Method and apparatus for providing prepaid local telephone services

• US 7,110,512 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2003
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Inventors: Moss, John Wesley, Maropis, Samuel George, Thabit, Mark Joseph, Brezinski, David D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Escalante, Ovidio
• Application Number:
  US10/464,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20040062371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.2, 379/114.14, 379/127.02, 379/210.02, 379/114.01, 379/127.04, 379/125, 379/121.01
• 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 15/88 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 17/10 Account details or usage
• 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 2017/26 with real-time recharging of account/card, e.g. if limit is reached during connection user is asked if he wants to recharge or not
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account

Abstract

A system and method for providing prepaid dialtone services. The system includes a prepaid dialtone service center having an applications server that maintains a prepaid dialtone subscriber database including subscriber identification and service period information. The applications server is configured to automatically remind subscribers to renew their prepaid dialtone account and communicates with a local exchange carrier to place a hold on, or cancel, an expired subscriber account. The method includes the features of determining and monitoring a service period for a prepaid dialtone subscriber, communicating a reminder to the subscriber prior to expiration of the service period, and communicating with a local exchange carrier servicing the subscriber upon expiration of the service period.

Claims

1. A method of providing prepaid local telephone services to a subscriber having a telecommunications device connected to a subscriber line and in communication with a telephone network via the subscriber line, the method comprising:

establishing a subscriber account for the subscriber on the prepaid local telephone service network, wherein establishing the subscriber account comprises;

receiving a teleohone call at the prepaid local telephone service network from the subscriber;

associating the subscriber account at the prepaid local telephone service network with a telephone number of the subscriber;

receiving payment information from the subscriber; and

determining the prepaid local telephone service period for the subscriber account based on the payment information from the subscriber;

communicating instructions to a local exchange carrier from a prepaid local telephone service network to activate prepaid local telephone services for the subscriber;

monitoring a prepaid local telephone service period for the subscriber at the prepaid local telephone service network independently of telephone call activity by the subscriber at the local exchange carrier, wherein the prepaid local telephone service network monitors the prepaid local telephone service period without monitoring a duration of individual telephone calls from the telecommunications device of the subscriber;

receiving a telephone call at the prepaid local telephone service network from the subscriber prior to expiration of the prepaid local telephone service period;

automatically identifying the subscriber account for the subscriber based on the telephone number of the subscriber;

receiving renewal payment information from the subscriber;

updating the subscriber account to establish a new prepaid local telephone service period based on the renewal payment information; and

monitoring the subscriber account at the prepaid local telephone service network independently of telephone call activity by the subscriber at the local exchange carrier, wherein the prepaid local telephone service network only communicates with the local exchange carrier if the subscriber fails to renew the subscriber account for another prepaid local telephone service period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving payment information comprises receiving a value identification number associated with a fixed value in a prepaid telephone card database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a prepaid local telephone service period comprises assigning a number of days for the prepaid local telephone service period.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the number of days comprises thirty days.

5. A method of providing prepaid local telephone services to a subscriber having a telecommunications device connected to a subscriber line and in communication with a telephone network via the subscriber line, the method comprising:

communicating instructions to a local exchange carrier from a prepaid local telephone service network to activate prepaid local telephone services for the subscriber, wherein communicating instructions to the local exchange carrier comprises transmitting a service order to the local exchange carrier via the telephone network and transmitting the service order comprises sending a line class code to the local exchange carrier, the line class code associated with the subscriber'"'"'s telephone number and comprising instructions regarding calls permissible for the subscriber via the prepaid local telephone service; and

monitoring a prepaid local telephone service period for the subscriber at the prepaid local telephone service network independently of telephone call activity by the subscriber at the local exchange carrier, wherein the prepaid local telephone service network monitors the prepaid local telephone service period without monitoring a duration of individual telephone calls from the telecommunications device of the subscriber.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

establishing a subscriber account for the subscriber on the prepaid local telephone service network, wherein establishing the subscriber account comprises;

receiving a telephone call at the prepaid local telephone service network from the subscriber;

associating the subscriber account at the prepaid local telephone service network with a telephone number of the subscriber;

receiving payment information from the subscriber; and

determining the prepaid local telephone service period for the subscriber account based on the payment information from the subscriber.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving payment information comprises receiving a value identification number associated with a fixed value in a prepaid telephone card database.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein determining a prepaid local telephone service period comprises assigning a number of days for the prepaid local telephone service period.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the number of days comprises thirty days.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising automatically reminding the subscriber of an upcoming expiration of the prepaid local telephone service prior to expiration of the prepaid local telephone service period.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein automatically reminding the subscriber comprises transmitting an expiration reminder a predetermined number of days prior to expiration of the prepaid local telephone service period.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein automatically reminding the subscriber comprises sending the subscriber a voicemail reminder.

13. A method of providing prepaid local telephone services to a subscriber having a telecommunications device connected to a subscriber line and in communication with a telephone network via the subscriber line, the method comprising:

communicating instructions to a local exchange carrier from a prepaid local telephone service network to activate prepaid local telephone services for the subscriber;

monitoring a prepaid local telephone service period for the subscriber at the prepaid local telephone service network independently of telephone call activity by the subscriber at the local exchange carrier, wherein the prepaid local telephone service network monitors the prepaid local telephone service period without monitoring a duration of individual telephone calls from the telecommunications device of the subscriber; and

automatically reminding the subscriber of an upcoming expiration of the prepaid local telephone service prior to expiration of the prepaid local telephone service period.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein automatically reminding the subscriber comprises transmitting an expiration reminder a predetermined number of days prior to expiration of the prepaid local telephone service period.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein automatically reminding the subscriber comprises sending the subscriber a voicemail reminder.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein automatically reminding the subscriber comprises automatically calling the subscriber and playing a prerecorded reminder message.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein communicating instructions to the local exchange carrier comprises instructing sending instructions to a switch in the local exchange carrier to only connect a telephone call made by the subscriber of the prepaid local telephone call service if the telephone call is one of a non-toll intra-LATA call, a toll-free call or a 911 call.

18. A method of providing prepaid local telephone services to a subscriber having a telecommunications device connected to a subscriber line and in communication with a telephone network via the subscriber line, the method comprising:

communicating instructions to a local exchange carrier from a prepaid local telephone service network to activate prepaid local telephone services for the subscriber;

monitoring a prepaid local telephone service period for the subscriber at the prepaid local telephone service network independently of telephone call activity by the subscriber at the local exchange carrier, wherein the prepaid local telephone service network monitors the prepaid local telephone service period without monitoring a duration of individual telenhone calls from the telecommunications device of the subscriber; and

instructing the local exchange carrier to suspend dialtone service for the subscriber, without disconnecting a telephone line of the subscriber, after expiration of the prepaid local telephone service period, and wherein the prepaid local telephone service network monitors a grace period within which the subscriber may renew the subscriber account.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the grace period comprises a predetermined number of days after expiration of the prepaid local telephone service period.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising instructing the local exchange carrier to disconnect the telephone line of the subscriber after expiration of the grace period.