Prepaid telephone service with automatic number identification recognition

• US 20030043984A1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TeleCents Communications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TeleCents Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Lauzon, Jeffrey P.
• Application Number:
  US10/194,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20030043984A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/144.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/12 using calling, telephone credit/debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information

Abstract

A prepaid telephone calling card service that uses ANI recognition of a telephone used to register an account for preauthorization of subsequent calls from the same telephone. The calling cards are purchased through retain stores and then registered with a service provider. Additional ANIs may be associated with the account for preauthorization of subsequent calls. Registration of the account is completed by a consumer following a series of voice prompts without the need for authorization or intervention by the company administering the prepaid calling card service.

Claims

1. A method for providing a prepaid calling card service provides for preauthorization without repeatedly entering an access code, comprising:

providing a calling card package having a set of instructions for initiating a setup procedure;

selling the calling card package to the consumer;

receiving a telephone call from the consumer dialing a communication facility to initiate the setup procedure;

capturing an ANI number of a telephone associated with the consumer;

interacting with the consumer to set up an account wherein the ANI of the telephone associated with the consumer is recorded as part of the account;

recognizing the ANI number associated with the consumer; and

providing a dial tone signal enabling the consumer to make a prepaid call.

2. The method of providing a prepaid calling card service of claim 1 wherein the service further includes a voice mailbox.

3. The method of providing a prepaid calling card service of claim 1 wherein the service further includes 3-way calling.

4. The method of providing a prepaid calling card service of claim 1 wherein the service further includes internet connection capabilities.

5. The method of providing a prepaid calling service of claim 1 wherein the service allows a plurality of ANI numbers to be associated with the consumer and credited to the same account.

6. The method of providing a prepaid calling service of claim 1 wherein the service allows the consumer to access the account from a dial-up location that is not an ANI associated with the consumer by entering the ANI associated with the consumer and a security code.

7. The method of providing a prepaid calling card service of claim 1 wherein the set of instructions for initiating a setup procedure further includes a toll-free setup number and an account number.

8. The method of providing a prepaid calling card service of claim 7 wherein the toll-free setup number may be dialed to initiate a procedure for recharging an account balance by paying for additional phone credit.

9. A method for registering for a prepaid calling card service;

comprising;

purchasing a calling card package having instructions for initiating a setup procedure;

accessing a call processing system by dialing a toll-free setup number included in the calling card package to initiate the setup procedure from a telephone having an ANI associated with the telephone;

providing the information requested by the call processing system to set up an account; and

wherein the call processing system learns the ANI as a recognized ANI for future preauthorized, personal identification number-free dialing.

10. The method for registering for a prepaid calling card service of claim 9 wherein providing the information further includes entering a setup access number and registering at least two ANIs that are associated with the consumer account and allow preauthorized, personal identification number-free telephone service.

11. The method for registering for a prepaid calling card service of claim 9 wherein providing the information further includes entering a security code to allow the consumer to access the account from a dial-up location that is not a recognized ANI.

13. The system for a prepaid calling card service of claim 10, wherein the call processing system further comprises:

an interactive voice response unit programmed to interact with a consumer and a call processing server;

the call processing server programmed to manage information routed to and from the interactive voice response unit and a database system for storing and processing account information, the database system being accessible by the call processing server.

12. A system for a prepaid calling card service, comprising:

a calling card package having a set of instructions, contact information and an account number for initiating a setup procedure;

a trunk group accessible from a dial-up location by following the set of instructions to route a call through a carrier to a communication facility,

a call processing system at the communication facility that captures the ANI of the dial-up location, the call processing system queries the consumer through the set up procedure to create an account for the consumer; and

wherein the ANI of the dial-up location functions as an authorization code that does not require manual entry after the call processing system has captured the ANI of the dial up location.