Method and apparatus for extending a pre-paid calling card limit
First Claim
1. A method for extending a limit value of a pre-paid calling card during a first call by a first party to a second party, comprising:
- detecting whether the limit value of the pre-paid calling card is reached;
outputting a query to a third party different from the first and second parties to determine whether the third party would accept charges for extending the limit value if the limit value is reached; and
extending the limit value if the third party accepts the charges.
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Abstract
The invention provides a system and method for extending a limit of a pre-paid calling card without disconnecting the communicating parties. When a first party makes a call using a pre-paid calling card and the limit of the calling card is reached, a call extender either queries the called party or launches a call to another party to query if these parties would pay for the remainder of the call or whether the parties would pay for extending the limit by an agreed amount. If a party agrees to pay for one of the above options, the call extender permits the call to continue and bills the accepting party accordingly.
64 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for extending a limit value of a pre-paid calling card during a first call by a first party to a second party, comprising:
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detecting whether the limit value of the pre-paid calling card is reached;
outputting a query to a third party different from the first and second parties to determine whether the third party would accept charges for extending the limit value if the limit value is reached; and
extending the limit value if the third party accepts the charges. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
retrieving the limit value of the pre-paid calling card from a database;
initializing a current consumption value of the pre-paid calling card;
updating the current consumption value as the first call progresses; and
determining whether the limit value is reached based on updated current consumption value.
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3. The method of claim 2, further comprising interpreting the limit and the current consumption values based on a type value retrieved from the database, the type value indicating that the limit and the current consumption values are at least one of a time value, a date value, and a cost value.
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4. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting step comprises:
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retrieving an identification list of at least one identification of the third party from the database;
generating a message based on the identification of the third party; and
outputting the message to the third party as the query.
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5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:
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launching a second call to the third party; and
outputting the message to,the third party if the third call is answered.
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6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
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launching additional calls to other third parties identified in the identification list if either the second call is not answered or the third party does not accept the charges; and
outputting the message to any one of the other third parties that answers one of the additional calls.
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7. The method of claim 6, further comprising disconnecting the first call if either none of the identified third parties in the identification list answers either the second call or one of the additional calls, or if none of the third parties accepts the charges.
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8. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one identification of the third party is ordered in a priority order.
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9. The method of claim 1, wherein the charges include payment for completing the first call, the extending step comprising:
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permitting the first call to continue until completed if the charges include completing the first call; and
billing the third party for a cost corresponding to an amount that the first call exceeded the limit.
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10. The method of claim 1, wherein the charges include payment for changing the limit value to an agreed amount, the extending step comprising:
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changing the limit value to an extended limit value;
permitting the first call to continue until the extended limit value is reached;
outputting another query to the third party to determine whether the third party accepts further charges for extending the extended limit value if the extended limit value is reached; and
extending the extended limit value if the third party accepts the further charges.
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11. A calling card extender that extends a limit value of a pre-paid calling card during a first call by a first party to a second party, comprising:
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a memory;
a controller coupled to the memory, wherein the controller detects whether the limit value of the pre-paid calling card is reached, outputs a query to a third party different from the first and second parties to determine whether the third party would accept charges for extending the limit value if the limit value is reached, and extends the limit value if the third party accepts the charges. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification