 Three-dimensional measurement method and apparatus |
| The invention has the following objects, although not all embodiments of the invention may achieve ... |
|
| Personnel valuation program |
| Heretofore, however, multisided valuation data has been used only as check data against supervisor ... |
|
| Multi-currency postage meter |
| The present invention provides an apparatus and method for converting postage expressed in a first ... |
|
| Method for automatic and periodic requests for messages to an e-mail server from the client |
| According to this invention, there is provided a method of supplying messages in which: messages ... |
|
| Method and apparatus for measuring and accumulating critical automobile warranty statistical data |
| It is therefore desirable to measure and accumulate operating parameter information based on ... |
|
| Method for predicting the quality of a product |
| A method is provided for predicting a quality characteristic of a product to be manufactured. The ... |
|
| Mechanical-electrical template based method and apparatus |
| OF THE INVENTION Additional Description One or more specific embodiments of the present invention ... |
|
| Delivery of objects in a virtual world using a descriptive container |
| OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The preferred embodiment of the present invention is implemented using ... |
|
|
Method and apparatus for authorizing and billing communications services using a bank card financial network
| Details |
Inventors: Cook, Fred S.;
Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P. (Overland Park, KS)
Primary Examiner: Bashore; Alain L.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
According to the invention, a method and apparatus are disclosed for a dynamic communications service bank card billing system for authorizing and billing communications services using a bank card financial network. The communications service bank card billing system receive events from communications services and equipment providing such services. If a received event corresponds to a request for initiating a communications service, the event is tariffed and taxed, and a pre-authorization and hold request is made to the associated customer account number. If the communications service receives a service authorization or denial indication, the communications service bank card billing system provides such indication indicative of the successful or non-successful pre-authorization and hold request. Alternatively, if a received event corresponds to a request to charge a customer account, the event is tariffed and taxed, and a forced post request is made to the associated customer account number over the bank card financial network if no pre-authorization preceded the forced post request. Otherwise, a pre-authorization completion is formatted and sent. Additionally, a representation of the content of the event is stored by the communications service bank card billing system for accumulating communications service charges during a billing period. At the end of the billing period, the communications services charges can be summarized and evaluated whether a credit or a surcharge is required. Such an account adjustment or a credit is then made via a forced post request to the associated customer bank card account number over the bank card financial network. |
|
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG.
1 and its discussion herein are intended to provide a description of a general computing environment in which the present invention can be practiced.
The present invention is not limited to a single computing environment.
Moreover, the architecture and functionality of the present invention as taught herein and would be understood by one skilled in the art is extensible to an unlimited number of computing environments and embodiments in keeping with the scope and spirit of the present invention.
Turning first to FIG.
1, illustrated is an exemplary operating environment 100 for practicing the present invention.
Communications service bank card billing system 105 embodies the functionality of the present invention by receiving service requests from communications service 142 over facility 141 which are billed to the customer over bank card financial network 158 over facility 152.
Communications service bank card billing system 105 typically comprises a standard computer platform with appropriate communications system interface 140 and bank card system interface 150.
Communications service bank card billing system 105 includes a processor 110, memory 115, storage devices 120, communications system interface 140 and bank card system interface 150, which are electrically coupled via bus 112.
Memory 115 is one type of computer-readable medium, and typically comprises random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), integrated circuits, and/or other memory components.
Memory 115 typically stores computer-executable instructions to be executed by processor 110 and/or data which is manipulated by processor 110.
Storage devices 120 are another type of computer-readable medium, and typically comprise disk drives, diskettes, networked services, tape drives, and other storage devices.
Storage devices 120 typically store computer-executable instructions to be executed by processor 110 and/or data which is manipulated by processor 110.
Turning now to FIG
|
| Related patents |
|
|
Data processing system and method for compiling data during property inspection and maintenance operations
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a data processing system for facilitating the compilation and processing of data obtained during the ...
|
|
|
Method of protecting against a change in value of intellectual property, and product providing such protection
An object of the invention is to provide a method of spreading the financial risks associated with the purchase, ownership and use of intellectual property. Another ...
|
|
|
Method and system for distributing a work process over an information network
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of distributing a work process on an information network comprising the steps of: contracting ...
|
|
|
Visual interactive response system and method translated from interactive voice response for telephone utility
A system, method, and computer readable medium storing a software program for translating a script for an interactive voice response system to a script for a visual ...
|
|
|
Methods and systems for managing business representative distributions
Embodiments of the invention thus provide a method for managing a geographical distribution of business representatives. The method makes use of geographical units to ...
|
|
|
Method and apparatus for conducting electronic commerce
The present invention provides an object-oriented computer program product for providing a generic interface between an electronic commerce frontend and a business ...
|
|
|
N-tuple or RAM based neural network classification system and method
Recently Thomas Martini Jørgensen and Christian Linneberg (inventors of this invention) have provided a statistical framework that have made it possible to make a ...
|
|
|
Self-teaching robot arm position method to compensate for support structure component alignment offset
An object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a multiple link robot arm system that has straight line motion, extended reach, corner reach around, and continuous ...
|
|
|
Super-resolution display
P. Lyon, "Edge-Blending Multiple Projection Displays On a Dome Surface To Form Continuous Wide Angle Fields-of-View", Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., pp. 203-207, P...
|
|
|
Method and system for acquiring a three-dimensional shape description
The present invention provides a method for acquiring a three-dimensional shape or image of a scene, wherein a predetermined pattern is projected onto the scene and the ...
|
|
|
Finance 
