Patent ID: 6438220
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A method for providing a pre-paid telephone calling card services to a calling party initiating a voice-based connection to a called party telephone using an internet-based internet protocol (â€œIPâ€ ) phone process running on a personal computer, the method comprising:initiating an A-leg connection between the IP phone process and an internet gateway utilizing a computer network connecting the personal computer and the internet gateway; establishing a telephone connection between the internet gateway and a SCP, wherein the SCP (Service Control Point) is coupled to a public switched telephone network; transmitting a request by the SCP to the calling party through the IP phone process to provide account and call information; receiving account and call information by the internet gateway from the IP phone process; transmitting the information to the SCP by the internet gateway; transmitting an account query from the SCP to verify account and balance information for the calling party; if the account data is successfully verified, establishing a B-leg connection between the SCP and the called party telephone; connecting the A-leg and B-leg connection to establish a voice-based connection between the calling party and the called party telephone; and if any DTMF tone from the SCP is detected by the internet gateway, the DTMF tone is translated to ASCII and forwarded to the calling party.