Methods for providing prepaid telephony service via an internet protocol network system

• US 7,010,103 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Donovan, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taylor, Barry W
• Application Number:
  US10/230,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20030002640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.2, 379/114.17, 379/114.01, 379/144.01, 379111-115, 370/352, 370/401
• US Class Current: 379/114.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1467 involving prepayment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/63 based on the content carried by the session initiation protocol [SIP] messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/773 per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8292 Charging for signaling or unsuccessful connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• 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 17/201 automatic recharging with predetermined amount at threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/204 on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/22 : with automatic recharging of account/card, e.g. if limit is reached during connection the account is recharged automatically
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/24 : with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 : Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 : Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/018 : On-line real-time billing, able to see billing information while in communication, e.g. via the internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 : VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 : Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 : Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 : Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7268 : per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 : Available credit

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for providing prepaid telephony service via an Internet protocol (IP) network system. A first method provides controlling at least one media agent or call routing station/switch of an IP network system for allowing and/or blocking call media streams from traversing through the media agent. A second method provides directing all signaling messages transmitted by a signaling agent or station and all media packets transmitting voice and data communications through at least one common device within the IP network system. The methods further provide for continuously monitoring a subscriber'"'"'s account balance and terminating the prepaid telephony service if the account balance is less than a predetermined amount.

Claims

1. A method for providing prepaid telephony service via an IP network system, comprising:

receiving, via a PSTN telephone switch, a telephone number entered by a subscriber;

determining if the telephone number matches a prepaid access telephone number,

transmitting prepaid access instructions to the subscriber if the telephone number matches the prepaid access telephone number;

determining if the account information is accurate and a corresponding account balance is greater than a predetermined amount;

forwarding the telephone number to the originating IP telephony switch via an originating PSTN telephone switch if the account information is accurate and the corresponding account balance is greater than the predetermined amount; and

setting up the prepaid call to the telephone number.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

continuously monitoring, during the prepaid call, an account balance corresponding to the subscriber, and

transmitting to one of the originating PSTN telephone switch and the originating IP telephony switch a call interrupt signal if the account balance is less than the predetermined amount.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting a message to the subscriber indicating an amount of calling time available which corresponds to the account balance at least one time prior to transmitting the call interrupt signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of forwarding the telephone number to the originating IP telephony switch if the telephone number does not match the prepaid access telephone number to setup a non-prepaid call via the IP network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the prepaid access telephone number is stored within a database.

6. A system for providing prepaid telephony service via an IP network system comprising:

means for receiving, via a PSTN telephone switch, a telephone number entered by a subscriber;

means for determining if the telephone number matches a prepaid access telephone number;

means for transmitting prepaid access instructions to the subscriber if the telephone number matches the prepaid access telephone number;

means for determining if the account information is accurate and a corresponding account balance is greater than a predetermined amount;

means for forwarding the telephone number to the originating IP telephony switch via an originating PSTN telephone switch if the account information is accurate and the corresponding account balance is greater than the predetermined amount; and

means for setting up the prepaid call to the telephone number.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

continuously monitoring, during the prepaid call, an account balance corresponding to the subscriber; and

transmitting to one of the originating PSTN telephone switch and the originating IP telephony switch a call interrupt signal if the account balance is less than the predetermined amount.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising the step of transmitting a message to the subscriber indicating an amount of calling time available which corresponds to the account balance at least one time prior to transmitting the call interrupt signal.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising the step of forwarding the telephone number to the originating IP telephony switch if the telephone number does not match the prepaid access telephone number to setup a non-prepaid call via the IP network.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the prepaid access telephone number is stored within a database.

11. A method for providing prepaid telephony service via an IP network system, comprising:

receiving a telephone number dialed by a subscriber;

determining if the telephone number matches a prepaid access telephone number stored within an originating IP telephony switch;

transmitting prepaid access instructions to the subscriber if the telephone number matches the prepaid access telephone number to continue placing a prepaid call by dialing at least a destination telephone number and account information;

receiving via a PSTN telephone switch, the destination telephone number at the originating IP telephony switch, wherein the account information is determined to be accurate and the corresponding account balance is determined to be greater than the predetermined amount; and

setting up the prepaid call to the destination telephone number via the IP network.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining if the account information is accurate and a corresponding account balance is greater than a predetermined amount.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

continuously monitoring, during the prepaid call, at the originating IP telephony switch the account balance corresponding to the subscriber; and

terminating the prepaid call to the destination telephone number if the account balance is less than the predetermined amount.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting a message to the subscriber indicating an amount of calling time available which corresponds to the account balance at least one time prior to terminating the prepaid call.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

debiting the account balance;

storing the debited account balance within the originating IP telephony switch; and

transmitting the debited account balance from the originating IP telephony switch to a plurality of IP telephony switches connected to the IP network.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining if the prepaid call was charged to a telephone number corresponding to the subscriber;

storing information relating to the prepaid call including a length of time of the prepaid call and the destination telephone number if the prepaid call was charged to the telephone number corresponding to the subscriber; and

periodically billing the subscriber according to the stored information.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of setting up a non-prepaid call via the IP network, the destination IP telephony switch and the destination PSTN telephone switch if the telephone number does not match the prepaid access telephone number.