Abstract: A system and method for managing roaming billing records for a telephone caller's home subscriber network. The invention includes a method for roaming networks to push roaming billing records in real time back to a subscriber's home network.

Abstract: A method for providing a pre-paid telephone calling card services to a calling party initiating a voice-based connection to a called party telephone using an internet-based IP Phone process running on a personal computer. The method comprises initiating an A-leg connection between the IP Phone process and an internet gateway utilizing a computer network connecting the personal computer and the internet Gateway, establishing a telephone connection between the internet gateway and a SCP. Once this connection is established, the SCP transmits a request to the calling party through the IP Phone process to provide account and call information. The calling party responds with the requested account and call information using the IP Phone process. The internet gateway then transmits the information to the SCP using DTMF tones. The SCP responds by transmitting an account query from the SCP to verify account and balance information for the calling party.

Abstract: A process for dynamic management of subscription data for a terminal in a “prepaid” mode as part of a telecommunication network, in which a customer in possession of, or using, the terminal acquires two numbers for activating the terminal and/or crediting the terminal account. The two numbers could be acquired from a pre-paid card, for example, with the numbers hidden until a covering is scratched off by the users. The terminal must be activated on the network by first entering a authentication key, whereby the terminal obtains an identity on the network. The customer can then add an account number that creates and/or credits the terminal account on the network, whereby the terminal obtains a call number from the network. The customer can add credit to his account by purchasing additional pre-paid cards.

Abstract: A portable prepaid phone has a display, input means for inputting information and instructions, a control unit controlling the display in dependence on the operation of the input means, and transceiver means communicating via a wireless network controlled by a network operator. The network operator manages an account for said phone and updates the account upon the occurrence of a credit-affecting event. The network operator forwards a credit update message to portable prepaid phone and said message contains information about the current account and the credit affecting event causing the message to be sent to the phone upon the occurrence of a credit affecting event. In the phone the transceiver means receives the credit update message, the control unit decodes the received message in order to identify the content of the credit update message, and the control unit initiates the display of the current account in the display, immediately after the termination of the credit update message decoding.

Abstract: A system and method for accessing the value associated with a pre-purchased amount of telecommunication-time for making telephone calls and for uses other than making telephone calls is provided. The system includes a computer system including a prepaid platform adapter for interfacing with a prepaid platform, and a financial network adapter for interfacing with a financial network. Unit minutes, having a value associated with the purchased amount of telecommunication-time, are convertible to telecommunication-time equivalents for making telephone calls and monetary equivalents for uses other than making telephone calls. A database, communicating with the computer, includes subscriber account information and transaction processing protocol information for each adapter. A remote input server, communicating with the computer, provides an input device to access the computer.

Abstract: The invention includes a system and method for detecting fraudulent calling card calls to predefined high fraud countries including a call-intercept system capable of verifying call identities in order to prevent fraudulent calling card use.

Abstract: A call authorization system moves state maintenance for authorization based phone calls from a central authorization server to different gateways in a packet switched network. A simple authorization session protocol is used between the authorization server and the gateways to minimize network traffic. The authorization session protocol releases the authorization server from having to maintain states for open authorization based phone calls.

Abstract: A telephone calling account system, method, and card. The method typically includes determining a preexisting account designator of a preexisting account, creating a telephone calling account on a calling platform, and assigning to the telephone calling account the preexisting account designator of the preexisting account.

Abstract: An advanced intelligent communication system that provides subscriber-requested, advanced communication services through existing communication switches even in those circumstances in which the hardware communication switch is not configured to provide such communication services. The system supports the use of personal identification number access cards for use in fixed and mobile markets from any communication device located anywhere in the world and provides flexible call processing and switching services that deliver enhanced computer telephony capabilities utilizing standard communication equipment and operating systems.

Abstract: An improved telephony system for calling card calls is provided. The system comprises a method and system for allowing preregistered names to be displayed on pager devices when a calling card call is placed to a pager. In the invention, a calling card account number is utilized to retrieve the pre-registered name to be displayed at the pager device. A speed paging option may also be provided. The invention is particularly apt for use in telephony systems having AIN-capable switching devices.

Abstract: A telephone calling card (prepaid or postpaid) service system with an intelligent network (IN) for automated call processing novelly associates a Virtual Destination Number (VDN) with each calling card account to significantly broaden service options to calling card account subscribers. As a result, a calling card customer can combine calling card service with voice mail service and call forwarding service, which was heretofore not possible. More particularly, the additional services include: the ability of a calling card customer to check a voice mailbox associated with the calling card VDN; the ability of a calling card customer to create and change voice mail greeting options; the ability of a calling card customer to establishing a call forwarding number; and the ability of third parties dialing the VDN to either be connected to a call forwarding number if established, or access the calling card account subscriber's voice mailbox.

Abstract: A system D interfaces with a multiplicity of individual terminals T1-Tn of a telephone network facility C, at the terminals callers are prompted by voice-generated instructions to provide digital data that is identified for positive association with a caller and is stored for processing. The caller's identification data is confirmed using various techniques and callers may be ranked and accounted for on the basis of entitlement, sequence or demographics. Callers are assigned random designations that are stored along with statistical and identification data. A break off control circuit may terminate the computer interface aborting to a terminal for direct communication with an operator. Real-time operation processing is an alternative to stored data. The accumulation of stored data (statistical, calling order sequence, etc.) is variously processed and correlated as with developed or established data to isolate a select group or subset of callers who can be readily identified and reliably confirmed.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for extending a limit of a pre-paid calling card without disconnecting the communicating parties. When a first party makes a call using a pre-paid calling card and the limit of the calling card is reached, a call extender either queries the called party or launches a call to another party to query if these parties would pay for the remainder of the call or whether the parties would pay for extending the limit by an agreed amount. If a party agrees to pay for one of the above options, the call extender permits the call to continue and bills the accepting party accordingly.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and systems for connecting a caller to a content provider who provides a service to the caller over the telephone system. In accordance with the invention, a caller establishes a prepaid account with an intermediary, termed a transaction processor. When the caller wishes to access a content provider, the caller makes a telephone call to the transaction processor providing access to a plurality of content providers via a common access number. The caller identifies his prepaid account and the desired content provider. The transaction processor connects the caller to the content provider, monitors the connection between the caller and the content provider, and debits the caller's prepaid account according to the service provided by the content provider.