Method and apparatus for improved calling access
First Claim
1. A system providing calling account with message mailbox services comprising:
- an access private identification number for accessing said calling account;
a value indicating available finds in said calling account;
an electronic message mailbox system for accepting messages into a plurality of mailboxes and presenting messages to mailbox owners;
a public mailbox identification allowing anyone to leave messages in a mailbox, said mailbox accessed by said access private identification number;
a calling control system for receiving said private access identification and when said identification has been verified and said account value has been checked allowing access to a call placement system and to a message system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing a prepaid calling account with an associated message mailbox. In various embodiments, the calling account may allow prepaid telephone access using the calling account, access to a message mailbox associated with the calling account, and retrieval of messages, paid for out of the same calling account. In further embodiments a prepaid calling account has at least two account access identifications, one identification allowing a remote party to add funds to the account. In further embodiments, one identification allowing a remote party to add finds to the account and another access identification allowing a cash back option so that funds may be transferred. In further embodiments, a method and/or apparatus allows a user of a message mailbox to originate a call with, in specific embodiments, a call originating out of the message mailbox carrying a caller-id number indicating the message mailbox. In further specific embodiments, a message in the mailbox may have associated with it funds placed on deposit that are used to pay for access to the message and for returning a call associated with the message. In further embodiments, the invention allows a message to be left at a local number in one calling area and to be retrieved from a local number in a different calling area.
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Citations
67 Claims
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1. A system providing calling account with message mailbox services comprising:
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an access private identification number for accessing said calling account;
a value indicating available finds in said calling account;
an electronic message mailbox system for accepting messages into a plurality of mailboxes and presenting messages to mailbox owners;
a public mailbox identification allowing anyone to leave messages in a mailbox, said mailbox accessed by said access private identification number;
a calling control system for receiving said private access identification and when said identification has been verified and said account value has been checked allowing access to a call placement system and to a message system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for providing calling and message mailbox services comprising:
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assigning a calling account to a user, said calling account allowing said user to place prepaid telephone calls;
assigning an access private identification number and a prepaid value to said calling account;
assigning a message mailbox in a mailbox system and a public mailbox number to said calling account; and
allowing access to said calling account and said message mailbox via said private identification number. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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15. A method of providing and billing for calling and electronic mailbox access using one or more computers comprising:
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assigning a calling account to a user;
assigning an access private identification number and a prepaid value to said calling account and storing that assignment in a control computer system;
assigning a message mailbox in a mailbox system and a public mailbox number to said calling account;
prompting said user for said access private identification number, using said control computer system to verify said access private identification number and to verify that sufficient finds are available for account access; and
allowing access to said calling account when a verification is positive.
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20. A calling account with two access identifications comprising:
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an access private identification number for accessing said calling account;
a value indicating available funds in said calling account; and
a recharge identification number allowing adding finds to said calling account, but not allowing use of said calling account. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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28. A method for transferring funds comprising:
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assigning a calling account to a user;
assigning an access private identification number to said calling account;
assigning a recharge identification number to said calling account;
allowing a person, other than a user, to add finds to said calling account using said recharge identification number; and
allowing a user to access funds from said calling account using said private identification number.
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34. A system for providing a message mailbox with a call origination capability comprising:
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a message mailbox system accessible from a plurality of communications devices;
an access identification for accessing a message mailbox in said system;
a menu allowing an owner of said mailbox to select from a number of functions;
a function choice allowing a user to place a call through a public communication network, said call having a call identification indicating said voice mailbox.
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40. A method for originating calls from a message mailbox comprising:
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receiving a connection to a mailbox system;
receiving an access number for a mailbox;
verifying said access number;
providing menu prompts to a user, including an option to originate a call;
completing a call, when selected, through a public network, and including a public mailbox identification as the call origination of said call. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A system for providing a message mailbox comprising:
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an electronic message mailbox system able to accept messages into a plurality of mailboxes and present messages to mailbox owners, said mailbox locally accessible from a first calling area;
a public mailbox identification allowing a party to leave messages in a mailbox, said mailbox accessed by said access private identification number;
an access private identification allowing access to said mailbox; and
a message acceptance access point, remote from said mailbox system and locally accessible from a second calling area, allowing a party to leave a message for a mailbox, wherein said message is later transmitted to said mailbox system. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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58. A method for allowing a caller to leave a message for a receiving party located in a different calling region comprising:
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accepting a phone call at a message acceptance station;
receiving a mailbox identification;
receiving a message;
storing said message for transmission to a voice mailbox system;
transmitting said message to said voice mailbox system;
accepting a connection at said voice mailbox system;
verifying an access identification; and
presenting said message.
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63. A method providing economical international voice messaging comprising:
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accepting a phone call at a message acceptance station in a first country, said phone call connectable via a local or toll-free connection;
receiving a mailbox identification indicating a message mailbox in a second country;
receiving a message;
storing said message for transmission to a message mailbox in a second country;
accepting a connection in said second country to said voice mailbox system;
verifying an access identification; and
presenting said message. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification