| 摘要 |
A SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING PAYMENT VIA A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK USING VALUE ACCREDITED TO A CUSTOMER OF THE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK, THE SYSTEM COMPRISING A FIRST COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE OWNED AND/OR OPERATED BY THE CUSTOMER; A RECIPIENT; A BILLING SYSTEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK, BOTH THE CUSTOMER AND THE RECIPIENT HAVING AT LEAST ONE ACCOUNT RECORDED WITH THE BILLING SYSTEM; AND A PAYMENTS FACILITATOR, WHEREIN, WHEN THE PAYMENTS FACILITATOR RECEIVES A COMMUNCATIONS MESSAGE FROM THE CUSTOMER IDENTIFYING THE RECIPIENT AND THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID TO THE RECEIPIENT, THE COMMUNCATIONS MESSAGE BEING SENT BY MEANS OF THE FIRST COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE, THE PAYMENTS FACILITATOR OPERATES TO INSTRUCT THE BILLING SYSTEM TO DEBIT THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID TO THE RECIPIENT FROM THE CUSTOMER'S AT LEAST ONE ACCOUNT AND, THEREAFTER, OPERATES TO INSTRUCT THE BILLING SYSTEM TO CREDIT THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID TO THE RECIPIENT TO THE RECIPIENT'S AT LEAST ONE ACCOUNT. IDEALLY, THE INSTRUCTION TO THE BILLING SYSTEM TO DEBIT THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID TAKES THE FORM OF A INSTRUCT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CUSTOMER HAVING MADE A CALL ON A LINE HAVING A TARIFF RATE CLOSEST TO THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID TO THE RECIPIENT. IN DETERMINING THE TARIFF RATE CLOSEST TO THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID TO THE RECIPIENT, THE PAYMENTS FACILITATOR MAY REFER TO A TARIFF LOOK-UP TABLE COMPRISING DETAILS OF ALL TARIFF RATES PRESENTLY SET BY AN OPERATOR OF THE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK.
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