Encryption of telephone calling card codes
First Claim
1. A method for preventing unauthorized use of a telephone calling card for accessing telecommunication services over a telephone network, said method comprising the steps of:
- (1) receiving, at an access code collection device, a clear-text calling card access code;
(2) encrypting said clear-text calling card access code into an encrypted calling card access code;
(3) accessing a computer data base system having a pre-defined list of valid encrypted calling card access codes;
(4) comparing said encrypted calling card access code with said pre-defined list of valid encrypted calling card access codes; and
(5) authorizing use of the telephone calling card if said encrypted calling card access code matches an entry in said pre-defined list of valid encrypted calling card access codes.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cost-efficient method that utilizes encryption techniques to prevent the unauthorized use of telephone customer calling card account and personal identification numbers (access codes), by electronic telephone network eavesdroppers and telephone company employees. The access codes are encrypted by the telecommunications carrier'"'"'s access code collection device. The encrypted access codes are subsequently used instead of the clear-text access codes in all subsequent transmissions and subsequent processes that make use of access codes including billing and printing of calling card access codes.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for preventing unauthorized use of a telephone calling card for accessing telecommunication services over a telephone network, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) receiving, at an access code collection device, a clear-text calling card access code; (2) encrypting said clear-text calling card access code into an encrypted calling card access code; (3) accessing a computer data base system having a pre-defined list of valid encrypted calling card access codes; (4) comparing said encrypted calling card access code with said pre-defined list of valid encrypted calling card access codes; and (5) authorizing use of the telephone calling card if said encrypted calling card access code matches an entry in said pre-defined list of valid encrypted calling card access codes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for preventing unauthorized access to telephone calling card access codes calls that are transmitted over a telephone signaling network, and used to enable telephone calls, the apparatus comprising:
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an encryption device coupled to an access code collection device, wherein said encryption device creates an encrypted calling card access code from a clear-text access code; a computer data base system connected to said originating switch, said computer data base system including a pre-defined list of valid encrypted calling card access codes; means coupled to said computer data base system, for comparing said encrypted calling card access code with said pre-defined list of valid encrypted calling card access codes; and means for enabling the telephone call, if said encrypted calling card access code matches one of the entries in said list of pre-defined valid encrypted calling card access codes. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A computer program product, comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic stored therein, said computer program logic for enabling a computer to prevent unauthorized use of telephone calling cards for accessing telecommunication services over a telephone network,
wherein said computer program logic comprises: -
means for enabling the computer to receive, at an access code collection device, a clear-text calling card access code; means for enabling the computer to encrypt said clear-text calling card access code into a encrypted calling card access code; means for enabling the computer to access a computer data base system having a pre-defined list of valid encrypted calling card access codes; means for enabling the computer to compare said encrypted calling card access code with said pre-defined list of valid encrypted calling card access codes; and means for enabling the computer to authorize the use of the telephone calling card if said encrypted calling card access code matches an entry in said pre-defined list of valid encrypted calling card access codes. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 20)
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15. A system for preventing unauthorized use of a telephone calling card for accessing telecommunication services over a telephone network, comprising:
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a database, having stored therein a predefined list of valid encrypted calling card access codes; an access code collection device configured to receive a clear-text calling card access code; an encryption device having as an input, said clear-text calling card access code, and having as an output, an encrypted calling card access code; means for accessing said database; means for comparing said encrypted calling card access code with said predefined list of valid encrypted calling card access codes in said database; and means for authorizing use of the telephone calling card if said encrypted calling card access code matches an entry in said pre-defined list of valid encrypted calling card access codes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification