Methods and systems for 1+ prepaid routing service
AssigneeBellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
InventorsJames C. Bedingfield, Stephen R. LaPierre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides methods and systems for automatically routing a long distance call placed by a subscriber to a prepaid service provider. Six exemplary methods are discussed for allowing the prepaid subscriber to directly dial a called party's long distance telephone number, and then routing the placed call to a prepaid service. The subscriber, in each case, is not required to first dial the telephone number of the prepaid service provider before dialing the called party.
Claims19
A method for automatically routing a long distance call from a subscriber terminal to a prepaid platform comprising:
- receiving a dial string from the subscriber terminal, wherein the dial string consists of a long distance number;
- receiving a profile record comprising subscriber data from a database server, wherein the subscriber data comprises a calling number and routing instructions;
- extracting the routing instructions from the subscriber data;
- routing the long distance call from the subscriber terminal to the prepaid platform in accordance with the routing instructions;
- and
- forwarding the calling number and the long distance number to the prepaid platform.
A system for automatically routing a long distance call from a subscriber terminal to a prepaid platform comprising:
- a subscriber terminal for receiving a dial string from a subscriber, wherein the dial string consists of a long distance telephone number;
- a database server for storing subscriber data, wherein the subscriber data comprises a calling number and routing instructions;
- a signal communications network comprised of a plurality of interconnected communications switches for routing a communications message;
- a signal control network comprised of a plurality of interconnected packet switches for routing a control message, wherein a control message directs the path of the communications message through the signal communications network;
- and
- a prepaid platform for providing the subscriber with access to long distance communications services;
- wherein the subscriber terminal is connected to the signal communications network;
- wherein the signal control network is connected to the signal communications network and the prepaid platform;
- wherein the prepaid platform is connected to the signal communications network and the signal control network;
- and
- wherein in response to the subscriber inputting the dial string, the communications message generated from the subscriber terminal is routed from the subscriber terminal via the signal communications network to the prepaid platform in accordance with the routing instructions, and the calling number and the long distance number are forwarded to the prepaid platform via the signal control network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.