Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to managing subscription accounts and, more particularly relates to methods and systems for linking a plurality of subscription accounts in a network environment.
Background of the Invention
These days there has been a widespread use of cards or electronic money by consumers for making commercial transactions to purchase certain goods, services, pay restaurant bills etc. Many of such commercial transactions are easily implemented when a single consumer is making payment in respect of the transaction.

However, there are instances where it is desirable to share the payment in respect of a commercial transaction amongst a plurality of consumers. Such group payment situations may occur in the context of rent, electricity, water, utility, telephone, internet, and other service bills, social event bills in respect of a restaurant, bar, club, etc. In such instances the group of consumers share or divide a bill, an expense, or any amount that is owed for making a transaction.

Generally, in such group payment situations, a single consumer pays for the entire money owed for making a transaction on behalf of the entire group and subsequently collects the contributions from other consumers in the group. In some instances, the consumer who makes the entire payment may not be able to collect the contributions from some or all other consumers in the group. There have also been instances where the group of consumers pay their respective share directly to the merchant separately. Making such separate payments of their respective shares involves several transactions making the entire payment process quite cumbersome for both the merchants and the consumers.

There exists a need to provide a solution to avoid this cumbersome payment process that takes place in group payment situations. A need exists to provide an improved solution for enabling user-friendly transactions with the existing point-of sale terminals and devices, payment processing systems.

Summary of the Invention:

In an embodiment of the invention, a method of managing subscription accounts is provided. The method comprises the steps of receiving, by a first receiving unit, a request for linking comprising a primary identifier and at least one secondary identifier, the primary identifier being associated with a primary subscription account and each of said at least one secondary identifier being associated with a corresponding secondary subscription account. The method further includes prompting, by a control unit, a user of each of said secondary subscription account to allow linking of their corresponding secondary subscription account with the primary subscription account and receiving, by a second receiving unit, at least one response to said prompting. The method includes linking, by said control unit, at least one of said secondary subscription account with said primary subscription account based on said at least one response to said prompting and receiving, by a third receiving unit, a primary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account, the primary authentication request being for a first value. The method further includes automatically generating, by a processor in operational interconnection with the control unit, a secondary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account and at least one tertiary authentication request directed towards said at least one or more secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account during said linking, each of the secondary authentication request and the at least one tertiary authentication request containing respective values whose sum is equal to the first value.

In another embodiment, a method of managing subscription accounts is provided that includes receiving, by a first receiving unit, a request for linking comprising a primary identifier and at least one secondary identifier, the primary identifier being associated with a primary subscription account and each of said at least one secondary identifier being associated with a corresponding secondary subscription account and linking, by a control unit, at least one of said secondary subscription account with said primary subscription account. The method further includes receiving, by a second receiving unit, a primary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account, the primary authentication request being for a first value and determining, by a processor, values to be assigned to each of said primary subscription account and said at least one of secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account respectively, the sum of values to be assigned being equal to the first value. A step of communicating, by a first transmitting unit, said respectively determined values to a primary subscription account user and to user of each of at least one secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account respectively and receiving at least one response to said communication is provided. The method further includes automatically generating, by the processor in operational interconnection with the control unit, a secondary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account and at least one tertiary authentication request directed towards said at least one secondary subscription account based on said at least one response to said communication, wherein said secondary authentication request contains said respective value assigned to said primary subscription account and said at least one tertiary authentication request contains respective value assigned to at least one of said secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account.

In yet another embodiment, a system for managing subscription accounts is provided. The system comprises a first receiving unit for receiving a request for linking comprising a primary identifier and at least one secondary identifier, the primary identifier being associated with a primary subscription account and each of said at least one secondary identifier being associated with a corresponding secondary subscription account. A control unit for linking at least one of said secondary subscription account with said primary subscription account is further provided. A second receiving unit is provided for receiving a primary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account, the primary authentication request containing a first value. The system further includes a processor which in operational interconnection with the control unit automatically generates a secondary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account and at least one tertiary authentication request directed towards said at least one or more secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account, each of the secondary authentication request and the at least one tertiary authentication request containing respective values whose sum is equal to the first value, wherein the control unit is further adapted to a) prompt a user of each of said secondary subscription account to allow linking of their corresponding secondary subscription account with the primary subscription account and receive at least one response to said prompt; and /or b) communicate said respective values to a primary subscription account user and to user of each of at least one secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account respectively and receive at least one response to said communication.

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 drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings 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 drawings.

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 drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates block diagram of the network environment comprising of a Subscription Account Manager Device in accordance with an embodiment of an invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a flow chart of a method for managing subscription accounts according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method for managing subscription accounts according to a second embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 4 illustrates block diagram Subscription Account Manager Device in accordance with an embodiment of an invention.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings 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 drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings 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 drawings 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 consumer, user, subscriber, account holder and the like may be used interchangeably throughout the specification.

As used herein, the term “store” can include any business or place of business. The store can be a brick and mortar store or an online store. The store can be any person or entity that sells a product. As used herein, the term “product” can include any item or service. Thus, the term “product” can refer to physical products, digital goods, services, or anything for which a user can make a payment, including charitable donations. A product can be anything that can be sold. Examples of products include cellular telephones, concerts, meals, automotive repair, and books. The product can be a single item or a plurality of items.

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 drawings.

Referring to Figure 1, a network environment comprising of a Subscription Account Manager Apparatus/ device in accordance with an embodiment of an invention is illustrated. The network environment 100 comprises of plurality of user devices handled by a plurality of users whose associated subscription accounts needs to be managed. In an example, the users may be the users or consumers who are participants in a group payment situation. The terms consumer, user, subscriber, account holder, friends and the like may be used interchangeably throughout the specification. The user devices have been classified into a primary user device and secondary user devices. The primary user device 102 is referred to as the device of a user who initiates a transaction and the remaining devices of the users are referred to as the secondary user devices (104¬1, 1042….104N). The primary user device 102 and secondary user devices (104¬1, 1042….104N) may include, but not limited to a communication device such as a mobile phone, an IPad, a netbook, a hand held communication device, a laptop, a computer, any smartphone, a tab etc. The primary user device 102 and secondary user devices (104¬1, 1042….104N) are in operative communication with the subscription account manager device 106 vide a mobile network 108. The primary user device 102 and secondary user devices (104¬1, 1042….104N) may include an application that provides a user interface for communicating with the subscription account manager device 106. The primary user device 102 and secondary user devices (104¬1, 1042….104N) may include various components for interacting with the application such as a display for presenting the user interface and a keypad for inputting data and/or commands. The primary user device 102 and secondary user devices (104¬1, 1042….104N) may include other components for use with one or more applications such as a stylus, a touch-sensitive screen, keys (e.g., input keys, preset and programmable hot keys), buttons (e.g., action buttons, a multidirectional navigation button, preset and programmable shortcut buttons), switches, a microphone, speakers, an audio headset, a camera, and so forth. Additionally, primary user device 102 and secondary user devices (104¬1, 1042….104N) may interact with the subscription account manager device 106 via a variety of other electronic communications techniques, such SMS, MMS, RCS, e-mail, a USSD message, an Internet Protocol (IP) based message or the like. The primary user device 102 is in operative communication with a Payment Processing System 110 and the subscription account manager device 106. The Payment Processing System 110 includes a Point of Sale (POS) device 112 which is in operative communication with a merchant device 114. As used herein, the term merchant can include any seller of products or services. It may include a store. The products or services may be sold from a store or in any other manner.

Referring to Figure 2, a flow chart of a method 200 for managing subscription accounts according to a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the method comprises the step of receiving 202, by a first receiving unit, a request for linking comprising a primary identifier and at least one secondary identifier, the primary identifier being associated with a primary subscription account and each of said at least one secondary identifier being associated with a corresponding secondary subscription account. In an embodiment, an identifier may be associated with more than one subscription accounts. The request for linking is initiated by the user associated with the primary subscription account though a user device. In an exemplary implementation, the primary subscription account user may select a list of mobile numbers or contacts of the other members from the contact list stored in its mobile device and send a request for linking the subscription accounts associated with the selected mobile numbers. A user friendly interface or an online portal or a payment app may be provided for selecting the list of secondary identifiers for making such a request for linking. The payment app installed in the primary user device may be substantially identical to the payment app installed in the secondary user devices. For security purposes, a separate user name and password may be provided for accessing the user friendly interface by individual users. In another example, the user of the primary subscription account, instead of separately selecting the mobile numbers of other members in the contact list, may directly select a group of friends that has been previously created by the primary subscription account user. In another example, the user of the primary subscription account may add one or more contacts by manually inputting information about the identifiers in respect of one or more secondary subscription accounts. The user of the primary subscription account may also add the identifiers i.e. contacts by accessing a social network account associated with the payer to obtain the one or more contacts associated with the social network account, etc.

In an embodiment, the subscription account may include a bank account or any account that enables making a commercial transaction. In an embodiment, the primary identifier and the at least one second identifier comprises at least a MSISDN, a personal account number, a card number, a subscription account number, name and address or date of birth of holder of subscription account.

In another step, the method includes the step of prompting 204 the user of each of said secondary subscription account to allow linking of their corresponding secondary subscription account with the primary subscription account. Such prompt is displayed on the device of the secondary user device holding the secondary subscription account. In an embodiment, the user of each of said secondary subscription account may be prompted vide an SMS, MMS, RCS, e-mail, a USSD message, an Internet Protocol (IP) based message or the like that is received on their respective devices. In response to the aforesaid prompt made in step 202, at least one response is received 206 by a second receiving unit. The received response may include a confirmation or a refusal to allow said linking. In an embodiment, non-receipt of any response may amount to a refusal. In an embodiment, the responses received after predetermined time period may also amount to refusal. The responses thus received in respect of said prompting made in step 204 may be in the form of an SMS, MMS, RCS, e-mail, a USSD message, an Internet Protocol (IP) based message or the like. In an embodiment, the responses as received from the users of the secondary subscription account may be forwarded to the user of the primary subscription account. Based on the nature of the responses thus received in respect of prompting made in step 204, the user of the primary subscription account may make a further request for adding additional one or more secondary identifiers to said at least one second identifier thus received previously, said additional one or more secondary identifiers being different from said primary identifier and said at least one second identifier or may make a request for removing one or more identifier from at least one or more identifiers thus received or may make a request for substituting one or more identifiers with at least one or more identifiers thus received. For instance, in an event of receipt of a refusal response or no response from one of the user of the secondary subscription account, the user of primary subscription account may wish to add additional user or replace that particular user of secondary subscription account with another user.

The method further includes linking 208, by said control unit, at least one of the secondary subscription accounts with said primary subscription account based on said at least one response to said prompting. In an embodiment, the secondary subscription accounts in respect of which a confirmation message for linking is received are only linked with the primary subscription account. However, the criteria for linking based on the received response may be changed based on the requirements. In an embodiment, once the primary subscription account is linked with the one or more secondary subscription accounts, a confirmation message or an acknowledgement indicating the linking is transmitted to the user of the primary subscription account and the users of each the secondary subscription account linked with the primary subscription account respectively. In an embodiment, the confirmation message or an acknowledgement may be sent vide an SMS, MMS, RCS, e-mail, a USSD message, an Internet Protocol (IP) based message or the like.

In another step, the method 200 includes the step of receiving 210, by a third receiving unit, a primary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account, the primary authentication request being for a first value. In an example, such a request is initiated when the user associated with the primary subscription account swipes a card (debit or credit or the like) at the POS device, wherein the swipe is done in respect of a payment to be made for an amount or value associated with a transaction. The first value is the value to be paid to the merchant pursuant to buying a product or availing any service. The value is the value or the amount to be shared amongst the user of the primary subscription account and the users of the secondary subscription account linked with the primary subscription account in a group payment situation. In an embodiment, the first value may be communicated to the users of at least one secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account.

At step 212, the method includes automatically generating, by a processor in operational interconnection with the control unit, a secondary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account and at least one tertiary authentication request directed towards said at least one or more secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account during said linking, each of the secondary authentication request and the at least one tertiary authentication request containing respective values whose sum is equal to the first value.

In an embodiment, the method 200 comprises determining values to be contained in each of secondary authentication request and in each of said at least one tertiary authentication request respectively based on a predefined criteria, wherein said predefined criteria denotes determining said values based on parameters associated with said subscription accounts. For example, the predefined criteria may include determining values such that the first value is divided equally amongst each of said primary subscription account and said at least one of secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account. In another example, the predefined criteria may include determining values based on a predetermined percentage or in a predetermined proportion. For instance, criteria may be fixed such that the primary subscription account is assigned 50 percent of the first value and the remaining 50 percent of the first value is distributed equally or in a predefined proportion amongst the secondary subscription accounts linked with said primary subscription account. In another embodiment, the values may automatically be determined based on the amount of balance available in the respective subscription accounts. In an example, where a particular identifier is associated with multiple accounts, the value distribution may be done equally or in varying proportion. In an embodiment, the predefined criteria may be included in the request for allocation received at step 202.

In another embodiment, the method may further include communicating the respectively determined values to be contained in the secondary authentication request and in each of the at least one tertiary authentication request to a primary subscription account user and said at least one secondary subscription account user linked with said primary subscription account respectively and receiving at least one response to said communication. In an embodiment, the aforesaid communication and the response thereupon may be made / received in the form of in the form of a SMS, MMS, RCS, e-mail, a USSD message, an Internet Protocol (IP) based message or the like.

In yet another embodiment, the method may further include sending the secondary authentication request towards the primary subscription account and said at least one tertiary authentication request towards said at least one secondary subscription account based on said at least one response to said communication. The sending of the secondary authentication request towards the primary subscription account and said at least one tertiary authentication request towards said at least one secondary subscription account results in allocating the respective determined values to each of these accounts. The respectively allocated values are thereafter deducted from their respective accounts and transferred electronically to the merchant. The merchant on receipt of the payment may get the details on its merchant device. Such a method prevents making several swipes at the POS device by the individual users. By means of a single swipe made by the user of the primary subscription account, the money owed in respect of a transaction is deducted directed from the individual accounts of the members participating in a group payment. As the share of each user is deducted directly from their accounts, no further settlement is required. Further, the aforesaid process is implemented without affecting the existing point-of sale terminals and devices, payment processing systems.

Referring to Figure 3, a method of managing subscription accounts in accordance with second embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The method 300 includes receiving 302, by a first receiving unit, a request for linking comprising a primary identifier and at least one secondary identifier, the primary identifier being associated with a primary subscription account and each of said at least one secondary identifier being associated with a corresponding secondary subscription account. The primary identifier and the at least one second identifier may be include at least a MSISDN, a personal account number, a card number, a subscription account number, name and address or date of birth of holder of subscription account. The message further includes linking 304, by a control unit, at least one of said secondary subscription account with said primary subscription account.

At step 306, a primary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account for a first value is received by a second receiving unit. As discussed previously in respect of first embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, such a request may be initiated when a user associated with the primary subscription account swipes a card (debit or credit or the like) at the POS device, wherein swipe is done in respect of a payment to be made for an amount or value associated with a transaction. The first value indicating the value to be shared amongst the user of the primary subscription account and the users of the secondary subscription account linked with the primary subscription account in a group payment situation. At step 308, the values to be assigned to each of said primary subscription account and said at least one of secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account respectively, the sum of values to be assigned being equal to the first value are determined by a processor. In an embodiment, the said determination of values is based on a predefined criteria wherein said predefined criteria denotes determining said values based on parameters associated with said subscription accounts (as described in reference to Figure 2).

At step 310, the respective determined values are communicated to user of the primary subscription account and to user of each of at least one secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account respectively and a response to said communication is received at step 312. In an embodiment, the aforesaid communication and the response thereupon may be made/received in the form of a SMS, MMS, RCS, e-mail, a USSD message, an Internet Protocol (IP) based message or the like.

In an exemplary implementation, in the event of receipt of a refusal response or a non-receipt of any response from one or more of the users of the secondary subscription account, the respective determined value assigned to those secondary subscription account(s) may be assigned to the primary subscription account. In another example, in an event of receipt of a refusal response or no response from one or more users of the secondary subscription account, the processor may recalculate the respective shares by dividing the first value amongst the user of the primary subscription account and the users of the secondary subscription account in respect of which a approval or confirmation is received. In another implementation of the invention, in an event of receipt of a refusal response from one or more users of the secondary subscription account, the user of primary subscription account may place a request for adding additional users or replacing that secondary subscription account of that particular user associated with the refusal or non-receipt response with secondary subscription account of another user. The primary user may also make request for a replacing the secondary subscription account of that particular user associated with the refusal or non-receipt response. Such requests may involve repeating the linking step at 304 and the steps thereafter as described above.

Based on the response thus received at step 312, the method further includes at step 314 of automatically generating, by a processor, a secondary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account and at least one tertiary authentication request directed towards said at least one secondary subscription account, wherein said secondary authentication request contains said respective value assigned to said primary subscription account and said at least one tertiary authentication request contains respective value assigned to at least one of said secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account. The respectively assigned values are thereafter deducted from the respective accounts and transferred electronically to the merchant. The merchant on receipt of the payment may get the details on its merchant device.

Referring to Figure 4, a block diagram of Subscription Account Manager Device in accordance with an embodiment of an invention is illustrated. Going forward, the details of the construction and the functionality of Subscription Account Manager Device 106 would be described in conjunction with the details provided in Figures 2 and 3. The Subscription Account Manager Device 106 includes a transceiver 402 in communication with a control unit 404. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the transceiver 402 may comprise a first receiving unit 4041, a second receiving unit 4042, a third receiving unit 4043, a first transmitting unit 4061, and a second transmitting unit 4062. In an exemplary implementation, a user of a primary subscription account initiates a request to link the primary subscription account with one or more secondary subscription accounts. The request is initiated by sending a request for linking that includes a primary identifier and at least one secondary identifier, the primary identifier being associated with a primary subscription account and each of said at least one secondary identifier being associated with a corresponding secondary subscription account. The request for linking is received by the first receiving unit 4041.

In an embodiment of the invention, such a request including the identifiers is received in an encrypted form which is then decrypted by the authentication unit 408. The authentication unit 408 may include necessary processor for encrypting and decrypting any of the information this received by the Subscription Account Manager Device. Once the request is received and the information contained therein is decrypted, the first transmitting unit 4061 in operational communication with the control unit 404 implements the prompting step (illustrated in step 204 in Figure 2). In response to the aforesaid prompt, the second receiving unit 4042 receives (illustrated in step 204 in Figure 2) the response from one or more user (s), each associated with a respective secondary subscription account. Based on the received response, the control unit 404 links at least one of the secondary subscription account(s) with the primary subscription account (as illustrated in steps 208 and 308 of figures 2 and 3 respectively). A second transmitting unit 4062 is provided to send a confirmation or acknowledgment message to users of the primary subscription account and secondary subscription account once the aforesaid linking of subscription accounts is done.

The second receiving unit 4042 or the third receiving unit 4043 is further configured to receive the primary authentication request (as illustrated in steps 210 and 306 of figures 2 and 3 respectively). A processor 410 is provided that is configured to determine the values to be assigned to each of said primary subscription account and said at least one of secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account respectively, the sum of values to be assigned being equal to the first value contained in the primary authentication request (as illustrated in step 308 in Figure 3). The processor may be a general purpose processor or any computing device that is configured to dynamically divide the first value based on predefined criteria or on the basis of the responses thus received. The first transmitting unit 4061 or the second transmitting unit 4062 in operational communication with the control unit 404 is configured to communicate the respective determined values to user of the primary subscription account and to user of each of at least one secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account respectively (as indicated in step 310 of Figure 3). The response to said communication is received thereupon by the third receiving unit 406¬3. The control unit 406 in operational interconnection with the processor is further configured to implement automatically generate a secondary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account and at least one tertiary authentication request directed towards said at least one secondary subscription account (as illustrated in step 212 and 314 of Figures 2 and 3 respectively). The device further includes a memory 412 for storing a list of identifiers, values determined during the determining step, said responses, and is further configured for necessary storage functionality. The respective values contained in the secondary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account and at least one tertiary authentication request directed towards said at least one secondary subscription account thereafter deducted from respective accounts and transferred electronically to the merchant.

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.

WE CLAIM:
1. A method of managing subscription accounts, the method comprising:
receiving, by a first receiving unit, a request for linking comprising a primary identifier and at least one secondary identifier, the primary identifier being associated with a primary subscription account and each of said at least one secondary identifier being associated with a corresponding secondary subscription account;
prompting, by a control unit, a user of each of said secondary subscription account to allow linking of their corresponding secondary subscription account with the primary subscription account;
receiving, by a second receiving unit, at least one response to said prompting;
linking, by said control unit, at least one of said secondary subscription account with said primary subscription account based on said at least one response to said prompting;
receiving, by a third receiving unit, a primary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account, the primary authentication request being for a first value; and
automatically generating, by a processor in operational interconnection with said control unit, a secondary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account and at least one tertiary authentication request directed towards said at least one or more secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account during said linking, each of the secondary authentication request and the at least one tertiary authentication request containing respective values whose sum is equal to the first value.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising determining values to be contained in each of secondary authentication request and in each of said at least one tertiary authentication request respectively, wherein said determining is based on a predefined criteria.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said predefined criteria denotes determining said values based on parameters associated with said subscription accounts.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said predefined criteria is included in the request for linking.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:
communicating the respectively determined values to be contained in the secondary authentication request and in each of the at least one tertiary authentication request to a primary subscription account user and said at least one secondary subscription account user linked with said primary subscription account respectively;
receiving at least one response to said communication.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising:
sending said secondary authentication request towards the primary subscription account and said at least one tertiary authentication request towards said at least one secondary subscription account based on said at least one response to said communication.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one or more response to said prompting is received in the form of a SMS, MMS, RCS, e-mail, a USSD message, an Internet Protocol (IP) based message or the like.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
communicating said first value to at least one secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account during said linking.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said primary identifier and said at least one second identifier comprises at least a MSISDN, a personal account number, a card number, a subscription account number, name and address or date of birth of holder of subscription account.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
a request for adding additional one or more secondary identifiers to said at least one second identifier thus received, said additional one or more secondary identifiers being different from said primary identifier and said at least one second identifier.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
a request for removing one or more identifier from at least one or more identifiers thus received.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
a request for substituting one or more identifiers with at least one or more identifiers thus received.

13. A method of managing subscription accounts, the method comprising:
receiving, by a first receiving unit, a request for linking comprising a primary identifier and at least one secondary identifier, the primary identifier being associated with a primary subscription account and each of said at least one secondary identifier being associated with a corresponding secondary subscription account;
linking, by a control unit, at least one of said secondary subscription account with said primary subscription account;
receiving, by a second receiving unit, a primary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account, the primary authentication request being for a first value;
determining, by a processor, values to be assigned to each of said primary subscription account and said at least one of secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account respectively, the sum of values to be assigned being equal to the first value;
communicating, by a first transmitting unit, said respectively determined values to a primary subscription account user and to user of each of at least one secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account respectively;
receiving at least one response to said communication;
automatically generating, by said control unit, a secondary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account and at least one tertiary authentication request directed towards said at least one secondary subscription account based on said at least one response to said communication, wherein said secondary authentication request contains said respective value assigned to said primary subscription account and said at least one tertiary authentication request contains respective value assigned to at least one of said secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said at least response to said communication is received in the form of a SMS, MMS, RCS, e-mail, a USSD message, an Internet Protocol (IP) based message or the like.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said determining of values is based on a predefined criteria.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said predefined criteria denotes determining said values based on parameters associated with said subscription accounts.

17. A system for managing subscription accounts, the system comprising:
a first receiving unit for receiving a request for linking comprising a primary identifier and at least one secondary identifier, the primary identifier being associated with a primary subscription account and each of said at least one secondary identifier being associated with a corresponding secondary subscription account;
a control unit for linking at least one of said secondary subscription account with said primary subscription account;
a second receiving unit for receiving a primary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account, the primary authentication request containing a first value;
a processor in operational interconnection with the control unit for automatically generating a secondary authentication request directed towards the primary subscription account and at least one tertiary authentication request directed towards said at least one or more secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account, each of the secondary authentication request and the at least one tertiary authentication request containing respective values whose sum is equal to the first value, wherein the control unit is further adapted to:
a) prompt a user of each of said secondary subscription account to allow linking of their corresponding secondary subscription account with the primary subscription account and receive at least one response to said prompt; and /or
b) communicate said respective values to a primary subscription account user and to user of each of at least one secondary subscription account linked with said primary subscription account respectively and receive at least one response to said communication.