Abstract:
A method is described to verify the identity of a user. The method, in one example embodiment, comprises obtaining automatic number identification (ANI) data or billing telephone number (BTN) data associated with a subscriber line of a telecommunications network; obtaining identification data associated with a subscriber, said identification data being different from the ANI data or the BTN data;
       searching a first database using the ANI data or the BTN data to determine first reference subscriber data; searching a second database using the identification data to determine second reference subscriber data; comparing the first reference subscriber data to the second reference subscriber data; and verifying an identity of the subscriber based on the comparing.

Description:
The present application is a continuation of 10/225,098, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,054,430 entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS TO VALIDATE A SUBSCRIBER LINE” filed Aug. 20, 2002 which claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/314,604 entitled “METHOD OF VALIDATING A SUBSCRIBER LINE” filed Aug. 23, 2001. U.S. Pat. No. 7,054,430 and U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/314,604 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     An increasing number of vendors are offering goods and/or services which may be purchased via a communication network such as a telecommunication network. For example, the customer may conduct a transaction via a subscriber line using a landline telephone or a personal computer. Conventionally, credit or debit card details are furnished by the customer to the vendor to effect payment for the goods and/or services. As many customers are hesitant to supply credit or debit card details over a communication network, an alternate method of payment would be advantageous. However, if an alternate method is used, verification of the payment method should preferably take place prior to concluding the transaction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic block diagram of a subscriber line validation system, in accordance with the invention, for validating a subscriber line of a communication network; 
         FIGS. 2 to 4  show a schematic flow chart of a method, in accordance with the invention, for validating the subscriber line; 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic block diagram of how the system may be used in a conventional commercial environment; and 
         FIG. 6  shows a schematic representation of a sample telephone bill platform which the system can automatically update. 
         FIG. 7  shows a diagrammatic representation of machine in the exemplary form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one of the methodologies discussed herein, may be executed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings, reference number  10  generally indicates an exemplary subscriber line validation system, in accordance with an aspect of the invention, for validating a subscriber line  17  of a subscriber. In one exemplary embodiment, the subscriber line  17  is a telephone line or the like which a consumer or business  11  (see  FIGS. 1 and 5 ) obtains from a telephone company (Telco)  13  or a local exchange carrier (LEC). As described in more detail below, the system  10  uses line data in the exemplary form of an automatic number identification (ANI) service to obtain the telephone line number of the subscriber line  17  thereby to validate the subscriber line  17  when the subscriber line  17  initiates a communication or connection. In one exemplary embodiment, the line number obtained from the ANI service is used to investigate various databases to obtain, for example, an indication of the credit worthiness of the subscriber account associated with the subscriber line  17 . It is to be appreciated that any electronic apparatus, e.g. a personal computer, PDA, cellular telephone, or the like may be used to initiate the communication. 
     Referring in particular to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, the system  10  includes an application program interface (API)  14  which is connected to a vendor  12  or service provider (see also  FIG. 5 ) of goods and/or services which requires validation of a subscriber account. The vendor  12 , which could for example be an Internet Service Provider, may request the validation of the subscriber line  17  prior to concluding an electronic transaction with a subscriber (e.g., a consumer or business  11 ) via the subscriber line  17 . It is, however, to be appreciated that the API  14  may be connected to a variety of different hosts or clients which require validation of a subscriber line via which the vendor may carry out transactions for goods and/or services. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the system  10  is connected to a plurality of vendors which conduct transactions with users via line termination equipment such as a telephone, a personal computer or the like. Such vendors, when conducting transactions, may preferably charge a user for their services by adding such charges to a telephone account of the user rather than charging the goods and/or services to a credit card, debit card, or the like. Accordingly, the validation of the subscriber line  17 , and the subscriber account associated with the subscriber line  17 , may be of benefit to the vendor  12  prior to completing a transaction. The validation may include determining whether or not the subscriber line  17 , via which the communication is made to the vendor, is a billable line and, accordingly, the subscriber account associated with the subscriber line  17  may thus be billed for the transaction. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the vendor  12  communicates a request to the system  10  and forwards the subscriber line number, determined by the ANI service, to the system  10  via its API  14 . The system  10  then processes the information received from the vendor  12  and provides a validation status, e.g. a code indicating a valid billable number or a code indicating that the subscriber line number is not a valid billable number (e.g. unbillable or non-billable). In particular, a plurality of codes associated with various statuses of the subscriber line  17  may be communicated to the vendor  12  as described in more detail below. 
     The system  10  includes hardware and software to implement the invention. In the exemplary embodiment, the system  10  includes a comparator module  18 , a threshold database  20 , an OFFNET database  22 , an ONNET database  24 , a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) database  26 , a  42  BLOCK database  28 , a block and cancel database  30 , an unbilled and/or unpaid bills database  32 , line identification database (LIDB) short term cache  34 , a validity check module  36 , a regional account office (RAO) database  38 , an operating company number (OCN) database  40 , an ONNET database  42 , an address verification database  44 , a customer account record exchange (CARE) results database  46 , an ANI watch database  48 , and an NPA (Numbering Plan Area) exchange database  50 . It is to be appreciated that, in less sophisticated embodiments of the invention, all of the above databases need not be included. However, for enhanced accuracy, all of the above databases are preferably included. Further databases may also be included to further enhance the reliability of the validation process. 
     In addition to any one or more of the above databases, the system  10  is in communication via a conventional communication channel with an off-site or, in some embodiments, on-site line identification database (LIDB) host  52 . The LIDB host  52  may include a line number portability (LNP) database. In one exemplary embodiment, the LNP database may front end access to a plurality of industry standard LIDBs (e.g. 13 different LIDBs). The LNP database may however be a separate database. As described in more detail below, the system  10  communicates the subscriber line number to the LIDB host  52  which, in turn, communicates reference subscriber data in the form of industry standard LIDB codes back to the system  10  for processing. The system  10  then processes the LIDB codes to provide the vendor with validation data relating to the subscriber line  17 . Unlike conventional LIDB applications which use LIDB to make decisions regarding destination subscriber lines or call completion decisions, e.g. decisions for calling cards, collect and third party toll services or the like, the system  10  may be used to identify telephone numbers being served by CLECs in order to ensure that calls are routed correctly on ported lines. 
     Broadly, the system  10  has a variety of different components, including a communication module defined by the API  14 , and a processor module  54 . The a processor module  54  includes the various databases  20  to  32  as well as the comparator module  18  and the validity check module  36 , and an interrogation module  56  for interrogating the LIDB host  52 . It is to be appreciated that the aforementioned modules may be defined by one or more servers with associated databases. Further, in the drawings, the LIDB host  52  is shown as a single database but may comprise many different LIDB databases maintained by various LECs and, accordingly, may be located at various different geographic locations. 
     Referring in particular to  FIGS. 2 to 4  of the drawings, a flow chart describing the method of operation of the system  10  is shown. In one exemplary embodiment, a vendor  12  initiates a request to the system  10  to validate a subscriber line  17  via which the vendor  12  wishes to transact with a customer (consumer or business  11 ). As shown at operation  60 , the system  10  first checks to see if the subscriber line number is present in the request from the vendor  12  and, if no line number is present, a return code  121  is generated and communicated to the vendor as shown at operation  62 . The code  121  indicates to the vendor that the system  10  is unable to process the request. If, however, the subscriber line number is present in the request from the vendor  12 , the system  10  then checks if the subscriber line number captured (hereinafter also referred to as the ANI) and a billing telephone number (BTN) match, as shown at operation  64  (see also the comparator module  18  in  FIG. 1 ). In one exemplary embodiment, the BTN may be sourced from the consumer or customer  11  when a transaction is requested by the customer  11 . If, however, the ANI and the BTN do not match, then the processor module  54  generates a code  120  (see operation  66 ) to indicate that the caller and the owner of the line number are not the same person (e.g. subscriber inputs a BTN and calls from a different ANI) and the relevant modified code is then returned to the vendor  12 . If the ANI and the BTN do match, the processor module  54  interrogates the threshold database  20  (see operation  68 ) to ascertain whether or not the line number has reached its threshold (e.g., a predefined client threshold parameter such as an account threshold indicating a maximum dollar amount that may be charged to the account). If the line number has reached its threshold, the processor module  54  then generates a code  60 , as shown at operation  70 , which is then communicated to the vendor  12  to indicate that the line number should not be granted service. In other words, the subscriber account cannot be billed for the goods or services requested by the customer  11  from the vendor  12 . 
     If the threshold for the particular subscriber line  17  has not been reached, the system  10  may then interrogate its OFFNET database (see operation  71 ) to check if the industry standard NPA/NXX and operating company number (OCN) of the subscriber line  17  is present in the OFFNET database  22 . The OFFNET database  22  includes NPA INXX and OCN combinations of operating companies with which the proprietor or user of the system  10  does not have billing and collection agreements to bill into the telephone company&#39;s or Telco&#39;s bill page associated with the subscriber line  17 . Accordingly, the proprietor or user of the system  10  is unable to include a charge in the account associated with the subscriber line  17  on behalf of the vendor  12  for the transaction carried out with the vendor  12  via the subscriber line  17 . 
     If the line number is in the OFFNET database  22 , then the processor module  54  generates codes  130  to  133  (see operation  72 ) and communicates these codes to the vendor  12 . The codes  130  to  133  indicate that the NPA/NXX and OCN for the particular line number  17  are not billable and, accordingly, charges for goods and/or services requested by a customer  11  via the subscriber line  17  cannot be included in a monthly account or the like by the system  10 . As shown in Table  2  below, the codes  130  to  133  provide an indication to the vendor  12  why the subscriber line  17  is not billable or deliverable. If the subscriber line number is not included in the OFFNET database  22 , a check is conducted to see whether or not the subscriber line number is included in the ONNET database  24 . This check is however optional in the embodiment depicted in the drawings, but in certain embodiments, may be mandatory if the system  10  does not include the OFFNET database  22 . 
     Thereafter, as shown in operation  78 , the processor module  54  checks to see if the line number  17  is found in a known CLEC table in the CLEC database  26 . CLEC numbers are those line numbers that are known to have ported to a CLEC and, accordingly, the proprietor of the system  10  is thus unable to route these line numbers to the correct billing entities. If the line number is found in the CLEC database  26 , then the processor module  54  generates a code  140  (see operation  76 ), which is communicated to the vendor  12 . The code  140  indicates that the line number is not billable for the CLEC and the system  10  can thus not charge the transaction to the subscriber account associated with the subscriber line  17 . 
     If the line number is not found in the CLEC database  26 , then the system  10  may check to see if the subscriber of the line number has requested a 4250 billing block as shown at operation  78 . In particular, the processor module  54  interrogates the  42  BLOCK database  28  and, if the number is located in the database  28 , which indicates that monthly recurring charges (4250 charges) are prevented from being billed to that line number, the processor module  54  generates a code  150  (see operation  80 ) which is communicated to the vendor  12  to indicate that billing to the particular subscriber line  17  has been blocked. 
     If, however, the subscriber line  17  has not been blocked, the system  10  may then check at operation  82  if the line number is located in the block and cancel database  30  and, if so, the processor module  54  generates codes  160  and  161  which are then communicated to the vendor  12  as shown at operation  84 . The block and cancel database  30  includes requests from owners of subscriber lines, agencies, businesses, or the like that a service be canceled or blocked from further billing. Thereafter, the system  10  may interrogate the unbilled and/or unpaid bills database  32 , as shown at operation  86 , to check if there is a history of any unpaid bills and/or unbillable bills associated with the subscriber line  17 . Unbillable bills relate to those subscriber line numbers where previous attempts have been made to bill charges to the subscriber account associated with the subscriber line number  17 , and which have been returned as unbillable. If the processor module  54  locates the subscriber line number in the unbillable and/or unpaid bills database  32  then, as shown at operation  88 , a code  170  is generated and communicated to the vendor  12  to indicate that the subscriber line number was previously found to be unbillable and is still considered to be unbillable. 
     The processing described in the abovementioned operations may conduct a preliminary investigation into the subscriber line number or ANI to provide an initial indication of whether or not the ANI corresponds with a billable subscriber line. Once the initial investigation has been conducted in certain embodiments, the system  10  then uses the ANI to obtain reference subscriber line data in the form of LIDB codes from one or more industry standard databases, e.g. the LIDB host or database  52 . Examples of the LIDB codes used in the system  10  are shown in Table 3 below. 
     As shown at operation  90 , if the ANI is not found in the LIDB database  52 , then the system  10  cannot provide any validation data to the vendor  12  on this subscriber line and an appropriate code is then communicated to the vendor as shown at block  92 . 
     Once the LIDB database or host  52  has been interrogated, it returns industry standard LIDB codes and line number portability (LNP) data to the system  10  as shown in operation  94 . The LIDB codes may then be mapped or translated by the processor module  54  into modified validation codes (see Table 3) which provide relevant validation information to the vendor  12 . As can be seen from Table 3, the same modified validation code can be generated from a plurality of different LIDB codes. Once the LIDB information codes have been returned to the processor module  54 , the LIDB codes, including an OCN and RAO response codes, are fed into the validity check module  36  as shown at operation 96. 
     As mentioned above, the LIDB host  52  may also provide LNP data to the system  10 . The LNP data is used to identify subscriber line numbers that have ported to a CLEC. If a subscriber line has been ported to a CLEC, the billing ONNET status of the CLEC may be verified in the CLEC database  26 . The LNP identifies the facilities based CLECs which are CLECs that have been assigned all the line numbers for an NPA/NXX in a specific geographic territory. This type of CLEC may be in control of the cable, dial tone and billing envelope for that number. In one exemplary embodiment, the LNP cannot be used to identify CLEC sellers, which have resold the subscriber line under their brand, but still lease the cable and tone from an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC). Accordingly, a third-party billing facility, e.g. a proprietor or user of the system  10 , may be unable to process transaction data onto a bill page of the CLEC reseller bill page. In order to identify reseller CLECs, the system  10  may compare RAO and OCN information, returned from the LIDB host  52 , to data in the ONNET database  24 . The OCN is the local Telco that owns the subscriber line number and the RAO is the office of the Telco that is responsible from a billing standpoint for the subscriber line number. 
     If the validity check module  36  determines that the response codes are invalid, the system  10  generates modified codes  180  to  999  (see operation  98  and Table 2) which are communicated to the requestor or vendor to indicate that the mapping of the LIDB codes to the modified codes concluded that the line is an unbillable subscriber line. 
     If the validity check module  36  confirms the validity of the LIDB codes and, in the event of the line number being a billable line number, the processor module  54  then may check the RAO database  38  to ascertain whether or not the RAO is billable, as shown at operation  100 . If the RAO is not billable, then the processor module  54  generates and communicates a return code  143  (see operation  102 ) to indicate to the vendor  12  that the line number belongs to a CLEC which is not billable by the system  10 . 
     In a similar fashion, at operation  104  the processor module  54  checks to see if the OCN returned from the LIDB host  52  corresponds with a known CLEC or if the OCN corresponds with an OFFNET OCN and is therefore also unbillable by the system  10 . If the line number corresponds to an OCN that is not billable, a return code  142  is generated by the processor module  54  and communicated to the vendor (see operation  106 ). 
     If the subscriber line number has passed the RAO and OCN checks and, accordingly, it appears that the number is billable, the processor module  54  may then check to see if a new NPA /NXX and OCN combination for this line number is guidable to the correct local Telco for billing (see operation  108 ). If the line number is not guidable, then the system  10  generates a code  141  at operation  110  which is communicated to the vendor to indicate that, even though the line number is billable, the proprietor of the system  10  is unable to guide the billing information to the new Telco for billing. Accordingly, the telephone number is in fact non-billable insofar as the system  10  is concerned and a decline status is therefore communicated to the vendor  12 . 
     The abovementioned operations are carried out to ascertain whether or not the subscriber line can be billed for the goods and/or services requested. However, to enhance the accuracy or reliability of the system  10 , further checks or verification may be conducted as described below. 
     In the event that the subscriber line number has passed or complied with the abovementioned checks, and has thus not yet been rejected, the system  10  may perform address verification procedures at operation  112 . In particular, when the ANI is communicated to the API  14 , location data is also provided which has been fed in by the user, e.g. via a computer terminal, orally over a telephone, or the like. The system  10  then interrogates an address verification database  44  to compare the address or location data (e.g. a ZIP code) supplied by the customer  11  with a reference address data as shown at operation  112 . If, however, the address supplied by the customer  11  does not match with the address in the verification database  44  or, the addresses are not within a predefined range or area, the processor module  54 , as shown at operation  114 , generates codes  10  to  39  which are then communicated to the vendor  12  to indicate the level of likelihood that the caller (ANI) and the account owner are the same person. 
     During the address verification operation  112 , the system  10  may interrogate a customer account record exchange (CARE) database  46  (which can be an on-site database which is regularly updated), to provide enhanced reliability. In particular, in one exemplary embodiment, the CARE database  46  or information site is one or more industry standard off-site databases which allow consumers to select or change their long distance service provider. Local Telcos forward specific customer information to the LEC associated with the subscriber. In one exemplary embodiment, the information communicated includes a new telephone number, a billing address, an installation date, a person or organization responsible for the account, or the like. 
     As shown at operation  116 , the system  10  may interrogate the CARE database or information site and CARE data is then loaded into CLEC and new line databases to perform certain fraud and/or billing checks. The CARE information investigation may occur after a successful validation event. In one embodiment, once the system  10  has validated the subscriber line  17 , the subscriber line number data is sent to a CARE database provider hosting the CARE database  46  to obtain the BNA (Billing Name and Address) and age of the account. In one exemplary embodiment, the information is returned within 48 hours and then processed. CARE records that are returned without BNA and NO ACCOUNT codes may be inserted into the CLEC database  26  for future reference. Accordingly, if the BTN is presented again at a later date, it will fail the CLEC check operation  74  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     The ANI watch database  48 , which may include historical and adjusted information, may be used by the system  10  to determine if the account has previously been adjusted (see operation  116 ). In one exemplary embodiment, this operation includes ascertaining previous requests by the subscriber for credit, obtaining data on any written off amounts for charges that were billed to a bill page, or the like. 
     If adjustments have previously been made to the account associated with the subscriber line  17 , the processor module  54  generates codes  1  to  5  (see operation  118 ) to indicate to the vendor  12  that the adjustments have previously been made. If no adjustments have been made, the processor module  54  checks to see whether or not the subscriber line number has a business line indicator as shown at operation  120 . If the business line indicator is active, the system  10  generates a code  70  (see operation  122 ), which is communicated to the vendor  12  to advise that the line is a business line. Thereafter, as shown in operation  124 , the processor module  54  may check to see if the subscriber line number has been in service for less than about  90  days and, if so, a return code  80  (see operation  126 ) is generated to advise the vendor  12  who may then selectively decide whether or not to conclude the transaction. A database of new numbers may be updated with the new number. 
     Thereafter, the system  10  may interrogate the ANI watch database  48  (see operation  128 ) to ascertain whether or not the area code of the line number has been changed or is scheduled to change. In one embodiment, this interrogation is for billing purposes only and is not used to decide upon the validity of the request. In this operation, the vendor  12  requesting the validation updates the billing file with the new area code number, and the processor module  54  generates a code  110  (see operation  130 ) to advise the vendor  12  of the scheduled change to the area code. 
     Once the line number has passed all the aforementioned checks, the system  10  may conclude that the subscriber line  17  is in fact a billable subscriber line based on the data obtained using ANI techniques and, accordingly, the transaction may be charged directly to the account of the subscriber. Accordingly, the system  10  then generates a code  000  (see operation  134 ) which is communicated to the vendor  12 . The code  000  may define an approved status following both a billable line number inquiry as well as several fraud checks which are carried out by the fraud control module  132  (see  FIG. 1 ). If the subscriber line number of the subscriber line  17  has passed the abovementioned checks and a return code  000  is generated, the procedure shown in  FIG. 4  is carried out whereafter the process terminates at operation  136 . Thus, operation  136  may define the end of the process during which the various checks have been conducted on the subscriber line  17  to assess whether or not it is a billable subscriber line that charges may be billed to. Operation  138  defines, in one embodiment, the last operation to which the process jumps when, at any point during the abovementioned process, the line number is found not to be billable (or a creditworthiness decision is requested) and the inquiry is accordingly terminated and the relevant code is communicated to the vendor  12 . 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the abovementioned operations are executed in real-time. However, information sources that do not allow checks on the line number in real time may be carried out subsequently on the subscriber line number. In one embodiment, once the real-time evaluation is carried out and the return code  000  is communicated to the vendor  12 , and should the vendor  12  decide to proceed with the transaction, transaction data is then returned to the system  10  by the vendor  12  for a pre-billing validation check or actual billing. During the actual billing, the system  10  may access an account folder of the subscriber line at the Telco and insert the charges due to the vendor  12  for its goods or services. As shown at operation  140 , subscriber line numbers may be sent to the CARE database  46  to determine if the BNA is available at the local Telco. If the folder is not available, the local Telco sends the BNA and codes as to why the number is unavailable. If the BNA is found in the CARE database  46 , the processor module  54  may then check to see whether or not the account was created within the last 90 days as shown at operation  142 . If the account was not created within the last 90 days, then the business indicator is checked as shown at operation  144  and the process ends as previously shown at operation  146 . If, however, the number was found in the CARE database  46 , the account was created within the last 90 days, or has an active business indicator, then the system  10  may generate the appropriate codes, which are communicated to vendor  12 , and the process terminates as shown at operation  148 . 
     The above process has been described in terms of modified codes set out in Table 2 but, it is to be appreciated, that any other defined set of corresponding codes may be provided so long as the codes are mapped onto, or generated in response to, any one or more of the industry standard LIDB codes. 
     A summary of the codes generated by one exemplary embodiment of the system  10  during execution of the validation process is provided in Table 1 below. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Modified codes generated during the BTN Validation Process. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Code Generated 
                   
               
               
                 and ref to flow 
               
               
                 charts 
                 Description of code 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Return Code 121 
                 Indicates inability to proceed with validation; returned to 
               
               
                   
                 requestor 
               
               
                 See operation 64 
                 Checks if ANI captured and BTN provided match (not required 
               
               
                   
                 in all scenarios) 
               
               
                 Return Code 120 
                 Indicates caller and # (line number) owner are not the same 
               
               
                   
                 person; returned to requestor 
               
               
                 See operation 68 
                 A defined Threshold limits the number of attempts on that # 
               
               
                   
                 within a certain timeframe 
               
               
                 Return Code 60 
                 Indicates # may not be granted service; returned to requestor. 
               
               
                 See operation 71 
                 Checks the NPA/NXX and OCN to those in the OFFNET. 
               
               
                   
                 OFFNET = NPA/NXX and OCN combinations where 
               
               
                   
                 proprietor of the system 10 does not have a Billing and 
               
               
                   
                 Collections agreement to bill into the Telco&#39;s&#39; bill page. 
               
               
                 Return Code 130-133 
                 Indicates that NPA/NXX &amp; OCN for that Number are not 
               
               
                   
                 billable; returned to requestor 
               
               
                 See operation 74 
                 Checks the line number to see if found in known CLEC table. 
               
               
                   
                 These are numbers that are known to have ported to a CLEC. 
               
               
                   
                 Proprietor is unable to route these # to the correct billing 
               
               
                   
                 entities. 
               
               
                 Return code 140 
                 Indicates # not billable for CLEC; returned to requestor. 
               
               
                 See operation 78 
                 Checks line # to see if owner has requested a 4250 Billing 
               
               
                   
                 block. This block prevents monthly recurring (4250) charges 
               
               
                   
                 from being billed to that line #. 
               
               
                 Return Code 150 
                 Indicates that billing to a particular subscriber line has been 
               
               
                   
                 blocked; returned to requestor. 
               
               
                 See operation 82 
                 Checks line number for inclusion in the Block and Cancel 
               
               
                   
                 database. This database includes requests from line # owners, 
               
               
                   
                 agencies, businesses etc that have requested that service be 
               
               
                   
                 cancelled and or blocked from further billing. 
               
               
                 Return Code 160-161 
                 Indicates number found in Block and Cancel and is not billable; 
               
               
                   
                 returned to requestor. 
               
               
                 See operation 86 
                 Checks line # for unbillable history. Unbillables are #s where 
               
               
                   
                 tried to bill charges previously and have been returned as 
               
               
                   
                 unbillable. 
               
               
                 Return Code 170 
                 Indicates # has unbilled before and is still considered 
               
               
                   
                 unbillable; returned to requestor. 
               
               
                 See operation 90 
                 If # not found in Unbillable, then routed to LIDB for info. 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ITEM 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 See operation 
                 Identifies info returned from LIDB re. that line #; Response 
               
               
                 94 
                 Code = status about that # as a call termination point. 
               
               
                   
                 OCN = Operating Company # = the local Telco that owns 
               
               
                   
                 that #. RAO = Regional Accounting Office = the office of 
               
               
                   
                 the Telco that is responsible from a $ flow standpoint for that #. 
               
               
                 See operation 
                 Checks the validity of the LIDB code returned for the number as a 
               
               
                 96 
                 Billable #. This is where the mapping of the LIDB codes to the 
               
               
                   
                 proprietor validation codes happens. 
               
               
                 Return Code 
                 Indicates the mappings of the LIDB codes to the proprietor Val reply 
               
               
                 180-999 
                 codes. Each of these indicate a non-billable #; returned to requestor. 
               
               
                 See operation 
                 Checks if RAO returned is an RAO that is not billable. 
               
               
                 100 
               
               
                 Return Code 
                 Indicates that the # belongs to a CLEC and is unbillable; returned to 
               
               
                 143 
                 requestor. 
               
               
                 See operation 
                 Checks if OCN returned from LIDB is a known CLEC or OFFNET 
               
               
                 104 
                 OCN and therefore unbillable. 
               
               
                 Return code 142 
                 Indicates that the new OCN is not billable; returned to requestor. 
               
               
                 See operation 108 
                 Checks to see if new NPA/NXX &amp; OCN combination for # is 
               
               
                   
                 guidable to the correct local Telco for billing. 
               
               
                 Return code 
                 Indicates that even though the # is billable, the system is unable to 
               
               
                 141 
                 guide to the new Telco for billing; unguidable = unbillable; # 
               
               
                   
                 returned to requestor. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 The operations to indicate if # is billable have been completed. 
               
               
                 The next operations provide additional information about the # for the requestor e.g. to 
               
               
                 decide if and how much credit to extend for services. They also provide additional 
               
               
                 billing information. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 See operation 
                 Provides address verification (if required). Matches # to address to 
               
               
                 112 
                 determine likelihood of person dialing to the person that owns the 
               
               
                   
                 account at local Telco. 
               
               
                 Return Code 
                 Indicates the level likelihood that the caller (ANI) and acct owner are 
               
               
                 10-39 
                 the same. Returned to requestor. 
               
               
                 See operation 
                 Checks to see if # has had adjustment activity previously. This 
               
               
                 116 
                 includes request for credit, written off for charges that billed to a bill 
               
               
                   
                 page. Requestor makes credit decision based on #s history of 
               
               
                   
                 credits, adjustments, write offs. 
               
               
                 Return Code 1-5 
                 Indicates the type and source of adjustment to charges to that #. 
               
               
                   
                 Returned to requestor. 
               
               
                 See operation 
                 Checks to see if the # has a business line indicator. Requestor 
               
               
                 120 
                 decides if would like to extend service or not. 
               
               
                 Return Code 70 
                 Indicates that the # is identified as a business. 
               
               
                 See operation 
                 Checks to see if the # has been in service less than 90 days. 
               
               
                 124 
                 Requestor makes a decision about how much service to offer # 
               
               
                   
                 without much payment history. 
               
               
                 Return Code 80 
                 Indicates that the # has been in service less than 90 days. 
               
               
                 See operation 
                 Checks if the Area Code of the # has been scheduled to change. This 
               
               
                 128 
                 is for billing information purposes only. Requestor updates billing 
               
               
                   
                 filed with new number. 
               
               
                 Return Code 
                 Indicates Area Code has been scheduled to change. New number is 
               
               
                 110 
                 appended to end of record. 
               
               
                 See operation 
                 If the number passes all the previous checks, then 000 code is 
               
               
                 134 
                 returned to requestor. The Validation is complete for this request. 
               
               
                 See operation 
                 End of validation for numbers that did not pass or were found in 
               
               
                 138 
                 other checks. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 END OF REAL TIME VALIDATION EVENT 
               
               
                 Information sources that do not allow checks on the # in Real-time (r-t), happen on # that 
               
               
                 was returned as 000 after the r-t validation event has completed. The #s are loaded into 
               
               
                 the appropriate databases. This information will be provided once the # is returned for 
               
               
                 billing. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Operations 140, 142, 
                 Indicates path for those #s returned with a 000 
               
               
                 144 
                 code. 
               
               
                 See operation 140 
                 #s are sent to CARE source to determine if 
               
               
                   
                 BNA (billing Name and Address) available at 
               
               
                   
                 local Telco. Telco sends BNA and codes as to 
               
               
                   
                 why unavailable. 
               
               
                 CLEC 
                 #s that are returned with codes that indicate the 
               
               
                   
                 # has moved to a CLEC from the local Telco 
               
               
                   
                 are loaded into the CLEC table. 
               
               
                 See operation 142 
                 #s are sent to the CARE source to determine if 
               
               
                   
                 the account has been crested within the last 90 
               
               
                   
                 days. The response codes indicate this 
               
               
                   
                 condition. 
               
               
                 New within 90 
                 #s that are returned with codes that indicate this 
               
               
                   
                 condition are loaded into the NEW table. 
               
               
                 See operation 144 
                 #s are sent to a Business source. This source 
               
               
                   
                 identifies which numbers belong to businesses. 
               
               
                 Biz table 
                 Numbers that are indicated as being line #s that 
               
               
                   
                 belong to businesses are loaded in this table. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Table 2 (see below) provides the various actions, which are executed in response to a modified validity code. The table provides an exemplary description and explanation of each code. Return codes  001  to  179  relate to failure codes, which are generated by the system  10  prior to investigation of the LIDB host  52 . Return codes  180  to  451  are generated during the LIDB code checks. In the event of the subscriber line  17  failing the checks carried out on it, the system  10  provides optional use of a credit card and, accordingly, Table 2 sets out codes which the system  10  generates in response to executing a standard credit card enquiry for a particular transaction. If the system  10 , which may be defined by a server and associated databases, is down, codes  994  to  999  are generated and communicated to the vendor. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Validation &amp; BNA Reply Codes 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Code 
                 Action 
                 DESCRIPTION 
                 EXPLANATION 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 BILLABLE CODES 
               
             
          
           
               
                 000 
                 Approved 
                 Billable; was not found during 
                 Passed all billing and fraud control 
               
               
                   
                   
                 fraud control checks 
                 checks 
               
             
          
           
               
                 FRAUD CONTROL CODES (performed after billable check) 
               
               
                 ANI WATCH (adjustments to bill) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 001 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; found in ANI 
                 Passed all billable checks; but ANI had 
               
               
                   
                   
                 WATCH - CLIENT source all 
                 been adjusted previously at vendor&#39;s, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Client&#39;s or Telco&#39;s request for your 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Client # 
               
               
                 002 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; ANI WATCH - 
                 Passed all billable checks; but ANI had 
               
               
                   
                   
                 CLIENT source 
                 been adjusted previously at Client&#39;s 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Client 
                 request for your Client # 
               
               
                 003 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; ANI WATCH - 
                 Passed all billable checks; but ANI had 
               
               
                   
                   
                 CLIENT source 
                 been adjusted previously at vendor&#39;s or 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Telco or Vendor 
                 Telco&#39;s request for your Client # 
               
               
                 004 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; found in ANI 
                 Passed all billable checks; ANI had 
               
               
                   
                   
                 WATCH - GLOBAL 
                 been adjusted previously at vendor&#39;s, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Client&#39;s or Telco&#39;s request for all 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Client ids 
               
               
                 005 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; found in ANI 
                 Passed all billable checks; ANI had 
               
               
                   
                   
                 WATCH - PRODUCT 
                 been adjusted previously at vendor&#39;s, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Client&#39;s or Telco&#39;s request for same 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 product type 
               
             
          
           
               
                 ZIP VERIFICATION 
               
             
          
           
               
                 010 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; Unable to match ZIP 
                 Passed all billable checks; unable to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 invalid 
                 find this Zip code for this NPA/NXX- 
               
               
                 011 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; ZIP does not match 
                 Passed all billable checks; Zip code 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 does not match this NPA/NXX 
               
               
                 012 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; ZIP matches to same 
                 Passed all billable checks; Zip code 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Metropolitan area 
                 matches to same Metropolitan area as 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 NPA NXX. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 ADDRESS VERIFICATION 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Note: The result of an AVS check does not mean that the transaction is declined. This information 
               
               
                 may be advice only. The system may compare the AVS data with billing information for the buyer 
               
               
                 and pass the results of the comparison to the merchant. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 020 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; BNA match not found 
                 Passed all billable checks; no BNA 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 match found for ANI 
               
               
                 021 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; Unable to verify BNA 
                 Passed all billable checks; unable to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 invalid 
                 verify BNA to ANI info sent 
               
               
                 022 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; with zip-Match, 
                 Passed all billable checks; BNA Zip 
               
               
                   
                   
                 plus4-Match, locale-Match 
                 code +4 &amp; locale (street address) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 matches info sent for ANI, Name does 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 not match 
               
               
                 023 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; with zip-Match, 
                 Passed all billable checks; BNA Zip 
               
               
                   
                   
                 plus4-Match, NoMatch-locale 
                 code +4 matches info sent for ANI but 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 locale (street address) does not match 
               
               
                 024 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; zip-Match, NoMatch- 
                 Passed all billable checks; BNA Zip 
               
               
                   
                   
                 plus4, locale-Match 
                 code &amp; locale (street address) matches 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 info sent for ANI but +4 does not 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 match 
               
               
                 025 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; zip-Match, NoMatch- 
                 Passed all billable checks; BNA Zip 
               
               
                   
                   
                 plus4, NoMatch-locale 
                 code matches info sent for ANI but 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 locale (street address) &amp; +4 does not 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 match 
               
               
                 026 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; NoMatch-zip, plus4- 
                 Passed all billable checks; BNA +4 and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Match, locale-Match 
                 locale (street address) matches info 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 sent for ANI but Zip does not match 
               
               
                 027 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; NoMatch-zip, plus4- 
                 Passed all billable checks; BNA +4 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Match, NoMatch-locale 
                 matches info sent for ANI but locale 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (street address) and Zip does not match 
               
               
                 028 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; NoMatch-zip, 
                 Passed all billable checks; BNA locale 
               
               
                   
                   
                 NoMatch-plus4, locale-Match 
                 (street address) matches info sent for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ANI but ZIP and +4 does not match 
               
               
                 029 
                 Verify 
                 Billable; NoMatch-zip, 
                 Passed all billable checks; BNA does 
               
               
                   
                   
                 NoMatch-plus4, NoMatch- 
                 not match zip, +4 or locale (street 
               
               
                   
                   
                 locale 
                 address) sent for ANI 
               
               
                 030 
                 Good 
                 Address &amp; Zip Match 
               
               
                 031 
                 Verify 
                 Address Match, Zip No Match 
               
               
                 032 
                 Verify 
                 Address Match, Zip Service 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Unavailable 
               
               
                 033 
                 Verify 
                 Address No Match, Zip Match 
               
               
                 034 
                 Verify 
                 Address No Match, Zip No 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Match 
               
               
                 035 
                 Verify 
                 Address No Match, Zip 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Service Unavailable 
               
               
                 036 
                 Verify 
                 Address Service Unavailable, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Zip Match 
               
               
                 037 
                 Verify 
                 Address Service Unavailable, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Zip No Match 
               
               
                 038 
                 Verify 
                 Address Service Unavailable, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Zip Service Unavailable 
               
             
          
           
               
                 AREA CODE CHANGE INDICATOR 
               
             
          
           
               
                 110 
                 Update 
                 Indicates there has been an 
                 Code is sent in addition to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 area code change for this 
                 validation response codes. New phone 
               
               
                   
                   
                 NPA/NXX 
                 number is appended to record. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Provided to update the account with the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 correct BTN. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 MISCELLANEOUS 
               
             
          
           
               
                 120 
                 Verify 
                 BTN and ANI do not match 
                 For use where BTN and ANI are 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 passed and do not match. 
               
               
                 121 
                 Verify 
                 BTN or ANI are missing from 
                 For use where BTN and ANI is missing 
               
               
                   
                   
                 record 
                 from record 
               
             
          
           
               
                 UNBILLABLE CODES 
               
               
                 OFFNET 
               
             
          
           
               
                 130 
                 Unbillable 
                 NPA/NXX found in OFFNET - 
                 Area code/exchange (NPA/NXX) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 GLOBAL 
                 combination resides in OFFNET DB. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 OFFNET is a territory where the LEC 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Local Exchange Carrier) is unable to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 provide 3rd party presentation in to its 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 envelope. 
               
               
                 131 
                 Unbillable 
                 NPA/NXX found in OFFNET - 
                 Area code/exchange (NPA/NXX) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 CLIENT SPECIFIC 
                 combination resides in OFFNET DB 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 specific for this Client id. 
               
               
                 132 
                 Unbillable 
                 NPA/NXX found in OFFNET - 
                 Area code/exchange (NPA/NXX) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 PRODUCT 
                 combination resides in OFFNET DB 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 specific for this product type. 
               
               
                 133 
                 Unbillable 
                 NPA/NXX NOT VALID 
                 Area code/exchange is not a valid area 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 code exchange 
               
             
          
           
               
                 CLEC (CLECs are unable to provide 3rd party bill presentation in their envelopes.) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 140 
                 Unbillable 
                 Line number (NPA/NXX- 
                 BTN has been ported to a CLEC 
               
               
                   
                   
                 XXX) in CLEC Territory 
                 (competitive local exchange carrier). 
               
               
                 141 
                 Unbillable 
                 NPA/NXX not ON NET 
                 BTN has been ported to a CLEC 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (competitive local exchange carrier) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 and is not billable. 
               
               
                 142 
                 Unbillable 
                 Line number OCN in CLEC 
                 Operating Company number for this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 OCN table 
                 BTN was found on CLEC OCN table. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 The number is not billable. 
               
               
                 143 
                 Unbillable 
                 Line number RAO in CLEC 
                 Regional Accounting Office number 
               
               
                   
                   
                 RAO table 
                 for this BTN was found on CLEC RAO 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 table. This BTN is not billable. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 42 BLOCK (4250s Only) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 150 
                 Unbillable 
                 Line Number has a block for 
                 Consumer has requested a block for all 
               
               
                   
                   
                 4250 records 
                 MRCs (monthly recurring charges) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 from being billed to this phone number. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 BLOCK &amp; CANCEL 
               
             
          
           
               
                 160 
                 Unbillable 
                 GLOBAL - Line number has 
                 Consumer requested block to stop all 
               
               
                   
                   
                 been blocked to stop all 
                 charges from being billed to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 charges. 
                 number. 
               
               
                 161 
                 Unbillable 
                 CLIENT - Line number has a 
                 Consumer requested a block to stop 
               
               
                   
                   
                 block to stop all charges from 
                 charges from being billed or to cancel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 this Client id. 
                 service for this phone number from this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Client id. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 UNBILLS 
               
             
          
           
               
                 170 
                 Unbillable 
                 Line number is Unbillable. 
                 Line number has been returned from 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 the Local Telephone companies within 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 the last 6 months as unable to be billed. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 LIDB FAILURE 
               
             
          
           
               
                 180 
                 Unbillable 
                 Line number failed LIDB 
                 Line Number has been returned from 
               
               
                   
                   
                 check - GENERAL 
                 LIDB as unbillable. 
               
               
                 181 
                 Unbillable 
                 Vacant NPA NXX 
                 No working line #s in NPA NXX 
               
               
                 182 
                 Unbillable 
                 No Incoming Calls 
                 Line # cannot accept incoming calls 
               
               
                 183 
                 Unbillable 
                 Denied ANI 
                 Auto decline of all attempts from this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ANI 
               
               
                 184 
                 Unbillable 
                 Calling Card block 
                 Auto decline of Calling Card number 
               
               
                 185 
                 Unbillable 
                 Collect Call Block 
                 Auto decline of Collect calls to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 number 
               
               
                 186 
                 Unbillable 
                 Third Party Call Block 
                 Auto decline all Third Party billed calls 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 to this number 
               
               
                 187 
                 Unbillable 
                 Credit Card Block 
                 Auto decline of charges billed to Credit 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Card 
               
               
                 188 
                 Unbillable 
                 Group Number Block 
                 Auto decline of attempts from this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 group. 
               
               
                 189 
                 Unbillable 
                 Audiotext Bock 
                 Number does not allow audiotext calls. 
               
               
                 190 
                 Unbillable 
                 Excessive Calling Card PIN 
                 Threshold for calling card attempts has 
               
               
                   
                   
                 hits 
                 been exceeded. 
               
               
                 191 
                 Unbillable 
                 Line Number Block 
                 Auto decline of all charges to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 number 
               
               
                 200 
                 Unbillable 
                 Excessive Use - BTN 
                 BTN has exceeded threshold 
               
               
                 201 
                 Unbillable 
                 Excessive Use DN 
                 DN has exceeded threshold 
               
               
                 202 
                 Unbillable 
                 Excessive Use - ANI 
                 ANI has exceeded threshold 
               
               
                 203 
                 Unbillable 
                 Excessive USE - Calling Card 
                 Calling Card Pin has exceeded 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Pin 
                 threshold 
               
               
                 220 
                 Unbillable 
                 Feature Group A 
                 Local telephone switch is Feature 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Group A 
               
               
                 221 
                 Unbillable 
                 PBX line 
                 Line # is a PBX line 
               
               
                 222 
                 Unbillable 
                 WATS line 
                 Line # is a WATS line 
               
               
                 223 
                 Unbillable 
                 Hotel/Motel Auto Quote w/ tax 
                 Hotel/Motel Auto Quote w/ tax 
               
               
                 224 
                 Unbillable 
                 Hotel/Motel Auto quote w/o 
                 Hotel/Motel Auto quote w/o tax 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tax 
               
               
                 225 
                 Unbillable 
                 Dormitory line 
                 Line # belongs to a dorm 
               
               
                 226 
                 Unbillable 
                 Hospital line 
                 Line number belongs to a hospital 
               
               
                 227 
                 Unbillable 
                 Centrex line 
                 Line number belongs to CENTREX 
               
               
                 228 
                 Unbillable 
                 Alternate Service Provider 
                 Line # belongs to an alternate service 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 provider 
               
               
                 229 
                 Unbillable 
                 POTS line (collect or third 
                 Line # is plain old telephone service 
               
               
                   
                   
                 party calls) 
                 lines for business or residential 
               
               
                 230 
                 Unbillable 
                 Pager # 
                 Line number belongs to pager 
               
               
                 231 
                 Unbillable 
                 PCS/Mobile/Cellular # 
                 Line number belongs to a wireless 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 provider 
               
               
                 240 
                 Unbillable 
                 Line was disconnected w/o 
                 Line # was disconnected w/o a referral 
               
               
                   
                   
                 referral 
                 number 
               
               
                 241 
                 Unbillable 
                 Line Number changing 
                 Line is not connected yet. 
               
               
                 242 
                 Unbillable 
                 not used 
               
               
                 243 
                 Unbillable 
                 DISCO w/o referral 
                 Line number has been removed from 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 service w/o referral 
               
               
                 244 
                 Unbillable 
                 Temp DISCO 
                 Line number has been removed from 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 service temporarily 
               
               
                 245 
                 Unbillable 
                 DISCO with referral 
                 Line number has been disconnected w/ 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 referral or Operator takes calls 
               
               
                 246 
                 Unbillable 
                 Temp DISCO w/ referral 
                 Line number has been removed from 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 service temporarily w/ referral 
               
               
                 250 
                 Unbillable 
                 POTS line rating on rate plan 
                 POTS line is on a rate plan for business 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 or residential message rate 1 or 2 or flat 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 rate 
               
               
                 300 
                 Unbillable 
                 Public - Incompatible interface 
                 Public phone with incompatible 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 interface 
               
               
                 301 
                 Unbillable 
                 LEC Public Standard PreP OT 
                 LEC Public phone standard interface; 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 prepay overtime 
               
               
                 302 
                 Unbillable 
                 LEC Public Alternate 
                 LEC Public phone alternate interface; 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 functions controlled by set 
               
               
                 303 
                 Unbillable 
                 LEC Public Standard PP OT 
                 LEC Public phone standard interface; 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 postpay overtime 
               
               
                 304 
                 Unbillable 
                 IC Public 
                 IC Public Phone - Alternate Interface 
               
               
                 305 
                 Unbillable 
                 IC Public Standard 
                 IC Public Phone - Standard Interface 
               
               
                 306 
                 Unbillable 
                 LEC Public Special - PP OT 
                 LEC Public Phone- Special billing post 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 paid OT 
               
               
                 307 
                 Unbillable 
                 LEC Public Special - PreP OT 
                 LEC Public Phone - Special Billing; 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Pre pay OT 
               
               
                 308 
                 Unbillable 
                 LEC Semi Public 
                 LEC Semi Public Phone 
               
               
                 309 
                 Unbillable 
                 LEC Semi Public Phone (no 
                 LEC Semi Public Phone does not allow 
               
               
                   
                   
                 collect or 3rd Party calls) 
                 collect or 3rd party calls to this number 
               
               
                 310 
                 Unbillable 
                 LEC Prepaid Card 
                 LEC Prepaid Card 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Telecommunications station 
               
               
                 311 
                 Unbillable 
                 IPP (fka COCOT) Standard 
                 Payphone Standard 
               
               
                   
                   
                 interface 
               
               
                 312 
                 Unbillable 
                 IPP (fka COCOT) Alternate 
                 Payphone - Alternate 
               
               
                   
                   
                 interface 
               
               
                 313 
                 Unbillable 
                 Coinless (non IPP fka 
                 Coinless Pay phone 
               
               
                   
                   
                 COCOT) 
               
               
                 314 
                 Unbillable 
                 Coinless (IPP fka COCOT) 
                 Coinless payphone 
               
               
                 315 
                 Unbillable 
                 Prison (non IPP fka COCOT) 
                 Prison payphone 
               
               
                 316 
                 Unbillable 
                 Prison (IPP fka COCOT) 
                 Prison Payphone 
               
               
                 450 
                 Unbillable 
                 BNS: Voice Quote - without 
                 Charge quotes without tax 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tax 
               
               
                 451 
                 Unbillable 
                 BNS: Voice Quote - with tax 
                 Charge quotes with tax 
               
             
          
           
               
                 CREDIT CARD RESPONSE CODES 
               
             
          
           
               
                 000 
                 Approved 
                 Credit card approved 
                   
               
               
                 501 
                 Decline/Error 
                 User authentication Failed 
               
               
                 502 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Invalid tender 
                 Your merchant bank account does not 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 support the following credit card type 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 that was submitted 
               
               
                 503 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Invalid transaction type 
                 Transaction type is not appropriate for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 this transaction. For example, you 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 cannot credit an authorization-only 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 transaction. 
               
               
                 504 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Invalid amount 
               
               
                 505 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Invalid merchant information 
                 Processor does not recognize your 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 merchant account information. Contact 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 your bank account acquirer to resolve 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 this problem. 
               
               
                 512 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Declined 
                 Please check the credit card number 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 and transaction information to make 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 sure they were entered correctly. If this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 does not resolve the problem, have the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 customer call the credit card issuer to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 resolve. 
               
               
                 513 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Referral 
                 Transaction was declined but could be 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 approved with a verbal authorization 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 from the bank that issued the card. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Submit a manual Voice Authorization 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 transaction and enter the verbal auth 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 code 
               
               
                 519 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Original transaction ID not 
                 The transaction ID you entered for this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 found 
                 transaction is not valid. 
               
               
                 520 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Cannot find the customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                 reference number 
               
               
                 522 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Invalid ABA number 
               
               
                 523 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Invalid account number 
                 Please check credit card number and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 re-submit. 
               
               
                 530 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Account Lookup information 
                 Account provided found in system, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Mismatch 
                 however, unique key provided does not 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 match unique key in system. 
               
               
                 531 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Account does not exist 
                 Account provided not found in system 
               
               
                 542 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Invalid expiration date 
                 Please check and re-submit 
               
               
                 525 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Transaction type not mapped 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to this host 
               
               
                 526 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Invalid vendor account 
               
               
                 527 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Insufficient partner 
               
               
                   
                   
                 permissions 
               
               
                 528 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Insufficient user permissions 
               
               
                 550 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Insufficient funds available 
               
               
                 551 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Invalid transaction returned 
               
               
                   
                   
                 from host 
               
               
                 552 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Processor not available 
               
               
                 553 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Credit error 
                 Please make sure you have not already 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 credited this transaction, or that this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 transaction ID is for a creditable 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 transaction. (For example, you cannot 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 credit an authorization.) 
               
               
                 554 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Void error 
                 Please make sure the transaction ID 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 entered has not already been voided. If 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 not, then look at the Transaction Detail 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 screen for this transaction to see if it 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 has settled. (The Batch field will be set 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 to a number greater than zero if the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 transaction has been settled). If the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 transaction has already settled, your 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 only recourse is a reversal (credit a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 payment or submit a payment for a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 credit). 
               
               
                 555 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Capture error 
                 Only authorization transactions can be 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 captured 
               
               
                 556 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Failed AVS check 
                 Address and Zip code do not match 
               
               
                 557 
                 Decline/Error 
                 Cannot exceed sales cap 
                 For ACH transactions only 
               
               
                 558 
                 Decline/Error 
                 CVV2 Mismatch 
               
               
                 800 
                 Unbillable 
                 LNP Only Look-Up, number 
                 LNP Only Look-Up, number was 
               
               
                   
                   
                 was found 
                 found in the LNP GTT database as 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ported. 
               
               
                 801 
                 Unbillable 
                 LNP Only Look-Up, number 
                 LNP Only Look-Up, number was not 
               
               
                   
                   
                 was not found 
                 found in the LNP GTT database, not 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ported. 
               
               
                 802 
                 Unbillable 
                 LNP Only Look-Up, the 
                 LNP Only Look-Up, the NPNXX is not 
               
               
                   
                   
                 NPA/NXX is not a portable 
                 a portable range. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 range. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 SYSTEM DOWN 
               
             
          
           
               
                 994 
                 Resubmit 
                 Message Format Error 
                 Message received in invalid or 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 unrecognized format. 
               
               
                 995 
                 Resubmit 
                 Time out 
                 Session timed out. 
               
               
                 996 
                 Resubmit 
                 Connection Failure 
                 Unable to connect. 
               
               
                 997 
                 Resubmit 
                 Subsystem Failure 
                 Subsystem, such as LIDB, Credit Card, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 etc, not available. 
               
               
                 998 
                 Resubmit 
                 Network Failure 
                 Network Not Available 
               
               
                 999 
                 Resubmit 
                 System Down 
                 System Unavailable 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     As mentioned above, the system  10  may translate the LIDB codes into modified verification codes as shown in Table 2. These modified validity codes are then mapped or translated. Table 3 below provides a list of the modified validity codes which are generated following the mapping carried out by the processor module  54  to translate LIDB codes to the modified verification codes set out in Table 1. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 LIDB/LNP SOURCE TRANSLATIONS for ISP: 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Resp. 
                 Resp. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Type 
                 Code 
                   
                 LIDB 
                   
                 rtfc 
                 Code 
               
               
                 In 
                 In 
                 ACTION 
                 ADMIN? 
                 Description 
                 type 
                 Out 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 APP 
                 000 
                 Approved 
                   
                 Calling card has an Unrestricted PIN. 
                 G1 
                 000 
               
               
                 APP 
                 001 
                 Approved 
                   
                 Calling card has a Restricted PIN. The 
                 g1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 switch must verify that the DNI matches 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 the first 10 digits of the calling card 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 before placing the call. 
               
               
                 APP 
                 004 
                 Approved 
                   
                 Collect call - No verification is required. 
                 G1 
                 000 
               
               
                 APP 
                 005 
                 Approved 
                   
                 Third-party call - No verification is 
                 G1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 required. 
               
               
                 APP 
                 006 
                 Approved 
                   
                 There is a system error. 
                 S 
                 999 
               
               
                 APP 
                 008 
                 Approved 
                   
                 Communications Link Tests “Good.” 
                 S 
                 999 
               
               
                 APP 
                 010 
                 Approved 
                   
                 Commercial credit card is approved and 
                 G1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 the zip code matches, if the zip code was 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 sent. 
               
               
                 APP 
                 011 
                 Approved 
                 Y 
                 Bill-to number has an Admin. Override 
                 G1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 to automatically approve the transaction. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 APP 
                 012 
                 Approved 
                   
                 Originating number (ANI) has an 
                 G1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Admin. Override to automatically 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 approve the transaction. (Admin. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Reply) 
               
               
                 APP 
                 013 
                 Approved 
                   
                 Dialed number (DNI) has an Admin 
                 G1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Override to automatically approve the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 transaction. (Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 APP 
                 014 
                 Approved 
                   
                 Group number has an Admin. Override 
                 G1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 to automatically approve the transaction. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 APP 
                 015 
                 Approved 
                   
                 Commercial credit card is approved but 
                 CC 
                 500 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 the zip code check is unavailable. 
               
               
                 APP 
                 016 
                 Approved 
                   
                 Commercial credit card is approved but 
                 CC 
                 501 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 the zip code check is unavailable. Retry 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 later. 
               
               
                 APP 
                 017 
                 Approved 
                   
                 Commercial credit card is approved but 
                 CC 
                 502 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 the zip code check is not supported. 
               
               
                 APP 
                 018 
                 Approved 
                   
                 Commercial credit card is approved and 
                 CC 
                 503 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 the address matches but the zip code 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 does not match. 
               
               
                 APP 
                 019 
                 Approved 
                   
                 Commercial credit card is approved and 
                 CC 
                 504 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 the address and the zip code match. 
               
               
                 APP 
                 020 
                 Success 
                   
                 LNP Only Look-Up, number was found 
                 LNP 
                 800 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 in the LNP GTT database as ported. 
               
               
                 APP 
                 021 
                 Success 
                   
                 LNP Only Look-Up, number was not 
                 LNP 
                 801 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 found in the LNP GTT database, not 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 ported. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 050 
                 Verify 
                   
                 Collect call number has no block. 
                 o1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Verify acceptance of the charge. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 051 
                 Verify 
                   
                 Third-party call number has no block. 
                 O1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Verify acceptance of the charge. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 053 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Unable to authorize, Automatic Code 
                 S 
                 999 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Gapping is in effect at the LIDB. Every 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 third query is dropped by the LIDB. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 054 
                 Denied 
                 Y 
                 Excessive Use - The bill-to number 
                 G3 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 exceeded the high limit threshold in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Admin. fraud control system. (Admin. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Reply) 
               
               
                 CON 
                 055 
                 Denied 
                 Y 
                 Excessive Bad PIN Attempts - The 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 threshold for bad PIN attempts for the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 calling card was exceeded in the Admin. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 fraud control system. (Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 This is the same as reply code 309. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 060 
                 Conditional 
                 Y 
                 Low Limit Warning - The bill-to 
                 G3 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number exceeded the low limit threshold 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 in the Admin. fraud control system. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 CON 
                 061 
                 Conditional 
                 Y 
                 Low Limit Warning - The dialed 
                 G3 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number exceeded the low limit threshold 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 in the Admin. fraud control system. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 CON 
                 062 
                 Denied 
                 Y 
                 Excessive Use Dialed - The dialed 
                 G3 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number exceeded the high limit 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 threshold in the Admin. fraud control 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 system. (Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 CON 
                 063 
                 Conditional 
                 Y 
                 No Host Still Billable - There is no 
                 G2 
                 180 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 LIDB check available, but the Customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 has a billing agreement with this LEC. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 CON 
                 064 
                 Approved 
                 Y 
                 Commercial credit card is approved but 
                 CC 
                 505 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 the zip code and the address do not 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 match. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 065 
                 Conditional 
                 Y 
                 Low Limit Warning - The ANI 
                 G3 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 exceeded the low limit threshold in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Admin. fraud control system. (Admin. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Reply) 
               
               
                 CON 
                 066 
                 Denied 
                 Y 
                 Excessive Use ANI - The ANI exceeded 
                 G3 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 the high threshold in the Admin. fraud 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 control system. (Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 CON 
                 070 
                 Approved 
                   
                 Calling card has no service denial in the 
                 G1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Card Service Denial Indicator field. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Calling card calls may be billed to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 card number. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 071 
                 Approved 
                   
                 Calling card has no service denial in the 
                 G1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Pin Service Denial Indicator field. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Calling card calls may be billed to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 card number. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 080 
                 Verify 
                   
                 Collect calls - Accept intralata, Reject 
                 O1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 interlata collect calls. Recommend 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 verify acceptance of the charge. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 081 
                 Verify 
                   
                 Third-party calls - Accept intralata, 
                 O1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 reject interlata third-party calls. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Recommend verify acceptance of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 charge. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 082 
                 Verify 
                   
                 Collect calls - Accept intralata, verify 
                 O1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 interlata collect calls. Recommend 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 verify acceptance of the charge. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 083 
                 Verify 
                   
                 Third-party calls - Verify intralata, 
                 O1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 reject interlata third-party calls. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Recommend Verify acceptance of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 charge. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 084 
                 Verify 
                   
                 Collect call - Verify acceptance of the 
                 O1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 charge by an Operator. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 085 
                 Verify 
                   
                 Third-party call - Verify acceptance of 
                 O1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 the charge by an Operator. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 086 
                 Verify 
                   
                 Collect call - Accept intralata charge, 
                 O1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 verify interlata charge with Operator. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 087 
                 Verify 
                   
                 Third-party calls - Verify intralata 
                 O1 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 charge with operator, reject interlata 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 charge with Operator. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 088 
                 Verify 
                   
                 Collect Calls: POTS Line 
                 G5 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Business/Residential) 
               
               
                 CON 
                 089 
                 Verify 
                   
                 Third-Party Calls: POTS Line 
                 G5 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Business/Residential) 
               
               
                 CON 
                 090 
                 Verify 
                   
                 BNS: Centrex Line, Collect calls - Some 
                 G4 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 LECs allow billing to this type of line, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 others do not. Verify Acceptance. 
               
               
                 CON 
                 091 
                 Verify 
                   
                 BNS: POTS Line - Residential - 
                 G9 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Message rate 1 
               
               
                 CON 
                 092 
                 Verify 
                   
                 BNS: POTS Line - Residential - 
                 G9 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Message rate 2 
               
               
                 CON 
                 093 
                 Verify 
                   
                 BNS: POTS Line - Business - flat rate 
                 G9 
                 000 
               
               
                 CON 
                 094 
                 Verify 
                   
                 BNS: POTs Line - Business - message 
                 G9 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 rate 1 
               
               
                 CON 
                 095 
                 Verify 
                   
                 BNS: POTS Line - Business - message 
                 G9 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 rate 2 
               
               
                 CON 
                 096 
                 Verify 
                   
                 BNS: POTS Line - Residential - flat rate 
                 G9 
                 000 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 100 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error Message 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 100 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error- Date format 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 100 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error-Header Message 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Error 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 100 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error- Merchant ID 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Error 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 100 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error-No End of 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Header Indicator 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 100 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error-Header Data 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Indicator, did not contain data in each 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 field of the message That was 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 represented by the message text map 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 field 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 100 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error-PIN not numeric 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 100 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error-Terminating 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Error (commercial credit card only 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 100 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error-Terminating 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Number not numeric 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 100 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error-Originating 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Number not Numeric 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 100 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error-Charge Number 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 not Numeric 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 100 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error-No End Header 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Indicator 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 101 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error Invalid 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Customer/Terminal ID Number 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 102 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error Invalid Message 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Type 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 103 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error Invalid 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Transaction Type 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 104 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error Invalid Sequence 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Number 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 105 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error Invalid Data 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Indicator 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 105 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Message Format Error- Header Data 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Indicator 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 107 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Bad PIN format. PINs must be equal to 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 or higher than 2000. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 200 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Calling card blocked, missing customer 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 record - There is no record of that 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 calling card number in the database. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 201 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS, missing customer record - There is 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 no record of that line number in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 database. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 202 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Missing BNG - There is no record of 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 that NPANXX in the database. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 203 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Non-billable NXX - DPC table failure. 
                 G2 
                 180 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 The NPANXX does not have routing or 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 allow billing, e.g. cellular. (LIDB or 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 204 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Calling card blocked, screened data - A 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 screening mechanism is in place at the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 LIDB that does not allow charges to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 calling card. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 205 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Protocol converter problem - There is a 
                 S 
                 999 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 problem with the SS7 protocol 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 converter. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 206 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS &amp; No Calling Card Calls - No 
                 o2 
                 180 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Host, Nonparticipating Group. This 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 NPANXX exists but there is no LIDB 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 host. (LIDB or Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 207 
                 Denied 
                   
                 LIDB Access Denied because no queries 
                 S 
                 999 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 should be sent to this LIDB destination. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 208 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Calling card blocked, Screened Data on 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 PIN (Pin Service Denial Indicator) - A 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 screening mechanism is in place at the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 LIDB that does not allow charges to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 PIN. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 209 
                 Denied 
                   
                 External SS7 Problem - There is a 
                 S 
                 999 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 format problem in the SS7 network 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 210 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Calling card blocked, screened data - A 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 screening mechanism is in place at the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 LIDB that does not allow charges to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 calling card. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 211 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Calling card is blocked because it has a 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 bad PIN or the PIN does not match 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 database information. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 211 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Unexpected Data Value, Calling card 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 blocked, Bad PIN - This means a bad 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 PIN was used or there is no PIN on file. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 212 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Calling card blocked, PIN Excessive 
                 G3 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Use at LIDB Owner. - The PIN 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 exceeded the high threshold in the LIDB 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 fraud control system 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 213 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Vacant BNG - There are no working 
                 G2 
                 181 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 lines in the NPANXX. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 214 
                 Denied 
                   
                 No Collect calls - Collect calls are not 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 allowed to this line number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 215 
                 Denied 
                   
                 No Third-party calls - Third-party calls 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 are not allowed to this line number 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 216 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: LEC Public - Standard Interface 
                 G10 
                 303 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (functions controlled by the network) - 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Postpay Overtime 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 217 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Coinless (non IPP fka COCOT) 
                 G10 
                 313 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 218 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: semi-public phone - No Collect or 
                 G10 
                 309 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Third-party calls are allowed to this line 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 219 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Spare - This LIDB response is not in use 
                 AV 
                 180 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 at this time. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 220 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Time-out, No response from Host - A 
                 S 
                 180 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 response was not received from the host 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 database within 4 seconds for a Telco 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 query or 12 seconds for a Bank card 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 query. (LIDB or Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 221 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS Data unavailable, Error Message, 
                 S 
                 180 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 No Host - No collect or third-party calls 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 should be allowed to this line number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 222 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Calling card Data unavailable, Error 
                 S 
                 180 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Message, No Host - No calling card 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 calls should be allowed to this line 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 223 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS &amp; Calling card, screened response 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 LIDB - A screening mechanism is in 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 place at the LIDB that does not allow 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 charges to this account number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 224 
                 Denied 
                   
                 LIDB Misroute - The query was routed 
                 S 
                 999 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 to the wrong LIDB. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 225 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Reject, Reroute - The LIDB could not 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 read the format of the query. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 226 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Unexpected Component - The LIDB 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 cannot interpret the format of the query. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 227 
                 Denied 
                   
                 UDTS, SS7 Network problem - There is 
                 S 
                 999 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 an SS7 network problem. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 228 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Personal Communication Service 
                 G8 
                 231 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (PCS) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 229 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Mobile 
                 G8 
                 231 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 230 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Not Billable - The Customer does not 
                 G2 
                 180 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 have a billing arrangement with the LEC 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 for this NPANXX (OCN On-Net 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Screening). 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 231 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: LEC Prepaid Telecommunications 
                 G10 
                 310 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Card Station 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 232 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Feature Group A (FGA) 
                 G4 
                 000 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 233 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: LEC Public - Alternate Interface 
                 G10 
                 302 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (functions controlled by set) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 234 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: LEC Public - Special Billing - 
                 G10 
                 306 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Postpay Overtime (functions controlled 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 by the network) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 235 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: LEC Public - Special Billing - 
                 G10 
                 307 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Prepay Overtime (functions controlled 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 by the network) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 236 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Public - Incompatible Network 
                 G10 
                 300 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Interface (interface other than standard 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 or alternate) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 237 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: IC Public - Alternate Interface 
                 G10 
                 304 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 238 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: IPP (fka COCOT) - Standard 
                   
                 311 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Interface 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 239 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Pager 
                 G8 
                 230 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 241 
                 Denied 
                   
                 General, Reject - The LIDB could not 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 read the format of the query. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 242 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Invoke, Reject - The LIDB could not 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 read the format of the query. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 243 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Return Result, Reject - The LIDB could 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 not read the format of the query. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 244 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Return Error, Reject - The LIDB could 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 not read the format of the query. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 245 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Transaction Portion, Reject - The LIDB 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 could not read the format of the query. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 246 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Vacant Number - There is no line 
                 G2 
                 180 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number assigned. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 247 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Disconnected without referral - 
                 G6 
                 240 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 The line number was disconnected with 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 no referral to a new line number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 248 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Changed to non-published number - 
                 o5 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 The line number was changed to a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 non-published number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 250 
                 Denied 
                   
                 No Collect Calls, Screened Data - A 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 screening mechanism is in place at the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 LIDB that does not allow charges to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 line number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 251 
                 Denied 
                   
                 No Third-party calls, Screened Data - A 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 screening mechanism is in place at the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 LIDB that does not allow charges to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 line number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 252 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Screened Data - A screening 
                 G7 
                 191 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 mechanism is in place at the LIDB that 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 does not allow charges to this line 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 253 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Screened Data - A screening 
                 G7 
                 191 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 mechanism is in place at the LIDB that 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 does not allow charges to this line 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 254 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS &amp; No Calling Card, Unavailable 
                 O2 
                 411 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 network resource - This line or card 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number is not in the database. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 255 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Screened Data - A screening 
                 G7 
                 191 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 mechanism is in place at the LIDB that 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 does not allow charges to this line 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 256 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Being changed - The line number 
                 G6 
                 241 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 is being changed; it may not yet be 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 connected. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 257 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: May not yet be connected - The 
                 G6 
                 243 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 line number may be new; it may not yet 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 be connected. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 258 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Temporarily disconnected - The 
                 G6 
                 244 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 line number is temporarily disconnected. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 259 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Disconnected, calls being taken 
                 G6 
                 245 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 by operator - The line number is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 temporarily disconnected, the operator is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 taking calls. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 260 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Temporarily removed from 
                 G6 
                 244 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 service - The line number is temporally 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 removed from service. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 261 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Not in service for incoming calls - 
                 G2 
                 182 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 This line number cannot accept 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 incoming calls. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 262 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Temporarily disconnected at 
                 G6 
                 245 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 customer request without referral - The 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 line number is temporarily disconnected 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 at the request of the customer without 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 referral. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 263 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Temporarily disconnected at 
                 G6 
                 246 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 customer request with referral - The line 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number is temporarily disconnected at 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 the request of the customer with referral. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 264 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Changed with referral to new 
                 o5 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number - The line number was changed. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 A referral to another line number is in 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 place. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 265 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Calling card blocked, PIN Nonpayment - 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 The calling card is blocked because of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 nonpayment. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 266 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Calling card blocked, Service 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Restriction on PIN - There is a service 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 restriction on this PIN. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 267 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Calling card blocked, no PINs assigned. 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 There is no PIN assigned to this calling 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 card/line number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 268 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Calling card blocked, service denial - 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 There is a service restriction on this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 calling card. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 269 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Calling Card - The calling card is a 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 CIID (proprietary card) for which there 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 is no host. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 270 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Unexpected Data Value - No 
                 S 
                 994 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Collect or Third-Party Calls are allowed. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 272 
                 Denied 
                   
                 LIDB/CCC Response Time-out - A 
                 S 
                 180 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 response was not received from the host 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 database within 4 seconds for a Telco 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 query and 12 seconds for a Bank query. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 273 
                 Denied 
                   
                 No Collect Calls at Customer Request - 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 The end user customer requested the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 block for collect calls to this line 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 274 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS &amp; No Calling Card Calls: Screened 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 data. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 275 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Hotel/Motel Auto Quote - with 
                 G4 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 tax 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 276 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Dormitory Line 
                 G4 
                 225 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 277 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Hotel/Motel Auto Quote - without 
                 G4 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 tax 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 278 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: PBX Line 
                 G4 
                 221 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 279 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Prison (IPP fka COCOT) 
                 G10 
                 316 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 280 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: WATS Line 
                 G4 
                 222 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 281 
                 Denied 
                   
                 No Third-party calls at Customer 
                 O2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Request - The end user customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 requested the block for third-party calls 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 to this line number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 282 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: LEC Public - Standard interface - 
                 G10 
                 301 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Prepay Overtime 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 283 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Coinless (IPP fka COCOT) 
                 G10 
                 314 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 284 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: IC Public - Standard Interface 
                 G10 
                 305 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 285 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Voice Quote - without tax 
                 o6 
                 450 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 286 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Voice Quote - with tax 
                 o6 
                 451 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 287 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: IPP (fka COCOT) - Alternate 
                 G10 
                 312 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Interface 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 288 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Hospital 
                 G4 
                 226 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 289 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Prison (non-IPP fka COCOT) 
                 G10 
                 315 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 290 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: LEC Semi-Public 
                 G10 
                 308 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 291 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Subsystem Congestion 
                 S 
                 180 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 292 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Subsystem Failure 
                 S 
                 180 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 293 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: No translation for address of such 
                 S 
                 180 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 nature 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 294 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Unequipped User 
                 S 
                 999 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 295 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Network Failure 
                 S 
                 180 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 296 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Network congestion 
                 S 
                 999 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 297 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS: Cellular (cellular is distinct from 
                 G8 
                 231 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 mobile) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 298 
                 Denied 
                   
                 BNS and Calling Card - Although the 
                 G4 
                 228 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 NPANXX belongs to SWBT the end- 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 user account number is no longer is a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 SWBT customer. The line number now 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 belongs to another local service 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 provider. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 299 
                 Failure 
                   
                 LNP Only Look-Up, the NPANXX is 
                 LNP 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 not a portable range. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 301 
                 Denied 
                 Y 
                 Denied Originating Number (ANI) - The 
                 G2 
                 183 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 ANI has an Admin. block to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 automatically decline all attempts from 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 this line number. (Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 302 
                 Denied 
                 Y 
                 Terminating Number (DNI) has an 
                 G2 
                 182 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Admin. block to automatically decline 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 all attempts to this line number. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 303 
                 Denied 
                 Y 
                 Calling card has an Admin. block to 
                 G2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 automatically decline all attempts to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 line number. (Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 304 
                 Denied 
                 Y 
                 Collect Number has an Admin. block to 
                 G2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 automatically decline all attempts to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 line number. (Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 305 
                 Denied 
                 Y 
                 Third Party Number has an Admin. 
                 G2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 block to automatically decline all 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 attempts to this line number. (Admin. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Reply) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 306 
                 Denied 
                 Y 
                 Commercial credit card has an Admin. 
                 G2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 block to automatically decline all 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 attempts to this line number. (Admin. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Reply) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 307 
                 Denied 
                 Y 
                 Group Number has an Admin. block to 
                 G2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 automatically decline all attempts from 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 this group. (Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 308 
                 Denied 
                 Y 
                 Global Negative Database Block - There 
                 G2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 is an Admin. block in the Global 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Negative Database to this line number 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 for the Audiotext Industry. (Admin. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Reply) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 309 
                 Denied 
                 Y 
                 Excessive calling card PIN hits - The 
                 G2 
                 000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 threshold for bad PIN attempts for a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 calling card was exceeded in the Admin. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 fraud control system (Admin. Reply). 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 This is the same as reply code 055. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 400 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Commercial credit card, Invalid 
                   
                 506 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Commercial credit card - This is not a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 valid commercial credit card account 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number. It failed the MOD 10 check. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Also an invalid amount, invalid date or a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 format error may cause this response. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Host or Admin. Reply) 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 401 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Commercial credit card, Call issuer - 
                   
                 507 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 The authorization attempt triggered a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 flag in the fraud control system of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 issuing bank, Banknet or VISAnet. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 402 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Commercial credit card, Confiscate card - 
                   
                 508 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 No billing is allowed to this account 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number. If possible confiscate this card. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 403 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Commercial credit card, Authorization 
                   
                 509 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Declined - No billing is allowed to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 account number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 404 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Commercial credit card, Unable to 
                   
                 510 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Validate Account Number - There is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 problem in authorizing this account 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 405 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Commercial credit card, Card expired - 
                   
                 511 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 No billing is allowed to this account 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 number because the card has expired 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 406 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Commercial credit card - Invalid 
                   
                 512 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Merchant ID 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 408 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Commercial credit card, Invalid card 
                   
                 513 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 and Address (zip code) - Both the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 account number and the address or zip 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 code are invalid. Do not allow billing to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 this account number. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 409 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Commercial credit card, System 
                   
                 514 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Problem - There is a technical problem 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 with the authorization system of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 issuing bank, Banknet or VISAnet. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 420 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Commercial credit card, Over 
                   
                 515 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 withdrawal limit - This account has 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 exceeded the withdrawal threshold in 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 the authorization system of the issuing 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 bank 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 421 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Commercial credit card, Over credit 
                   
                 516 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 limit - This account has exceeded the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 credit threshold in the authorization 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 system of the issuing bank 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 422 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Commercial credit card, Lost card, 
                   
                 517 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Confiscate - This account number was 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 reported lost. No billing is allowed to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 this account number. If possible 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 confiscate this card. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 423 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Commercial credit card, Stolen card, 
                   
                 518 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Confiscate card - This card was reported 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 stolen. No billing is allowed to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 account number. If possible confiscate 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 this card. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 424 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Commercial credit card, Invalid Pin - 
                   
                 519 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 This means a bad PIN was used. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 425 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Commercial credit card, Allowable 
                   
                 520 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Number of PIN Tries Exceeded - The 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 threshold for bad PIN attempts for a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 calling card was exceeded in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 authorization system of the issuing 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 bank, Banknet or VISAnet. 
               
               
                 DENY 
                 426 
                 Denied 
                   
                 Duplicate transaction. The 
                   
                 521 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Authorization host considers this a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 duplicate transaction. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     In the embodiment of the invention depicted in the drawings, regardless of the type of service provider or the type of validation request, clients or vendors may need a profile so that the process or method carried out by the system  10  knows how to treat the request. The client or vendor profile may be set up in a database, which includes the indicators that are set for the type and tests for each request, which will be subsequently received from the vendor. 
     The first table shows the operations in the BTN test descriptions process. In one exemplary embodiment, a set of core tests is run for each client. Additionally, clients may have some configuration options to identify the tests that best fit their program. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 BILLABLE BTN TESTs 
               
             
          
           
               
                 PROCESS 
                 TESTs 
                 PURPOSE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 Client profile 
                 Client profile for each id for BTN validation process test 
               
               
                 bill 
                   
                 flags. 
               
               
                 VAL only 
                 ANI = BTN 
                 Determines if originating number = BTN input by caller. 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 Invalid # 
                 Ids Invalid NPAs &amp; NXXs 
               
               
                 bill 
                 OFFNET 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 Global OFFNET 
                 Ids (NPA)NXX &amp; OCN combinations where there is 
               
               
                 bill 
                   
                 not a B&amp;C agreement 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 Product 
                 Ids (NPA)NXX &amp; OCN combinations where the traffic 
               
               
                 bill 
                 OFFNET 
                 type is not approved to bill (Jul. 24, 2001: MRC only for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 NECA and Illuminet Only) 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 Client OFFNET 
                 Ids (NPA)NXX &amp; OCN combinations where there the 
               
               
                 bill 
                   
                 Client id (7###) is not approved to bill 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 Special Calling 
                 Ids (NPA)NXX &amp; OCN combinations of special calling 
               
               
                 bill 
                 Card OFFNET 
                 card #s for non-calling card traffic that are unable to be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 billed 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 Plan OFFNET 
                 Ids (NPA)NXX &amp; OCN combinations where a Client 
               
               
                 bill 
                   
                 Plan is not approved to bill 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 ONNET 
                 Ids (NPA)NXX &amp; OCN combinations where there are 
               
               
                 bill 
                   
                 B&amp;C agreements 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 CLEC 
                 Ids (NPA)NXX-xxxx&#39;s are not billable due to CLEC for 
               
               
                 bill 
                   
                 all Clients. 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 4250 BLOCK 
                 Ids (NPA)NXX-xxxx&#39;s that have a 4250 billing block 
               
               
                 bill 
                   
                 (for MRC only) 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 UNBILL 
                 Ids (NPA)NXX-xxxx&#39;s that have unbilled previously for 
               
               
                 bill 
                   
                 all Clients 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 Block &amp; Cancel - 
                 Ids (NPA)NXX-xxxx&#39;s that requested a Block and/or 
               
               
                 bill 
                 GLOBAL 
                 Cancel; usually institutional 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 Block &amp; Cancel - 
                 Ids (NPA)NXX-xxxx&#39;s that requested a Block and/or 
               
               
                 bill 
                 Client Specific 
                 Cancel for a particular Client id 
               
               
                 VAL/1 st  + n 
                 Val Code Cache 
                 Ids (NPA)NXX-xxxx &amp; Return Code combinations for 
               
               
                 Pre-bill 
                   
                 previous request 
               
               
                 VAL/1 st   
                 LIDB Validity 
                 To determine the billable status of the return code from 
               
               
                 Pre-bill 
                 Test 
                 the LIDB dip 
               
               
                 VAL/1 st   
                 LIDB CLEC 
                 Ids RAOs that belong to CLECs 
               
               
                 Pre-bill 
                 RAO 
               
               
                 VAL/1 st   
                 LIDB CLEC 
                 Ids known CLEC OCNs 
               
               
                 Pre-bill 
                 OCN 
               
               
                 VAL/1 st   
                 LIDB State 
                 To determine if the returned LIDB code is a state 
               
               
                 Pre-bill 
                 Specific 
                 specific code and then a conversion to the billable OCN 
               
               
                   
                 Conversion 
                 for the ONNET check 
               
               
                 VAL/1 st   
                 LIDB ONNET 
                 Ids billable (NPA)NXX &amp; returned OCN combinations 
               
               
                 Pre-bill 
               
               
                 ALL 
                 VAL Trans Log 
                 Log of each validation request and response by Client 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ID 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 BTN CREDIT SCORING 
               
             
          
           
               
                 PROCESS 
                 TESTs 
                 PURPOSE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 AREA CODE 
                 Provides the new area code for the line number while 
               
               
                 bill 
                 Change indicator 
                 in permissive dialing period. 
               
               
                 Val 
                 ZIP MATCH 
                 ZIP matches zip codes for (NPA) NXX (not in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 production as of June 2001) 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 ANI WATCH - 
                 (NPA)NXX-xxxx&#39;s where there a refund/chargeback 
               
               
                 bill 
                 CLIENT 
                 has been issued previously for this Client ID 
               
               
                   
                 (SOURCE: all) 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 ANI WATCH - 
                 (NPA)NXX-xxxx&#39;s where there a refund has been 
               
               
                 bill 
                 CLIENT 
                 issued previously for this Client ID 
               
               
                   
                 (SOURCE: 
               
               
                   
                 client) 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 ANI WATCH - 
                 (NPA)NXX-xxxx&#39;s where there a chargeback/bad 
               
               
                 bill 
                 CLIENT 
                 debt has been issued previously for this Client ID 
               
               
                   
                 (SOURCE: 
               
               
                   
                 ebi/telco) 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 ANI WATCH - 
                 (NPA)NXX-xxxx&#39;s where there a 
               
               
                 bill 
                 GLOBAL 
                 refund/chargeback/bad debt has been issued 
               
               
                   
                 (SOURCE: all) 
                 previously from CLIENT, ebi or telco 
               
               
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 ANI WATCH - 
                 (NPA)NXX-xxxx&#39;s where there a 
               
               
                 bill 
                 PRODUCT 
                 refund/chargeback/bad debt has been issued 
               
               
                   
                 (SOURCE: all) 
                 previously for the same product 
               
               
                 VAL 
                 Address 
                 Not Available 
               
               
                   
                 Verification 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 TEST BEFORE FIRST BTN BILLING 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 PROCESS 
                 TESTs 
                 PURPOSE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 LEC CARE 
                 Determines if the ILEC 
               
               
                   
                 bill 
                 FEED 
                 owns the Acct. for billing 
               
               
                   
                 VAL/Pre- 
                 Biz vs Res 
                 Determines the commercial or 
               
               
                   
                 bill 
                   
                 consumer status for credit score  
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
                                           Example TESTs            PROCESS   TESTs   PURPOSE               VAL/Pre-   Threshold by   Determines whether the BTN has       bill   Client   met a Client specific threshold       VAL/Pre-   LEC PROV feed   To determine if LEC owns Acct       bill       VAL/Pre-   Credit Check   Credit header files check from Credit       bill       source       VAL/Pre-   New within 90   Determines if BTN is less than       bill   days   90 days old; affects credit score                    
ON/OFFNET Family Tables (Billing Coverage)
 
     The OFFNET table family contains OCN &amp; NPA_NXX combinations where billing is not approved. If found, the BTN does not continue on the validation path. 
     The ONNET table determines if an NPA_NXX &amp; OCN combination can be found among the billable combinations. In this case a match allows the BTN to move further on the validation path. A no match will return a failure. 
     The CLEC table consists of CLECs that the proprietor, or user of the system  10 , does not have billing contracts with. This table is specific to the line number. Sources dictate the fields that will be present for the record. A match here is considered a fail and does not continue. 
     The 4250 Block table consists of specific line numbers that cannot be billed for 4250-01 record types. A match in this table stops the validation movement. 
     Bill Control Family Tables 
     The Unbills or unbillable table holds all the BTNs that have been sent to a subscribers&#39; bill page but could not be placed on the bill page for various reasons. A match here halts the validation sequence for the subject BTN. 
     Block and cancel tables identify BTNs that have requested a permanent or a Client specific block for billing. A match sends a failed response. 
     Validation Cache is a table that holds responses in order not to process duplicates (e.g. Submit pressed 10 times). A match here will return the code stored from a previous request. 
     LIDB Family Tables 
     LIDB is a third party that supplies information to the phone line number level. The goal is to test and store as many relevant fields as can be requested in a transaction. 
     The LIDB Validity Table translates the LIDB code into a billable or non-billable response according to predefined business rules. A fail here will halt the validation for the request. 
     The State specific table is a conversion from a true OCN to a known State Specific OCN that is billable. A match here will trigger the conversion, the BTN continues in the validation process. 
     The transaction log is the history of each transaction request and response that is processed through the validation system. 
     The TPM indicates that an NPA is in the permissive dialing period. A match here appends the record with the updated number for a record update. 
     The ANI Watch has BTNs that have been given an adjustment for charges by the Client, proprietor or user of the system  10  or the Telco. This is to help the client determine the credit score for the BTN. 
     Unlike the conventional use of the LIDB database that uses the LIDB data to obtain information on a destination/termination or recipient location or subscriber unit, the system  10 , in one exemplary embodiment, uses the industry standard LIDB database to obtain relevant information on the initiating subscriber line. The subscriber line reference data obtained from the LIDB database is then processed to generate modified validity codes, which provide a vendor with data to facilitate deciding whether or not a transaction should be processed. The LIDB/LNP database may be queried as if a collect call event is occurring and a call is thus mimicked. The processing of the transaction, in one exemplary embodiment, involves communicating the relevant transaction data to a folder of the subscriber with a relevant Telco. The method of, and system  10  for, validating the billing account associated with the subscriber line allows, for example, a subscriber line to be used to validate and conclude a transaction instead of using a conventional payment techniques such as a credit card, debit card, bank account details or the like. 
     A current industry-wide problem is the lack of ability of a service provider to identify when a line subscriber has switched his service to a CLEC since the service provider may not have an existing billing arrangement with such a CLEC and may also not have a source for the BNA to allow for a direct billing solution. LNP databases were originally established for the purpose of directing call routing activities among facilities-based carriers and most telephone numbers ported to a CLEC do not involve a facility change (i.e. the CLEC is simply reselling the incumbent LEC&#39;s facilities). This means that, for billing decision purposes, LNP queries may provide an incorrect response. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the LNP queries have been enhanced by analyzing and interpreting other field elements included within the query response. Specifically, certain values or, in some cases, the absence of certain values, in the Operating Company Number (“OCN”) and/or the Regional Accounting Office (“RAO”) fields, allows further accuracy in the validation response. While the definitions of the OCN and RAO field elements can be obtained from industry sources, their interpreted use in the validation process is unique to the present invention. Use of these additional data elements can improve the reliability of the validation event. 
     In addition, the present invention may include supplementing LNP results with CARE queries in LEC regions where LNP results are inadequate and CARE costs are not otherwise prohibitive based on the retail price of the underlying service. CARE may provide a reliable result on CLEC-ported numbers since its basic purpose is to provide subscriber account information (such as billing name and address). Once a number is ported to a CLEC, the incumbent LEC no longer has subscriber responsibility and will, therefore, return an “unavailable” response, even if the LEC&#39;s dial-tone facility is still being utilized. This negative response is then used to generate a “deny” status on the subscriber based on the current lack of CLEC billing support. 
     The exemplary embodiment of the present invention may supplement the validation process through the use of internal databases built from information gathered throughout the billing and collection process and process logic gleaned from previous billing experience. 
     It is important to appreciate that all of the operations in the method executed by the system  10  need not be executed in real-time. In one exemplary embodiment, after the approval code  000  has been generated by the system  10  at operation  134 , the system  10  terminates its pre-validation check routine as shown at operation  136 . At this point the system  10  may merely provide pre-validation data or verification data to indicate to the vendor  12  whether or not the subscriber line is billable. Thus the system  10  may, in a first interaction with the vendor  12  provide pre-validation data, and in a second interaction process billing information. During the processing of billing information the validation process may once again be executed. In certain embodiments, the first interaction may be in the form of a registration process during which the validation procedure is carried out to register a subscriber line. The vendor may then conduct numerous transactions with subscriber and subsequent validation checks on the subscriber line may then only be carried out on a periodic basis. 
     After the validation code has been sent to the vendor  12 , and the pre-validation procedure has been completed, the system  10  then carries out the fraud checks on a non real-time basis (usually during the next 48 to 72 hours) as shown in operations  140  to  144 . The information obtained during the fraud control check, if necessary, is used to update the various databases. In particular, after a BTN has been successfully validated but before a billing event takes place, the CARE investigation operations  140  to  144  may be executed. In the exemplary embodiment, the system  10  is arranged to interrogate off-site CARE databases and the results of the enquiry are stored in the CARE database  46 . Checks on the data received from the CARE databases are then performed; whereafter one or more of the other databases may be updated with the results. For example, the CARE database may be updated with new within 90 days information, business indicator information, or the like. In the exemplary embodiment, CARE codes  2618  and  2619  indicate that the BNA is not available and that the LEC no longer owns the account. 
     The updating of the databases following the CARE investigation may allow enhanced future checks by the system  10  in a subsequent pre-validation procedure or subsequent registration validation event. The updated information may be provided to the vendor  12 . However, if the BTN information returned from the CARE database does not meet predefined criteria, the other databases of the system  10  may not be updated. 
     In the embodiment described above, information on the subscriber line  17  is forwarded by the service provider or vendor  12  to the system  10  for validation. However, in other embodiments of the invention, the consumer or customer  11  may call the system  10  directly, as shown by line  150  in  FIG. 5 , and the ANI may then be obtained by the system  10  directly from the customer  11  and not indirectly from the vendor  12 . Further subscriber line data, e.g. BTN, address of the customer  11  and so on, may then also be obtained directly from the customer  11 . For example, the customer  11  may have appropriate software installed on his/her PC which allows the customer  11  to dial into the system  10  in an automated fashion should he/she wish to charge any requested goods or services to his/her subscriber account. The system  10  would then validate the subscriber line number  17  using the method described above. The system  10  then typically communicates a validation code (e.g. corresponding to approval or non-approval) to the vendor  12  as shown by line  152 . The vendor  12  would then conclude the transaction with the customer  11  if the subscriber line has been validated. 
     The proprietor or user of the system  10  may function as a type of clearing house. In particular, the proprietor or user of the system  10  may be responsible or accountable for payment for the goods or services for each transaction to the service provider or vendor  12  and, in turn, receive payment from the Telco  13 . As mentioned above, the system  10  may update the telephone bill or account of the subscriber in an automated fashion (see line  154 ) and the account that the subscriber or customer  11  receives (see  FIG. 6  and line  156  in  FIG. 5 ) includes the charges for the goods and/or services provided by the vendor  12 . The customer  11  may pay the Telco  13  (see line  155 ), the Telco  13  may pay the system  10  (see line  156 ), and the system  10  may pay the vendor  12  (see line  160 ). It is important to appreciate that these payments need not take place at the same time. In one exemplary embodiment, the payments between the Telco and the system  10 , and the system  10  and vendor  12 , take place periodically in a batch fashion. 
       FIG. 7  shows a diagrammatic representation of machine in the exemplary form of a computer system  600  within which a set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one of the methodologies discussed above, may be executed. 
     The computer system  600  includes a processor  602 , a main memory  604  and a static memory  606 , which communicate with each other via a bus  608 . The computer system  600  may further include a video display unit  610  (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system  600  also includes an alpha-numeric input device  612  (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device  614  (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit  616 , a signal generation device  618  (e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device  620 . 
     The disk drive unit  616  includes a machine-readable medium  622  on which is stored a set of instructions (software)  624  embodying any one, or all, of the methodologies or functions described herein. The software  624  is also shown to reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory  604  and/or within the processor  602 . The software  624  may further be transmitted or received via the network interface device  620 . For the purposes of this specification, the term “machine-readable medium” shall be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a sequence of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one of the methodologies of the present invention. The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to included, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic disks, and carrier wave signals. 
     Thus, a method and system to validate data associated with a subscriber line of a telecommunication network have been described. Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.