System and method for providing prepaid telecommunication services

• US 7,539,294 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Locus Telecommunications Incorporated (Telrite Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Locus Telecommunications Incorporated (Telrite Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moon, Eric E., Lee, Johng Phil, Cho, Han Kwang, Shin, Jong Phil, Kim, Taesoon, Park, Jae Heung
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US11/937,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20080063162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/114.01, 379/114.15, 379/114.18, 379/114.2, 379/118, 379/120, 379/121.03, 379/127.04, 379/144.01, 379/144.05, 379/115.02
• US Class Current: 379/114.2
• 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 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• 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 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/12 using calling, telephone credit/debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing prepaid telecommunication services. More particularly, prepaid telephone calls can be made by users without entering any access code, if such calls are made from telephone numbers previously registered in the telecommunication system in connection with valid access codes. Prepaid telephone calls can also be made from non-registered telephone numbers after providing the telecommunication system with a valid access code.

Claims

1. A method for providing telephone services using a call processor including an account database which has account records corresponding to a plurality of accounts, each of the accounts having an access code and a balance associated therewith, said method comprising the steps of storing a plurality of registered telephone numbers in the database, each of the registered telephone numbers being associated with one of the accounts;

connecting to the call processor a first telephone call originated from a first telephone number;

determining whether the first telephone number corresponds to one of the registered telephone numbers;

if the first telephone number corresponds to one of the registered telephone numbers, connecting the first call to a second telephone number provided during the call;

adding the balance of a first one of the accounts to the balance of a second one of the accounts; and

associating the access code of the first one of the accounts with the access code of the second one of the accounts.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating step is being performed such that a second telephone call can be made by providing the access code of the first one of the accounts to the call processor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a charge relating to the second call is deducted from the balance of the second one of the accounts.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the database includes a conversion table having a first field and a second field;

and wherein the access code of the first one of the accounts and the access code of the second one of the accounts are added to the first and second fields, respectively, during the performance of said associating step so as to associate the access code of the first one of the accounts with the access code of the second one of the accounts.

5. A telecommunication system comprising a call processor;

an account database stored in said call processor and having account records corresponding to a plurality of accounts, each of said accounts including a balance and an access code associated therewith; and

a plurality of registered telephone numbers stored in said database, each of said registered telephone numbers being associated with one of said accounts, said call processor being operative to receive a first telephone call originated from a first telephone number, to determine whether said first telephone number corresponds to one of said registered telephone numbers and to connect said first call to a second telephone number provided during said first call, if said first telephone number corresponds to one of said registered telephone numbers, wherein said call processor is operative to add said balance of a first one of said accounts to said balance of a second one of said accounts and to associate said access code of said first one of said accounts with said access code of said second one of said accounts.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said access code of said first one of said accounts is associated with said access code of said second one of said accounts such that a second telephone call can be made by providing said access code of said first one of said accounts to said call processor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein a charge relating to said second call is deducted from said balance of said second one of said accounts.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said database includes a conversion table having a first field and a second field:

and wherein said access code of said first one of said accounts and said access code of said second one of said accounts are added to said first and second fields, respectively, so as to associate said access code of said first one of said accounts with said access code of said second one of said accounts.