Activating telephone-based services using a pos device

Abstract

A method of providing telephone response unit (TRU)-based services includes receiving from a point-of-sale (POS) device a request at a host computer system to activate TRU-based services. The request includes an identifier that indicates the specific TRU-based services to be activated. The method also includes confirming the availability of the specific TRU-based services to be activated and storing at the host computer system information that indicates the services are activated. The method also includes returning a message to the POS that indicates that the TRU-based services have been activated.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A method of providing telephone response unit (TRU) -based services, comprising: 
 at a TRU, receiving a request from a customer to access TRU-based services wherein the request includes an identifier which identifies a specific TRU-based service;    transmitting from the TRU to a host computer system a request to provide an activation status of TRU-based services relating to the customer;    receiving a response from the host computer system; and    using the response to determine whether to allow the customer to access the TRU-based services.    
   
   
       18 . A method of providing interactive voice response (IVR) services, comprising: 
 receiving an IVR access number from an IVR access card via a reader associated with a point-of-sale (POS) device;    sending the IVR access number to a host computer system for validation;    at the host computer system, validating the IVR access number by:    searching for an activation status of the IVR access number; and    in real time, activating the IVR access number by storing information that indicates that the number is active;    receiving at the host computer system from an IVR system a request to confirm the activation status of the IVR access number;    searching for stored information relating to the activation status of the access number;    returning from the host computer system to the IVR system information that relates to the activation status of the IVR access number; and    maintaining an account balance relating to the IVR services.    
   
   
       19 . A system for providing telephone response unit (TRU)-based services, comprising: 
 a point-of-sale (POS) device configured to receive a TRU-based services access number and transmit a request to activate the TRU-based services access number to a host computer system; and    the host computer system, wherein the host computer system is programmed to: 
 validate the TRU-based services access number by: 
 searching for an activation status of the TRU-based services access number; and  
 activating the TRU-based services access number by storing information that indicates that the number is active;  
 
 receive from a TRU a request to confirm the activation status of the TRU-based services access number;  
 search for stored information relating to the activation status of the access number;  
 return to the TRU information that relates to the activation status of the TRU-based services access number; and  
   maintain a record reflective of an account balance of the customer.