Telephonic communications – With check operated control – Other than coin
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-11
2001-06-12
Nguyen, Duc (Department: 2643)
Telephonic communications
With check operated control
Other than coin
C379S114030, C379S216010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246757
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to networks for providing telephone services. More particularly, the present invention relates to improvements in telephone services accessible with pre-paid and post-paid calling cards.
2. Background of Related Art
Telephone calling cards store information used in connection with the delivery of, and billing for telephone services. “Pre-paid” calling cards are associated with an account having a fixed of amount of charges allowable. “Post-paid” calling cards are associated with accounts where the charges are paid in arrears for each billing cycle.
Calling cards vary in complexity from so-called “smart cards” to simple magnetic stripe cards. Smart cards contain memory locations for storing and updating information regarding the account or card user, and a microprocessor for performing various operations. Smart cards are connected to an intelligent terminal which interfaces with a telephone network. The actual coupling between the smart card and the intelligent terminal can be physical, inductive or capacitive. The control of a telephone transaction using such a card may be distributed between the network and the card.
Notwithstanding the above, many calling cards lack a microprocessor, limiting the operation of the card to transferring and storing information upon direction from the network. In perhaps the most common form, a calling card is simpler yet, containing only a read-only magnetic stripe storing a unique card number, and the like. In the case of the latter type of calling card, the network performs most of the operations necessary to complete a transaction.
In a typical calling card transaction, a user desiring to place a call takes a telephone off-hook and dials an access number, perhaps followed by the number printed on the calling card (corresponding to an account), a personal identification number (PIN) for security purposes, and then the destination telephone number. Alternatively, information such as the calling card number can be read by a card reader or magnetic stripe reader if such a device is attached to the user's telephone terminal.
A central database associated with the intelligent network stores all of the calling card numbers supported by the system, along with a corresponding PIN for each. The PIN input by the user is compared to the correct PIN stored in memory. If the input PIN matches the stored PIN, the intelligent network instructs a switch in the system to complete the connection and establish the desired call. If the PIN transmitted by the user does not match the stored PIN, the call is refused, whereupon the user is either given further opportunities to enter the correct PIN, or the call is terminated, or other action is taken, depending on the “call flow.” The call flow of a telephone system is a comprehensive algorithm controlling logic used to establish and maintain a call.
Abbreviated dialing codes are a series of one or more alphanumeric digits representing a longer string of digits constituting a destination telephone number. For example, a “*” followed by an “8” might represent the telephone number “1-800-555-1212.” Abbreviated dialing codes permit a customer to connect to a destination telephone number without having to correctly remember a large number of digits. Further, the fewer digits of an abbreviated dialing code allows for faster connection, and reduces the probability that the “wrong” destination number will be dialed.
Many common telephones and some IN calls (such VPN calls) allow abbreviated dialing, giving the user the aforementioned advantages when they are utilized. However, abbreviated dialing codes have not heretofore been available in telephone calling card systems so that a customer can use this feature regardless of the telephone used or the origination telephone line to which the input telephone is connected. This deficiency is more noticeable when the customer dials important numbers that are not (or not quite) memorized, such as to a relative or local corporate office (when the customer is traveling), and has no handy personal telephone book.
Accordingly, what is sorely lacking in the prior art is a telephone calling card service system allowing the calling card customer to conveniently use abbreviated dialing codes in place of cumbersome long destination numbers. Consistent with the above is a calling card service system allowing the calling card account subscriber to establish and modify programmable abbreviated dialing codes corresponding to desired destination telephone numbers, and to allow the calling card customer the same programming ability when the calling card account subscriber so authorizes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above-identified problems and limitations of the prior art, the present invention provides a telephone calling card service system for making telephone calls to be charged to an account represented by a telephone calling card number. The system at least includes an input telephonic device (such as an intelligent peripheral) operatively coupled to an origination telephone line, the input telephonic device having an alphanumeric information generator adapted to at least transmit a card number, security information and a destination telephone number or an abbreviated dialing code representing a stored destination telephone number. The system also includes an intelligent network operatively coupled to the origination telephone line, the intelligent network at least having a service switching point (SSP) which could be a stand alone unit or be an integrated unit that resides in a switch, a service control point (SCP) coupled to the SSP, and a destination switch coupled to the SSP (when it is a stand alone SSP) or a switch with an integrated SSP, adapted to route a valid telephone call to its destination. The SCP stores account numbers, security information, and an abbreviated dialing code table at least having programmable abbreviated dialing codes, each corresponding to a programmable destination telephone, and the SCP is adapted to convert abbreviated dialing codes received from the origination telephone line to a corresponding destination number in the table when the abbreviated dialing code is valid.
The present invention also provides a method for making telephone calls to be charged to an account represented by a telephone calling card number. The method at least includes the following steps. Providing an input telephonic device operatively coupled to an origination telephone line that transmits alphanumeric information at least including a card number, security information and a destination telephone number or an abbreviated dialing code representing a stored destination telephone number to an intelligent network. The intelligent network (operatively coupled to the origination telephone line) at least includes a service switching point (SSP) which could be a stand alone unit or be an integrated unit that resides in a switch, a service control point (SCP) coupled to the SSP, and a destination switch coupled to the SSP (when it is a stand alone SSP) or a switch with an integrated SSP, adapted to route a valid telephone call to its destination. The method further includes the SCP storing account numbers, security information, and an abbreviated dialing code table at least having programmable abbreviated dialing codes, each corresponding to a programmable destination telephone number, and the SCP converting abbreviated dialing codes received from the origination telephone line to a corresponding destination number in the table when the abbreviated dialing code is valid.
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Cai Yigang
Yu Shichang
Gadson Gregory P.
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Nguyen Duc
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