(12) United States Patent
`Swope et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,639,977 B1
`Oct. 28, 2003
`
`US006639977B1
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REVERSE
`BILLING OF A TELEPHONE CALL
`
`(75) Inventors: Bobb SWOpe, Coppell, TX (US);
`Rpgald B. Vaello, San Antonio, TX
`
`.
`
`5,894,511 A
`5,960,416 A
`6,031,898 A
`2 *
`6,222,912 B1
`6,226,366 B1
`
`7
`
`7
`
`4/1999 Jordan
`9/ 1999 Block
`2/2000 Jordan
`gals‘); t
`4/2001 Breuer
`5/2001 Bala et al.
`
`as e e a .
`
`1
`
`Asslgl'lee: EEJS‘COIH SyStemS, IIlC., Irving,
`
`EP
`
`0 380 189 A
`
`8/1990
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`USC 154(b) by 85 days.
`
`W0
`
`W0 98/32275 A
`
`7/1998
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`_
`
`International Search Report issued Sep. 10, 2002 PCT/US
`
`A . 17 2000
`22 F1 d:
`ug
`’
`(
`)
`1 6
`(51) Int. Cl.7 ............................................. .. H04M 15/00
`(52) US. Cl. ........................... .. 379/114.21; 379/114.01;
`379/114.14; 379/114.23; 379/114.26
`(58) Field of Search .......................... .. 379/111, 112.01,
`379/114.01, 114.15—114.2, 114.21—114.26,
`127.01_127.04, 133_134, 144.01
`_
`References Clted
`U_S_ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(56)
`
`47917640 A * 12/1988 Sand
`5210789 A
`5/1993 Je?us et a1‘
`5,359,642 A 10/1994 Castro
`5359 643 A 10/1994 Gammino
`5j483:581 A
`1/1996 Hird et a1‘
`5 592 537 A
`1/1997 Moen
`5:715j298 A
`2/1998 Rogers
`5,742,667 A
`4/1998 Smith
`5,748,711 A
`5/1998 Scherer
`5,825,857 A 10/1998 RetO etal-
`57835580 A 11/1998 Fraser
`2 * 1%;
`gogan ‘it ‘11'
`5,867,566 A
`2/1999 Hogan et a1‘
`5,870,723 A * 2/1999 Pare, Jr. et 211.
`5,875,236 A
`2/1999 JankoWitZ et a1.
`
`,
`
`,
`
`auer e a .
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Duc Nguyen
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fulbright & JaWorski,
`L.L.P.
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`The present invention is a system and method that allows a
`calling party to call a destination number and, upon approval
`of the called party, reverse the billing of the telephone ‘call
`so that it is deducted from an account oWned and maintained
`by the called party other than the account associated With the
`destination number. The method of the present invention
`-
`1 d
`th
`t
`f
`-
`-
`d t
`-
`d
`1ncu es
`e seps .0 receiving a pre e ermine ‘access
`number from a calling party; prompting for a destination
`number; notifying a called party of the call they are receiv
`ing; alloWing the called party to accept the call and enter a
`number associated With an account other than the telephone
`service account of the destination telephone number; veri
`fying the account number and Whether the account has
`suf?cient value available; completing the telephone call to
`the destination number; and processing the charges associ
`ated With the call to be charged against the account.
`
`-
`
`-
`
`20 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`PROMPTVCALLED FARTY
`TO ACCEPT OR REJECT
`
`YES
`
`PROMPT CALLED PARTY FOR
`PAVMENT METHOD, ACCT Nu
`AND cw
`
`ACCT HAS
`SUFFtCIENT
`FUNDS 7
`
`CHOOSE
`ALTERNATE
`ACCT 7
`
`GTL 1018
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 8,626,118
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 28, 2003
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
`
`US 6,639,977 B1
`
`mzo_.2o_z:s_s_oom:m._
`
`xmozfimz
`
`mm
`
`oz:.<z_s_mm:
`
`oz_.Ez_s_mmF
`
`mo_>mo
`
`_._o.:>>m
`
`:wz<E
`
`xmozfimz
`
`mm
`
`wz_»<z_w_mo
`
`mu_>mq
`
`
`
`oz:<z_wEo
`
`:o.:>>m
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 28,2003
`
`Sheet 2 0f 4
`
`US 6,639,977 B1
`
`FIG. 3A
`
`CALL RECEIVED /
`AT ORIGINATING
`SWTTCH
`
`120
`
`/l\
`DIALEED NO.
`MATCHES
`PREDETERMINED
`ACCESS NO. 7
`
`130
`
`CAEFmT-SEER
`METHOD
`
`PROMPT CAILLTNG PARTY
`FOR DESTINATION NO.
`
`"\1140
`
`L
`
`150
`
`160
`
`DESTINAT lON
`AUTHORlZED 7
`
`N0
`
`TERMINATE
`CALL
`
`8
`
`NETWORK
`COMPLETES CALLS
`
`i
`
`ANNOUNCEMENT
`TO CALLED PARTY
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 28,2003
`
`Sheet 3 0f 4
`
`US 6,639,977 B1
`
`190
`
`PROMPT CALLED PARTY / F | G '3 B
`
`' \
`
`TO ACCEPT OR. REJECT
`CALL
`
`210
`
`TERMINATE
`CALL
`
`ACCEPTED
`? /
`
`YES
`
`PROMPT CALLED PARTY FOR
`PAYMENT METHOD, ACCT NO.
`AND CN
`
`\_/220
`
`/230
`
`24°
`
`TERMINATE
`CALL
`
`2 I
`6’
`
`ALTERNATE >—
`
`TERMINATE
`CALL
`
`270
`
`250
`
`280 \
`
`ACCT HAS\
`SUFFICIENT
`FUND '? S /
`
`YEES
`
`MARK AMA AS
`CHARGED TO ACCT.
`
`290
`
`EXIT D
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 28,2003
`
`Sheet 4 0f 4
`
`US 6,639,977 B1
`
`ommL
`
`% ?own
`mUr-EO
`
`L
`
`[.llllllo
`
`0mm
`
`.ZWFZMO r own
`
`mOIuO
`
`Ill.
`
`IEJ u 70%
`
`

`
`US 6,639,977 B1
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REVERSE
`BILLING OF A TELEPHONE CALL
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`present invention generally relates to a method of pro
`viding telephone communications betWeen a calling party
`and a called party Wherein the called party assumes the
`responsibility for the costs associated With the telephone
`call, and more speci?cally to a telephone billing system and
`method that alloWs the called party an option to designate an
`account to be charged for the call other than the account
`associated With telephone service at the call destination or
`any other call destination.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Conventional methods of placing telephone calls utiliZing
`so called “reverse billing”, Wherein a called party assumes
`the cost of the call, involve the placing of collect telephone
`calls. A collect telephone call can be placed by a calling
`party and the called party may then accept or deny the call
`and the associated charges. The cost of the collect call is
`billed to the called number and appears on the telephone
`billing statement of the called number. Thus, the collect call
`billing method is restricted to the telephone service account
`of the called number, i.e., the speci?c destination number.
`On the other hand, a calling party has the option of placing
`a telephone call from any telephone and paying for the call
`by alternate means, such as With a credit card or a prepaid
`calling card. In these situations, the calling party is usually
`the oWner of the card or account. Thus, they are in control
`of the account and any associated Customer Identi?cation
`and Veri?cation (CIV), such as a Personal Identi?cation
`Number (PIN).
`HoWever, no current methods are knoWn that alloW the
`called party the same ?exibility, that is to direct charges of
`a telephone call to a credit card, debit card, or prepaid calling
`card, account.
`In many situations, a called party, such as a relative,
`friend, or business associate of a calling party, may have an
`important need for establishing telephone communications
`With the calling party that alloWs the called party to accept
`the cost of the call While maintaining oWnership and control
`of the charged account. For example, a parent may have an
`important need to alloW a child to call home from a public
`telephone Without using a calling card, credit card, collect
`charging, or coins. Another example exists in connection
`With correctional facilities, Where family members may Wish
`to receive calls from an inmate and accept the charges of the
`call Without incurring higher costs associated With normal
`collect calling. Yet another example exist Where the called
`party may be at a destination number Where accepting
`charges to that account Would be inappropriate, such as a
`parent or husband at their place of employment.
`A need also exists for reverse billing, or called-party
`billing, at rates loWer than those associated With normal
`collect calls and that alloWs the called party to charge the call
`to an account other than the telephone service account of the
`called number, such as a credit card account or a prepaid
`calling card account.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`2
`assume the cost of the telephone call. The method alloWs a
`called party at a destination telephone number to accept or
`deny the call, and, if the call is accepted, to bill the call to
`a credit card account, debit card account, a prepaid calling
`card account, or any other type of account not necessarily
`associated With the telephone service account of the desti
`nation telephone number. This alloWs the called party to
`receive calls anyWhere Where billing the service account is
`not desired or appropriate. The present method also alloWs
`the called party to maintain oWnership and control of the
`charged account. The present method further alloWs the
`called party to avoid collect call services.
`The method of the present invention includes the steps of
`receiving a predetermined access number from a calling
`party; prompting for a destination number; notifying a called
`party of the call they are receiving; alloWing the called party
`to accept the call and enter a number associated With an
`account other than the telephone service account of the
`destination telephone number; verifying the account number
`and Whether the account has suf?cient value available;
`completing the telephone call to the destination number; and
`processing the charges associated With the call to be charged
`against the account.
`The method of the present invention may also include
`other steps requiring Customer Identi?cation and Veri?ca
`tion (CIV) and other database inquiries for controlling and
`regulating the system.
`The present invention alloWs: an account holder to ?x an
`amount of monetary value Within the account to avoid
`excessive monthly phone bills that are typically associated
`With collect calls; alloWs an account holder to accept calls at
`locations aWay from home since the account is not associ
`ated With the destination number as With collect calling
`methods; and alloWs the account holder to be charged loWer
`rates than the typical rates associated With standard collect
`calling methods.
`In a particular application, the method is implemented in
`correctional facilities, Wherein friends and family members
`can purchase an account having a prepaid amount of calling
`value from a provider such as the correctional facility. Thus,
`the prepaid account alloWs the friends and family members
`to maintain oWnership and control of the charged account as
`opposed to the inmate maintaining oWnership.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram generically depicting a system
`according to the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a speci?c embodiment of the
`system of the present invention implemented on a telecom
`munications netWork.
`FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B shoW a How chart of a method of the
`embodiment of the system depicted in FIG. 2.
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a speci?c embodiment of the
`system of the present invention implemented on a telecom
`munications netWork and in connection With a premises
`based telecommunications system, such as at a correctional
`facility.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is a telephone billing system and
`method that alloWs for reverse billing of a telephone call,
`i.e., Wherein the calling party relies on the called party to
`
`65
`
`While the present invention Will be described fully here
`inafter With reference to the accompanying draWings, in
`Which particular embodiments are shoWn, it is to be under
`stood at the outset that persons skilled in the art may modify
`the embodiments herein described While still achieving the
`
`

`
`US 6,639,977 B1
`
`3
`desired result of this invention. Accordingly, the description
`Which follows is to be understood as a broad informative
`disclosure directed to persons skilled in the appropriate arts
`and not as limitations of the present invention.
`The present invention alloWs a calling party to call a
`destination number and, upon approval of the called party,
`reverse the billing of the telephone call so that it is deducted
`from an account oWned and maintained by the called party
`other than the account associated With the destination num
`ber. Thus, the present invention provides an alternative
`reverse billing method to a conventional collect call. The
`account can be a credit card account, a checking or savings
`account having an associated debit or checking card, a
`conventional pre-paid calling card, or a special prepaid
`account as described herein.
`The present invention can be implemented on any type of
`telecommunications netWork system. In a basic form, the
`present invention can be implemented utiliZing a modi?ed
`collect call system and method. FIG. 1 generically depicts a
`telecommunications netWork 10 in communication With an
`originating device 20 and a terminating device 30. The
`netWork 10 is a Public SWitched Telephone NetWork (PSTN)
`in the United States or a similar netWork in another country
`or other private or public netWork. The netWork 10 includes
`telecommunications infrastructure that is Well knoWn in the
`telecommunications industry.
`An originating party, or calling party, uses the device 20
`to initiate a telephone call as a typical collect call to a called
`party, Wherein the calling party enters a “0” (or a “1”and an
`“800” number), and then a 10-digit destination number. The
`device 20 may be a telephone set, computer, facsimile
`machine, or any other device that is capable of placing a
`telephone call or using a telephone line. The netWork 10
`facilitates connection of the call and noti?cation of the
`called party that it is in receipt of a collect call from the
`calling party. The method of the present invention noW
`provides alternate payment methods for the call in addition
`to the present standard collect call payment method of
`billing the call to the telephone service account associated
`With the destination number. The called party is noW given
`the option to bill the call to a credit card account, debit card
`account, a prepaid calling card account, or any other type of
`account not associated With the telephone service account of
`the destination telephone number, or, accept the call utiliZing
`standard collect calling methods Wherein the call is billed to
`the destination number. In contrast to the standard collect
`calling method, Which is limited to only billing the call to the
`destination number through normal netWork conventions,
`the method of the present invention alloWs the called party
`to accept a reverse-billed telephone call from any location,
`i.e., separate from the location associated With the destina
`tion telephone line. The implementation of the method of the
`present invention is Well Within the ordinary skill of a person
`in the telecommunications industry.
`FIG. 2 depicts a telephony netWork that is used to
`implement a particular embodiment of the present invention.
`An originating party, or calling party, uses a device 40 to
`initiate a telephone call. The device 40 may be a telephone
`set, computer, facsimile machine, or any other device that is
`capable of placing a telephone call or using a telephone line.
`In this particular embodiment, an originating sWitch 50
`communicates With a database 52. The originating sWitch 50
`may be a 5ESS.RTM. sWitch, a 4ESS.RTM. sWitch
`(available from Lucent Technologies, Inc., for example), a
`private branch eXchange (PBX), or other local sWitching
`device. It is important to note that the originating sWitch 50
`may be part of a private premises-based telephone system,
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`4
`part of a Local Exchange Company (LEC) netWork system,
`or may be part of an IntereXchange Carrier (IXC) system that
`is co-located at a sWitching of?ce of the LEC. The originat
`ing sWitch 50 utiliZes a processor 54 to prompt a calling
`party for a destination number. The processor 54 utiliZes a
`collection and detection device 56 to collect the entry of the
`destination number from the calling party. The device 56
`may be a DTMF collection and detection device, a voice
`recognition collection and detection device, or other form of
`device that can collect and detect data from the calling party
`at the originating device 40. The device 56 can also be a dial
`pulse collector Where dial pulse is utiliZed. The database 52
`may be an Advanced Intelligent NetWork (AIN) Service
`Control Point (SCP), a NetWork Control Point (NCP), a Line
`Information Data Base (LIDB), or other similar database
`device. It is to be understood that the database 52 is capable
`of accessing other databases through a netWork of multiple
`databases 58.
`When a telephone call is placed by the calling party at the
`device 40, it is eventually connected through a transit
`netWork 60 and a terminating sWitch 70 to a terminating
`device 80. The transit netWork 60 is a Public SWitched
`Telephone NetWork (PSTN) in the United States or a similar
`netWork in another country or other private or public net
`Work. The device 80 may be a telephone set, computer,
`facsimile machine, or any other device that is capable of
`placing a telephone call or using a telephone line.
`FIG. 3 is a How chart depicting the sequence of events of
`the present invention as implemented in the particular
`embodiment depicted in FIG. 1. It is to be understood at the
`outset that some of the steps depicted in FIG. 3 are optional
`and are not to be interpreted as narroWing the scope of the
`present invention. These optional steps can be eXcluded
`Without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
`Referring to FIG. 3, a telephone call placed by a calling
`party at the originating device 40 marks an entry point 100.
`At step 110, the call is received at the originating sWitch 50.
`At step 120, the originating sWitch 50 looks at the dialed
`number (dialed by the calling party) and compares it to an
`access number of the present invention. The access number
`is preferably a toll-free access number, but may be any type
`of number. If the dialed number does not match the access
`number, the call is completed using an alternate method at
`step 130, such as direct billing, calling card, credit card,
`collect charging, an operator, or coins. If the dialed number
`matches the access number, the method proceeds to step
`140.
`At step 140, the originating sWitch 50 utiliZes processor
`54 to prompt the calling party for the destination number.
`The destination number is a 10-digit number of the desti
`nation that the calling party Wishes to reach. The processor
`54 utiliZes the collection and detection device 56 to collect
`the entry of the destination number from the calling party.
`The processor 54 may optionally contact the database 52 and
`pass a protocol data message to the database 52. This data
`may include the Automatic Number Identi?cation (AN I), the
`type and location of the device 40, and the destination
`number.
`Alternately, step 140 can be eliminated by requiring the
`calling party to enter the destination number at the same time
`he or she dials the predetermined access number. In this
`case, the method Would proceed directly to step 150 or 170
`after the call is dialed by the calling party.
`At step 150, the database 52 uses the data to determine if
`the call should be completed. Speci?cally, the database 52
`looks up the destination number in its tables to see if calls
`
`

`
`US 6,639,977 B1
`
`5
`are permitted to the destination number, given the destina
`tion number, the AN I (Which is used to determine Where the
`call is originating from by use of the NPA-NXX digits), and
`type of device 40 (Which is used to determine the type of
`device or line, for example, if the calling party is using a pay
`phone, facsimile machine, etc.). At this point, the database
`52 may optionally contact one or more databases 58, such as
`the Line Information Database (LIDB), to determine other
`information related to the destination number, such as col
`lect denied. This authoriZation step 150 is an optional step.
`If the call to the destination number is declared to be
`invalid (for reasons such as originating area (for example,
`prisons, international, etc.), calling party type of device, line
`type, etc., step 160 Will terminate the call With an error
`message to the calling party or ask the calling party to enter
`another number at step 140.
`At step 170, the originating sWitch 50 routes the call
`through the transit netWork 60 to the terminating sWitch 70.
`When the called party ansWers the terminating device 80,
`step 180 plays a brief announcement to the called party. This
`announcement is played by processor 54. The announce
`ment might say “You are receiving a reverse-billing tele
`phone call.”
`At step 190, the called party is prompted to accept or
`reject the call. If the call is not accepted at step 200, then the
`call is terminated at step 210. If the call is accepted, then the
`called party is prompted at step 220 for a method of
`payment, an account number and an optional Customer
`Identi?cation and Veri?cation (CIV), such as a Personal
`Identi?cation Number
`The processor 54 uses collection device 56 to collect the
`entry of the account information and the CIV number from
`the calling party. The account information and the CIV
`number is preferably collected by a DTMF collection
`device. HoWever, speech veri?cation or other forms of digit
`entry could also be used for this prompting and collecting.
`Account information may also be entered With a magnetic
`sWipe card and telephone sWiper (reader) combination, a bar
`code scanner connected to the telephone, or an automated
`biometric reading device, such as “Iris Scanning,” ?nger or
`palm imaging, or the like. Alternatively, the information may
`also be collected by a live operator. At step 230, the
`processor 54 compares the CIV entered by the calling party
`With a CIV returned from the database 52 in connection With
`the account selected. If the tWo CIVs match, then the CIV
`entered by the calling party is determined valid and control
`proceeds to step 250. If the tWo CIVs do not match, then the
`CIV entered by the calling party is determined invalid and
`step 240 terminates the call or requests the calling party to
`enter another CIV number. Similarly, voice messages such
`as keyWords or names and addresses may also be compared
`in determining the validity of the calling party.
`At step 240, a security feature can be included that limits
`the number of failed attempts of CIV entry before the call is
`terminated. With this option, the system keeps track of the
`number of CIV failures associated With the destination
`number. For example, if a called party enters an incorrect
`CIV, the system utiliZes the ANI and attributes a failed CIV
`attempt With the destination number. The number of failed
`CIV attempts is counted by the system and if the count
`reaches a predetermined maximum number, the system
`assumes that the party entering the CIV is a “hacker” and
`terminates the call. Optionally, the system can maintain a
`record of failed CIV attempts associated With a particular
`destination number Within a database of the system, such as
`database 52 or one or more of the databases 58.
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`6
`At step 250, the processor 54 determines Whether the
`account selected has suf?cient funds or credit to cover the
`cost of the call. The processor 54 may compare the value of
`the account that is returned by the database 52 With a
`predetermined minimum value needed to complete a call.
`Alternatively, any type of criteria may be used to determine
`Whether the account has sufficient funds. For example, an
`estimated cost may be calculated by the processor 54 based
`on the originating number, the destination number, time of
`day, an estimate of call duration, or any combination of
`factors. If the account does not have suf?cient funds
`available, then step 260 alloWs the called party to choose an
`alternate account or otherWise terminate the call at step 270.
`If the account has suf?cient funds, the automatic message
`accounting (AMA) record, or some other form of record is
`marked as charged to the account number given by the called
`party at step 280. The method may be terminated at step 290
`or alternatively may continue With an automatic billing of
`the account before termination.
`The present invention alloWs an account holder to accept
`calls at locations aWay from home since the account is not
`associated With the destination number as With collect
`calling methods. The present invention also alloWs the
`account holder to be charged loWer rates than the typical
`rates associated With standard collect calling methods.
`In accordance With the present invention, a prepaid
`reverse-billing account card may be issued to anyone that
`desires to receive calls and have the option of reverse billing
`the cost of the call. In this type of application, a person may
`purchase value for the account and have the cost of the call
`received from the calling party deducted from the account in
`accordance With the method of the present invention.
`The prepaid reverse-billing account card and the method
`of the present invention can be applied to any consuming
`group. HoWever, this particular application is particularly
`useful to the corrections industry for use With inmates and
`their friends, family, loved ones, etc. In such an application,
`a correctional facility having a premises based telecommu
`nications system or a telecommunications provider may
`provide a prepaid reverse-billing account that can be pur
`chased by anyone Wishing to receive calls in accordance
`With the present invention. The prepaid account can be
`offered in addition to the other methods of payment, such as
`credit card, debit card, etc. The prepaid account alloWs an
`account holder to ?x an amount of monetary value Within the
`account to avoid excessive monthly phone bills that are
`typically associated With collect calls. The prepaid account
`can include security features such as the CIV features
`described herein. Thus, the prepaid account alloWs the called
`party to maintain oWnership and control of the charged
`account as opposed to the inmate maintaining oWnership. In
`a correctional facility application, the destination numbers
`can also be screened for authoriZation as an additional
`security feature.
`FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the present invention as
`implemented in connection With a correctional facility or
`other institution having at least one originating telephone
`300 connected to a premises-based telecommunications sys
`tem 310. HoWever, it is to be understood that this embodi
`ment could be utiliZed in connection With any location
`having a premises-based telecommunications system. A
`prisoner initiates a telephone call to a called party by dialing
`a predetermined access number. The call is received at a
`central of?ce 320 of a typical telecommunications system
`netWork, such as the PSTN, and routed to a service bureau
`330, Which is the location associated With the access num
`
`

`
`US 6,639,977 B1
`
`7
`ber. The service bureau includes the necessary equipment to
`facilitate the method of the present invention, including a
`processor (not shoWn) that can link to one or more databases
`340 and a collection and detection device (not shoWn), such
`as a DTMF collection and detection device, for receiving
`data entered by the called party.
`The processor can prompt the prisoner for a destination
`number, or, alternatively, the system can be designed so that
`the destination number is entered When the access number is
`dialed. The processor utiliZes the collection and detection
`device to collect the entry of the destination number from the
`calling party. The processor may optionally contact one or
`more databases and pass a protocol data message to the
`databases. This data may include the Automatic Number
`Identi?cation (AN I), the type and location of the device 300,
`and the destination number. The databases may be used for
`determining authoriZation of the destination number.
`The processor routes the call to a central of?ce 350
`associated With the geographic location associated With the
`destination number. The central office routes the call to the
`destination number. When the called party ansWers a tele
`phone 360 they are noti?ed of the call and given the option
`to accept or reject the call. If accepted, the processor at the
`service bureau prompts the called party to select a method of
`payment, Which can be from any type of account, including
`the prepaid account issued in connection With the correc
`tional facility. The account information is entered by the
`called party. The called party may optionally be prompted
`for a CIV. If a CIV is required, the system may also
`optionally include a “hacker” security feature as previously
`described, Wherein the number of failed CIV attempts is
`limited to a predetermined number before the call is termi
`nated.
`The processor at the service bureau connects to one or
`more of the databases to validate the account and determine
`Whether sufficient funds are present to complete the call. If
`the account has suf?cient funds, the processor completes the
`call by establishing a connection betWeen the originating
`telephone 300 and a destination telephone 360. A record,
`such as an AMA, is established by the processor indicating
`that the call Was reverse-billed, the account number, the
`duration of the call, the cost of the call, etc.
`While the speci?c embodiments have been illustrated and
`described, numerous modi?cations come to mind Without
`signi?cantly departing from the spirit of the invention and
`the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the
`accompanying claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method for connecting and billing a telephone call,
`comprising the steps of:
`receiving a predetermined access telephone number from
`a calling party;
`prompting the calling party for a destination number;
`identifying an account of a called party;
`determining if the account has suf?cient funds to com
`plete the call:
`notifying the called party of the call they are receiving;
`prompting the called party for acceptance of the call;
`prompting the called party for a CIV, Wherein the CIV is
`utiliZed With an ANI of the destination number to
`identify a number of failed CIV attempts in a prede
`termined database;
`completing the telephone call to the destination number;
`and
`deducting the cost of the telephone call form the account.
`
`15
`
`25
`
`10
`
`8
`2. The method of claim 1, Wherein the account of the
`called party is identi?ed by an identi?cation number pro
`vided by the calling party.
`3. The method of claim 1, Wherein the CIV includes a
`5 Personal Identi?cation Number (PIN).
`4. The method of claim 1, Wherein the CIV includes voice
`recognition of the called party.
`5. A method for connecting and billing a telephone calls
`from a correctional facility, said method comprising:
`providing telecommunication system in communication
`With said correctional facility;
`establishing prepaid reverse-billing accounts With respect
`to a plurality of persons Wishing to receive telephone
`calls from said correctional facility, said prepaid
`reverse-billing accounts being provided by said correc
`tional facility;
`receiving a destination number from a calling party incar
`cerated Within said correctional facility desirous of
`establishing communication With a called party of said
`plurality of persons;
`alloWing the called party to accept the telephone call and
`provide information associated With an account of said
`prepaid reverse-billing accounts to Which the accepted
`telephone call is to be charged; and
`completing the telephone call to the destination number.
`6. The method of claim 5, Wherein said telecommunica
`tion system comprises a correctional facility premises-based
`telecommunication system provided at said correctional
`facility.
`7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
`determining if a call to the destination number should be
`completed; and
`if it is determined that the call to the destination number
`should not be completed, preventing completion of the
`call to the destination number.
`8. The method of claim 7, Wherein said determining if the
`call to the destination number should be completed utiliZes
`information With respect to the destination number itself.
`9. The method of claim 8, Wherein said determining if the
`call to the destination number should be completed further
`utiliZes information With respect to Where the call is origi
`nating from.
`10. The method of claim 9, Wherein said determining if
`the call to the destination number should be completed
`further utiliZes information With respect to the type of device
`the calling party is using to place the call.
`11. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
`validating the account information provided by the called
`party.
`12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:
`obtaining a CIV from the called party for validating the
`account.
`13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
`tracking a number of CIV failures associated With the
`destination number; and
`terminating call attempts if the number of CIV failures