Patent ID: 6856674
Filing Date: 2005-02-15
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A method for providing a prepaid telephone communications service, comprising the steps of: receiving at a first switch a request to place a prepaid call and a card number; sending from the first switch to a service management computer an out-of-band message containing the card number; receiving at the first switch an out-of-band message from the service management computer containing a card validation; receiving at the first switch a destination station number; connecting the prepaid call to the destination number, and sending from the first switch to a service management computer an out-of-band message to start a call timer associated with the prepaid call; receiving from the service management computer an out-of-band message that a balance of the card is below a predetermined threshold, and stopping the call timer; playing a low balance announcement to the calling party including an offer to replenish the card balance or make a connection for supplemental payment authorization from a different card center; and upon confirming with out-of-band messages such replenished card balance or such supplemental payment authorization, restarting the call timer.