Method and apparatus for validating pre-pay and post-pay communication services using the same integrated database

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for validating pre-pay and post-pay calls using an integrated validation database. The integrated validation database receives a pre-pay query including a pre-pay account code. The integrated validation database retrieves a pre-pay validation parameter based on the pre-pay account code. The integrated validation database then transmits a pre-pay validation response including the pre-pay validation parameter. The integrated validation database receives a post-pay query including a post-pay account code. The integrated validation database retrieves a post-pay validation parameter based on the post-pay account code. The integrated validation database transmits a post-pay validation response including the post-pay validation parameter.

1 . A method of providing a pre-paid communication service and a post-paid communication service, the method comprising: 
 in a communication system, receiving a pre-paid communication service request from a first user and responsively establishing a first communication link between the first user and an integrated service platform;    in the communication system, receiving a post-paid communication service request from a second user and responsively establishing a second communication link between the second user and the integrated service platform;    in the integrated service platform, interacting with the first user over the first communication link to obtain first user information, processing the first user information to obtain a pre-paid communication service validation parameter, and transferring the pre-paid communication service validation parameter to the communication system;    in the integrated service platform, interacting with the second user over the second communication link to obtain second user information, processing the second user information to obtain a post-paid communication service validation parameter, and transferring the post-paid communication service validation parameter to the communication system;    in the communication system, releasing the first communication link between the first user and the integrated service platform, establishing a third communication link between the first user and a first destination, and controlling the third communication link based on the pre-paid communication service validation parameter; and    in the communication system, releasing the second communication link between the second user and the integrated service platform, establishing a fourth communication link between the second user and a second destination, and controlling the fourth communication link based on the post-paid communication service validation parameter.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pre-paid communication service validation parameter indicates a time limit for the pre-paid communication service.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pre-paid communication service validation parameter indicates a monetary limit for the pre-paid communication service.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, in the communication system, monitoring the third communication link between the first user and the first destination and releasing the third communication link based on the pre-paid communication service validation parameter.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the post-paid communication service validation parameter indicates a credit limit for the post-paid communication service.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, in the communication system, monitoring the fourth communication link between the second user and the second destination and releasing the fourth communication link based on the post-paid communication service validation parameter.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, in the communication system, transferring a first update message to the integrated service platform after providing the pre-paid communication service to the first user.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, in the communication system, transferring a second update message to the integrated service platform after providing the post-paid communication service to the second user.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 in the integrated service platform, processing the first user information to determine the first destination and indicating the first destination to the communication system; and    in the integrated service platform, processing the second user information to determine the second destination and indicating the second destination to the communication system.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first user information comprises a first account code, and wherein the second user information comprises a second account code.  
   
   
       11 . A communication network to provide a pre-paid communication service and a post-paid communication service, the communication network comprising: 
 a communication system configured to receive a pre-paid communication service request from a first user and responsively establish a first communication link between the first user and an integrated service platform;    the communication system further configured to receive a post-paid communication service request from a second user and responsively establish a second communication link between the second user and the integrated service platform;    the integrated service platform configured to interact with the first user over the first communication link to obtain first user information, process the first user information to obtain a pre-paid communication service validation parameter, and transfer the pre-paid communication service validation parameter to the communication system;    the integrated service platform further configured to interact with the second user over the second communication link to obtain second user information, process the second user information to obtain a post-paid communication service validation parameter, and transfer the post-paid communication service validation parameter to the communication system;    the communication system further configured to release the first communication link between the first user and the integrated service platform, establish a third communication link between the first user and a first destination, and control the third communication link based on the pre-paid communication service validation parameter; and    the communication system further configured to releasing the second communication link between the second user and the integrated service platform, establish a fourth communication link between the second user and a second destination, and control the fourth communication link based on the post-paid communication service validation parameter.    
   
   
       12 . The communication network of  claim 11  wherein the pre-paid communication service validation parameter indicates a time limit for the pre-paid communication service.  
   
   
       13 . The communication network of  claim 11  wherein the pre-paid communication service validation parameter indicates a monetary limit for the pre-paid communication service.  
   
   
       14 . The communication network of  claim 11  wherein the communication system is further configured to monitor the third communication link between the first user and the first destination and release the third communication link based on the pre-paid communication service validation parameter.  
   
   
       15 . The communication network of  claim 11  wherein the post-paid communication service validation parameter indicates a credit limit for the post-paid communication service.  
   
   
       16 . The communication network of  claim 11  wherein the communication system is further configured to monitor the fourth communication link between the second user and the second destination and release the fourth communication link based on the post-paid communication service validation parameter.  
   
   
       17 . The communication network of  claim 11  wherein the communication system is further configured to transfer a first update message to the integrated service platform after providing the pre-paid communication service to the first user.  
   
   
       18 . The communication network of  claim 11  wherein the communication system is further configured to transfer a second update message to the integrated service platform after providing the post-paid communication service to the second user.  
   
   
       19 . The communication network of  claim 11  wherein: 
 the integrated service platform is further configured to process the first user information to determine the first destination and indicate the first destination to the communication system; and    the integrated service platform is further configured to process the second user information to determine the second destination and indicate the second destination to the communication system.    
   
   
       20 . The communication network of  claim 11  wherein the first user information comprises a first account code, and wherein the second user information comprises a second account code.