MXPA99004336A - Method and apparatus for providing prepaid telecommunications services - Google Patents

Abstract

A communications network-based solution is provided that facilitates both prepayment and use of prepay telecommunications services. A subscriber is assigned a record in a network database. The database record includes an account number and an associated prepaid monetary value. If the prepaid monetary value in the subscriber's record is sufficient for the requested service, the service is authorized. The prepaid monetary value in the subscriber's record is decreased in accordance with the service rendered. The subscriber also easily adds monetary value to the subscriber's prepaid account by accessing the prepaid network service (e.g., by dialing the appropriate network service number), indicating the desire to add monetary value to the subscriber's prepaid account in the database.

Description

"METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES PAID IN ADVANCE" FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to telecommunications services and, more particularly, to a method and system for providing paid telecommunications services in advance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Advance payment phone call cards are known. The cards are activated in batches by the card provider in a limited number of predetermined values. These cards are purchased from vending machines, from point of sale terminals or other distribution centers, in fixed increments such as $ 10, $ 20, etc. A $ 10 card, for example, provides the cardholder with $ 10 of telephone time to make phone calls. If during the call, the time remaining on the card will expire, the client may be warned that only a certain amount of time remains. When the designated time has expired, the call is terminated - - automatically. Because the charges are limited to the net value of the card, neither the customer nor any other person who owns the card can raise it to a large account. These types of prepaid calling cards have been satisfactory because customers of prepaid calling cards avoid excessive operator pickup and assistance charges, and can obtain local and long distance calls without credit and without payment. of monthly accounts. In addition, coins are not necessary to make a call. Another benefit is that the operator does not have to collect coins from public phones, which also reduces vandalism and theft. However, these prepaid cards have significant drawbacks. These calling cards are inconvenient because the customer must physically carry the card on their person. If the card is forgotten, the customer is faced with the inconvenience when he needs to make a call. In addition, prepaid calling cards issued with fixed / pre-graduated amounts do not necessarily correspond to the amount of telephone time a user needs or ends up using. If the designated amount is too small, the customer's call is terminated prematurely. The only solution is that the customer has the additional inconvenience of carrying multiple cards that can also be stolen or lost. In addition, if a caller uses less than the amount allocated on the card, the remaining amount may be essentially useless if (1) is less than the basic amount required to make a specific call, or (2) is so small that the call will be for a short period of time. Another serious problem is that even though the process of obtaining a new card is annoying and delayed because the client is required to physically travel to a sales office or other distributor where the cards are issued or re-charged. Still further are the environmental inconveniences associated with the disposal of all previously-paid prepaid calling cards. Therefore, there is a need for an improved approach for telecommunications systems paid for in advance that overcomes these and other problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide prepaid telecommunications services, wherein the advance payment (in one or sometimes repeated) is easy and fast. Another object of the present invention is to provide prepaid telecommunications services that can be paid in advance using the telecommunications network. Another object of the present invention is to provide prepaid telecommunications services in which advance payment can be made in variable amounts designated to the user. Another object of the present invention is to provide prepaid telecommunications services in which the advance payment of telecommunications services and the use of these prepaid telecommunications services do not require cards. A further object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for a customer to have to obtain a new or renewed card for continuous use of the services paid in advance. To fill these and other objects, the present invention uses a completely different approach to provide prepaid telecommunications services. Instead of requiring a customer to carry one or more cards wherein the cards are effectively functioning as limited fixed amounts of money, the present invention provides a network-based solution that facilitates both advance payment and use of telecommunications services. A subscriber is assigned a record in a database. The database record includes an account number and an associated prepaid monetary value. When the subscriber calls from a prepaid telecommunications terminal (e.g., a public telephone) requesting a telecommunications service (e.g., a long-distance telephone call), the telecommunications network processes the request by analyzing the subscriber's database record. If the monetary value paid in advance in the subscriber's record is sufficient for the requested service, the service is authorized. The monetary value paid in advance in the subscriber's record is decreased according to the service rendered. Correspondingly, a subscriber does not need to purchase a prepaid calling card, remember to carry the prepaid calling card or remember the amount stored on the calling card. Rather, prepaid call services are obtained simply by subscribing to the network service paid in advance. In accordance with the present invention, a subscriber can easily add the monetary value to the amount paid in advance of the subscriber. The user simply gains access to the network service paid in advance (eg by dialing the appropriate number of the service - - of network), and indicate the desire to add the monetary value to the account paid in advance of the subscriber, in the database. Once the account and / or the caller is identified and preferably authenticated, the subscriber is advised to admit a desired amount of money to be added to the monetary value field paid in advance in the database record of the subscriber. The amount to be added can be fixed or determined variably by the subscriber. A fixed amount can make an upfront payment particularly easy, since the subscriber could simply call the service and the fact of making the call add a fixed amount to his prepaid account. The network therefore generates a new monetary value paid in advance in the database associated with the account number paid in advance. Immediately thereafter, the user can request and receive prepaid telecommunications services without a card and without worrying whether the prepaid calling card has sufficient remaining funds to pay for the desired telecommunications service. Another significant feature of the present invention is that the communications network is responsible for generating a billing record for the subscriber that includes the amount of money added to the monetary value - paid in advance from the database. At the end of a billing cycle when the subscriber receives his regular telephone bill, an entry corresponding to the monetary value r > added in advance to the number of the account paid in advance of the subscriber. Although the present invention can be implemented in a number of different ways, one preferred embodiment of the example employs an intelligent network. An intelligent network node connected to the communications network provides the telecommunications service paid in advance. The intelligent network node includes a service control processor that stores the database records assigned to the paid network service subscribers in advance. Each data be.s-5 record includes a prepaid account number and an associated pre-paid monetary value for each subscriber in the network. A service switching processor coupled with either directly to the subscriber or the subscriber's local switch and then to the service control processor detects and routes the directed calls to prepay the communication services involving subscribers of the network to the network. service control processor. The service control processor makes the necessary advance payment decisions e.g. whether the caller has a prepaid account, if the account has sufficient funds, if the caller is authorized to alter the amount of the account, etc. The service control and / or switching processors also coordinate the commands to the network, e.g. authorize a prepaid call, update billing records, etc. The intelligent node is interconnected with the subscriber through the network using any number of techniques including speech synthesis, speech recognition, DTMF capture, etc. to allow the subscriber to add to the monetary value paid in advance associated with the subscriber in the database, an amount of money admitted by the caller or alternatively to add a fixed amount for each service call. The newly generated pre-generated monetary value in the database associated with the prepaid account number of the subscriber can be used immediately to pay for the subscribed prepaid communications service. Accordingly, the present invention provides a number of advantages for both the telecommunications subscriber and the telecommunications operator. For the telecommunications subscriber there is no need to buy or renew one or more cards of - call paid in advance once the call value of an existing card has expired. Therefore, there is no need for the subscriber to travel to a telecom sales outlet or other distributor of prepaid calling cards. Significantly, the need to carry a card is eliminated. Of course, if desired, a single card having a pre-paid network service telephone number and / or the subscriber's prepaid account number can be issued until these numbers are memorized. Also, the subscriber does not need to have cash to purchase the new prepaid calling cards, since the amount of prepaid payment requested over the telephone is included in the subscriber's monthly telephone bill. For the telecommunications operator, because the present invention allows a subscriber to always have access to the telecommunications services paid in advance, the telecommunications services paid in advance are used more frequently, and therefore, greater profit is generated for the telecommunications operator. By eliminating the need for conventional prepaid calling cards, the overhead associated with the manufacturing, services and distribution of those cards is eliminated. Accounts and administration of advance payment are considerably reduced, since the newly added advance payment value is automatically billed to the subscriber's monthly telephone bill. Environmentally, there is no excessive waste associated with plastic cards; nor will there be any future problems and companies are ultimately responsible for the disposal of waste associated with their discarded products. Also, telecommunications operators also have the option to charge or for the same service as the payment network in advance. These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will now be described in greater detail below, in relation to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a telecommunication system wherein the present invention is implemented in an example mode of a preferred intelligent network; Figure 2 is a simplified representation of a maintained database record for a subscriber for - - a network service paid in advance in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a conceptual representation of a record prepared in format received by the billing node in Figure 1, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figures 4 (a) and 4 (b) are flow diagrams illustrating exemplary methods for implementing a network-based service paid in advance in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention; Y Figure 5 is a flow diagram of exemplary functions carried out by the different elements of the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, it is pointed out in specific details such as components, interfaces, techniques, etc. specific in order to provide a complete understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented in other embodiments that deviate from these specific details. In other cases, detailed descriptions of methods, - Well-known devices and circuits are omitted so as not to complicate the description of the present invention with unnecessary details. Referring to Figure 1, a simplified telecommunications system 10 is shown wherein a preferred non-limiting exemplary embodiment for implementing the present invention is described. A simplified telecommunications network 12 includes a plurality of optional local telephone centers 16a to 16e (alternatively, subscribers can use the intelligent service switching processor as their local telephone center), intelligent network nodes 18, billing systems 0 and a plurality of telecommunications devices 14a to 14f. Since the wired telecommunications devices including the public pay phones 14a, the subscriber's phones in the home or residences 14d of the subscriber, the portable personal computers (laptops per battery), the personal digital assistants and the like 14c, the personal computers and facsimile machines 14c and wireless telecommunications devices such as cellular radio telephones 14b can all be connected or otherwise coupled with communication network 12 (either directly or indirectly, eg with internet 11), the term " telecommunications device "or - - "communications device" includes all these devices. Also, the term "communications service or services" includes any communications service that is provided through the telecommunications network 12, including, but not being limited to, the communication processes (both voice and data) carried out between two or more telecommunications devices that involve a telecommunications network. Although prepaid telecommunications services are more commonly seen in the context of public pay phones today, the present invention is applicable to any communications service for which payment must be made before, during or immediately after the telecommunications service is provided. Also, even though the present invention is sometimes described in specification in the context of an intelligent network (IN) implementation, the present invention is by no means limited to an implementation or IN apparatus. An "intelligent network" represents a telecommunications network that provides services in addition to basic call routing and switching. Referring to Figure 1, the intelligent network nodes 18 are interconnected with a traditional telecommunications network 12 that includes local exchanges and other switching exchanges, cross connections, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) nodes, etc. The intelligent network nodes 18 include a service switching processor 28 which is sometimes referred to in the industry as a service switching point (SSP). A service switching point is essentially a local exchange with the additional software used to identify IN calls. The service switching point is in turn connected to a service control processor 20 which is sometimes referred to in the industry as a service control point (SCP). The service switching point 28 includes a computer 30, an intelligent peripheral unit 34 which performs a number of advanced functions such as speech recognition, an activation function 30, a switching function 32 (as mentioned in what the SSP is essentially a local telephone exchange with extra functionality), and a function 36 for traffic processing and call control. The service control point 20 includes a computer 22 and a service logic 24 to implement the various advanced services provided by the nodes 18 of the intelligent network. If desired, two intelligent nodes 20 and 28 could be integrated into a processor of - - switching of a single service and control point (SSCP). In any coi. figuration, the service logic 24 is independent of the implementation of network access and transport. The service switching point 28 provides access to the subscribers through the communication network 12 to an advance payment network service which is provided by the service control point 20. Even though the signal sending information is usually indicated as being communicated with the service switching point 28 via the dashed line in Figure 1, it will be understood that this signaling information is communicated with the switching functions. and call control (32 and 36) of service switching point 28. The service switching point 28 sends a prepayment service request to the service control point 20 (using an appropriate data transaction protocol) to establish interaction between the payment network service in advance and a payment service device. caller / telecommunications In this way, the service switching point 28 interconnects several calls in the network 12 through its digital switching function 38 and the services dt. Advance payment network obtainable from point 20 of service control.

The "trigger points" in the call switching process are detected at the service switching point 28. A basic example of the trigger point is an attempt at a call to a specific number. As applied to the present invention, this trigger point could be the detection of the service telephone number of the detected advance payment network, e.g. a special number "800". When this trigger point is detected by the activation function 31, the service switching point computer 30 immediately informs the service control point 20 about the activation event and sends various associated call connection data such as the number phone number of the calling terminal and the destination number. The service control point 20 responds by processing the information in the computer 22 in accordance with the service logic 24, and returns the control commands to the service switching point computer 30 which translates those commands towards appropriate switching (32). ) and traffic processing and call control processing (36) to control digital switching. More specifically, the service switching point 28 detects the activation conditions, that is, it identifies the network signals related to services and the handling of these signals; transfers calls to the service control processor, receives responses from the service control processor; checks the request of the service control processor if specific conditions are raised, and if so, transmits the corresponding messages to the service control processor; gives orders to establish and release connections in the transport network; and interacts with intelligent peripheral equipment (IP). Intelligent peripheral 34 may be used, for example, in the present invention to provide voice synthesis advertisements other than subscribers and to receive / decode numbers from dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) telephones. In addition, the smart peripheral 34 can also receive voice inputs (instead of just DTMF tones) and employ appropriate speech recognition software to decode the subscriber's responses. Although the intelligent peripheral 34 can be included in the service switching point 28, it can also be provided as a separate node accessible by the service switching point 28 through its switching function 32. During operation, a subscriber places a call on one of the telecommunications devices 14a-14c. The sending of calls and information (including tones of voice and / or data) of some of the devices can optionally be interconnected with the communication network 12, through a suitable local telephone exchange 16a-lßd. Alternatively, the subscriber can connect directly to the service switching point 28. The service switching board 28 monitors the call request in the network and detects a pay-ahead service network activation condition e.g. in number of services of the special marked advance payment network, and establishes the necessary signaling path to communicate its request along with other information about the subscriber, and the specific request to the service control point 22 computer. In response to the request for an advance payment network service, the service point computer 22, using the service logic 24, processes the request, gives access to the necessary registration from the database 26 using the service logic 24 , check that record as appropriate and send several orders including voice prompts, voice communications, authorizations, security messages, etc. for implementation by the service switching processor, all in accordance with service logic 24. The service switching computer 30 implements the requested commands of the service control point 20, using an appropriate function such as the traffic processing and call control function 36 or requesting the function simply by using, for example, the intelligent peripheral 34. Once the requested prepaid call service is authorized, the service is provided. For example, if the request is for making a normal call connection through the network 12, using the prepaid telecommunications devices, 14a, 14b, 14c or 14e to connect to the telecommunications device 14f, the point 28 of switching service initiates the establishment of the connection of the call through its switching function 32 and the corresponding local telephone exchange 16e. After the call is terminated, computer 22 SCP modifies the database 26 by reducing the monetary value paid in advance by an appropriate amount corresponding to the service rendered. Another advance payment communication service is related to a subscriber automatically adding the monetary value to his prepaid account, using for example, his residential telephone 14d or personal computer 14e linked, for example, to the telecommunications network to through the internet 11. Of course, call connections can be installed through other nodes, telephone exchanges and networks in addition to the communication network 12, including for example, the packet switched data network, radiotelephone networks, etc. Also, the billing information generated as a result of the prepayment network service is provided to a billing system 40 that includes its own computer 42 and database 44. The database 44 of the billing system contains records for the subscribers to the network. Figure 2 illustrates a representative database record 50 stored in the service control point database 26 to be used to implement the payment network service in advance, in accordance with this exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The database record 50 includes a field 52 of the subscriber's account number, a field of account number of pay in advance, an optional personal identification number (PIN) or other security code field 56, and a 58 field of monetary amount of current upfront payment. The subscriber's account number corresponds to the number used to identify a subscriber's basic subscription to the communications network 12. For example, the subscriber's account number could correspond to the number - - telephone number of the subscriber's residence or the business telephone number. This unique subscriber number is used to coordinate prepaid billing with the subscriber's normal monthly telephone bill. In addition, when the subscriber makes a call from his residence or business telephone, the smart network nodes 18 immediately recognize the subscriber's account number if the caller as the telephone number of the originating telecommunications device. If the caller has access to the network of another telecommunications device and as an extra security / authentication measure, the caller can be advised to admit his subscriber account number, e.g. the telephone number of the residence or business of the subscriber. The prepaid account number is a number that specifically identifies the subscriber's subscription for the prepaid network service. Of course, those skilled in the art will appreciate that only one or both the subscriber's account and prepaid account numbers can be used in the database registry 50, depending on the way in which the network service pays for advance will have access and be implemented. Preferably, there is some kind of authentication or other security procedure together with the identification of the number (s) of the subscriber and / or the prepayment account. For this purpose, requesting the caller to admit an additional security code such as a PIN increases the security and integrity of the payment network service in advance. The current monetary advance payment amount is a variable field that is adjusted by the service control point and 22 either when an authorized prepaid telecommunications service is going to be provided, is currently provided, or has just been provided for this subscriber. In addition, the field of the amount of the current pre-payment monetary value can be adjusted in accordance with a subscriber's request, e.g., from a telephone or other data communications terminal. Figure 3 is an exemplary data billing record created by the service control point 22 and sent to the billing system computer 42. The original telephone number 72 is the telephone number associated with the telecommunications device where the call originates. The destination telephone number 74 is the telephone number associated with a recognized destination in the communication network, such as the service number of the special prepayment network in nodes 18 of the network - - smart, or another telecommunications device 14f outside the communications network 12. The subscriber and prepayment account numbers are included in one or more fields 76. For calls made to other telecommunications devices, the 78 departure time and the 80 elapsed time of the call may be useful information to be included in the billing report. Geographic information such as the location 82 of the call origin, and if the destination location 84 of the call is related may also be included. The other billing information field 86 may be included in the message as necessary or otherwise desired. This billing record is sent to the billing system 40 from the service switching point 28 via, for example, a dedicated link and then processed by the computer 42 of the billing system. The received billing record is correlated with the billing information of the subscriber already registered in its database 44 in order to generate a billing statement appropriate to the subscriber to include a description of the services of the prepayment network provided during the billing cycle and the charges for it. Exemplary methods to provide a prepaid telecommunications service to - - The basis of the communication network will now be described together with the flow charts shown in Figures 4 (a) and 4 (b). It should be understood that even when the method can be used by a specific apparatus in the embodiment of the illustrative example shown in Figure 1, the method is not limited to that specific implementation. Initially, a decision is made in the network if a subscriber is requesting a prepaid telecommunications service (block 83). An exemplary way in which this service may be requested would be to dial the payment network service telephone number in advance. Another example would be for a caller to simply request an advance payment service from a prepaid telecommunications device and notify the caller to enter the payment. In response to the notification, the caller supports an appropriate account number (either a subscriber account number or the prepaid account number) that is detected by the network. If the advance payment network service is requested, the network requests the entry of a prepaid call account number or receives some other entry that allows the identification of the appropriate and authentic account number or otherwise authorizes the application (block 85). For example, the network may require that the caller admit a security code or a personal identification number (PIN) to ensure that the request for service is legitimate and authorized. In a specific case, if the caller is calling from the subscriber's telecommunications device (e.g., a home or business telephone), the network is already aware of the subscriber's account number. If the request is something invalid or not authorized as determined in block 87, the network sends an appropriate message (block 92) back to the caller. Assuming the valid advance payment network service request is authorized, the subscriber's database record is checked to determine if there is a sufficient prepaid value in the subscriber's database record to pay for the service of te.1 ^ communications requested. If it is not, an appropriate message is sent to the caller (block 90). If there is a sufficient advance payment value in the subscriber's database record, the network authorizes the requested telecommunications service up to the amount paid in advance that is currently stored in the subscriber database record (block 94). The network appropriately monitors the parameters related to any tariff or fee that will be charged for the service such as the initiation time, the elapsed time, the origin location, the destination location, the quote information, etc. Preferably this monitoring service is carried out in real time so that the network immediately detects when a caller has consumed or almost consumed the existing monetary value stored in the subscriber's database record. Once this point has been reached, the network can then alert the caller of almost the expiration of the value / service and encourage a new value to be added to the subscriber's database record, either immediately or during a later period of time. The network then updates the prepaid call service record of the subscriber by charging the prepaid amount stored in the register by the fee associated with the telephone communications service that is to be provided or that has been provided. An appropriate billing record such as that shown in Figure 3 is generated and sent to the computer .'-, billing (step 98) and correlated in the billing system's accounting database to be used to generate the bill. monthly receipt of the subscriber. Returning to decision block 99, if the communication service request of the prepayment network is to be added to the existing prepayment amount of the subscriber in a subscriber's database record, the network warns the subscriber of the monetary amount to be added (block 100). This suggestion could be for example a synthesized voice suggestion. The subscriber then enters a desired amount either by pressing the corresponding keys on the telecommunications device or by a voice input that is detected and decoded by appropriate voice recognition software on the network. The subscriber's database record is then updated by adding the amount entered to generate a new monetary amount paid in advance. The network confirms that the amount uses, for example, a synthetic voice message as well as informs the subscriber of the current prepaid balance (block 102). An appropriate billing record or similar message is generated by the network to include the prepaid value newly added to the subscriber's regular telephone bill under the line item such as "Prepaid Services" (block 98). Figure 4 (b) shows a flow chart of a more aerodynamic approach for adding the prepayment value to a subscriber's account when a call is placed from the home telephone or subscriber's business or other device associated with the Subscriber account number. Initially, a decision is made as to whether - The subscriber has dialed the advance payment call service number, e.g., a "800" number to access the advance payment call service (block 110). The call from the subscriber's residence or business telephone to the prepayment call service number is interpreted as a request to add a monetary value to the subscriber's advance payment account. The request is checked for validity and authorization (block 112). If the request is invalid or is not authorized as determined in block 87, the network sends an appropriate message (block 114) back to the caller. Assuming that the service request of the advance payment network is valid and authorized, a pre-established amount of money, e.g. $ 10, is automatically added to the subscriber's account in the database (block 116). The amount automatically added to the subscriber's prepaid account is confirmed to the caller, e.g. through a synthesized voice message, together with the balance of the subscriber's current advance payment account (block 118). An appropriate billing record such as that shown in Figure 3 is generated and sent to the billing computer (block 120) and correlated in the subscriber database of the billing system for use to generate the subscriber's monthly receipt .

An illustration of the manner in which a subscriber increases his prepaid account balance using the exemplary intelligent network node implementation in Figure 1 will now be described in connection with Figure 5. In step 1, the subscriber dials in. a subscriber terminal an advance payment network service number. The local telephone exchange routes the call to the service switching point 28 which registers this as an intelligent network call detecting these dialed numbers. The activation function 31 is also used to collect the necessary call data which is then sent to the service control point 20 as indicated in step 2. The service logic 24 in the service control point 20 is used by the computer 22 for analyzing the information from the service switching point 28 in step 3. More particularly, the service control processor detects the subscriber account number associated with this subscriber terminal, retrieves the database registration of the subscriber from the database 26, checks the current prepaid balance in the database register and preferably carries out a certain type of authentication. In this example, the service control processor 20 sends a message to the service switching point 28 giving instructions to suggest to the subscriber terminal to input a security code such as PIN (step 4). The intelligent switching service peripheral 34 transmits via the switching function 32 a corresponding synthesized speech suggestion such as "GIVE PIN ENTRY" in step 5. The subscriber then admits his PIN number (step 6) which is made passing through the switching function 32 to the intelligent peripheral 34, which transforms the tones into data (step 7). This data is then sent to point 20 of service control. The service control point 28 checks the PIN number entered, and if it does not match the PIN stored in the subscriber's database record, either requests the PIN re-admission or aborts the transaction (step 8). Assuming that the subscriber properly supports his PIN code, the service control point 20 instructs the service switching point 28 to suggest to the subscriber's telecommunication device 14d that a monetary value must be added to his prepayment account. Again, the intelligent peripheral 34 generates a voice suggestion communicated to the subscriber's terminal through the switching function 32 such as "GIVEN ENTRY TO THE VALUE IN DOLLARS TO BE ADDED TO YOUR PAYMENT CALL IN ADVANCE". Then in step 11, the subscriber admits the dollar amount (eg, using the numbers supported by the numeric keypad DETMF), which is detected by the intelligent peripheral 34 through the switching function 32, converts the DTMF tones into an appropriate digital format, and send the amount to point 20 of service control. The service control point 20 updates the subscriber's record stored in the database 26 (step 13). The service control point 20 then sends signals to the billing system to update the subscriber's account in the database 44 of the billing system to reflect the amount added by the subscriber during this transaction and any associated service (step 14). The service switching point 28 is also instructed to confirm the transaction with the subscriber terminal. In response, the smart peripheral 34 generates a voice message routed to the subscriber terminal through the switching function 32 to effect "YOUR PAYMENT ACCOUNT IN ADVANCE HAS BEEN INCREASED THROUGH (the amount of the subscriber that has been entered). YOUR NEW PAYMENT OF THE PAYMENT IN ADVANCE ACCOUNT IS (the total amount) "(step 15). As described above, the present invention provides a number of advantages for the subscriber. Significantly, the subscriber does not need to continuously purchase prepaid calling cards. This task is quite delayed since the subscriber must travel to a telecommunications sales outlet or another distributor. Instead, advance payment services are only a phone call away. For the operator, the invention not only reduces costs in terms of the total expenses associated with general and manages this card creation and distribution, but also reduces the costs associated with the manufacture, installation and maintenance of card readers in the telecommunications devices for advance payment. In addition, providing an extremely convenient way for a subscriber to add money to their prepaid payment services account ultimately results in greater use of the network and therefore more profits for the network operator. Although the invention is described in Figures 1 and 5 in the context of intelligent network nodes, the present invention can be implemented using any other type of node coupled with the network. This node only needs to contain a computer, a database and a certain mechanism to interconnect with the network. Therefore, even though the invention has been described in relation to what is currently considered to be the practical and preferred modalities, it should be understood that the invention should not be limited to the modalities disclosed, but should instead be It is intended to cover several modifications and equivalent provisions included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (32)

1. In a telecommunications network, a method for facilitating advance payment for communication services, comprising the steps of: providing a subscriber with a prepaid account number having a monetary value paid in advance associated therewith; use the advance payment account number in a communication terminal coupled with the communication network to pay for a communications service requested from the communication network, and the monetary value paid in advance decreases in accordance with the communications service supplied by the communications network; call a network service number requesting that a specified monetary value be added to the account number paid in advance; in response to the request, add the specified monetary value to the monetary value paid in advance associated with the account number paid in advance; and subsequently using the added monetary value to pay for a subsequent communications service.

2. The method in claim 1, further comprising in response to the request: determining the prepaid account number associated with the request; and authenticate the account number paid in advance.

The method in claim 2, wherein the authentication step includes: confirming that the calling party making the request is authorized to add the monetary value to the account number paid in advance.

The method in claim 3, wherein the confirmation step includes determining whether the call has been placed from the home or residence of the subscriber.

The method in claim 3, wherein the confirmation step includes: requesting the entry of an authentication number; check a supported authentication number; and if the admitted authentication number is valid, continue with the addition of the specified monetary value associated with the account number paid in advance.

The method in claim 1, further comprising: including in the next receipt the subscriber, the charges corresponding to the added monetary value.

The method in claim 1, wherein the communications terminal is a requested communications device that requires payment for the telecommunications service before, during or immediately after the telecommunications service is provided.

The method in claim 7, further comprising: entering the number of the prepaid account in the communications terminal, and determining whether the monetary value associated with the account number paid in advance is sufficient to pay for the telecommunications service.

The method in claim 7, further comprising: issuing to the subscriber a card having card information including the account number paid in advance, wherein the card information is supported to the communications terminal and the network of Communications determines whether the monetary value associated with the account number paid in advance is sufficient to pay for the communications service that is being requested.

10. A method for operating a communications network wherein the communication services provided by the system can be paid in advance, comprising: creating a record in the database assigned to a subscriber of the network, the database record includes a prepaid account number and an associated prepaid monetary value; the subscriber requests a communication service from a payment terminal in advance; process the request and check whether the monetary value paid in advance in the subscriber's registration is sufficient to authorize the requested service, and if so, authorize the requested service; decrease the monetary value paid in advance in the subscriber's record in accordance with the service provided; and adding the value paid in advance to the subscriber's record in response to a subsequent subscriber request.

The method in claim 10, wherein the step of adding includes automatically adding a pre-graduated amount of monetary value to the subscriber's record in response to the request of the subsequent subscriber. - 8 -

12. The method in claim 10, further comprising: responding to the subscriber's request to add the monetary value to the account number paid in advance of the subscriber in the database; suggest to the subscriber to enter an amount of money to be added to the monetary value paid in advance in the database; add to the monetary value paid in advance in the database an amount of money admitted by the subscriber to generate a new monetary value paid in advance in the database associated with the number of the account paid in advance; and authorize a subsequent advance payment communication service associated with the account number paid in advance based on the new monetary value paid in advance.

The method in claim 12 further comprising: the subscriber initiates a communication service from a telecommunications device coupled with the network and indicating that the communication service will be paid to use the account number paid in advance; suggest the admission of the account number paid in advance; - - admit the number of the account paid in advance for processing through the network; authorize the communications service if the monetary value paid in advance associated with the number of the prepaid paid account admitted stored in the database is sufficient to cover at least part of the telecommunications service; and reduce the monetary value prepaid in the database in accordance with the communications service provided.

The method in claim 12, further comprising: generating a billing record for the subscriber that includes the amount of money added to the monetary value prepaid in the database.

15. The method in claim 12, wherein the database record includes a number of the associated subscriber, the method further comprising: confirming the subscriber number before the step of suggesting.

16. The method in claim 15, wherein the subscriber's number is automatically confirmed when the subscriber calls from a communications device that is assigned to the subscriber's number.

17. The method in claim 15, further comprising: suggesting the entry of a security number after confirming the subscriber's number; check a supported security number; and if the admitted security number is valid, proceed with the addition of the monetary value paid in advance associated with the account number paid in advance.

18. A communication system comprising: a communication network that provides communication services including a computer that stores in the database the records assigned to the subscribers of the network, each database record includes an account number prepaid and an associated prepaid monetary value for each subscriber of the network; a plurality of communication terminals having access to the communication network, at least one of the communication terminals being a prepayment terminal that requires payment before a desired communications service is provided; wherein the computer processes the calls in the communications network to detect when a communication terminal gives access to the communications network requesting a communications service that requires advance payment or using the prepaid monetary value associated with a number of the prepaid account identified, authorizing the computer the requested communications service if the monetary value paid in advance is sufficient to pay for the requested communications service.

The communications system in claim 18, wherein the computer processes the calls in the communication network to detect when a communications terminal acquires access to the communications network requesting the addition of the monetary value to the number of the paid account in advance in the database, and in response, suggest to the caller to enter an amount of money to be added to the monetary value paid in advance in the database and add to the money value paid in advance in the database an amount of money entered. by the caller to generate a new monetary value paid in advance in the database associated with the number of the prepaid account in such a way that a subsequent payment communication service can be requested and provided, using the new Monetary value paid in advance.

20. The communication system in claim 18, wherein the prepayment terminal is one of a prepaid pay telephone, a prepaid cell phone and an advance payment data communications device.

21. The communication system in claim 19, wherein before adding to the monetary value paid in advance, the computer authorizes a subscriber number associated with the request.

22. The communication system in claim 18, further comprising: a billing computer coupled to the network computer to include as a charge in a billing record of the subscriber the amount of the account paid in advance of the subscriber.

23. The communication system in claim 22, further comprising: a billing computer that includes a surcharge for the service provided to allow the addition of the monetary value to the account number paid in advance in the terminal database of communications.

24. A communication system comprising: a plurality of communication terminals having access to a communication network, at least one of the communications terminals being a terminal of - prepaid payment that requires payment before a desired communications service is provided, an intelligent network node connected to the communications network that provides an advanced payment communications service that includes: a service control point that stores the records in a database assigned to the subscribers of the network, each database record includes a prepaid account number and an associated pre-paid monetary value for each subscriber of the network, and a switching point service connected to the service control processor detects and routes the calls directed to the advance payment of the communications services involving the subscribers of the network to the service control processor; wherein when the service switching point detects an intelligent network call from a subscriber for the prepayment service and sends signals to the service control point, the service control point interconnected with the subscriber through the point of service service switching to allow the subscriber to add to the monetary value paid in advance associated with the subscriber in the database, an amount of money entered by the caller to generate a new monetary value paid in advance in the base - - data associated with the number of the prepaid account in such a way that the subsequent prepayment communication service may be requested and provided using the new monetary value paid in advance.

25. The communication system in claim 24, wherein the subsequent advance payment communication service may be requested and provided using the new monetary value paid in advance.

26. The communication system in claim 24, wherein the service switching point includes an intelligent peripheral that generates synthesized electronic voice messages transmitted through the communication network to facilitate the interface with the subscriber.

The communication system in claim 24, wherein the service switching point includes an intelligent peripheral that detects the DTMF tone with the speech recognition responses input from a subscriber's communications device that corresponds to the amount of money that is going to be added and transfers that amount of money to the service control point.

28. The communication system in claim 24, further comprising: a billing processor connected to the network that includes a billing database where the smart grid node communicates the amount of money added to the monetary value paid in advance, adding the billing processor the amount of money added to a receipt issued to the subscriber.

29. A method for operating a communication network wherein the communication services provided by the network can be paid in advance, comprising the steps of: creating a record in a database assigned to a subscriber of the network, Database record includes a prepaid account number and an associated prepaid monetary value; the subscriber has access to the network using a predetermined advance payment communication service telephone number; and automatically add the value paid in advance to the subscriber's record.

30. The method in claim 29, wherein the subscriber has access to the network from the telephone of the subscriber's residence or business.

31. The method in claim 30, further comprising: checking whether the requested service is authorized using the telephone number of the residence or business of the subscriber, where the step to automatically add is carried out when the residence or home telephone number Subscriber's business is detected in the database.

32. The method in claim 30, further comprising: charging the prepaid value automatically added to a telephone bill associated with the telephone number of the subscriber's residence or business.