Abstract: The Web Access invention allows account holders to view their account information over the Internet, and gives account holders access to telephony features via the Internet. The features of the Web Access invention include login, security, account history, PIN maintenance, merging accounts, callback, recharging accounts with a credit card, purchasing accounts with a credit card, retrieving fax mail, retrieving voicemail, viewing recharge history, and viewing rate information.

Abstract: A long-distance telephone service system provides for accounting and flexible, customizable control of long-distance telephone usage by customers, especially prepaid long-distance service customers. The system maintains a set of global operating parameters associated with each access number. It further maintains a database of user accounts or card numbers, and a set of card processing parameters associated with each card number. Both the global parameters and the individual card processing parameters are applied in completing a long-distance call to a destination number so as to provide highly flexible control over individual accounts as well as groups of accounts. Establishment of new accounts, and "recharging" the prepaid balance of existing accounts is accomplished automatically from remote locations.

Abstract: A long-distance telephone service system provides for accounting and flexible, customizable control of long-distance telephone usage by customers, especially prepaid long-distance service customers. The system maintains a set of global operating parameters associated with each access number. It further maintains a database of user accounts or card numbers, and a set of card processing parameters associated with each card number. Both the global parameters and the individual card processing parameters are applied in completing a long-distance call to a destination number so as to provide highly flexible control over individual accounts as well as groups of accounts. Establishment of new accounts, and "recharging" the prepaid balance of existing accounts is accomplished automatically from remote locations.