A method of adding a value to a customer account is provided. A request to add a value to a customer account of a customer is received from a point of sale terminal. The request may comprise value identification data associated with the value and account identification data associated with the customer account. The customer account identification data may be entered at the point of sale. The request may be associated with a purchase of the value. The value may be caused to be added to the customer account. During subsequent value purchase transactions, additional value may be added to the account.

Systems and methods are disclosed to facilitate payment of a restaurant bill via text message. For example, a text message having a restaurant bill code may be sent from a customer device to an MPS phone number. A restaurant network address may be extracted for a restaurant computing system. A query may be sent to the restaurant computing system using the restaurant network address with the restaurant bill code. In response, the restaurant computing system may send restaurant bill data that includes least one restaurant menu item, a price for the at least one restaurant menu item, and a total bill amount. A unique URL may be created that when entered into a web browser presents a webpage that includes at least the restaurant bill data. The unique URL may be used by the customer to pay the restaurant bill.

Apparatus and methods for providing backhaul access connectivity to e.g., a vehicular hotspot. In one embodiment, a wireless network of access points comprises so-called parent access points (PAPs), child access points (CAPs), and transit access points (TAPs). Each PAP operates as a service gateway and provides a wireless coverage area, which is further augmented by the coverages of its subsidiary CAPs. Each TAP can connect to either a PAP or a CAP for backhaul access. During exemplary operation, a user's Wi-Fi client device connects to a TAP located in the vehicle (e.g., car, train, bus, etc.), and provides connectivity to a host managed content distribution network to which the user subscribes.

Systems and methods are disclosed to facilitate payment of a restaurant bill via text message. For example, a text message having a restaurant bill code may be sent from a customer device to an MPS phone number. A restaurant network address may be extracted for a restaurant computing system. A query may be sent to the restaurant computing system using the restaurant network address with the restaurant bill code. In response, the restaurant computing system may send restaurant bill data that includes least one restaurant menu item, a price for the at least one restaurant menu item, and a total bill amount. A unique URL may be created that when entered into a web browser presents a webpage that includes at least the restaurant bill data. The unique URL may be used by the customer to pay the restaurant bill.

A method of operating a payment terminal comprises receiving an activation input, and in response thereto outputting a first wireless signal for communicating with an external payment device of a first type and a second wireless signal for communicating with an external payment device of a second type. The first and second wireless signals are formatted in respective mutually different first and second protocols. The method further comprises receiving a reply to one of the first and second wireless signals and in response to the reply, terminating outputting of the other of the first and second wireless signals.

A network platform manages the provisioning of a UE with a dominant identity profile and a recessive identity profile. The dominant profile is associated with a user's existing wireless data plan and the recessive profile corresponds to a data plan of a provider of device, or machine-to-machine, services to the UE. The UE uses the two profiles to transmit separate data contexts on separate respective bearers. When managing two separate bearers, the UE always uses the dominant profile first for managing a handoff to a stronger cell. The UE reports that the new cell that now serves the dominant context is the only cell that has enough strength to support the recessive context, even if other cells near the UE have signals strong enough. This necessarily causes the recessive context to always be handed off to the same cell to which the dominant context has already been handed off.

A system and method of a telephony application platform can include receiving a communication session request specifying a destination endpoint, connecting the communication session through a first application module according to the destination endpoint, receiving an instruction to transition communication control to a second application module, transitioning communication control of the communication session to the second application module, independently metering resource usage of the communication session of each application module, and accounting the metered usage of the communication session.

The present disclosure provides a method (200) in a network entity for control of a Value Added Service (VAS) to be provided for a user. The method (200) comprises: receiving (S210) from another network entity an indication of an account status of a VAS related account associated with the user; determining (S220) a VAS control policy for the VAS based on the account status; and transmitting (S230) the VAS control policy to a network controller that controls provision of the VAS.

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.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for mining time data are provided. Implementations consistent with the present disclosure provide for mining devices for time spent on behalf of clients-time that would otherwise be un-captured, unbilled time and money, and ensure that a user is properly compensated for all they do. Operations consistent with the present disclosure include selecting at least one billing criteria by a user of a mobile device, searching the mobile device for stored electronic communication data related to the at least one billing criteria, returning at least one matched electronic communication from among the stored electronic communication data related to the at least one billing criteria, assigning at least one of a time value and a billing value to the at least one matched electronic communication, and performing at least one of timekeeping and billing based up-on the assigned at least one time value and billing value.