Methods and systems for 1+ prepaid routing service

• US 7,394,895 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bedingfield, James C., LaPierre, Stephen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US11/505,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20070121889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 379/127.03, 379/127.04, 379/207.02, 379/207.04, 379/207.11, 379/114.2, 379/114.28, 379/114.29, 379/201.02, 379/207.13, 379/221.08, 379/221.09, 379/221.14
• US Class Current: 379/201.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13138 Least cost routing, LCR
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems for automatically routing a long distance call placed by a subscriber to a prepaid service provider. Six exemplary methods are discussed for allowing the prepaid subscriber to directly dial a called party'"'"'s long distance telephone number, and then routing the placed call to a prepaid service. The subscriber, in each case, is not required to first dial the telephone number of the prepaid service provider before dialing the called party.

Claims

1. A method for automatically routing a call from a subscriber terminal to a prepaid platform comprising:

receiving a dial string from the subscriber terminal, wherein the dial string includes a number;

receiving a profile record comprising subscriber data from a database server, wherein the subscriber data comprises a calling number and routing instructions;

routing the call from the subscriber terminal to the prepaid platform in accordance with the routing instructions; and

forwarding the calling number and the number to the prepaid platform,

wherein the routing of the call from the subscriber terminal to the prepaid platform being responsive to a class of service routing parameter associated with the subscriber terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing instructions comprise the class of service routing parameter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the dial string includes a feature code followed by the number, the routing of the call from the subscriber terminal to the prepaid platform being responsive to the feature code.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the database server comprises a Signal Control Point (SCP).

5. A method for automatically routing a call from a subscriber terminal to a prepaid platform comprising:

receiving a dial string from the subscriber terminal, wherein the dial string includes a number;

receiving a profile record comprising subscriber data from a database server, wherein the subscriber data comprises a calling number, routing instructions and a personal identification number (PIN);

validating the subscriber by requesting the PIN from the subscriber;

routing the call from the subscriber terminal to the prepaid platform in accordance with routing instructions; and

forwarding the calling number and the number to the prepaid platform.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the forwarding step further comprises forwarding the PIN to the prepaid platform.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the calling number, the PIN, and the number are forwarded to the prepaid platform encapsulated within a Signaling System 7 (SS7) message.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the SS7 message comprises an Initial Address Message (IAM).

18. The method of claim 5, wherein the dial string includes a feature code followed by the number.

9. A system for automatically routing a call from a subscriber terminal to a prepaid platform comprising:

a subscriber terminal for receiving a dial string from a subscriber, wherein the dial string includes a number;

a database server for storing subscriber data, wherein the subscriber data comprises a calling number and routing instructions;

a signal communications network comprised of a plurality of interconnected communications switches for routing a communications message;

a signal control network comprised of a plurality of interconnected packet switches for routing a control message, wherein a control message directs the path of the communications message through the signal communications network; and

a prepaid platform for providing the subscriber with access to communications services;

wherein the subscriber terminal is connected to the signal communications network;

wherein the signal control network is connected to the signal communications network and the prepaid platform;

wherein the prepaid platform is connected to the signal communications network and the signal control network; and

wherein in response to the subscriber inputting the dial string, the communications message generated from the subscriber terminal is routed from the subscriber terminal via the signal communications network to the prepaid platform in accordance with the routing instructions, and the calling number are forwarded to the prepaid platform via the signal control network, the routing of the call from the subscriber terminal to the prepaid platform being responsive to a class of service routing parameter associated with the subscriber terminal.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the signal communications network is comprised of a plurality of interconnected ISDN switches for routing a communications message.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the routing instructions comprises a class of service parameter.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the dial string includes a feature code followed by the number.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the database server comprises a Signal Control Point (SCP).

10. A system for automatically routing a call from a subscriber terminal to a prepaid platform comprising:

a subscriber terminal for receiving a dial string from a subscriber, wherein the dial string includes a number;

a database server for storing subscriber data, wherein the subscriber data comprises a calling number, routing instructions and a personal identification number (PIN);

a database server for storing subscriber data, wherein the subscriber data comprises a calling number and routing instructions;

a signal communications network comprised of a plurality of interconnected communications switches for routing a communications message;

a signal control network comprised of a plurality of interconnected packet switches for routing a control message, wherein a control message directs the path of the communications message through the signal communications network; and

a prepaid platform for providing the subscriber with access to communications services;

wherein the subscriber terminal is connected to the signal communications network;

wherein the signal control network is connected to the signal communications network and the prepaid platform;

wherein the prepaid platform is connected to the signal communications network and the signal control network; and

wherein in response to the subscriber inputting the dial string and the PIN, the communications message generated from the subscriber terminal is routed from the subscriber terminal via the signal communications network to the prepaid platform in accordance with the routing instructions, and the calling number and the number are forwarded to the prepaid platform via the signal control network.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the PIN is forwarded to the prepaid platform via the signal control network.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the calling number, the PIN, and the number are forwarded to the prepaid platform encapsulated within a Signaling System 7 (SS7) message.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the SS7 message comprises an Initial Address Message (IAM).

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the dial string includes a feature code followed by the number.