Methods for providing prepaid telephony service via an internet protocol network system

• US 20040240638A1
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Donovan, Steven R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,844,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.17
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1467 involving prepayment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/63 based on the content carried by the session initiation protocol [SIP] messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/773 per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8292 Charging for signaling or unsuccessful connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• 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 17/201 automatic recharging with predetermined amount at threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/204 on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/22 : with automatic recharging of account/card, e.g. if limit is reached during connection the account is recharged automatically
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/24 : with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 : Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 : Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/018 : On-line real-time billing, able to see billing information while in communication, e.g. via the internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 : VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 : Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 : Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 : Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7268 : per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 : Available credit

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for providing prepaid telephony service via an Internet protocol (IP) network system. A first method provides controlling at least one media agent or call routing station/switch of an IP network system for allowing and/or blocking call media streams from traversing through the media agent. A second method provides directing all signaling messages transmitted by a signaling agent or station and all media packets transmitting voice and data communications through at least one common device within the IP network system. The methods further provide for continuously monitoring a subscriber'"'"'s account balance and terminating the prepaid telephony service if the account balance is less than a predetermined amount.

Claims

1-22. -22. (Canceled)

23. A method for providing prepaid telephony service, the method comprising:

determining whether a telephone number, supplied to establish a prepaid call and received via a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) telephone switch, matches a prepaid access telephone number; and

if a match is determined, forwarding a destination telephone number to an originating Internet Protocol (IP) telephony switch via an originating PSTN telephone switch, wherein the prepaid call is established with the destination telephone number.

24. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

determining whether account information associated with the prepaid access telephone number is accurate, wherein the prepaid call is established only if the account information is accurate.

25. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

monitoring, during the prepaid call, an account balance associated with the prepaid access telephone number, and

instructing the IP telephony switch to interrupt the prepaid call if the account balance is less than a predetermined amount.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the prepaid account balance corresponds to a subscriber, the method further comprising:

notifying the subscriber about an available calling time based on the account balance prior to instructing the IP telephony switch to interrupt the prepaid call.

27. A method according to claim 23, wherein, if the telephone number does not match the prepaid access telephone number, a non-prepaid call is established via the IP telephony switch.

28. A method for providing prepaid telephony service, the method comprising:

receiving via a signaling station a request to establish a prepaid telephony call over a data network initiated by a caller using a prepaid access telephone number, the signaling station providing account information associated with the prepaid access telephone number; and

establishing the prepaid telephony call over the data network based on verification of the account information.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the signaling station in the receiving step interfaces a switched telephone network and the data network, the prepaid access telephone number being processed by the switched telephone network.

30. A method according to claim 29, further comprising:

monitoring, during the prepaid telephony call, an account balance associated with the prepaid access telephone number, and

interrupting the prepaid telephony call if the account balance is less than a predetermined amount.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the prepaid account balance corresponds to a subscriber, the method further comprising:

notifying the subscriber about an available calling time based on the account balance prior to the interrupting step.

32. A system for providing prepaid telephony service, the system comprising:

a signaling station configured to receive a request for establishing a prepaid telephony call over a data network initiated by a caller using a prepaid access telephone number, the signaling station providing account information associated with the prepaid access telephone number; and

a gateway communicating with the signaling station, the gateway being configured to establish the prepaid telephony call over the data network based on verification of the account information.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein the signaling station interfaces a switched telephone network, the prepaid access telephone number being processed by the switched telephone network.

34. A system according to claim 33, wherein the signaling station is further configured to monitor, during the prepaid telephony call, an account balance associated with the prepaid access telephone number and to initiate interruption of the prepaid telephony call if the account balance is less than a predetermined amount.

35. A system according to claim 34, wherein the prepaid account balance corresponds to a subscriber, the subscriber being notified about an available calling time based on the account balance prior to the interruption of the prepaid telephony call.

36. A system for providing prepaid telephony service, the system comprising:

a packetized voice switch configured to determine whether a telephone number, supplied to establish a prepaid call and received via a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) telephone switch, matches a prepaid access telephone number; and

a relay station coupled to the packetized voice switch, wherein the relay station is configured as a media agent to terminate the prepaid call if a match is determined.

37. A system according to claim 36, wherein the packetized voice switch is further configured to determined whether account information associated with the prepaid access telephone number is accurate, wherein the call is terminated only if the account information is accurate.

38. A system according to claim 36, wherein the packetized voice switch is further configured to monitor, during the prepaid call, an account balance associated with the prepaid access telephone number, and to interrupt the prepaid call if the account balance is less than a predetermined amount.

39. A system according to claim 38, wherein the prepaid account balance corresponds to a subscriber, the subscriber being notified about an available calling time based on the account balance prior to interrupting the prepaid call.

40. A system according to claim 36, wherein, if the telephone number does not match the prepaid access telephone number, a non-prepaid call is established by the packetized voice switch.

41. A system according to claim 36, wherein the relay station, in terminating the prepaid call, selectively blocks signaling and media packets generated by the packetized voice switch from a destination packetized voice switch.

42. A system according to claim 36, wherein the relay station, in terminating the prepaid call, communicates call media streams associated with the prepaid call to an Internet Protocol (IP) terminal.