(54) METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING LONG DISTANCE SERVICE
(75) Inventors: Jerome Meyers, Douglasville, GA
(US); Dean Gibson, Duluth, GA (US)
(73) Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc.,
Wilmington, DE (US)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 610 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 10/171,313
(22) Filed: Jun. 12, 2002
(51) Int. CI.
H04M15/00 (2006.01)
H04M11/00 (2006.01)
(52) U.S. CI 379/114.5; 379/114.2;
405/408
(58) Field of Classification Search 379/114.14,
379/114.15, 114.16, 114.17, 114.18, 114.03, 379/115.01, 115.02, 144.01, 114.2; 455/405,
455/406
See application file for complete search history.
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
6,493,685 Bl * 12/2002 Ensel et al 705/40
6,526,130 Bl * 2/2003 Paschini 379/93.12
7,072,455 B2* 7/2006 Diaz 379/144.01
7,107,039 B2* 9/2006 Liao et al 455/406
A system and method of providing long distance service products to users. Post-paid debit calling cards are purchased on-line by a customer or user and the user is billed monthly, along with other service charges. The calling card account, however, is debited as it is used. Since the fee for the account is charged against an existing customer account, fraudulent purchases are reduced. In an embodiment, the purchaser is provided access to a restricted web page on the Internet using a user name and password, where the user name and password are associated with the customer's account. Once accessed, the user is able to purchase "postpaid debit calling cards." Upon sending a request to purchase such a calling card, the user is provided a toll free number and PIN. Subsequently, the purchase is logged and the fee is added to the customer's monthly bill.
28 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
