Methods and systems for automated prepaid service routing

• US 20040213393A1
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bedingfield, James C., LaPierre, Stephen R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,980,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.28
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/74 Rating aspects, e.g. rating parameters or tariff determination apects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13383 Hierarchy of switches, main and subexchange, e.g. satellite exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems for automatically routing a long distance call placed by a subscriber to a prepaid service provider. Six exemplary methods are discussed for allowing the prepaid subscriber to directly dial a called party'"'"'s long distance telephone number, and then routing the placed call to a prepaid service. The subscriber, in each case, is not required to first dial the telephone number of the prepaid service provider before dialing the called party.

Claims

1. A method for automatically routing a long distance call from a subscriber terminal to a prepaid platform comprising:

receiving a dial string from the subscriber terminal, wherein the dial string consists of a long distance number;

receiving subscriber data, comprising a calling number and routing instructions, from a database server;

establishing a first communications circuit from said subscriber terminal to an intermediate computer system;

establishing a second communications circuit from the intermediate computer system to the prepaid platform;

bridging the first and second circuits at the intermediate computer system; and

joining the first and second circuits at a signal communications switch.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber data further comprises a personal identification number (PIN).

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising out pulsing the calling number, the PIN and the long distance number from the intermediate computer system to the prepaid platform.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the intermediate computer system comprises a service node (SN).

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the intermediate computer system comprises an enhanced Media Resource Server (eMRS).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing instructions comprise a class of service parameter.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the dial string consists of a feature code followed by a long distance number.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the database server comprises a Signal Control Point (SCP).

9. A system for automatically routing a long distance call from a subscriber terminal to a prepaid platform comprising:

a subscriber terminal for receiving a dial string from a subscriber, wherein the dial string consists of a long distance telephone number;

a database server for storing subscriber data, wherein the subscriber data comprises a calling number and routing instructions;

a signal communications network comprised of a plurality of interconnected communications switches for routing a communications message;

a signal control network comprised of a plurality of interconnected packet switches for routing a control message, wherein a control message directs the path of the communications message through the signal communications network;

an intermediate computer system, wherein the intermediate computer system is connected to the signal communications network and a data network; and

a prepaid platform for providing the subscriber with access to long distance communications services;

wherein the subscriber terminal is connected to the signal communications network;

wherein the prepaid platform is connected to the signal communications network, the signal control network, and the data network; and

wherein in response to the subscriber inputting the dial string, the communications message generated from the subscriber terminal is routed from the subscriber terminal to the prepaid platform in accordance with the routing instructions, and the calling number and the long distance number are forwarded from the intermediate computer system to the prepaid platform.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the subscriber data further comprises a personal identification number (PIN).

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the intermediate computer system out pulses the calling number, the PIN and the long distance number to the prepaid platform.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the intermediate computer system comprises a service node (SN).

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the intermediate computer system comprises an enhanced Media Resource Server (eMRS).

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the signal communications network is comprised of a plurality of interconnected ISDN switches for routing a communications message.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the dial string consists of a feature code followed by a long distance number.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the routing instructions comprises a class of service parameter.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the database server comprises a Signal Control Point (SCP).