CN106664345A - Savings Systems and Methods - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a savings system and method and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a savings system and method for storing and retrieving mobile phone airtime or data packets or utilities such as gas, water and/or electricity. The saving system has: a deposit institution having a transceiver device for receiving a request for a deposit product or service from a user having an identifier; and a storage device for storing the goods or services corresponding to the identifier or information on the goods or services.

Description

Savings Systems and Methods

technical field

The present invention relates to a savings system and method, and more particularly but not exclusively to a storage system and method for storing and retrieving mobile phone airtime or data packets or utilities such as gas, water and/or electricity.

Background technique

Utilities are provided by the Crown or in some cases by private individuals or entities. Traditionally, utilities have been provided on a contract or post-payment basis. In recent years, utilities have also been provided on a prepayment basis to make it easier for suppliers and users to manage their finances around the supply of utilities. A user may prefer to purchase sufficient utilities some time in advance (typically monthly) to ensure that the user does not run out of those utilities during that time period. If the user has enough or too much utilities during the time period, or enough utilities left at the end of the time period, the user must continue to use those utilities. There is no way to transfer these utilities to another person or somehow save or preserve them.

Airtime sales are an important industry, especially in developing countries. Most airtime sales involve small denominations. A person who buys a small amount of time at a time may need airtime in an emergency, but may no longer have sufficient funds to purchase additional airtime. It would be handy if these people saved some airtime for emergencies.

Some people may be reluctant to travel abroad and use roaming services with airtime loaded on their mobile phones. They may prefer to store airtime in a safe place for use when they return.

Furthermore, in some cases, especially at remote locations, it may not be possible to buy airtime, for example from a store, or even by using their mobile phone. Therefore, it can be convenient to store airtime in a secure location and then have access to that secure location when required.

Many prepaid mobile phone users prefer not to have their phone repaired while the phone is loaded with airtime. However, airtime cannot be removed, blocked or otherwise stored once loaded onto a phone for use, only when the phone is recycled.

Some users may prefer to purchase sufficient airtime in advance, for example at the beginning of the month when they have sufficient funds, etc. when they receive wages being paid. However, it may not be convenient or desirable to get a month's supply of time. It would be convenient if some of these times were already stored in a safe place until they were needed. In this way, even if the user's funds have been depleted, airtime that has been paid for will be easily available.

Generally, when a person buys a product or service such as airtime or utilities, that person is tied to those products or services unless they are sold to a third party. This person can stake a product or service, and you receive money or some value in return. It would be convenient if people could save goods or services for a desired period of time and get them back when needed.

purpose of invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a saving system and method which at least partially alleviates some of the difficulties mentioned above.

Contents of the invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a savings system comprising: a savings institution having transceiver means for receiving a request for a savings product or service from a user having an identifier; and a storage means for storing The device is used to store goods or services corresponding to the identifier.

The request may include an indication of the amount of goods and/or services to be saved.

A transceiver is provided for sending the code to the user.

Yet another feature of the invention provides a transceiver for receiving requests for retrieving airtime.

The present invention extends to a method of saving, comprising the steps of:

- receiving a request from a user for a deposit-specified good or service;

- receive an identifier from the user;

- store the goods or services corresponding to the identifier; and

- Send code to user.

The request may include an indication of the quantity of the good or service.

A record may be kept for storing goods or services, and the record may be kept in a depository device.

A request is received from the user from the user's mobile phone.

The request from the user may be in the form of an SMS, USSD or other message; alternatively via the Internet.

The message received from the user includes information about the quantity of goods or services to be stored.

Another feature of the invention sets an identifier which is the user's mobile phone number.

Yet another feature of the present invention sets a code, which is a personal identification number sent to the user for later use.

A further step of the invention provides for receiving a retrieval request for retrieval of a previously stored product or service.

Fetch requests include codes previously sent to users.

A withdrawal request is provided for the total amount of products or services stored with the savings institution, or for a portion of the total amount of products or services stored with respect to the user.

Stored products or services can also be set up to earn interest.

In addition, airtime for setting savings is bound by due dates.

It should be understood that the term "talk time" includes normal voice time as well as data.

All deposit requests and withdrawal requests can be made in person, physically, wirelessly such as over the Internet, or in any other way.

These and other features of the invention are described in more detail below.

Description of drawings

An embodiment of the present invention is described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a schematic diagram of an airtime savings system and method.

detailed description

Referring to the drawings, a savings system and method is indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 .

In the embodiments described herein, reference is made to savings in airtime. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that this example is equally applicable to any good or service, including utilities such as gas, water or electricity, particularly where these are purchased on a pre-payment basis.

The system and method 1 includes a mobile service provider 2 . The mobile service provider 4 has a direct communication link 4 with the mobile phone 3 and an alternative communication link between the mobile service provider 2 and the mobile phone 3 in the form of the Internet 5 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other communication links are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, a user of a mobile phone 3 may purchase airtime directly and physically from the mobile service provider 2, or through a third-party franchise store acting as an agent or as a representative on behalf of the mobile service provider. Distributor of airtime.

The mobile phone 3 can also communicate with the airtime bank 8 via the communication link 6 or 7 . Likewise, communication link 7 may be a direct wireless link, and link 6 may likewise be via the Internet, as is known in the art. Furthermore, alternatively, the user of the mobile phone 3 may visit the airtime bank 8 in person, or visit a specialty store acting as an agent of the airtime bank 8 in person.

In use, the user of the mobile phone 3 purchases airtime from the mobile service provider 2 via the link as described above or via an alternative link. The user of the mobile phone 3 can now decide to store the airtime thus purchased, or to store a part thereof. The user of the mobile phone 3 can now request the airtime bank 8 to deposit airtime or a part thereof. The airtime bank can identify the user via the mobile phone number of the mobile phone 3 and deposit savings to this mobile phone number. The airtime bank 8 then also generates a code in the form of a personal identification number, which is then provided to the user of the mobile phone 3 . This code will be provided to the user of the mobile phone 3 via the communication link 6 or 7, or physically to the user of the mobile phone 3.

At a future date, when the user of the mobile phone 3 needs to withdraw stored airtime, the user can do so by contacting the airtime bank 8 and providing a personal identification number and the amount of airtime to be withdrawn. Again, the withdrawal request can be sent via the communication link 6 or 7, or by physically visiting the talking bank 8 in person.

In the manner described above, one will conveniently store purchased airtime. Airtime is safe under the control of the bank and can also be withdrawn at any time in the future.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the precise details described or shown herein, and that many other embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, while reference has been made to the purchase, saving and withdrawal of airtime, the methods and systems described herein will be equally applicable to many goods and services, particularly those purchased on a pre-paid basis, such as utilities such as natural gas , water or electricity. In this case, the mobile service provider 2 is a utility provider, and the user can purchase utilities online using any suitable communication device, such as a computer or smartphone. Alternatively, as is known in the art, the user may purchase the utility directly at the utility provider and receive a code that is used to activate the utility for supplying a set amount or for a set period of time, such as as known in the art.

Claims (30)

1. A savings system comprising: a savings institution having transceiver means for receiving requests for savings products or services from users with identifiers; and storage means for storing Means for storing goods or services corresponding to said identifiers or information about said goods or services. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the request may include an indication of the amount of goods and/or services to be saved. 3. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transceiver transmits a code to the user in response to receiving the request. 4. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transceiver receives a request to withdraw savings. 5. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the good or service is airtime. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the airtime includes data and/or voice. 7. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein deposit requests are received from a mobile phone or via the Internet. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the request is sent using USSD or SMS. 9. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the identifier is a mobile telephone number of the user. 10. A system according to any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the code is a personal identification number. 11. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the establishment receives a withdrawal request to withdraw some or all of the stored goods or services. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the fetch request includes or is associated with the code. 13. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the savings earn interest. 14. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stored good or service has an expiry date. 15. The system of any one of claims 1 to 4 and 7 to 14, wherein the good or service is a utility. 16. A saving method, comprising the steps of: - receiving a request from a user for a deposit-specified good or service; - receiving an identifier from said user; - store the goods or services corresponding to said identifier; and - Send a code to said user. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the request includes an indication of the quantity of the good or service. 18. A method according to any one of claims 16 or 17, wherein a record storing the goods or services is kept in a storage device. 19. A method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the request from the user is received from the user's mobile phone. 20. A method according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the request from the user is in the form of an SMS or USSD message. 21. A method according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the request is received via the Internet. 22. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 21, wherein the message received from the user includes information relating to the quantity of the good or service to be stored. 23. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 22, wherein the identifier is a mobile telephone number of the user. 24. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 23, wherein the code is a personal identification number sent to the user for later use. 25. A method according to any one of claims 16 to 24, wherein the method comprises the step of receiving a retrieval request for retrieval of a previously stored product or service. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the fetch request includes a code previously sent to the user. 27. A method as claimed in any one of claims 25 or 26, wherein the withdrawal request is for the total amount of products or services deposited with the depository institution, or the withdrawal request is for The extraction of a portion of the total amount of products or services stored by the user. 28. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 27 wherein the stored product or service earns interest. 29. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 28, wherein the stored call times are bound by dates. 30. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 29, wherein the goods and services comprise any one or more of the following: airtime; utilities; electricity; water and natural gas.