MXPA04012262A - System for account management and method therefor. - Google Patents

Abstract

An account management server stores and operates on a plurality of accounts. Each account includes account user information and an account balance representing a measurement of communication time. The account manager is configured to transfer of at least a portion of an account balance associated with a first account to a second account.

Description

SYSTEM FOR ADMINISTRATION OF ACCOUNT AND METHOD OF THE SAME Technical Field In general, the present invention relates to account management in the field of communication systems, and more particularly, relates to the management of account communication devices, both wireless devices and devices wired, that have capacities of previous payment and / or later payment.

Background of the Invention In recent years, cell phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's), messaging devices and other portable electronic devices, which have communication capabilities, have become a main article of daily life. It is not strange that the average person has more than one communication device. As these devices develop, their prices decrease. With the decrease in the. price, communication devices attract a wider portion of the economic population. The increase in demand and in the revenues generated by the popularity of these devices, allows the expansion of both systems and capabilities, making these REF: 160769 devices are useful in many, places .. This allows to perform the functions of wireless connection with telephony systems, the processing of electronic mail (e-mail), the reproduction of electronic games, access to the Internet and other communication functions that also encourage the increase in the desire of a broad economic population. It is foreseen that as the price decrease continues combined with the expansion of characteristics, use and demand, these devices will become an integral and permanent part of people's daily lives. System operators ("Carriers"), both wireless and wired, struggle to increase their revenues by placing as many handsets with paying customers ("users") as possible. Telephone operators derive their tickets from the use of handsets. It is known that a larger installed base provides a greater possibility of income. Although the different economic demographics and the different social economic levels demand different methods of payment for the various geographical regions, income and credit levels. In a common telephone operator system there are two methods of payment among users, the form of credit payment (that is, the subsequent payment), and the previous form of payment. Credit users are billed, incrementally, based on a criterion "as used" while paying users. before buying incremental blocks of time for communication in the channel of telephone operators. Recently, there has been a notable change in the previous payment scheme. The use of the previous form of payment creates a benefit for the user in the reduction of monetary costs. The user will know the number of blocks of time purchased and remaining and, consequently, can reduce costs. There is no surprise as to the amount of billing at the end of the month. A common scenario would be for parents to buy blocks for the use of their children. This scheme allows the reduction of family costs and a cost-effective communication. The use of the previous form of payment creates guaranteed income, which is beneficial for the telephony operator. Revenue is generated at the time of sale of these blocks of time. Although there may be some income generated from unused time blocks, this is not commonly the case. Unfortunately, it is more likely that some credit users fail to pay what is more than any benefit that comes from unused blocks of prior payment. Although the previous payment block mitigates the possibility of a lack of payment. The form that pre-payment also allows the telephony operator to offer services in lower-income economic populations, reducing the risk of non-payment. A common drawback in the telephony operator account management scheme is that the uninterrupted use of the credit users of the devices generates a constant flow of rents for the telephony operator; while the user of the previous form of payment can only use his device until his respective block of time has been used up. Then, the user of the previous payment method must find a site to buy additional blocks before using the handset. The intermediate time of the inactive channel frustrates the user, and fixes the revenues of the telephony operator while the user locates, and moves to the retail place in order to buy additional blocks. In the infrastructure of transportation of lower social economies is often sporadic this increase of the interval of the inactive channel that aggravates the dilemma or the doubts of election. Therefore, there is a need to overcome the problems of the prior art as discussed previously.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a general aspect, an account management server stores and operates on the basis of one. plurality of accounts. Each account includes the account user information and an account balance that represents a measurement of communication time. The account manager is configured to authorize a transfer, at least, of a portion of an account balance associated with a first account to a second account. The implementations could include one or more of the following characteristics. For example, the account user information could include a plurality of shared users. The account balance could reflect a total balance, a plurality of balances for the different account services, and / or a financial equivalent of the time of communication. In some cases, the account management server can convert communication time measurements into financial equivalents. The account management server may track the use of each of the plurality of accounts and may decrease the associated account balance as required and / or may increase the associated account balance of one. .account as credits are received for this account. For example, the account management server may increase the account balance in response to the receipt of a bank loan, a purchase of airtime credit, an account payment or other financial entry. In some implementations, each account could include account authorization information to gain access to the account and to use the account balance. Examples of account authorization information could include a password, speech recognition, and / or system recognition. The authorization could include authorization over the air when a communication device is authenticated for use and / or when the keyboard entries are recognized by the account management server. The account management system could also include a transaction point connected, operatively, with the account management server so that it allows users to manage different accounts. The aspects of the present invention can be implemented by means of an apparatus and / or by a computer program stored in a medium capable of being read by computer. The medium capable of being read by computer may comprise a disk, a client device, a network device and / or a propagated signal. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description, including the drawings, and also from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying figures, wherein the same reference numbers are related to identical or functionally similar elements through all separate views and which together with the detailed description below, are incorporated and are part of the Specification, serve to further illustrate the different modalities and to explain the different principles and advantages, all in accordance with the present invention. The present invention will be described by way of example modalities, though not by limitations, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and wherein the same references denote similar elements, and in which: Figure 1 is an electronic block diagram which illustrates an account management system. Figure 2 is an electronic block diagram illustrating a communication device for use within the account management system of Figure 1. Figures 3 and 4 are flow flow diagrams illustrating the different modes of operation of the device. communication of Figure 2. Figure 5 is an operational flow chart illustrating a mode of operation of an account management server operating within the account management system of Figure 1.

Detailed Description As required, the detailed embodiments of the present invention are described in this document; however, it is understood that the described modes are simply examples of the invention, which may be included in different forms. Therefore, the specific and functional structural details described in this document should not be construed as limiting, but simply as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for the teaching of a person skilled in the art who employs in a variety of ways. the present invention, in virtually any suitably detailed structure. In addition, the terms and phrases used in this document are not intended to be limiting, rather, they are intended to provide a description of the invention so that it can be clearly understood. The terms "a" or "an", as used in this document, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term other, as used in this document, is defined at least as a second or more. The terms including and / or having, as used in this document, are defined as comprising (ie, in open language). The term "coupled", as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. The following terms: program, software application and the like as used in this document, are defined as a sequence of instructions designed for execution in a computer system. A program, a computer program, or a software application could include a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an application capable of being executed, an applet (that is, a small application). of software in the Java programming language), a servlet (that is, a program written in the Java language that is executed within the framework of a network service and that receives and responds to the requests of one or more clients), a code of source, an object code, a shared library / dynamic load library and / or another sequence of instructions designed for execution in a computer system. . The present invention, as described herein, is an account management system that provides the ability to share airtime balances within given accounts, both among users and in multiple communication devices.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, Figure 1 illustrates an account management system 100. The account management system 100 of Figure 1 includes an account management server 105 connected, communicatively, by means of a network 125 with a plurality of communication devices 130. The plurality of communication devices 130 may include, for example, an Internet device 135, a wireless device 140, a point-to-point device 145 and other equivalent devices of communication 150, as is well known in the art. Similarly, the plurality of communication devices 130 may include any number of wireless or wired devices, which may be mobile telephones, Personal Digital Assistants, Computers, push-to-talk mobile radios, point-to-point communication devices, telephones , laptops, two-way messaging devices with audio capability, network communication devices, Internet communication devices, or the like. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that although in this example mode the network 125 may be a wireless network, a wired network or a combination thereof, in the description, the term "network" and the term "communication devices" refer to any mentioned communication network or device or to an equivalent device. A person skilled in the art would recognize that the networks support a plurality of communication devices, which could operate in one of the networks or in a combination of the networks. It would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that network 125 can be a first generation mobile analog telephone service, a second generation (2G) mobile digital telephone service (including 2.5G and 2.75G generations), a mobile telephony service with third generation (3G) Internet capability, a messaging network, a conventional PSTN, or similar. In addition, the communications standard of the network 125 of Figure 1 may be the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), the Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), the General Radio Packet Service (GPRS), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Twisted Pair Lead Line or similar. In a similar way, it will be. appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the network 125, in conjunction with the present invention, can operate using any wireless channel, eg, a mobile cellular telephone channel, mobile radio channels, (including radio channels of press to speak), channels. One and two way messaging, data channels or any equivalent channel. In addition, the network 125 can operate using other types of communication channels, such as the Internet, infrared channels, wired channels, short messaging systems (SMS), and / or wireless technology channels called Bluetooth. In the following description, the term "network" refers to any wireless communication system or wired communication system or device of the communication systems discussed above or the following devices or an equivalent device. Preferably, the account management server 105 stores a plurality of accounts 110, wherein each of the accounts 115 has an account balance 120 associated therewith. For example, a first account has a first account balance and a second account has a second account balance as illustrated in Figure 1. The account balance can be a measurement of communication time or a financial equivalent of communication time. . In addition, the account balance can be a balance. total or a plurality of balances for different account services. Preferably, the account management server 105 includes a server processor 155 connected, operatively, with the stored plurality of accounts 110 and this can be programmed in order to operate based on the plurality of. accounts 110 in response to the different events and entries received through the network 125 or other means of communication. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the operation of the server processor 155 may be implemented in a set of hardware circuits or may alternatively be programmed in software. In one embodiment, the processor 155 may be programmed with a predetermined algorithm in order to convert the communication time measurements into their financial equivalents or vice versa. This type of algorithm can be adjusted as the financial equivalent rates are adjusted. For example, software programs can be coded or programmed in the server processor 155 during manufacturing, they can also be programmed over the air based on the customer's subscription, or they can be applications that can be downloaded. It will be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art that other programming methods can be used in order to program the server processor. Preferably, the server processor 155 tracks the use of each of the plurality of accounts 110 and decreases the associated account balance 120 of the used account 115 as required. Similarly, server processor 155 increases the associated account balance 120 of account 115 as credits for this account are received. For example, a bank loan, a purchase of airtime credit, an account payment or other financial entries may be received to increase the account balance 120. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of accounts 110 includes the information User account and account authorization information (not shown) to get access to the account and to use the available account balance. The authorization can be in the form of a password, it can be generated by the user, generated by the system, or predetermined, and can be in the form of numbers, letters, combinations of both, speech recognition, system recognition, ( that is, the identification (ID) of the caller, or an electronic serial number) or an equivalent. The authorization can be presented as a function of the transfer (not shown) or through the required user interaction (not shown). In one embodiment, the authorization stage (not shown) is not present or is not required. In one embodiment, the server processor 155 receives requests for use of each account and verifies the authorization of the requestor before allowing this use. The authorization can be, for example, an authorization over the air when the communication device is authenticated in the system for its use. In a similar way, the. authorization can be entered by a keyboard in the account management server 105 at the time of purchase of the communication device and the initiation of the associated account. It would be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the pre-approved authorization may be stored in the account management server 105. A person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the account management server 105 may reside within the plurality of communication devices 130, such as its own device, as part of a larger network 125 or networks, or as any combination of the devices and systems mentioned above. In one embodiment, the account management system 100 includes a transaction point 165 connected, operatively, to the account management server 105. The transaction point allows the user to manage their various accounts, such as the increase in balances, the consultation of account balances, previous authorizations and the status of pending requests and equivalent operations. For example, the transaction point 165 can be communicatively connected to the account management system 100 through the network 125, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), the Internet or an equivalent network.

Figure 2 is an electronic block diagram of a suitable communication device 200 for use within the account management system 100 of Figure 1, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The communication device 200 can be, for example, any of the plurality of communication devices 130 as illustrated and discussed for Figure 1, such as the Internet device 135, the point-to-point device 145, or the device wireless 140. As illustrated, the communication device 200 of Figure 2 includes a transceiver 205, a processor 210, a user input 220, a display 225 and a memory 230. The transceiver 205 communicates with the network 125 with the object to send and receive signals. Preferably, the transceiver 205 employs conventional modulation and demodulation techniques to receive the communication signals transmitted by the network 125 to the communication device 200. In addition, the transceiver 205 transmits signals by means of an antenna in response to commands that come from of processor 210. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that transceiver 205 can be a single electronic circuit with the ability to perform both functions, or alternatively, it can be an individual receiver circuit and a transmitter circuit. It will be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art that other similar electronic block diagrams of the same type or of alternative types can be used to handle the communication requirements of the communication device 200. The transceiver 205 is operatively connected , with the processor 210. The processor 210 uses conventional signal processing techniques to carry out the processing of the received signals. In addition, the processor 210 sends commands to various operating components of the communication device 200, as described in this document. The processor 210, in accordance with the present invention, includes an account administrator 215, which performs the various account management functions described in this document. The account manager 215 can be implemented in the hardware circuits or alternatively, it can be programmed in the software. Software programs, for example, can be hard-coded or can be programmed into the processor 210 during manufacturing, can be programmed over the air based on the customer's subscription, or can be applications susceptible to be downloaded. It will be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art that other programming methods can be used to carry out the programming of the account manager 215. In order to perform the necessary functions of the example communication device 200, the processor 210 it is connected to the display 225. Based on the reception of a signal, the processor 210 can generate, for example, a command signal on the display 225 in order to create a visual notification of the reception of the signal. When the display 225 receives the command signal that comes from the processor 210, a notification may be displayed or displayed on the screen. For example, the display 225 may display accounts, balances, airtime quantities, messages received and sent to the network 125, user shared information, menu items, and the like. The screen 225 can be, for example, a liquid crystal display, a dot matrix screen, or an equivalent. The screen 225 can be a text or graphic screen in color or in gray scale or an equivalent screen. Screen 225 may include indicators and / or advertisements, or the equivalent, which would allow the user to visually determine the status of communication device 200. In addition, processor 210 is connected to user input 220. User input 220 can include one or more buttons (not shown), a series of button keys, a voice response from the user of the device, a manual switch with associated circuits (not shown), a momentary contact switch with the associated circuits (not shown), a push button with the associated circuits (not shown), or any user activation signal or some other similar method of manual response initiated by a user of communication device 200. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that user input 220 may be a combination of switches or switches, buttons, or equivalents that have the ability to generate a signal to the processor 210, such as an interrupt signal or a shared line signal by interrogation that is detected by the processor 210, representing a signal of activation. The processor 210 is connected to the memory 230 and by means of which it operates the functions having the characteristics of the communication device 200. Preferably, the memory 230 comprises a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory ( ROM), and / or a read-only memory capable of being electrically erased and programmed (EEPROM) (not shown), a flash memory, or an equivalent memory. Preferably, the memory 230 includes memory locations that store one or more of the shared users 250 and further comprises memory locations that store a plurality of accounts 235. Each of the accounts 240 of the plurality of accounts 235 has a balance of account 245 associated with it. In one embodiment of the present invention, the account balance 245 is stored within the memory 230 together with the account information 240, such as user authorizations, shared users and the like. In accordance with the present invention, the account manager 215 is adapted for the purpose of managing the use of the plurality of accounts 235 by means of one or more users. For example, account manager 215 tracks account usage, account balances, account access authorization criteria of shared users 250, and the like. Further, in response to user input 220, account manager 215 performs different operations, such as increasing and decreasing one or more of the plurality of accounts 235, transferring balances from one account to another, and authorization of transfers of at least one portion of an account balance to another shared user (ie, one of the shared users 250 that are stored within the memory 230 or another balance requestor). Similarly, in response to a message received from the network 125, the account manager 215 performs various operations, such as increasing and decreasing one or more of the plurality of accounts 235, the transfer of balance sheets of a account to another, and authorization to transfer at least a portion of. an account balance to another shared user (ie, one of the shared users 250 that is stored within the memory 230 or another balance transferee). In one embodiment, the account administrator 215 can also increase the account balances in response to the transfers received from other shared users, which are captured through the network 125. The accounts 235 mentioned above can be paid prior, subsequent payment, credit cards, debit cards, bank accounts, ATM machines (ATM's) or similar. A person of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize that the example communication device could be a wired communication device with the transceiver 205 matched to a modem so that it can communicate with the network 125. Figure 3 is an operational diagram of flow illustrating a mode of operation of communication device 200 of Figure 2. In specific, Figure 3 illustrates the operation of the communication device 200 when the communication device 200 is the transient device. As illustrated, the operation starts with Step 300 in which the communication device 200 is in the standby mode. The standby mode is commonly a low battery mode in which the communication device 200 is waiting for inputs. Next, in Step 305 the operation inquires about the receipt of a user input to effect a balance transfer. For example, account manager 215 may receive a signal that comes from user input 220 indicating a user's desire to initiate an account balance transfer. When no user input for an account balance transfer is detected in Step 305, the operation continues with Step 310, in which the operation consults for the receipt of a transfer request. For example, the communication device 200 may receive a request for an account balance transfer from one of the plurality of communication devices 130 via the network 125. Similarly, the communication device 200 may receive a requesting an account balance transfer that comes from the account management server 105 through the network 125. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the request for an account balance transfer can also be received from alternative sources that are not illustrated in this document, such as a secondary communication device or the like. When no transfer request is detected in Step 310, the operation cycles return to the standby mode of Step 300. When the receipt of a transfer request is detected in Step 310, the operation continues with Step 315, in which the operation determines whether the request has been accepted or not. For example, account administrator 215 may display the request on screen 225 and user input 220 may be used to accept or reject the transfer request. Similarly, the account administrator 215 may compare the information contained in the account balance transfer request, such as the identification of the applicants with the authorization information, such as the shared users 250 that are stored in the memory. 230 and either the acceptance or rejection of the petition. In one modality, the user can review an account balance as part of the process of making the decision to accept Stage 315. For example, the account balance can be sent to the device of the persons making the transfer or transferors as a separate message or within the account balance transfer request. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the account balance can be automatically or alternatively sent in response to a user request. In an alternative mode, the account balance is stored in the device memory of the transferrs to effect recovery by the user as required. When the request is denied (ie, rejected) in Step 315, the operation continues in Step 320, in which communication device 200 sends a denial via network 125 to the requester. Then, the cycles of operation return to standby mode of Step 300. When the request is accepted in Step 315 or when a user entry requesting a transfer is received in Step 305, the operation continues in Step 325, in which an account is selected for a balance transfer. For example, account manager 215 may select one of the plurality of accounts 235 that are stored in memory 230. Alternately, account manager 215 can display or display all the plurality of accounts 235 on screen 225 and the account can be selected by user input 220. Similarly, the server processor 155 of the account management server 105 may select one of the plurality of accounts 110 stored within the account management server 105. The operation continues in Step 328, which is identified in the Figure as "correct account", which is where the confirmation of account. For example, the account manager displays the selected account on screen 225 with the acceptance or denial announcement. The selection may be with user input 220 or alternatively, without user input 220 while a countdown timer, before the interval, may signal the acceptance or denial operation, or a similar confirmation operation. If the denial operation was selected, the operation would return to the Account Selection Stage 325. In one embodiment, the correct Account Stage 328 is not present and the operation continues in the Air Time Amount Selection Stage 330. A then, in Step 330, the amount of airtime is selected. For example, the account manager 215 can be adapted to select an amount of airtime from the account balance of the account selected to effect the transfer based on a predetermined set of rules. The set of rules or standards may include, for example, an algorithm to calculate the amount that will be transferred based on the account balance. Alternatively, the set of rules may include the decoding of a value contained in a received message. Alternatively, account manager 215 can display the account balance of the selected account on screen 225 and the amount of air time of the account balance can be selected by user entry 220. In addition, the account administrator 215 it can display a plurality of values susceptible to being selected on the screen 225 and one of these values can be selected by the user input 220. Similarly, the server processor 155 of the account management server 105 can select an amount Airtime of the account balance of the amount selected to effect the transfer based on a predetermined set of rules as described in this document. Then, the operation continues in the correct Quantity Stage 333, where the selected amount of air time amount confirmation takes place. For example, the account manager displays the selected amount of airtime on screen 225 with the acceptance or denial announcement. The selection can be made using user input 220 or alternatively, it can be a consent or user consent operation with a countdown interval before user input 220, or any other equivalent confirmation operation. If the denial operation were selected, this operation would return to the Air Time Amount Selection Step 335. In one embodiment, the correct Quantity Stage 333 is not present and the operation continues in Step 335. Then, in the Stage 335, the operation verifies the validation of the transfer. For example, the validation may include the verification in which the account and the amount of airtime selected are correct. Alternatively, the validation may include the entry time request authorization of the server processor 155 of the account management server 105 or the account manager 215 of the communication device 200. In addition, the validation may include a series of recognitions between the communication device 200 and the account management server 105 and / or the request communication device. When the validation is not correct in Step 335, the operation cycles return to Stage 315, in which the user can accept the request or can send a denial. When the validation is correct in Step 335, the operation continues in Step 340, in which the transfer of the account balance is sent. The operation of Step 340 may include, for example, effecting a decrease of the account balance within the transfer or transferring device and also performing an increase in the account balance within the assignee device. The increase and decrease could simply happen within each device or alternatively, it can also be stored within the account management server 105. Next, in Step 345 the transfer of the account balance is confirmed. For example, messages can be sent from. confirmation from each of the transferring and transferee devices to / from the account management server and vice versa. In one modality, the transfer confirmations are shown on the screen of each of the transfer and assignee devices for user notification and interaction. The cycles of operation return to the standby mode of Step 300. Figure 4 is an operational flow chart illustrating one embodiment of the operation of the communication device of Figure 2. Specifically, Figure 4 illustrates the operation of the device communication 200 when the communication device 200 is a transferee device. As illustrated, the operation starts with Step 400, in which the communication device 200 is in a standby mode. The standby mode is commonly a low battery consumption mode in which the communication device 200 is waiting for inputs. Next, in Step 405 the operation consults the receipt of a user input from a balance transfer. For example, account manager 215 may receive a signal that comes from user input 220 indicating a user's desire to initiate a transfer request for account balance. When an account balance transfer user entry is detected in Step 405, the operation continues with Step 410, in which the communication device 200 sends an airtime request. For example, the communication device 200 may send a request for an account balance transfer directly to one of the plurality of communication devices 130 via the network 125. Similarly, the communication device 200 may send a request from an account balance transfer to account management server 105 via network 125. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the request for an account balance transfer can also be sent by alternative sources. , which are not illustrated in this document, such as a secondary communication device or the like. Next, in Step 415, the operation determines whether the request has been accepted or not. For example, the account administrator 215 of the transferring device can display the request received from the assignee device on the display 225 and the user input 220 can be used to accept or reject the transfer request. Similarly, the account administrator 215 of the transferring device can compare the information contained in the account balance transfer request, such as the identification of the applicants with the authorization information for example, the shared users 250 that are stored. in memory 230 either to accept or reject the request. When the request is denied (ie, to be rejected) in Step 415, the operation proceeds to Step 420 in which the communication device 200 receives a denial by the network 125 and denial is announced on the screen 225 of the request device or is otherwise communicated to the applicant. So, the operation cycles return to standby mode of Step 400. Returning to Step 405, when no account balance transfer user input is detected, the operation continues in Step 425, in which the operation queries the receipt of an account balance transfer receipt. For example, the assignee device may receive an account balance transfer from a transferring device as previously described in this document in FIG. 3. When no transfer receipt is detected in Step 425, the operation cycles return to the wait for. Step 400. When the request is accepted in Step 415 or when an entry for a transfer is received in Step 425, the operation continues in Step 430, in which the account in the transferee is increased with the amount of airtime that is being transferred. Next, in Step 435, the balance transfer account is confirmed. For example, confirmation messages may be sent from each of the transferring and assignee devices to / from the account management server and vice versa. In one modality, the transfer confirmations are shown on the screen of each of the transfer and assignee devices for user notification and interaction. The operation cycles return to the standby mode of Step 400. Figure 5 is an operational flow chart illustrating a mode of operation of the account management server 105 that operates within the account management system 100 of FIG. 1. The operation starts with Step 500, in which the account management server 105 is in standby mode. Next, in Step 505, the operation inquires about receipt of a request for an account balance transfer. The request may be received, for example, from one of the plurality of communication devices 130 via network 125. When no request is detected in Step 505, the operation cycles return to stand-by mode of the Stage. 500. When a request is detected in Step 505, the operation continues with Step 510, in which the account management server 105 determines whether the request for transfer of account balance is from a transferor. When the request is not from a transferor in Step 510, the operation continues in Step 515, in which the account management server 105 determines whether the request is from a transferee. When the request is not from an assignee in Step 515, the request is assumed to be an error and the operation cycles return to standby mode of Step 500. When the request is from a transferee, such as a communication device Upon receipt in Step 515, the operation continues in Step 520, in which the account management server 105 would determine whether the transfer is authorized by the transferor associated with the account from which the balance transfer is requested. For example, the account management server 105 may send an authorization request to the transferor and await an authorization. Alternatively, the account management server 105 may have an authorization from the transferor for one or more receiving devices that allow the transfer of the account balance of one or more accounts. When the authorization is not transferred in Step 520, the operation continues in Step 525, in which a denial of the transfer is sent. Preferably, the denial is sent to the request device, which initiated the request. transfer. Then, the cycles of operation return to standby mode of Step 500. When an authorization is received in Step 520 or the request is from a transferor in Step 510, the operation continues with Step 530, in which the account management server 105 determines whether the transferor's account is valid or not. For example, the account management server 105 determines whether the account from which the balance transfer is requested is active in the system (ie, if it is stored within the plurality of accounts 110). Similarly, the account management server 105 determines whether balance transfers are allowed based on the associated account. When the account is not valid in Step 530, the operation continues in Step 533, in which a transfer denial is sent. Preferably, the negation is sent to both the requesting device and the transferring device. Then, the operation cycles return to standby mode of Step 50Q. When the transferor's account is valid in Step 530, the operation continues in Step 540, in which the account management server 105 determines whether the current account balance for the account includes sufficient available funds to enable the execution of the transaction. transfer. When funds are not available, the cycles of operation return to Stage 535 in which a denial is sent as previously described in this document. When the balance is available in Step 540, the operation continues with Step 545, in which the transfer is initiated. The operation of Step 545 may include, for example, effecting a decrease in the account balance within the transferring device and an increase in the account balance within the transferee device. The increase and decrease can only happen within each device or alternatively, they can also be stored within the account management server 105. Next, in Step 550 the transfer of the account balance is confirmed. For example, confirmation messages may be sent from each of the transferring and transferee devices to / from the account management server and vice versa. In one modality, the transfer confirmations are shown on the screen of each of the transfer and assignee devices for user notification and interaction. The operation cycles return to the standby mode of Step 500. The present invention can be performed within an individual system or multiple systems communicating together. Systems can communicate, for example, with one or more multiple protocols in one or more multiple countries. In one embodiment, a person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize the ability to transfer blocks of time from a user in Country A to a user who is in Country B. The present invention can be carried out in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. A system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention can be implemented in a centralized mode in a computer system, or in a distributed mode where the different elements are separated through several interconnected computer systems. Any type of computer system is adequate - or another device adapted to carry out the methods described in this document. A normal combination of hardware and software could be a general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, when loaded and executed, controls the computer system, so that it performs the methods described in this document. The present invention can also be included in a computer program product, which comprises all the features that allow the implementation of the methods described in this document, and which - when loaded in a computer system - has the capacity to carry out these methods. The means of computer program or computer program in the present contextmeans any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions that are intended to be provided in order to cause a system to have the ability to process information so that it performs a particular function either directly or after any or both of the following points a) the conversion to another language, code or notation; and b) reproduction in a different material form. Each computer system may include, among others, one or more computers and at least one computer-readable medium that allows a computer to read data, instructions, messages or message packets, and other information capable of being read by computer that comes from a medium that can be read by computer. The medium capable of being read by computer could include a non-volatile memory, such as ROM, flash memory, disk drive memory, CD-ROM, and other permanent storage. In addition, a computer means may include, for example, volatile storage such as RAM, buffers, cache or immediate memory and network circuits. In addition, the computer-readable medium may comprise information capable of being read by a computer in a transient state medium such as a network link and / or a network interface, including a wired network or a wireless network, which allow that a computer reads this information that can be read by computer. Although the specific embodiments of the invention have been described, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted to the specific embodiments, therefore, it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all of these applications, modifications and embodiments that are within the scope of the present invention. The various example modalities of the present methods and systems are presented in this document and it is intended that these examples illustrate the possible implementations of the various modalities and / or aspects of the present methods and systems. It can be appreciated, that it is mainly intended that these examples be for illustration purposes. No particular aspects or aspects of the modalities of the method and example system described in this document are intended to limit the scope of the invention. The terms "computer" and "computer system" as applied in this document may include, without limitation, one or more of the following devices: a wireless personal computer, a portable laptop computer of type x laptop 'an assistant personal digital (PDA), a wireless locator, a "computer" can be a microcomputer, a minicomputer, a laptop personal computer, a personal data assistant, a cell phone, a locator or two-way finder, a processor and any other computerized device that has the ability to transmit, receive and / or process data through a shared network. The term "means capable of being read by computer" is defined in this document that is understood by those skilled in the art. It can be seen that the various method steps described in this document can be carried out, in certain modalities, using instructions stored in a medium that can be read by computer or in means that direct a computer system to carry out the method steps. A computer-readable medium may include, for example, memory devices, such as floppy disks, compact disks or both read-only and write varieties, optical disk drives and hard disk drives. A medium that can be read by computer can also include memory storage that can be physical, virtual, permanent, temporary, semi-permanent and / or semi-temporal. A medium that can be read by computer can also include one or more data signals that are transmitted on one or more telephony operator waves. It can be seen that, in some embodiments of the present methods and systems described herein, a single component can be replaced by multiple components, and that multiple components can be replaced by a single component, in order to carry out a given function. Except where this substitution is not operative to practice the present methods and systems, this substitution is within the scope of the present invention. Where the particular embodiments of the invention have been described herein for the purpose of illustrating the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the invention, it can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous variations of the. details, materials and arrangement of the parts may be made within the principle and scope of the invention without departing from it as described in the appended claims. A particular choice of nomenclature that identifies an element OR elements of the present methods and systems, for example, is simply intended for convenience of description.

It is noted that in relation to this date the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (20)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. An account management system, characterized in that it comprises: an account management server that stores and operates on the basis of a plurality of accounts, each account includes the account user information and an account balance comprising a communication time measurement, wherein the account manager is configured to transfer, at least, a portion of an account balance associated with a first account to a second account. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the account user information comprises a plurality of shared users. 3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the account balance comprises a total balance. 4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the account balance comprises a plurality of balances for different account services. 5. The system according to claim 1 ,. characterized in that the account balance comprises a financial equivalent of the communication time. 6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the account management server converts the communication time measurements into financial equivalents. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the account management server tracks the use of each of the plurality of accounts and decreases the associated account balance as required. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the account administration server increases the associated account balance of the account as credits are received for this account. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that the account management server increases an account balance in response to the receipt of one or more of: a bank loan, a purchase of airtime credit, a payment of account and other financial entries. 10. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that each account also includes the account authorization information to access the account and to use the account balance. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the account authorization comprises one or more of a password, VOICE recognition and system recognition. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the authorization comprises the authorization through the air when a communication device is authenticated for use. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the authorization comprises keyboard entries that are recognized by the account management server. The system according to claim 10, further characterized in that it comprises a transaction point connected, operatively, to the account management server to allow users to handle different accounts. 15. An account management method, characterized in that it comprises: the storage of a plurality of accounts, each account includes the account user information and an account balance that is constituted by a measurement of the communication time; and the transfer of at least a portion of an account balance associated with a first account to a second account. 16. The method according to claim 15, further characterized by comprising the authorization to access a mode account. that the account balance can be used. 17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the authorization comprises allowing authorization over the air when a communication device is authenticated for use. 18. The method according to claim 16uncle. , characterized in that the authoriza comprises the recogni of the keyboard inputs. 19. A computer program stored in a medium capable of being read by computer, characterized in that it comprises the instrucs for: the storage and opera based on a plurality of accounts, each account includes the account user informa and a balance of account that is constituted of a measurement of the time of communica; and the authorization of a transfer of at least a portion of an account balance associated with a first account to a second account. 20. The program according to claim 19, characterized in that the means capable of being read by computer comprises at least one disk, a device and a propagated signal.