Enhanced ATM for facilitating telephony access
First Claim
1. A multi-function automated teller machine, comprising:
- a user input interface for receiving user input;
a function prompt interface for prompting a user to select at least one function from the following function set;
a purchase transaction for a prepaid telephony service calling card;
a financial transaction with a financial institution, separate from said purchase transaction function; and
a dispenser for dispensing a prepaid telephony service calling card to a user pursuant to authorization of a user'"'"'s selection of said purchase transaction function;
a first transceiver for transmitting an authorization request to a transaction services network, pursuant to a user'"'"'s selection of said purchase transaction function, and for receiving in authorization response from said transaction services network; and
a second transceiver is operable to receive at least one message from said service control point in a telephone network, said at least one message comprising data corresponding with a prepaid calling card account number.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved, automated teller machine (ATM) for enhanced telephony access is provided. The ATM provides for conventional financial transactions with financial institutions as well as the purchase of prepaid calling cards for telephony services. In the latter regard, the improved ATM is operable to receive a prepaid calling card purchase transaction request input by a customer and to transmit a message to a transaction service network for authorization of such transaction. Pursuant to authorization, the ATM is operable to automatically initiate a call to a telephony network to establish a prepaid calling card account. In particular, the ATM is operable to call a predetermined station number corresponding with a prepaid calling card service provider. Such predetermined number may correspond with an AIN-capable switch that allows the ATM to interface with a service control point maintained by the prepaid calling card service provider within the telephony network.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A multi-function automated teller machine, comprising:
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a user input interface for receiving user input; a function prompt interface for prompting a user to select at least one function from the following function set; a purchase transaction for a prepaid telephony service calling card; a financial transaction with a financial institution, separate from said purchase transaction function; and a dispenser for dispensing a prepaid telephony service calling card to a user pursuant to authorization of a user'"'"'s selection of said purchase transaction function; a first transceiver for transmitting an authorization request to a transaction services network, pursuant to a user'"'"'s selection of said purchase transaction function, and for receiving in authorization response from said transaction services network; and a second transceiver is operable to receive at least one message from said service control point in a telephone network, said at least one message comprising data corresponding with a prepaid calling card account number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for use in the distribution of prepaid telephony service calling cards comprising:
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receiving input at an automated teller machine, said input corresponding with a requested purchase transaction for a prepaid telephony service calling card; first transmitting a transaction authorization request from a first transceiver in said automated teller machine to a transaction services network responsive to said input; second transmitting from a second transceiver in said automated teller machine a prepaid calling card request to a predetermined service control point in a telephony service network responsive to receipt of approval of said transaction authorization request at said first transceiver; dispensing a prepaid telephony service calling card from said automated teller machine responsive to receipt of prepaid calling card account information by said second transceiver from said service control point. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification