Method and apparatus for making a long distance telephone call
First Claim
1. A method for making a telephone call connection, comprising:
- receiving an incoming call at a computer in signal communication with a telephone being called by a caller, the telephone having an associated sign-up calling plan service billed to a home plan at a home plan rate;
prompting the caller with a first service announcement;
in response to the caller replying to the first service announcement and requesting that an outgoing call be made, prompting the caller to enter a personal identification number;
validating the personal identification number and prompting the caller with a second service announcement; and
in response to the caller replying to the second service announcement and entering a long distance or international destination telephone number to be called, invoking an outbound call to the destination number, and in response to the destination number being answered, dropping the computer off line, thereby enabling the caller to communicate with the destination number via the home plan at the home plan rate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for making a telephone call connection is disclosed. An incoming call is received at a computer in signal communication with a telephone being called. The telephone has an associated sign-up calling plan service billed to a home plan at a home plan rate. In response to the caller replying to a computerized service announcement and requesting that an outgoing call be made, the caller is prompted to enter a personal identification number. In response to the personal identification number being validated, and in response to the caller replying to another computerized service announcement and entering a long distance or international destination telephone number to be called, an outbound call is invoked to the destination number. In response to the destination number being answered, the computer drops off line thereby enabling the caller to communicate with the destination number via the home plan at the home plan rate.
14 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for making a telephone call connection, comprising:
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receiving an incoming call at a computer in signal communication with a telephone being called by a caller, the telephone having an associated sign-up calling plan service billed to a home plan at a home plan rate;
prompting the caller with a first service announcement;
in response to the caller replying to the first service announcement and requesting that an outgoing call be made, prompting the caller to enter a personal identification number;
validating the personal identification number and prompting the caller with a second service announcement; and
in response to the caller replying to the second service announcement and entering a long distance or international destination telephone number to be called, invoking an outbound call to the destination number, and in response to the destination number being answered, dropping the computer off line, thereby enabling the caller to communicate with the destination number via the home plan at the home plan rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer program product for making a telephone call connection, the product comprising:
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a storage medium, readable by a processing circuit, storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for;
receiving an incoming call directed to a telephone being called by a caller, the telephone having an associated sign-up calling plan service billed to a home plan at a home plan rate;
prompting the caller with a first service announcement;
in response to the caller replying to the first service announcement and requesting that an outgoing call be made, prompting the caller to enter a personal identification number;
validating the personal identification number and prompting the caller with a second service announcement; and
in response to the caller replying to the second service announcement and entering a long distance or international destination telephone number to be called, invoking an outbound call to the destination number, and in response to the destination number being answered, disconnecting the processing circuit from the call, thereby enabling the caller to communicate with the destination number via the home plan at the home plan rate. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A specialized computer in signal communication with a telephone and for making a telephone call connection, the computer comprising a processing circuit operable in response to executable instructions for:
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receiving an incoming call directed to the telephone being called by a caller, the telephone having an associated sign-up calling plan service billed to a home plan at a home plan rate;
prompting the caller with a first service announcement;
in response to the caller replying to the first service announcement and requesting that an outgoing call be made, prompting the caller to enter a personal identification number;
validating the personal identification number and prompting the caller with a second service announcement; and
in response to the caller replying to the second service announcement and entering a long distance or international destination telephone number to be called, invoking an outbound call to the destination number, and in response to the destination number being answered, disconnecting the computer from the call, thereby enabling the caller to communicate with the destination number via the home plan at the home plan rate. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification