METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROVIDING PREPAID 800/900 TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE
First Claim
1. A method for providing prepaid 800 or 900-type calling services, comprising:
- receiving an 800 or 900-type call request from a caller using a prepaid account;
determining if the caller'"'"'s prepaid account is authorized for the call request;
authorizing the desired communication or other services in connection with the call request;
determining charges associated with the communication or other services provided in connection with the call request; and
adjusting a credit value of the caller'"'"'s prepaid account in accordance with the determined charges.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and device for providing prepaid 800 and/or 900-type caller services. A caller provides a call request to a telecommunications service provider that can include an 800 or 900 telephone number and an account number for a prepaid account associated with the 800 or 900 telephone number. A determination is made if the prepaid account is authorized for the desired 800 or 900-type call, and if the account is authorized, the caller is connected to the called party associated with the 800 or 900 telephone number. When the call is completed, charges associated with the call are determined and charged to the prepaid account or other party, as desired. The prepaid account is then adjusted to reflect the determined charges.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for providing prepaid 800 or 900-type calling services, comprising:
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receiving an 800 or 900-type call request from a caller using a prepaid account;
determining if the caller'"'"'s prepaid account is authorized for the call request;
authorizing the desired communication or other services in connection with the call request;
determining charges associated with the communication or other services provided in connection with the call request; and
adjusting a credit value of the caller'"'"'s prepaid account in accordance with the determined charges. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An 800/900 prepaid service device associated with a telecommunications switching network that receives an 800 or 900-type call request from a caller representing a call to be made to a called party using a caller'"'"'s prepaid account, the 800/900 prepaid service device comprising:
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a call detector that detects that the call request represents an 800 or 900-type call associated with prepaid call services;
a prepaid account manager that determines if the caller'"'"'s prepaid account is authorized for the call request, determines charges associated with communication or other services provided if the caller'"'"'s prepaid account is authorized, and adjusts a credit value of the caller'"'"'s prepaid account in accordance with the determined charges; and
a memory that stores information associated with the caller'"'"'s prepaid account. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification