Method of prepaying for consumption of telephone calls
First Claim
1. A method of prepaying for consumption of telephone calls to be set up by a predetermined terminal via a switched telephone network, comprising the following steps:
- setting up a call from any terminal of the network to a prepayment processor via said switched telephone network in order to transmit a message identifying said predetermined terminal to said prepayment processor,in response to identification of said predetermined terminal, requesting from said any terminal of the network prepayment of telephone call consumption to said prepayment processor, andif the prepayment request is accepted by said prepayment processor, paying an amount transmitted from said any terminal of the network so that said prepayment processor increments a consumption count associated with said predetermined terminal,the call setting-up step comprising;
entering, by a user of said any terminal of the network keying (a) an identification number identifying said predetermined terminal and (b) a control key at said any terminal of the network so that said identification number and said control key are included in said identification message, andchecking mutual consistency between said identification number and said control key in accordance with a predetermined algorithm in said prepayment processor and, when consistency is established, verifying that said identification number is included in a list stored in said prepayment processor, the call being held by said payment processor when the number of consistency errors does not exceed a predetermined number and when said identification number is included in said list.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
To limit the risk of unpaid telephone calls to be set up from a predetermined terminal via a switched telephone network, a prepayment for consumption of such calls comprises setting up a call from any terminal to a prepayment server via the switched telephone network in order to transmit a message identifying the predetermined terminal to the prepayment server; responsive to identification of the predetermined terminal, requesting from the calling terminal prepayment of telephone call consumption to the prepayment server; and, if the prepayment request is accepted by the prepayment server, paying an amount transmitted from the calling terminal so that the payment server increments a consumption count associated with the predetermined terminal. The predetermined terminal and any terminal can be one and the same mobile phone terminal connected to the switched telephone network via a mobile phone network.
122 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of prepaying for consumption of telephone calls to be set up by a predetermined terminal via a switched telephone network, comprising the following steps:
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setting up a call from any terminal of the network to a prepayment processor via said switched telephone network in order to transmit a message identifying said predetermined terminal to said prepayment processor, in response to identification of said predetermined terminal, requesting from said any terminal of the network prepayment of telephone call consumption to said prepayment processor, and if the prepayment request is accepted by said prepayment processor, paying an amount transmitted from said any terminal of the network so that said prepayment processor increments a consumption count associated with said predetermined terminal, the call setting-up step comprising; entering, by a user of said any terminal of the network keying (a) an identification number identifying said predetermined terminal and (b) a control key at said any terminal of the network so that said identification number and said control key are included in said identification message, and checking mutual consistency between said identification number and said control key in accordance with a predetermined algorithm in said prepayment processor and, when consistency is established, verifying that said identification number is included in a list stored in said prepayment processor, the call being held by said payment processor when the number of consistency errors does not exceed a predetermined number and when said identification number is included in said list. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of prepaying for consumption of telephone calls to be set up by a mobile phone terminal connected to a switched telephone network via a mobile phone network, comprising the following steps:
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entering a particular telephone number at said mobile phone terminal thereby setting up a call from said mobile phone terminal to said mobile phone network, translating said particular telephone number into a call number of a prepayment processor by said mobile phone network, setting up a call by said particular telephone number from said mobile phone network to the prepayment processor through said switched telephone network whereby said mobile phone network transmits a message including an identification number identifying said mobile phone terminal to said prepayment processor, verifying that said identification number is included in a list stored in said prepayment processor, thereby clearing down said call by said payment processor when said identification number is not included in said list, when said identification number is included in said list, requesting transmission from said mobile phone terminal prepayment of telephone call consumption to said prepayment processor, and if the prepayment request is accepted by said prepayment processor, activating said mobile phone terminal to authorize paying an amount transmitted so that said prepayment processor increments a consumption count associated with said mobile phone terminal.
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Specification