Information service access card

• US 20040252817A1
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oʼdonnell, Christopher
• Original Assignee: Oʼdonnell, Christopher
• Inventors: OʼDonnell, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US10/461,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20040252817A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.2
• 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 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• 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 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts

Abstract

A method is described to provide an access card with information to register and access an associated information service provider. The information service access card (ISAC) is generally of credit card size and weight and presents printed information in the procedural use of the card, a unique card number, promotional images and text and toll free telephone numbers to contact the associated telephone information service provider. The associated information service provides means for secure access through individually registered accounts to information requested by the access card user. This telephone information includes directory assistance, weather reports, date/time, local/national news, traffic conditions, airplane schedules, text to voice translated caller e-mail, account member mailbox messages, universal product code (UPC) product comparison or other information of interest to the local or national caller.

Claims

1. A method presented by a telephone access card to register and access an associated information service provider comprising:

identifying access information displayed on said access card;

dialing the indicated registration telephone number;

registering an account, and;

selecting any one of the indicated information services provided by the associated information service provider.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 where said identifying access information comprises information presented on said access card including procedural registration information, procedural re-charge information, a registration telephone number, an information service telephone number, a serial/identification number and said indicated information services.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 where said registration telephone number is a toll free telephone number and said information service telephone number is a toll free telephone number.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3 where said registration telephone number and said information service telephone number is the same telephone number.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 where said registering further comprises providing a unique serial/card identification number and a password.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 where said indicated information services comprises directory assistance, weather reports, date/time, local/national news, traffic conditions, airplane schedules, text to voice translated caller e-mail and account member mailbox messages.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 where said associated information service comprises an information service identified on the face of said access card.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 where said associated information service comprises a telephone information service that is not the network carrier used to connect the call.

2. A method presented by a telephone access card to access an associated information service provider comprising:

dialing the indicated telephone information service number;

determining an authentication code of the registered account, and;

selecting any one of indicated information services.

10. A method as claimed in claim 2 where said authorization code comprises the unique serial/identification number, password and the telephone number of the calling party.