and Method for Electronic Payment
Field
5 [0011 The invention provides a solution for wired line
telephones or mobile phone or internet protocol telephony
based transactions. The invention also provides a method and
system for initiating a target service and debiting a user's
electronic payment account as payment towards the target
10 service, using missed calls. The invention further provides a
method and system for enabling initiation of electronic
payment through a missed telephone call.
Background
15
10021 Telephones, and more particularly mobile phones are
increasingly used as an instrument to effect financial
transactions. The ubiquity of wired line telephones and mobile
phones have been responsible, particularly in developing
20 countries, for significantly improving access to banking and
financial services.
LO031 Banks and financial institutions have equally benefited
by the increased outreach, and consequent acquisition of
25 customers who would typically be deprived of banking services.
[004] A variety of wired line telephone , mobile phone and
internet protocol telephony based financial solutions have
recently been made available, including technology for
30 enabling creation and access to bank accounts by voice based
technologies such as Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems
and by Short Message Services (SMS) based technologies,
wherein a user identifies his bank account by number, provides
an authorization code (for example, a Personal Identification
35 Number (PIN) ) and provides destination information (such as an
account number) of the intended transferee, to authorize money
account number) of the intended transferee, to authorize money
transfer from his bank account to that of the intended
transferee.
5 [0051 Among other drawbacks, these technologies are time
consuming. Additionally, they require a level of familiarity
with banking terminology and system related syntax, which is
rare among the large majority of people in developing
countries. Finally, use of wired line or mobile phone based
10 voice or SMS services typically involve a service cost, which
a user would prefer to avoid.
[0061 There is accordingly, a requirement for a technology
solution wherein information sufficient to initiate a
15 financial transaction can be conveyed simply, quickly and
preferably without cost to the user.
Summarv of the Invention
20 [0071 The invention comprises a system and a method for
enabling initiation of electronic payment through a missed
telephone call.
[008] The system of the present invention comprises at least
25 one receiving device configured to receive (over a telephone
network infrastructure), telephone calls to a first telephone
number or to a second telephone number originating from a
third telephone number. The system may additionally include a
service controller comprising (i) an information extractor
30 configured to extract the third telephone number (i.e. the
calling number) from incoming call signals delivered at the at
least one receiving device, and (ii) a database. The database
of the system embodiment may be configured to associate the
first telephone number with a target service involving a
35 transaction payment and with a first transaction amount. The
database may also be configured to associate the second
telephone number with the target service and with a second
transaction amount. The database may be further configured to
associate the third telephone number (i.e. the calling number)
with a user. The system may include a processor, configured to
5 respond to detection of a missed telephone call from the third
telephone number to the first telephone number, by initiating
the step of crediting payment of the first transaction amount
to a predetermined electronic recipient account. The processor
may additionally be configured to respond to detection of a
10 missed telephone call from the third telephone number to the
second telephone number, by crediting payment of the second
transaction amount to the predetermined electronic recipient
account.
15 [0091 The method of the present invention associates a first
telephone number with a target service involving a transaction
payment and with a first transaction amount. A second
telephone number is associated with the target service and
with a second transaction amount. A third telephone number is
20 uniquely associated with a user. Thereafter, responsive to
detecting a missed telephone call from the third telephone
number to the first telephone number, payment of the first
transaction amount may be credited to a predetermined
electronic recipient account. Responsive to detecting a missed
25 telephone call from the third telephone number to the second
telephone number, payment of the second transaction amount may
be credited to the predetermined electronic recipient account.
[00101 The predetermined electronic recipient account of the
30 system or method may be specified by the user.
Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings
[00111 Figure 1 illustrates a system implementation of the
35 present invention.
[00121 Figures 2A and 2B illustrate alternative embodiments of
the system of the present invention.
[00131 Figures 3A and 3B illustrate embodiments of a service
5 controller within the system.
[00141 Figures 4A to 4D illustrate embodiments of lookup table
associated with a called number database within the service
controller.
10
[00151 Figures 5A and 5B are flow charts describing
alternative embodiments of the inventive method.
[00161 Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary computer system in
15 which various embodiments of the present invention may be
implemented.
Detailed Descri~tion
20 [00171 The invention presents a method and system for using
missed telephone calls (i.e. a telephone call that is
unanswered or that is terminated before being answered by the
caller) to identify a desired target service and a transaction
amount value associated with such target service. The
25 invention additionally enables the missed call to initiate
transfer of money from an electronic payment account as
payment towards the target service. Yet further, the missed
call may serve to instruct the provider of the target service
to initiate the desired service.
30
[00181 As missed calls are typically not charged by telephone
service or mobile phone service providers, the user is not
debited either in terms of money or talk time minutes as a
consequence of the missed call.
3 5
[0019] For the purposes of the present invention, a missed
call is defined as an incoming telephone call that is not
answered prior to termination of the call. The ringing may be
terminated by the caller, or at the recipient's end.
5
[00201 Available technology such as caller id (now widely
available on both wired line telephones, mobile phones and
internet telephony devices), enables a recipient device to
ascertain the phone number of the calling device. The
10 invention uniquely associates the phone number of the
recipient device with a target service, such that a missed
call from a calling device to a recipient device having a predetermined
phone number may be understood as an instruction to
provide the target service associated with the pre-determined
15 phone number, to the telephone subscriber associated with the
calling device.
[00211 The target service contemplated by the invention may be
any service. In an embodiment, the target service is payment
20 of a phone bill, or recharge of a customer's pre-paid mobile
phone account. In another embodiment, the target service is
purchase of a product or service offered by a retailer.
Without limitation however, the term "target service" may be
understood to include any product or service offered by a
25 vendor of such product or service..
[00221 By uniquely associating a pre-determined phone number
with a target service, the invention provides a mechanism for
communicating a request for the desired target service to the
30 provider of such service. In an embodiment, a service provider
may offer a plurality of telephone numbers, wherein each
number is uniquely associated with a different service offered
by that provider. By placing a missed call to a particular
phone number from among the plurality of offered ,phone
35 numbers, a caller communicates his request for the service
uniquely associated with the called number.
100231 By way of example, a vendor offering three different
products (Pl, P2 and P3) may offer three phone numbers (Nl, N2
and N3) wherein N1 is uniquely associated with P1, N2 is
5 uniquely associated with P2 and N3 is uniquely associated with
P3. A missed call placed from a calling device having
telephone number N4 to a recipient device having telephone
number N2 may be treated as an instruction that the vendor
shall provide product P2 to the caller associated with
10 telephone number N4.
100241 It would be understood that the unique association
between telephone numbers and products or services offered by
a service provider may be configured in many different ways,
15 as discussed in detail later in this document.
LO0251 It would also be understood that the embodiments
discussed in this specification are described by way of nonlimiting
examples. The detailed description of the invention
20 may be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, which
drawings depict embodiments and are not intended to limit
scope of the invention.
100261 Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a system
25 implementation of the present invention.
[00271 Figure 1 depicts comprises a calling device 102, a
recipient device 108, and a service controller 110 coupled to
recipient device 108. In the illustrated embodiment, calling
30 device 102 and recipient device 108 are wired line telephones.
A call between calling device 102 and recipient device 108 is
established over telephone network infrastructure 104.
100281 Telephone network infrastructure 104 comprises
35 telephone switch 106 connected to calling device 102 and
telephone switch 106' connected to recipient device 108,
wherein a call from calling device 102 to recipient device 108
is routed through telephone switches 106 and 106'. Telephone
network infrastructure 104 may comprise more, fewer or
entirely different components to route a call from calling
5 device 102 to recipient device 108.
[0029] Figure 2A illustrates another embodiment of the
invention, wherein calling device 102' and recipient device
108' are mobile phones, and telephone network infrastructure
10 204 is a mobile telephone network infrastructure. A call
between calling device 102' and recipient device 108' is
routed over telephone. network infrastructure 204. Telephone
network infrastructure 204 includes a base transceiver station
and mobile switching center corresponding to each of the
15 calling and recipient devices. Base transceiver station 206
enables calling device 102' to connect to network
infrastructure 204, and forwards calls to and from
corresponding switching center 208. The call is routed from
mobile switching center 208 to mobile switching center 208'
20 which corresponds to recipient device 108'. Mobile switching
208' is connected to recipient device 108' through base
transceiver station 206'.
[00301 Recipient device 108' is coupled to service controller
25 110, which is discussed in greater detail below.
[0031] Figure 2B illustrates another embodiment of the
invention where recipient device 108" is an internet
telephony based device. A call from calling device 102"
30 (which for example may be a wired line device, land line
device or internet telephony device) is routed to recipient
device 108" through telephone network infrastructure 204",
which is an internet telephony infrastructure.
35 [00321 Telephone network infrastructure 204" comprises
Internet Telephony Gateway 205" through which the call from
calling device 102" is routed to recipient device 108". The
Internet Telephony Gateway 205" is further connected to IP
network 207" which is a packet switched internetwork such as
the Internet.
5
[00331 While the embodiments in Figures 1, 2A and 2B depict
wired line telephones, mobile phones and internet telephony
devices as the calling device and recipient device
respectively, calling devices and recipient devices could
10 comprise any one of a variety of devices capable of initiating
and receiving calls over a telephone network. Non-limiting
examples of such devices include modems, network interface
cards, signaling cards, computing devices with network
communication capabilities, personal digital assistants (PDAs)
15 and smart phones.
100341 As discussed above, the invention extracts relevant
information from missed calls between a calling device and a
called device, wherein the relevant information comprises the
20 phone number of the calling device and also the phone number
of the called device. The extracted information is used to
generate instructions regarding a target service desired by
the caller.
25 [00351 Figure 3A illustrates an embodiment of service
controller 110, which is responsible for extraction of
information from a missed call, and for interpretation of the
extracted information for initiating the target service.
Service controller 110 includes information extractor 302,
30 called number database 310 and call terminator 304.
[00361 A caller using calling device 102 dials the number of
recipient device 108. The call is routed over the telephone
network infrastructure to recipient device 108, which is
35 alerted to an incoming call. The signals delivered to
recipient device 108 while signaling the incoming call include
caller id signals, which provide information regarding the
phone number identifying calling device 102. Service
controller 110 extracts the phone number of calling device 102
at information extractor 302.
5
100371 Call terminator 304 thereafter terminates the incoming
call without answering. In an embodiment, the caller at
calling device 102 has the option of voluntarily terminating
the call by disconnecting. Alternatively, call terminator 304
10 may be configured to terminate the call after a pre-determined
interval of time (i.e. in the event the caller has not
voluntarily disconnected the call within that interval) .
[00381 Service controller 110 may in an embodiment receive
15 calls routed to it from a plurality of phone numbers. This
arrangement can be achieved in a variety of ways. One
mechanism would be to couple service controller 110 to one
dedicated communication line and one dedicated recipient
device for each of the plurality of phone numbers sought to be
20 hosted. Another method is for the telephone network operator
to allocate an entire set of phone numbers ('virtual numbers")
to the service controller 110, such that any call to a phone
number within the set of virtual numbers would be routed by
the telephone network infrastructure to service controller 110
25 through a single recipient device, such as an interface card
or a modem.
[00391 Service controller 110 includes called number database
310, which stores the unique association between each of the
30 set of phone numbers at which service controller 110 can
receive calls (incoming call numbers), and the corresponding
target service that would be initiated upon placing a missed
call to each such incoming call number.
35 [0040] Taking the example where service controller 110
receives calls at two incoming call numbers N1 and N2, called
number database 310 would store information sufficient to
inform service controller 110 that a target service S1
corresponds to incoming call number N1 and a target service 52
corresponds to incoming call number N2. If a caller places a
5 missed call to N1 from a calling device N4, called number
database 310 enables service controller 110 to determine that
the caller wishes to request target service S1 and would
thereafter initiate an instruction to provide target service
S1 to the caller associated with the calling device N4.
10
[00411 It would be understood that several alternative
configurations are available in connection with the called
number database. In one embodiment, called number database may
comprise a lookup table where information in each row of the
15 table correlates an incoming call number, with a corresponding
target service. A description of called number database 310 is
provided in greater detail later in this document.
100421 In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3A, the phone
20 number of calling device 102 and the identity of the target
service corresponding to incoming call number at which the
missed call was placed (as determined using called number
database 310) are communicated by service controller 110 to
target service provider 316, which is the concerned provider
25 of the desired target service. Target service provider is
thereafter responsible for providing the target service
identified by called number database 310 to the caller
associated with calling device 102.
30 [0043] The target service provider 316 illustrated in Figure
3A is located externally to service controller 110. It will
however be understood that target service provider 316 may
also be located within service controller 110, or equally in
another embodiment, may be entirely external to the system
35 implementation of the invention.
100441 Figure 3B illustrates another embodiment of service
controller 110'. In service controller 1 1 0 information
extractor 302" call terminator 304' and called number
database 310' each operate as described in connection with the
5 embodiment illustrated in Figure 3A. Service controller 110'
however additionally includes registered user database 306''
responder 308' and financial controller 312'.
100451 Registered user database 306' includes information
10 relating to subscribers authorized to use service controller
110'. In an embodiment, this information includes the phone
numbers of all calling devices authorized to use the services
offered by service controller 110'. Upon receipt of a missed
call from calling device 102 at any incoming call number,
15 information extractor 302' extracts and communicates the phone
number of calling device 102 to registered user database 306'.
If the phone number of calling device 102 is found within
registered user database 306', service controller 110' treats
calling device 102 as authorized to use its services for
20 initiating a desired target service.
100461 In an embodiment of the invention, registered user
database 306' may additionally contain information required to
enable service controller 110' to debit transaction funds from
25 an electronic payment account associated with calling device
102. Such information may include one or more of the
electronic payment account number, electronic payment account
service provider, authorization codes etc.
30 100471 The phone numbers of authorized calling devices,
subscriber information corresponding to such authorized
calling devices and information relating to electronic
payments accounts associated therewith may all be collected
and stored within the registered user database 306' during a
35 registration process. The registration process may be
conducted online or offline, and would be subject to
applicable banking laws and regulations, as well as applicable
rules and regulations of the electronic payment account
service provider.
5 100481 If the phone number of calling device 102 is not found
within registered user database 306', the request for
initiating a desired target service may be rejected by service
controller 110'. In a preferred embodiment, responder 308'
intimates calling device 102 of such rejection by one or more
10 of mechanisms including SMS, IVR, unstructured supplementary
service data (USSD) or the like.
[00491 If calling device 102 is found to have authorization to
use service controller 110' a target service uniquely
15 associated with the incoming call number is identified by
called number database 310'. In an embodiment, in addition to
identifying the target service associated with the incoming
call number, called number database 310' further identifies a
transaction amount associated with the target service.
20
[00501 The transaction amount identified at called number
database 310' and the electronic payment account information
corresponding to calling device 102 (as obtained from
registered user database 306') is communicated to financial
25 controller 312'. Financial controller 312' interfaces with
electronic payment account 314'' such that the transaction
amount and electronic payment account information may be used
to authorize a debit of the transaction amount (as determined
at called number database 310') from electronic payment
30 account 314' in favor of a pre-determined recipient. In an
embodiment the pre-determined recipient of the debited amount
is target service provider 316'.
[00511 It will be understood that the ability of financial
35 controller 312' to effect debit of a transaction amount from
an electronic payment account 314' depends on the rules and
interface requirements of the electronic payment account. In a
preferred embodiment, the invention would be used to debit
money from electronic payment account(s), where such debits
are permitted without requiring either real time transaction
5 authorization or submission of authorization codes by the
owner of such account(s). An example of such a situation is
where the transaction amount is below a pre-determined
threshold, and for which amounts the electronic payment
account provider is willing to waive the requirement for
10 transaction authorization either in real time or by way of
authorization codes.
[00521 It would additionally be understood that in the event
financial controller 312' fails to effect debit of the
15 transaction amount from electronic payment account 314', the
target service may be refused. In an embodiment, responder
308' may provide calling device 102 with notification of such
refusal, including by way of one or more of SMS, IVR, USSD, or
the like.
20
[00531 If the transaction amount is successfully debited from
the electronic payment account, service controller 110'
notifies target service provider 316' that the desired target
service has been paid for and such service may now be provided
25 to the caller associated with calling device 102.
[00541 Where service controller 110' is authorized to
interface with multiple providers of target services, such
notification is provided to the target service provider
30 corresponding to the target service identified by called
number database 310'.
[00551 The notified target service provider is thereafter
responsible for providing the target service identified by
35 called number database 310' to the caller corresponding to
calling device 102.
[00561 Figures 4A to 4D illustrate various configurations for
a lookup table that are preferred embodiments of called number
database 310 or 310' .
5
roo571 In Figure 4A lookup table 400 comprises three columns,
each storing one of incoming call numbers, information
identifying a target service uniquely corresponding to each
incoming call number, and a transaction amount associated with
10 each target service.
[00581 The lookup table in Figure 4A may be implemented in
multiple of embodiments of the invention. The three column
structure of lookup table 400 ensures that simply by receiving
15 a missed call at an incoming call number, service controller
110 or 110' is capable of identifying a target service
associated with that incoming call number and also a
transaction amount necessary to obtain delivery of the target
service. The phone number of calling device 102 (obtained by
20 information extractor 302 or 302')' the identified target
*
service and the corresponding transaction amount may
thereafter be used to initiate the desired target service -
either by communicating such information directly to target
service provider 316 (as illustrated in Figure 3A) or by first
25 arranging for debit of the transaction amount from electronic
payment account 314' and thereafter communicating instructions
for commencing the desired target service (as illustrated in
Figure 3B) .
30 [0059] Figure 4B illustrates an abbreviated lookup table 400'
that is intended for use in a preferred embodiment of the
invention. The preferred embodiment enables a mobile phone or
wired line phone subscriber to pay phone bills or to recharge
a pre-paid mobile phone account by placing a missed call to a
35 pre-determined number.
[00601 In the embodiment under discussion, a mobile phone
operator may offer a series of incoming call numbers, wherein
each phone number within the series is uniquely associated
with a particular cash amount that the caller may want
5 credited to his mobile phone account. By placing a missed call
from calling device 102 to a specific phone number within the
series of incoming call numbers, the caller relays his
instructions that a cash amount associated with the called
number may be debited from his electronic payment account 314'
10 towards payment of the phone bill (or towards recharging a
pre-paid mobile phone account) associated with the phone
number of calling device 102.
[00611 In a particularly preferred embodiment, the series of
15 incoming call numbers offered by the service provider may be
selected such that a segment of each incoming call number is
numerically equivalent to the cash amount that would be
transferred by a missed call to that number.
20 100621 By way of example, a mobile phone operator offering a
missed call based payment or re-charge facility may provide a
series of dial in numbers, e.g. 99999-9xxxx, wherein each x is
capable of being any number between 0 and 9. In this example,
the service provider would be offering a total of 10,000
25 incoming call numbers i.e. a series of numbers starting from
99999-90000 upto 99999-99999. The incoming call numbers may
thereafter be uniquely associated with recharge/payment
instructions wherein the cash amount intended for recharge/
payment is numerically equal to the segment of the dialed
30 number represented by the last four digits (i.e. numerically
equal to the number comprising the digits represented by x).
[0063] In the above example, a caller placing a missed call to
the number 99999-91000 communicates an instruction (by placing
35 the missed call) that an amount of $ 1000 (or 1000 units of
the applicable currency) shall be credited towards the phone
account associated with the phone number of the calling device
102. Similarly, dialing the number 99999-92000 indicates that
an amount of USD 2000 shall be credited towards the account
associated with the phone number of the calling device 102
5 from which the missed call was made.
100641 It would be understood that the above series of numbers
(i.e. 99999-9xxxx) is provided only by way of example, and
that a service provider may choose any equally appropriate
10 series of telephone numbers that are sufficient to numerically
indicate to the caller, the amount that would be transferred
by placing a missed call.
[00651 Equally, the number of variable digits in the series
15 (i.e. the total width of the series offered by the service
provider) may be selected depending on a variety of factors,
including without limitation, the various transaction amounts
that a service provider is willing to allow to be credited.
For example, if the service provider only wishes to allow
20 transaction amounts of USD 100 and USD 200 by way of bill
payment or payment towards pre-paid mobile services, only two
phone numbers may need to be provided (e.g. 99999-90100 and
99999-90200). If on the other hand, the service provider
wishes to allow transaction amounts of anywhere between USD 1
25 and USD 200 by way of bill payment or payment towards pre-paid
mobile services, the series of incoming call numbers would
need to include two hundred phone numbers - for example
beginning at 99999-90001 and 99999-90200)
30 [0066] In an embodiment, the series of incoming call numbers
offered by the service provider may be selected such that each
incoming call number comprises three distinct segments of
digits, wherein the three segments of digits respectively
convey information identifying (i) the target service, (ii)
35 the transaction amount and (iii) user authentication
information (for example, Personal Identification Number,
(PIN) .
E00671 By way of example, a mobile phone operator offering a
5 missed call based payment service may provide a series of
dial-in numbers of the general format xxx-yyy-zzzz, wherein
each of x, y and z is capable of being any number between 0
and 9. The initial three digits xxx may be used to identify
the desired target service, the digits yyy may identify the
10 transaction amount associated with the desired target service,
and the digits zzzz may be used to convey user authentication
information of the caller.
LO0681 For example, the service provider may offer a dial-in
15 number 991-100-1203, wherein by placing a missed call to such
number, the caller communicates an instruction that an amount
of $ 100 may be debited towards the target service
corresponding to target service code '991" (the offered target
service) and that the user's PIN that may be used for
20 authorizing the transaction is "1203". The caller requesting
such service is identified by the number of the calling
device.
[00691 While the above example uses a ten digit phone number
25 to convey 3 discrete categories of information (i.e. target
service, transaction amount and PIN, in that order), it would
be understood that the service provider can change or vary the
number of segments that may be carved out of a phone number,
the length of each segment (i.e. the number of digits in each
30 segment), the number of discrete categories of information
capable of being conveyed and the correlation of discrete
segments within the phone number with corresponding categories
of information. For example, in a dial-in number format xxxyyy-
zzzz, each of the discrete segments xxx, yyy and zzzz may
35 be used to identify any category of information that the
service provider chooses. So while in one configuration, xxx
may identify the target service, in another configuration, xxx
may identify the transaction amount.
[00701 In another embodiment, the invention enables a user to
5 register and save personalized preferences within the called
number database 310 or 3101, wherein the user chooses the
target service or cash amount transfer that such registered
user prefers to have associated with a specific incoming call
number. Further, in such embodiment, different users may save
10 different personalized preferences to be associated with the
same incoming call number.
[00711 By way of illustration, a first user may specify that a
missed call from his calling device (having number N4) to
15 incoming call number 99999-00000 shall be treated as an
instruction to recharge his phone account by USD 100. Every
time a missed call from calling device with number N4 is
received at 99999-00000, service controller 110 or 110' would
automatically debit USD 100 from the first user's electronic
20 payment account towards credit of the phone account associated
with phone number N4. A second user having a calling device
with phone number N5 could simultaneously save his preference
that a missed call from N5 to 99999-00000 would result in
transfer of USD 200 from the second user's electronic payment
25 account to the credit of the phone account associated with
number N5.
[0072] A variety of online and offline mechanisms for the
above personalization/configuration by users may be
30 implemented. One such mechanism is an online interface
accessible through a web browser, that would enables a user to
personalize information in either or both of registered user
database 306' and called number database 310 or 310'. Such
personalized configuration would ensure that a call from a
35 first user's calling device to a pre-determined incoming call
number would have the effect of initiating a first target
service, while a call from a second user's calling device to
the same pre-determined incoming call number would initiate a
second target service, wherein the second target service is
different from the first target service.
5
100731 It would of course be understood that implementing the
above embodiment may involve slight variations over the
embodiments of service controller 110 and 110' illustrated in
Figures 3A and 3B. By way of example, service controller 110
10 or 110' may require a separate database file corresponding to
each phone number associated with a registered user or a
registered user's calling device. Each such file may store
personalized preference information for the corresponding
user; for access by service controller 110 or 110' upon
15 receipt of a missed call from such user's calling device.
100741 Figure 4C illustrates yet another embodiment in lookup
table 400"' wherein the lookup table associates each incoming
call number 402" with a specific target service provider
20 408' ' , a target service offered by such provider 404", and a
transaction amount associated with the target service 406".
The configuration of lookup table 400" enables service
controller 110 or 110' to communicate with multiple target
service providers, each of whom offers multiple target
25 services.
100751 In an embodiment of this arrangement, service
controller 110 or 110' would require to uniquely associate a
separate incoming call number with each target service offered
30 by each target service provider. For example, if service
controller 110 or 110' is in communication with three target
service providers, each offering four target services, the
service controller would require a total of 12 incoming call
numbers so as to uniquely associate one incoming call number
35 with each target service.
100761 Figure 40 illustrates yet another embodiment of lookup
table 400"', wherein the lookup table associates each
incoming call number 402"' with information identifying a
target service 404'", a transaction amount associated with
5 each target service 406"' and user authentication information
(for example, a password or a PIN) 403"'.
100771 The four column structure of lookup table 400'"
ensures that by receiving a missed call at an incoming call
10 number, service controller 110 is capable of identifying a
target service associated with that incoming call number, the
transaction amount necessary to obtain delivery of the target
service and the authentication information (e.g. PIN) for
authenticating the required service. Such information may
15 thereafter be used to initiate the desired target service -
either by communicating such information directly to target
service provider 316 (as illustrated in Figure 3A) or by first
arranging for debit of the transaction amount from electronic
payment account 314' and thereafter communicating instructions
20 for commencing the desired target service (as illustrated in
Figure 3B)
[00781 In an embodiment, the invention comprises a system for
enabling initiation of electronic payment through a missed
25 telephone call. The system embodiment comprises at least one
receiving device configured to receive (over a telephone
network infrastructure), telephone calls to a first telephone
number or to a second telephone number originating from a
third telephone number. The system additionally includes a
30 service controller comprising (i) an information extractor
configured to extract the third telephone number (i.e. the
calling number) from incoming call signals delivered at the at
least one receiving device, and (ii) a database. The database
of the system embodiment is configured to associate the first
35 telephone number with a target service involving a transaction
payment and with a first transaction amount. Similarly, the
database is configured to associate the second telephone
number with the target service and with a second transaction
amount. The database is also configured to associate the third
telephone number (i.e. the calling number) with a user. The
5 system also includes a processor, configured to respond to
detection of a missed telephone call from the third telephone
number, by initiating the step of crediting payment of the
first transaction amount to a predetermined electronic
recipient account. The predetermined electronic recipient
10 account may be specified by the user.
[00791 In an embodiment of the system, the processor may
further by configured to respond to detection of a missed
telephone call from the third telephone number (i.e. the
15 calling number) to the second telephone number, by crediting
payment of the second transaction amount to the predetermined
electronic recipient account.
[00801 The service controller of the system may include a call
20 terminator configured to terminate a call routed to the at
least one receiving device, prior to the call being answered.
The service controller may additionally include a registered
user database configured to store information relating to
subscribers authorized to initiate electronic payment through
25 a missed telephone call.
[0081] In an embodiment of the system, the association between
the first telephone number and the first transaction amount
may be selected such that the first telephone number includes
30 a first set of contiguous digits which are identical to a set
of contiguous digits representing the first transaction
amount. Further, the association between the second telephone
number and the second transaction amount may be selected such
that the second telephone number includes a second set of
35 contiguous digits which are identical to a set of contiguous
digits representing the second transaction amount.
LO0821 In a specific embodiment of the system, the
association between (i) the first telephone number and the
first transaction amount or (ii) between the second telephone
5 number and the second transaction amount, may be selected such
that the first telephone number or the second telephone number
includes a third set of contiguous digits uniquely associated
with the target service. Further, the association (i) between
the first telephone number and the first transaction amount or
10 (ii) between the second telephone number and the second
transaction amount may be selected such that the first
telephone number or the second telephone number includes a
fourth set of contiguous digits which are identical to a set
of contiguous digits representing a personal identification
15 number associated with the user.
LO0831 In an embodiment of the above system, the target
service may be a bill payment service, wherein the processor
is configured to initiate the step of crediting payment of the
20 first transaction amount or the second transaction amount
towards bill payment. In a more particular embodiment the bill
payment service is a service for of a telephone bill
corresponding to the third telephone number.
25 [00841 In an exemplary embodiment, the target service may be
an electronic transaction service, and the processor may be
configured to initiate the step of debiting the first
transaction amount or the second transaction amount from an
electronic account associated with the user.
30
COO851 Figure 5A is a flow chart describing a method of the
present invention. At step 502, a customer dials a phone
number associated with a desired target service from his
calling device. It would be understood that customer awareness
35 regarding phone numbers corresponding to the desired target
service may be created by a variety of mechanisms, including
by advertising on the part of the provider of the target
service, or by reference to a web-site. The call is routed at
step 504 to the called device associated with the dialed phone
number, through the telephone network. At step 506, the phone
5 number of the calling device and the phone number of the
called device are obtained. The call is thereafter terminated
without answering, at step 508.
[00861 The phone number of the calling device is compared at
10 step 510 against the phone numbers of registered callers. If
the phone number of the calling device has not been previously
registered, the method does not proceed further. In an
embodiment, at step 520, the calling device would receive a
transaction failure message.
15
[0087] If the phone number of the calling device has been
previously registered, the method proceeds to step 514,
wherein a target service corresponding to the dialed phone
number is identified, based on information uniquely associated
20 with the dialed phone number in a lookup table or other
database.
[00881 In an embodiment, the phone number of the calling
device and information regarding the desired target service is
25 thereafter passed on to an external entity for further
processing.
[0089] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5A, a request
is thereafter initiated at step 516 for release of a financial
30 amount associated with the desired target service. The amount
is requested for release from an electronic payment account
associated with the calling device.
[00901 At step 518, the method checks whether the transaction
35 has been allowed by the electronic payment account. If the
transaction is refused, no further steps are taken, and the
caller may receive a transaction failure message at step 520.
[00911 Alternatively, if the transaction is allowed by the
5 electronic payment account, the provider of the desired target
service is intimated at step 522 that payment has been
successful, and that the target service may now be provided to
the subscriber of the calling device. In a preferred
embodiment, the subscriber may be informed at step 524 that
10 the electronic payment has been successful and that the target
service has been initiated.
[00921 Figure 5B is a flowchart illustrating an alternative
embodiment of the method of the present invention. At step
15 502', a customer dials a phone number associated with a
desired target service from his calling device. The call is
routed at step 504' to the called device associated with the
dialed phone number, through the telephone network. At step
506', the phone number of the calling device and the phone
20 number of the called device are obtained. The call is
thereafter terminated without answering, at step 508'. At step
510', the target service uniquely corresponding to the called
number is identified. At step 512" the phone number of
calling device and the description of target service
25 associated with the called number is communicated to the
provider of desired target service for commencing the desired
target service.
[0093] The invention accordingly provides a method for
30 enabling initiation of electronic payment through a missed
telephone call. The method associates a first telephone number
with a target service involving a transaction payment and with
a first transaction amount. A second telephone number is
associated with the target service and with a second
35 transaction amount. A third telephone number is uniquely
associated with a user. Thereafter, responsive to detecting a
missed telephone call from the third telephone number (i.e.
the calling number) to the first telephone number, payment of
the first transaction amount may be credited to a
predetermined electronic recipient account. Responsive to
5 detecting a missed telephone call from the third telephone
number to the second telephone number, payment of the second
transaction amount may be credited to the predetermined
electronic recipient account. The predetermined electronic
recipient account may be specified by the user.
10
[00941 In an embodiment of the method, the association between
the first telephone number and the first transaction amount
may be selected such that the first telephone number includes
a first set of contiguous digits which are identical to a set
15 of contiguous digits representing the first transaction
amount. Similarly, association between the second telephone
number and the second transaction amount may be selected such
that the second telephone number includes a second set of
contiguous digits which are identical to a set of contiguous
20 digits representing the second transaction amount.
[00951 In a more particular embodiment, the association (i)
between the first telephone number and the first transaction
amount or (ii) between the second telephone number and the
25 second transaction amount may be selected such that the first
telephone number or the second telephone number includes a
third set of contiguous digits uniquely associated with the
target service. The association (i) between the first
telephone number and the first transaction amount or (ii)
30 between the second telephone number and the second transaction
amount may further be selected such that the first telephone
number or the second telephone number includes a fourth set of
contiguous digits which are identical to a set of contiguous
digits representing a personal identification number
35 associated with the user.
[00961 In an embodiment of the method, the target service may
be a bill payment service and the first transaction amount or
the second transaction amount is credited towards bill
payment.
5
[00971 In a specific embodiment, the bill payment service may
be a service for payment of a telephone bill corresponding to
the third telephone number. The target service may comprise a
recharge service for pre-paid mobile phone accounts, in which
10 embodiment, the first transaction amount or the second
transaction amount may be credited towards recharging the a
pre-paid mobile phone account associated with the user.
100981 In an embodiment of the method, the target service may
15 comprise an electronic transaction service that debits the
first transaction amount or the second transaction amount from
an electronic account associated with the user.
[00991 Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary computer system in
20 which various embodiments of the present invention may be
implemented.
[OOlOOIThe computer system 602 comprises at-least one
processor 604 and at-least one memory 606. The processor 604
25 executes program instructions and may be a real processor. The
processor 604 may also be a virtual processor. The computer
system 602 is not intended to suggest any limitation as to
scope of use or functionality of described embodiments. For
example, the computer system 602 may include, but not limited
30 to, one or more of a general-purpose computer, a programmed
microprocessor, a micro-controller, a peripheral integrated
circuit element, and other devices or arrangements of devices
that are capable of implementing the steps that constitute the
method of the present invention. In an embodiment of the
35 present invention, the memory 606 may store software for
implementing various embodiments of the present invention. The
computer system 602 may have additional components. For
example, the computer system 602 includes one or more
communication channels 608, one or more input devices 610, one
or more output devices 612, and storage 614. An
5 interconnection mechanism (not shown) such as a bus,
controller, or network, interconnects the components of the
computer system 602. In various embodiments of the present
invention, operating system software (not shown) provides an
operating environment for various softwares executing in the
10 computer system 602, and manages different functionalities of
the components of the computer system 602.
[001011 The communication channel (s) 608 allow communication
over a communication medium to various other computing
15 entities. The communication medium provides information such
as program instructions, or other data in a communication
media. The communication media includes, but not limited to,
wired or wireless methodologies implemented with an
electrical, optical, RF, infrared, acoustic, microwave,
20 bluetooth or other transmission media.
[001021 The input device(s) 610 may include, but not limited
to, a keyboard, mouse, pen, joystick, trackball, a voice
device, a scanning device, or any another device that is
25 capable of providing input to the computer system 602. In an
embodiment of the present invention, the input device (s) 610
may be a sound card or similar device that accepts audio input
in analog or digital form. The output device(s) 612 may
include, but not limited to, a user interface on CRT or LCD,
30 printer, speaker, CD/DVD writer, or any other device that
provides output from the computer system 602.
E00103lThe storage 614 may include, but not limited to,
magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, CD-ROMs, CD-RWs, DVDs, flash
35 drives or any other medium which can be used to store
information and can be accessed by the computer system 602. In
various embodiments of the present invention, the storage 614
contains program instructions for implementing the described
embodiments.
5 [001041 In an embodiment of the present invention, the computer
system 602 is part of a distributed network where various
embodiments of the present invention are implemented for
rapidly developing end-to-end software applications.
10 [001051 The present invention may be implemented in numerous
ways including as a system, a method, or a computer program
product such as a computer readable storage medium or a
computer network wherein programming instructions are
communicated from a remote location.
15
[00106l,The present invention may suitably be embodied as a
computer program product for use with the computer system 602.
The method described herein is typically implemented as a
computer program product, comprising a set of program
20 instructions which is executed by the computer system 602 or
any other similar device. The set of program instructions may
be a series of computer readable codes stored on a tangible
medium, such as a computer readable storage medium (storage
614), for example, diskette, CD-ROM, ROM, flash drives or hard
25 disk, or transmittable to the computer system 602, via a modem
or other interface device, over either a tangible medium,
including but not limited to optical or analogue
communications channel(s) 608. The implementation of the
invention as a computer program product may be in an
30 intangible form using wireless techniques, including but not
limited to microwave, in£ rared, bluetooth or other
transmission techniques. These instructions can be preloaded
into a system or recorded on a storage medium such as a CDROM,
or made available for downloading over a network such as
35 the Internet or a mobile telephone network. The series of
computer readable instructions may embody all or part of the
functionality previously described herein.
[001071 While the exemplary embodiments of the present
5 invention are described and illustrated herein, it will be
appreciated that they are merely illustrative. It will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various
modifications in form and detail may be made therein without
departing from or offending the spirit and scope of the
10 invention as defined by the appended claims.

We Claim
1. A system for enabling initiation of electronic payment
through a missed telephone call, the system comprising:
5 at least one receiving device configured to receive over a
telephone network infrastructure, telephone calls to a first
telephone number or to a second telephone number originating
from a third telephone number;
a service controller comprising:
10 an information extractor configured to extract the third
telephone number from incoming call signals delivered at the
at least one receiving device; and
a database configured to:
- associate the first telephone number with a
target service involving a transaction payment and with a
first transaction amount;
- associate the second telephone number with the
target service and with a second transaction amount;
- associate the third telephone number with a
20 user ;
and
a processor configured to respond to detection of a missed
telephone call from the third telephone number to the first
telephone number, by initiating the step of crediting payment
25 of the first transaction amount to a predetermined electronic
recipient account.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor
is configured to respond to detection of a missed telephone
30 call from the third telephone number to the second telephone
number, by crediting payment of the second transaction amount
to the predetermined electronic recipient account.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the service
35 controller comprises a call terminator configured to terminate
a call routed to the at least one receiving device prior to
the call being answered.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the service
5 controller comprises a registered user database configured to
store information relating to subscribers authorized to
initiate electronic payment through a missed telephone call.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein association
10 between the first telephone number and the first transaction
amount is selected such that the first telephone number
includes a first set of contiguous digits which are identical
to a set of contiguous digits representing the first
transaction amount.
15
6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein association
between the second telephone number and the second transaction
amount is selected such that the second telephone number
includes a second set of contiguous digits which are identical
20 to a set of contiguous digits representing the second
transaction amount.
7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the association
between the first telephone number and the first transaction
25 amount or between the second telephone number and the second
transaction amount is selected such that the first telephone
number or the second telephone number includes a third set of
contiguous digits uniquely associated with the target service.
30 8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the association
between the first telephone number and the first transaction
amount or between the second telephone number and the second
transaction amount is selected such that the first telephone
number or the second telephone number includes a fourth set of
35 contiguous digits which are identical to a set of contiguous
digits representing a personal identification number
associated with the user.
9. The system as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2,
5 wherein the target service is a bill payment service and the
processor is configured to initiate the step of crediting
payment of the first transaction amount or the second
transaction amount towards bill payment.
10 10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bill
payment service is a service for payment of a telephone bill
corresponding to the third telephone number.
11. The system as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2,
15 wherein the predetermined electronic recipient account is
specified by the user.
12. The system as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the
target service is an electronic transaction service and the
20 processor is configured to initiate the step of debiting the
first transaction amount or the second transaction amount from
an electronic account associated with the user.
13. A method for enabling initiation of electronic payment
25 through a missed telephone call, the method comprising:
associating a first telephone number with a target service
involving a transaction payment and with a first transaction
amount ;
associating a second telephone number with the target service
30 and with a second transaction amount;
uniquely associating a third telephone number with a user;
responsive to detecting a missed telephone call from the third
telephone number to the first telephone number, crediting
payment of the first transaction amount to a predetermined
35 electronic recipient account.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein responsive to
detecting a missed telephone call from the third telephone
number to the second telephone number, payment of the second
transaction amount is credited to the predetermined electronic
5 recipient account.
15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein association
between the first telephone number and the first transaction
amount is selected such that the first telephone number
10 includes a first set of contiguous digits which are identical
to a set of contiguous digits representing the first
transaction amount.
16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein association
15 between the second telephone number and the second transaction
amount is selected such that the second telephone number
includes a second set of contiguous digits which are identical
to a set of contiguous digits representing the second
transaction amount.
20
17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the
association between the first telephone number and the first
transaction amount or between the second telephone number and
the second transaction amount is selected such that the first
25 telephone number or the second telephone number includes a
third set of contiguous digits uniquely associated with the
target service.
18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the
30 association between the first telephone number and the first
transaction amount or between the second telephone number and
the second transaction amount is selected such that the first
telephone number or the second telephone number includes a
fourth set of contiguous digits which are identical to a set
35 of contiguous digits representing a personal identification
number associated with the user.
19. The method as claimed in any one of claims 13 or 14,
wherein the target service is a bill payment service and the
first transaction amount or the second transaction amount is
5 credited towards bill payment.
20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the bill
payment service is a service for payment of a telephone bill
corresponding to the third telephone number.
10
21. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the target
service is a recharge service for pre-paid mobile phone
accounts, and the first transaction amount or the second
transaction amount is credited towards recharging a pre-paid
15 mobile phone account associated with the user.
22. The method as claimed in any one of claims 13 or 14,
wherein the predetermined electronic recipient account is
specified by the user.
20
23. The method as claimed in claims 13 or 14, wherein the
target service is an electronic transaction service that
debits the first transaction amount or the second transaction
amount from an electronic account associated with the user.