Method and apparatus for vending and delivering telephone services
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for providing electronically mailable prepaid call credits, comprising:
- receiving from a customer at an application server via a data network, a purchase order of a specified purchase value for the pre-paid call credits;
collecting and verifying payment information to collect payment for the purchase value;
issuing at the application server an electronic certificate for the purchase value of the call credits, the electronic certificate including information respecting at least the purchase value, an unique identifier for identifying the purchase order and an email address of a recipient of the call credits designated by the customer in the purchase order;
storing the information in a database; and
sending a copy of the electronic certificate to the recipient via email using the email address.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing electronically mailable call credits and call connections to be charged thereto are purchased by a customer for a recipient through the Internet and sent via email to the recipient. The recipient requests a call by activating an icon associated with the email. An application server receives the request and sends a call request message via the Internet to a virtual switching point associated with a switched telephone network. The virtual switching point initiates actions in the switched telephone network to set up a telephone communication between the recipient and a party to be called.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for providing electronically mailable prepaid call credits, comprising:
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receiving from a customer at an application server via a data network, a purchase order of a specified purchase value for the pre-paid call credits;
collecting and verifying payment information to collect payment for the purchase value;
issuing at the application server an electronic certificate for the purchase value of the call credits, the electronic certificate including information respecting at least the purchase value, an unique identifier for identifying the purchase order and an email address of a recipient of the call credits designated by the customer in the purchase order;
storing the information in a database; and
sending a copy of the electronic certificate to the recipient via email using the email address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of establishing telephone connections in a switched telephone network for a holder of a pre-paid electronic call certificate, comprising the steps of:
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receiving at an application server in a data network a call message generated as a result of an action by the holder of the electronic call certificate, the holder having activated an icon associated with the electronic call certificate;
verifying the electronic call certificate using the information in the call request message to query a database of information identifying valid electronic call certificates;
sending a call setup message via the data network to a call control node in the switched telephone network to instruct the call control node to initiate actions in the switched telephone network to establish a telephone connection between a calling party number and a called party number specified in the call request;
tracking a duration of the call at the call control node;
computing a charge for the call connection using the duration of the call; and
deducting the charge from a remaining value of the call credits and storing a remaining value in the database as updated electronic call certificate information.
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19. An apparatus for providing electronically mailable call credits, comprising:
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an application server adapted to be connected to a data network;
a memory associated with the application server for storing information in a database;
programmed instructions on the application server for accepting from a customer a purchase order of a specified purchase value of call credits via the data network;
programmed instructions on the application server for issuing an electronic call certificate for the value of the call credits purchased;
programmed instructions on the application server for storing information related to the electronic call certificate in the database; and
programmed instructions for sending a copy of the electronic call certificate via email to a recipient designated by the customer, the electronic call certificate including at least the value of the call credits purchased and a unique identifier for retrieving the stored information related to the electronic call certificate. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification