Patent ID: 7254222
Filing Date: 2007-08-07
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A method of a type in which the costs of telecommunications calls are billed to pre-paid accounts, said method being performed by equipment within a telecommunications network and comprising routing an individual one of said calls to a destination telephone number through said network without hair pinning said call through any pre-paid card equipment, and performing billing for said individual one of said calls to the destination telephone number utilizing messages sent to and received from a database that contains information about a pre-paid account associated with a telecommunications line from which said call was originated, said messages being communicated over a telecommunications signaling network that is distinct from the network on which said call is carried, at least one of said messages being a message to said database including an identification of said telecommunications line, wherein the destination telephone number was dialed by a caller without the caller having been prompted for the destination telephone number and without the caller having first dialed an access telephone number associated with calls that are to be charged to pre-paid accounts.