Payback Calling Plan

Abstract

A method for paying back customers for unused service units remaining after a billing cycle. A payback amount is determined by the product of the number of unused service units remaining and the payback rate amount. The payback amount credited to the customer is the calculated payback rate or a maximum payback amount, wherever is smaller. A total payback amount can be determined based on a combination of payback amounts for various services, including voice services, texting services, email services, and/or data storage services.

Therefore, at least the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for providing a credit back to a customer, comprising:
 at least one database, said at least one database configured with service plan details including perishable service units for a first service type allocated to a customer per billing cycle, said at least one database also configured with a payback rate amount for the first service type, and a maximum payback amount for the first service type;   at least one processing system for tracking the number of used service units for the first service type, said processing system configured to calculate the service units of the first service type remaining at the end of a billing cycle, said processing system configured to calculate a calculated payback amount for the first service type by multiplying the number of remaining service units of the first service type with the payback rate amount for the first service type; and   wherein said at least one processing system is configured to determine a payback amount for the first service type by taking the smaller of the calculated payback amount for the first service type and the maximum payback amount for the first service type.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first service type is voice calling services and the service units of the first service type is voice minutes. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the at least one database is configured with perishable service units for a second service type allocated to a customer per billing cycle, said at least one database also configured with a payback rate amount for the second service type, and a maximum payback amount for the second service type;   wherein at least one processing system is adapted to track the number of used service units for the second service type, said processing system configured to calculate the service units of the second service type remaining at the end of a billing cycle, said processing system configured to calculate a calculated payback amount for the second service type by multiplying the number of remaining service units of the second service type with the payback rate amount for the second service type; and   wherein said at least one processing system is configured to determine a payback amount for the second service type by taking the smaller of the calculated payback amount for the second service type and the maximum payback amount for the second service type; and   wherein said at least one processing system is configured to determine a total payback amount by adding the payback amounts for the first and second service types.   
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an invoice for the customer with a credit applied in the amount of the total payback amount.   
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the second service type is text messaging. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the second service type is email messaging. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the second service type is Internet services. 
     
     
         8 . A method for providing a credit back to a customer, comprising the steps of:
 providing a service of a first service type to a customer, the service usage measured by first service units;   storing service plan details for a customer in at least one database, including the number of perishable service units for the first service type allocated to a customer per billing cycle;   storing a payback rate amount for the first service type;   storing a maximum payback amount for the first service type;   storing the number of used service units for the first service type;   calculating the remaining service units of the first service type remaining at the end of the billing cycle;   calculating a calculated payback amount for the first service type by multiplying the number of remaining service units of the first service type with the payback rate amount for the first service type;   determining a payback amount for the first service type by taking the smaller of the calculated payback amount for the first service type and the maximum payback amount for the first service type; and   applying the payback amount for the first service type on a customer's invoice as a credit.   
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the first service type is voice calling services and the service units of the first type is voice minutes. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a service of a second service type to a customer, the service usage measured by second service units;   storing the number of perishable service units for the second service type allocated to a customer per billing cycle;   storing a payback rate amount for the second service type;   storing a maximum payback amount for the second service type;   storing the number of used service units for the second service type;   calculating the remaining service units of the second service type remaining at the end of the billing cycle;   calculating a calculated payback amount for the second service type by multiplying the number of remaining service units of the second service type with the payback rate amount for the second service type;   determining a payback amount for the second service type by taking the smaller of the calculated payback amount for the second service type and the maximum payback amount for the second service type;   calculating a total payback amount by adding the payback amounts for the first and second service types; and   applying the total payback amount for the first service type on a customer's invoice as a credit.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the second service type is text messaging. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the second service type is email messaging. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the second service type is Internet services. 
     
     
         14 . A system for providing a credit back to a customer, comprising:
 at least one database, said at least one database configured with service plan details including perishable service units for a first service type allocated to a customer per billing cycle, said at least one database also configured with a payback rate amount for the first service type, and a maximum payback amount for the first service type;   at least one processing system for tracking the number of used service units for the first service type, said processing system configured to calculate the service units of the first service type remaining at the end of a billing cycle, said processing system configured to calculate a calculated payback amount for the first service type by multiplying the number of remaining service units of the first service type with the payback rate amount for the first service type;   wherein said at least one processing system is configured to determine a payback amount for the first service type by taking the smaller of the calculated payback amount for the first service type and the maximum payback amount for the first service type;   wherein the first service type is voice calling services and the service units of the first service type is voice minutes;   wherein the at least one database is configured with perishable service units for a second service type allocated to a customer per billing cycle, said at least one database also configured with a payback rate amount for the second service type, and a maximum payback amount for the second service type;   wherein at least one processing system is adapted to track the number of used service units for the second service type, said processing system configured to calculate the service units of the second service type remaining at the end of a billing cycle, said processing system configured to calculate a calculated payback amount for the second service type by multiplying the number of remaining service units of the second service type with the payback rate amount for the second service type; and   wherein said at least one processing system is configured to determine a payback amount for the second service type by taking the smaller of the calculated payback amount for the second service type and the maximum payback amount for the second service type;   wherein said at least one processing system is configured to determine a total payback amount by adding the payback amounts for the first and second service types; and   wherein said system is further comprised of an invoice for the customer with a credit applied in the amount of the total payback amount.   
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 14 , wherein the second service type is text messaging. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 14 , wherein the second service type is email messaging. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 14 , wherein the second service type is Internet services.