Telephone calling account system and method

• US 20030048888A1
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vesta Corporation
• Original Assignee: Vesta Corporation
• Inventors: Steele, Keith E., Hopper, Eric L., Fieldhouse, Douglas M.
• Application Number:
  US10/167,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20030048888A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• 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 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/106 using commercial credit or debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/14 using commercial credit/debit cards, e.g. VISA, AMEX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 Multiple accounts per user

Abstract

A telephone calling account system, method, and card. The method typically includes determining a preexisting account designator of a preexisting account, creating a telephone calling account on a calling platform, and assigning to the telephone calling account the preexisting account designator of the preexisting account.

Claims

1. A method of creating a telephone calling account on a calling platform, the method comprising:

receiving a request related to a preexisting account having a preexisting account number, the request being to create a telephone calling account having the same account number as the preexisting account, wherein the preexisting account has an associated account number that enables an owner to use the account for a non-telephone- related function;

obtaining the preexisting account number of the preexisting account;

creating a telephone calling account on the calling platform; and

assigning to the telephone calling account the preexisting account number of the preexisting account.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, after creation of the telephone calling account, the same number may be used as the account number for the non-telephone related purpose, and as the account number for the telephone calling account.

3. A method for creating a calling account on a calling platform, the method comprising:

determining an account number remotely from the calling platform, where the account number is configured to be used for a non-telephone-related function;

creating a telephone calling account on the calling platform; and

assigning the remotely determined account number to the telephone calling account on the calling platform;

wherein the remotely determined account number is the same as a preexisting account number of a preexisting account.

4. A telephone system, comprising:

a calling platform;

a database configured to store an account number corresponding to a calling account on the calling platform; and

a remote server linked to the database, the remote server being configured to instruct the account database to create a new account associated with the platform having a predetermined account number;

wherein the predetermined account number is the same as a preexisting account number of a preexisting account, and the preexisting account number is configured to be used for a non-telephone-related function.

5. A card, comprising:

a surface; and

an account number imprinted upon the surface, the account number being associated with a first, preexisting account, and with a second, later established account;

where the first, preexisting account enables the account number to be used for a non-telephone-related function; and

where the second, later established account is a telephone calling account having the same account number as the first, preexisting account.

6. A card for use with a plurality of accounts, comprising:

a card;

a first account linked to the card, the first account being configured to enable a user to accomplish a non-telephone related purpose; and

a second account linked to the card, the second account being configured to enable a user to make a telephone call.

7. The card of claim 6, wherein the non-telephone related purpose is the purchase of goods and services.

8. The card of claim 7, wherein the card is a credit card.

9. The card of claim 7, wherein the card is a bank card.

10. The card of claim 7, wherein the card is a debit card.

11. The card of claim 7, wherein the card is a stored-value card.

12. The card of claim 7, wherein the card is a dining card.

13. The card of claim 6, wherein the card is a mileage card.

14. The card of claim 6, wherein the first account and the second account have the same account number.

15. The card of claim 6, wherein the second account is created after the card is in circulation.