Fully automatic credit card calling system

• US 5,845,205 A
• Filed: 08/01/1997
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Alanara, Seppo M., Vanttila, Jaakko S., Halonen, Markku J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TROST IV, WILLIAM GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US08/904,748
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/403, 455/414, 455/422, 455/550, 455/564-565, 379/91.01, 379/111, 379/114, 379/143-145, 379/354-356
• US Class Current: 455/564
• 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: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method for a cellular telephone automatic credit card calling system. In the analysis method, a series of program steps are provided for a digital signal processor (DSP) in the cellular telephone that activates the digital signal processor to listen to and analyze the received voice signals. The method may be considered as including three parts. (1) Tone detection method using the DSP to listen to the tone received from the calling card company. (2) Initializing the mobile phone for calling card use by selecting a default method on the ground of the telephone number of the calling card company. (3) Setting up a card call using the above mentioned tone detection (1), automatic insertion of "0" in front of the dialed number and call activation by a long press of the SEND-key. All of the three parts are manifested on the sequence of calling card process steps and implementation in the mobile telephone.

Claims

1. In a mobile cellular telephone having a key pad connected to a controller unit and a digital signal processor containing stored data and a tone detection unit, a method for using automatic credit card calling with the cellular telephone comprising the steps of:

Step 1 originating a call over a telephone network for the calling card service provider using a previously stored calling card service provider access number;

Step 2 sending the telephone number to the service provider;

Step 3 activating the tone detection digital signal processing procedure and awaiting a tone signal response from the service provider to verify whether the desired telephone number is correct;

Step 3A terminating the telephone call if an incorrect response is received;

Step 4 sending the calling card number to the telephone network;

Step 5 activating a tone detection digital signal processing procedure and awaiting a tone signal response from the service provider to verify whether the calling card number is correct;

Step 5A terminating the telephone call if an incorrect response is received in Step 5;

Step 6 automatically proceeding with the calling card call when all the telephone credit card call information has been determined to be correct.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein, between Steps 1 and 2 includes the steps of:

Step 1A activating a fully automatic tone detection digital signal processing procedure to verify determine whether the stored access number tone signals are correct and to provide a signal to said controller unit when said stored access number tone signals are correct;

Step 1B terminating the telephone call if the access number is incorrect.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said Step 1 includes introducing a desired telephone number and depressing a send key of the cellular telephone keypad for a selected time period after the desired telephone number is entered.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein

a "0", an area code and a telephone number are introduced into the cellular telephone.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein an international prefix is formatted and introduced into the cellular telephone.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said Step 1 further includes initializing the cellular telephone for calling card operation by selecting a default method sequence of a calling card service provider.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein, in Step 1, a "1-800" access number is dialed, in response to a tone a "0", an area code and a telephone number is introduced onto the cellular telephone and another tone is awaited.