Method of associating multiple prepaid cards with a single account
AssigneeAT&T Corp.
InventorsBrett Donaldo Allen, Robert D. Carvelli, Gary A. Smith, Robert M. Stanchina, Clifford L. Young
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A set of multiple prepaid calling cards that are associated with a single account is disclosed. A predetermined amount of minutes is associated with the set of cards. Cards within the set can be used simultaneously and extract minutes from the account in predetermined increments. Each card can use the same Personal Identification Number (PIN) or each card can have its own unique PIN. In some instances, any card in the set can recharge the account, (i.e., add more minutes to the account), or in some embodiments, only a control card can add minutes to the account.
Claims22
A method of placing two or more telephone calls from a plurality of prepaid cards associated with a same account over a communication network comprises the steps of:
- receiving login information from one or more of the prepaid card users;
- validating the login information;
- associating the one or more prepaid card users with the same account;
- receiving a destination telephone number from each validated prepaid card user for a call to be placed;
- determining if the account has adequate minutes to allot to each call;
- if there are adequate minutes, allotting a predetermined amount of minutes to each call from the same account;
- and
- contemporaneously connecting each prepaid card user to the destination telephone number received from the each prepaid card user over the communication network,
- wherein each prepaid card associated with the same account has a same account number and one of the prepaid cards associated with the same account is a control prepaid card, the control prepaid card being able to invoke call restrictions on one or more of the prepaid cards.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.