Prepaid calling card accounts linked to credit card accounts, with methods for creating and managing the same

• US 8,280,793 B1
• Filed: 07/16/2002
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Technology Group LLC (West Corporation)
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Kempkes, Rodney J., Pettay, Mark J., Mussman, David C., Johnson, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROSEN, ELIZABETH H
• Application Number:
  US10/196,326
• Time in Patent Office: 3,731 Days
• Field of Search: 705/39
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3572 Multiple accounts on card

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and computer readable media for linking a prepaid calling card account to a credit card account. The linkage can occur at the time of a transaction involving the credit card account, or when the credit card account is acquired, activated, or renewed. The method can include at least the following. At least one transaction can be executed using the credit card account as payment for the transaction, or the credit card account can be acquired, activated or renewed. A prepaid calling card account is associated with the credit card account, and information related to the new prepaid calling card account is provided to a holder of the credit card account. Various aspects of the invention also provide anti-fraud and credit card recovery capability based on the above teaching.

Claims

1. A method of linking, by a computer, at least one prepaid calling card account to a credit card account existing at the time of linking the at least one prepaid calling card account to the credit card account, the method comprising at least the following:

executing, by the computer, at least one transaction using the credit card account as payment for the transaction, wherein the executing comprises inputting a credit card number associated with the credit card account into at least one data structure having at least a processor and a memory;

associating, by the computer, the at least one prepaid calling card account with the credit card account, wherein the associating consolidates the credit card account and the at least one prepaid calling card account usage tracking into one single account summary;

updating, by the computer, the at least one data structure based on at least one of remaining value parameters of the at least one prepaid calling card account, changes in a prepaid calling card account number, and changes in a PIN number, and wherein the updating further comprises updating the data structure to include a new entry for the calling card account number so the data structure includes the calling card account number and the credit card number;

linking, by the computer, the at least one prepaid calling card account to the credit card account within the at least one data structure to provide information related to the updating to a holder of the at least one prepaid calling card account and the credit card account; and

providing information and services, by the computer via a telecommunications network, related to the at least one prepaid calling card account to a holder of the credit card account; and

transferring, by the holder of credit card account, value from the credit card account to the prepaid calling card account in increments and withdrawing the value in cash from the prepaid calling card.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the at least one prepaid calling card account includes using an account number of the credit card account as at least part of an account number for the at least one prepaid calling card account.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the at least one prepaid calling card account includes using at least an expiration date of the credit card account as at least part of an account number for the prepaid calling card.

4. The method claim 1, wherein associating the at least one prepaid calling card account includes using at least an account number of the credit card account as at least part of a Personal Identification Number (PIN) of the at least one prepaid calling card account.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the at least one prepaid calling card account includes using at least an expiration date of the credit card account as at least part of a Personal Identification Number (PIN) of the at least one prepaid calling card account.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the at least one prepaid calling card account includes updating the at least one data structure used to support the at least one prepaid calling card account with at least one of an account number of the credit card account and an expiration date of the credit card account.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing information related to the at least one prepaid calling card account to the holder includes notifying a caller over a telecommunications network of at least one of the account number and the PIN associated with the at least one prepaid calling card account.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein providing information related to the at least one prepaid calling card account to the holder includes notifying the prepaid calling card account holder via mail of the account number and the PIN associated with the at least one prepaid calling card account in addition to notifying the prepaid calling card account holder via a telecommunications network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing information related to the at least one prepaid calling card account to the holder includes notifying the at least one prepaid calling card account holder via a global communications network of the account number and PIN of the at least one prepaid calling card account.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the at least one prepaid calling card account includes creating the at least one prepaid calling card account having at least one predefined limit parameter applicable to a value associated with the at least one prepaid calling card account.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein creating the at least one prepaid calling card account includes creating the at least one prepaid calling card account having a predefined limit parameter that is specified based on a value of monetary currency.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein creating the at least one prepaid calling card account includes creating the at least one prepaid calling card account having a limit defined based on elapsed telephone network access time for which the at least one prepaid calling card account is used.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising offering a holder of the prepaid calling card account at least one incentive in exchange for unused portions of the limit associated with the at least one prepaid calling card account.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein offering the holder of the at least one prepaid calling card includes offering the holder of the at least one prepaid calling card at least one coupon in exchange for an unused portion of the limit associated with the at least one prepaid calling card account.

15. A non-transitory computer program storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform linking at least one prepaid calling card account to a credit card account existing at the time of linking the at least one prepaid calling card account to the credit card account, the method comprising at least the following:

executing at least one transaction using the credit card account as payment for the transaction, wherein the executing comprises inputting a credit card number associated with the credit card account into at least one data structure having at least a processor and a memory;

associating the at least one prepaid calling card account with the credit card account, wherein the associating consolidates the credit card account and the at least one prepaid calling card account usage tracking into one single account summary;

updating the at least one data structure based on at least one of remaining value parameters of the at least one prepaid calling card account, changes in a prepaid calling card account number, and changes in a PIN number, and wherein the updating further comprises updating the data structure to include a new entry for the calling card account number so the data structure includes the calling card account number and the credit card number;

linking the at least one prepaid calling card account to the credit card account within the at least one data structure to provide information related to the updating to a holder of the at least one prepaid calling card account and the credit card account;

providing information and services, via a telecommunications network, related to the at least one prepaid calling card account to a holder of the credit card account; and

transferring, by the holder of credit card account, value from the credit card account to the at least one prepaid calling card account in increments and withdrawing the value in cash from the prepaid calling card.