Transaction Processing Platform for Facilitating Electronic Distribution of Plural Prepaid Services

Abstract

A transaction processing platform capable of facilitating the distribution to consumers of various types of prepaid products is disclosed. The transaction processing platform is configured to interface with one or more providers of such prepaid products in order to facilitate the procurement or activation of the products. The platform includes a conduit interface through which service request messages are received and respectively utilized to generate transaction requests for corresponding types of prepaid services. A supply interface arrangement, operatively coupled to the conduit interface, is configured to route a first of the transaction requests through a first supply interface associated with a first type of prepaid service. The supply interface arrangement also routes a second transaction request through a second supply interface associated with a second type of prepaid service. The platform is also configured to provide supplier response information received through the supply interfaces to the conduit interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of distributing prepaid products comprising:
 receiving by a transaction processing platform a request for the activation and issuance of a prepaid product from a client terminal operative for wireless communication, wherein the request is received by the transaction processing platform wirelessly from a client terminal through a conduit interface, wherein the transaction processing platform is in communication with a plurality of prepaid service providers and routes the request and payment information to the provider of the requested prepaid product, and wherein the transaction processing platform routes the request and payment information from the client terminal to the service provider through the use of computer program code and hardware enabling the transaction processing platform to carry out the prescribed tasks.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the conduit interface is a web server. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the web server is capable of being accessed through the use of a browser program capable of permitting the terminal to wirelessly access the transaction processing platform through the internet. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the conduit interface is a terminal application server. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the terminal application server is capable of being accessed wirelessly over the internet by a client terminal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein after the transaction processing platform routes the request and payment to the service provider, the transaction processing platform delivers to the client terminal a PIN or activation confirmation capable of being used to access the prepaid product. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the delivery of the PIN or activation confirmation is delivered by the transaction processing platform on-demand. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the transaction processing platform delivers the PIN to the client terminal from a PIN database, wherein the transaction processing platform and PIN database are maintained by the same entity. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the request is routed through use of routing tables stored in a platform database wherein the transaction processing platform and PIN database are maintained by the same entity. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the transaction processing platform includes a plurality of customer records accessible by the customer by the customer providing identifying information, said customer records containing information specific to the client terminal associated with the request, wherein the transaction processing platform and the database are maintained by the same entity. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the customer records contain purchase history, payment and account information. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the transaction processing platform additionally provides advertising to the client terminal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the request includes an amount of the prepaid product desired, wherein the amount is received in response to a message displayed on the client terminal requesting the amount of prepaid product desired. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the client terminal is a POS terminal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the prepaid product is virtual. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the client terminal and transaction processing platform communicate through a telephone network.