WO2001043417A1

WO2001043417A1 - A method relating to prepaid connections to a telephone network

Info

Publication number: WO2001043417A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/002468
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fredrik Palmaeus
Original assignee: Iquity Systems Ab
Priority date: 1999-12-08
Filing date: 2000-12-08
Publication date: 2001-06-14
Also published as: SE9904482D0; AU2037501A; SE9904482L

Abstract

A method relating to prepaid connections to a telephone network, such as for a telephone call or a telephone service or for connection to a data network, in which a subscriber uses an authorisation card or an authorisation code together with a device for connecting to the telephone network, such as a telephone or a computer, where a given sum of money is initially stored in the card, or where the card or the authorisation code is tied to a billing account. The invention is characterised by calculating the maximum remaining connection time that corresponds to the amount of money remaining on the card or in the account, in conjunction with a connection to the network in question; and causing the connected device to indicate the result of said calculation.

Description

A METHOD RELATING TO PREPAID CONNECTIONS TO A TELEPHONE

NETWORK

The present invention pertains to a method relating to prepaid connections to a telephone network.

By prepaid connections is meant that a certain prepaid sum of money is used to pay for the connection, together with a certain amount of credit. The credit is regulated later.

There are known to the art different types of prepaid telephone cards with which a telephone, for instance a mobile telephone, can be connected to a telephone network, where a call can only be connected if there is sufficient money on the card or if the card is connected to an account with the telephone operator. A call connection is released when there is no longer sufficient money on the card or in the account to pay for the connection.

The card can be replenished with funds by charging the card with a given sum of money in special terminals, or by the user paying money into said account.

A significant problem with known methods is that the user of a prepaid telephone card is unaware of the duration of a given call, with the risk that the call may be broken off because of the lack of funds. This also means that the user is unaware of when it is time to pay more money into the card or into the account.

Prepaid cards can also be used for telephone network connections other than telephone voice calls. For instance, data transmission may take place between computers by telephone, and various existing and future telephone services can be utilised where payment for the service can be taken from the card or from the account.

These problems are solved by means of the present invention.

The present invention thus relates to a method pertaining to prepaid connections to a telephone network, for telephone calls or telephone services for instance, or for connection to a data network, where a subscriber uses an authorisation card or an authorisation code together with a device for connecting to the telephone network, such as a telephone or a computer, wherein a given sum of money is stored initially on the card, or wherein the card or the authorisation code is tied to a billing account, and wherein the method is characterised by calculating the maximum remaining connection time that corresponds to the amount of money remaining on the card or in the account, in conjunction with a connection to the network in question; and causing the connected device to indicate the result of said calculation.

A telephone connection to a telephone network is one example in this respect.

However, prepaid cards can be used to pay for connections to a telephone network other than for conventional telephony, such as for Internet connections from computers equipped with a card reader, where the cost of the connection is taken from the card or from an account.

The problem here is similar to that described above, i.e. the user is unaware of the length of call time covered by the card or the account in respect of the connection.

It will therefore be understood that the present invention is not restricted to any particular type of connection to a telephone network.

The inventive method thus relates to prepaid connections to a telephone network, such as a telephone call or telephone services or a connection to a data network, where a subscriber uses an authorisation card or an authorisation code together with a device for connecting to the telephone network, such as a telephone or a computer, and where a given sum of money is initially stored in the card or in a billing account. The account can be with the telephone network operator. The account or the card may be allocated a certain credit limit.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, a computer belonging to an operator of the network concerned is caused to calculate in conjunction with establishing a connection to said network the amount of money remaining on the card or in the account for a maximum duration of the connection. The operator's computer is also caused to send the result of the calculation to the connected device. According to a second embodiment of the invention, the operator's computer is caused to transfer to the connected device information relating to the amount of money remaining on the card or in the account and also the cost of the call, wherewith the connected device is caused to carry out said calculation.

By telephone network is meant a public stationary telephone network or a telephone network for mobile telephony or a data network.

The invention therewith solves the aforesaid problems and gives valuable information to the user, who is then better able to plan his telephone time or connection time.

According to one suitable embodiment, the authorisation card is a so called smartcard.

The user may be able to use an authorisation code, such as a password, instead of an authorisation card. A given, prepaid sum of money that can be used for desired connection to a telephone network or to a data network is applicable in both instances.

It is preferred that the connection time remaining on the card or in the account is given to the user at the beginning of a connection.

It is also preferred that the user is informed of the remaining connection time whilst the connection is ongoing.

In the case of telephony, it is preferred that said result is given in the form of a voice message.

According to a supplementary embodiment or another preferred embodiment, the aforesaid result is caused to be displayed on the display of the connected device. In the case of a mobile telephone, the telephone display is used in this respect, whereas in the case of a computer the result is shown on the computer screen.

According to a further preferred embodiment, when two or more subscriber numbers are connected to one and the same subscriber and the same prepayment source in the case of telephony, the operator's computer is caused to carry out a new calculation of the remaining connection time when a second call is connected or released, and the computer is therewith caused to deliver information to the connected telephone or telephones with respect to the remaining connection time.

According to one highly preferred embodiment, said computer is caused to deliver to the connected device concerned a message to the effect that the money earlier available has come to an end and that a predetermined credit is being used. Such a system which includes a credit facility eliminates the drawback of releasing a call or a connection without pre-warning. Moreover, the user is informed of the fact that payment for continued connection is taken from his credit facility. Credit charges may incur a higher tariff, a fact of which the user may be informed when use of the credit facility begins.

According to another preferred embodiment, the remaining connection time is given subsequent to insertion of a code through the keyboard of the connected device. When the device is a mobile telephone, its keypad is used in this respect, whereas when the device is a computer, the computer keyboard is used.

According to another preferred embodiment, the computer is caused to provide the connected device with information as to the amount of money that remains to pay for setting-up a connection. This can be carried out in conjunction with disclosing the remaining connection time.

It will be apparent that the invention enables a prepaid card to be used much more smoothly and conveniently than was previously the case. In addition to knowing the length of the remaining call time, the user is also reminded of the cost of a call.

Although the invention has been described above with reference to a number of exemplifying embodiments, it will be understood that these embodiments may be modified and varied by the person skilled in this art. For instance, a mobile telephone may be caused to emit a peeping sound when the remaining call time is about to be disclosed.

Consequently, the present invention shall not be considered limited to the aforedescribed exemplifying embodiments, as variations and modifications can be made within the scope of the accompanying Claims.

Claims

1. A method pertaining to prepaid connections to a telephone network, such as for a telephone call or a telephone service or for connection to a data network, in which a subscriber uses an authorisation card or an authorisation code together with a device for connecting to the telephone network, such as a telephone or a computer, where a given sum of money is initially stored in the card, or where the card or the authorisation code is tied to a billing account, characterised by calculating the maximum remaining connection time that corresponds to the amount of money remaining on the card or in the account, in conjunction with a connection to the network in question: and causing the connected device to indicate the result of said calculation.

2. A method according to Claim 1, characterised by causing the operator's computer to carry out said calculation and to send the result of said calculation to the connected device.

3. A method according to Claim 1, characterised by causing the operator's computer to transfer information to the connected device relating to the sum of money remaining and the call cost, wherewith said connected device is caused to carry out said calculation.

4. A method according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that said card is a so called smartcard.

5. A method according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterised by disclosing said remaining connection time at the beginning of the connection.

6. A method according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterised by disclosing said remaining connection time whilst the connection is ongoing.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised by causing said computer to deliver a message to the connected device concerned to the effect that the sum of money paid into the card has been used and that a predetermined credit is being used.

8. A method according to Claim 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, characterised in that when two or more subscriber numbers are connected to the same subscriber and prepayment facility in the case of telephony, the computer is caused to carry out a new calculation of said remaining connection time when another call is connected or released; and in that said computer is therewith caused to deliver information to the connected telephone or telephones concerning the remaining connection time covered by the funds available.

9. A method according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, characterised in that said result is caused to be given by the telephone in the form of a voice message in the case of telephony.

10. A method according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, characterised by presenting said result in a way in which it can be seen on a display of the connected device.

11. A method according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, characterised by disclosing the remaining connection time after insertion of a code through the medium of a keyboard on the connected device.

12. A method according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised by causing said computer to inform the connected device of the amount of money remaining for connection purposes.