Prepaid cash card
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of purchasing services via a telephone connection, comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating, by a sales agent, a prepaid cash card which includes a unique data set for identification (ID) purposes;
(b) selecting an interexchange carrier for use with said prepaid cash card by an agent selling said prepaid cash card;
(c) purchasing said prepaid cash card from said agent by said user and assigning a monetary value to said prepaid cash card;
(d) registering said ID data set via a telephone connection to an authorization platform;
(e) selecting a second interexchange carrier by said user in use of said card; and
(f) following said registration of said ID data set by using said card in carrying out a purchase via a telephone connection to a vendor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided which uses a pre-purchased card having an identity number to make long distance telephone calls or to order services over a landline telephone system. When long distance telephone calls are being purchased, the agent selling the card has the option of selecting the long distance Interexchange Carriers to be used. The present system also allows the card purchaser to select his or her own long distance carriers. In the alternative, the card ID can be used in the same manner as a credit card if the system has the capacity to carry out the necessary transactions to check the credit worthiness of the user.
552 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method of purchasing services via a telephone connection, comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating, by a sales agent, a prepaid cash card which includes a unique data set for identification (ID) purposes; (b) selecting an interexchange carrier for use with said prepaid cash card by an agent selling said prepaid cash card; (c) purchasing said prepaid cash card from said agent by said user and assigning a monetary value to said prepaid cash card; (d) registering said ID data set via a telephone connection to an authorization platform; (e) selecting a second interexchange carrier by said user in use of said card; and (f) following said registration of said ID data set by using said card in carrying out a purchase via a telephone connection to a vendor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A system arranged for carrying out purchases via a telephone connection, comprising:
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(a) means for generating a prepaid cash card which includes a unique data set for identification (ID) purposes; (b) means for selecting an interexchange carrier for use with said prepaid cash card when generating said prepaid cash card; (c) an authorization platform accessible via telephone by a user of said prepaid cash card; (d) means for selecting a second interexchange carrier by said user in use of said card; and (e) means for a user carrying out a purchase by establishing a telephone connection from said user to said authorization platform to establish identity using said ID data set. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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42. The system of claim 42, further comprising:
(f) means for updating said rates in said authorization platform. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
Specification