Abstract:
In a relationship in which a universal prepaid telecommunication services card issuer is different than a telecommunication services provider, a method and system for implementing a universal prepaid telecommunication services card (prepaid card), which can be used as a prepaid card for a plurality of services providers providing one or more telecommunication services. The method comprises a card issuer providing a prepaid card having a identification number associated with the prepaid card. Upon receiving a prepaid card activation request from a card seller or distributor, the card issuer activates the prepaid card. After the card is activated, the card issuer can receive a request to use the card from a user. The card issuer then receives from the user the identification number associated with the prepaid card and validates the identification number. Upon validation of the identification number, the card issuer receives from the user a service request for a particular service provider. The card issuer then communicates the service request to the particular service provider.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a prepaid telecommunication services card, and more particularly to a universal prepaid telecommunication services card that can be used for wireless, Internet, local telephone and long distance services for a plurality of service providers. The present invention also relates to systems and methods for implementing the prepaid telecommunication services card.  
           [0002]    Prepaid telecommunication services are becoming popular among many people, including immigrants, the credit challenged, teens, seniors, etc. Prepaid services for telecommunication products, such as wireless (cellular, PCS, GSM, etc.), Internet, and traditional telephone services, such as local and long distance telephone services are being offered by many service providers, and typically are provided by issuing prepaid calling or telecommunication cards to customers.  
           [0003]    With prepaid telecommunication services currently known in the art, a customer typically purchases a prepaid calling card for the service, and when activated, the service provider credits the customer&#39;s account with the amount of the prepaid card. However, because there are a number of service providers, and each of those providers may be offering different services and amounts for each of those services, there are a large numbe of prepaid cards on the market. For example, companies like Qwest™, AT&amp;T™, Sprint™, Verizon™, and others all may offer wireless, Internet and traditional telephone prepaid services, and each service may be offered with different prepaid amounts ($10, $20, $50, $100, etc.). With such large and diverse product offerings, service providers face difficult production and distribution problems. Moreover, retailers are concerned about carrying products or “SKUs” for each of the service provider&#39;s different product offerings. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, if a retailer carries all the different product offerings, the prepaid cards probably would overtake a significant portion of the retailer&#39;s shelf space. Accordingly, retailers are hesitant to carry all the different product offerings from the different service providers, so the service providers are finding it difficult to get significant market penetration with their products.  
           [0004]    Thus, what is needed is prepaid telecommunication services card system and method that allows a single prepaid card issuer to provide prepaid telecommunication services for multiple service providers.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In a relationship in which a universal prepaid telecommunication services card issuer is different than a telecommunication services provider, a method and system for implementing a universal prepaid telecommunication services card (prepaid card), which can be used as a prepaid card for a plurality of services providers providing one or more telecommunication services. In accordance with one embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention, a card issuer provides a prepaid card having a identification number associated with the prepaid card. Upon receiving a prepaid card activation request from a card seller or distributor, the card issuer activates the prepaid card. After the card is activated, the card issuer can receive a request to use the card from a user. The card issuer then receives from the user the identification number associated with the prepaid card and validates the identification number. Upon validation of the identification number, the card issuer receives from the user a service request for a particular service provider. The card issuer then communicates the service request to the particular service provider.  
           [0006]    In accordance with one embodiment, the identification number for the prepaid card comprises a card serial number, a card personal identification number, or a combination of a serial number and a PIN.  
           [0007]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the prepaid card comprises a magnetic strip or microchip for storing information, and the step of the card issuer activating the prepaid card further comprises a POS terminal reading card information from the magnetic strip or the microchip, the POS terminal transmitting the card information to the card issuer, and the card issuer activating the prepaid card based on the received card information.  
           [0008]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the prepaid card may have a predefined value assigned to is, or the value can be applied to the card at the time of purchase.  
           [0009]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention a system for implementing the prepaid card.  
           [0010]    A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description of preferred embodiments and claims when considered in connection with the figures. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    In the Figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a picture of one embodiment of a universal prepaid telecommunication services card;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a network of systems that can be used to implement a universal prepaid telecommunication services card in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a method for implementing the universal prepaid telecommunication services card of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    Rather than each service provider issuing separate prepaid calling cards for each of its service offerings, the present invention proposes use of a single prepaid telecommunication services card  100  (“prepaid card  100 ”) (see FIG. 1), which can be used to replenish telecommunication service accounts from any number of carriers or providers. Thus, the retailer only needs to stock one card rather than separate cards for each carrier and service offering. In one embodiment of the present invention, the value of prepaid card  100  may be assigned at the time of sale. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the value of prepaid card  100  is fixed and printed on the card. In the embodiment in which the value of prepaid card  100  is fixed and printed on the card, the retailer may stock one set of cards for each value denomination.  
         [0016]    Referring now to FIG. 2, one embodiment of a system and network  200  for implementing a prepaid card in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, system  200  comprises a card issuer  202 , a service provider  204 , a card retailer  206 , and a customer  208 .  
         [0017]    In one embodiment, card issuer  202  is an entity responsible for printing, distributing and implementing prepaid cards  100 . Card issuer  202  comprises an issuer processing system  210  for validating and processing prepaid cards  100 . Issuer processing system  210  may comprise any suitable processing system, such as a personal computer, a computer server, a mainframe or minicomputer system, or the like. In addition, issuer processing system  210  may comprise an interactive voice response (IVR) unit for processing telephone calls and/or modems, hubs or routers for receiving data from card retailers  206  and/or customers  208 . Associated with issuer processing system  210  may be a prepaid card database  212 , and a service provider ID database  214 . As discussed in more detail below, prepaid card database  212  and service ID provider database  214  are used in the validation and implementation process for prepaid cards  100 .  
         [0018]    Service provider  204  may be any service provider that provides telecommunication services, such as wireless service, Internet service, local telephone service, long distance telephone service, or any other telecommunication services that may be provided in a prepaid manner. In one embodiment, service provider  204  works with card issuer  202  to provide prepaid telecommunications services. As discussed in more detail below, card issuer  202  issues prepaid cards  100 , and when cards  100  are activated, communicates with service provider  204 , so that a customer&#39;s telecommunication service account is credited. Service provider  204  comprises a provider processing system  216  for communicating with card issuer  202  and for processing prepaid card services. Like with issuer processing system  210 , provider processing system  216  may comprise any suitable processing system and may include communications equipment for communicating with card issuer  202 , such as IVR systems, modems, hubs, routers, etc. Service provider  204  also may include a prepaid telecommunication services database  218  and a customer account database  220 , for processing prepaid telecommunication services requests.  
         [0019]    Card retailer  206  may be any entity that sells or distributes prepaid cards  100  to customers. As discussed in more detail below, when a customer purchases a prepaid card  100  from the retailer, the retailer activates the card using a point-of-sale (POS) terminal  222 , a telephone  224 , or some other communication means (e.g., cell phone, a computer terminal, etc.). As illustrated in FIG. 2, POS terminal  222  and telephone  224  are configured to communicate with issuer processing system  210  at card issuer  202 .  
         [0020]    Customer  208  may be any individual or entity that purchases a prepaid card  100 . In one embodiment, after customer  208  purchases a card, customer  208  communicates with card issuer  202  to activate the card for a particular telecommunication service account of the customer. As discussed in more detail below, this typically requires customer  208  to provide a card serial number and/or a PIN associated with prepaid card  100 , as well as customer account information to card issuer  202 , and more particularly to issuer processing system  210 . To communicate information to issuer processing system  210 , customer  208  may use any suitable communication device, such as a computer  226 , a telephone  228 , a cell phone  230 , a personal digital assistant (PDA), or the like.  
         [0021]    Referring now to FIG. 3, a flow chart  300  illustrating one embodiment of a method for implementing a universal prepaid telecommunication services card  100  (“prepaid card  100 ”) is shown. In implementing prepaid telecommunication services cards  100 , the cards typically are sold or distributed to customers  208  by card retailers  206 , such as grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, or other retail outlets. Upon the sale of a prepaid card  100 , retailer  206  typically activates prepaid card  100  with card issuer  202 . In one embodiment of the invention, each prepaid card  100  has a unique identification or serial number and a PIN assigned to it by card issuer  210 . The serial number and PIN for each card are stored at card issuer  202 , for example in card database  212 . To activate a prepaid card  100 , card retailer  206  communicates the card serial number (and perhaps PIN) to issuer processing system  210  at card issuer  202 , informing issuer processing system  210  that prepaid card  100  was legitimately sold to a customer (step  302 ).  
         [0022]    In one embodiment, card retailer  206  activates a prepaid card using a POS terminal  222  at the retailer location. For example, prepaid card  100  may include a magnetic strip or microchip, which stores card information, such as card serial number, PIN number, monetary value of the prepaid card, etc. In this embodiment, POS terminal  222  is configured to read the relevant information from the magnetic strip or microchip on the card and transmit that information over a communication link to issuer processing system  210  and database  212 . As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the communication link between POS terminal  222  and issuer processing system  210  may be any suitable communication link, such as a telephone line, a direct data connection, a wireless or satellite connection, or the like.  
         [0023]    In an alternative embodiment of the invention, prepaid card  100  may not have a specific monetary denomination associated with it. In this embodiment, a customer pays card retailer  206  a monetary amount, and retailer  206  assigns that amount to the card. In one embodiment, to assign an amount to the card, retailer  206  has a POS terminal  222  that writes the amount on the magnetic strip or microchip of the card and/or communicates that amount to issuer processing system  210  and database  212  using the communication link (step  304 ). In another embodiment, POS terminal  222  merely communicates the amount to issuer processing system  210 , but does not write the amount on the card (alternative step  304 ). The particular procedure used is not important so long as the customer receives the appropriate credit for which he paid.  
         [0024]    As one stilled in the art will appreciate, some retail locations may not have POS terminals  222 . Thus, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, card retailer  206  communicates card information to issuer processing system  210  and database  212  using a computer terminal or telephone. In the case where a telephone is used, issuer processing system  210  may include an interactive voice response (IVR) unit or voice recognition unit, which automatically receives the necessary information from the retailer&#39;s voice or DTMF responses from the telephone.  
         [0025]    When a customer  208  wishes to use prepaid card  100 , customer  208  contacts card issuer  202 , and more particularly issuer processing system  210  of card issuer  202  (step  306 ). As discussed above, customer  208  communicates with issuer processing system  210  using any suitable communication device, such as a computer  226 , a telephone  228 , a cell phone  230 , a PDA  232 , or the like. If a telephone or cell phone is used, issuer processing system  210  may comprise an IVR or voice recognition unit as discussed above to communicate with customer  208 .  
         [0026]    After connecting to issuer processing system  210 , customer  208  enters a card serial number and PIN associated with prepaid card  100  (step  308 ). Issuer processing system  210  then validates the information by checking prepaid card database  212  (step  310 ). In one embodiment, issuer processing system  210  uses the card serial number to extract a record from database  212 , and confirm that the entered PIN is valid for the entered card serial number. In addition, issuer processing system  210  validates that prepaid card  100  was activated by a card retailer  206 ; i.e., that the card was not stolen.  
         [0027]    Upon validating the card and PIN, issuer processing system  210  prompts customer  208  to select a service for which it wants to use prepaid card  100 , as well as a service provider to provide that service (steps  312 - 314 ). For example, customer  208  may select prepaid wireless calling services to be provided by AT&amp;T Wireless™, prepaid Internet services to be provided by MCI Worldcomm™, prepaid local or long distance services to be provided by Qwest Communications™, or any other combination of service and service provider. After customer  208  has selected the service and service provider, issuer processing system  210  obtains a service ID number associated with the service, service provider and/or monetary amount combination. For example, in one embodiment, a service provider such as Qwest Communications™ may have service ID numbers associated with each of its service offerings and monetary value combinations (e.g., wireless $10, wireless $20, long distance $50, local phone service $25, etc.) In an alternative embodiment, service providers may have service ID numbers associated with each service offering (e.g., wireless, Internet, long distance, local phone service, etc.), but no monetary value associated with the service. In this embodiment, card issuer  202  communicates the monetary value of the card to service provider  204  based on the prepaid card set monetary value, or the value assigned to the card by card retailer  206  at the time of purchase. In either case, the service ID numbers are stored in a database.  
         [0028]    In one embodiment, service providers  204  may provide the service ID numbers to card issuer  202  to be stored and accessed in service ID database  214  located at the card issuer. In accordance with this embodiment, issuer processing system  210  obtains a service ID number from database  214  (step  316 ) and then connect to service provider processing system  216  for further processing (step  318 ). The connection between issuer processing system  210  and database  214  is illustrated in FIG. 3 by line  315 .  
         [0029]    In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, instead of card issuer  202  storing the service provider&#39;s service ID numbers locally (e.g., in database  214 ), card issuer  202  may be configured to access the service ID numbers stored at service provider  204 , for example in service provider ID database  218  (illustrated as step  318 ). In accordance with this aspect of the present invention, issuer processing system  210  accesses database  218 , for example through the provider processing system  216 . The connection between issuer processing system  210  and database  218  is illustrated in FIG. 3 by line  317 . If this particular embodiment is used, the connection between card issuer  202  and service provider  204  can be maintained for further processing (step  318 ).  
         [0030]    As one skilled in the art will appreciate, to use a prepaid card for any given service, a customer typically has an account with a service provider for a particular service or establishes an account prior to using the prepaid card. For example, for wireless service, a customer needs a wireless phone (cellular, PCS, GSM, etc.) to make calls. Typically, the customer will purchase or be given a phone for use with one or more service providers. At the time the customer receives the phone, the customer typically establishes an account with the one or more service providers with which the phone can be used. The same also holds true for other telecommunication services. Internet, local phone, and long distance service providers all require customers to establish accounts before they will provide service. In one embodiment, a customer establishes an account with a service provider by contacting the service provider directly. In another embodiment, the system of the present invention can be used to assist a customer in establishing an account with a service provider for a particular service.  
         [0031]    If a customer  208  has an established account for the service/service provider selected in step  312 , customer  208  is prompted to enter additional information, such as customer account information (step  320 ). In one embodiment, issuer processing system  210  at card issuer  202  prompts customer  208  to enter the information, and then passes the information on to provider processing system  216  at service provider  204 . In accordance with this embodiment, issuer processing system  210  receives account information from customer  208 , establishes a connection with service provider  204 , and then passes the account information to service provider  204 , along with the service ID associated with the selected service, service provider and monetary amount (step  322 ). Upon receiving the account and service ID information from card issuer  202 , provider processing system  216  validates the information by accessing service provider ID database  218  and customer account database  220 . If the customer account and service ID information is valid, provider processing system  216  at service provider  204  credits the customer&#39;s service account with the monetary value of prepaid card  100  purchased by the customer. Provider processing system  216  then informs issuer processing system  210  at card issuer  202  that the customer&#39;s account was credited. Issuer processing system  210 , in turn, notifies the customer.  
         [0032]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, instead of issuer processing system  210  at card issuer  202  connecting to provider processing system  216  after it obtains the customer&#39;s account information, issuer processing system  210  may connect to provider processing system  216  before customer account information is obtained. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, issuer processing system  210  immediately may pass account information from the customer to service provider  204 . For example, issuer processing system  210  may receive account information and send it directly to service provider  204 , or issuer processing system  210  may establish a 3-way call with provider processing system  216  at service provider  204  and the customer. With a 3-way call, either issuer processing system  210  or provider processing system  216  may be configured to prompt the customer to enter account information. In either case, the account information, along with the service ID is passed to provider processing system  216  for processing as discussed above. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the specific configuration and method by which account and service ID information is passed from card issuer  202  to service provider  204  is not important, so long as the information arrives at the service provider, is validated, and the customer account is credited.  
         [0033]    If a customer purchases a prepaid card  100 , but does not have an account established with a service provider, the customer is informed of that fact when service provider  204  attempts to validate the customer account information. If this occurs, the customer is instructed to set-up an account by contacting the service provider directly or by working through a customer service agent at card issuer  202 . Alternatively, issuer processing system  210  may be configured to establish service provider accounts, or issuer processing system  210  may connect the customer to provider processing system  216 , so that it can establish the account. The particular process of how an account is established is not important. Once the account is established, however, the customer can use the system of the present invention to implement the prepaid card.  
         [0034]    As illustrated in FIG. 3., if at any step during the prepaid card validation process, a customer has a problem or would like to speak with a customer service agent, the customer can press a predetermined key (such as 0) (step  326 ) and the customer is transferred to a customer service agent (step  328 ). In addition, all other IVR and computing system functionality may be incorporated into the system of the present invention.  
         [0035]    In conclusion, the present invention provides novel system and method for obtaining dimensional measurements of live animals and/or carcasses. While detailed descriptions of one or more embodiments of the invention have been given above, various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art without varying from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.