US6115458A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for summaries of prepaid instrument transaction activity
Assignee: Benhov GmbH LLC
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Filing: 1995-07-14
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Granted: 2000-09-05
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Expires: 2015-07-14
Abstract
Abstract A system for generating and transmitting summary transaction data includes a computer database from which information is compiled and forwarded to a requesting party automatically, i.e., without the need to interface with a human operator. A party having access to a prepaid transaction account number may access the host computer from a remote location and interactively request transaction information pertaining to the account using virtually any communication modality. The computer is suitably configured to communicate with one or more of the foregoing communication modalities and to automatically compile and transmit the summary data to a requested destination, for example, to a PC. The computer may further be configured to allow the requesting party to select among various formats to configure the form of the summary data. Summary transaction data may be generated and transmitted for virtually any type of prepaid transaction card, including phone cards, travel, credit cards, stored value (e.g., smart cards) cards, and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 John M. Taskett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:05
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/10; G06Q20/04; H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A system for electronically providing a summary of information relating to a prepaid calling card account in response to a request received from a remote source, comprising: a database configured to store at least one record of information relating to each of a plurality of accounts having respective unique account identifiers; and a computer configured to access the database based on a unique account identifier transmitted with the request, including: a request input system configured to receive the request from the remote source; a search system configured to retrieve at least a portion of the information in said records from the database relating to the account based on the unique account identifier received from the request input system; a summary generator configured to generate a summary of the retrieved information from the database in accordance with a selected format, wherein the summary generator is configured to generate said summary in a format indicated in the request; and a summary output system configured to electronically transmit the summary generated by the summary generator to a destination.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A system for electronically providing a summary of information relating to a prepaid calling card account in response to a request received from a remote source, comprising: a database configured to store at least one record of information relating to each of a plurality of accounts having respective unique account identifiers; and a computer configured to access the database based on a unique account identifier transmitted with the request, including: a request input system configured to receive the request from the remote source; a search system configured to retrieve at least a portion of the information in said records from the database relating to the account based on the unique account identifier received from the request input system; a summary generator configured to generate a summary of the retrieved information from the database in accordance with a selected format, wherein the summary generator is configured to generate said summary in a format indicated in the request; and a summary output system configured to electronically transmit the summary generated by the summary generator to a destination.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
181 words
A system for electronically providing a summary of information relating to a prepaid calling card account in response to a request received from a remote, source, comprising: a database configured to store at least one record of information relating to each of a plurality of accounts having respective unique account identifiers wherein said database is configured to store information relating to a plurality of accounts for purchasing at least one of goods and services; and a computer configured to access the database based on a unique account identifier transmitted with the request, including: a request input system configured to receive the request from the remote source; a search system configured to retrieve at least a portion of the information in said records from the database relating to the account based on the unique account identifier received from the request input system; a summary generator configured to generate a summary of the retrieved information from the database in accordance with a selected format; and a summary output system configured to electronically transmit the summary generated by the summary generator to a destination.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
181 words
A system for electronically providing a summary of information relating to a prepaid calling card account in response to a request received from a remote, source, comprising: a database configured to store at least one record of information relating to each of a plurality of accounts having respective unique account identifiers wherein said database is configured to store information relating to a plurality of accounts for purchasing at least one of goods and services; and a computer configured to access the database based on a unique account identifier transmitted with the request, including: a request input system configured to receive the request from the remote source; a search system configured to retrieve at least a portion of the information in said records from the database relating to the account based on the unique account identifier received from the request input system; a summary generator configured to generate a summary of the retrieved information from the database in accordance with a selected format; and a summary output system configured to electronically transmit the summary generated by the summary generator to a destination.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
173 words
A system for electronically providing a summary of information relating to a prepaid calling card account in response to a request received from a remote source, comprising: a database configured to store at least one record of information relating to each of a plurality of accounts having respective unique account identifiers; a computer configured to access the database based on a unique account identifier transmitted with the request, including: a request input system configured to receive the request from the remote source; a search system configured to retrieve at least a portion of the information in said records from the database relating to the account based on the unique account identifier received from the request input system; a summary generator configured to generate a summary of the retrieved information from the database in accordance with a selected format; and a summary output system configured to electronically transmit the summary generated by the summary generator to a destination; and wherein said computer system is configured to automatically charge said account upon generating said summary.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
173 words
A system for electronically providing a summary of information relating to a prepaid calling card account in response to a request received from a remote source, comprising: a database configured to store at least one record of information relating to each of a plurality of accounts having respective unique account identifiers; a computer configured to access the database based on a unique account identifier transmitted with the request, including: a request input system configured to receive the request from the remote source; a search system configured to retrieve at least a portion of the information in said records from the database relating to the account based on the unique account identifier received from the request input system; a summary generator configured to generate a summary of the retrieved information from the database in accordance with a selected format; and a summary output system configured to electronically transmit the summary generated by the summary generator to a destination; and wherein said computer system is configured to automatically charge said account upon generating said summary.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 3, wherein said computer system varies the amount of said charge to the account according to preselected criteria.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 4, wherein said preselected criteria include at least one of a magnitude of the request and the complexity of the request.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
165 words
A computer system for providing summaries of prepaid telephone calling card activity, comprising: a first RAM sector for compiling a queue of request messages received electronically from remote requesting parties in respect of prepaid calling card accounts maintained by the computer, each said request message including a first field relating to a unique account, a second field relating to a destination to which said account summary is to be transmitted by said computer, and a third field relating to the format of said summary data; a call record database associated with the computer for storing, for each of a plurality of said prepaid accounts maintained by said computer, a call record history including information pertaining to a plurality of telephone calls associated with a particular account; and a control circuit for discriminating between requests received from a voice incoming telephone call and requests received from a non-voice incoming call, and for processing said requests in accordance with the voice or non-voice character of the request.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
165 words
A computer system for providing summaries of prepaid telephone calling card activity, comprising: a first RAM sector for compiling a queue of request messages received electronically from remote requesting parties in respect of prepaid calling card accounts maintained by the computer, each said request message including a first field relating to a unique account, a second field relating to a destination to which said account summary is to be transmitted by said computer, and a third field relating to the format of said summary data; a call record database associated with the computer for storing, for each of a plurality of said prepaid accounts maintained by said computer, a call record history including information pertaining to a plurality of telephone calls associated with a particular account; and a control circuit for discriminating between requests received from a voice incoming telephone call and requests received from a non-voice incoming call, and for processing said requests in accordance with the voice or non-voice character of the request.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said computer system is configured to generate summaries at regular time intervals and transmit such summaries to a preselected destination.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said request input system includes a multiple line telephone trunk.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 8, wherein said multiple line telephone trunk includes at least one line dedicated to receiving summary requests.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said computer system includes an interactive voice response system configured to interact with a requesting party.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said request input system is configured to receive at least one of voice data, digital computer data, DTMF data, and an electronic mail data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said computer system is configured to automatically charge each account subject to at least one of said requests.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said computer system varies the amount of said charge to the account according to preselected criteria.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said preselected criteria include at least one of a magnitude of the request and the complexity of the request.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said control circuit includes a summary generator configured to generate said summary of said call record history in a format indicated in the request.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said destination is a personal computer, a voice-compatible telephone, a TTY device, a facsimile device, or a voice mail system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 14,6 wherein said destination is identical to the source of the request.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-09-05 | 2004-03-06 | 2004-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-05 | 2008-03-06 | 2008-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-05 | 2012-03-06 | 2012-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |