Method of prepaying for consumption of telephone calls

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a method of prepayment for telephone call consumption.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the invention is to limit the risk of unpaid for telephone calls set up by means of a telephone terminal and to avoid the contentious procedures inherent to such unpaid calls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly a method of prepaying for consumption of telephone calls to be set up by means of a predetermined terminal via a switched telephone network, comprises the following steps:

setting up a call from any terminal to prepayment processing means via the switched telephone network in order to transmit a message identifying the predetermined terminal to the prepayment processing means,

responsive to identification of the predetermined terminal, requesting from the any terminal prepayment of telephone call consumption to the prepayment processing means, and

if the prepayment request is accepted by the prepayment processing means, paying an amount transmitted from the any terminal so that the prepayment processing means increments a consumption count associated with the predetermined terminal.

The call setting-up step comprises

entrying an identification number identifying the predetermined terminal and a control key at the any terminal so that they are included in the identification message, and

checking mutually consistency between the identification number and the control key in accordance with a predetermined algorithm in the prepayment processing means and, when consistency is established, verifying that the identification number is included in a list stored in the prepayment processing means, the call being held by the payment processing means when the number of consistency errors does not exceed a predetermined number and when the identification number is included in the list.

By "any terminal" is meant any telephone terminal of any type, including a mobile phone, and this includes the predetermined terminal.

The user of the predetermined terminal can consume telephone calls as long as the consumption account is positive, and must pay an amount as soon as the account becomes negative. In this way the user is made more sensitive to the cost of calls and the organization managing the terminals is less burdened by disputes with its clients over unpaid calls.

According to a particular embodiment, the predetermined terminal and the any terminal are one and the same terminal which is a mobile phone terminal connected to the switched telephone network via a mobile phone network. A method of prepaying for consumption of telephone calls to be set up by means of the mobile phone terminal comprises the following steps:

entrying a particular telephone number at the mobile phone terminal thereby setting up a call from the mobile phone terminal to the mobile phone network,

translating the particular telephone number into a call number of the prepayment processing means by the mobile phone network,

setting up a call by means of the particular telephone number from the mobile phone network to prepayment processing means through the switched telephone network whereby the mobile phone network transmits a message including an identification number identifying the mobile phone terminal to the prepayment processing means,

verifying that the identification number is included in a list stored in the prepayment processing means, thereby clearing down the call by the payment processing means when the identification number is not included in the list,

when the identification number is included the list, requesting from the mobile phone terminal prepayment of telephone call consumption to the prepayment processing means, and

if the prepayment request is accepted by the prepayment processing means, paying an amount transmitted from the mobile phone terminal so that the preprepayment processing means increments a consumption count associated with the mobile phone terminal.

In order to dialog with all types of telephone terminal, the prepayment processing means transmits messages to the terminal via a voice and/or alphanumeric message server.

The requesting step includes selection of one of at least two methods of payment that can be a payment by electronic funds transfer (EFT) or a payment by bank card (CB).

For an electronic payment processing, the requesting step includes entrying a secret code at the any terminal. The prepayment processing means thus accepts the prepayment request if the secret code is recognized in association with the identification message and its entry has not been attempted a predetermined number of times.

The secret code is recorded in the prepayment processing means without comparing it with the identification message when the consumption count is incremented for the first time by an amount resulting from an electronic funds transfer.

For a payment by bank card, the requesting step includes a bank card payment by entering at the any terminal a predetermined number transmitted to the prepayment processing means which accept the prepayment request if the predetermined number is the correct length and/or is not included in a predetermined list of numbers.

Generally, the prepayment processing means can refuses the amount if one of cumulative totals of amounts paid by means of a selected one of methods of payment and of amounts paid to the consumption account associated with the predetermined terminal exceeds a respective maximal amount over a respective number of days, and/or if the number of payments by the selected method of payment exceeds a respective maximal number over a respective number of days.

In payment step, the prepayment processing means can transmit to said any terminal a balance of the consumption count before and after incrementing of the consumption count in order that the user checks his payment processing. For an analogous operation, after incrementing the consumption count, the prepayment processing means can transmit a provisional payment certificate to said any terminal if the payment is an electronic funds transfer.

To make payments by electronic funds transfer more secure, the method may include, after said payment step, an invitation to change a secret code used for electronic funds transfer and, in the event of a positive response to the invitation, a change of the secret code.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of several embodiments of the invention with reference to the corresponding accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of hardware and software means for implementing prepayment for telephone calls by mobile phones connected to the switched telephone network via a specific telecommunication network;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the first two main steps of a telephone call consumption prepayment method of the invention, to be more precise a call and phone identification step and a payment method step; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the last two main steps of the prepayment method, to be more precise a payment step and a code change step.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the prepayment method of the invention is described hereinafter for the prepayment of consumption of outgoing and/or incoming telephone calls which are set up by a predetermined terminal, such as a portable mobile phone PRM of the "cordless" type for use in urban areas and having only a short radio range, e.g. a phone conforming to the CT2-CAI standard.

Referring to FIG. 1, the hardware and software means essential to implementing the prepayment method according to this embodiment comprise

a specific digital mobile phone network RPM accessible by any PRM phone via fixed radio stations (telepoints) connected in groups to station connection units,

a conventional telephone terminal TTQ of any kind connected to the public switched telephone network RTC directly or via specific telecommunication networks, such as a mobile phone network, a private telephone network, a packet-switched network, etc,

a voice server SV connected to the telephone network RTC and to the mobile phone network RPM by a dedicated line or an X.25 type packet-switched link (switched virtual circuit), and

three other servers SPP, SCP and SB connected to each other by X.25 type packet-switched links (switched virtual circuits).

The server SPP is a prepayment server that constitutes the core of the prepayment means shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1. Most of the instructions that the server SPP receives from the servers SB and SCP are retransmitted to the voice server SV which translates them into voice message for the user who is using a telephone terminal TTQ of any kind or a mobile phone PRM in order to make the prepayment, as will emerge hereinafter.

The server SCP is a mobile phone account server that contains all of the data for identifying a PRM phone and preferably data identifying the client of this phone who acquired it from the organization managing the PRM mobile phone. In particular, the phone account server contains telephone call consumption counters CO which are respectively associated with the mobile phones PRM. Each counter CO is incremented by an amount MV each time that a user of the PRM phone associated with the counter is authorized to make a prepayment and is decremented after each telephone call made from the PRM phone. The consumption counter CO is connected to the station connection unit serving the PRM phone, which transmits to the counter CO a personalized call docket containing all the information required for billing the call. In practise the server SCP is included in the system for managing the clients of the mobile phone network RPM and connected to the network RPM.

The prepayment server SPP contains a prerecorded list LND of account numbers ND which are respectively associated with mobile phones PRM and therefore with the counters CO included in the server SCP.

The server SB is a bank server that is managed by a bank with which the organization managing the mobile phones PRM has entered into transaction agreements on behalf of its clients/users.

The hardware and software means shown in FIG. 1 therefore enable registration of a monetary payment MV made in advance. This payment MV constitutes a reserve from which the amount of each telephone call effected by the associated phone PRM is deducted. The system bars any possibility of further calls on expiry of the credit in the associated counter CO, without cutting off calls in progress; the balance may become negative.

No invoice is sent to the PRM phone client/user. Only detail of calls is supplied, at the request of the client, by the organization managing the mobile phone network RPM.

When a subscription account is opened or a phone is activated for a client of the telephone consumption prepayment service, an account number ND on six or seven characters is allocated to the client, that is to say the number ND is associated with the mobile phone PRM of the client, this type of phone being identified by a phone number NP that can be detected by the network RPM. As the PRM phones are associated on a one-to-one basis with the account numbers ND, each new number ND is compared with the account numbers in the server SCP in order to avoid duplications. Additionally, a control key CL on one character is calculated from the account number ND using a predetermined algorithm defined by the organization managing the mobile phones. This key is entered by the user at the time of paying by means of a telephone terminal TTQ and guarantees the accuracy of the account number. On the other hand, the complete account number ND with its key CL is not entered in the case of a call to the voice server SV from the phone PRM. A readable badge-card carrying the account number ND and its key CL is supplied to the client.

When the account is opened, a specific contract is established and, in addition to the initial charges, a first amount at least equal to a minimal sum is paid by the phone client/user. This amount, which may also be paid the first time the phone is activated, is registered in the counter CO of the server SCP assigned to the client's phone PRM. At the same time, the complete account number ND+CL is registered in the server SPP and transmitted via the corresponding X.25 link to the prepayment server SPP which stores it in a list of account numbers LND.

Thereafter, the consumption counter CO is reloaded by accessing the voice server SV and via the prepayment server SPP, by means of bank card payments CB or by electronic funds transfer EFT in accordance with the method of the invention or by sending a cheque to the PRM phone client management center.

Payment by electronic funds transfer EFT requires the client to supply beforehand a bank identity voucher BIV for their bank account and an authorization from the bank concerned to debit the account by electronic funds transfer, all of this data being then registered in the server SPP and in the bank server SB. The payment is in bands of 100 francs, for example, and is limited to a maximum amount of 300 francs, for example.

Three payment options are offered to the client. The first two are part of the prepayment method of the invention. For a given account, no option is mutually exclusive with any other option.

For the option of payment by electronic funds transfer TEP, the client supplies a bank identity voucher BIV and a signed request authorizing debiting of the account by electronic funds transfer. This voucher BIV is mailed to the organization managing the prepayment server SPP.

To simplify payments by electronic funds transfer, a four-digit secret code CS is associated with the client's voucher BIV. The client enters the secret code CS for each payment operation, regardless of the method of access to the voice server SV. The secret code CS is personalized by the client himself during the first prepayment operation. This secret code is held in memory at the prepayment server SPP and is not memorized either in the mobile phone account server SCP or in the voice server SV.

The second option relates to payment by bank card. On each payment operation, calling from any telephone TTQ and having entered his complete account number ND+CL, the client enters the digits of his bank card number NCB, which in practise may comprise up to 19 digits, and then presses the # sharp key. In the case of a call from the mobile phone PRM, the account number is not to be dialled by the client, but is dialled by the network RPM.

This second option meets the following requirements:

multiple payers on the same account number,

clients not choosing the option to pay by electronic funds transfer and secret code,

one-off payment in the event of a change to or loss of the secret code CS of electronic funds transfer.

The third option is prepayment by cheque.

All information relating to new accounts and accounts that have been closed is fed to the server SCP, for example daily, which then transmits it to the server SPP which retransmits it to the server SB.

In the following description, the word "user" means the client to whom a predetermined phone PRM is issued and who is the only person known to the organization managing the phones PRM or any person requiring to use the PRM phone and/or to pay an amount to the credit of the account CO of the phone PRM in the server SCP, using the phone PRM or any telephone terminal TTQ.

Referring to FIG. 2, the method of prepayment for consumption of telephone calls essentially comprises four main steps, a call and phone identification step ID, a payment method step MD, a payment step PA and, where necessary, a change of secret code step CC.

The phone identification step ID is implemented in two different ways, depending on whether the user wishes to credit the account CO of the predetermined mobile phone PRM, either by means of a telephone call from any telephone terminal TTQ which is a conventional fixed telephone or a telephone of some other type, for example a mobile phone, or by means of a telephone call from the predetermined mobile phone PRM itself.

When the user decides to use any telephone terminal TTQ, the identification step comprises three steps ID1, ID2 and ID3 and a final step ID7 common to the other way. In the initial step ID1, a call is set up to the voice server SV and continues through the subsequent steps. The user dials the telephone call number NSV of the voice server SV on the keypad of the terminal TTQ. A voice message specific to the mobile phone prepayment service is transmitted by the server SV to the terminal TTQ.

In the next step ID2 the user presses the �*! key and dials the complete account number ND+CL associated with the predetermined mobile phone PRM. In practise, the number to be dialled by the user comprises the account number ND proper with six or seven characters and a control key CL with one character associated with the number ND by the predetermined algorithm prerecorded in the server SV.

In step ID2 and the subsequent step ID3 the prepayment server SPP receives from the voice server SV and checks the account number ND identifying the mobile phone PRM. The list LND of account numbers ND complete with their respective key CL is initially recorded in the prepayment server SPP as accounts are opened and mobile phones are purchased.

Two checks are carried out.

In step ID2, the voice server SV checks that the key CL is consistent with the dialled account number ND using the predetermined calculation algorithm and prior to consulting the list. The maximum number of attempts to dial the number ND+CL allowed is three. In the event of a third failure, a specific refusal message resulting from keying error or from inactivity for a predetermined time period is sent to the user by the server SV in step ID21. The voice server SV then clears down the call.

If the voice server SV confirms that the number ND is consistent with the key CL in step ID2, it communicates the account number ND to the prepayment server, which checks that the account number ND is present in the list LND in step ID3. If the checking result is negative, a specific refusal message different from the previous one and indicating that the number ND dialled in does not correspond to any numbered account in the list LND, is sent by the server SV on the instruction of the server SPP in the step ID31, which instruction is also transmitted to the account server SCP.

In the second way of carrying out the main call and identification step ID, the user decides to use the predetermined mobile phone PRM in the initial step ID4. The user enters on his mobile phone PRM a short-code number *55# corresponding to the voice server SV in step ID4.

The management system in the mobile phone network RPM translates the short-code number into the call number NSV of the voice server SV or another number specially assigned to the server SV in step ID5. Then, after setting up the link to the server SV, the RPM network management system dials the account number ND without the control key CL, since the management system, including the account server SCP, receives in each call from the phone PRM the phone identification number NP held in memory in the phone PRM and associated with the number ND of the account when the latter is opened. In this case the voice server does not check the key CL associated with the account number ND. A specific "please wait" voice message is sent by the voice server SV for verification of the account number ND in step ID6, as in step ID3.

The prepayment server SPP checks that the account number ND exists. If the number ND is not in the list LND, a refusal message, different from the refusal message in step ID31 following a keying error, is sent by the voice server SV to the phone PRM via the network RPM in step ID61 and this refusal is also transmitted to the account server SCP.

After the identification of the phone PRM following a call from any terminal TTQ or from the phone PRM, step ID3 or ID6 is followed by a balance consultation step ID7. The voice server SV sends an account statement request to the prepayment server SPP.

The server SPP then checks the cumulative total paid for the account identified by the number ND verified in step ID3 or ID6. If this cumulative total exceeds YF francs over a sliding period of MJ days, a refusal message is sent and the call is cleared down, as in step PA11 described below.

If the cumulative total does not exceed YF francs over a sliding period of MJ days, the server SPP returns the balance SO of the account CO associated with the phone PRM in "real time" after direct consultation in th