System and method for providing prepaid telecommunication services

• US 20050163294A1
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Locus Telecommunications Incorporated (Telrite Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Locus Telecommunications Incorporated (Telrite Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moon, Eric E., Park, Jae Heung, Lee, Johng Phil, Cho, Han Kwang, Shin, Jong Phil, Kim, Taesoon
• Granted Patent: US 7,295,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.200
• 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 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• 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 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/12 using calling, telephone credit/debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing prepaid telecommunication services. More particularly, prepaid telephone calls can be made by users without entering any access code, if such calls are made from telephone numbers previously registered in the telecommunication system in connection with valid access codes. Prepaid telephone calls can also be made from non-registered telephone numbers after providing the telecommunication system with a valid access code.

Claims

1. A method for providing a prepaid telephone calling card service using a call processor including an account database which has account records corresponding to a plurality of prepaid accounts, said method comprising the steps of storing a plurality of registered telephone numbers in said database, each of said registered telephone numbers being associated with one of said accounts;

connecting a telephone call originating from a first telephone number to said call processor;

determining whether said first telephone number corresponds to one of said registered telephone numbers; and

if said first telephone number corresponds to said one of said registered telephone numbers, connecting said call to a second telephone number provided during said call;

2-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A prepaid calling card system comprising a call processor;

an account database stored in said call processor and having account records corresponding to a plurality of prepaid accounts; and

a plurality of registered telephone numbers contained in said database, each of said registered telephone numbers being associated with one of said accounts, said call processor being operative to receive a telephone call originating from a first telephone number, to determine whether said first telephone number corresponds to one of said registered telephone numbers and to connect said call to a second telephone number provided during said call, if said first telephone number corresponds to said one of said registered telephone numbers.

36-48. -48. (canceled)