Virtual calling card system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a telephone number and a calling card number provided by a caller initiating a calling card call;
retrieving from a database information needed to determine if said calling card number is a subscriber-selectable calling card number;
if said calling card number is a subscriber-selectable calling card number, mapping said subscriber-selectable calling card number to a previously stored standardized calling card number; and
completing said calling card call to the telephone number provided by the caller; and
charging said calling card call to said standardized calling card number.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A calling card subscriber is allowed to choose at least some of the digits of his or her calling card number to form a virtual card number. Associated with the virtual card number is a standardized card number i.e., a number conforming to the Bellcore calling card numbering plan. When the subscriber uses the virtual card number to make a calling card call, the virtual card number is mapped into the standardized number. The latter is then used by the telephone system for subsequent validation and billing.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a telephone number and a calling card number provided by a caller initiating a calling card call; retrieving from a database information needed to determine if said calling card number is a subscriber-selectable calling card number; if said calling card number is a subscriber-selectable calling card number, mapping said subscriber-selectable calling card number to a previously stored standardized calling card number; and completing said calling card call to the telephone number provided by the caller; and charging said calling card call to said standardized calling card number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 19)
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7. A method of administering the assignment of calling card numbers to calling card subscribers comprising the steps of:
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receiving from a calling card subscriber a sequence of digits selected by said subscriber to be used as a calling card number; assigning to said subscriber a non-Bellcore-standard-conforming calling card number which includes said sequence of digits; assigning a standardized number to said non-Bellcore-standard-conforming calling card number; and loading said non-Bellcore-standard-conforming calling card number in association with said standardized number in a lookup table wherein said non-Bellcore-standard-conforming calling card number can be mapped to said associated standardized number whenever said non-Bellcore-standard-conforming calling card number is used by a caller to charge a call. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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means for receiving a telephone number and a calling card number provided by a caller initiating a calling card call; means for retrieving from a database information needed to determine whether said calling card number is a subscriber-selectable calling card number; means responsive to a determination that said received calling card number is a subscriber-selectable calling card number for mapping said subscriber-selectable calling card number to a standardized calling card number; means for completing said calling card call to said standardized calling card number; and means for charging said calling card call to said standardized calling card number. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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21. A method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a credit card number in the course of a business transaction; recognizing in a centralized database that said credit card number is a subscriber-selectable credit card number; mapping said subscriber-selectable credit card number to a standardized credit card number; and charging a price associated with said business transaction to said standardized credit card number.
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22. An apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving a credit card number in the course of a business transaction; means for recognizing in a centralized database that said credit card number is a subscriber-selectable credit card number; means for mapping said subscriber-selectable credit card number to a standardized credit card number; and means for charging a price associated with said business transaction to said standardized credit card number.
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Specification