公开(公告)号：US5946380A

公开(公告)日：1999-08-31

申请号：US965521

申请日：1997-11-06

申请人： Steve L. Cohen ,  Michael Davitt ,  Leonard Matulewski ,  Alan B. Moshinsky ,  Kathleen T. Quinn ,  Usha Rao

发明人： Steve L. Cohen ,  Michael Davitt ,  Leonard Matulewski ,  Alan B. Moshinsky ,  Kathleen T. Quinn ,  Usha Rao

IPC分类号： H04M15/00 ,  H04M17/00

CPC分类号： H04M15/88 ,  H04M15/00 ,  H04M17/00 ,  H04M2215/0116

摘要： A communication system includes a network switch coupled through a telephone line uniquely associated with each customer for budgeted telephone calling time and amount, either pre-paid or post-paid, the budgeted amount being recorded in the system for calling purposes. A server is coupled to the switch for automated control of the budgeted telephone calls and costs. The server includes a control processor having access to databases for recorded budgeted amounts and call routing. A voice response unit is coupled to the processor and sends messages to the calling customer at the beginning of each budget telephone call indicating remaining budgeted telephone calling time and amount available to the calling purposes. The processor debits the customer account by an amount reflecting the call costs as the call proceeds. A voice message advises the calling customer when the available time and costs for the budgeted telephone call will terminate. Depending upon customer preference, the call may (i) terminate when the budget amount is exceeded or (ii) continue subject to a warning that the call budget has been exceeded with a prompt to obtain additional prepaid budgeted calling time and cost or (iii) continue the call and subsequent calls subject to later payment by the calling customer. Calls are placed directly to the calling party without accessing a special toll number or providing a credit card number.

摘要翻译： 通信系统包括通过与每个客户唯一相关联的电话线耦合的网络交换机，用于预算的电话呼叫时间和预付费或后付费的金额，用于呼叫目的记录在系统中的预算金额。 服务器耦合到交换机，用于自动控制预算的电话呼叫和成本。 服务器包括控制处理器，其具有用于记录的预算量和呼叫路由的数据库访问。 语音应答单元耦合到处理器，并且在每个预算电话呼叫开始时向呼叫客户发送消息，指示剩余预算的电话呼叫时间和可用于呼叫目的的数量。 处理器会在客户帐户中扣除反映通话费用的金额。 当预算电话的可用时间和费用将终止时，语音消息建议主叫客户。 根据客户偏好，呼叫可能（i）超出预算金额时终止，或（ii）继续警告，超出呼叫预算，并提示获得额外的预付预算通话时间和费用，或（iii） 继续呼叫和随后的呼叫，受到客户以后的付款。 呼叫直接发送给主叫方，无需访问特殊的收费号码或提供信用卡号码。