Methods, apparatus, and systems for supporting purchases of goods and services via prepaid telecommunication accounts

摘要

-97 Apparatus and method for detecting in real-time when a User of a prepaid telecommunications account tries to complete a data, voice or financial transaction to purchase a product or service but cannot, due to insufficient funds in the Prepaid Account. The system then determines whether the Account is eligible to receive a Facilitation according to predetermined criteria and, if so, either (1) automatically authorizes the transaction to be completed based on a Facilitation amount, subsequently recorded by the system to satisfy the insufficiency, or (2) instantly communicates to the User an offer to do so, and if the User accepts the offer, authorizes the transaction and records the Facilitation amount. The transaction can then be completed without significant interruption. A mechanism is provided such that on the next Topping-Up event(s) of the User's Account, the Facilitation amount is debited from the User's Account for return to the Facilitator. Sheet 9 of 13 eD Receive Insufficient Balance Event Message ttempted Purchase No r DeyFcltio Provisioned? Yes End Determine Price of Attempted Purchase Determine Facilitation Amount Authorize Release of Product/Service Record Facilitation Amount to be Recovered End