A system for generating and applying a secure token in a resource distribution network is provided. For example, a headend system generates a payment-based token based on a payment made for a meter. The payment-based token indicates a credit value to be applied to the meter. The credit value can range from a negative credit value limit and a positive credit value limit. The payment-based token is further generated based on a meter identifier. The headend system transmits the payment-based token to the meter via at least a mesh network. After receiving the payment-based token, the meter validates the payment-based token to determine that the payment-based token is generated for the meter. The meter further determines the balance associated with the meter based on the credit value specified in the payment-based token. Based on the balance, the meter connects or disconnects premises associated with the meter from a resource supply.

A method for crediting a customer account maintained by a vendor of services in response to payment received from a customer is disclosed herein. The method includes issuing, to the customer, a membership account number associated with at least the customer account. A membership account number and a payment corresponding to a requested amount of a service offered by the vendor are received from the customer at a point-of-sale. The method further includes generating, at the point-of-sale, an authorization message including at least the membership account number and embedded transaction information identifying the service offered by the vendor and the requested amount. The embedded transaction information is then communicated from the point-of-sale to a database server. The customer account is credited, in response to the embedded transaction information, based upon an amount of the payment. The method also includes electronically transferring funds based upon the amount of the payment from a first account associated with the point-of-sale to a second account associated with the vendor.

A system and method allows users to make purchases utilizing a mobile subscriber account.

The mobile device stores a plurality of communication profiles comprising one or more local communication profiles and a global communication profile. The mobile device determines local access requirements for connecting to a local cellular network operator and determines whether the plurality of communication profiles comprises a local communication profile that satisfies the local access requirements. When the plurality of communication profiles does not comprise a local communication profile that satisfies the local access requirements: the mobile device connects to a global cellular network operator using the global communication profile; receives, from the global cellular network operator, a new local communication profile that satisfies the local access requirements and connects to the local cellular network operator using the new local communication profile. Subsequently, the mobile device communicates with another device via the local cellular network operator as if the mobile device was a local mobile device.

A computer-implemented visitation system includes tablet computer devices accessible to respective ones of authorized incarcerated inmates inside a correctional facility, and a visitation services computer system. The tablet devices and visitation services system are configured to: accept login credentials to uniquely identify one pre-registered authorized incarcerated inmates; establish an interconnection between a visitor computer device and the tablet computer devices to commence video visitation sessions without requiring endpoint control to schedule or initiate the visitation session by administrative personnel of the correctional facility; and apply a video visitation session charge.

A process for authorizing wireless service includes providing a generally rectangular flat form factor card having a first surface and opposing second surface. The process further includes providing a machine-readable activation code arranged on the first surface, wherein the machine-readable activation code is configured to authorize the wireless service when provided to a system associated with a wireless service provider, receiving the machine-readable activation code in a server, the machine-readable activation code being captured by a wireless device, and provisioning the wireless service to the wireless device from a wireless network when the machine-readable activation code is provided to the system associated with the wireless network.

A method, computing system, and computer program product are provided. A processor of a computer system estimates an amount of bandwidth to be used to complete a transaction based on a usage history. Responsive to determining that the amount of the estimated bandwidth to be used exceeds a predefined threshold of an amount of available bandwidth and to determining that an account has any offers for additional bandwidth at no additional cost, the amount of available bandwidth is automatically recharged using at least some of the any offers until either the any offers are exhausted or the estimated amount of the bandwidth to be used would be less than the predefined threshold. When the estimated amount of the bandwidth to be used continues to exceed the predefined threshold, the bandwidth is automatically recharged using an advanced amount of bandwidth to increase a likelihood that the transaction will complete successfully.

A computer-implemented video vistation system of a correctional facility includes an administrator computer device in communication with a visitation services computer system and a database. The administrator computer device is configured, via an administrator interface displayed on the administrative computer device, to enable or disable privileges for selected inmates in the inmate population allowing inmates access to the visitation services computer system, and set visitation session preferences including maximum visitation session length and visitation session cost that applies to the visitation services. The visitation services computer system is configured to receive requests for audio/video visitation sessions initiated by incarcerated inmates, confirm that each request involves an authorized registered incarcerated inmate or an authorized registered remote non-incarcerated visitor, transmit invitations to the respective recipients in response to each received request for an audio/video visitation session, and automatically establish interconnections between visitor computer devices at the remote locations and inmate computer devices in the correctional facility without requiring endpoint control to schedule or initiate a visitation session by administrative personnel of the correctional facility.

The present invention comprises a system and method for managing an inventory of PINs in a PIN distribution network. The distribution network includes a hub coupled to a one or more servers and each of the servers is coupled to at least one client terminal. The system includes a hub for dynamically allocating PINs of the inventory among the servers so as to substantially maintain a quantity of PINs at each server at a desired level for each server. Additionally, the hub acquires additional PINs in response to at least one PIN in the inventory being distributed to at least one user from at least one of the client terminals. In variations, the hub maintains centralized databases and synchronizes the centralized databases with corresponding databases at each server.

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.