METHOD AND SYSTEM OF PROVIDING AN AUDIO PHONE CARD

• US 20090163188A1
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Services Organization Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: HILLER, Scott L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,594,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.300
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML

Abstract

An approach is disclosed for providing an audio phone card. A telephone call is received for an audio service from a voice station by user. Audio content is transmitted to the user over the telephone call, wherein playback of the audio content is controlled by the user via the telephone call.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a telephone call for an audio service from a voice station by user; and

transmitting audio content to the user over the telephone call, wherein playback of the audio content is controlled by the user via the telephone call.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an authentication code input by the user via the telephone call for the audio service, wherein the authentication code is associated with a calling card.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the calling card has a single use.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein control functions for the playback include pausing, reviewing, and fast-forwarding.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the audio content includes an audio book, and the control functions further include a next chapter function, and a previous chapter function.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the telephone call is placed to a telephone number designated for the audio service, and the voice station includes a cellular phone.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

tracking duration of the playback of the audio content; and

determining whether the tracked duration exceeds a threshold based on duration of the audio content, wherein the playback is terminated upon exceeding the threshold.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a port configured to receive a telephone call for an audio service from a voice station by user; and

a processor configured to retrieve audio content and to transmit the audio content to the user over the telephone call, wherein playback of the audio content is controlled by the user via the telephone call.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to receive an authentication code input by the user via the telephone call for the audio service, wherein the authentication code is associated with a calling card.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the calling card has a single use.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein control functions for the playback include pausing, reviewing, and fast-forwarding.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the audio content includes an audio book, and the control functions further include a next chapter function, and a previous chapter function.

13. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the telephone call is placed to a telephone number designated for the audio service, and the voice station includes a cellular phone.

14. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to track duration of the playback of the audio content, and to determine whether the tracked duration exceeds a threshold based on duration of the audio content,

wherein the playback is terminated upon exceeding the threshold.

15. A system comprising:

an interactive voice response unit configured to receive a telephone call for an audio service from a voice station by user; and

a database configured to store audio content, wherein the audio content is retrieved by the IVR unit for transmission to the user via the telephone call,

wherein playback of the audio content is controlled by the user via the telephone call.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the IVR unit is further configured to receive an authentication code input by the user via the telephone call for the audio service, and the authentication code is associated with a calling card.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the calling card has a single use.

18. A system according to claim 15, wherein control functions for the playback include pausing, reviewing, and fast-forwarding.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the audio content includes an audio book, and the control functions further include a next chapter function, and a previous chapter function.

20. A system according to claim 15, wherein the telephone call is placed to a telephone number designated for the audio service, and the voice station includes a cellular phone.

21. A system according to claim 15, further comprising:

an application module configured to track duration of the playback of the audio content and to determine whether the tracked duration exceeds a threshold based on duration of the audio content, wherein the playback is terminated upon exceeding the threshold.