Abstract:
A prepaid virtual calling card, specifically for providing users (consumers and business affiliates) with an on-line method and apparatus to create custom prepaid calling cards for immediate use and distribution, wherein the prepaid virtual calling card is created by: connecting a user via a communications network to at least one server; presenting the user with an applications supplied by the server for the issuance of the virtual calling card; submitting the application to the server; and issuing the virtual calling card.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to the creation of prepaid telephone calling cards, and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for the interactive creation of custom prepaid telephone calling cards.  
           [0003]    2. Discussion of the Background Art  
           [0004]    Competition in the long distance carrier market has led to a proliferation of new products and marketing techniques for selling long distance time. One innovation is the prepaid telephone calling card which provides a user with a certain amount of long distance time. The long distance service may include various national or international regions.  
           [0005]    A prepaid calling card service provider typically purchases long distance capacity in volume, for example by leasing a number of lines, and in turn provides long distance calling services to businesses and individuals through the use of prepaid calling cards.  
           [0006]    A prepaid calling card user usually purchases a specific number of minutes or for a specific dollar amount of long distance service, paid for in advance. The user is typically given a card on which is imprinted an access telephone number and an account number. Upon calling the access number, the user is prompted to enter the account number and the destination number they wish to call. A system checks the account, and if a positive balance remains, the user is connected to their destination number. During the course of the call, the account balance is deducted as the call progresses. Calling privileges are discontinued when the balance reaches zero.  
           [0007]    Current distribution of telephone cards has typically been accomplished through retail outlets, such as gas stations, grocery stores, convenience stores and to some degree through manually operated vending machines. The conventional prepaid card distribution channels usually consist of a hierarchical network of manufacturers, distributors and sub-distributors that physically manufacture and place hard copy cards at the retail distribution outlets.  
           [0008]    One of the limitations of conventional prepaid calling card commerce is that existing marketing channels and distribution methods are expressly tied to predefined trademarks and designs. Prepaid calling card providers strive to make their cards immediately recognizable and attempt to create and maintain their customer base through brand identification. Another limitation of presently available prepaid calling cards is that they are targeted to a single user. A prepaid calling card can realistically be used only by the person in possession of the physical card. As a practical matter, joint use of a card by multiple persons is not practical. Another limitation is that prepaid calling cards are usually sold in predefined denominations, for example, $5, $10, $20, etc. A user is restricted to purchasing a prepaid card in the available denominations which may be inconvenient depending on a users calling habits. In addition, the physical layout of the cards and related packaging is usually predefined, based on the desire for brand identification mentioned above. This limits the amount of space available for targeted advertising, collateral product sales, and other marketing opportunities, and also limits and may even prohibit customisation of the prepaid calling card itself.  
           [0009]    The Internet has become an important advertising, distribution, and service channel for many businesses. For example, a web site on the Internet not only provides an enterprise with a vehicle for advertising its products and for providing customer service, but may also provide a distribution channel for the products. As such, a web site provides a powerful channel of commerce, accessible to anyone in the world with the appropriate equipment, without time or geographical restrictions. A web site further offers an opportunity to provide additional presentations and marketing situations to a much larger audience of customers and potential customers than more traditional marketing and distribution techniques.  
           [0010]    The present invention described below overcomes the above limitations by: (a) creating an alternate, less expensive, method of distribution, (b) eliminating the need to create and maintain expensive trademarks, (c) reducing printing costs, (d) providing users with the ability to instantly order and use the phone cards, (e) eliminating the denomination limitations on cards, (f) supporting shared use of calling cards, (g) providing for enhanced marketing and cross selling opportunities without the physical space limitations of calling cards, (h) allowing users to created personal cards with their “own brand” or messages, and (i) providing for multiple means of incorporating calling card profiles into other physical or electronic personal communication devices to facilitate increased use of the same.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    A method for creating a prepaid virtual calling card comprising: connecting a user via a communications network to at least one server; presenting the user with an applications supplied by the server for the issuance of the virtual calling card; submitting the application to the server; and issuing the virtual calling card.  
           [0012]    The server preferably comprises a staging server and a production server, wherein the staging server develops the application and the production server stores the application. The application is either a web site or web page.  
           [0013]    The communications network is at least one selected from the group consisting of: a public switched telephone network, a wireless network, a wired network, and a virtual private network.  
           [0014]    The virtual calling card is preferably a customized calling card, wherein the customization of the virtual calling card is selected from the group consisting of: formats, custom designs and distribution lists.  
           [0015]    The format is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of: custom access number and account number; custom email; custom audio; and custom hard copy. The custom email format comprises: presenting the user with a set of tools for creating a custom email, the tools are selected from the group consisting of: a personalized message generator; a marketing message generator; a graphical image generator; an animated message generator; a video generator; an audio track generator; and an email message which is capable of conveying an access number and account.  
           [0016]    The method further comprises replenishing the dollar usage limit available to the user.  
           [0017]    The present invention also includes a system for creating a prepaid virtual calling card which comprises: a communications network for connecting a user and a server; a display means for displaying an application for a prepaid virtual calling card; means for submitting the application; and a means for issuing the application. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for hosting a web site and providing telephone services in accordance with the teachings of the invention; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 shows an example, in schematic form, of web pages and screens, organized in a hierarchical arrangement. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    A prepaid calling card, specifically for providing users (consumers and business affiliates) with an on-line method and apparatus to create custom prepaid calling cards for immediate use and distribution.  
         [0021]    The present invention provides a mechanism that addresses the above-identified limitations. The present invention facilitates the purchase of prepaid calling cards by providing a web site that allows users to purchase prepaid cards at any time, and from anywhere in the world. In addition, the present invention allows a user to create a prepaid calling card by selecting from a number of predefined designs, and more significantly, by allowing a user to customize the prepaid calling card in a variety of ways. Another feature of the present invention includes allowing the user to select the denomination of the prepaid card. Furthermore, the present invention allows a user to select the physical realization, or format, of the card (i.e., an actual card, an electronic card, a message, etc.). Still further, the invention provides for distribution of the card to a number of users and to a variety of devices.  
         [0022]    Other benefits of the present invention are as follows: (1) increases a company&#39;s sales and profit margin on its calling card sales; (2) conducts targeted advertising and marketing campaigns directed at specific groups of users based on geographic profiles stored on the company&#39;s web servers; (3) creates an on-line distribution network with strategic business partners that already cater to specific target markets (for example, this could be a custom service available via travel sites (e.g., Expedia, Travelocity, Amazon.com, IDT web sites), college web sites, foreign language sites and web sites targeting particular user groups, e.g., demographic groups, ethnic groups, e.g. members of the Hispanic community), and other key users with particular attributes and affiliations); (4) appeals to customer needs and wants by allowing them to create highly customizable phone cards, with variable parameters (e.g., graphics, language, dollar amount, special offers, promotions); (5) provides customers with choice of methods to store prepaid calling card parameters, for instance, at the end of the card creation process the customer will be able to print a card, send the profile to a remote wireless device (e.g., a PDA or mobile phone), save the profile to disk, share the card with other users via e-mail, etc.); and (5) provides an easy to use method of creating a competitive advantage in the marketplace.  
         [0023]    After selecting either option, the system will prompt the user for basic login information. After this, the system would invoke a secondary interface that will walk the user through the card creation process. The user would select language, origin country, destination country, dollar value, predefined look (for “Buy A Card”) or a custom image (for “Make A Card” or “Private Label Card”), other users (if any) that are receive electronic copies of the virtual phone cards for shared usage, and the option to select alternate methods of creating the virtual phone cards. This can include, but is not limited to, printing the cards, e-mailing the cards, sending the card profiles to remote personal devices, e.g. PDAs and mobile phones, storing the card profiles for later use, having the card gift wrapped and shipped to designate recipients with a special message (e.g. happy birthday, get well soon, etc), or having the company generate high-quality plastic card based on the user profile. Irrespective of the mode of delivery selected, the card generated by the system would be immediately usable. Once the user completes the ordering process, the profile would be stored on a web server for use in later marketing and advertising effort. The system would track usage and renewal would be accomplished on-line by selecting the renewal option and indicating the dollar amount of the renewal, or the renewal could be automatic. The information also could be made available to strategic business partners for joint marketing and promotional campaigns.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 shows an overview of a system  100  suitable for practicing the invention disclosed herein. Server  105  is coupled to a global data communications network, for example, the Internet  110 . A plurality of customers  115 , (customer 1 through customer n) are also coupled to the Internet  110 . Customers  115  communicate bi-directionally through the Internet  110  with server  105 , and with other devices coupled to the Internet. Customers  115  and server  105  communicate preferably by exchanging data packets using a TCP/IP protocol. Other message and data transport mechanisms may also be employed.  
         [0025]    While one server  105  is shown, those skilled in the art will recognize that the server may represent a plurality of servers, and that these servers can be sited at one location, or they may be widely distributed and remotely sited. For example, a plurality of distributed servers  105  can be used for servicing customers  115  in different geographic locations, such as North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Japan, etc. or, alternatively, a single server  105  can be used for servicing all customers  115 . Server  105  could be located at an enterprise location or site  120 , which could be an office of a service provider. Server  105  preferably also includes production server  125  and staging server  130 . Production server  125  stores data representing web sites, web pages, screens and page templates, as well as other data as described below, for transmission to customers  115 . Production server  125  also provides an interface and communication to customers  115 . The staging server  130  provides an environment for web site development where new web sites, web pages, and updates or revisions to current web sites and pages may be developed and tested. The production server  125  and the staging server  130  may communicate directly through link  135 , or may communicate over internal network  140  which may also provide communication with other computing devices  145  at the enterprise site  120  or other sites (not shown).  
         [0026]    The global data communications network, in this example the Internet  110 , may include any network suitable for communication with customers  115 , for example, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a wireless network, a wired network, a virtual private network (VPN) etc. Customers  115  may communicate with the server  105  using any suitable protocol, including X.25, ATM, TCP/IP, etc.  
         [0027]    Customers  115  are assumed, for the purposes of this invention, to include a capability, such as a keyboard, mouse, or trackball, for navigating through a hierarchy of related web sites, web pages and screens that are presented to customers  115  from server  105 , via the Internet  110 .  
         [0028]    In the presently preferred embodiment of this invention the business conducted at the enterprise location  120  is related to providing long distance telephone services, and includes a telephone card system  150  for providing those services in conjunction with prepaid calling cards. Telephone system  150  may communicate with production server  135  through link  155 , or may communicate through internal network  140 .  
         [0029]    In the preferred embodiment, the server  105  stores a plurality of web pages and appropriate software for implementing a web site directed in particular to providing a customer  115  with an interface for selecting, customizing, purchasing and delivering prepaid calling cards.  
         [0030]    As shown in the example of FIG. 2, the web site may be organized in a hierarchical manner and allows customer  115  to navigate through a selection of screens in order to select, optionally customize and purchase a prepaid calling card. Upon accessing the web site, customer  115  is presented with an initial screen  205  which is typically the home page of the web site. Initial screen  205  may provide customer  115  with introductory information and links to FAQ&#39;s, customer service functions, and other functions as appropriate. Initial screen  205  may request information from customer  115  and may also gather information about customer  115  from the customer&#39;s computer. Introductory screen  205  preferably provides customer  115  with an option to select a pre-configured prepaid calling card or a customized prepaid calling card.  
         [0031]    If customer  115  selects a pre-configured prepaid calling card, a screen  210  is presented that allows customer  115  to select various options for the pre-configured card. Screen  210  may include options for the format  215 , design  220 , distribution list  225 , and denomination amount of the card  230 . The various formats  215  customer  115  may select from may include email, audio, text based, and hard copy or premium hard copy with a gift wrapped option.  
         [0032]    Upon selection of the email format, customer  115  would be presented with a number of pre-configured email designs from which to choose. Upon selection of a particular email design, customer  115  would be prompted to provide a distribution list for the email, that is a list of recipients to whom the prepaid calling card would be sent. The distribution list may include one or more destinations such as personal computers, mobile telephones, PDA&#39;s, electronic organizers, or any other appliance or device capable of receiving email.  
         [0033]    In addition, the distribution list may also include one or more conventional postal addresses. It is contemplated that for a conventional postal address, the server  105  (FIG. 1) may include some type of printing facility and the enterprise  120  would provide a conventional mailing mechanism.  
         [0034]    After providing the distribution list, customer  115  may then provide the denomination of the prepaid calling card in either minutes of service or a dollar amount. The denomination may include any number of minutes or any dollar amount customer  115  desires. After choosing a denomination, customer  115  may then be presented with a checkout procedure where the total purchase is calculated and customer  115  provides payment for the purchase. The choices made by customer  115  and the checkout procedure may be controlled by conventionally available web based “shopping basket” technology, or may be controlled by other means.  
         [0035]    Upon checkout and payment, customer  115  is provided with a confirmation, details of the transaction are sent to telephone system  150 , and the prepaid calling card in email format is distributed to the destinations on the distribution list, allowing multiple users to utilize the prepaid calling card.  
         [0036]    In the event that customer  115  chooses an audio format, customer  115  may be invited to select from a number of pre-recorded messages that would include an access number and an account number for allowing the recipient to use the prepaid calling card services. After selecting a particular audio message, customer  115  would be prompted to provide a distribution list  225  as mentioned above. The distribution list  225  may include destinations that are capable of receiving an audio message, such as pagers, mobile and stationary telephones, personal computers, PDA&#39;s, electronic organizers, or any other appliance or device capable of receiving and conveying an audio message to a user. After designating a distribution list  225 , customer  115  may then be presented with a checkout and payment, customer  115  may be provided with a confirmation  235 , details of the transaction are sent to telephone system  150  as shown in block  240 , and the audio prepaid calling card is distributed to the destinations on the distribution list  225  as shown in block  245 .  
         [0037]    Selection of the hard copy and premium hard copy options would lead customer  115  through a set of operations similar to those described above. Customer  115  selects from a number of hard copy prepaid calling card designs. A premium hard copy option may be provided that allows customer  115  to select from a variety of high quality card finishing options, for example, laminated, plastic, special colours, cards designed for long term use, to commemorate certain events, etc. Customer  115  may also be provided with a gift wrapping option for the hard copy or premium hard copy card. After completing the selections, customer  115  provides a distribution list  225  of recipients that includes destinations suitable for receiving a hard copy card, for example, a postal address. After checkout and payment  230 , the hard copy prepaid calling card is printed and sent to those on the distribution list  225  (block  245 ).  
         [0038]    Returning now to the second screen  210 , customer  115  also has an option to selected a customized prepaid calling card. Upon selection of the customized option, customer  115  is presented with a screen  260  providing options similar to those for a pre-configured prepaid calling card, including options for format  265 , custom design  270 , and distribution list  275 . The various formats  265  customer  115  may select from may include any format capable of conveying at least an access number and account number for using the prepaid calling card services. Customer  115  is a least provided with format selections including custom email  280 , custom audio  285 , and custom hard copy or custom premium hard copy  290  with a gift wrapped option.  
         [0039]    Upon selection of the custom email format  280 , customer  115  is presented with a set of tools for creating a custom email that may include a personalized message, for example, “Get Well Soon”, “Happy Birthday”, a marketing message, any number and types of graphical presentations, an animated message, a video, an audio track, or any other type of email message capable of conveying an access number and account, allowing the recipient to utilize prepaid calling card services.  
         [0040]    The custom audio option  285  allows customer  115  to provide a custom audio message to the recipient. Customer  115  may provide a previously recorded audio file or may be prompted to record a custom audio message as part of the card creation process.  
         [0041]    Selection of the custom hard copy and custom premium hard copy options  290  lead customer  115  through a set of operations similar to those described above for the custom email selection  280 . Customer  115  is presented with a set of tools for creating any number and types of hard copy graphical presentations, suitable for conveying an access number and account to a recipient. The custom premium hard copy option may provide customer  115  with a variety of high quality card finishing selections as mentioned above, with respect to the pre-configured cards.  
         [0042]    After completing the selections, customer  115  provides a distribution list  275  of recipients that includes destinations suitable for receiving the type of custom card format specified. After choosing a distribution list  275 , customer  115  may then be presented with checkout and payment procedures  230  as described above, where the total purchase is calculated and customer  115  provides payment for the purchase. After checkout procedure  230 , customer  115  is provided with a confirmation  235 , details of the transaction are sent to telephone system  150  (Block  240 ), and the prepaid calling card in the selected format is distributed to distribution list  275  (Block  245 ).  
         [0043]    Returning now to FIG. 1, upon receiving the pre-configured or custom prepaid calling card, a recipient  160  utilizes the calling card services by calling the access number. The telephone services system  155  receives the call and prompts recipient  160  to enter the account code or number and the number the recipient  160  intends to call. Upon verification that the account code is valid, and that a currency value or calling time remains in the account, the telephone services system  150  allows the recipient  160  to access the telephone network, in this example shown as the PSTN  165 . When the calling time or value of the account approaches zero, telephone services system  150  terminates the use of the account. The account may be recharged or replenished as the recipient  160  desires.  
         [0044]    While the embodiments above are disclosed in the context of a web site having a series of web pages and screens, it should be understood that server  105  may provide customer  115  with an interface for selecting, customizing, purchasing and delivering prepaid calling cards that may embody any number and different types of technology suitable for practicing the invention. For example, server  105  may provide customer  115  with a text based interface through a conventional dial up connection, or an audio based interface using a POTS type telephone.  
         [0045]    It can thus be appreciated that while the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.