Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing pre-pay and post-pay calls. After receiving a pre-pay call, an integrated service platform obtains and transfers a pre-pay destination number and a pre-pay validation parameter to a switching system. The switching system then releases the pre-pay call extension to the integrated service platform and extends the pre-pay call using the pre-pay destination number. As the pre-pay call is in progress, the switching system monitors a duration of the pre-pay call and terminates the pre-pay call if the duration meets or exceeds a pre-pay amount indicated by the pre-pay validation parameter. In this manner, integrated service platforms, as required by prior approaches, are no longer required to be connected to the pre-pay call for the entire duration of the pre-pay call. Rather, an integrated service platform can request and receive authorization and call destination information, then be released for use by other calls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for validating pre-pay and post-pay calls using an integrated validation database. The integrated validation database receives a pre-pay query including a pre-pay account code. The integrated validation database retrieves a pre-pay validation parameter based on the pre-pay account code. The integrated validation database then transmits a pre-pay validation response including the pre-pay validation parameter. The integrated validation database receives a post-pay query including a post-pay account code. The integrated validation database retrieves a post-pay validation parameter based on the post-pay account code. The integrated validation database transmits a post-pay validation response including the post-pay validation parameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing pre-pay and post-pay calls. A switching system receives the call where the switching system is class 4 or class 5. The switching system extends the call toward an integrated service platform. The switching system then receives the call destination number and the call validation parameter. The switching system releases the call extension to the integrated service platform and extends the call using the call destination number if the call validation parameter allows the call. The switching system monitors a duration of the call and terminates the call if the duration meets or exceeds an amount indicated by the call validation parameter. One advantage for post-pay calls is the provision of post-pay calls service such as messaging and validation is centralized in the integrated service platform, which reduces the time and cost of maintaining the post-pay service.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing pre-pay and post-pay calls. After receiving a pre-pay call, an integrated service platform obtains and transfers a pre-pay destination number and a pre-pay validation parameter to a switching system. The switching system then releases the pre-pay call extension to the integrated service platform and extends the pre-pay call using the pre-pay destination number. As the pre-pay call is in progress, the switching system monitors a duration of the pre-pay call and terminates the pre-pay call if the duration meets or exceeds a pre-pay amount indicated by the pre-pay validation parameter. In this manner, integrated service platforms, as required by prior approaches, are no longer required to be connected to the pre-pay call for the entire duration of the pre-pay call. Rather, an integrated service platform can request and receive authorization and call destination information, then be released for use by other calls.

Abstract: An improved system for detecting and preventing telecommunications fraud prior to call connection, in which attempted calls are screened for fraud at the point of calling card validation in the SCP. The SCP accesses a database holding a variety of fraud decision nodes that may be interrelated and grouped together to cooperatively define fraud screening trees against which attempted calls may be tested. A fraud screening tree ultimately produces a fraud prediction based on a variety of information concerning the attempted call. The present invention therefore facilitates fraud screening with greater granularity and customization.