Method and apparatus to validate a subscriber line

• US 8,681,956 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2011
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jolly Seven, Series 70 of Allied Security Trust I (Allied Security Trust)
• Original Assignee: Paymentone Corporation
• Inventors: Lynam, Joseph M., Dawson, Ken R., Philbin, M. Brendan, Truitt, Jennifer R.
• Primary Examiner(s): ADDY, THJUAN KNOWLIN
• Application Number:
  US13/078,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20110182413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.01, 379/142.01, 379/127.01, 379/127.02, 379/127.04, 379/127.05, 379/220.01, 379/207.15, 379/114.27, 379/127.06
• US Class Current: 379/127.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/305 using wired telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/70 Administration aspects, modify settings or limits or counter-check correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7072 Validate charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile

Abstract

Automatic number identification (ANI) data or billing telephone number (BTN) data associated with a subscriber account of a telecommunications network is obtained. Thereafter, first reference subscriber data associated with a subscriber is obtained. The first reference subscriber data is different from the ANI data or the BTN data. A first database location is accessed using the ANI data or the BTN data to determine second reference subscriber data. A second database location is accessed using the ANI data or BTN data to determine that the subscriber account associated with the ANI data or BTN data is billable. The first reference subscriber data and the second reference subscriber data are compared, and the identity of the subscriber verified if the first reference subscriber data corresponds to the second reference subscriber data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining automatic number identification (ANI) data or billing telephone number (BTN) data associated with a subscriber account of a telecommunications network;

obtaining first reference subscriber data associated with a subscriber, said first reference subscriber data being different from the ANI data or the BTN data;

accessing a first database location using the ANI data or the BTN data to determine second reference subscriber data;

accessing a second database location using the ANI data or BTN data to determine that the subscriber account associated with the ANI data or BTN data is billable;

comparing the first reference subscriber data and the second reference subscriber data; and

verifying an identity of the subscriber if the first reference subscriber data corresponds to the second reference subscriber data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a transaction amount to be charged to the subscriber account; and

in response to the verifying of the identity of the subscriber, approving the transaction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction is for a good or a service unrelated to use of a subscriber line associated with the subscriber account.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transaction is for a good or a service, the good or the service being selected from the group consisting of an online game, music and software.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the ANI data or the BTN data is obtained from a merchant of goods or services.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reference subscriber data is obtained from a merchant of goods or services.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reference subscriber data is a ZIP code or PIN code.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the first database location is a ZIP data source.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reference subscriber data is address data.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first database location is an address data source.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second database location is a database including a plurality of telephone numbers.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first database location is in a first database and the second database location is in a second database, the first database being distinct from the first second database.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing of the first reference subscriber data and the second reference subscriber data comprises determining whether a match exists within a predefined range or geographic area.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying of the identity of the subscriber comprises confirming the identity of the subscriber if the first reference subscriber data matches the second reference subscriber data.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a verification status notification upon verifying the identity of the subscriber.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the status notification is communicated to a merchant device via a network.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the subscriber account associated with the ANI data or BTN data is billable comprises interrogating a network database with the ANI data or BTN data to determine if the subscriber account is billable, and, if so, generating a decline status or an approved status in response to the interrogation.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the subscriber account associated with the ANI data or BTN data is billable comprises determining whether the subscriber account has reached a maximum monetary amount.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the subscriber account associated with the ANI data or BTN data is billable comprises determining whether a billing block has been imposed on the subscriber account.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed in real-time.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a monetary amount from a merchant of a sales transaction between the merchant and the subscriber; and

electronically billing the monetary amount to the subscriber account.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the first database location and the second database location comprises requesting a search of at least one database.

23. A non-transitory machine-readable medium for storing a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

obtain automatic number identification (ANI) data or billing telephone number (BTN) data associated with a subscriber account of a telecommunications network;

obtain first reference subscriber data associated with a subscriber, said first reference subscriber data being different from the ANI data or the BTN data;

access a first database location using the ANI data or the BTN data to determine second reference subscriber data;

access a second database location using the BTN data to determine that the subscriber account associated with the ANI data or BTN data is billable;

compare the first reference subscriber data and the second reference subscriber data; and

verify an identity of the subscriber if the first reference subscriber data corresponds to the second reference subscriber data.

24. A method of processing an online transaction, the method comprising

obtaining via a network a telephone number associated with a subscriber account of a telecommunications network;

obtaining first reference subscriber data associated with the subscriber account, said first reference subscriber data being different from the telephone number;

initiating a search using the telephone number to determine second reference subscriber data;

initiating a search using the telephone number to determine that an account associated with the telephone number is billable;

comparing the first reference subscriber data and the second reference subscriber data; and

authorizing an online transaction to be billed to the subscriber account if the first reference subscriber data corresponds to the second reference subscriber data.

25. A system comprising:

a network interface device to receive;

automatic number identification (ANI) data or billing telephone number (BTN) data associated with a subscriber account of a telecommunications network, and first reference subscriber data associated with the subscriber account, the first reference subscriber data being different from the ANI data or the BTN data; and

a processor to execute instructions stored in memory, the instructions comprising;

accessing a first database location using the ANI data or the BTN data to determine second reference subscriber data, accessing a second database location using ANI data or BTN data to determine that an account associated with the ANI data or BTN data is billable, comparing the first reference subscriber data to the second reference subscriber data, and verifying an identity of the subscriber based on the comparison.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein network interface device is to receive the ANI data, the BTN data, and the identification data from a remotely located merchant device.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the transaction is for a good or a service unrelated to use of a subscriber line associated with the subscriber account.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the transaction is for a good or a service, the good or service being selected from the group consisting of an online game, music and software.

29. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving a monetary amount to be charged to the subscriber account; and

in response to the verifying of the identity of the subscriber, approving the transaction.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the first reference subscriber data is a ZIP code or a PIN code.