METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING PREPAID LOCAL TELEPHONE SERVICES
First Claim
1. A method for providing prepaid local telephone services to a subscriber having a telecommunications device connected to a subscriber line and in communication with a telephone network via the subscriber line, the method comprising:
- receiving a telephone call from the subscriber;
identifying a subscriber account in a prepaid local telephone call database for the subscriber based on the telephone number of the subscriber;
receiving a value identification code associated with a prepaid local telephone service program;
determining a period of service for the identified subscriber account;
monitoring the period of service at the prepaid local telephone call database; and
sending termination date information to the subscriber prior to an expiration of the period of service.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing prepaid dialtone services. The system includes a prepaid dialtone service center having an applications server that maintains a prepaid dialtone subscriber database including subscriber identification and service period information. The applications server is configured to automatically remind subscribers to renew their prepaid dialtone account and communicates with a local exchange carrier to place a hold on, or cancel, an expired subscriber account. The method includes the features of determining and monitoring a service period for a prepaid dialtone subscriber, communicating a reminder to the subscriber prior to expiration of the service period, and communicating with a local exchange carrier servicing the subscriber upon expiration of the service period.
126 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for providing prepaid local telephone services to a subscriber having a telecommunications device connected to a subscriber line and in communication with a telephone network via the subscriber line, the method comprising:
-
receiving a telephone call from the subscriber;
identifying a subscriber account in a prepaid local telephone call database for the subscriber based on the telephone number of the subscriber;
receiving a value identification code associated with a prepaid local telephone service program;
determining a period of service for the identified subscriber account;
monitoring the period of service at the prepaid local telephone call database; and
sending termination date information to the subscriber prior to an expiration of the period of service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. In communication with a telephone network having at least one local exchange carrier in communication with at least one subscriber, a system for providing prepaid local telephone services comprising:
a prepaid local telephone call service center in communication with the at least one local exchange carrier, the prepaid local telephone service call service center comprising;
an applications server having a processor and a subscriber database, the subscriber database comprising subscriber service period information and subscriber identification information, the applications server further comprising means for automatically communicating service termination date information to a subscriber prior to an expiration of a service period for the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19)
-
14. A method of providing prepaid local telephone services to a subscriber having a telecommunications device connected to a subscriber line and in communication with a telephone network via the subscriber line, the method comprising:
-
establishing a subscriber account on a prepaid local telephone service database, the subscriber account comprising subscriber identification information and a period of service;
monitoring the period of service for the subscriber account at the prepaid local telephone service database; and
sending service termination information to the subscriber prior to an expiration of the period of service.
-
-
16. A method of providing prepaid local telephone services to a subscriber having a telecommunications device connected to a subscriber line and in communication with a telephone network via the subscriber line, the method comprising:
-
establishing a subscriber account on a prepaid local telephone service database, the subscriber account comprising subscriber identification information and a period of service;
monitoring the period of service for the subscriber account at the prepaid local telephone service database;
sending a reminder message to the subscriber prior to an expiration of the period of service; and
sending a suspend message to the telephone network, the suspend message comprising an instruction to suspend local telephone service for the subscriber and to place the subscriber account on hold, wherein the subscriber account is maintained in an inactive state.
-
Specification