Method and apparatus for executing automatic calling card access in cellular telephones

• US 5,509,056 A
• Filed: 06/06/1994
• Issued: 04/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Ericsson GE Mobile Communications Inc (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Ericsson, Ted G., Krylander, Bjorn, Rybeck, Nils R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOOMIS, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US08/254,873
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 379/91, 379/96, 379/112, 379/113, 379/114, 379/120, 379/131, 379/144, 379/58, 379/59, 379/60, 379/61
• US Class Current: 379/114.15
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method of placing a calling account card telephone call on a call by call basis using one of a plurality of carrier networks is disclosed. The method includes the steps of storing a plurality of data sets in accordance with requirements for use of the carrier networks, detecting the initiation of each telephone call by recognizing a first predetermined sequence input by the user and detecting the initiation of each calling card call by recognizing a second predetermined sequence input by the user, the second predetermined sequence being different than the first predetermined sequence, retrieving one of the stored data sets responsive to the detected second predetermined sequence, and automatically initiating a telephone call in accordance with the retrieved stored data sets responsive to inputting of the second predetermined sequence. An apparatus for automatic execution of a telephone calling card call on a call by call basis using one of a plurality of carrier networks is also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatic execution of a telephone calling card call on a call by call basis using one of a plurality of carrier networks, the apparatus comprising:

memory means for storing a plurality of data sets in accordance with requirements for use of the carrier networks;

user input means for initiating each telephone call using a first predetermined sequence and for alternately initiating each calling card call using a second predetermined sequence, the second predetermined sequence being different than the first predetermined sequence;

means for retrieving one of the stored data sets responsive to the second predetermined sequence; and

means for automatically initiating a telephone call in accordance with the retrieved stored data set responsive to entering of the second predetermined sequence by the user input means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said memory means comprises at least one set of storage locations, each set of storage locations storing one of said plurality of data sets, and wherein the second predetermined sequence is different for each set of storage locations and said retrieving means retrieves said one of the stored data sets from one of said sets of storage locations dependent upon which of said second predetermined sequences is input.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for storing and modifying a plurality of flow processes to be performed in accordance with the requirements for use of the carrier networks, at least one of the flow processes being associated with each one of the stored data sets, wherein the means for automatically initiating initiates a call according to the at least one flow process associated with the retrieved data set.

4. A method of placing a calling account card telephone call on a call by call basis using one of a plurality of carrier networks, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of data sets in accordance with requirements for use of the carrier networks;

detecting the initiation of each telephone call by recognizing a first predetermined sequence input by the user and alternately detecting the initiation of each calling card call by recognizing a second predetermined sequence input by the user, the second predetermined sequence being different than the first predetermined sequence;

retrieving one of the stored data sets responsive to the detected second predetermined sequence; and

automatically initiating a telephone call in accordance with the retrieved stored data sets responsive to inputting of the second predetermined sequence.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second predetermined sequence is different for each of a plurality of sets of storage locations for storing one of said plurality of data sets.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising storing and allowing user modification of a plurality of flow processes to be performed in accordance with the requirements for use of the carrier networks, at least one of the flow processes being associated with each one of the stored data sets, wherein the step of automatically initiating initiates a call according to the at least one flow process associated with the retrieved data set.

7. An apparatus for automatic execution of a telephone calling card call on a call by call basis using one of a plurality of carrier networks, the apparatus comprising:

memory means for storing at least one access number, the at least one verification data stream and at least one flow process to be performed in accordance with requirements for use of the carrier networks;

first user input means for inputting the at least one access number and the at least one verification data stream to be stored in said memory means, and for modifying the at least one flow process;

second user input means for initiating each telephone call using a first predetermined sequence and for alternately initiating each calling card call using a second predetermined sequence, the second predetermined sequence being different than the first predetermined sequence;

means for determining a telephone number to be called;

means for retrieving one of at least one access numbers, one of the verification data streams, and one of the stored flow processes responsive to the second predetermined sequence; and

means for automatically initiating a telephone call to the telephone number according to the retrieved stored flow process responsive to entering of the second predetermined sequence by the second user input means.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said memory means comprises at least two sets of storage locations, each set of storage locations storing at least an access number, a verification data stream and a flow process and wherein the second predetermined sequence is different for each set of storage locations.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a display means for displaying the telephone number to be called.

10. A method of placing a calling account card telephone call on a call by call basis using one of a plurality of carrier networks, the method comprising the steps of:

storing at least one flow process to be performed in accordance with requirements for use of the carrier networks;

inputting, via user input means, at least one access number and at least one verification data stream;

providing a menu option to allow a user to modify the at least one flow process;

storing the at least one access number and the at least one verification data stream input by the user input means;

detecting the initiation of each telephone call by recognizing a first predetermined sequence input by the user and alternately detecting the initiation of each calling card call by recognizing a second predetermined sequence input by the user, the second predetermined sequence being different than the first predetermined sequence;

determining a telephone number to be called;

retrieving one of at least one access numbers, one of the verification data streams, and one of the stored flow processes responsive to the detected second predetermined sequence; and

automatically initiating a telephone call to the telephone number according to the retrieved stored flow process based on the retrieved access number responsive to inputting of the second predetermined sequence.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one access number, the at least one verification number, and the at least one flow process are stored in a set of storage locations the second predetermined sequence is different for each set of storage locations.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of displaying the telephone number to be called.

13. An apparatus in a telephone for automatic execution of a telephone calling card call on a call by call basis using one of a plurality of carrier networks, the apparatus comprising:

first user input means for inputting at least one data set;

memory means for storing the at least one data set;

second user input means for initiating each telephone call using a first predetermined sequence and for alternately initiating each calling card call using a second predetermined sequence, the second predetermined sequence being different that the first predetermined sequence;

means for determining a telephone number to be called;

means for retrieving one of the at least one data set; and

means for automatically initiating a telephone call to the telephone number according to the retrieved data set responsive to entering of the second predetermined sequence by the second user input means.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said second memory means comprises at least two pairs of storage locations, each pair of storage locations storing a data set, and wherein the second predetermined sequence is different for each pair of storage locations.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one data set includes an access number, a verification data stream and at least one pause option command.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for determining a telephone number comprises:

user input means for entering the telephone number to be called;

a dialed digit memory for storing the entered telephone number;

a last dialed number memory for storing at least one telephone number which previously had been dialed; and

wherein the means for determining a telephone number determines that the telephone number to be called is a previously dialed number stored in the last dialed number memory when the second sequence is detected and a new telephone number has not been entered by the user.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a display means for displaying the telephone number to be called.

18. A method used by a telephone for automatic execution of a telephone calling card call on a call by call basis using one of a plurality of carrier networks, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting by the user of at least one data set;

storing the at least one data set;

detecting the initiation of each telephone call by recognizing a first predetermined sequence entered by the user and alternately detecting the initiation of each calling card call by recognizing a second predetermined sequence entered by the user, the second predetermined sequence being different than the first predetermined sequence;

determining a telephone number to be called;

retrieving one of the at least one data sets in accordance with the detected second predetermined sequence; and

automatically initiating a telephone call to the telephone number based on the retrieved data set responsive to entering of the second predetermined sequence by the user.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second predetermined sequence is different for each of a plurality of pairs of storage locations for storing the at least one data set.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of determining a telephone number comprises the step of:

entering the telephone number to be called by the user;

storing the entered telephone number in a dialed digit memory;

storing at least one telephone number which previously had been dialed in a last dialed number memory; and

wherein the step of determining a telephone number determines that the telephone number to be called is a previously dialed number stored in the last dialed number memory when the second sequence is detected and a new telephone number has not been entered by the user.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said at least one data set includes an access number, a verification data stream and at least one pause option command.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of displaying the telephone number to be called.