Telephone travel card system under the control of its customers

• US 6,295,344 B1
• Filed: 07/31/1998
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marshall Patent Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Alpha 2010 Incorporated
• Inventors: Marshall, Marvin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Roland G.
• Application Number:
  US09/127,220
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 379/112, 379/114, 379/144, 379/88.22, 379/67.1, 379/88.16, 379/18, 379/34, 379/35, 379/88.23, 379/91.01, 379/91.02, 379/113, 379/115, 379/116, 379/118-121, 379/126-128, 379/130, 379/131, 379/194-197
• US Class Current: 379/114.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A telephone system for travel card users where the users may program a switch processor so that it completes, re-routes, or refuses to complete calls as predetermined by the customer. Data is captured as it is transferred from the switching module to an internal buffer and is fed through a digital communications path and an analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converter to a switching station computer. The switching station computer is in communication with a data storage server computer and the data storage server computer is in communication with remote telephones and with computers and facsimile machines in remote customers, offices. The switching station computer is thus programmable by the customer and incoming calls are handled as predetermined by the customer. A voice response device provides verbal communication between the system and its users. The system enables its users to defeat or limit travel card fraud, to receive billing information on a real time or other preselected basis, and to gain miscellaneous business advantages from creative control of the switch processor.

Claims

1. A telephone system of a type controllable by travel cards, comprising:

a switching station including a switch processor capable of producing call data concerning calls from at least one communication sources;

switching computer means capable of processing the call data, said switching computer means controlling said switch processor;

communication means capable of capturing the call data including automatic numbering identification and a personal identification number;

said communication means capturing the call data at a front end of a call and supplying the captured call data to the switching computer means, and capable of supplying processed data from the switching computer means to the switching station; and

said switching computer means capable of directing the switching station through the communication means to prevent completion of an attempted call using a travel card from a location indicated by the call data of the attempted call that a caller would not have been able to travel to in the time between the attempted call and an immediately preceding call using the same personal identification number.

2. A telephone system of a type controllable by travel cards, comprising:

a switching station including a switch processor capable of producing call data concerning calls from at least one communication source;

switching computer means capable of processing the call data, said switching computer means controlling said switch processor;

communication means capable of capturing the call data including automatic numbering identification and a personal identification number;

said communication means capturing the call data at a front end of a call and supplying the captured call data to the switching computer means, and capable of supplying processed data from the switching computer means to the switching station; and

said switching computer means capable of directing the switching station through the communication means to prevent repeated call attempts to enter the telephone system from a particular communication source by using a series of invalid personal identification numbers within a predetermined period of time.

3. A telephone system of a type controllable by travel cards, comprising:

a switching station including a switch processor capable of producing call data concerning calls from at least one communication source;

switching computer means capable of processing the call data, said switching computer means controlling said switch processor;

communication means capable of capturing the call data including automatic numbering identification and a personal identification number;

said communication means capturing the call data at a front end of a call and supplying said capture call data to the switching computer means, and capable of supplying processed data from the switching computer means to the switching station;

a monitoring computer means electrically connected to said switching computer means and capable of storing call data; and

a data storage server means electrically connected to the monitoring computer means and capable of access by travel card customers of the telephone system to provide current telephone system user billing information including amounts due.

4. The telephone system as described in claim 3, wherein said data storage server means further enables a travel card customer of the telephone system to obtain a printed copy of said customer'"'"'s current billing information through a facsimile machine or computer.

5. The telephone system as described in claim 3, further comprising a voice response means being capable of communication with said switching computer means and in dial-up communication with callers to the telephone system, and capable of providing an oral report of current account status to travel card users.

6. The telephone system as described in claim 3, wherein said switching computer means is capable of rerouting calls by travel card users to the telephone system in accordance with instructions provided by travel card customers.

7. The telephone system as described in claim 3 wherein said data storage server means provides said current telephone system user billing information in real time.

8. A telephone system of a type controllable by travel cards, comprising:

a switching station including a switch processor capable of receiving call data from at least one dial-up communication source and a switching computer means capable of processing call data;

said switching computer means controlling said switch processor;

communication means capable of capturing call data received by said switch processor, said call data including automatic numbering identification and a personal identification number;

said communication means capturing call data at front side of the call data received by the switch processor and supplying said call data to the switching computer means, and capable of supplying processed data from switching computer means to the switching station;

a monitoring computer means electrically connected to said switching computer means and capable of storing call data;

a data storage server means electrically connected to the monitoring computer means and capable of access by travel card customers of the telephone system to provide current billing information; and

voice response means being capable of communication with said switching computer means and in dial-up communication with callers to the telephone system, and capable of providing an oral report of current account status to travel card users, wherein the voice response means enables an authorized person to leave an oral message in said voice response means to that at least one later travel card caller to the telephone system can hear said message.

9. A telephone system of a type controllable by travel cards, comprising:

a switching station including a switch processor capable of producing call data concerning calls from at least one communication source;

a switching computer means capable of processing the call data, said switching computer means controlling said switch processor;

communication means capable of capturing the call data including automatic numbering identification and a personal identification number;

said communication means capturing the call data at a front end of a call and supplying the captured call data to the switching computer means, and capable of supplying processed data from the switching computer means to the switching station;

said switching computer means capable of obtaining data for at least one call validation parameter related to a travel card, in addition to said call data, for the switching computer means to act upon in processing call data and determining, from the captured call data and the additional call validation parameter, whether the attempted call is placed by a caller in good standing in accordance with parameters for the travel card; and

a voice response means connected to said switching computer means and capable of communication with customers so that a travel card customer can change the additional call validation parameter supplied to the switching computer means.

10. The telephone system as described in claim 9 wherein said communication means captures the call data from within said switching station.

11. A telephone system of a type controllable by travel cards, comprising:

a switching station including a switch processor capable of producing call data concerning calls from at least one communication source;

switching computer means capable of processing the call data, said switching computer means controlling said switch processor;

communication means capable of capturing the call data including automatic numbering identification and a personal identification number;

said communication means capturing the call data at a front end of a call and supplying the captured call data to the switching computer means, and capable of supplying processed data from the switching computer means to the switching station;

said switching computer means capable of obtaining data for at least one call validation parameter related to a travel card, in addition to said call data, for the switching computer means to act upon in processing call data and determining, from the captured call data and the additional call validation parameter, whether the attempted call is placed by a caller in good standing in accordance with parameters for the travel card; and

said switching computer means capable of determining from the captured call data and the data of the additional call validation parameter at least one of the following for the switching station to act upon in processing call data;

account balance status of the travel card at the beginning and during calls in progress, dual use of the same personal identification number and geographically impossible with the same personal identification number.

12. A telephone system of a type controllable by travel cards, comprising:

a switching station including a switch processor capable of produced call data concerning calls from at least one communication source;

switching computer means capable of processing the call data, said switching computer means controlling said switch processor;

communication means capable of capturing call data including automatic numbering identification and a personal identification number;

said communication means capturing the call data at a front end of a call and supplying the captured call data to the switching computer means, and capable of supplying processed data from the switching computer means to the switching station;

said switching computer means capable of obtaining data for at least one call validation parameter related to a travel cards in addition to said call data for the switching computer means to act upon in processing call data and determining, from the captured call data and the additional call validation parameters, whether the attempted call is placed by a caller in good standing in accordance with parameters for the travel card; and

a data storage server computer means in communication with at least one telephone and capable of providing accessibility to permit travel card customers to change the additional call validation parameters in the switching computer means to act upon in processing call data from at least one selected travel card of the telephone system.

13. A telephone system of a type controllable by travel cards, comprising:

a switching station including a switch processor capable of producing call data concerning calls from at least one communication source;

switching computer means capable of processing the call data, said switching computer means controlling said switch processor;

communication means capable of capturing call data including automatic numbering identification and a personal identification number;

said communication means capturing the call data at a front end of a call and supplying said call data to the switching computer means, and capable of supplying processed data from the switching computer means to the switching station;

said switching computer means capable of obtaining data for at least one call validation parameter related to a travel cards in addition to said call data, for the switching computer means to act upon in processing the call data and of determining, from the captured call data and the additional call validation parameters, whether the attempted call is placed by a caller in good standing in accordance with parameters for the travel card; and

a monitoring computer means capable of storing customer current telephone system user billing information including amounts due and providing, through a data storage server means, a travel card customer with billing information at any time through a computer or facsimile machine of the customer.

14. The telephone system as described in claim 13 wherein said communication means captures the call data from within said switching station.

15. A method of handling telephone calls by the use of travel cards, comprising the steps of:

providing a switching station including a switch processor capable of producing call data from at least one communication source using a travel card;

switching computer means capable of processing the call data produced by the switch processor and controlling the switch processor, said call data including automatic numbering identification and a personal identification number;

capturing the call data at a front end of a call and supplying the captured call data to the switching computer means, and supplying processed data from the switching computer means to the switching station; and

directing the switching station means to prevent completion of an attempted call using a travel card from a location indicated by the call data of the attempted call that a caller would not have been able to travel to in the time between the attempted call and an immediately preceding call using the same personal identification number.

16. A method of handling telephone calls by the use of travel cards, comprising the steps of:

providing a switching station including a switch processor capable of producing call data from at least one communication source using a travel card and providing a switching computer means capable of processing the call data produced by the switch processor and controlling the switch processor said call data including automatic numbering identification and a personal identification number;

capturing call data at a front end of a call and supplying the captured call data to the switching computer means, and supplying processed data from the switching computer means to the switching station; and

directing the switching station means to prevent repeated call attempts to enter the telephone system from a particular communication source by using a series of invalid personal identification numbers within a predetermined period of time.

17. A method of handling telephone calls by the use of travel cards, comprising the steps of:

providing a switching station including a switch processor capable of producing call data concerning calls from at least one communication source using a travel card and providing a switching computer means capable of processing the call data produced by the switch processor and controlling the switch processor;

said call data including automatic numbering identification and a personal identification number;

capturing the call data at a front end of a the call and supplying the captured call data to the switching computer means, and supplying processed data from the switching computer means to the switching station;

providing a monitoring computer means electrically connected to said switching computer means for storing the call data; and

providing a data storage server means electrically connected to the monitoring computer means and capable of access by travel card customers of the telephone system to provide current telephone system user billing information including amounts due.

18. The method as described in claim 17, wherein said data storage server means provides for a travel card customer of the telephone system obtaining a printed copy of said customer'"'"'s current billing information through a facsimile machine or computer.

19. The method as described in claim 17, further providing a voice response means capable of communication with said switching computer means and in dial-up communication with callers to the telephone system, and providing an oral report of current account status to travel card users.

20. The method as described in claim 17, wherein said switching computer means is capable of rerouting calls by travel card users to the telephone system in accordance with instructions provided by travel card customers.

21. The method of handling telephone calls as described in claim 17 wherein said call data is captured from within the switching station.

22. A method of handling telephone calls by the use of travel cards, comprising the steps of:

providing a switching station including a switch processor capable of receiving call data from at least one dial-up communication source using a travel card and a switching computer means capable of processing call data received by the switch processor and controlling the switch processor;

capturing call data received by said switch processor, said call data including automatic numbering identification and a personal identification number;

capturing call data at the front side of the call data received by the switch processor and supplying said call data to the switching computer means, and supplying processed data from the switching computer means to the switching station;

providing a monitoring computer means electrically connected to said switching computer means for storing call data;

providing a data storage server means electrically connected to the monitoring computer means and capable of access by travel card customers of the telephone system to provide current billing information; and

providing for voice response means to enable an authorized person to leave an oral message in said voice response means so that at least one later travel card caller to the telephone system can hear said message.

23. A method of handling telephone calls by the use of travel cards, comprising the steps of:

providing a switching station including a switch processor capable of producing call data concerning calls from at least one communication source using a travel card and providing a switching computer means capable of processing the call data and controlling said switch processor said call data including automatic numbering identification and a personal identification number;

capturing the call data at a front end of a call and supplying the captured call data to the switching computer means, and supplying processed data from the switching computer means to the switching station;

obtaining data for at least one card validation parameter related to a travel card, in addition to said call data, for the switching computer means to act upon in processing call data and determining, from the captured call data and the additional card validation parameters, whether the attempted call is placed by a caller in good standing in accordance with parameters for the travel card; and

providing a voice response means connected to said switching computer means for communication with customers so that a travel card customer can change the additional card validation parameters supplied to the switching computer means.

24. A method of handling telephone calls by the use of travel cards, comprising the steps of:

providing a switching station including a switch processor capable of producing call data concerning calls from at least one communication source using a travel card and providing a switching computer means capable of processing the call data and controlling said switch processor, said call data including automatic numbering identification and a personal identification number;

capturing the call data at a front end of a call and supplying the captured call data to the switching computer means;

supplying processed data from the switching computer means to the switching station;

obtaining data for at least one card validation parameter related to a travel card, in addition to said call data for the switching computer means to act upon in processing call data and determining from the captured call data and the additional call validity parameter whether the attempted call is placed by a caller in good standing in accordance with parameters for the travel card; and

determining from the captured call data and the data of the additional card validation parameter at least one of the following for the switching station to act upon in processing call data;

account balance status of the travel card at the beginning and during calls in progress, dual use of the same personal identification number, and geographically impossible calling with the same personal identification number.

25. A method of handling telephone calls by the use of travel cards, comprising the steps of:

providing a switching station including a switch processor capable of producing call data from at least one communication source and providing a switching computer means capable of processing the call data and controlling said switch processors said call data including automatic numbering identification and a personal identification number;

capturing the call data at a front end of a call and supplying the captured call data to the switching computer means;

supplying processed data from the switching computer means to the switching station;

obtaining data for at least one call validation parameter related to a travel card, in addition to the captured call data, for the switching computer means to act upon in processing the call data and determining, from the captured call data and the additional call validation parameters, whether the attempted call is placed by a caller in good standing in accordance with parameters for the travel card; and

providing a data storage server computer means in communication with at least one telephone and capable of providing accessibility to permit travel card customers to change the additional call validation parameters for the switching computer means to act upon in processing call data from at least one selected travel card of the telephone system.

26. A method of handling telephone calls by the use of travel cards, comprising the steps of:

providing a switching station including a switch processor capable of providing call data concerning calls from at least one communication source using a travel card and providing a switching computer means capable of processing the call data and controlling said switch processor said call data including automatic numbering identification and a personal identification number;

capturing call data at a front end of a call and supplying the captured call data to the switching computer means;

supplying processed data from the switching computer means to the switching station;

obtaining data for at least one call validation parameter related to a travel card, in addition to the captured call data, for the switching computer means to act upon in processing call data and determining from the captured call data and the additional call validation parameter whether the attempted call is placed by a caller in good standing in accordance with parameters for the travel card; and

providing a monitoring computer means capable of storing customer current telephone system user billing information including amounts due and providing, through a data storage server means, a travel card customer with access to the billing information at any time through a computer or facsimile machine of the customer.

27. A method of handling telephone calls as described in claim 26 wherein the capturing of call data is from within the switching station.

28. A telephone system comprising:

a switching station including a switch processor capable of providing call data concerning calls from at least one communication source;

switching computer means capable of processing the call data, said switching computer means controlling said switch processor;

communication means capable of capturing call data including automatic numbering identification, said communication means capturing the call data at a front end of a call and supplying the captured call data to the switching computer means, and capable of supplying processed data from the switching computer means to the switching station;

a monitoring computer means electrically connected to said switching computer means and capable of storing call data; and

a data storage server means electrically connected to the monitoring computer means and capable of access by customers of the telephone system to obtain current telephone system billing information including amounts due.

29. A telephone system as described in claim 28 wherein said communication means captures the call data from within said switching station.