Tracking and notification of telephone plan minute status
First Claim
1. A method for tracking telephone plan minute status, comprising:
- initializing a first timer, having timer information, including a time block designation having time limits and a timer usage variable, associated therewith, wherein the time block designation comprises a predetermined period of time comprising a portion of a twenty-four hour period for which the telephone plan provides a finite number of minutes for making calls during a recurring period, the recurring period comprising at least one of the following;
a calendar day, a calendar week, and a calendar month;
adding time used by a call to the timer usage variable when the call was made within the time block designation associated with the first timer; and
notifying a user of predefined timer information wherein the predefined timer information includes the time limits minus a value of the timer usage variable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for tracking telephone usage and notifying a user of his telephone usage includes a software program for tracking telephone usage based on the time and day that a phone call is made. The software program designates a timer for tracking phone usage. The timer has a time block and a time usage variable associated therewith. When a call is made, the time used by the call is recorded to the time usage variable if the call was made within the time block. The user may then be notified of how much time has been used. The software may be implemented in a number of environments, including a computer system accessible remotely or a processor located on the user'"'"'s telephone.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for tracking telephone plan minute status, comprising:
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initializing a first timer, having timer information, including a time block designation having time limits and a timer usage variable, associated therewith, wherein the time block designation comprises a predetermined period of time comprising a portion of a twenty-four hour period for which the telephone plan provides a finite number of minutes for making calls during a recurring period, the recurring period comprising at least one of the following;
a calendar day, a calendar week, and a calendar month;adding time used by a call to the timer usage variable when the call was made within the time block designation associated with the first timer; and notifying a user of predefined timer information wherein the predefined timer information includes the time limits minus a value of the timer usage variable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-implemented system for tracking telephone plan minute status, comprising:
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means for initiating a timer, wherein the timer has information, including a time block designation having a time limit and a timer usage variable, associated therewith, wherein the time block designation comprises a predetermined period of time comprising a portion of a twenty-four hour period for which the telephone plan provides a finite number of minutes for making calls during a recurring period, the recurring period comprising at least one of the following;
a calendar day, a calendar week, and a calendar month;means for adding time used by a call to the timer usage variable when the call was made within the time block designation associated with the timer; and means for notifying a user of predefined timer information wherein the predefined timer information includes the time limit minus a value of the timer usage variable. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method for tracking telephone plan minute status, the method comprising:
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initializing a first timer, having timer information, including a time block designation having time limits and a timer usage variable, associated therewith, wherein the time block designation comprises a predetermined period of time comprising a portion of a twenty-four hour period for which the telephone plan provides a finite number of minutes for making calls during a recurring period, the recurring period comprising at least one of the following;
a calendar day, a calendar week, and a calendar month;adding time used by a call to the timer usage variable when the call was made within the time block designation associated with the first timer; and notifying a user of predefined timer information wherein the predefined timer information includes the time limits minus a value of the timer usage variable. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method for tracking telephone plan minute status, comprising:
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initializing a first timer, having timer information, including a user-defined time block designation having time limits and a timer usage variable, associated therewith, the time limits comprising time values entered by a user in a user interface, the time values comprising beginning and ending times for the time block; adding time used by a call to the timer usage variable when the call was made within the time block designation associated with the first timer; and notifying a user of predefined timer information wherein the predefined timer information includes the time limits minus a value of the timer usage variable.
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Specification