Methods, Systems, and Computer Program Products for Mobile Network Subscriber Incentive Programs

Abstract

A number of reward programs can be offered to subscribers of a mobile network as an incentive to use fewer allocated resources, rather than more. For example, in some embodiments, a subscriber may elect to participate in a reward program wherein a portion of the unused resources are used to determine a monetary amount to be returned to the subscriber at, for example, the end of a year. In some embodiments, a subscriber may elect to participate in a reward program wherein a portion of the unused resources (such as unused minutes under their plan) are used to offset the costs of “green programs”, which may be implemented by the operator of the network. In other words, the subscribers can be encouraged to use fewer resources by allowing a portion of those unused resources (in the form of for example, cash) to offset the cost of a program, which the subscriber believes provides some benefit. The reward programs offered may recognize any societal issue.

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 providing, by a processor, a plurality of incentive programs for a subscriber to a service plan associated with a mobile communications network having mobile network resources, wherein the mobile network resources include at least one of messages and data units;   receiving, by the processor, an election of an incentive program among the plurality of incentive programs for participation by the subscriber, yielding an elected incentive program;   determining, by the processor, an unused portion of the mobile network resources;   determining, by the processor, a value associated with the unused portion of mobile network resources;   crediting the value to the elected incentive program; and   offsetting costs incurred by a provider of the mobile communications network associated with the elected incentive program.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of incentive programs is selected from a group comprising a subscriber reward program, a societal issue reward program, and a charitable organization reward program. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subscriber elected program comprises a charitable organization reward program, and wherein the method further comprises crediting an account associated with a provider of the mobile network with the value. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subscriber elected program comprises a societal issue reward program, and wherein the method further comprises crediting an account associated with a provider of the mobile network with the value. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile network resources further comprise time allocated for calls by the subscriber. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the value associated with the unused portion of the mobile network resources comprises:
 dividing unused resources allocated to the subscriber by an amount of total resources allocated to the subscriber to yield the unused portion; and   multiplying a maximum reward percentage by the unused portion to yield the value.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the unused portion of the mobile network resources is determined at completion of a billing cycle for the service plan. 
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory having computer-readable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 providing a plurality of incentive programs for a subscriber to a service plan associated with a mobile communications network having mobile network resources, wherein the mobile network resources include at least one of messages and data units; 
 receiving an election of an incentive program among the plurality of incentive programs for participation by the subscriber, yielding an elected incentive program; 
 determining an unused portion of the mobile network resources; 
 determining a value associated with the unused portion of mobile network resources; 
 crediting the value to the elected incentive program; and 
 offsetting costs incurred by a provider of the mobile communications network associated with the elected incentive program. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of incentive programs is selected from a group comprising a subscriber reward program, a societal issue reward program, and a charitable organization reward program. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the subscriber elected program comprises a charitable organization reward program, and wherein the operations further comprise crediting an account associated with a provider of the mobile network with the value. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the subscriber elected program comprises a societal issue reward program, and wherein the operations further comprise crediting an account associated with a provider of the mobile network with the value. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the mobile network resources further comprise time allocated for calls by the subscriber. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein determining the value associated with the unused portion of the mobile network resources comprises:
 dividing unused resources allocated to the subscriber by an amount of total resources allocated to the subscriber to yield the unused portion; and   multiplying a maximum reward percentage by the unused portion to yield the value.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the unused portion of the mobile network resources is determined at completion of a billing cycle for the service plan. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 providing a plurality of incentive programs for a subscriber to a service plan associated with a mobile communications network having mobile network resources, wherein the mobile network resources include at least one of messages and data units;   receiving an election of an incentive program among the plurality of incentive programs for participation by the subscriber, yielding an elected incentive program;   determining an unused portion of the mobile network resources;   determining a value associated with the unused portion of mobile network resources;   crediting the value to the elected incentive program; and   offsetting costs incurred by a provider of the mobile communications network associated with the elected incentive program.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the subscriber elected program comprises a charitable organization reward program, and wherein the operations further comprise crediting an account associated with a provider of the mobile network with the value. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the subscriber elected program comprises a societal issue reward program, and wherein the operations further comprise crediting an account associated with a provider of the mobile network with the value. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the mobile network resources further comprise time allocated for calls by the subscriber. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein determining the value associated with the unused portion of the mobile network resources comprises:
 dividing unused resources allocated to the subscriber by an amount of total resources allocated to the subscriber to yield the unused portion; and   multiplying a maximum reward percentage by the unused portion to yield the value.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of  claim 19 , wherein the unused portion of the mobile network resources is determined at completion of a billing cycle for the service plan.