Methods and apparatus for regenerating a prepaid transaction account

A method for regenerating a prepaid phone card (105) having a first account associated therewith, comprising the steps of:

• electronically connecting a calling party, using an integrated transaction card (100), to a host computer (308) having a database wherein, said integrated transaction card (100) includes a prepaid phone card (105) feature and a transaction instrument (205) feature associated therewith;
• transmitting an account number (209) and/or personal identification number from said calling party to said host computer (308);
• transmitting from said calling party to said host computer indicia of an amount of funds to be transferred from a transaction instrument (205) account to said first account;
• validating the account number (209) and/or personal identification number;
• and,
• transferring the amount of funds from said transaction instrument (205) account to said first account in response to said validating step during a prepaid call session.

An apparatus for regenerating a prepaid phone card (105) having an account balance comprising;

• means for electronically connecting a calling party using an integrated transaction card (100) to a host computer (308) having a database (310), wherein said integrated transaction card (100) includes a prepaid phone card (105) feature and a transaction instrument (205) feature associated therewith;
• means for transmitting an account number (209) and/or personal identification number to the host computer (308);
• means for requesting an amount of funds to be transferred from the transaction instrument (205) to the phone card (105);
• means for validating the account number (209) and/or personal identification number;
• and,
• means for transferring the amount of funds from the transaction instrument (205) to the prepaid phone card during a prepaid call session (105).

A method for recharging a prepaid phone card (105) having an account balance comprising the steps of:

• decrementing said account balance of said phone card (105) at appropriate intervals during the duration of a call connection between a calling party and a called party;
• transferring funds to said phone card (105) from a transaction instrument (205) associated with said phone card (105) without requiring said calling party to identify said transaction instrument (205) during said call connection;
• and
• updating said account balance of said phone card (105) during a prepaid call session in accordance with said transfer of funds.

An integrated transaction instrument having a first side and a second side comprising:

• a prepaid telephone card on said first side comprising an access telephone number for accessing a prepaid telephone service provider and an authorization number for accessing an account database at said service provider;
• a transaction card for purchasing various services or products on said second side;
• and
• means for associating said transaction card with said telephone card so that funds may be transferred from said transaction card to said telephone card without requiring a user to enter a source of said funds.

A computer system for transferring funds between a transaction instrument (205) and a prepaid telephone card (105) comprising:

• an incoming call trunk (410) for connecting to a calling party using said prepaid telephone card (105);
• an outgoing call trunk for connecting said calling party to a desired telephone number;
• an account database (310) for storing an account balance associated with said prepaid telephone card (105);
• a memory (410) for storing data identifying said transaction instrument (205);
• a central processing unit (406) configured to input from said calling party an amount of funds to transfer to said prepaid telephone card (105), retrieve from said memory data identifying said transaction instrument (205), transfer funds from said transaction instrument (205) to said prepaid telephone card (105) without requiring said calling party to identify said transaction instrument (205), and update said account balance of said prepaid telephone card (105) in accordance with said transfer of funds during a prepaid call session.