US6029062A — Prepay telecommunications system with unregistere…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 190 words

A prepay telecommunications system with unregistered roaming call processing of a prepay customer with a prepay account, comprising: a home prepay call management platform being coupled to and co-located with a telecommunications carrier switch; a first customer database coupled to the home prepay call management platform for storing prepay customer data; a second customer database storing prepay customer roaming data; a roaming platform being coupled to a second telecommunications carrier switch and the second customer database further in communication with the home prepay call management platform, the roaming platform operable to receive a prepay customer call routed thereto by the second telecommunications carrier, look up the prepay customer roaming data in the second customer database, determine the prepay customer's home prepay call management platform, obtain prepay account data from the home prepay call management platform, route the call back to the second telecommunications carrier for call termination through the roaming platform, perform live monitoring of the call, and disconnect the call mid-call immediately upon detection of depleted prepay account balance; and a credit card verification processor coupled to the prepay call management platform operable to allow prepay account balance replenishing.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 190 words

A prepay telecommunications system with unregistered roaming call processing of a prepay customer with a prepay account, comprising: a home prepay call management platform being coupled to and co-located with a telecommunications carrier switch; a first customer database coupled to the home prepay call management platform for storing prepay customer data; a second customer database storing prepay customer roaming data; a roaming platform being coupled to a second telecommunications carrier switch and the second customer database further in communication with the home prepay call management platform, the roaming platform operable to receive a prepay customer call routed thereto by the second telecommunications carrier, look up the prepay customer roaming data in the second customer database, determine the prepay customer's home prepay call management platform, obtain prepay account data from the home prepay call management platform, route the call back to the second telecommunications carrier for call termination through the roaming platform, perform live monitoring of the call, and disconnect the call mid-call immediately upon detection of depleted prepay account balance; and a credit card verification processor coupled to the prepay call management platform operable to allow prepay account balance replenishing.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of customer interface facilities coupled to the prepay call management platform for accepting and automatically updating the customer database with prepay customer data.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 53 words

The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the plurality of customer interface facilities comprises: a clearinghouse in communication with the prepay call management platform; and a plurality of replenishment units coupled to the clearinghouse for activating a customer prepay account and receiving replenishing funds to a customer prepay account.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 2, where the plurality of customer interface facilities each comprises a data card reader for automatically reading deposit cards issued to each customer.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 36 words

The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one roaming platform being coupled to at least one telecommunications carrier switch and further in communication with the prepay call management platform.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 63 words

The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: additional prepay call management platforms each being coupled to and co-located with a telecommunications carrier switch and being in communications with one another; and at least one roaming platform being coupled to and co-located with at least one telecommunications carrier switch and further in communications with the prepay call management platforms.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 48 words

The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the prepay call management platform comprises: a switch matrix coupled to the telecommunications carrier switch for receiving calls therefrom; and a call processor coupled to the switch matrix for monitoring prepay calls and playing pre-recorded voice announcements.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 35 words

The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the prepay call management platform comprises a call processor coupled to the telecommunications carrier switch for monitoring prepay calls and playing pre-recorded voice announcements.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the telecommunications carrier switch is a wireless switch.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the prepay call management platform includes a call duration timer for determining when a maximum allowable call duration for a prepay call has lapsed.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 46 words

The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a first router coupled to the prepay call management platform; a second router coupled to the first router via a communications network; and the credit card verification processor being coupled to the second router.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 100 words

A method for live call management of a prepay call with roaming call processing, comprising the steps of: recognizing a roaming call at a telecommunications carrier switch; routing the roaming call to a prepay call management platform coupled to the telecommunications carrier switch; identifying a home prepay call management platform associated with the roaming call; obtaining prepay account data associated with the roaming call from the home prepay call management platform; routing the roaming call to the telecommunications carrier switch for line termination; monitoring the prepay call; and disconnecting the call immediately in response to depletion of prepay account balance.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 100 words

A method for live call management of a prepay call with roaming call processing, comprising the steps of: recognizing a roaming call at a telecommunications carrier switch; routing the roaming call to a prepay call management platform coupled to the telecommunications carrier switch; identifying a home prepay call management platform associated with the roaming call; obtaining prepay account data associated with the roaming call from the home prepay call management platform; routing the roaming call to the telecommunications carrier switch for line termination; monitoring the prepay call; and disconnecting the call immediately in response to depletion of prepay account balance.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 70 words

The method, as set forth in claim 12, further comprising the steps of: recognizing an unregistered roaming call at the telecommunications carrier switch; announcing payment options including a credit card call and collect call options in response of recognizing an unregistered roaming call at the telecommunications carrier switch; receiving a call option selection; and prompting for a credit card number in response to a selection of a credit card call.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the verifying step comprises the steps of: conveying the credit card number to the credit card verification processor; and validating the credit card number.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the verifying step further comprises the step of checking for fraudulent use of the credit card number.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the step of announcing payment options and prompting for a selection comprises the steps of: announcing a credit card call and collect call options; receiving a call option selection; and prompting for a caller identity in response to a selection of a collect call option.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the step of recognizing an unregistered roaming call comprises the step of not recognizing a mobile identification number associated with the call.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the step of recognizing an unregistered roaming call comprises the step of determining a customer group office code of a mobile identification number associated with the call not being within a predetermined range.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 157 words

A method for live call management of a prepay call with roaming call processing, comprising the steps of: recognizing a roaming call at a telecommunications carrier switch; routing the roaming call to a roaming call management platform coupled to the telecommunications carrier switch; identifying a home prepay call management platform associated with the roaming call; obtaining prepay account data associated with the roaming call from the home prepay call management platform; determining the maximum allowable call duration as indicated by the prepay account data; routing the roaming call to the telecommunications carrier switch through the roaming call management platform for line termination; starting a call duration timer; monitoring the prepay call for the call duration timer reaching the maximum allowable call duration; disconnecting the call immediately in response to the call duration timer reaching the maximum allowable call duration; and updating the prepay account data at the home prepay call management platform to reflect the decreased balance.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 157 words

A method for live call management of a prepay call with roaming call processing, comprising the steps of: recognizing a roaming call at a telecommunications carrier switch; routing the roaming call to a roaming call management platform coupled to the telecommunications carrier switch; identifying a home prepay call management platform associated with the roaming call; obtaining prepay account data associated with the roaming call from the home prepay call management platform; determining the maximum allowable call duration as indicated by the prepay account data; routing the roaming call to the telecommunications carrier switch through the roaming call management platform for line termination; starting a call duration timer; monitoring the prepay call for the call duration timer reaching the maximum allowable call duration; disconnecting the call immediately in response to the call duration timer reaching the maximum allowable call duration; and updating the prepay account data at the home prepay call management platform to reflect the decreased balance.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-02-21	2003-08-23	2004-02-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-02-21	2007-08-23	2008-02-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-02-21	2011-08-23	2012-02-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Prepay telecommunications system with unregistered roaming call processing

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