Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
  • H04W4/24—Accounting or billing
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/43—Billing software details
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/48—Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/56—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP for VoIP communications
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/70—Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
  • H04M15/73—Validating charges
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M17/00—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M17/00—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
  • H04M17/20—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
  • H01L2924/00—Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
  • H01L2924/01—Chemical elements
  • H01L2924/01005—Boron [B]
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/01—Details of billing arrangements
  • H04M2215/0156—Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/20—Technology dependant metering
  • H04M2215/202—VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/32—Involving wireless systems
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/70—Administration aspects, modify settings or limits or counter-check correct charges
  • H04M2215/7072—Validate charges

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method for a prepaid telecommunication service, in particular for a digital mobile communication network, and to a corresponding computer program and computer system. It is known per se from the prior art to pay telephone charges using so-called p repaid payment systems. Such systems are disclosed, for example, in US-A-5,915,226; US-A-6,226,366; US-A-6,236,851; WO 95/35 619 and WO 95/34 161 are known.
• a prepaid payment system for the payment of telecommunications fees is offered by Vodafone, for example, with the D2-CallYa product (www.d2vodafone.de/callva).
• the telecommunications customer purchases so-called voucher or scratch cards on which a so-called voucher number is printed.
• a telecommunications customer calls a service number from his cell phone and then enters the voucher number on the keypad of his cell phone. The booking amount assigned to the voucher number is then credited to the customer account.
• a disadvantage here is the effort for the production of the voucher or scratch cards and the logistics required for the distribution of these cards. It is disadvantageous for the telecommunications end customer that a relatively long voucher number, which is usually twelve digits long, has to be entered manually.
• Vo SXpress is a voucher management system for the management of prepaid prepaid cards and for carrying out booking processes (www.pse.siemens .at).
• Other products for prepaid administration and the so-called Vocher Management are available from Business Logic Systems (www.businesslogic.co.uk) and Logica (www.logica.com).
• a common feature of such previously known prepaid administration systems is the requirement of a so-called voucher printing system, that is to say the need to produce so-called voucher, value or scratch cards with the printed voucher number.
• DE 100 02 032 A1 discloses a method for cashless payment using a mobile phone. To use this method, both the sender and the payee must be registered in an authorization computer that is part of a payment system. Information from the payment sender and payee is stored on the authorization computer and can be called up when corresponding identification codes are transmitted.
• the sender dials the authorization computer via his mobile phone.
• the sender of payments is identified by the authorization computer via the Subscriber Identity Module or the telephone number of the mobile phone.
• the payment sender uses the keypad of his mobile phone to enter the payee's identification number, which is displayed, for example, at the cash register of a point of sale, and the amount of money to be paid.
• a corresponding transfer is then made to the payee's account.
• This system therefore only allows the entry of a transfer order in favor of a payee via a mobile phone. In addition, no other transactions are possible, so this system lacks the necessary flexibility.
• a mobile phone is known as a component in cashless electronic payment transactions.
• the payee communicates his account number and bank routing number to the payer via the cell phone interfaces.
• This information and the amount to be entered are automatically sent from the payer's phone to the payer's account over the air.
• the authorization to carry out the transaction is checked using a code set consisting of four blocks.
• the transfer amount will be credited to the payee's specified account.
• This system is also disadvantageous in that it is only possible to enter a transfer order, but no further financial transactions are possible.
• a billing system and a billing method in a telecommunication network are known from EP 1 016 263 B1.
• the customer's calculated for a telecommunications service is determined from statistical properties of previous connections of this customer.
• a method for generating invoice data in a telecommunications system is known from US Pat. No. 6,173,175 B1. This system enables groups of telecommunications subscribers to share a single account.
• WO 01/48 714 A1 discloses a method for carrying out payment transactions using mobile telephones. In a first
• the mobile device involved in the payment transaction and the
• Payment terminal assigned to each other in a transaction center In the second phase, the payment transaction between the mobile device and the payment terminal takes place via the transaction center.
• the second phase is initiated by the transaction center by transmitting the payment request for the payment transaction to the mobile device involved in the payment transaction in question.
• This previously known system has the particular disadvantage that it only allows payment of a payment amount based on a corresponding payment request from a transaction center, but not financial transactions going beyond that. This system is therefore also not sufficiently flexible.
• a method for confirming a transaction using a mobile radio terminal is known from DE 100 37 175 A1.
• confirmation data is transmitted to the transaction partner via a data channel.
• An unstructured supplementary / services data channel a so-called USSD channel, in particular a GSM, GPRS or a UMTS mobile radio network, or a feature code service channel, a so-called FCS channel, in particular an IS-41, is used as the data channel.
• a so-called USSD channel in particular a GSM, GPRS or a UMTS mobile radio network
• FCS channel in particular an IS-41
• the invention is based on the object of creating a further method, computer program and computer system for a prepaid telecommunications service, which is suitable for paying telecommunications fees and has a high degree of flexibility.
• a temporary booking identifier which contains a random number, is determined on the server side for a booking amount.
• This temporary booking identifier is only valid in combination with an identifier of the payee's telecommunications device.
• Such a temporary booking identifier preferably has a relatively short length of, for example, four digits. In comparison to the prior art, a user only has to enter a very short booking ID for booking the payment amount.
• This identifier can e.g. for the phone number, i.e. the MSISDN, or the IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identification) or the TMSI (Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity) or another identifier assigned to the telecommunication device or to the dealer or customer.
• the phone number i.e. the MSISDN
• IMSI International Mobile Subscriber Identification
• TMSI Temporal Mobile Subscriber Identity
• the temporary booking identifier is only valid for a relatively short period of time.
• the temporary booking identifier has an assigned time stamp.
• the temporary booking ID is only valid within a specified period that begins with the time of the time stamp.
• the specified period for the validity of the temporary booking identifier can be selected to be relatively short, that is to say in the range of a few minutes.
• the specified time period only has to be as long as is typical for the transmission of the temporary booking identifier to the payee's telecommunication device, for the notification of the temporary booking identifier to the payer and for the entry and entry of the temporary booking identifier into the telecommunication device Transfer back to the server is needed.
• the payee is a trader.
• the dealer has one or more telecommunications cation devices that are registered on the server with their phone numbers as an identifier.
• the dealer also has a dealer identifier, i.e. a so-called point of sales (POS) identification number (ID).
• POS point of sales
• a seller accepts the payment amount in cash.
• the seller uses a registered mobile phone of the dealer, which is assigned to the seller, for example, to enter the corresponding booking amount corresponding to the payment.
• This booking amount is transmitted to a server via the mobile radio network and is assigned to the dealer using the identifier of the seller's mobile radio device.
• a temporary booking identifier is then determined, which is transmitted from the server to the seller's mobile device.
• the seller communicates this temporary booking ID to the customer who previously made the cash payment. This can be done verbally or by establishing a communication link between the seller's and the customer's mobile devices, for example via an infrared interface.
• the temporary booking ID and the retailer's POS ID are then transmitted from the customer's mobile device via the mobile network to the server and checked for validity there (validation). If it is a valid booking ID, the payment amount can be posted to the customer account on the server side. This turnover is preferably recorded in a dealer account for the subsequent settlement of the telecommunications provider with the dealer.
• a permanent booking identifier is determined on the server side.
• Known voucher management systems can be used to determine the permanent booking ID.
• a voucher management system tems generates a list of voucher numbers, i.e. permanent booking IDs.
• at least some of the permanent booking IDs contained in this list are then not used for the production of voucher cards, but for the conversion of temporary booking IDs.
• a permanent booking identifier is therefore selected from the list of permanent booking identifiers and the selected permanent booking identifier is “deleted”.
• the permanent booking identifier is then transmitted to the customer's mobile device via the mobile radio network.
• the customer can then use the permanent booking identifier in a manner known per se, the customer not requiring a physical voucher card, so the customer can therefore call a specific service number and enter the permanent booking identifier in order to activate his credit.
• the customer can also save the permanent booking ID for later use in his mobile device or forward it to a third party. Forwarding can take the form of an SMS, for example.
• a telecommunications customer can make a transfer from his prepaid account to the prepaid account of another telecommunications customer. In this way, any goods or services can be paid for.
• the mobile device of the telecommunications customer who wants to enter the transfer order enters the amount to be transferred, which is to be transferred in favor of the payee.
• a temporary build-up is then carried out on the server side. identifying identifier, which is transmitted to the mobile device of the transferor.
• the telecommunications customer who wants to make the transfer then informs the payee of the temporary booking ID.
• the temporary booking ID is then transmitted from the payee's mobile device to the server.
• the identifier of the transferor's mobile device which is used to validate the temporary booking identifier, is also transmitted.
• the booking is then made in favor of the payee and the account of the transferor is debited accordingly.
• the temporary booking ID can be converted into a permanent booking ID and transferred to the payee.
• FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a computer system according to the invention for a mobile radio network
• FIG. 2 shows a flow chart for the registration of a dealer
• FIG. 3 shows a flowchart for the replenishment of a customer's prepaid account
• FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for the transfer of a permanent booking number to a customer
• Figure 5 is a flowchart for debiting the prepaid account
• the figure 1 shows a mobile radio network 1 which works, for example, according to the GSM, GPRS, UMTS or IS-41 standard.
• the telecommunication devices 2, 3 and 4 as well as further telecommunication devices not shown in the figure 1 can communicate with one another via the mobile radio network 1 and also with a server 5 which is connected to the mobile radio network 1.
• Such mobile phones have a SIM card 6 on which the call number, that is to say the so-called MSISDN (mobile station ISDN number), is stored.
• MSISDN mobile station ISDN number
• the communication between one of the telecommunication devices 2, 3, 4, ... and the server 5 can take place, for example, by establishing a telephone connection, that is to say by voice input.
• the server 5 is assigned a service number, which is called by the relevant telecommunication device in order to establish a connection.
• input data can be transmitted to the server 5 by natural language, as is known per se from the prior art.
• SMS Short Message Service
• data can also be transmitted using USSD or WAP or with another data service.
• the data to be transmitted can be control commands and / or user data.
• the server 5 contains a prepaid module 7 and a database module 8.
• the database module 8 is used to manage the prepaid accounts for the telecommunication devices 2, 3, 4, ...
• the database module 8 contains the MSISDN in question for each of the registered telecommunication devices Credit is allocated. If telecommunication fees are incurred for one of the telecommunication devices, these are charged to the relevant prepaid account in the database module 8 by the prepaid module 7.
• the server For prepaid administration, replenishing prepaid accounts and / or other financial transactions, the server contains 5 other components:
• the computer program 9 contains a registration module 10, a module 11 for generating a temporary booking identifier and in module 1 2 for determining a permanent booking identifier.
• the module 10 serves for the registration of telecommunication devices and of dealers, as will be explained in more detail below.
• the module 11 contains a random generator 13 and a time base 14.
• a temporary booking identifier has a predetermined length of four digits.
• a pseudo-random sequence of digits which contains four digits is then generated by means of the random generator.
• This sequence of digits, which represents the temporary booking identifier is also assigned a time stamp, which results from the time base 14.
• the module 12 serves to determine a permanent booking identifier for a temporary booking identifier. This can be done in such a way that module 12 takes a permanent booking ID from a list of permanent booking IDs that has been generated by a voucher management system. With the help of the temporary booking identifier, a “virtual voucher card” is generated, which is stored in the database module 15.
• Such a virtual voucher card contains the temporary booking identifier, the booking amount and the time stamp, as well as further identifiers that depend on the application for a virtual voucher card, the retailer identification (POS ID) and the phone number (MSISDN) of the telecommunications device of the retailer from which the temporary booking ID was requested.
• a virtual voucher card contains an identifier, such as the phone number (MSISDN), of the telecommunications company - Ons device of a customer who wants to transfer a prepaid credit to another customer.
• the server 5 also has a database module 16, which is used to manage the dealer accounts.
• the turnover made for each dealer is recorded in the database module 16, that is to say each POS ID, the turnover made by the dealer concerned from booking amounts is recorded for the purposes of the subsequent settlement of the telecommunications provider with the dealer.
• the server 5 also has a database module 17, which is used for the registration of dealers.
• a dealer identification POS ID
• MSISDN call numbers
• PIN personal identification number
• Such a PIN can be uniform for the dealer concerned.
• a separate PIN is assigned to each of the dealer's registered telecommunication devices, that is to say their telephone number. These PINs are then assigned, for example, to various sellers of the dealer who use the registered telecommunication devices. Master data of the dealer, such as his address and the like, are also stored in the database module 17. The method of operation of the system in FIG. 1 is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5:
• Figure 2 illustrates the procedure for registering a new dealer.
• a client-server connection is established in step 20 between the dealer's telecommunication device and the server 5. Furthermore, it is assumed, for example, that the dealer has the telecommunication device 2.
• the client-server connection between the telecommunication device 2 and the server 5 can be established by a call from the telecommunication device 2 to the service number of the server 5 or via another data service provided by the mobile radio network 1.
• the dealer can also register via an Internet connection.
• the registration is preferably carried out by a call from the telecommunications device 2 or by sending an SMS.
• the identifier of the telecommunication device that is to say the MSISDN stored in the SIM card 6, is also automatically transmitted to the server 5 via the mobile radio network 1.
• This service is called caller line identification and is provided as standard in a GSM mobile radio network, for example.
• a POS ID is generated in the server 5, which is transmitted back to the telecommunication device 2 via the mobile radio network 1.
• the POS ID is assigned to the MSISDN of the telecommunication device 2 and stored in the database module 17 in step 21.
• step 22 the dealer enters further master data, which are also stored in the database module 17.
• step 23 also takes place the assignment of a PIN which is assigned to the POS ID and is also stored in the database module 17.
• the invention thus enables a new dealer to be registered, for example by calling a specific service number or by another data service, such as, for example, USSD, SMS or WAP. Due to e.g. of a call, the MSISDN of the telecommunication device 2 is also transmitted. This is then assigned the POS ID, which is sent to the telecommunications device 2 via the mobile radio network 1.
• FIG. 3 shows the procedure for replenishing a customer's prepaid account. It is further assumed that the customer has the telecommunication device 3. In step 30, the customer pays the booking amount to the dealer, for example by paying in cash. The booking amount is the amount of money by which the customer's prepaid account (see database module 8) is to be replenished.
• step 31 the transfer of this booking amount to the server 5 is carried out by the telecommunications device 2 of the dealer.
• the dealer enters the booking amount in his telecommunication device 2 so that it is transmitted to the server 5.
• the MSISDN of the telecommunications device 2 is also transmitted when the booking amount is transferred. It can also be provided that the dealer enters his PIN for authentication.
• the server 5 After receiving the booking amount and the MSISDN of the telecommunication device 2, the server 5 recognizes on the basis of the entry in the database module 17 that it is a call from a dealer with a specific POS ID. As a result, the server 5 generates a temporary booking identifier in step 32 with the aid of the module 11. Alternatively or additionally, the dealer enters a service identifier when entering the booking amount in step 31 in order to request the temporary booking identifier.
• the random generator 13 is accessed to generate the temporary booking identifier in the module 11.
• a random number output by the random number generator 13 is used as a temporary booking identifier.
• Time base 14 is also accessed to generate a time stamp for the temporary booking identifier.
• the temporary booking identifier, the booking amount, the POS ID determined from the database module 17 with the aid of the MSISDN of the telecommunication device 2, the MSISDN of the telecommunication device 2 and the time stamp are stored in the database module 17 as a “virtual voucher card”.
• step 33 the temporary booking identifier is transmitted from the server 5 to the telecommunications device 2 of the dealer via the mobile radio network 1.
• step 34 the dealer communicates the temporary booking identifier to the customer. This can be done verbally or also by local transmission between the telecommunication device 2 and the telecommunication device 3, for example via an infrared interface, or also by sending, for example, an SMS from the telecommunication device 2 to the telecommunication device 3.
• step 35 the customer enters the temporary booking identifier into his telecommunication device 3 and the dealer identifier (POS ID).
• the dealer will also provide the customer with the identifier.
• step 36 Checked on the server side whether the temporary booking identifier received by the customer, that is to say his telecommunication device 3, is valid.
• the time stamp of the temporary booking identifier stored in the database module 15 is accessed and this is compared with the current time of the time base 14. If the time difference does not exceed a predetermined maximum time, the temporary booking identifier is considered valid. This maximum time can be relatively short, for example in the range of a few minutes.
• step 35 is returned to in order to request the customer again.
• step 37 the booking amount is posted to the repaid account which is assigned to the customer or his telecommunication device 3.
• the corresponding booking takes place by accessing the database module 8 using the MSISDN of the telecommunication device 3 as a key.
• the database module 16 is accessed with the retailer's POS ID in order to record the turnover made (step 38).
• step 39 the server 5 sends the telecommunication device 2 and the telecommunication device 3 a confirmation that the transaction has been carried out.
• Figure 4 shows an alternative operating mode. Steps 40 to 46 correspond to steps 30 to 36 of FIG. 3. In step 47, in contrast to step 37, the booking is not already carried out, but a permanent booking number is determined for the temporary booking number. This is done by accessing module 12.
• dealer turnover is recorded in step 48, as is also the case in step 38.
• step 49 the permanent booking number is transmitted to the customer's telecommunication device 3.
• step 50 the server 5 sends a confirmation of the transaction to the telecommunication devices 2 and 3, as is also the case in step 39.
• step 51 the customer can activate the permanent booking number by contacting the server 5 in a manner known per se and entering the permanent booking number, so that the prepaid booking amount is credited to the customer account.
• the customer can also pass on the permanent booking number to another customer, for example to the customer with the telecommunication device 4 for its use. This forwarding can take place, for example, by sending an SMS message.
• FIG. 5 illustrates another possible use of the system of FIG. 1. 1 In this case, in telecommunications customers, another contributes prepaid credit.
• customer A is the owner of the telecommunication device 2 and customer B is the owner of the telecommunication device 4.
• customer A enters into his telecommunications ons réelle a booking amount, so that this is transmitted together with the MSISDN of the telecommunications device 3 to the server 5. Furthermore, it can be provided that customer A must enter the PIN assigned to him for authentication.
• step 53 the server 5 checks whether the customer A's credit stored in the database module 8 is sufficient for debiting the booking amount. If this is not the case, the customer receives a corresponding message in step 54 and the process is terminated.
• a temporary booking identifier is generated on the server side with the aid of module 11.
• a corresponding entry is also generated in the database module 15 for generating a “virtual voucher card”.
• the MSISDN of the telecommunication device 3 of the customer A is entered in the database module 15 instead of the POS ID of the dealer and the MSISDN of the telecommunication device 2.
• step 56 the temporary booking identifier is transmitted from the server 5 to the telecommunication device 2 of the customer A.
• step 57 customer A informs customer B of the temporary booking identifier.
• the customer B then in step 58 enters the temporary booking identifier and the MSISDN of the telecommunication device 2 of the customer A into his telecommunication device 3 for transmission to the server.
• the server then checks in step 59 whether the temporary booking identifier is valid.
• step 59 In order to check the validity of the temporary booking identifier in step 59, it is again checked whether a corresponding temporary booking identifier is present in the database module 15 and whether this is the same as that of the Customer B heard MSISDN entered in step 58. It is also checked whether the maximum time has not yet been exceeded. If there is no valid temporary booking ID, the customer will be asked to resubmit.
• the booking amount is debited in step 60 from customer A's prepaid account in database module 8 and in step 61 to the prepaid account of customer B booked in database module 8.
• customer B can also receive a permanent booking identifier in step 61 in order to carry out the booking at a later point in time or to give the permanent booking identifier to another customer.
• step 62 the server confirms to customers A and B by sending a confirmation message to telecommunication devices 3 and 4.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
• Financial Or Insurance-Related Operations Such As Payment And Settlement (AREA)
• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
• Meter Arrangements (AREA)

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• 2002
  • 2002-05-24 DE DE2002123282 patent/DE10223282B3/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2003
  • 2003-05-22 EP EP03740033A patent/EP1512273A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 2003-05-22 WO PCT/DE2003/001683 patent/WO2003101082A1/de not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-05-22 AU AU2003273158A patent/AU2003273158A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-05-22 EA EA200401384A patent/EA006286B1/ru not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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