Prepaid Telephony System and Method of Activating a Prepaid Telephony Account

Abstract

A prepaid telephony system and a method of activating a prepaid telephony account are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method of activating the prepaid telephony account includes providing a message to a caller including an offer to associate a prepaid account corresponding to a prepaid calling card with an origination address of the caller.

1 . A method of activating a prepaid telephony account, the method comprising providing a message to a caller including an offer to associate a prepaid account corresponding to a prepaid calling card with an origination address of the caller. 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a response to the message from the caller. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising associating a long distance service code with the origination address of the caller based on the response to the message. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the long distance service code is a presubmitted interexchange carrier code. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 requesting a personal identification number from the caller;   receiving the personal identification number from the caller; and   storing the personal identification number.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising evaluating the origination address with respect to an address criterion. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the address criterion is used to screen payphones. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the address criterion is used to identify customers of a particular service vendor. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the origination address is associated with a subscriber residential telephone device. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a second message to the caller, the message including a request to change a selected long distance carrier from a first long distance carrier to a second long distance carrier.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a second message to the caller, the message including a request to change a selected local service provider from a first local service provider to a second local service provider.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising assigning a prepaid class of service to a subscriber account identified by the origination address. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message is provided to the caller via an automated prompt. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the automated prompt comprises a computer-generated message from an interactive voice response unit. 
   
   
       15 . A computer-readable medium to store data comprising a prepaid account, the prepaid account comprising recharge information including local exchange carrier account information. 
   
   
       16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the prepaid account further comprises prepaid usage data to determine a quantity of prepaid usage units available to use in a telephony service. 
   
   
       17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein an eligibility to purchase additional prepaid usage units is determined based at least in part upon a payment status check of a subscriber associated with the local exchange carrier account information. 
   
   
       18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein a quantity of additional prepaid usage units that a subscriber is eligible to purchase is determined based at least in part on a test of credit worthiness-related factors. 
   
   
       19 . A prepaid calling card comprising:
 a unique identification number identifying a prepaid account having an allotment of prepaid usage units for use in connection with a telephony service;   wherein the prepaid calling card is associated with a prepaid account stored in a computer system, the prepaid account including recharge information including local exchange carrier account information.   
   
   
       20 . The prepaid calling card of  claim 19 , wherein the recharge information includes credit card information.