WO2001003415A1 - Procédé de distribution d'information - Google Patents

Procédé de distribution d'information Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001003415A1
WO2001003415A1 PCT/US2000/018065 US0018065W WO0103415A1 WO 2001003415 A1 WO2001003415 A1 WO 2001003415A1 US 0018065 W US0018065 W US 0018065W WO 0103415 A1 WO0103415 A1 WO 0103415A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
data
information
point
user
control location
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/018065
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Bradley James Turkington
Glen David Jones
Anton Etienne Kading
Original Assignee
Brightpoint Sa (Pty) Limited
Brightpoint, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Brightpoint Sa (Pty) Limited, Brightpoint, Inc. filed Critical Brightpoint Sa (Pty) Limited
Priority to AU57823/00A priority Critical patent/AU5782300A/en
Publication of WO2001003415A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001003415A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/47—Fraud detection or prevention means
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/80—Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • H04M17/20—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/01—Details of billing arrangements
    • H04M2215/0148—Fraud detection or prevention means
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/01—Details of billing arrangements
    • H04M2215/0152—General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/32—Involving wireless systems

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the distribution of information.
  • a cellular phone There are a variety of systems available for financially accounting for the use of a cellular phone.
  • payment is made in advance for access to a cellular network.
  • a user may purchase from a dealer a card, of a specified monetary value, which carries a recharge number which is used for authorising further use of a cellular phone.
  • the data on the card is entered by a user or subscriber, normally through the medium of the cellular phone, and using procedures and techniques which are known in the art.
  • the use of the cellular phone is then authorised for a further period.
  • each card is determined by its designated monetary value.
  • Each dealer must keep an adequate amount of the cards in stock to meet the needs of customers. This inevitably poses a security problem for there is an ever- present danger of theft.
  • Another disadvantage, at least to the dealer, is the investment in a number of cards, which must be kept as stock, to meet customer requirements.
  • the invention is concerned with a method of distribi ting information to a user which enables the risk which is associated with the in-house storage of the information to be reduced.
  • the invention provides a method of distributing information to a user which includes the steps of;
  • the remote point may be the distribution point.
  • the method includes the further step of loading the received information of step (c) into the apparatus or a network associated with the apparatus, or the user. This step may take place at the distribution point.
  • step (c) the received information of step (c) is directly loaded into the apparatus.
  • the entered data may, additionally, identify the distribution point or a dealer at the distribution point.
  • the method may include the steps of encrypting the data which is entered at the distribution point and of transmitting the data in an encrypted form to the control location.
  • the method may include the steps of encrypting the allocated information at the control location and of transmitting the encrypted allocated information from the control location.
  • the information may take on any suitable form.
  • the information is a recharge number and the data which is entered at the distribution point identifies a cellular phone of the user.
  • the recharge number may have a composition which is known in the art and, for example, may include at least two components such as a serial number and an access code. It is possible, in respect of one transaction, to transmit multiple serial numbers and access codes.
  • a message may be transmitted from the control location ;o the remote point, indicating non-validation of the d-'.ta.
  • the method may include the step of printing, at the distribution point, one or more hard copy versions of data generated or processed in preceding steps of the method.
  • the transmission of data to the control location may be effected at least partially by wireless means.
  • the transmission of data from the control location to the remote point may be effected, at least partially, by wireless means.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram representation of apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention
  • Figure 2 is a block diagram representation of a point of sale terminal used in the system of Figure 1 ,
  • Figure 3 is a flow chart representation of one method of distributing recharge numbers for cellular phones according to the invention, and Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a variation of the invention.
  • FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a plurality of point of sale terminals, designated 10(1 ), 10(2) 10(N), respectively, a short message service centre (SMSC) 12, a server 14 and a short message peer to peer (SMPP) fixed line link 16 between the server and the short message service centre 12.
  • SMSC short message service centre
  • SMPP short message peer to peer
  • the point of sale terminals may vary in number and location according to requirements and existing dealer establishments. Each point of sale terminal is associated with a respective dealer and is used by the dealer to distribute air time and service fee cards to an end user or customer. If, however, a service fee is included in an air time card then the dealer will distribute the air time cards only.
  • FIG. 2 schematically illustrates functional components of a point of sale terminal 10.
  • the terminal includes a facility 18 for reading a swipe card which is magnetically or electronically encoded, a keypad 20 for entering data, a display 22, a printer 24, a processor 26 and a transmitter/receiver unit 28. It is to be understood that these components are given merely by way of a non- limiting example.
  • a subscriber requiring a recharge number approaches a dealer (30) with a point of sale terminal 10.
  • the subscriber 32 requests an air time card from the dealer.
  • the air time card includes a service fee.
  • the dealer activates the point of sale terminal 10 and a sales menu is displayed on the display 22 (step 34).
  • the dealer (step 36) requests a recharge number of a denomination i.e. monetary value as specified by the subscriber.
  • the processor 26 then prompts the dealer, via the display 22, for the subscriber's cellular phone number which is referred to as the msisdn number, and this number, supplied by the subscriber, is entered via the keypad 20 into the point of sale terminal (step 38).
  • the dealer has a personal swipe card which is encoded in a manner known in the art with an identification number which is uniquely associated with the dealer or a sales representative at the dealer.
  • the card is swiped through the reader 18 (step 40) to confirm the sale of the recharge number (step 42).
  • the data which has been entered via the keypad and the card reader is encoded by the processor 26, using a unique algorithm (step 44) and the encrypted message is transferred to the transmitter unit 28.
  • the transmitter making use of the GSM with which the cellular phone is associated, transmits in a wireless manner the encryoted data to the short 5 message service centre 12 which is the server handling the SM5 traffic.
  • the received message (block 46) is transmitted via a direct diginet line using the short message peer to peer protocol 16 to the server 14.
  • the received data is decrypted by the server and then undergoes a validation 0 process (step 48). During this process the dealer point of sale unit number, the dealer code and the subscriber msisdn are verified.
  • step 50 If the validation procedure is unsuccessful then a message to this effect is generated and encrypted for subsequent processing (step 50). On the other 5 hand if the validation procedure is successful then the server allocates a recharge card number of the specified denomination which contains at least a serial number and access number, to the transaction in question (step 52). Data relating to the allocated recharge number is encrypted in a return message (step 50). 0
  • the encrypted message is transmitted from the server to the short message service centre 1 across fixed lines using the short message peer to peer protocol 16.
  • the dedicated short message service centre 1 receives the encrypted message 52 and then, using the GSM network, generates and transmits a short message service to the respective point of sale terminal 10 where the message is received by the unit 28 and decrypted by the processor 26 (54).
  • the printer 24. in a step 56 generates two hard cr pies of the transaction which has taken place.
  • the data which is printed may vary according to requirement but normally will include the date and time of the transaction, a transaction number, the serial and access numbers embodied in the recharge card number and the denomination thereof.
  • One copy is given as a receipt to the subscriber and a second copy goes to the dealer. The second copy does not contain the serial
  • a final step (58) the subscriber pays the dealer for the value of the card.
  • the subscriber then follows a prescribed normal procedure for loading the recharge number into the cellular phone identified by the msisdn previously referred to.
  • a primary benefit of the method of the invention is that it enables the in-house storage of high value recharge cards, at each dealer, to be avoided. This in turn reduces capital investment and lessens the possibility of theft or fraud.
  • the system is capable of functioning effectively, primarily because the wireless protocol provides an easy and stable means of high speed communication. Use is made of the GSM network, which already exists, and which provides substantial coverage. Fixed lines are only used at the control location for direct connection to the server 14.
  • step 58 can be simplified in that when a transa tio ⁇ has been validated a procedure can be followed which obviates the need for a subscriber to load the air time manually into the cellular phone.
  • the data relating to the air time can be transmitted to and loaded directly into the cellular phone without manual intervention.
  • SMSC short message service centre
  • H R home location register
  • gateway mobile switching centre (b) gateway mobile switching centre (GMSC) - this is an optional unit and is normally used in bigger networks for interfacing to the PSTN, Voicemail, O 01/03415
  • SMSC or international routing
  • MSC mobile switching centre
  • VLR1 visitor location register
  • a message prepared for direct transmission over the core infrastructure is referred to as a USSD message (unstructured supplementary service data message).
  • a point of sale terminal 10 is used, essentially in the manner which has been described hereinbefore, to interface with a client at a dealer, to ascertain a client's requirements and. ultimately, to deliver information to the client after a valid transaction has been completed.
  • the terminal 10, see Figure 4, generates a USSD message 60 which is then transferred, wirelessly, to an MSC (62) which, accessing and interacting with the VLR (64) and HLR (66) , directs the message to an MSC (68).
  • the message then passes through suitable termination equipment (70) which interfaces with the server 48.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé de distribution d'information à un utilisateur, ce procédé consistant notamment à saisir dans un appareil des données permettant d'identifier cet utilisateur de manière unique. Ce procédé consiste également à définir une valeur monétaire associée à cette information et à transmettre ces données à un lieu de commande qui reçoit et valide les données transmises. Dans la présente invention, on valide ces données en transmettant l'information affectée du lieu de commande à un point éloigné, ainsi qu'au point éloigné qui reçoit cette information transmise.
PCT/US2000/018065 1999-07-01 2000-06-30 Procédé de distribution d'information WO2001003415A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU57823/00A AU5782300A (en) 1999-07-01 2000-06-30 Information distribution method

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA992132 1999-07-01
ZA99/2132 1999-07-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001003415A1 true WO2001003415A1 (fr) 2001-01-11

Family

ID=25587622

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2000/018065 WO2001003415A1 (fr) 1999-07-01 2000-06-30 Procédé de distribution d'information

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU5782300A (fr)
WO (1) WO2001003415A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20160155198A1 (en) * 2014-12-02 2016-06-02 Yahoo Japan Corporation Distribution apparatus, distribution method, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5740247A (en) * 1995-12-22 1998-04-14 Pitney Bowes Inc. Authorized cellular telephone communication payment refill system
WO1998018251A2 (fr) * 1996-10-23 1998-04-30 Philips Electronics N.V. Mecanisme de paiement pour service de telecommunication mobile
EP0848537A1 (fr) * 1996-12-12 1998-06-17 E-Plus Mobilfunk GmbH Procédé et dispositif pour recharger/réutiliser une carte téléphonique pour téléphones mobiles
WO1999004548A1 (fr) * 1997-07-17 1999-01-28 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Procede de prepaiement automatise destine aux terminaux mobiles
US5909485A (en) * 1996-03-07 1999-06-01 France Telecom Method of prepaying for consumption of telephone calls

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5740247A (en) * 1995-12-22 1998-04-14 Pitney Bowes Inc. Authorized cellular telephone communication payment refill system
US5909485A (en) * 1996-03-07 1999-06-01 France Telecom Method of prepaying for consumption of telephone calls
WO1998018251A2 (fr) * 1996-10-23 1998-04-30 Philips Electronics N.V. Mecanisme de paiement pour service de telecommunication mobile
EP0848537A1 (fr) * 1996-12-12 1998-06-17 E-Plus Mobilfunk GmbH Procédé et dispositif pour recharger/réutiliser une carte téléphonique pour téléphones mobiles
WO1999004548A1 (fr) * 1997-07-17 1999-01-28 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Procede de prepaiement automatise destine aux terminaux mobiles

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20160155198A1 (en) * 2014-12-02 2016-06-02 Yahoo Japan Corporation Distribution apparatus, distribution method, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5782300A (en) 2001-01-22

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