The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 08, 2012
Filed:
Sep. 27, 2007
Gregory L. Mumford, Marion, IA (US);
Jon E. Abel, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
David A. Fitzgerald, Springville, IA (US);
Radhika Gunasekar, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Anna Marie Appleby, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
John M. Leslein, Marion, IA (US);
Gregory L. Mumford, Marion, IA (US);
Jon E. Abel, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
David A. Fitzgerald, Springville, IA (US);
Radhika Gunasekar, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Anna Marie Appleby, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
John M. Leslein, Marion, IA (US);
Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc., Basking Ridge, NJ (US);
Abstract
Methods relating to prepaid services include determining an unlocked status of an account configured to track usage of prepaid services. The methods further include locking the account for a length of time after the determining step. The methods further include providing, for a service period, a service to a user associated with the account subsequent to the locking step, and continuously extending the locking for an additional length of time throughout the service period.