System and Method for Adding Funds to a Prepaid Account for a Mobile Device Associated with Multiple Communication Profiles

Abstract

A communication management system receives, from a local cellular network operator, a communication indicating that a payment has been made to the local cellular network operator for a mobile device using a local communication profile. The communication management system identifies, based on the local communication profile, a home communication profile of the mobile device. The home communication profile is associated with a home cellular network operator that is distinct from the local cellular network operator. The communication management system sends, to the home cellular network operator, a request to add funds to a prepaid account that is associated with the home communication profile of the mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for adding funds to a prepaid account at a home cellular network operator of a mobile device comprising:
 at a communication management system having one or more processors and memory:
 receiving, from a local cellular network operator, a communication indicating that a payment has been made to the local cellular network operator for a mobile device using a local communication profile; 
 identifying, based on the local communication profile, a home communication profile of the mobile device, wherein the home communication profile is associated with a home cellular network operator that is distinct from the local cellular network operator; and 
 sending, to the home cellular network operator, a request to add funds to a prepaid account that is associated with the home communication profile of the mobile device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 authorizing a phone call between the mobile device and another device; and   debiting funds from the prepaid account based on a cost of the phone call.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the payment is made to the local cellular network operator using a local payment protocol that is used by the local cellular network operator for adding funds to prepaid accounts. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the local payment protocol includes a user of the mobile device providing payment at a retail location operated by the local cellular network operator. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the local payment protocol includes a phone call made by the mobile device to a predetermined telephone number and submitting an activation code. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the local payment protocol includes a message sent by the mobile device to a predetermined telephone number, wherein the message includes an activation code. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the local payment protocol includes a communication from the mobile device to the local cellular network operator and the communication is routed by the communication management system to the local cellular network operator. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request to add funds uses a home payment protocol that is used by the home cellular network operator for adding funds to prepaid accounts. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the local communication profile is managed by the communication management system. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the home communication profile is managed by the home cellular network operator. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is associated with a plurality of distinct communication profiles including the home communication profile and the local communication profile. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending a request to the local cellular network operator to transfer at least a portion of the payment to the communication management system;   receiving the portion of the payment; and   transferring the portion of the payment to the home cellular network operator.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the payment received by the local cellular network operator is denominated in a first currency;   the home cellular network operator uses a second currency for adding funds to prepaid accounts; and   transferring the requested funds to the home cellular network operator comprises converting the portion of the payment from the first currency to the second currency.   
     
     
         14 . A communication management system comprising:
 one or more processors;   memory; and   one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 receiving, from a local cellular network operator, a communication indicating that a payment has been made to the local cellular network operator for a mobile device using a local communication profile; 
 identifying, based on the local communication profile, a home communication profile of the mobile device, wherein the home communication profile is associated with a home cellular network operator that is distinct from the local cellular network operator; and 
 sending, to the home cellular network operator, a request to add funds to a prepaid account that is associated with the home communication profile of the mobile device. 
   
     
     
         15 . A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more processors of a communication management system, the one or more programs comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors cause the communication management system to:
 receive, from a local cellular network operator, a communication indicating that a payment has been made to the local cellular network operator for a mobile device using a local communication profile;   identify, based on the local communication profile, a home communication profile of the mobile device, wherein the home communication profile is associated with a home cellular network operator that is distinct from the local cellular network operator; and   send, to the home cellular network operator, a request to add funds to a prepaid account that is associated with the home communication profile of the mobile device.