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Recording and billing system

  • US 5,223,699 A
  • Filed: 11/05/1990
  • Issued: 06/29/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of billing for usage of a telephone network, comprising the steps of:

  • (a) assigning to an authorized user of said telephone network, a first authorization/billing code, and a second, associated authorization/billing code, said first code being indicative of authorization to use said telephone network, said first code having a format which is accepted as a valid authorization code for use of said telephone network and said second code having a format different from the format of said first authorization code which is accepted as a valid authorization code for obtaining other goods and services;

    (b) storing information including said first code in a first database and storing information including said second code in a second database;

    (c) responsive to the application to said telephone network by said authorized user of information defining said first authorization code indicative of a desire to use said telephone network, verifying the validity of said first authorization code, said verification step including;

    (i) communicating said first code, via said telephone network, to said first database, and(ii) analyzing said first code to determine its validity based upon said stored information in said first database;

    (d) responsive to said verifying step, permitting the desired use of said telephone network by said user based upon a determination of the validity of said first authorization code;

    (e) transmitting, after said telephone network is used, call billing information regarding said usage to said second database, said call billing information including said first code but not said second code assigned to said user;

    (f) identifying, in said second database, said second code associated with said first code included in said call billing information, and(g) billing the user that was authorized to use said second authorization code, for both said telephone network usage and for any other goods and services obtained by use of said second authorization code.

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