System and method for a prepaid bundled telecommunications account
First Claim
1. A method for prepaid bundled telecommunications services, comprising the steps of:
- recognizing a prepaid account access call at one of a plurality of service switching points, each service switching point coupled to a corresponding prepay call management platform;
routing the call over a link from the one service switching point to the corresponding prepay call management platform in response to recognizing the call at the one service switching point, the link directly coupling the corresponding prepay call management platform to the one service switching point;
collecting and validating an account number associated with a prepaid bundled telecommunications service account;
looking up an account balance associated with the prepaid bundled telecommunications service account;
collecting a destination number;
selecting a method of computing charges associated with terminating the call to the collected destination number;
verifying that sufficient funds are in the prepaid account to pay for the call;
routing the call to the one service switching point from the corresponding prepay call management platform for line termination;
monitoring the call for call completion; and
posting the charges associated with the call to the prepaid account.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for prepaid bundled telecommunications services includes the steps of recognizing a prepaid account access call at a telecommunications carrier switch, and routing the prepaid account access call to a prepay call management platform coupled to the telecommunications carrier switch. An account number and an optional personal identification number associated with a prepaid bundled telecommunications service account are collected and verified. A destination number is then collected. An account balance associated with the prepaid bundled telecommunications service account is obtained from a database, and a method of computing charges associated with terminating the call to the collected destination number is determined. Next, whether the prepaid account contained sufficient funds to pay for the call is determined. The call is released to the telecommunications carrier switch for line termination, and the call is monitored for call completion. The charges associated with the call are then posted to the prepaid account.
385 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for prepaid bundled telecommunications services, comprising the steps of:
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recognizing a prepaid account access call at one of a plurality of service switching points, each service switching point coupled to a corresponding prepay call management platform; routing the call over a link from the one service switching point to the corresponding prepay call management platform in response to recognizing the call at the one service switching point, the link directly coupling the corresponding prepay call management platform to the one service switching point; collecting and validating an account number associated with a prepaid bundled telecommunications service account; looking up an account balance associated with the prepaid bundled telecommunications service account; collecting a destination number; selecting a method of computing charges associated with terminating the call to the collected destination number; verifying that sufficient funds are in the prepaid account to pay for the call; routing the call to the one service switching point from the corresponding prepay call management platform for line termination; monitoring the call for call completion; and posting the charges associated with the call to the prepaid account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for bundling telecommunications services with a prepaid account, comprising the steps of:
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recognizing a prepaid account access call at one of a plurality of cellular switches, each cellular switch coupled to a corresponding prepay call management platform; routing the call over a link from the one cellular switch to the corresponding prepay call management platform in response to recognizing the call at the one cellular switch, the link directly coupling the corresponding prepay call management platform to the one cellular switch; collecting and validating an account number associated with a prepaid account; collecting a destination number; looking up an account balance associated with the prepaid account; selecting a method of computing charges associated with the call in response to whether the call is a local, long distance, or toll call; verifying that sufficient funds are in the prepaid account to pay for the call; routing the call to the one cellular switch from the corresponding prepay call management platform for line termination to the destination number; monitoring the call for call completion; determining the charges associated with the call; and posting the charges associated with the call to the prepaid account. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification