Patent ID: 6021189
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A method of controlling usage of a phone debit card, comprising the steps of:receiving, at a switch, an account number for a phone debit card;said switch transmitting a message, to a database system which maintains an account corresponding to said account number, requesting that said database system verify said account number;upon receiving a message from said database system verifying said account, said switch issuing a voice prompt, to an originating terminal which provided said account number, requesting a telephone number to be called;upon receiving said telephone number, said switch transmitting a message to said database system requesting that said database system verify that said account has sufficient credit to complete a call to said telephone number;upon receiving a message from said database system verifying that said account number has sufficient credit to complete said call, said switch completing said call to a destination terminal associated with said telephone number;upon completing a connection with said destination terminal, said switch transmitting a message to said database requesting that said database system deduct a selected value from said account;receiving, at said switch, a message from said database system indicating that a value had been deducted from said account and reporting remaining credit for said account after deduction of said value; andsaid switch selecting a call continuation process based upon said value deducted from said account and said reported remaining credit for said account.