AU726944B3

AU726944B3 - Call distribution and charging system

Info

Publication number: AU726944B3
Application number: AU53546/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Marc G Warin
Original assignee: WARFORD INTERNAT Pty Ltd
Current assignee: WARFORD INTERNATIONAL Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2000-08-22
Filing date: 2000-08-22
Publication date: 2000-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 2006-08-22

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 Warford International Pty Ltd PETTY PATENT SPECIFICATION Invention Title: Call Distribution and Charging System The invention is described in the following statement: Field of the Invention This invention relates to a call distribution and charging system. In particular, it relates to a call distribution and charging system associated with a physical or virtual phone card which can be used to access premium rate phone services.

Background of the Invention Most telecommunication companies around the world provide facilities for calling premium rate phone lines which are charged at a higher rate than a standard call. For example, in Australia Telstra provides 1900 and 1902 premium rate phone lines. Typical charges range from 50 cents per minute to $5.45 per minute for use of such lines and services provided on these numbers can range from entry to television game shows to specialty services such as psychic hotlines, sports lines, information lines, phone sex lines and the like.

The present invention seeks to provide a way to access specialty services such as psychic hotlines, sports lines, information lines, phone sex lines and the like, from any phone in a secure manner.

Summary of the Invention Thus according to the present invention there is provided a system for distributing and billing phone calls comprising: a database storing user account numbers and credits associated with said account numbers; means for allowing a user to record a credit against that user's account number, and means for providing a password or PIN to the user associated with that user's account number; a calling card platform accessible to the user by telephone, the platform including means for prompting the user to provide their account number and PIN and means for verifying the user account number and associated PIN and checking the credit associated with the user's account number; characterised by the platform further including means for prompting a user to enter a code number representative of, but different from, a destination call line identifier (CLI) of a service to be accessed by the user; means for connecting the user to the destination CLI associated with the code; the system further including means for decrementing the credit associated with the user's account number at a rate dependent on the service accessed.

Typically the system further includes a web site which provides account numbers to users and also displays code numbers associated with particular CLIs.

In preferred embodiment the call is preceded by a tone at the destination which indicates to the receiver of the call that the call originates from the calling card platform.

Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 illustrates a stored value card embodying aspects of the present invention; and Figure 2 is representation of a sample advertisement: and Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating operation of the system of the present invention.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows the reverse side of a phone card (10) on which is printed a 1300 number (12) and an account number (14) which is unique to that card. The user or owner of the phone card may call the 1300 number to "charge up" or credit the phone card utilising his or her credit card. The card (10) is used in association with a call distribution system which includes a database. The database records and stores the value credited to the card and decrements that value when the card is used.

Associated with the account number (14) of the card is a PIN (personal identification number) which is known to the user of the card. The PIN is required in order for the user to be able to use the card and is nominated by the user when the user calls the 1300 number to "charge up." the card.

The phone cards may be distributed free to members of the public.

Since the credit associated with each phone card is not stored on the physical card (10) itself but is stored in the database of the call distribution system, a physical phone card is not necessary. Persons wanting a "card" may simply call the 1300 number (121 or visit a wheb site assnriatPrd with the system and they can be issued with a unique account number.

Once the user's phone card has been charged using the user's credit card, the user can call the 1300 number (12) at any time, on any phone. In order to use the card, the user has to key in their account number (14) and their PIN using the phone's keypad. This provides security to the system.

The caller is then presented with an automated menu from which the user can select the particular telecommunications service required such as national or international long distance calls or specialty services. For such services a six-digit code number which the caller must know beforehand is entered using the phone's keypad. The six-digit code number is nominated by a service provider. The number is advertised to users of the services, for example in a printed advertisement (18) in magazines or newspapers, or in a television advertisement or by other suitable means. The six-digit code number 20 is unique to the CLI (call line identifier) of each particular service provider associated with the system. Once this six-digit number has been entered, a calling card platform associated with the present invention searches a secure computer database for the corresponding destination CLI and forwards the call to that number on the standard telephone network.

The credit associated with the user's phone card is debited at the commensurate per-minute rate for the particular service called.

The system of the present invention allows users to enjoy broader access to premium rate numbers from any phone in Australia including pay phones and hotel phones for the same rate without paying surcharges such as are typically charged by hotels.

Information and service providers participating in the scheme can have their services listed on the associated web site together with their six-digit code number for accessing the service.

The present invention also provides a much greater degree of protection from unauthorised use of the phone card and from unauthorised access of premium rate numbers. The card cannot be used without knowledge of the PIN that is nominated by the user of the card when the card is first recharged. If an unauthorised user gains access to the PIN and card then the card can only be used to the remaining value on the card. If the unauthorised user wished to use the card after its remaining value had expired, he or she would require access to a credit card.

The system protects the information or service provider from an individual accessing their services by dialling the destination CLI either intentionally or unintentionally. Any legitimate call that originates from the calling card platform is preceded by a tone when answered at the destination CLI. Any call which is not preceded by a tone may be rejected.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

1. A system for distributing and billing phone calls comprising: a database storing user account numbers and credits associated with said account numbers; means for allowing a user to record a credit against that user's account number, and means for providing a password or PIN to the user associated with that user's account number; a calling card platform accessible to the user by telephone, the platform including means for prompting the user to provide their account number and PIN and means for verifying the user's account number and associated PIN and checking the credit associated with the user's account number; characterised by the platform further including means for prompting a user to enter a code number representative of, but different from, a destination call line identifier (CLI) of a service to be accessed by the user; means for connecting the user to the destination CLI associated with the code; the system further including means for decrementing the credit associated with the user's account number at a rate dependent on the service accessed.

2. The system of claim 1 further including a web site for providing account numbers to users.

3. The system of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the connection of the user to the destination CLI is associated with an audible tone at the CLI for verifying the origin of the call. Dated this twenty-second day of August 2000 WARFORD INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F.B. RICE CO.