US 5,469,497 AGranted

Networked interactive call management subsystems with prevention of simultaneous use of a single account number

AssigneeTeledebit, L.P.

InventorsGeorge C. Pierce, Don C. Fletcher

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A telecommunications system allows multiple users to place and charge telephone calls to personal debit accounts without requiring specially designed telephones or "smart" cards. The system keeps track of the cost of each call, including applicable taxes, in real time and notifies the user when the account balance approaches zero. The system allows the user to restore the account balance in real time either manually or automatically by charging the increase to a commercial credit card. The system has multiple interactive call management subsystems, each subsystem having its own database. When one database in one subsystem is updated, signals are transmitted between subsystems to update every other database. An account in use flag is transmitted from a serving subsystem through a network to each of the other subsystems to prevent simultaneous use of an account.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A telecommunications system comprising:

(a) a customer service and accounting subsystem (CSAS);
(b) a first interactive call management subsystem (ICMS);
and
(c) a second ICMS, wherein:
the first ICMS communicates with the CSAS along a first data link;
the second ICMS communicates with the CSAS along a second data link;
the first ICMS is located remotely from the second ICMS;
the first ICMS is located remotely from the CSAS;
the first ICMS may be accessed by one or more users dialing one or more telephone numbers of a first set of telephone numbers;
the second ICMS may be accessed by the users dialing one or more telephone numbers of a second set of telephone numbers;
each of the telephone numbers of the first set is different from all of the telephone numbers of the second set;
the first ICMS is adapted to receive and maintain a first inbound call from a first user;
the first ICMS is adapted to receive a first account number entered by the first user during the first inbound call;
the first ICMS is adapted to bridge the first inbound call to a first outbound call independent of the CSAS and the second ICMS, wherein the first ICMS maintains the first inbound call and the first outbound call during said bridging;
the first ICMS is adapted to transmit a flag to the CSAS during the first inbound call to indicate that the first account number is currently in use;
the CSAS is adapted to transmit the flag to the second ICMS during the first inbound call to indicate that the first account number is currently in use;
the second ICMS is adapted to receive a second inbound call from a second user during the first inbound call;
the second ICMS is adapted to receive the first account number entered by the second user during the second inbound call and during the first inbound call;
and
the second ICMS is adapted to prevent bridging of the second inbound call to a second outbound call during the first inbound call, if the second ICMS has received the flag indicating that the first account number is currently in use.

17 more elements

A method of providing telecommunications services, comprising the step of:

(a) receiving and maintaining a first inbound call from a first user by a first interactive call management subsystem (ICMS);
(b) receiving a first account number by the first ICMS from the first user during the first inbound call;
(c) bridging the first inbound call to a first outbound call by the first ICMS independent of a customer service and accounting subsystem (CSAS) and a second ICMS, wherein:
the first ICMS maintains the first inbound call and the first outbound call during said bridging;
the first ICMS communicates with the CSAS along a first data link;
the second ICMS communicates with the CSAS along a second data link;
the first ICMS is located remotely from the second ICMS;
the first ICMS is located remotely from the CSAS;
the first ICMS may be accessed by one or more users dialing one or more telephone numbers of a first set of telephone numbers;
the second ICMS may be accessed by the users dialing one or more telephone numbers of a second set of telephone numbers;
and
each of the telephone numbers of the first set is different from all of the telephone numbers of the second set;
(d) transmitting a flag from the first ICMS to the CSAS during the first inbound call to indicate that the first account number is currently in use;
(e) transmitting the flag from the CSAS to the second ICMS during the first inbound call to indicate that the first account number is currently in use;
(f) receiving a second inbound call by the second ICMS from a second user during the first inbound call;
(g) receiving the first account number by the second ICMS from the second user during the second inbound call and during the first inbound call;
and
(h) preventing bridging of the second inbound call to a second outbound call by the second ICMS during the first inbound call, if the second ICMS has received the flag indicating that the first account number is currently in use.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/285,881Filed 4 Aug 1994 · continuation
Priority: 19 Jan 1993
Granted: 21 Nov 1995
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H04M 15/765
Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges: linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
H04M 15/00
Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication
H04M 15/7652
Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices: shared by users
H04M 17/00
Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems