System and method for implementing calling card security and secured calling card

• US 6,931,110 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bates, Cary Lee, Santosuosso, John Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/881,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20020191763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.14, 379/114.15, 379/114.17, 379/114.18, 379/114.19, 379/114.27, 379/118, 379/127.02, 379/144.01, 379/145, 379/188, 379/189, 379/201.03, 379/114.03, 379/114.1, 379/127.05, 379/133
• US Class Current: 379/144.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• 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 17/026 Constructional features
• 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 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• 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 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 Multiple accounts per user

Abstract

A computer implemented method, computer program product and system are provided for implementing calling card security. A telephone call request is received from a calling card user. A plurality of predefined options is checked to identify user selected options for the calling card. The telephone call request from the calling card user is processed responsive to the identified user selected options for the calling card. During calling card setup, the calling card user can selectively enable multiple predefined options for use of the calling card. The calling card user can selectively enable use of the calling card for one or more user specified telephone numbers, use of the calling card to a user specified limited area, use of the calling card with voice recognition, use of the calling card for a user specified limited number of calls from a specified telephone number; and use of the calling card for a user specified limited time duration for a call.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for implementing calling card security comprising the steps of:

receiving a telephone call request from a calling card user;

sequentially checking a plurality of predefined options to identify user selected options for the calling card using a stored calling card record, said calling card record storing a calling card number and a time remaining for the calling card;

said calling card record including said plurality of predefined options and each said user selected options for the calling card; and

processing said telephone call request from the calling card user responsive to said identified user selected options for the calling card.

2. A computer implemented method for implementing calling card security as recited in claim 1 includes the steps of identifying a telephone call request to setup a calling card from a calling card user and performing setup to receive and store user selected options for the calling card.

3. A computer implemented method for implementing calling card security as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of checking said plurality of predefined options to identify user selected options for the calling card includes the step of checking for use from a specified telephone number being enabled.

4. A computer implemented method for implementing calling card security as recited in claim 3 wherein the step of processing said telephone call request from the calling card user responsive to said identified user selected options for the calling card includes the step of checking for said telephone call request originating from a specified telephone number responsive to an identified use from a specified telephone number being enabled;

and terminating said telephone call request responsive to said telephone call request not originating from said specified telephone number.

5. A computer implemented method for implementing calling card security as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of checking said plurality of predefined options to identify user selected options for the calling card includes the step of checking for voice recognition being enabled.

6. A computer implemented method for implementing calling card security as recited in claim 5 wherein the step of processing said telephone call request from the calling card user responsive to said identified user selected options for the calling card includes the step of requesting the calling card user to speak a phrase responsive to voice recognition being enabled;

comparing a received voice pattern with a stored voice pattern; and

terminating said telephone call request when a match of the voice patterns is not found.

7. A computer implemented method for implementing calling card security as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of checking said plurality of predefined options to identify user selected options for the calling card includes the step of checking for a limited number of calls from a specified telephone number being enabled.

8. A computer implemented method for implementing calling card security as recited in claim 7 wherein the step of processing said telephone call request from the calling card user responsive to said identified user selected options for the calling card includes the step of comparing a number of calls from said specified telephone number with a threshold limit responsive to said limited number of calls from a specified telephone number being enabled;

and terminating said telephone call request when said number of calls from said specified telephone number exceeds said threshold limit.

9. A computer implemented method for implementing calling card security as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of checking said plurality of predefined options to identify user selected options for the calling card includes the step of checking for calls to a limited area being enabled.

10. A computer implemented method for implementing calling card security as recited in claim 9 wherein the step of processing said telephone call request from the calling card user responsive to said identified user selected options for the calling card includes the step of comparing a telephone number dialed with said limited area responsive to calls to said limited area being enabled;

and terminating said telephone call request when said telephone number dialed is outside said limited area.

11. A computer implemented method for implementing calling card security as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of checking said plurality of predefined options to identify user selected options for the calling card includes the step of checking for a limited time for calls being enabled.

12. A computer implemented method for implementing calling card security as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of processing said telephone call request from the calling card user responsive to said identified user selected options for the calling card includes the step of comparing a call duration with said limited time responsive to said limited time for calls being enabled;

and terminating said call when said limited time for calls is exceeded.

13. A computer program product for implementing calling card security with a server computer, said computer program product including a plurality of computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, wherein said instructions, when executed by said server computer, cause the server computer to perform the steps of:

responsive to a user request to setup a calling card, performing setup to receive and store user selected options for said calling card;

receiving a telephone call request from a calling card user;

responsive to said telephone call request from the calling card user, sequentially checking a plurality of predefined options to identify user selected options for the calling card using a stored calling card record, said calling card record storing a calling card number and a time remaining for the calling card;

said calling card record including said plurality of predefined options and each said user selected options for the calling card; and

processing said telephone call request from the calling card user responsive to said identified user selected options for the calling card.

14. A computer program product for implementing calling card security with a server computer as recited in claim 13 wherein the step responsive to said telephone call request from the calling card user, checking a plurality of predefined options to identify user selected options for the calling card includes the step of checking for a user specified telephone number for use of the calling card.

15. A computer program product for implementing calling card security with a server computer as recited in claim 13 wherein the step responsive to said telephone call request from the calling card user, checking a plurality of predefined options to identify user selected options for the calling card includes the step of checking for voice recognition being enabled by the calling card user to identify the calling card user for use of the calling card.

16. A computer program product for implementing calling card security with a server computer as recited in claim 13 wherein the step responsive to said telephone call request from the calling card user, checking a plurality of predefined options to identify user selected options for the calling card includes the step of checking for a limited area for calls being enabled by the calling card user for use of the calling card.

17. A computer program product for implementing calling card security with a server computer as recited in claim 13 wherein the step responsive to said telephone call request from the calling card user, checking a plurality of predefined options to identify user selected options for the calling card includes the step of checking for a limited number of calls from a specified area or a specified telephone number being enabled by the calling card user for use of the calling card.

18. A computer program product for implementing calling card security with a server computer as recited in claim 13 wherein the step responsive to said telephone call request from the calling card user, checking a plurality of predefined options to identify user selected options for the calling card includes the step of checking for a limited time duration for calls being enabled by the calling card user for use of the calling card.

19. A computer program product for implementing calling card security with a server computer as recited in claim 13 wherein the step of processing said telephone call request from the calling card user responsive to said identified user selected options for the calling card includes the step of comparing said identified user selected options for the calling card with said telephone call request from the calling card user and terminating the telephone call when said telephone call request differs from said identified user selected options for the calling card.

20. A system for implementing calling card security comprising:

a server computer;

a calling card security program including a plurality of computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, wherein said instructions, when executed by said server computer, cause the server computer to perform the steps of;

receiving a telephone call request from a calling card user;

sequentially checking a plurality of predefined options to identify user selected options for the calling card using a stored calling card record, said calling card record storing a calling card number and a time remaining for the calling card;

said calling card record including said plurality of predefined options and each said user selected options for the calling card; and

processing said telephone call request from the calling card user responsive to said identified user selected options for the calling card.