Abstract: A prepaid transaction instrument, such as a prepaid telephone card, comprises an identification code for use by a consumer in gaining access to a prepaid telephone account associated with the identification code and a replacement code related to the identification code according to a secret relationship maintained by the issuer of the card. The replacement code may be printed on a separate and distinct document from the identification code or may be printed on the same document as the identification code, but on a separable portion of the document. If the consumer loses the prepaid card, the issuer of the prepaid card issues a replacement card to the consumer when provided with the replacement code by the consumer.

Abstract: An improved distributed system for effectuating commercial transactions by a consumer is provided. The system includes a service provider network or host system which comprises an account database of prepaid accounts and an audio library containing audio indicia or sound bites. A prepaid instrument is issued to a consumer for providing access to the service provider network, the audio library, and the account database. The prepaid instrument has two sides. On one side of the instrument is a visual indicia such as a photograph, drawing, picture, or other image. On the other side of the instrument is a telephone number for accessing the host system and the audio library containing audio indicia that relates to the visual indicia on the prepaid instrument, and a predetermined authorization code that allows access to the account database.

Abstract: A prepaid transaction instrument, such as a prepaid telephone card, comprises an identification code for use by a consumer in gaining access to a prepaid telephone account associated with the identification code and a replacement code related to the identification code according to a secret relationship maintained by the issuer of the card. The replacement code may be printed on a separate and distinct document from the identification code or may be printed on the same document as the identification code, but on a separable portion of the document. If the consumer loses the prepaid card, the issuer of the prepaid card issues a replacement card to the consumer when provided with the replacement code by the consumer.

Abstract: An automated system and method for consolidating a plurality of individual company charges for a customer with different periodic company billing and payment due dates is provided. Under the system, companies and businesses such as utility companies report their periodic billing information to a central processing office or facility. This is completed by electronic or magnetic data transfer. The processing office undergoes minimization processing and holds the billing information data in time suspense until all of the billing information for the customer during a pre-selected time period is received. Then, the central processing facility generates a single customer statement which identifies all individual company charges as well as a statement due date. The statement is sent to the customer and payment for the identified charges is due by the statement due date. After receiving payment from the customer, the centralized billing center processes the payment and then remits payment to all of the companies.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently recognizing the last digit of a computer-dialed DTMF telephone number. The actual gaps between a number of first-dialed successive digits are compared with a standard gap exhibited during computer dialing to determine whether the dialing in progress is manual or automatic. As dialing proceeds, the absence of a digit for a preset time indicates that dialing has been completed. The preset time is set to a small value if it is determined that computer dialing is in progress.