CA2390722A1 - Methods for providing prepaid telephony service via an internet protocol network system - Google Patents

Methods for providing prepaid telephony service via an internet protocol network system Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2390722A1
CA2390722A1 CA002390722A CA2390722A CA2390722A1 CA 2390722 A1 CA2390722 A1 CA 2390722A1 CA 002390722 A CA002390722 A CA 002390722A CA 2390722 A CA2390722 A CA 2390722A CA 2390722 A1 CA2390722 A1 CA 2390722A1
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Canada
Prior art keywords
telephone number
prepaid
call
originating
switch
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
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CA002390722A
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French (fr)
Inventor
Steven R. Donovan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Verizon Business Global LLC
Original Assignee
Mci Worldcom, Inc.
Steven R. Donovan
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mci Worldcom, Inc., Steven R. Donovan filed Critical Mci Worldcom, Inc.
Publication of CA2390722A1 publication Critical patent/CA2390722A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L65/00Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication
    • H04L65/10Architectures or entities
    • H04L65/102Gateways
    • H04L65/1043Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02Details
    • H04L12/14Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02Details
    • H04L12/14Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
    • H04L12/1453Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network
    • H04L12/1467Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network involving prepayment
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
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    • H04L65/10Architectures or entities
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    • H04L65/1023Media gateways
    • H04L65/103Media gateways in the network
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    • H04L65/10Architectures or entities
    • H04L65/102Gateways
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    • H04M17/20Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
    • H04M17/201Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment automatic recharging with predetermined amount at threshold
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    • H04M17/20Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
    • H04M17/204Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
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    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • H04M2017/22Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems with automatic recharging of account/card, e.g. if limit is reached during connection the account is recharged automatically
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    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • H04M2017/24Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/01Details of billing arrangements
    • H04M2215/0116Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
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    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
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    • H04M2215/01Details of billing arrangements
    • H04M2215/0176Billing arrangements using internet
    • HELECTRICITY
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    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/01Details of billing arrangements
    • H04M2215/018On-line real-time billing, able to see billing information while in communication, e.g. via the internet
    • HELECTRICITY
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    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/20Technology dependant metering
    • H04M2215/202VoIP; Packet switched telephony
    • HELECTRICITY
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    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
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    • H04M2215/22Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
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    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/44Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
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    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
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    • HELECTRICITY
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    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
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    • H04M2215/81Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
    • H04M2215/815Notification when a specific condition, service or event is met
    • H04M2215/8166Available credit

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for providing prepaid telephony service via an Internet protocol (IP) network system (300, 500). A first method provides controlling at least one media agent (304) or call routing station/switch (310, 312) of an IP network system (300) for allowing and/or blocking call media streams from traversing through the media agent. A second method provides directing all signaling messages transmitted by a signaling agent (502) or station (510, 512) and all media packets transmitting voice and data communications through at least one common device within the IP network system (500). The methods further provide for continuously monitoring a subscriber's account balance and terminating the prepaid telephony service if the account balance is less than a predetermined amount.

Description

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to telecommunications systems, and more specifically is directed toward methods of providing prepaid telephony service via an Internet protocol (IP) network system.
2. ~escriy do of the Related Art Prepaid telephony service is a very popular service in the existing Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). For example, prepaid calling cards are typically used by PSTN subscribers to place calls. Typically, a user or subscriber of a prepaid calling card initiates a phone call by calling a signaling agent, such as a communications station or server, via a toll-free number (800/888) provided on the prepaid calling card. The subscriber is then prompted to enter his home telephone number and an identification number (PIN) also provided on the prepaid calling card using a telephone keypad.
The signaling agent then proceeds to perform validation procedures to determine if the home telephone number matches the identification number using a look-up table stored within a database or if the identification number is valid. If the two numbers match or if the identification number is valid, then the signaling agent performs database Queries to determine if the subscriber's account balance is more than a predetermined amount. If the account balance is more than the predetermined amount, then the signaling agent informs the subscriber of the length of calling time available and indicates to the subscriber to enter a number to be dialed. The signaling agent then proceeds to place the call by transmitting signaling messages to appropriate communications devices along a media path flow, i.e., the path through which call media streams are routed through the PSTN. If the account balance is less than the predetermined amount, then the signaling agent informs the subscriber that a call cannot be placed.
During the duration of the call, the signaling agent monitors the subscriber's account balance. If the account balance falls below the predetermined amount, the signaling agent transmits a message to the subscriber via the same media path flow as the path of the call media streams indicating to the subscriber the amount of available time. After the subscriber's account balance has been depleted, the signaling agent tears down the PSTN call by blocking the media path flow as described below.
In the PSTN, the call is torn down by the signaling agent transmitting a "switch-off' signaling message to a media agent or a routing station along the media path flow through which the call media streams are routed through. The "switch-ofP' signaling message disables the media agent to prevent the call media streams from being transmitted further along the media path flow. Hence, the PSTN call is torn down.

It is inconsequential if the signaling agent is or is not locatrd along the media path flow, since in the PSTN, signals transmitted to or received from any one station (e.g., a server) can be directed to or received from a variety of other stations or servers within the network. Therefore, in a prepaid calling card scenario, whether or not the signaling agent is located along the media path flow, the signaling agent can effectively control call setup, the duration of the call based on the subscriber's account balance, and call tear down by direexing signaling messages to the appropriate media agent or other routing station.
In the case of using an Internet protocol (IP) network system to plact a non-prepaid call, with reference to FIG. 1, there is shown an IP network system designated generally by reference numeral 10 having a plurality of media agents, i.e., devices for handling packets through the system 10. In the IP network system 10, call ' media streams are routed from a telephone 20 through a PSTN telephone switch 30 to an IP telephony switch 40 over an ISDN line. The call media seams are then routed to the IP network 50 over an IP line, and then over a corresponding IP line to a destination IP telephony switch 40', further to a destination PSTN telephone switch 30' over an ISDN line and finally to a destination telephone 20' . The call media streams can also be routed from the telephone 20 to an IP terminal 75, such as a personal computer (PC).
The IP telephony switches 40 and 40° provide basic interfacing between the PSTN tciephone switches 30 and 30' and IP network 50 and include both gateways 60a and 60b, as well as gatekeepers 70a and 70b. Gatekeepers 70a and 70b use the signaling information provided by the gateways 60a and 60b to provide directory services. During a call setup, the originating gatekeeper 70a sets up a communication path between the originating and terminating gateways 60a, 60b by determining the destination gatekeeper 70b associated with a destination IP address or telephone number. The destinaxion gatekeeper 706 selects a destination gateway 60b to rompletc the IP virtual circuit.
With reference to FIG. 2, an example of a call which originates in the P$TN, traverses the IP network, and terminates back in the PSTN is shown.
First, at A, an Internet telephony service subscriber dials an access number provided by the Internet Telephony Service Provider. At B, the call is routed by the PSTN
telephone switch 30 to the IP telephony switch 40. The gateway 60a at C plays an announcement requesting that the subscriber enter the destination telephone number to be called. The destination digit information is sent to the gatekeeper 70a. Accordingly, the gatekeeper 70a determines a destination gatekeeper IP address based on the destination digit information. An IP packet requesting the availability status of the destination gateway 60b is sent to the destination gatekeeper 70b at D. The destination gatekeeper 70b responds to the request by providing destination gateway 60b availability and IP
address information. The originating gatekeeper 70a then transfers this information to the originating gateway 60a at E.
With continued reference to PIG. 2, at F, the originating gateway 60a sets up a virtual circuit to the destination gateway 60b. This circuit is identified by a call reference variable (CRS that will be used by both gateways 60a, b06 for the duration of the call to identify all IP packets associated with this particular call.
Finally, at G, the destination gateway 60b selects an outgoing PSTN voice trunk and signals to the PSTN switch 30~ to attempt to set up a call to the dialed telephone number.
During the call, the packet-switched IP network 50 routes the IP packets associated with the particular call along different routes before reaching the IP
telephony switch 40' or terminal 25 (e.g., a multimedia personal computer (PC) equipped with Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) or H.323 software, a microphone and speakers). SIP and H.323 terminals support the encodingldecoding and pa:eketization/sequencing of information exchanged with other SIP and H.323 terminals or gateways. Packets are routed to the destination IP address contained within the header of each packet and may travel aver separate network paths before arriving at their final destination for reassembly and resequencing. Accordingly, the routing of packets within the IP network is different than the routing of the call media streams by the PSTN during a conventional PSTN call, where all the call media streams associated with a particular call arc routed along the same media path.

Accordingly, prepaid telephony services ca~ot be achieved via the IP
network shown by FIGS. I and 2 and described above, since call signaling messages from a signaling agent, such as a server, do not take the same media path as the call media streams, since the IP network is a packet-based network where each packet from a particular station is routed along a different media path than other packets. Further, with conventional servers and 1P network hardware, the call signaling messages cannot be directed or controlled to take the same path as the call media streams.
Therefore, a need exists for a method of having a signaling agent control at Least one media agent of an IP network system for allowing and blocking call media streams from traversing through the media agent.
Further, a need exists for a method of directing all signaling messages transmitted by a signaling agent and all media packets transmitting voice and data communications through an IP network system through one media flow path.
J~MAKY (fir I'HF I NTION
The present invention provides methods for providing prepaid telephony service via an Internet protocol (IP) network system. A first method provides controlling at least one media agent or call routing station/switch of an IP
network system for allowing and/or blocking call media streams from traversing through the media agent. A second method provides directing aII signaling messages transmitted by a signaling agent or station and a1I media packets transmitting voice and data communications through at least one common device within the IP network system.
The first method of the present invention enables prepaid telephony service via an IP network system and includes the steps of providing a signaling station between a PSTN telephone switch and an IP telephony switch of the IP network system; forwarding a telephone number entered by a su'uscriber and received by the PSTN telephone switch to the signaling station; determining if the telephone number matches a prepaid access telephone number stored within a database; forwarding the telephone number to the IP telephony switch if the telephone number does not match the prepaid access telephone number to setup a non-prepaid call via an IP
network;
transmitting prepaid access instructions from the signaling station to the subser'ber if the telephone number matches the prepaid access telephone number to inform th,c subscriber to continue placing a prepaid call by dialing at least a destination telephone number; forwarding the destination telephone number to the IP telephony switch via the PSTN telephone switch and signaling station; and setting up the prepaid call to the destination telephone number.
The method further includes the steps of during the prepaid call, continuously monitoring at the signaling station an account balance corresponding to the subscriber; transmitting from the signaling station to one of the PSTN
telephone switch and the IP telephony switch a caIt interrupt signal if the account balance is Less than a predetermined amount; receiving at one of the PSTN telephone switch and the IP
telephony switch the call interrupt signal and terminating the prepaid call to the destination telephone number. It is contemplated that a message be transmitted to the subscriber indicating an amount of calling time available which corresponds to the account balance at least one time prior to the signaling station transmitting the call interrupt signal.
Further, it is contemplated that the steps of determining if the teltphone number matches the prepaid access telephone number stored within the database of the signaling station, transmitting prepaid access instructions from the signaling station to the subscriber, and continuously monitoring at the signaling station the account balance corresponding to the subscriber be performed by the IP telephony switch by programming the IP telephony switch accordingly.
Additionally, the method further includes the step of periodically billing the subscriber if the prepaid call was charged to a telephone number corresponding to the subscriber.
The second method of the present invention enables prepaid telephony service via an IP network system and includes the steps of forwarding a telephone number entered by a subscriber and received by a PSTN telephone switch to an IP
telephony switch; determining if the telephone number matches a prepaid access telephone number stored within a database; setting up a non-prepaid call via an IP
network if the telephone number does not match the prepaid access telephone number;
transmitting prepaid access instructions from the IP telephony switch to the subscriber if the telephone number matches the prepaid access telephone number to inform the subscriber to continue placing a prepaid call by dialing at least a destination telephone number; forwarding the destination telephone number to the IP telephony switch via the PSTN telephone switch; setting up the prepaid call to the destination telephone number by setting up a virtual media path flow circuit between the IP telephony switch, a relay station and one of a destination IP telephony switch and an IP terminal, where the relay station is located within the IP network; and during the prepaid call, directing signaling .
messages transmitted by the IP telephony switch, the destination IP telephony and the IP terminal, and packets corresponding to the prepaid call through the relay station.
The method further includes the steps of during the prepaid call, continuously monitoring, preferably, at the IP telephony switch or the destination IP
telephony switch, an account balance corresponding to the subscriber;
transmitting from the IP telephony switch, the destination IP teiephony switch or the IP
terminal to the relay station a call interrupt signal if the account balance is less than a predetermined amount; receiving at the relay station the call interrupt signal and terminating the prepaid call. It is contemplated that a message be transmitted to the subscriber indicating an amount of calling time available which corresponds to the account balance at least one time prior to transmitting the call interrupt signal to the relay station from the IP telephony switch, the destination IP telephony switch or the IP
terminal. Further, it is contemplated that the step of continuously monitoring the account balance corresponding to the subscriber be performed by a signaling station connected to the IP telephony switch or the destination IP telephony switch by progratnming the signaling station accordingly.
Additionally, the method further includes the step of periodically billing the subscriber if the prepaid cal! was charged to a telephone number corresponding to the subscriber.
Various preferred embodiments are described herein with references to the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art IP network system for placing a call via an IP network;
FIG. 2 is a prior art process flow block diagram for the IP network system of FIG. 1 indicating a sequence of events for placing a call via the IP
network;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an IP network system in accordance with a first preferred method of the present invention for placing a prepaid call via the IP
network;
FIG. 4A is a flow chart for placing either a non-prepaid or a prepaid call via~the IP network according to the first preferred method;
FIG. 4H is a flow chart for continuously monitoring an account balance corresponding to the subscriber during the prepaid call;
FIG. 4C is a flow chart for performing billing functions for billing the subscriber after termination of the prepaid call;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an IP network system in accordance with a second preferred method of the present invention for placing a prepaid call via the IP
network;
FIG. 6A is a flow chart for placing either a non-prepaid or a prepaid call via the IP network according to the second preferred method; and FIG. 6B is a flow chart for continuously monitoring an account balance corresponding to the subscriber during the prepaid call.
The present invention provides methods which enable prepaid telephony service between two subscribers of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a subscriber of the PSTN and an IP multimedia terminal, or two IP multimedia terminals via an Internet protocol (IP) network. A first method provides controlling at least one media agent or call routing station/switch of an IP network system for allowing and/or blocking call media streams from traversing through the media agent. A second method provides directing all signaling messages transmitted by a signaling agent or station and ali media packets transmitting voice and data communications through at Least one common device within the IP network system.
Referring now in detail to the drawings, in which Iike reference numerals represent similar or identical elements throughout the several views, and with particular reference to FIG. 3, there is shown a block diagram of an IP
network system designated generally by reference numeral 300 for placing a prepaid call via as IP
network 302 in accordance with a first method of the present invention. The IP
network system 300 includes a plurality of media agents, i.e., devices for handling packets through the system 300, including a signaling station 304. In the IP
network system 300, call media streams are routed from a telephone 306 to a PSTN
telephone switch 308 to the signaling station 304 over an ISDN line to an IP telephony switch 3I0 over an IP line to the IP network 302 over an IP line. The call media streams arc then routed to a destination IP telephony switch 3I2 over an IP line to a destination PSTN telephone switch 314 over an ISDN line, and finally to a destination telephone 316. The call media streams can also be routed to an IP terminal 3I7, such as a PC.
The IP telephony switches 310, 3I2 provide basic interfacing between the PSTN telephone switches 308, 3I4 and IP network 302 and include both gateways 318 and gatekeepers 320. It is apparent to persons skilled in the art that signaling proxy servers, especially Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy servers, could be used instead of gatekeepers 320. Gatekeepers 320 use the signaling information providai by the gateways 318 to provide directory services. During a call setup, the originating gatekeeper 320a sets up a communication path between the originating and terminating gateways 318a, 318b by determining the destination gatekeeper 320b associated with a destination IP address or telephone number. The dcatination gatekeeper 320b selxts a destination gateway 318b to complete the IP virtual circuit.
FIGS. 4A-C depict flow charts for placing the prepaid call via the iP
network according to the first preferred method. With reference to FIG. 4A, a call is setup by entering a telephone member at stEp 400. The telephone number is then received by the PSTN telephone switch 308 and is routed to the signaling station 304 at step 401. The signaling station 304 at step 402 determines if the telephone number matches a prepaid access telephone number stored within a database. The database is preferably stored within the signaling station 304 or a remote station connected to the signaling station 304. If tb.e telephone number.does not match the prepaid access telephone number, the cctephone number is forwarded to the IP telephony switch 310 at step 404 to setup a non-prepaid call via the IP network 302 at step 405, as described above with respect to placing a call using the originating and destination gateways 318a, 3I8b and the originating and destination gatekeepers 320a, 320b.
If the telephone number matches the prepaid access telephone number at step 402, prepaid access instructions are transmitted from the signaling station 304 to the subscriber at step 406 to inform the subscriber to place a prepaid call by dialing at least a destination telephone number. Additional information to be dialed includes the subscriber's account number and account personal ideatification number (PIN).
If the account information is determined to be accurate and a subscriber's account balance is sufficient (i.e., greater than a predetermined amount) as determined at step 407 by the signaling station 304, the destination telephone number is then forwarded at step 408 to the IP telephony switch 310 via the PSTN telephone switch 308 and signaling station 304. The prepaid call is then setup at step 409. If the account information is not accurate or the subscriber's account balance is not sufficient, then the call is terminated.
With reference to FIG. 4B, the method further includes continuously monitoring during the prepaid call the account balance corresponding to the subscriber at step 410. Preferably, step 4I0 is performed at the signaling station 304.
If the account balance is less than a predetermined amount, a call interrupt signal is transmitted from the signaling station 304 to either the PSTN telephone switch 308 or the IP telephony switch 310 at step 412. It is also contemplated that the call interrupt signal is transmitted from the signaling station 304 to the PSTN telephone switch 314 or the IP telephony switch 3I2 at the destination side, or to the IP tecninal 3I7 in the case of telephony service between a PSTN subscriber and the IP terminal 3I7.
The call interrupt signal is then received by the PSTN telephone switch 308 or the IP telephony switch 310 and the prepaid call to the destination telephone number is terminated at step 414. It is contemplated that a message be transmitted to the subscriber from the signaling station 304, which indicates an amount of calling time available according to the account balance, at least one time before the call interrupt signal is transmitted by the signaling station 304.
Further, it is contemplated that the steps of determining if the telephone number matches the prepaid access telephone number stored within the database of the signaling station, transmitting calling card access instructions from the signaling station 304 to the subscriber, determining if the account information is accurate and that the ~subsexiber's account balance is sufficient, and continuously monitoring at the signaling station 304 the account balance corresponding to the subscriber be performed by the IP
telephony switch 3I0 by programming the IP telephony switch 310 accordingly to perform these steps.
Additionally, with reference to FIG. 4C, the method of the present invention further includes determining at the signaling station 304 whether the prepaid call was charged to a particular telephone number at step 416. If the prepaid call was charged to a particular telephone number, then the signaling station 304 at step 4I8 stores the charges incurred and other information, such as a length of time of the prepaid call and the destination telephone number, for billing the subscriber at a later time.

If the prepaid call was not charged to a particular telephone number, e.g., the prepaid call was a prepaid calling card call, then the signaling station 304 at step 420 debits the subscriber's account balance and at step 422 stores the debited account balance in the database.
It is contemplated that the billing steps of 416, 418, 420 and 422 be performed by the IP telephony switch 310 by programming the IP telephony switch 310 accordingly. Hence, it is further contemplated that the IP telephony switch transmits the billing information to a plurality of other IP telephony switches connected to the IP network. Therefore, if a different IP telephony switch is used to initiate a prepaid call in the future via the IP network 302, it contains the subscriber's billing information, including the subscriber's account balance.
With reference to FIG. 5, there is shown a block diagram of an~IP
network system designated generally by reference numeral 500 for placing a prepaid call via an IP network in accordance with a second method of the present invention.
The IP network system 500 includes a plurality of media agents including a relay station 502 within an IP network 504. In the IP network system 500, call media streams are routed from a telephone 506 to a PSTN ielephonc switch 508 to an IP
telephony switch 510 and to the IP network 504. The call media streams arc then routed over an IP Iine from the relay station 502 within the IP network 504 to a destination IP telephony switch S 12 over an IP line and then to a destination PSTN

telephone switch 514 over an ISDN line, and finally to a destination telephone SI6.
The call media streams can also be routed to an IP terminal S I7.
As described above for the IP network system 300 shown in FIG. 3, the IP telephony switches 510, 512 provide basic interfacing between the PSTN
telephone switches 508, 514 and IP network 504 and include both gateways 518 and gatekeepers 520 which operate as described above.
FIGS. 6A-B depict flow charts for placing the prepaid call via the IP
network according to the second preferred method. With reference to FIG. 6A, a call is setup by entering a telephone number at step 600. The telephone number is then received by the PSTN telephone switch 508 and is routed to the IP telephony switch S IO at step 601. The IP telephony switch 510 at step 602 determines if the telephone number matches a prepaid access telephone number stored within a database. The database is preferably stored within the IP telephony switch 510 or a remote station connected to the IP telephony switch SIO. If the telephone number dots not match the prepaid access telephone number, the IP telephony switch 510 at step 604 set ups a non-prepaid call via the IP network 504, as described above with respect to FIG. 3, by placing a call using the originating and destination gateways 5I8a, 518b and the originating and destination gatekeepers 520x, 520b.
If the telephone number matches the prepaid access telephone number at step 602, prepaid access instructions are transmitted to the subscriber at step 606 to inform the subscriber to place a prepaid call by dialing at least a destination telephone number. Additional information to be dialed includes the subscriber's account number and account personal identification number (PII~. If the account information is determined to be accurate and a subscriber's account balance is sufficient (i.e., greattr than a predetermined amount) as determined at step 607, the destination telephone number is then forwarded at step 608 to the IP telephony switch 510 via the PSTN
telephone switch 508. The prepaid call is then setup at step 609 by setting up a virtual media path flow circuit between the IP telephony switch 510, the relay station 502 and the destination IP telephony switch 512 or the IP terminal 517. If the account information is not accurate or the subscriber's account balance is not sufficient, then the , call is terminated.
During the prepaid call, signaling and other messages transmitted by the IP telephony switch 510 are directed through the relay station 502 as indicated by step 6I0. Further, all media packets corresponding to the prepaid call are also directed through the relay station 502 as indicated by step 611.
The signaling messages and media packets are directed through the relay station 502, by providing the IP address of the relay station 502 within a header of each message and media packet transmitted from the IP telephony switch 510 and IP
telephony switch 5I2, as well as the IP address of the IP telephony switch 512.
Therefore, even though the packets travel over separate network paths within the IP

network 504 before arriving at the IP telephony switch S I2, the IP telephony switch 510 or the IP terminal S I7 for rcassembly and resequencing, each packet passes through the relay station 502 of the virtual media path flow circuit.
With reference to FIG. 6B, the method further includes continuously monitoring during the prepaid call the account balance corresponding to the subscriber at step 612. Preferably, step 612 is performed at the IP telephony switch S 10 or a remote station connected to the IP telephony switch 510. If the account balance is Iess than a predeternvned amount, a call interrupt signad in the form of a packet is transmitted from the IP telephony switch 510 to the relay station 502 at step 614. It is contemplated that the call interrupt pa,ckct can also be transmitted from the IP
telephony switch 512 or the IP terminal SI7. The call interrupt packet includes within a header the IP address of the relay station 502. The call interrupt signal is then 'received by the relay station 502 and the prepaid call to the destination telephone number is then terminated at step 616. The prepaid call is terminated by the relay station blocking signaling and media packets from passing therethrough and reaching the IP telephony switch SI2 or the IP terminal SI7.
It is contemplated that a message be transmitted to the subscriber indicating an amount of calling time available which corresponds to the account balance at least one time prior to transmitting the call interrupt signal to the relay station 502.
Further, it is contemplated that the step of continuously monitoring the account balance corresponding to the subscriber be performed by a signaling station connected to the IP
ielcphony switch 510 by programming the signaling station accordingly.
Additionally, the method of the present invention further includes determining whether the prepaid call was charged to a particular telephone number. If the prepaid call was charged to a particular teIephane number, then the charges incurred and other infotTnation, such as a length of time of the prepaid call and the destination telephone number, are stored for billing the subscriber at a Iater time.
These steps are preferably performed by the IP telephony switch 510 or a remote station connected to the IP telephony switch 510 and are identical to steps 416 and 418 of FIG. 4C.
If the prepaid call was not charged to a particular telephone number, e.g., the prepaid call was a prepaid calling card call, then the subscriber's account balance is debited and the debited account balance is stored within the database. These steps are preferably performed by the IP telephony switch 510 or a remote station connected to the IP telephony switch 510 and are identical to steps 420 and 422 of FIG.
4C.
What has been described herein is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. For example, the functions described about and implemented as the best mode for operating the present invention are for illustration purposes only. Other arrangements and methods may be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.

Claims (22)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A method of performing prepaid telephony service via an IP
network system including at least an originating IP telephony switch connected to a destination IP telephony switch via an IP network, an originating PSTN
telephone switch, and a destination PSTN telephone switch, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a signaling station between the originating PSTN telephone switch and the originating IP telephony switch;
forwarding a telephone number entered by a subscriber and received by the originating PSTN telephone switch to the signaling station;
determining if the telephone number matches a prepaid access telephone number stored within a database;
transmitting prepaid access instructions from the signaling station to the subscriber if the telephone number matches the prepaid access telephone number to inform the subscriber to continue placing a prepaid call by dialing at least a destination telephone number and account information;
determining if the account information is accurate and a corresponding account balance is greater than a predetermined amount;
forwarding the destination telephone number to the originating IP
telephony switch via the originating PSTN telephone switch and the signaling station if the account information is accurate and the corresponding account balance is greater than the predetermined amount; and setting up the prepaid call to the destination telephone number.
2. The method according to Claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
continuously monitoring, during the prepaid call, an account balance corresponding to the subscriber;
transmitting to one of the originating PSTN telephone switch and the originating IP telephony switch a call interrupt signal if the account balance is less than the predetermined amount;
receiving at one of the originating PSTN telephone switch and the originating IP telephony switch the call interrupt signal; and terminating the prepaid call to the destination telephone number at one of the originating PSTN telephone switch and the originating IP telephony switch.
3. The method according to Claim 2, further comprising the step of transmitting a message to the subscriber indicating an amount of calling time available which corresponds to the account balance at least one time prior to transmitting the call interrupt signal.
4. The method according to Claim 2, further comprising the steps of:
debiting the account balance; and storing the debited account balance within the database.
5. The method according to Claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
determining if the prepaid call was charged to a telephone number corresponding to the subscriber;
storing information relating to the prepaid call including a length of time of the prepaid call and the destination telephone number if the prepaid call was charged to the telephone number corresponding to the subscriber; and periodically billing the subscriber according to the stored information.
6. The method according to Claim 1, further comprising the step of forwarding the telephone number to the originating IP telephony switch if the telephone number does not match the prepaid access telephone number to setup a non-prepaid call via the IP network.
7. A method of performing prepaid telephony service via an IP
network system including at least an originating IP telephony switch connected to a destination IP telephony switch via an IP network, an originating PSTN
telephone switch, and a destination PSTN telephone switch, said method comprising the steps of:
receiving a telephone number at the IP originating telephony switch dialed by a subscriber;
determining if the telephone number matches a prepaid access telephone number stored within the originating IP telephony switch;
transmitting prepaid access instructions to the subscriber if the telephone number matches the prepaid access telephone number to inform the subscriber to continue placing a prepaid call by dialing at least a destination telephone number and account information;
determining if the account information is accurate and a corresponding account balance is greater than a predetermined amount;
receiving the destination telephone number at the originating IP
telephony switch if the account information is accurate and the corresponding account balance is greater than the predetermined amount; and setting up the prepaid call to the destination telephone number via the IP
network.
8. The method according to Claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

continuously monitoring, during the prepaid call, at the originating IP
telephony switch the account balance corresponding to the subscriber; and terminating the prepaid call to the destination telephone number if the account balance is less than the predetermined amount.
9. The method according to Claim 8, further comprising the step of transmitting a message to the subscriber indicating an amount of calling time available which corresponds to the account balance at least one time prior to terminating the prepaid call.
10. The method according to Claim 8, further comprising the steps of:
debiting the account balance;
storing the debited account balance within the originating IP telephony switch; and transmitting the debited account balance from the originating IP
telephony switch to a plurality of IP telephony switches connected to the IP
network.
11. The method according to Claim 7, further comprising the steps of:
26-~

determining if the prepaid call was charged to a telephone number corresponding to the subscriber;
storing information relating to the prepaid call including a length of time of the prepaid call and the destination telephone number if the prepaid call was charged to the telephone number corresponding to the subscriber; and periodically billing the subscriber according to the stored information.
12. The method according to Claim 7, further comprising the step of setting up a non-prepaid call via the IP network, the destination IP telephony switch and the destination PSTN telephone switch if the telephone number does not match the prepaid access telephone number;
13. A method of performing prepaid telephony service via an IP
network system including at least an originating IP telephony switch connected to a destination IP telephony switch via an IP network, an originating PSTN
telephone switch, and a destination PSTN telephone switch, said method comprising the steps of:
identifying a relay station within the IP network;
forwarding a telephone number entered by a subscriber and received by the originating PSTN telephone switch to the originating IP telephony switch;
determining if the telephone number matches a prepaid access telephone number stored within a database;

transmitting prepaid access instructions to the subscriber if the telephone number matches the prepaid access telephone number to inform the subscriber to continue placing a prepaid call by dialing at least a destination telephone number and account information;
determining if the account information is accurate and a corresponding account balance is greater than a predetermined amount;
forwarding the destination telephone number to the originating IP
telephony switch via the originating PSTN telephone switch if the account information is accurate and the corresponding account balance is greater than the predetermined amount; and setting up the prepaid call to the destination telephone number.
14. The method according to Claim 13, wherein the step of routing packets associated with the prepaid call through the relay station comprises the step of providing an IP address corresponding to an IP address of the relay station within a header of each packet transmitted from the originating IP telephony switch and destination IP telephony switch, wherein each packet passes through the relay station of the virtual media path flow circuit.
15. The method according to Claim 13, further comprising the steps of:
continuously monitoring, during the prepaid call, the account balance corresponding to the subscriber;
transmitting to the relay station a call interrupt signal if the account balance is less than the predetermined amount;
receiving the call interrupt signal at the relay station; and terminating at the relay station the prepaid call to the destination telephone number.
16. The method according to Claim 15, further comprising the step of transmitting a message to the subscriber indicating an amount of calling time available which corresponds to the account balance at least one time prior to transmitting the call interrupt signal to the relay station.
17. The method according to Claim 15, further comprising the steps of:
debiting the account balance; and storing the debited account balance within a database.
18. The method according to Claim 17, wherein the database is stored within a remote station connected to the originating IP telephony switch.
19. The method according to Claim 17, wherein the database is stored within the originating IP telephony switch.
20. The method according to Claim 13, further comprising the steps of:
determining if the prepaid call was charged to a telephone number corresponding to the subscriber;
storing information relating to the prepaid call including a length of time of the prepaid call and the destination telephone number if the prepaid call was charged to the telephone number corresponding to the subscriber; and periodically billing the subscriber according to the stored information.
21. The method according to Claim 13, wherein the step of setting up the prepaid call comprises the steps of:
setting up a virtual media path flow circuit between the originating IP
telephony switch and the relay station and one of the destination IP telephony switch and an IP terminal; and routing packets associated with the prepaid call through the relay station.
22. The method according to Claim 13, further comprising the step of setting up a non-prepaid call via the IP network if the telephone number does not match the prepaid access telephone number.
CA002390722A 1999-11-08 2000-11-08 Methods for providing prepaid telephony service via an internet protocol network system Abandoned CA2390722A1 (en)

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US09/436,294 US6480588B1 (en) 1999-11-08 1999-11-08 Methods for providing prepaid telephony service via an internet protocol network system
PCT/US2000/041990 WO2001035605A2 (en) 1999-11-08 2000-11-08 Methods for providing prepaid telephony service via an internet protocol network system

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