Voice enhanced phone card

• US 6,233,316 B1
• Filed: 01/27/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Dsc Telecom L.P.
• Inventors: Morgan, Robert C., Schier, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US09/013,770
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114, 379/144, 379/145, 379/149, 379/151, 379/154, 379/219, 379/222, 379/243, 379/258, 379/260, 379/67.1, 379/88.01, 379/142, 379/88.18, 379/88.03, 379/91.01, 379/91.02, 379/93.02, 379/100.04, 379/127, 379/265, 379/355, 379/88.19
• US Class Current: 379/88.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

A voice enhanced phone card which allows a caller to place a call by voice activated dialing only when the caller desires it is presented. A caller places a call using a standard calling card switch number and enters a predetermined service code. The voice enhanced phone card system recognizes the service code, and using known telephone switching capabilities, switches the call to a voice activated dialing system at a main feature point in the voice activated dialing system call flow. The call is then connected to a destination using the voice activated dialing routine.

Claims

1. A method for connecting a calling card service subscriber to a destination number, comprising the steps of:

connecting a call from the subscriber to a first calling card service platform;

the first calling card service platform validating the subscriber;

recognizing a voice activated dialing option request by the subscriber;

connecting the call from the first calling card service platform to a second, voice activated dialing calling card service platform as a function of the voice activated dialing option request; and

connecting the subscriber to the destination number.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

recognizing the destination number by means for voice recognition.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of connecting the call to the first calling card service platform is through a toll-free telephone number.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the call is switched to the second, voice activated dialing calling card service platform, a connection is made at a main feature point.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the voice activated dialing option service request is a code including at least one of characters, letters and numbers.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second, voice activated dialing calling card platform has a dedicated toll-free telephone number.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of switching is carried out by a telephone switch capable of recognizing the voice activated dialing option request as corresponding to a destination number of the voice activated dialing calling card service platform.

8. A method for dialing a destination number using voice activated dialing, comprising the steps of:

connecting to a first calling card service platform;

prompting, by the first calling card service platform, for a voice activated dialing request;

prompting, by the first calling card service platform, for a calling card number and an associated passcode;

validating, by the first calling card service platform, the calling card number and the associated passcode;

connecting from the first calling card service platform to a second calling card service platform on the basis of the voice activated dialing request;

prompting, by the second calling card service platform, for a destination number;

recognizing, by the second calling card service platform, the destination number; and

dialing, by the second calling card service platform, the destination number.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first calling card service platform is a DTMF platform.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the second calling card service platform is a voice activated dialing platform.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of connecting to the second calling card platform is accomplished by a switch capable of recognizing the voice activated dialing request as a destination number for the second calling card platform.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the connection resulting from the step of connecting to the second calling card platform is made at a main feature point.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the voice activated dialing request is a code including at least one of characters, letters and numbers.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of recognizing the destination number is accomplished by means for voice recognition.