Internet assisted return call
First Claim
1. A method for activating a credit-based account and providing billing information over a computer network from a telephone service provider to at least one customer for performing at least one return call function, comprising the steps of:
- receiving identity information of said customer by said service provider over said computer network;
creating in real time said credit-based account responsive to said identity information;
assigning at least one access telephone number to said customer;
performing a return call function to initiate a telephone call responsive to said at least one access number;
calculating cost data indicative of said telephone call'"'"'s cost; and
providing said calculated cost data of said telephone call to said customer over said computer network.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for performing a return call telephone operation in connection with a network such as the Internet to provide real time registration and bill presentment for the customer. The method includes the steps of electronic registration with a telephone service provider via the network, assigning a unique return call initiation telephone number to the customer, performing the return call process, calculating the cost of the telephone call and presenting the cost information to the customer in real time. The network activation allows a customer to sign up and make a return call immediately after registration. The cost information can be tailored to an individual customer through the use of cost tables associated with different components of the overall cost (phone rate) of the telephone call.
101 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for activating a credit-based account and providing billing information over a computer network from a telephone service provider to at least one customer for performing at least one return call function, comprising the steps of:
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receiving identity information of said customer by said service provider over said computer network; creating in real time said credit-based account responsive to said identity information; assigning at least one access telephone number to said customer; performing a return call function to initiate a telephone call responsive to said at least one access number; calculating cost data indicative of said telephone call'"'"'s cost; and providing said calculated cost data of said telephone call to said customer over said computer network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for activating a credit-based account and providing billing information to a customer by a telephone service provider over a computer network in connection with making a telephone call using a return call function comprising:
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a server computer coupled to said computer network for interfacing with said customer; a communications switch coupled to said computer network for placing said telephone call using said return call function and providing data representing the length of said return call; and a corporate database coupled to said computer network for storing information comprising both the cost of said return call responsive to said telephone call length data and customer information data; wherein said communications switch provides said corporate database with said length data, said corporate database calculates and stores cost data indicating said telephone call'"'"'s cost, said customer communicates with said server computer to access said calculated cost information, and said customer provides identification data to create in real time said account stored in said corporate database prior to making said telephone call with said return call function. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A corporate database computer for storing and processing account and billing information related to at least one customer who makes at least one return call using a telephone service provider comprising:
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means for receiving identity information of said customer over a computer network; means for creating in real time a credit-based account responsive to said identity information; means for assigning at least one access telephone number to said customer; means for calculating said return call'"'"'s cost and storing data indicating said cost; and means for providing said calculated cost data of said return call to said customer over said computer network. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification