Method and apparatus for providing prepaid telecommunications services

• US 6,333,976 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2000
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Lesley, Ulf
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/732,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20010000808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 379/112.01, 379/114.01, 379/114.15, 379/114.17, 379/114.16, 379/144.01, 379/126, 379/127.01, 379/127.06, 379/130, 379/133-134, 455/406, 455/405
• US Class Current: 379/114.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• 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 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/204 on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/24 with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13517 SLEE - service logic execution
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13534 Internet - WWW, HTML, browsers etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13547 subscriber, e.g. profile, database, database access
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

Instead of requiring a customer to carry around one or more prepaid telephone calling cards (such cards are effectively functioning as limited, fixed amounts of money), a communications network-based solution is provided that facilitates both prepayment and use of prepay telecommunications services. A subscriber is assigned a record in a network database. The database record includes an account number and an associated prepaid monetary value. Then when the subscriber calls from a prepaid telecommunications terminal (e.g., a public telephone), requesting a telecommunications service (e.g., a long distance telephone call), the communications network processes the request by analyzing the subscriber database record. If the prepaid monetary value in the subscriber'"'"'s record is sufficient for the requested service, the service is authorized. The prepaid monetary value in the subscriber'"'"'s record is decreased in accordance with the service rendered. Accordingly, a subscriber does not need to purchase any prepaid calling card, remember to carry the prepaid calling card, or remember the amount stored on the calling card. Rather, prepaid calling services are obtained simply by subscribing to the network prepayment service. The subscriber also easily adds monetary value to the subscriber'"'"'s prepaid account by accessing the prepaid network service, (e.g., by dialing the appropriate network service number), indicating the desire to add monetary value to the subscriber'"'"'s prepaid account in the database. The subscriber is prompted to enter a desired amount of money which is then added to the prepaid monetary value field in the subscriber'"'"'s database record. There is no need to travel to a card distribution center or the like to obtain a new or recharged prepaid calling card.

Claims

1. In a telecommunications network, a method for facilitating prepayment for communication services, comprising the steps of:

providing a subscriber with an automated, prepayment telecommunications network service with a prepaid account number having associated therewith a prepaid monetary value;

the subscriber contacting a prepayment telecommunications network service number from a communications terminal with a request that a monetary value be added to the prepaid account number; and

the prepayment telecommunications network service adding the monetary value to the prepaid monetary value associated with the prepaid account number and providing charges corresponding to the added monetary value to a billing system so those charges are included in a telecommunications bill to the subscriber,

wherein the subscriber may thereafter use the added monetary value to pay for a subsequent communications service.

2. The method in claim 1, the automated, prepayment telecommunication service is implemented as an intelligent network service.

3. The method in claim 1, wherein the monetary value is a fixed amount.

4. The method in claim 1, wherein the monetary value is defined by the subscriber.

5. The method in claim 1, wherein the monetary value is added to the prepaid monetary value associated with the prepaid account number when the subscriber makes the contact.

6. The method in claim 1, wherein the monetary value is transferred from an account other than an account associated with the prepaid account number.

7. The method in claim 1, wherein the contact is made by way of the Internet and the prepayment telecommunications network service number includes an Internet address.

8. The method in claim 1, wherein the contact is made using a voice call, the prepayment telecommunication service using an interactive voice response unit when voice call contact is made.

9. The method in claim 1, wherein the contact is made using a mobile radio.

10. The method in claim 1, wherein the contact is made using a messaging service.

11. The method in claim 1, further comprising:

the billing system including in a next telephone bill to the subscriber charges corresponding to the added monetary value.

12. A method of operating a communications network where communication services provided by the system may be paid for in advance using an automated prepayment service, comprising:

creating a record in a database assigned to a network subscriber, the database record including a prepaid account number, a subscriber number, and an associated prepaid monetary value;

the subscriber contacting the automated prepayment service to add monetary value to the subscriber'"'"'s prepaid account;

in response to the subscriber contact, adding monetary value to the subscriber'"'"'s prepaid account in the database and communicating the amount of money added to the subscriber'"'"'s prepaid account to a billing controller to add the amount of money to a telephone bill issued to the subscriber.

13. The method in claim 12, wherein a preset amount of monetary value is automatically added to the subscriber'"'"'s prepaid account record in response to the subsequent subscriber contact.

14. The method in claim 12, wherein a subscriber-defined amount of monetary value is added to the subscriber'"'"'s prepaid account record in conjunction with the subsequent subscriber contact.

15. The method in claim 12, wherein the monetary value is a fixed amount.

16. The method in claim 12, wherein the monetary value is added to the subscriber'"'"'s prepaid account record when the subscriber makes the contact.

17. The method in claim 12, wherein the contact is made using the Internet the automated prepayment service is associated with an Internet address and the automated prepayment service is associated with an Internet address.

18. The method in claim 12, wherein the contact is made using a voice call, the prepayment service using an interactive voice response unit when voice call contact is made.

19. The method in claim 12, wherein the contact is made using a mobile radio.

20. The method in claim 12, wherein the contact is made using a messaging service.

21. The method in claim 12, further comprising:

the subscriber initiating a communication service from a telecommunications device and indicating that the communication service will be paid for using the prepaid account;

the prepayment service prompting input of a prepaid account number;

the subscriber inputting the prepaid account number; and

the subscriber authorizing the communications service if the monetary value associated with the input prepaid account number stored in the database is sufficient to cover at least part of the communications service.

22. The method in claim 12, further comprising:

the prepayment service providing the monetary value added to the subscriber'"'"'s prepaid account in the database to a telephone billing system, and

the telephone billing system generating a billing record for the subscriber which includes the amount of monetary value added to the subscriber'"'"'s prepaid account.

23. The method in claim 12, wherein the prepayment service is implemented using an intelligent network.

24. The method in claim 12, wherein the database record includes a security number, the method further comprising:

prompting entry of the security number after confirming the subscriber number;

checking an entered security number; and

if the entered security number is valid, proceeding with adding the monetary value to the subscriber'"'"'s prepaid account in the database.

25. The method in claim 12, wherein the monetary value is added by transferring the monetary value from an account other than the subscriber'"'"'s prepaid account.

26. In a communications system including a plurality of communication terminals having access to a communications network, apparatus for providing a prepayment telecommunications service, comprising:

a service controller configured to store records in a subscriber database, each database subscriber record including a prepaid account number field and an associated prepaid monetary value field, and

a service detector, coupled to the service controller, configured to detect a contact relating to prepayment of communications services involving a subscriber;

wherein in response to a detected contact, the service controller is configured to add a monetary value to the prepaid monetary value field associated with the subscriber and to communicate the prepaid monetary value to a billing processor so that the amount of money may be added to a telecommunications bill associated with the subscriber.

27. The apparatus in claim 26, wherein a subsequent prepayment communication service may be requested and rendered using the prepaid monetary value.

28. The apparatus in claim 26, further comprising:

an intelligent peripheral configured to generate synthesized electronic voice messages transmitted through the communications network to facilitate communication with the subscriber.

29. The apparatus in claim 26, further comprising:

an intelligent peripheral configured to detects DTMF tone or voice recognition responses entered from a subscriber communications device corresponding to an amount of monetary value to be added and to convey that amount to the service controller.

30. The apparatus in claim 26, wherein the contact is made via the Internet wherein the service contact is associated with an Internet address and the service contact is associated with an Internet address.

31. The apparatus in claim 26, wherein the contact is made using a messaging service.

32. The apparatus in claim 26, wherein the monetary value is a fixed amount.

33. The apparatus in claim 26, wherein the monetary value is added to the prepaid monetary value field when the subscriber makes the contact.

34. The apparatus in claim 26, wherein the monetary value is defined by the subscriber.

35. The apparatus in claim 26, wherein the service controller is configured to transfer the monetary value from an account other than an account associated with the prepaid account number.

36. The apparatus in claim 26, wherein before adding to the prepaid monetary value field, the service controller is configured to authorize a subscriber number associated with the contact including:

causing a request to be generated prompting entry of an authentication number, and

checking an entered authentication number,

wherein if the entered authentication number is valid, the service controller adds the monetary value.

37. In a communications system including a plurality of communication terminals having access to a communications network, an Intelligent Network (IN) apparatus providing a prepayment telecommunications service comprising:

a service switching point means, coupled to the service control point means, for detecting calls directed to prepayment of communications services involving IN subscribers, and

a service control point means, coupled to the service switching point means, for storing records in a database assigned to IN subscribers, each database record including a prepaid account number and an associated prepaid monetary value for each IN subscriber, and when the service switching point means detects a call to a prepayment telecommunications service number, for identifying the prepaid account number associated with the call, for adding an amount of money to the prepaid monetary value in the database record associated with the prepaid account number, and for communicating the amount of money added to the prepaid monetary value to a billing processor to add the amount of money to a telephone bill issued to the subscriber.

38. The IN apparatus in claim 37, wherein the amount of money is a fixed amount.

39. The IN apparatus in claim 37, wherein the amount of money is defined by the IN subscriber.

40. The IN apparatus in claim 37, wherein the amount of money is added to the prepaid monetary value associated with the prepaid account number when the call is made.

41. The IN apparatus in claim 37, wherein the service control point means transfers the amount of money from an account other than an account associated with the prepaid account number.

42. The IN apparatus in claim 37, wherein the call is made by way of the Internet and the service control point means is associated with an Internet address and the service control point means is associated with an Internet address.

43. The IN apparatus in claim 37, further comprising:

an interactive voice response means for interacting with the subscriber when the call is made.

44. The IN apparatus in claim 37, wherein the call is made using a messaging service.