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. 27, 2014
Filed:
May. 07, 2012
Mark Titus, Arnold, MD (US);
Dara Ung, Odenton, MD (US);
Carle S. Johnson, Jr., Annapolis, MD (US);
Erik Wallace, Annapolis, MD (US);
Phillip Geil, Clarksville, MD (US);
Daniel Hronek, Annapolis, MD (US);
Mark Titus, Arnold, MD (US);
Dara Ung, Odenton, MD (US);
Carle S. Johnson, Jr., Annapolis, MD (US);
Erik Wallace, Annapolis, MD (US);
Phillip Geil, Clarksville, MD (US);
Daniel Hronek, Annapolis, MD (US);
TeleCommunication Systems, Inc., Annapolis, MD (US);
Abstract
A prepaid messaging solution that uses open networking standards and supports pre-payment of enhanced Internet messaging services. The prepaid messaging solution accurately determines if a subscriber has sufficient account balance to deliver a complete short message, prior to message delivery. Message delivery is prevented if insufficient funds are in the subscriber's account. A prepaid tariff engine, preferably extensible over a TCP/IP network, supports remote interaction with the SMSC and web chat servers to apply a real-time billing charge for each message. A service provider may create subscriber classes of service that define subscriber rates and/or tariffing plans used to apply real-time billing charges for sending/receiving messages. The prepaid short message tariff engine determines the appropriate message billing based upon, e.g., flat rate per message, character count, Time of Day, etc. The prepaid short messaging service preferably supports Internet web page access to subscriber's short messaging account balances and account status.