System and method for providing prepaid telecommunication services

• US 6,873,690 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Locus Telecommunications Incorporated (Telrite Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Locus Telecommunications Incorporated (Telrite Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moon, Eric E., Park, Jae Heung, Lee, Johng Phil, Cho, Han Kwang, Shin, Jong Phil, Kim, Taesoon
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US10/255,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20030174822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/114.01, 379/114.15, 379/114.16, 379/114.18, 379/114.2, 379/115.02, 379/118, 379/120, 379/121.03, 379/127.01, 379/127.04, 379/114.05, 379/144.01, 379/144.05
• US Class Current: 379/114.2
• 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 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• 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 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/12 using calling, telephone credit/debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing prepaid telecommunication services. More particularly, prepaid telephone calls can be made by users without entering any access code, if such calls are made from telephone numbers previously registered in the telecommunication system in connection with valid access codes. Prepaid telephone calls can also be made from non-registered telephone numbers after providing the telecommunication system with a valid access code.

Claims

1. A method for providing a prepaid telephone calling card service using a call processor including an account database which has account records corresponding to a plurality of prepaid accounts, each of the accounts having a balance associated therewith, the account records including a plurality of access codes, each of which is associated with one of the accounts, said method comprising the steps of storing a plurality of registered telephone numbers in the database, each of the registered telephone numbers being associated with one of the accounts;

connecting a first telephone call originating from a first telephone number to the call processor;

determining whether the first telephone number corresponds to one of the registered telephone numbers;

if the first telephone number corresponds to one of the registered telephone numbers, connecting the first call to a second telephone number; and

adding a monetary value to a first one of the accounts by transferring the balance of a second one of the accounts to the first one of the accounts, wherein said adding step includes the steps of connecting a second telephone call to the call processor;

prompting for an entry of the access code of the second one of the accounts;

entering the access code of the second one of the accounts;

determining whether the entered access code of the second one of the accounts is valid;

transferring the balance of the second one of the accounts to the balance of the first one of the accounts; and

setting the balance of the second one of the accounts to zero.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the database includes a conversion table having a first field and a second field, said adding step including the step of adding the access code of the first one of the accounts and the access code of the second one of the accounts to the first and second fields, respectively, thereby associating the access code of the second one of the accounts with the access code of the first one of the accounts such that prepaid telephone calls can be made with the use of the access code of the second one of the accounts even if the balance of the second one of the accounts is set to zero.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising the steps of connecting a third telephone call originating from a third telephone number to the call processor;

prompting for an entry of an access code;

entering an access code; and

, if the entered access code corresponds to the access code of the second one of the accounts, connecting the third call to a fourth telephone number provided during the third call and deducing a charge relating to the third call from the balance of the first one of the accounts.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of appending one of said registered telephone numbers to the second field of the conversion table such that said one of said registered telephone numbers is associated with the access code of the first one of the accounts.

5. A prepaid calling card system comprising, a call processor;

an account database stored in said call processor and having account records corresponding to a plurality of prepaid accounts, each of said accounts including a balance associated therewith, said account records including a plurality of access codes, each of which is associated with one of said accounts; and

a plurality of registered telephone numbers contained in said database, each of said registered telephone numbers being associated with one of said accounts, said call processor being operative to receive a first telephone call originating from a first telephone number, to determine whether said first telephone number corresponds to one of said registered telephone numbers, and to connect said first call to a second telephone number if said first telephone number corresponds to one of said registered telephone numbers, and said call processor being operative to transfer said balance of a first one of said accounts to said balance of a second one of said accounts, wherein said call processor is operative to receive an entry of an access code, to determine whether the received access code corresponds to one of said access codes, and, if said received access code corresponds to said access code of said first one of said accounts, to add said balance of said first one of said accounts to said balance of said second one of said accounts and set said balance of said first one of said accounts to zero.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said database includes a conversion table having a first field and a second field, said call processor being operative to add said access code of said first one of said accounts and said access code of said second one of said accounts to said first and second fields, respectively, thereby associating said access code of said first one of said accounts with said access code of said second one of said accounts such that prepaid telephone calls can be made with the use of said access code of said first one of said accounts even if said balance of said first one of said account is set to zero.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said call processor is operative to append one of said registered telephone numbers to said first field of said conversion table such that said one of said registered telephone numbers is associated with said access code of said second one of said accounts.

8. A method for providing a prepaid telephone calling card service using a calling card system which includes a call processor and a database having account records corresponding to a plurality of prepaid accounts, the account records including a plurality of access codes, each of which is associated with one of the accounts, and a plurality of registered phone numbers, each of which is associated with one of the access codes, said method comprising the steps of:

connecting a phone call originating from a first telecommunication device to the call processor;

detecting an identifying code associated with the first telecommunication device;

comparing the detected identifying code to at least one of the registered phone numbers;

if the detected identifying code corresponds to one of the registered phone numbers, retrieving a corresponding one of the access codes associated with said one of the registered phone numbers;

prompting a caller to enter a destination phone number;

connecting the call to a second telecommunication device associated with the destination phone number; and

deducting a charge relating to the call from an account balance associated with the retrieved access code.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the call is connected to the call processor when a caller dials a pre-designated access phone number into the first telecommunication device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of prompting for an entry of an access code if the detected identifying code does not correspond to any of the registered phone numbers stored in the database or if the identifying code associated with the first telecommunication device is not detected by the call processor;

comparing the entered access code to at least one of the access codes stored in the database;

connecting the call to the second telecommunication device if the entered access code corresponds to one of the access codes stored in the database; and

deducting a charge relating to the call from an account balance associated with the entered access code.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of storing the registered phone numbers in the database so as to associate each of the registered phone numbers with one of the access codes.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said storing step includes the steps of connecting a second phone call to the call processor;

prompting for an entry of an access code;

comparing the entered access code to at least one of the access codes stored in the database; and

if the entered access code corresponds to one of the access codes stored in the database, registering a desired phone number in the database as a registered phone number such that it is associated with the entered access code.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said storing step includes the steps of connecting a second phone call originating from a third telecommunication device to the call processor;

detecting an identifying code associated with the third telecommunication device;

prompting for an entry of an access code;

comparing the entered access code to at least one of the access codes stored in the database; and

if the entered access code corresponds to one of the access codes stored in the database, registering the detected identifying code in the database as a registered phone number such that it is associated with the entered access code.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said storing step includes the steps of connecting a second phone call to the call processor;

prompting for an entry of an access code;

comparing the entered access code to at least one of the access codes stored in the database;

prompting for an entry of a desired origination phone number; and

if the entered access code corresponds to one of the access codes stored in the database, registering the entered origination phone number in the database as a registered phone number such that it is associated with the entered access code.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the registered numbers are stored individually in the database.

16. The method of claim 8, comprising the step of adding a monetary value to an account balance associated with a first one of the access codes stored in the database.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said adding step includes the step of transferring an account balance associated with a second one of the access codes stored in the database to the balance of the first one of the access codes.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said transferring step includes the steps of connecting a second phone call to the call processor;

prompting for an entry of an access code;

determining whether the entered access code corresponds to the second one of the access codes; and

if the entered access code corresponds to the second one of the access codes, adding the balance of the second one of the access codes to the balance of the first one of the access codes and setting the balance of the second one of the access codes to zero.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the database includes a conversion table having a first field and a second field, said transferring step includes the step of adding the first and second ones of the access codes to the first and second fields, respectively, thereby associating the second one of the access codes with the first one of the access codes such that prepaid phone calls can be made with the use of the second one of the access codes even if the balance of the second one of the access codes is set to zero.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising the steps of connecting a third phone call to the call processor;

prompting for an entry of an access code;

comparing the entered access code to the access codes stored in the database; and

if the entered access code corresponds to the second one of the access codes, connecting the third call to a third telecommunication device and deducing a charge relating to the third call from the balance of the first one of the access codes.

21. The method of claim 8, wherein the database includes a conversion table having a first field and a second field, the registered phone numbers being included in the first field of the conversion table, and at least some of the access codes being included in the second field of the conversion table such that each of the registered phone numbers is associated with one of said at least some of the access codes.

22. The method of claim 8, comprising the step of changing one of the registered phone numbers to a different phone number.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said changing step includes the steps of connecting a second phone call to the call processor;

receiving an entry of the different phone number; and

updating the database so as to change said one of the registered phone numbers to the entered phone number.

24. A prepaid calling card system comprising a call processor;

and a database having account records corresponding to a plurality of prepaid accounts, said account records including a plurality of access codes, each of which is associated with one of said accounts, and a plurality of registered phone numbers, each of which is associated with one of said access codes, said call processor being operative

to receive a phone call originating from a first telecommunication device;

to detect an identifying code associated with the first telecommunication device;

to compare the detected identifying code to at least one of said registered phone numbers;

if the detected identifying code corresponds to one of the registered phone numbers, retrieving a corresponding one of said access codes associated with said one of the registered phone numbers;

to prompt a caller to enter a destination phone number;

to connect the call to a second telecommunication device associated with the destination phone number; and

to deduct a charge relating to the call from an account balance associated with said corresponding one of said access code.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said call processor is operative to prompt for an entry of an access code if the detected identifying code does not correspond to any of said registered phone numbers or if the identifying code associated with the first telecommunication device is not detected by said call processor, to compare the entered access code to at least one of said access codes stored in said database, to connect the call to the second telecommunication device if the entered access code corresponds to one of said access codes, and to deduct a charge relating to the call from an account balance associated with the entered access code.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said database includes a conversion table having a first field, which contains at least some of said access codes, and a second field, which contains said registered phone numbers, such that each of said registered phone numbers is associated with one of said at least some of said access codes.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said second field of said conversion table includes a set of said access codes such that each of said set of said access codes is associated with one of said at least some of said access codes.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein said call processor is operative to receive a registration phone call, to prompt for an entry of an access code, to compare the entered access code to at least one of said access codes stored in said database, and, if the entered access code corresponds to one of said access codes, to register a desired origination phone number in said database as a registered phone number such that it is associated with the entered access code.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein said call processor is operative to receive a registration phone call from a third telecommunication device, to detect an identifying code associated with the third telecommunication device, to prompt for an entry of an access code, to compare the entered access code to at least one of said access codes stored in said database, and, if the entered access code corresponds to one of said access codes, to register the detected identifying code in said database as a registered phone number such that it is associated with the entered access code.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said call processor is operative to prompt for an entry of a phone number if the identifying code of the third telecommunication device is not detected during the registration call, and to register the entered phone number in said database as a registered phone number such that it is associated with the entered access code.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein said call processor is operative to transfer an account balance associated with a first one of said access codes to an account balance associated with a second one of said access codes.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein said call processor is operative to receive a second phone call, to prompt for an entry of an access code, to compare the entered access code to at least one of said access codes stored in said database, and, if the entered access code corresponds to one of said access codes, to add an account balance associated with the entered access code to an account balance of a selected one of said access codes and to set the balance of the entered access code to zero.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said database includes a conversion table having a first field and a second field, said call processor being operative to add the entered access code and said selected one of said access codes to said first and second fields, respectively, thereby associating the entered access code with said selected one of said access codes.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein said call processor is operative to change a selected one of said registered phone numbers to a different phone number.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said call processor is operative to receive a second phone call, to prompt for an entry of the different phone number, and to update said database so as to change said selected one of said registered phone numbers to the entered phone number.