Prepaid Telephone Calling Card with Distinct PIN Numbers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for use with a telephone calling card, the card bearing a telephone access number, the card bearing a first PIN number obscured by an opaque scratch-off material, the card bearing a second PIN number obscured by an opaque scratch-off material, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first telephone call from a caller at the telephone access number;
via the first telephone call, receiving the first PIN number and connecting at least one long-distance telephone call for the caller;
receiving a second telephone call from a caller at the telephone access number;
via the second telephone call, receiving the second PIN number and connecting at least one long-distance telephone call for the caller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure
A prepaid long-distance telephone calling card has two or more distinct PIN numbers each obscured by opaque scratch-off material. Each PIN number is associated with prepaid value. A user can scratch off the opaque material for PIN numbers one by one, and the value for each PIN number expires in a way that is unrelated to any other PIN number on the card.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for use with a telephone calling card, the card bearing a telephone access number, the card bearing a first PIN number obscured by an opaque scratch-off material, the card bearing a second PIN number obscured by an opaque scratch-off material, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first telephone call from a caller at the telephone access number; via the first telephone call, receiving the first PIN number and connecting at least one long-distance telephone call for the caller; receiving a second telephone call from a caller at the telephone access number; via the second telephone call, receiving the second PIN number and connecting at least one long-distance telephone call for the caller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
receiving a third telephone call from a caller at the telephone access number; via the third telephone call, receiving the third PIN number and connecting at least one long-distance telephone call for the caller.
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4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of connecting at least one long-distance telephone call for the caller after receiving the second PIN number takes place after the first PIN number ceases to be usable to make any long-distance telephone call, and wherein the step of connecting at least one long-distance telephone call for the caller after receiving the third PIN number takes place after the second PIN number ceases to be usable to make any long-distance telephone call.
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5. A method for use with a telephone calling card, the card bearing a telephone access number, the card bearing a first PIN number obscured by an opaque scratch-off material, the card bearing a second PIN number obscured by an opaque scratch-off material, the method comprising the steps of:
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scratching off the opaque scratch-off material obscuring the first PIN number; using the first PIN number with the telephone access number to make at least one long-distance telephone call; scratching off the opaque scratch-off material obscuring the second PIN number; and using the second PIN number with the telephone access number to make at least one long-distance telephone call. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
scratching off the opaque scratch-off material obscuring the third PIN number; and using the third PIN number with the telephone access number to make at least one long-distance telephone call.
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8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of scratching off the opaque scratch-off material obscuring the second PIN number takes place after the first PIN number ceases to be usable to make any long-distance telephone call, and wherein the step of scratching off the opaque scratch-off material obscuring the third PIN number takes place after the second PIN number ceases to be usable to make any long-distance telephone call.
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9. Apparatus comprising:
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a card; the card bearing a telephone access number; the card bearing a first PIN number obscured by an opaque scratch-off material; the card bearing a second PIN number obscured by an opaque scratch-off material; the card bearing a third PIN number obscured by an opaque scratch-off material; the card bearing a fourth PIN number obscured by an opaque scratch-off material; the card bearing a fifth PIN number obscured by a scratch-off material; each PIN number associated with a respective prepaid amount of long-distance telephone service.
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10. A method for use with a telephone calling card, the card bearing a telephone access number, the card bearing a first PIN number, the card bearing a second PIN number, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first telephone call from a caller at the telephone access number; via the first telephone call, receiving the first PIN number and connecting at least one long-distance telephone call for the caller; receiving a second telephone call from a caller at the telephone access number; via the second telephone call, receiving the second PIN number and connecting at least one long-distance telephone call for the caller. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
receiving a third telephone call from a caller at the telephone access number; via the third telephone call, receiving the third PIN number and connecting at least one long-distance telephone call for the caller.
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13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of connecting at least one long-distance telephone call for the caller after receiving the second PIN number takes place after the first PIN number ceases to be usable to make any long-distance telephone call, and wherein the step of connecting at least one long-distance telephone call for the caller after receiving the third PIN number takes place after the second PIN number ceases to be usable to make any long-distance telephone call.
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14. A method for use with a telephone calling card, the card bearing a telephone access number, the card bearing a first PIN number, the card bearing a second PIN number, the method comprising the steps of:
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using the first PIN number with the telephone access number to make at least one long-distance telephone call; using the second PIN number with the telephone access number to make at least one long-distance telephone call. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
using the third PIN number with the telephone access number to make at least one long-distance telephone call.
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17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step using the the second PIN
number takes place after the first PIN number ceases to be usable to make any long-distance telephone call, and wherein the step of using the third PIN number takes place after the second PIN number ceases to be usable to make any long-distance telephone call.
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18. A method for use by a card maker, the method comprising the
steps of: -
receiving from a long-distance telephone service provider groups of PIN numbers, each group to be associated with a respective calling card and each PIN number associated with a respective amount of prepaid long-distance telephone service; printing calling cards; for each calling card, printing on the calling card PIN numbers from a group; for each calling card, applying a an opaque scratch-off material to obscure the PIN numbers;
anddistributing the calling cards to users.
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19. A method for use by a long-distance telephone service provider, the
method comprising the steps of: -
providing to a card maker groups of PIN numbers, each group to be associated with a respective calling card and each PIN number associated with a respective amount of prepaid long-distance telephone service; and providing long-distance telephone service to users of the PIN numbers.
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Specification