METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AND USING A TELEPHONE CALLING CARD
First Claim
1. A telephone calling card apparatus, comprising:
- a planar card body having mounted thereon;
a memory system configured to store identification data for allowing a user to place a telephone call;
a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) generator, coupled to the memory system, configured to generate DTMF tones to convey the identification data; and
a speaker, coupled to the DTMF generator, for emitting the DTMF tones.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for providing and using a telephone calling card are described. In one example, a planar body includes a memory system, a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) generator, and a speaker. The memory system is configured to store identification data for allowing a user to place a telephone call. The DTMF generator is coupled to the memory system and is configured to generate password-protected DTMF tones to convey the identification data. The speaker is coupled to the DTMF generator and is configured to emit the DTMF tones. The DTMF tones may be played into a telephone for making a call using the telephone calling card apparatus. Since the identification data (e.g., account number and/or personal identification number) is played into the telephone and password-protected, rather than being manually entered by the user, the identification data is less susceptible to unauthorized disclosure and thus less susceptible to fraudulent use.
10 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A telephone calling card apparatus, comprising:
a planar card body having mounted thereon;
a memory system configured to store identification data for allowing a user to place a telephone call;
a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) generator, coupled to the memory system, configured to generate DTMF tones to convey the identification data; and
a speaker, coupled to the DTMF generator, for emitting the DTMF tones. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 20)
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8. A method of processing a telephone call, comprising:
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receiving, from a first endpoint, dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tones generated by a DTMF generator on a calling card, the DTMF tones conveying identification data associated with a user;
validating the identification data;
obtaining a telephone number for a call from the user; and
routing the call from the first endpoint to a second endpoint associated with the telephone number. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19)
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14. A communication system, comprising:
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a first endpoint;
a second endpoint;
a calling card configured to generate dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tones and to play the DTMF tones into the first endpoint, the DTMF tones conveying identification data associated with a user;
a call processing center configured to validate the identification data, obtain a telephone number associated with the second endpoint from the user, and route a call from the first endpoint to the second endpoint. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification