality of provisioning steps are required to be undertaken to provision plurality of services (which are not falling within the category of a single combined service), the overheads are high, the time taken is high, the process is very lengthy, the process can be riddle with errors and the customer / intermediary experience is less satisfactory.

Thus, is a need to provide a provisioning method which can address one or more of the above described problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for enabling a customer to avail or provision a plurality of services comprising: receiving, by a receiver unit, a request from a device associated with a customer, the request comprising details of a plurality of services; generating, by a proxy unit, a proxy account number on the basis of contents of the request; mapping, by a mapping unit, the proxy account number to an actual account number of the customer; transmitting, by a transmitter unit, the proxy account number to the device associated with the customer; receiving, by the receiver unit, a message against the proxy account number; and transmitting, by a transmitter unit, at least one configuring message for configuring a plurality of services on the basis of the message received against the proxy account number.

The present invention also provides a service provisioning device for enabling a customer to avail or provision a plurality of services, said device comprising: a receiver unit for receiving a request from a device associated with a customer, the request comprising details of a plurality of services; a proxy unit for generating a proxy account number on the basis of contents of the request; a mapping unit for mapping the proxy account number to an actual account number of the customer; a transmitter unit for transmitting the proxy account number to the device associated with the customer; the receiver unit being further adapted to receiving a message against the proxy account number; and the transmitter unit being further adapted to transmitting at least one configuring message for configuring a plurality of services on the basis of the message received against the proxy account number.

To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended figures. It is appreciated that these figures depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES:
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying figures in which like characters represent like parts throughout the figures, wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates a networked environment wherein the invention is performed;
Figure 2 illustrates a flow chart of a method implemented by a service provisioning device corresponding to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of the service provisioning device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 4 illustrates a detailed internal construction of the service provisioning device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols, and the figures may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the figures with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

Detailed Description:
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the figures and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the invention and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.

Reference throughout this specification to “an aspect”, “another aspect” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “in another embodiment” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or additional structures or additional components.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying figures.

Now referring to figure 1, there is illustrated a networked environment in which the method of the present invention can be generally applied. The networked environment 100 comprises a device associated with the service provider (hereinafter referred to as service provider device 101), a device associated with a customer (hereinafter referred to as customer device 102) and a network 103 operably connecting the service provider device and customer device. In order for enabling the services to be provisioned, a service provisioning device 104 is additionally provided. Merely for the purposes of illustration, the service provisioning device 104 is shown as a separate entity in figure 1 and it can be noted that in an alternative embodiment, the service provisioning device 104 can form part of the service provider device 101. The network may also include a device associated with an intermediary (shortly referred to as intermediary device 105). The intermediary can be involved for purposes such as charging or collecting a transaction value prior to provisioning the service.

It may be noted that the customer device in one preferred embodiment can be a mobile device, which can be connected to the service provisioning device via a mobile operator network and the service provider can either be the mobile network operator or a third party providing services via the mobile network operator.

In the above networked environment, a customer is recognized by the service provider device using a customer account number. Each customer account number is generally unique and on the basis of the customer account number the service provider can track details of all services which have been provisioned against said customer.

Now referring to figure 2, there is illustrated a flow chart of the method 200 implemented by the service provisioning device 104. The method 200 enable for a customer to avail or provision plurality of services. The method 200 comprises the steps of receiving 201 a request from a customer device 102, wherein the request comprises details of plurality of services. The said services are being provided by the service provider device 101 and are the services which the customer wishes to be provisioned.

Once the request is received, the service provisioning device generates 202 a proxy account number on the basis of the content of the request. The proxy account number is mapped 203 to the actual account number of the customer and the proxy account number is transmitted 204 to the customer device.

The service provisioning device is further adapted to receive 205 a message against the proxy account number and transmit 206 at least one configuring message for configuring a plurality of services on the basis of the message thus received against the proxy account number.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the service provisioning device is optionally adopted to transmit 207 an offer message to the customer device, said offer message comprising details of a plurality of available services, with each service being identified by a unique service code.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, the request message comprises a plurality of service codes. In a furthermore preferred aspect of the invention, during the process of generating the proxy account number, the service provisioning device may analyze 208 the request and retrieve from the request a plurality of service codes; retrieve 209 an actual account number of the customer based on the request; and generate 210 the proxy account number on the basis of the plurality of service codes and the actual account number.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, the offer message is sent in the form of an SMS, a USSD push notification, a MMS, a RCS or an Internet Protocol based message.

In yet another preferred aspect of the invention, the request message is in the form of an SMS, a message forming part of a USSD session, a MMS, a RCS or an Internet Protocol based message.

In still another preferred aspect of the invention, the proxy account number is transmitted to the customer device in the form of a SMS, a message forming part of a USSD session, a MMS, a RCS or an Internet Protocol based message.

In a further preferred aspect of the invention, the message against the proxy account number is received from:
• a sub-system forming part of a mobile operator network;
• a device associated with the customer;
• a device associated with an intermediary; or
• a web interface.

Now referring to figure 3, there is illustrated a block diagram of the service provisioning device 104 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The service provisioning device 104 comprises a receiver unit 302 for receiving a request from a device associated with a customer, the request comprising details of a plurality of services; a proxy unit 304 for generating a proxy account number on the basis of contents of the request; a mapping unit 306 for mapping the proxy account number to an actual account number of the customer and a transmitter unit 308 for transmitting the proxy account number to the device associated with the customer. The receiver unit 302 is further adapted to receiving a message against the proxy account number and the transmitter unit 308 is further adapted to transmitting at least one configuring message for configuring a plurality of services on the basis of the message received against the proxy account number.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, the transmitter is further adapted to transmit an offer message to the customer device, said offer message comprises details of a plurality of available services, with each service being identified by a unique service code.

In another preferred aspect of the invention, the service provisioning device may further comprise a message generation unit 310 which generates offer message.

In yet another preferred aspect of the invention, the proxy account number is communicated to the customer device in the form of a message, which is generated by the message generation unit 310.

In still another preferred aspect of the invention, the proxy unit 304 further comprises an analysing unit 312 for analysing the request and retrieving the plurality of service codes; a retrieving unit 314 for retrieving an actual account number of the customer based on the request; and a generator unit 316 for generating the proxy account number on the basis of the plurality of service codes and the actual account number.

Referring to figure 4, yet another typical hardware configuration of the service provisioning device in the form of a computer system 400 is shown. The computer system 400 can include a set of instructions that can be executed to cause the computer system 400 to perform any one or more of the methods disclosed. The computer system 400 may operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g., using a network, to other computer systems or peripheral devices.

In a networked deployment, the computer system 400 may operate in the capacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-client user network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The computer system 400 can also be implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a communications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any other machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while a single computer system 400 is illustrated, the term "system" shall also be taken to include any collection of systems or sub-systems that individually or jointly execute a set, or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or more computer functions.

The computer system 400 may include a processor 402, e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both. The processor 402 may be a component in a variety of systems. For example, the processor 402 may be part of a standard personal computer or a workstation. The processor 402 may be one or more general processors, digital signal processors, application specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays, servers, networks, digital circuits, analog circuits, combinations thereof, or other now known or later developed devices for analysing and processing data The processor 402 may implement a software program, such as code generated manually (i.e., programmed).

The computer system 400 may include a memory 404, such as a memory 404 that can communicate via a bus 408. The memory 404 may be a main memory, a static memory, or a dynamic memory. The memory 404 may include, but is not limited to computer readable storage media such as various types of volatile and non-volatile storage media, including but not limited to random access memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable read-only memory, flash memory, magnetic tape or disk, optical media and the like. In one example, the memory 404 includes a cache or random access memory for the processor 402. In alternative examples, the memory 404 is separate from the processor 402, such as a cache memory of a processor, the system memory, or other memory. The memory 404 may be an external storage device or database for storing data. Examples include a hard drive, compact disc ("CD"), digital video disc ("DVD"), memory card, memory stick, floppy disc, universal serial bus ("USB") memory device, or any other device operative to store data. The memory 404 is operable to store instructions executable by the processor 402. The functions, acts or tasks illustrated in the figures or described may be performed by the programmed processor 402 executing the instructions stored in the memory 404. The functions, acts or tasks are independent of the particular type of instructions set, storage media, processor or processing strategy and may be performed by software, hardware, integrated circuits, firm-ware, micro-code and the like, operating alone or in combination. Likewise, processing strategies may include multiprocessing, multitasking, parallel processing and the like.

As shown, the computer system 400 may or may not further include a display unit 410, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flat panel display, a solid state display, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a projector, a printer or other now known or later developed display device for outputting determined information. The display 410 may act as an interface for the user to see the functioning of the processor 402, or specifically as an interface with the software stored in the memory 404 or in the drive unit 416.

Additionally, the computer system 400 may include an input device 412 configured to allow a user to interact with any of the components of system 400. The input device 412 may be a number pad, a keyboard, or a cursor control device, such as a mouse, or a joystick, touch screen display, remote control or any other device operative to interact with the computer system 400.

The computer system 400 may also include a disk or optical drive unit 416. The disk drive unit 416 may include a computer-readable medium 422 in which one or more sets of instructions 424, e.g. software, can be embedded. Further, the instructions 424 may embody one or more of the methods or logic as described. In a particular example, the instructions 424 may reside completely, or at least partially, within the memory 404 or within the processor 402 during execution by the computer system 400. The memory 404 and the processor 402 also may include computer-readable media as discussed above.

The present invention contemplates a computer-readable medium that includes instructions 424 or receives and executes instructions 424 responsive to a propagated signal so that a device connected to a network 426 can communicate voice, video, audio, images or any other data over the network 426. Further, the instructions 424 may be transmitted or received over the network 426 via a communication port or interface 420 or using a bus 408. The communication port or interface 420 may be a part of the processor 402 or may be a separate component. The communication port 420 may be created in software or may be a physical connection in hardware. The communication port 420 may be configured to connect with a network 426, external media, the display 410, or any other components in system 400, or combinations thereof. The connection with the network 426 may be a physical connection, such as a wired Ethernet connection or may be established wirelessly as discussed later. Likewise, the additional connections with other components of the system 400 may be physical connections or may be established wirelessly. The network 426 may alternatively be directly connected to the bus 408.

The network 426 may include wired networks, wireless networks, Ethernet AVB networks, or combinations thereof. The wireless network may be a cellular telephone network, an 802.11, 802.16, 802.20, 802.1Q or WiMax network. Further, the network 426 may be a public network, such as the Internet, a private network, such as an intranet, or combinations thereof, and may utilize a variety of networking protocols now available or later developed including, but not limited to TCP/IP based networking protocols.

In an alternative example, dedicated hardware implementations, such as application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement various parts of the system 400. Applications that may include the systems can broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. One or more examples described may implement functions using two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, the present system encompasses software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

The system described may be implemented by software programs executable by a computer system. Further, in a non-limited example, implementations can include distributed processing, component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing. Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed to implement various parts of the system.

The system is not limited to operation with any particular standards and protocols. For example, standards for Internet and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) may be used. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having the same or similar functions as those disclosed are considered equivalents thereof.

In the following paragraphs a detailed description about implementation of the aforesaid method is provided. It should be noted that the term “provisioning” as used herein is intended to cover provisioning the service for the first time or for renewing one or more of services (for example, by paying re-charge amount). It should however, be understood that every implementation of the method need not follow the scenario as mentioned in the following paragraphs. Thus, the scope of the claims is intended to be restricted only on the basis of the claims and their equivalents and not on the basis of the examples provided herein below.

Example 1:
The process involves a customer of a mobile network seeking to provision a plurality of services.

A customer receives an offer for mobile charge / recharge via sms. The offer for charge / recharge can provide details of plurality if services along with the service code numbers. By way of example, the SMS can read as:
1-Topup Rs 200; 2-SMS Rs. 35; 3-Internet 2G Rs 158; 4-3G Rs 245; 5-CRBT Rs 10; 6-CRICKET Rs 10; 7-Jokes Rs 10; 8-Astrology Rs. 12; 9-Video Rs. 4; 10-Games Rs. 8

Assuming that the customer is interested in Topup, Internet 2G, Jokes and Games, the customer can send a request message containing the service codes for the interested services. In this particular case, the customer can send a request message containing “1, 3, 7 and 10” (wherein 1 is the service code for topup, 3 is the service code for Internet 2G, 7 is the service code for Jokes and 10 is the service code for Games) to a pre-designated number.

The service provisioning device receives the request message as transmitted by the customer along with customer actual account number details (the MSISDN number). Based on the customer’s actual account number and the service codes contained in the request message, the service provisioning device generates a proxy account number. The proxy account number thus generated may uniquely identify the customer and the services sought. Alternatively, the proxy account number thus generated may be unique for a short period of time and thereafter, can be re-utilized by the service provisioning device (i.e. provided to a different customer).

Once the proxy account number is generated, the service provisioning device sends a SMS or a suitable message containing the proxy account number. For the purposes of ease in a telecommunication network, a length of the proxy account number is equal to a length of an actual account number i.e. the proxy account number has 10 digits (the same length and characteristics as that of the MSISDN number). Likewise, in non-telecommunication network, a length of the proxy account number can be can be equal to a length of the actual account number as maintained by the service provider.

For a pre-paid customer, the SMS can additionally include indication about a total amount the customer needs to pay (200+158+10+8 = Rs376). While it is NOT essential that the same is included for a post-paid customer in a telecommunication network, the same can be included for the benefit of the customer.

Referring to a pre-paid customer, the customer can now make a remittance against the proxy account number (either via a retailer or via an on-line portal). Once the remittance for the total amount indicated (i.e. Rs. 376) has been completed against the proxy account number, the service provisioning device gets a message and based on the same, the service provisioning deice sends one or more configuring messages for configuring the services as selected by the customer. In case a remittance is made for a different value against the proxy account, the money may be credited to the actual account of the customer and a re-confirmation can be sought as to how to utilize the same.

Thus it can be observed that in the present case, the customer is dynamically creating the composite service and is making a single payment against the dynamic composite service thus created by him. By way of a non-limiting example, the customer can create a composite service which can be a combination of individual services and make a single payment against the composite service. The customer can also create a composite service which can be a combination of a first composite service and at least one individual service and make a single payment against the same. The customer can also create a composite service which can be a combination of a first composite service and at least one second composite service and make a single payment against the same.

Example 2:
The process involves a customer of a television services seeking to provision a plurality of television channels.

A customer receives an offer for charge / recharge via an IP based message. The offer for charge / recharge can provide details of plurality if channels along with the service code numbers and applicable rate for each channel. The offer message can also include details of packages which may be offered by the television channel provider. The customer can send a request message which can be in the form of an IP based message containing details of channels.

The service provisioning device receives the request message as transmitted by the customer along with customer actual account number details. Based on the customer’s actual account number and the channel codes contained in the request message, the service provisioning device generates a proxy account number. The proxy account number thus generated may uniquely identify the customer and the services sought.

Once the proxy account number is generated, the service provisioning device sends an IP based message containing the proxy account number to the customer. Along with the proxy account number, and merely for the ease of the customer, the IP based message can also indicate the total value of remittance.

Now the customer can make a remittance against the proxy account number either via an on-line portal or via a retailer. Once the remittance for the appropriate total amount has been completed against the proxy account number, the service provisioning device gets a message and based on the same, the service provisioning deice sends one or more configuring messages for configuring the selected channels for the customer. To enable the aforesaid, the proxy account can be stored along with all relevant details such as the total value which must be remitted, the details of the services, the actual account number, etc.

Example 3:
It may be noted that the provisioning of services can happen in multiple systems. This is illustrated in the current example.

Assuming that a channel provider has collaborated with the mobile service provider and therefore, have therefore, agreed to send an offer message which includes some services provided by the mobile service provider and some services provided by the channel service provider. By way of example, the offer message can read as:
1-Topup Rs 200; 2-SMS Rs 35; 3-Internet 2G Rs 158; 4-3G Rs 245; 5-CRBT Rs 10; 6- English Movie channels Rs 50; 7-Sports channels Rs 40.

Assuming that the customer is interested in Topup, Internet 2G and Sports Channels, the customer can send a request message containing the service codes for the interested services. In this particular case, the customer can send a request message containing “1, 3 and 7” (wherein 1 is the service code for topup, 3 is the service code for Internet 2G, 7 is the service code for Sports Channels) to a pre-designated number. Although not essential, the aforesaid message may additionally include customer account number as allocated by the channel service provider.

The service provisioning device receives the request message as transmitted by the customer. Based on the customer’s actual account number and the service codes contained in the request message, the service provisioning device generates a proxy account number and transmits a SMS or a suitable message containing the proxy account number. The SMS can additionally include indication about a total amount the customer needs to pay (200+158+40 = Rs 398).

Referring to a pre-paid customer, the customer can now make a remittance against the proxy account number (either via a retailer or via an on-line portal). Once the remittance for the total amount indicated (i.e. Rs. 398) has been completed against the proxy account number, the service provisioning device gets a message and based on the same, the service provisioning deice sends one or more configuring messages for configuring the services in the mobile network. The service provisioning device further sends one or more configuring messages to the channel service provider equipment for provisioning the channel thus selected by the customer.

Thus it can be observed that in the present case, the customer can provision multiple services, all of which are not necessarily provided by a single service provider (i.e. the selected services can be provided by multiple service providers and facilitated by one). Thus, in the present instance, the actual service provisioning can happen with multiple service provider’s systems.

It may be also noted from the above example that the mobile number need NOT always act as the account identifier. In the above example, the request message can comprise the account number of the customer with the channel service provider. It may be possible to use the mobile number as an identifier of the account in case the account number is pre-linked with the account number. Also, use of mobile number as the account identifier may be advantageous when the request message is sent via a telecommunication network. On the other hand, in case the request is being sent via an IP based messaging system, then other account identifiers can be contained in the request message.

While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein.

The drawings and the forgoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, orders of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the manner described herein. Moreover, the actions any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all of the acts necessarily need to be performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples. Numerous variations, whether explicitly given in the specification or not, such as differences in structure, dimension, and use of material, are possible. The scope of embodiments is at least as broad as given by the following claims.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any component(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or component of any or all the claims.

CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:

1. A method for enabling a customer to avail a plurality of services, said method comprising:
• receiving, by a receiver unit, a request from a device associated with a customer, the request comprising details of a plurality of services;
• generating, by a proxy unit, a proxy account number on the basis of contents of the request;
• mapping, by a mapping unit, the proxy account number to an actual account number of the customer;
• transmitting, by a transmitter unit, the proxy account number to the device associated with the customer;
• receiving, by the receiver unit, a message against the proxy account number; and
• transmitting, by a transmitter unit, at least one configuring message for configuring a plurality of services on the basis of the message received against the proxy account number.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the transmitting unit, an offer message to the device associated with the customer, said offer message comprising details of a plurality of available services, with each service being identified by a unique service code.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the offer message is in the form of an SMS, a USSD push notification, a MMS, a RCS or an Internet Protocol based message and is generated by a message generation unit.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein and the request comprises a plurality of service codes.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the request is in the form of an SMS, a USSD push notification, a MMS, a RCS or an Internet Protocol based message.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein generating the proxy account number comprises:
a. analysing the request and retrieving the plurality of service codes;
b. retrieving an actual account number of the customer based on the request; and
c. generating the proxy account number on the basis of the plurality of service codes and the actual account number.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proxy account number is transmitted to the device associated with the customer in the form of an SMS, a USSD push notification, a MMS, a RCS or an Internet Protocol based message and is generated by the message generation unit.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the message against the proxy account number is received from:
a. an sub-system forming part of a mobile operator network;
b. the device associated with a customer;
c. a device associated with an intermediary; or
d. a web-interface.

9. A device for enabling a customer to avail a plurality of services, said device comprising:
• a receiver unit for receiving a request from a device associated with a customer, the request comprising details of a plurality of services;
• a proxy unit for generating a proxy account number on the basis of contents of the request;
• a mapping unit for mapping the proxy account number to an actual account number of the customer;
• a transmitter unit for transmitting the proxy account number to the device associated with the customer;
• the receiver unit being further adapted to receiving a message against the proxy account number; and
• the transmitter unit being further adapted to transmitting at least one configuring message for configuring a plurality of services on the basis of the message received against the proxy account number.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit is further configured to transmitting an offer message to the device associated with the customer, said offer message comprising details of a plurality of available services, with each service being identified by a unique service code.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the offer message is in the form of an SMS, a USSD push notification, a MMS or a RCS and the device further comprises a message generation unit for generating the offer message.

12. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the proxy unit further comprises:
an analysing unit for analysing the request and retrieving the plurality of service codes;
a retrieving unit for retrieving an actual account number of the customer based on the request; and
a generator unit for generating the proxy account number on the basis of the plurality of service codes and the actual account number.