Apparatus, system, method and computer program product for pre-paid long distance telecommunications

• US 20070133767A1
• Filed: 12/07/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Telecom Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Telecom Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Somer, Adam, Hahn, Bruce
• Application Number:
  US11/636,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20070133767A1
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus system, method and computer program product for providing pre-paid telecommunications services is set forth and may include: receiving an automatic number identification (ANI) at an ANI recognition system of a service provider platform from a user, where the user having previously acquired a communications device, where a pre-paid service has been bundled with the device, and where, upon the user having depressed a long distance service (LDS) auto-key having been pre-programmed with a feature code and dialing sequence may include exposing the ANI. In another exemplary embodiment, the method may further include: upon an initial use of the communications device by the user, upon the user having depressed the LDS auto-key, receiving at the service provider platform at least one of: retailer identification; an account number; and/or the automatic number identification (ANI) of the user. In another exemplary embodiment, the feature code and dialing sequence of the communications device may include suppressing dial tone and ring back.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an automatic number identification (ANI) at an ANI recognition system of a service provider platform from a user, wherein the user having previously acquired a communications device, wherein a pre-paid service has been bundled with the device, and wherein, upon the user having depressed a long distance service (LDS) auto-key having been pre-programmed with a feature code and dialing sequence comprising exposing the ANI.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

upon an initial use of the communications device by the user, upon the user having depressed the LDS auto-key, receiving at the service provider platform at least one of;

retailer identification;

an account number; and

/or

the automatic number identification (ANI) of the user.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said retailer identification may be used for revenue sharing between the service provider and a retailer.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

allowing the user to place a telecommunications call using a value of calling minutes until depletion.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

pre-provisioning an account associated with the communications device of the user a promotional amount of said value of said calling minutes.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

prompting the user to replenish the value upon said value reaching a pre-determined threshold.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said prompting comprises prompting via an interactive voice response (IVR) type system.

8. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

receiving from the user an agreement to automatically replenish said account of the user upon occurrence of at least one criterion.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said criterion comprises a value of said account reaching an automatic replenishment threshhold level.

10. The method according to said claim 8, wherein said automatic replenishment threshold level is user selectable.

11. The method according to said claim 8, wherein said automatic replenishment comprises debiting a financial account of the user comprising at least one of:

a monetary account;

a money market account;

a savings account;

a debit card account;

a checking account; and

/or

a credit card account.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the feature code and dialing sequence of the communications device comprising:

suppressing dial tone and ring back.

29. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

allowing the user to use a value associated with the user.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said value comprises at least one of:

a value of prepaid long distance,

a value of communications services,

a value of minutes of services,

a monetary value,

an account value,

a checking account value,

a savings account value,

a money market account value,

a credit value,

a debit value, and/or

a quantity of products and/or services value.

31. The method according to claim 29, further comprising:

pre-provisioning an account associated with the communications device of the user a promotional amount of said value.

32. The method according to claim 29, further comprising:

prompting the user to replenish said value.

33. The method according to claim 29, wherein said use of said value comprises at least one of:

placing a telecommunications call,

purchasing a product and/or service,

accessing a service,

sending money,

purchasing a product and/or service appearing online,

purchasing a product and/or service appearing on a broadcast,

purchasing a product and/or appearing on programming,

purchasing a product and/or service appearing on broadcast programming,

purchasing a product and/or service appearing on a direct response television (DRTV) broadcast television, and/or

purchasing a product and/or service appearing on a Home Shopping Network (HSN) and/or QVC broadcast programming.

34. The method according to claim 29, further comprising:

providing a button on the communications device dedicated to accessing said value.

35. The method according to claim 29, further comprising:

pre-provisioning an account associated with the communications device of the user a promotional amount of said value.

36. The method according to claim 29, further comprising:

prompting the user to replenish said value.

37. The method according to claim 29, further comprising:

prompting the user to authorize use of said value.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein said authorizing comprises at least one of:

prompting the user to provide at least one of a validation;

entry of a password;

entry of a personal identification number (PIN);

a biometric;

a reverse Turing test; and

/or a digital signature.

13. A machine-readable medium that provides instructions, which when executed by a computing platform, cause said computing platform to perform operations comprising a method comprising:

receiving an automatic number identification (ANI) at an ANI recognition system of a service provider platform from a user, wherein the user having previously acquired a communications device, wherein a pre-paid service has been bundled with the device, and wherein, upon the user having depressed a long distance service (LDS) auto-key having been pre-programmed with a feature code and dialing sequence comprising exposing the ANI.

14. The machine readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

upon an initial use of the communications device by the user, upon the user having depressed the LDS auto-key, receiving at the service provider platform at least one of;

retailer identification;

an account number; and

/or

the automatic number identification (ANI) of the user.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said retailer identification may be used for revenue sharing between the service provider and a retailer.

16. The machine readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

allowing the user to place a telecommunications call using a value of calling minutes until depletion.

17. The machine readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

pre-provisioning an account associated with the phone device of the user a promotional amount of said value of said calling minutes.

18. The machine readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

prompting the user to replenish the value upon said value reaching a pre-determined threshold.

19. The machine readable medium according to claim 18, wherein said prompting of the method comprises prompting via an interactive voice response (IVR) type system.

20. The machine readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving from the user an agreement to automatically replenish said account of the user upon occurrence of at least one criterion.

21. The machine readable medium according to claim 20, wherein said criterion comprises a value of said account reaching an automatic replenishment threshhold level.

22. The machine readable medium according to said claim 21, wherein said automatic replenishment threshold level of the method is user selectable.

23. The machine readable medium according to said claim 20, wherein said automatic replenishment of the method comprises debiting a financial account of the user comprising at least one of:

a monetary account;

a money market account;

a savings account;

a debit card account;

a checking account; and

/or

a credit card account.

24. The machine readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the feature code and dialing sequence of the communications device comprises:

suppressing dial tone and ring back.

25. A telecommunications apparatus comprising:

a communications device comprising;

a long distance service (LDS) auto-key adapted to, upon user depression, to suppress dial tone and ring back, and to expose an automatic number identification (ANI) to an ANI recognition system of a prepaid service provider platform.

26. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 25, wherein said communications device comprises at least one of:

a corded telephone;

a cordless telephone;

a digital spread spectrum (DSS) cordless telephone;

a 2.4 GHz DSS cordless telephone;

a wired telephone;

a wireless telephone;

a mobile telephone;

a personal digital assistant (PDA);

a computing device;

a single unit device;

a multi-unit device;

a multi-handset device;

a cellular telephone device;

a telephony device;

a base station device; and

/or

an extension base device.

27. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a base station adapted to receive said communications device; and

at least a first extension base in wireless communication with said base station, adapted to receive a second of said communications devices.

28. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

at least a second extension base in wireless communication with said base station, adapted to receive a third of said communications devices.

39. The system according to claim 25, further comprising:

providing a button on the communications device dedicated to accessing value associated with a user,

wherein said value comprises at least one of;

a value of prepaid long distance,

a value of communications services,

a value of minutes of services,

a monetary value,

an account value,

a checking account value,

a savings account value,

a money market account value,

a credit value,

a debit value, and/or

a quantity of products and/or services value.