94 results about "Account Status" patented technology

A mobile phone system with a mobile phone having internal accounting capabilities for real time call debiting to account for the billing parameters of a mobile phone unit that is operated in a multi zone communication network with a complex rate structure, the mobile phone unit having an internal processor with accessible internal memory for storing the accounting program and call data for each call, a clock and circuit means for activating and deactivating the phone, the accounting program including an updatable rate table and a complex billing algorithm for calculating the account status on the fly including multiple rate structure factors such as long distance calls, international calls with country independent local charges, charges for roaming per day and / or roaming per minute, and call surcharges, where the account status of the mobile phone is calculated in real time for decrementing a debit account or calculating an account charge on demand, the mobile debit phone having a signal for alerting the user of account status which is preferably a display of real time account status, the mobile phone system including a communication system for activating and programming a new phone unit over the airways and upgrading the account status in rate table in the phone unit over the airways.

A system is provided that allows a photographer to take images for a customer and provide those images to order servicing equipment with which the images are placed on-line for the customer to view. The customer may place orders for the images and products and services related to the images. The order servicing equipment may credit the photographer when the customer orders images, products, or services. Images may be manipulated before images, products, or services are ordered. Images may be taken using film-based cameras or digital image acquisition equipment. Image presentation options may be selected. Content may be appended to the images. Web sites and digital albums may be created using the images. The photographer may check the status of assignments that have been submitted to the order servicing equipment and may check on account status. Different rights levels may be established for different parties. Loyalty rewards may be awarded for frequent use of the system.

A system or method that assesses a transaction request from a client to identify characteristics that are likely to indicate fraudulent behavior, based on data associated with the request and the client, including client data that is obtained from a social network, such as Facebook. The assessed characteristics may include the client's social profile, including number and status of friends, likes, and virtual account status, as well as parameters associated with the connection used for the transaction, such as IP and email addresses, country of origin, and language. A database is maintained that includes records associated with IP and e-mail addresses, users' characteristics and past redemptions, and the like. Specific criteria, limits, and responses may be defined for each particular class of transaction.

A method for paging network personal communications system voice and data services comprising transmitting a control channel origination data packet including data specifying an identification number, data specifying a user serial number, a voice airtime register data packet, and a sequence of dialed digits for activating a switch to activate a remote feature access control procedure. The control channel origination data packet is then transmitted through control channels or digital access channels of a paging network. The control channel origination data packet is received and stored cellular base station. The control channel origination data packet is relayed to a mobile switching center and then a selected service may be activated if debit information requirements of a user are met by loading and comparing parameter table values for the identification number and the serial number or the user at the mobile switching center. A personal communications apparatus is also disclosed having a housing and circuitry for transmitting a control channel origination data packet. A speaker is mounted in housing and includes a display screen for displaying data messages and a keypad for entering a landline telephone number or mobile number. A plurality of selection keys allow for selecting a data message for transmission from the apparatus.

In one embodiment, a method of serving media includes receiving a delivery log of traffic use after every first time interval for an user equipment. The user equipment is part of a hot billing class of users. The traffic use comprises data usage by the user equipment during communication with a media server in a layer2 access network. A user traffic information computed from the delivery log is transmitted to a billing center. A account status information is received from the billing center. The account status information is received if the user equipment exceeds a user account metric. A session termination information based on the account status information is transmitted.

A system and method for the purchase of products, where some products may eligible for special forms of payment, such as payment from a medical savings account (MSA). A POS terminal is used to obtain a product ID (from a product bar code) and an MSA account ID from an MSA account card. The product and account IDs are provided to a database where MSA eligibility and MSA account status information is accessed and retrieved. A display at the POS terminal separates and displays information on both the eligible and non-eligible products. The POS terminal may used to pay for eligible products by electronically debiting the MSA account, and to pay for non-eligible products by traditional methods, such as cash, check or credit card. Eligible products may be given price discounts, and discount information is also retrieved from the database.

A network includes an account status system for checking the status of checking accounts used to make payments, and a payment account monitoring system that includes linking files that store, for individual credit card accounts, the account numbers for checking accounts used to pay the credit card accounts. The monitoring system periodically retrieves checking account numbers from the linking files and checks the account numbers at the status system. If a negative status is indicated at the status system, an alert is provided to the credit card company.

A system for storing subscriber information in a centralized location includes a processor, memory coupled to the processor, and a data storage device coupled to the processor. The data storage device includes a subscriber profile portion for storing personal information about a subscriber. The subscriber profile portion includes a subscriber identification portion for storing an identification string. The subscriber profile portion is associated with an account type portion for storing account information, a portal portion for storing portal information, and an account status portion for storing account status information. The data storage device further includes a subscription portion for storing subscription information. The subscription portion is associated with a device portion for storing device information, a services portion for storing services information, and a mobile subscription portion for storing mobile subscription information.

A patient-centric, community-based system and method that professionally and effectively manages and services all patient-pay receivables associated with an individual's healthcare. The system permits patients to charge all out-of-pocket expenses for medical goods or services from different providers to one convenient, Patient Account, thereby reducing patient / responsible party confusion and permitting a single monthly payment. The Patient Accounts are “owned” pro rata by the healthcare providers in accordance with the respective amounts owed to each. The system employs a method for applying payments from the patient / responsible party and / or other payors to providers based on specific contractual arrangements, and real-time reporting of Patient Accounts status / activity via secure, proprietary Internet access. By centralizing account management functions, each of the providers is spared the costs of establishing his / her / its own discrete, separate and redundant patient account, the periodic mailing of invoices, the processing of payments, the dunning of past due accounts, and the application to Medicare and Medicaid for reimbursement.

Systems and methods for remotely causing a request for authorization to charge a card, that is otherwise active, to be denied. In one embodiment, an access controller receives a call from a card holder and analyzes ANI and DNIS data received during call setup for the call to select a card account and an action (e.g., turn account OFF) to be taken with respect to the card account. The access controller formulates and sends a message to an account authorization processing system to cause the account authorization processing system to thereafter deny requests for authorization to charge the card account. A subsequent call to the access controller from the same caller (i.e., a same ANI) will reverse account closure and allow card authorization to proceed. Feedback, in the form of an Instant Message (IM), email, or audible signal (busy, ringing) when making the call, may be provided to indicate the success of a change to the state of the account. Embodiments that do not rely on PSTN infrastructure are also disclosed.

A computer-implemented remote control method and system are disclosed for providing financial account security to prevent unauthorized use of the financial account. The method may include providing, for an account holder device, a graphical user interface for facilitating automatic activation and deactivation of the financial account and receiving over a network from the account holder device, an account holder command entered through the provided graphical user interface. The method may additionally include authenticating the account holder command and processing the account holder command entered through the provided graphical user interface using a command processing engine including computer processing components, the command processing engine changing an account status from an active state to an inactive state or from an inactive state to an active state in accordance with the received command.

A system and method by which a merchant automatically notifies an outside e-billing vendor of customer account status changes that affect the transfer of billing information between the merchant and the e-billing vendor. The method reads an update file containing service order activities, searches among the activities in the update file for customers enrolled in an e-billing service, determines which of those enrolled customers received a service change that affected their account number, pulls the information associated with each affected account number, places the information in a record formatted as required by the e-billing vendor, and transmits the record to the e-billing vendor to synchronize the account numbers between the merchant and the e-billing vendor.

A method (300) of selecting a financial account to be used to make a contactless payment. The method can include, during a payment transaction at a point-of-sale terminal (110), selecting at least one financial account having associated financial information, the financial account selected from a plurality of available financial accounts. Contactless payment for the purchase can be made using the selected financial account. The method further can include identifying a type of purchase being made during the payment transaction. In such an arrangement, selecting the financial account can include selecting the financial account having associated financial information that best matches user preferences established for the identified type of purchase.

Near real time Internet access of prepaid call history and replenishment data is provided via an Internet browser separate from the prepaid device to a user (e.g., the subscriber), allowing a subscriber to access call history and / or replenishment information nearly in real time (e.g., within a minute of the expense / credit) without requiring assistance from a customer service representative. A web based prepaid report page retrieves call history and / or replenishment information from the subscriber's service provider, and displays the same through a web browser for review by the subscriber. The requested call history and / or replenishment information may be bounded by date, date and time, or even within specific time range(s) within each day in a given range of days. The web based prepaid report page may also link the user to a replenishment application for the subscriber, to assist the subscriber in replenishing their account after having reviewed their call history and prepaid account status in near real time. The call history and account balance information is preferably updated in near real time after the completion of a call, which is then accessed by the web based prepaid report page. Substantially immediately after a prepaid call is ended, the web based prepaid reporting application formulates a Call Detail Record (CDR) and sends it over a TCP / IP link to the web based prepaid reporting application, which stores the CDR in a local database. Then, a user may access this CDR / RR information in near real time, after appropriate log-in with, e.g., a user ID of the subscriber (e.g., MIN number based), and perhaps a password. Once the requested information is entered, the web based prepaid reporting application queries its local database, formats an appropriate response to the user's request, and presents the call history and / or replenishment information to the web browser of the user.

A method for removing and hauling waste has a receiving step requiring reception of a signal carrying identifying information from a waste receptacle outfitted with a signal generating means at a first location. The signal is transmitted from the first location to a data link. A subsequent data signal is transmitted to an external site. The data signal is compared against account information associated with the waste receptacle. A return data signal having a value designating an account status associated with the waste receptacle is transmitted from the external site; triggering automatic physical movement of the waste receptacle based on the value received from the external site. Another signal is received from the waste receptacle outfitted with a signal generating means at a second location. The signal is transmitted from the second location to the data link. A second data signal is transmitted to the external site. Data gleaned from the second data signal is stored in the account information associated with the waste receptacle.

Near real time Internet access of prepaid call history and replenishment data is provided via an Internet browser separate from the prepaid device to a user (e.g., the subscriber), allowing a subscriber to access call history and / or replenishment information nearly in real time (e.g., within a minute of the expense / credit) without requiring assistance from a customer service representative. A web based prepaid report page retrieves call history and / or replenishment information from the subscriber's service provider, and displays the same through a web browser for review by the subscriber. The requested call history and / or replenishment information may be bounded by date, date and time, or even within specific time range(s) within each day in a given range of days. The web based prepaid report page may also link the user to a replenishment application for the subscriber, to assist the subscriber in replenishing their account after having reviewed their call history and prepaid account status in near real time. The call history and account balance information is preferably updated in near real time after the completion of a call, which is then accessed by the web based prepaid report page. Substantially immediately after a prepaid call is ended, the web based prepaid reporting application formulates a Call Detail Record (CDR) and sends it over a TCP / IP link to the web based prepaid reporting application, which stores the CDR in a local database. Then, a user may access this CDR / RR information in near real time, after appropriate log-in with, e.g., a user ID of the subscriber (e.g., MIN number based), and perhaps a password. Once the requested information is entered, the web based prepaid reporting application queries its local database, formats an appropriate response to the user's request, and presents the call history and / or replenishment information to the web browser of the user.

A call routing system can be used to route calls. An action object identifier, a result identifier, and a reason identifier can be generated in response at least in part to a call. The call can be routed by the call routing system based at least in part on the action object identifier, the result identifier, and the reason identifier. The routing can be performed automatically without requiring an attendant. In another embodiment, an attendant can be used, if desired. In still another embodiment, the processing of the call can be interrupted by the caller, a data processing system used within the call routing system, or an attendant. In a particular embodiment, the call routing system can be used when authenticating a caller or determining an account status of the caller.

Disclosed are systems and methods which utilize information communication systems for transaction and information management. According to embodiments, an automated information management engine is provided enabling and facilitating the purchase of goods and services through various payment options resulting in increased profitability and visibility safely, securely and conveniently. Embodiments utilize a telephony system, and / or other information communication system, having access terminals disposed within a controlled environment facility for use by residents thereof to conduct transactions or other desirable exchanges of information, goods, services, etcetera. Embodiments provide integration across various aspects of transaction and information management, such as prepaid account management, collect calling services, and commissary services, to thereby facilitate seamless user interaction for account deposit, account status inquiry, commissary ordering, and collect calling. Interactive systems of embodiments operate intelligently to facilitate and / or optimize use thereof, such as to identify low account status and implement interaction to solicit deposit of funds.

The present invention teaches methods and systems for providing a gaming server system (Gaming System) for enabling a quality-of-service on-demand (QoS) broadcast system to provide a gaming computer or game console with premium levels of quality-of-service. The gaming server provides premium network connection service levels based upon customer profile, current activity, account status or other criteria.

A communications system and method for handling a call to the system based on whether the caller is a subscriber. In one example, in an information assistance service communications system, if the user is a subscriber, the call may be directed to a first operator device for directory assistance, while if the caller is a non-subscriber, the call may be directed to a special operator device discuss billing and subscription options, for example. In another communications system and method, calls to the system by subscribers are handled based on the status of parameters of the calling subscriber's account, such as usage limits and expiration date of the caller's subscription, for example. In another communications system and method, expiration dates are monitored and notices about the expiration dates are sent to subscribers by a method chosen by the subscriber. Features of these systems and methods may be used together or separately.

A method and software is provided for placing an order for goods and / or services from a remote service provider over a communication network from a subscriber's computer, comprising the steps of: providing preprogrammed software on the subscriber's computer for allowing the subscriber to prepare the order while the subscriber's computer is not connected to a computer server of the remote service provider over the communications network; the subscriber creating the order using the preprogrammed software; the preprogrammed software displaying the subscriber's account status to the subscriber after preparing the order but prior to connecting to the remote service provider over the communications network; and the subscriber forwarding the order for goods and / or services to the remote service provider over the communications network.

A method and system for processing an electronic payment transaction is described herein. The method uses a first computer device configured to access account data from a database subsystem operating at a second computer device. The method includes operating a transaction messaging system (TMS) in a first computer operating environment of the first computer device, operating an account data access system (ADAS) in a second computer operating environment of the first computer device, transmitting a request for account data from the TMS to the ADAS, executing a query for the account data at the database subsystem wherein the query is generated by the ADAS and based on the request for account data, receiving the requested account data at the TMS in response to the query, and processing the payment transaction at the TMS using the received account data.

An authentication challenge system for performing secondary authentication for an account associated with an online store is described. In one embodiment, the authentication challenge system includes a question generation engine, which can derive a series of questions based upon activity associated with a user account of an online store; a network interface, which can transport the series of one or more questions derived by the question generation engine to authenticate the user to the online store; a confidence engine, which can determine a required confidence level for a successful authentication, and can compute a confidence score of the user identity; and a quality engine, which can adjust the question generation engine and the confidence engine based upon an analysis of question and answer metrics across multiple accounts of the online store. The online store can include digital media, such as music, movies, books or applications for electronic computing devices.

A method of analyzing an Internet-based communication session to use a group profile database and alter group profile states using an aggregated function of individual electronic transmissions may include receiving interactions between a visitor device and the web server as a part of a communication session, detecting that the communication session is associated with a characteristic, determining a group profile in a profile database that is associated with a plurality of communication sessions that are also associated with the characteristic, associating the communication session with the group profile, receiving information from the visitor device, determining that a group profile state associated with the group profile should be changed to a higher group profile state based on the information, receiving a request for gated content from the visitor device, and providing the content based on the higher group profile state.

According to an embodiment, status of an account is determined. A plurality of graphic areas is displayed. Each of the graphic areas is associated with a client application. In a first graphic area of the plurality of graphic areas, a first image is displayed that indicates a first status associated with the account. A communication associated with the account is received. In response to receiving the communication, the first image in the first graphic area is replaced with a second image indicative of a second status associated with the account.

Systems and methods for remotely causing a request for authorization to charge a card, that is otherwise active, to be denied. In one embodiment, an access controller receives a call from a card holder and analyzes ANI and DNIS data received during call setup for the call to select a card account and an action (e.g., turn account OFF) to be taken with respect to the card account. The access controller formulates and sends a message to an account authorization processing system to cause the account authorization processing system to thereafter deny requests for authorization to charge the card account. A subsequent call to the access controller from the same caller (i.e., a same ANI) will reverse account closure and allow card authorization to proceed. Feedback, in the form of an Instant Message (IM), email, or audible signal (busy, ringing) when making the call, may be provided to indicate the success of a change to the state of the account. Embodiments that do not rely on PSTN infrastructure are also disclosed.

Systems consistent with the present invention provide financial account management services for user service accounts. Such systems receive requests from users to register with a trusted intermediary. Registration with the intermediary enable users to customize management services to be performed for selected user service accounts. The trusted intermediary server periodically collects account information from provider servers that govern accounts provided to the users. The intermediary server then analyzes the collected account information to determine whether customized management services should be performed. The management services may include sending account status messages to the users and performing automatic payment functions to credit delinquent accounts. Such methods and systems enable users to avoid, for example, penalties and fees associated with mis-managed accounts by allowing the intermediary server to perform proxy management services for users.

This invention can handle a communicable state restored from disconnection of a communication line. According to the invention, if the communication line is disconnected while a client terminal 2 requests to acquire a contents attribute file 47 that corresponds to a set of contents data stored in a hard disk and receives the file 47 and subsequently the communication line restores a communicable state, the client terminal 2 requests accounting status notification information to a portal server 4 and receives accounting status notification images 15 and 16 transmitted to it in response so that it can be notified if the accounting process had been completed by the time when the communication was disconnected while receiving the contents attribute file 47 and subsequently the communication n line restored a communicable state by accounting status notification information so that it can reliably handle the situation that arises when the communication line restores a communicable state from disconnection.