User-controlled personalized announcements for account-based services

• US 7,873,151 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2005
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bauer, Thomas Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US11/214,171
• Time in Patent Office: 1,968 Days
• Field of Search: 37911415-1142, 379/72, 379/76, 379/88.04, 379/88.05, 379/88.18, 379/144, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/201.03, 379/201.12
• US Class Current: 379/114.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/75 Account location specifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/751 Card based account, e.g. smart card, SIM card or USIM
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7652 shared by users
• 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 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

System for providing a custom message to a calling card account for a user to receive the custom message upon usage of the calling card account include at least two data databases on data storage devices, wherein the databases are in communication with a processor and an interface. One database includes calling card accounts. The other database includes custom messages. The interface allows the user to query the custom message database for custom messages and displaying the results. A custom message can be selected and associated with one or more calling card accounts.

Claims

1. A system for providing a custom message, the system comprising:

a first data storage comprising a plurality of calling card accounts;

a second data storage comprising a plurality of custom messages;

a processor in communication with the first data storage and the second data storage;

an administrator input device in communication with the processor;

computer instructions executable by the processor to make the system operative to;

select, from the plurality of custom messages, a selected custom message;

select, from the plurality of calling card accounts, a selected calling card account to receive the selected custom message;

associate the selected custom message with the selected calling card account; and

if the selected calling card account is accessed by a caller, perform the selected custom message for the caller; and

a billing module in communication with the processor, wherein the billing module is configured to;

track usage of the selected custom message and charge an administrator based upon the usage tracked, wherein the billing module charges the administrator a first amount if the selected custom message comprises a recorded message, and the billing module charges the administrator a second amount if the selected custom message comprises a pre-recorded message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer instructions further comprise edit instructions enabling an administrator to activate, delete, modify, and replace the selected custom message.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the calling card account comprises a prepaid telephone card.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the calling card comprises a prepaid Internet services card.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the calling card comprises a telecommunications account card.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interactive voice response device configured to provide an audio recording as the custom message.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interactive voice response device for communicating between a user of the calling card account and the processor.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the interactive voice response device comprises a touch tone calling card.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the calling card account is for a member selected from the group consisting of:

a prepaid calling card;

a business telecommunications account;

a consumer telecommunications account; and

a prepaid gift card.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein performing the selected custom message comprises:

connecting the caller with a called party; and

performing the selected custom message for the caller and the called party.

11. A method for providing a customized message, the method comprising:

selecting, from a plurality of calling card accounts stored at a first storage location, a selected calling card account;

selecting, from a plurality of custom messages stored at a second storage location, a selected custom message;

associating the selected calling card account with the selected custom message;

if the selected calling card account is accessed by a caller, performing the selected custom message for the caller; and

charging an administrator associated with the calling card account for each performance of the selected custom message, wherein the administrator is charged by a billing module that generates a first charge amount if the selected custom message comprises a recorded message, and a second charge amount if the selected custom message comprises a pre-recorded message.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

selecting a transmission variable to be transmitted with the custom message; and

performing the custom message based, at least partially, upon the transmission variable.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmission variable comprises one member selected from the group consisting of:

a date to start custom message performance, a date to stop custom message performance, a time to start custom message performance, a language for the custom message, and a sequence of performance for a plurality of selected custom messages.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising enabling an administrator to:

record new custom messages;

save new custom messages;

import messages from an out-of-network source;

deactivate custom messages;

modify custom messages; and

replace custom messages.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating an audio recording, wherein the audio recording is generated by a text to audio device configured to generate the audio recording based upon text retrieved from the custom message database.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein accessing the calling card account comprises accessing, using an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises one device selected from the group consisting of:

a personal digital assistant (PDA);

a cellular phone;

a computer; and

a conventional phone.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein performing the selected custom message for the caller comprises:

connecting the caller with a called party; and

performing the selected custom message for the caller and the called party.