ZA200802579B - Mobile airtime debit system - Google Patents

Description

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The entire disclosure of South African Patent Application 2007/2365 from which this application claims priority forms an integral part of the disclosure of the invention as if specifically reproduced herein except in so far as there is a direct conflict between the earlier description and the present application, in which case the present description prevails.

Field of the invention

The invention provides a system for debiting mobile telephony airtime purchasers for airtime purchases.

Background to the invention

In the mobile phone airtime industry, clients of the relevant service providers, either acquire airtime by means of a monthly contract (normally settled by debit order, electronic- or cheque payment) or alternatively by buying “pay-as-you-go” / “pre-paid loading of airtime credits.

Currently the pre-paid airtime credit is loaded onto a specific SIM-card number by entering a pin-number which is on a scratch-card or airtime voucher. It is expected that pin-less airtime will replace this method soon in order to address the problems stemming from the duplication, cloning and fraud relating to the allocated pins.

The pin-less airtime will be dispensed by mobile units which similar to the ATM's at some commercial banks will allocate airtime paid for, to a specific SIM-card.

Airtime can also be requested from the cell phone, if a means of payment is in place.

eo These methods still pose some obvious problems for the part of the community which has no ability to arrange a regular payment. They will still have to visit a point of sale (ATM or Mobile Dispensing Unit) and pay for the pre-paid airtime accordingly.

This invention entails a system whereby a “payroll-system” or “debtors-system” accommodates the ability to allow the client to elect a monthly deduction towards procurement of a specified value of airtime” for specified SIM-card numbers.

Summary of the Invention

A mobile communication airtime debit system, which system provides for payment of airtime at the instance of a first party by a second party, wherein the first party is selected from the group including an employee, a club member, a learner, and debtor, and the second party is selected from the group including an employer, a payroll administrator, a club administrator, a debtors administrator, a creditors administrator, and a school fund administrator, said system including a computer system provided with a CPU, data storage means, a user interface, and software, wherein requests by one or more first parties to obtain airtime are loaded and stored onto the system, at a predetermined time and/or on a predetermined date the software processes a deduction from the one or more first parties and/or debits the accounts of the one or more first parties and, when these funds have cleared, processes a bulk purchase of airtime from an airtime supplier, such as an airtime vendor or wholesaler, and distributes the airtime to the first parties whose funds had cleared. :

The invention is described below with reference to two implementations thereof.

Payroll Application j

® Typically, the client will request / instruct the employer to deduct a monthly amount from his compensation and pay (or transfer) it over to the airtime vendor in order to procure a specified value of airtime for the SIM-card number(s) which is nominated. It thus enables the employee to budget a standard value of airtime for himself (and potentially his individual family members) and pay for it through the monthly payroll run.

At month-end the employer will transmit to the airtime vendor, a file containing the details of all SIM-card numbers to be charged with the individual values relating to each (and typically also an indication of the applicable airtime service provider).

The airtime vendor will typically request payment of the total value for airtime to be effected (through transfer or EFT) as “funds available” prior to the date of the monthly airtime recharge.

The vendor will then typically receive an order for airtime recharge to various

SiM-card numbers, each with its individual value to be credited on the 1% day of the next month; with payment thereof being effected prior or on that day, or as per arrangement. The vendor will order the total value of airtime from the respective airtime service providers to be available for crediting on the nominated day (e.g. the 1** day of the next month). Before or on the nominated day, the payment from the employer will be effective and be utilized to pay for the ordered bulk airtime, which will then be allocated to the SIM-cards and confirmed by SMS to each at the time.

The cell phone user thus has the ability to budget an amount for his mobile airtime charges (and potentially that of people he sponsors as well) knowing that the nominated recharge will be effected on the 1t day of each month with payment being deducted from his pay-slip. a

® This process will provide a very economical airtime distribution system, with the advantage that the employee can manage his airtime expenditure by a predetermined budgeted amount. (If need be, additional “top-up” airtime can still be procured through an alternative method.)

Since the transaction relates to bulk procurement of and payment for airtime, substantial discount benefits can be passed down by the vendor.

In many cases, the employers acknowledge the faimess to compensate the employees for call charges relating to mobile connectivity for official purposes.

Through combining this system with the patent called “Mobile Call Management

System” (Patent Appl. No. 2006/9796), the employer can now manage airtime cost accordingly and procure the approved airtime value for each authorized employee directly. The disclosure of South African Patent Application 2006/9796 is incorporated herein by reference in so far as it is required to support the present invention and is attached hereto for ease of reference.

Debtors Application

Similar to the payroll application described above, a debtor will request the facilitator to procure airtime from the vendor and to debit his monthly account with the authorized amount elected to be utilized for the recharge of credits to the specified SIM-card number(s) which is nominated. It thus enables the airtime customer to budget a standard value of airtime for himself (and potentially his individual family members) and pay for it through the debit run.

At month-end the facilitator will transmit to the airtime vendor, a file containing the details of all SIM-card numbers to be charged with the individual values relating to each (and typically also an indication of the applicable airtime service provider).

® The airtime vendor will typically request payment of the total value for airtime to be effected (through transfer or EFT) as “funds available” prior to the date of the monthly airtime recharge.

The airtime wholesaler will then typically receive an order for airtime recharge to various SIM-card numbers, each with its individual value to be credited on the 1 day of the next month; with payment thereof being effected prior or on that day, or as per arrangement. The vendor will order the total value of airtime from the respective airtime service providers to be available for crediting on the nominated day (e.g. the 1% day of the next month). Before or on the nominated day, the payment from the facilitator will be effective and be utilized to pay for the ordered “bulk” airtime, which will then be allocated to the SIM-cards and confirmed by

SMS to each at the time.

The cell phone user thus has the ability to budget an amount for his mobile airtime charges (and potentially that of people he sponsors as well) knowing that the nominated recharge will be effected on the 1% day of each month with payment being effected by debit to his account which is payable as arranged with the facilitator.

This process will provide a very economical airtime distribution system, with the advantage that the employee can manage his airtime expenditure by a predetermined budgeted amount. (If need be, additional “top-up” airtime can still be procured through an alternative method.)

Since the transaction relates to bulk procurement of and payment for airtime, : substantial discount benefits can be passed down by the vendor.

Typically a school can now offer airtime to its scholars, with potential benefit as negotiated with the vendor to support its funding and the parents have the

® knowledge that they indirectly contribute through procuring the airtime through this channel.

Any other creditor (such as a chain store with account-linked debit cards) can now do the same.

Description of Implementations of the Invention

The documentation (manual / electronic) for a payroll implementation of the invention will typically involve: 1) A signed “authorization slip” relating to the SIM-card(s) to be recharged monthly, with reference to the service provider and the approved value.

The slip will be signed by the employee (in case of a deduction) or the employer (in case of a capped reimbursement). 2) The payroll entry field (sub-field) will allow entry of the SIM-card number and the value (normally electronically). 3) The generated pay-siip will show the value either under “earnings” as a reimbursement (after utilizing the above mentioned patent to determine the value of official calls) or as a “deduction” relating to the elected amounts the employee has requested to be effected. 4) A list (electronic order sheet / file) which is submitted to the vendor (on a monthly basis), showing the SIM-Card number, value to be credited (and potentially the airtime service provider). This list will potentially show the total value per airtime service provider and the grand total to be paid.

o 5) A confirmation list of all airtime credits loaded by the vendor (or its sub- contractor), which can be filed or sent to the employer as a receipt and for reference purposes.

The documentation (manual / electronic) for a debtors implementation of the invention will typically involve: 1) A signed “authorization slip” relating to the SIM-card(s) to be recharged monthly, with reference to the service provider and the approved value.

The slip will be signed by the customer. 2) The debtors system's entry field (sub-field) will allow entry of the SiM-card number and the value (normally electronically). 3) The generated invoice will show the value as “airtime” indicating the SIM- card number and value loaded. 4) A list (electronic order sheet / file) which is submitted to the vendor (on a monthly basis), showing the SIM-Card number, value to be credited (and potentially the airtime service provider). This list will potentially show the total value per airtime service provider and the grand total to be paid. 5) A confirmation list of all airtime credits loaded by the vendor (or its sub- contractor), which can be filed or sent to the facilitator as a receipt and for reference purposes.

The attached flowchart shows a non-limiting example of the implementation of the invention.

Claims (11)

[| Claims | Il ll I

1. A mobile communication airtime debit system, which system provides for payment of airtime at the instance of a first party by a second party, wherein the first party is selected from the group including an employee, a club member, a learner, and debtor, and the second party is selected from the group including an employer, a payroll administrator, a club administrator, a debtors administrator, a creditors administrator, and a schoo! fund administrator, said system including a computer system provided with a CPU, data storage means, a user interface, and software, wherein requests by one or more first parties to obtain airtime for specified SIM cards are loaded and stored onto the system, at a predetermined time and/or on a predetermined date the software processes a deduction from the one or more first parties and/or debits the accounts of the one or more first parties and, when these funds have cleared, processes a bulk purchase of airtime and distributes the airtime to the SIM cards of the first parties whose funds had cleared.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the employee instructs the employer to deduct a monthly amount from his compensation and pay and/or transfer it over to an airtime vendor in order to procure a specified value of airtime for the SIM-card number(s) which is nominated.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein at month-end the employer : transmits to the airtime vendor, a file containing the details of all SIM-card numbers to be charged with the individual values relating to each, and optionally an indication of the applicable airtime service provider. :

4, A system as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein before or on the : nominated day, the payment from the employer will be effective and be utilized to pay for the ordered bulk airtime, which will then be allocated to the SIM-cards and confirmed by SMS to each at that time. 9 : I

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a debtor requests a facilitator to procure airtime from a vendor and to debit his monthly account with the authorized amount elected to be utilized for the recharge of credits to the specified SIM-card number(s) which is nominated thereby enabling the debtor to budget a standard value of airtime for himself , and potentially his nominees and pay for it through the debit run.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein at month-end the facilitator transmits to the airtime vendor, a file containing the details of all SIM-card numbers to be charged with the individual values relating to each, and optionally also an indication of the applicable airtime service provider.

7. A system as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the airtime vendor requests payment of the total value for airtime to be effected and be “funds available” prior to the date of the monthly airtime recharge.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein an airtime wholesaler receives an order for airtime recharge to various SIM-card numbers, each with its individual value to be credited on a predetermined day, with payment thereof being effected prior or on that day, or as per arrangement. :

9. A system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the vendor will order the total value of airtime from the respective airtime service providers to be available for crediting on a predetermined day, and before or on that day, the payment from the facilitator will be effected and be utilized to pay for the ordered “bulk” airtime, which will then be allocated to the SiM-cards and confirmed by SMS to each at that time.

10. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1, and 5 to 9, wherein a school offers airtime to its scholars, with potential benefit as negotiated with the vendor I eo to support its funding and the parents have the knowledge that they indirectly contribute through procuring the airtime through this channel.

11. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1, and 5 to 9, wherein an account-linked debit card provider is the second party. DATED THIS 20™ DAY OF MARCH, 2008. 7 2 A HAHN & HAHN INC. Agents for Applicant