U.S. patent application number 13/042368 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-30 for call routing apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to CALLWAVE, INC.. Invention is credited to David J. Brahm, David S. Trandal.
Application Number | 20110161204 13/042368 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35345018 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110161204 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Trandal; David S. ; et
al. |
June 30, 2011 |
CALL ROUTING APPARATUS
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to telecommunications,
and in particular to systems and methods for routing and placing
telephone calls. In one embodiment, a call manager system is
configured to place a call to a pay-per-call service, or to cause
such a call to be placed by a user computer terminal, in response
to a user initiating a purchase transaction over a computer
network. In addition, the call may include billing information,
such as the user's phone number, which is provided to the
pay-per-call service so that the user can be billed for the call in
an appropriate amount.
Inventors: |
Trandal; David S.; (Santa
Barbara, CA) ; Brahm; David J.; (Santa Barbara,
CA) |
Assignee: |
CALLWAVE, INC.
San Francisco
CA
|
Family ID: |
35345018 |
Appl. No.: |
13/042368 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11861171 |
Sep 25, 2007 |
7907933 |
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13042368 |
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11212536 |
Aug 26, 2005 |
7292841 |
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11861171 |
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10106517 |
Mar 22, 2002 |
6968174 |
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11212536 |
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60278570 |
Mar 22, 2001 |
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60309142 |
Jul 30, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/27.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0641 20130101;
H04L 12/2854 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/27.1 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/00 20060101
G06Q030/00 |
Claims
1. A method of processing a billing transaction from a user's
mobile telephonic device comprising: causing, at least in part, a
first user interface to be presented on a mobile telephonic device
via which the user can register for phone billing services;
receiving over a data network from the user's mobile telephonic
device phone billing registration information; receiving a purchase
request for an item over the data network from the user's mobile
telephonic device, wherein the item is other than a telephone
service; determining a phone number of the user; determining if the
user is authorized to purchase the item; determining whether the
purchase price is to be billed via a phone bill of the user
associated with the phone number of the user; and at least partly
in response to: receiving the purchase request-related information,
and determining the purchase price is to be paid via the user's
phone bill, causing, at least in part, the user to be billed on the
user's phone bill a purchase price associated with the item
purchase request.
2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the mobile telephonic
device includes a software application which presents the first
user interface.
3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first user
interface to be presented on the mobile telephonic device is a
browser-based user interface.
4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the phone billing
registration information includes the user's phone number.
5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the user does not
place a call to a pay-per-call service using any telephonic device
of the user in association with the purchase request.
6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the item is a tangible
good.
7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the item is a
service.
8. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising
denying authorization of the purchase request if the user has a
balance due.
9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a
cellular phone.
10. A method of processing a billing transaction from a user's
mobile device comprising: receiving a purchase request for an item
over a data network from a user's mobile telephonic device, wherein
the item is other than a telephone service, and wherein the offer
to purchase the item is presented to the user via a user interface
on the user's mobile telephonic device; determining an account
identifier of the user; determining if the user is authorized to
purchase the item; and determining whether the purchase price is to
be billed via a phone bill of the user associated with a phone
number of the user; and at least partly in response to: receiving
the purchase request-related information, and determining the
purchase price is to be paid via the user's phone bill, causing, at
least in part, the user to be billed on the user's phone bill a
purchase price associated with the item purchase request.
11. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the mobile
telephonic device includes a software application which presents
the first user interface.
12. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the first user
interface to be presented on the mobile telephonic device is a
browser-based user interface.
13. The method as defined in claim 10, the method further
comprising receiving from the user phone billing registration
information including the phone number of the user.
14. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the user does not
place a call to a pay-per-call service using any telephonic device
of the user in association with the purchase request
15. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the item is a
tangible good.
16. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the item is a
service.
17. The method as defined in claim 10, the method further
comprising denying authorization of the purchase request if the
user has a balance due.
18. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the mobile device is
a cellular phone.
19. A system comprising: a computing device: nontransitory computer
readable memory that stores program code that, when executed by the
computing device, causes the computing device to perform operations
comprising: causing, at least in part, a first user interface to be
presented on a mobile telephonic device of a user via which the
user can register for phone billing services; receiving over a data
network from the user's mobile telephonic device phone billing
registration information; receiving a purchase request for an item
over the data network from the user's mobile telephonic device,
wherein the item is other than a telephone service; determining a
phone number of the user; determining if the user is authorized to
purchase the item; determining whether the purchase price is to be
billed via a phone bill of the user associated with the phone
number of the user; and at least partly in response to: receiving
the purchase request-related information, and determining the
purchase price is to be paid via the user's phone bill, causing, at
least in part, the user to be billed on the user's phone bill a
purchase price associated with the item purchase request.
20. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the user does not
place a call to a pay-per-call service using any telephonic device
of the user in association with the purchase request
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 11/861,171, filed Sep. 25, 2007, which is a
continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/212,536,
filed Aug. 26, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,292,841, which is a
continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/106,517,
filed Mar. 22, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,174, which claims the
benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No.
60/278,570, filed Mar. 22, 2001, and U.S. Provisional Application
No. 60/309,142, filed Jul. 30, 2001, all of which are incorporated
herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to
telecommunications, and in particular to systems and methods for
routing and placing telephone calls.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] The conventional public switched telephone network (PSTN)
provides for pay-per-call network services via one or more
designated numbers, such as a 900 or 976 number, whereby consumers
can call such a designated number and be charged a flat rate or per
minute charge for a service. For example, the service may be
providing entertainment information, sports information, or the
like. The fee associated with calling such designated numbers is
greater than the cost of simply transmitting the call. However,
conventional commerce systems fail to provide an automated
apparatus that places or routes calls to such pay-per-call numbers
or services as part of an online purchase transaction. Thus,
consumers are deprived of making secure online purchases using the
pay-per-call service.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is related to systems and methods for
routing and placing telephone calls. Embodiments of the present
invention provide consumers with a reliable, secure, and convenient
method of utilizing a telecommunications network to pay for goods
or services on a one-time or recurring basis.
[0007] In particular, embodiments of the present invention provide
apparatus and methods for a system connected to the PSTN to place
an authorized call to a pay-per-call number, such as a 900 or 976
number, or the like, on behalf of a user to purchase a good or
service. Advantageously, embodiments of the disclosed systems and
methods optionally eliminate the need for a consumer to place a
call to a pay-per-call service directly. This is in contrast to
conventional systems wherein a consumer uses a home telephone to
directly call a 900 or 976 pay-per-call telephone number.
[0008] Optionally, in one embodiment a user does not have to
communicate private billing information, such as credit card or
checking account information, to pay the provider of the good or
service. The resulting security and convenience of this payment
method can further encourage transactions involving the purchase or
lease of goods or services, benefiting both the user and the
service provider or merchant. In addition, the offer and/or payment
options can be specifically tailored to the consumer. In addition,
embodiments of the present invention enable a merchant or service
provider to discover whether a user has blocked pay-per-call
services and to disallow this payment method or instruct the user
in ways to unblock these services.
[0009] In one embodiment, when a user is transacting an online
purchase transaction using a computer terminal and wants to charge
the purchase price to the user's phone bill, a message is
transmitted to a remote call manager system. The message can
include information related to the purchase price and an ANI
associated with a phone line of the user. The remote call manager
system sets an ANI of a call service phone line be the same as the
user ANI. The call manager system then calls a pay-per-call service
via the call service phone line using the user ANI. Thus, the call
manager is in effect making the call on behalf of the user by
appearing to be the user, even if the call placed by the call
manager system is originating from a network location out of the
user's local calling area or state. The user is then billed for the
call on the user's phone bill in an amount corresponding to the
purchase price.
[0010] In another embodiment, in response to a user initiating an
online purchase via a client terminal, a call manager system
transmits over a computer network, such as the Internet,
instructions to the client terminal to schedule an outcall from the
client terminal to a pay-per-call phone number. The client terminal
will then place a call to the pay-per-call phone number in
accordance with the instructions.
[0011] Further objects and advantages of the invention will be
brought out in the following portions of the specification, wherein
the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing
preferred embodiments of the invention without placing limitations
thereon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The present invention will be more fully understood by
reference to the following drawings, which are for illustrative
purposes only:
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an example system that can be used in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates an example method of routing calls.
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates another example method of routing
calls.
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates an example method of detecting whether a
user has pay-per-call blocking.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The present invention is related to systems and methods for
routing and placing telephone calls. As will be described in
greater detail below, embodiments of the present invention provide
apparatus and methods for initiating a telephone call using the
public switched telephone network (PSTN) to a pay-per-call number
on behalf of a user in response to a user operation received over a
computer network, such as the Internet.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, a telecommunications system 10 is shown
utilizing an example embodiment of the present invention. In this
example embodiment, a subscriber or other user employs a networked
terminal, such as a personal computer (PC) 12, an interactive
television, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone equipped
with a browser, or the like, to access a computer network 16, such
as the Internet or the like.
[0019] Thus, for example, the terminal 12 and/or a call manager
system 18 discussed below, can correspond to a uniprocessor or
multiprocessor machine. Additionally, the terminal 12 and/or a call
manager system 18 discussed below, can include an addressable
storage medium or computer accessible medium, such as random access
memory (RAM), an electronically erasable programmable read-only
memory (EEPROM), masked read-only memory, one-time programmable
memory, hard disks, floppy disks, laser disk players, digital video
devices, Compact Disc ROMs, DVD-ROMs, other optical media, video
tapes, audio tapes, magnetic recording tracks, electronic networks,
and other techniques to transmit or store electronic content such
as, by way of example, programs and data.
[0020] In one embodiment, the terminal 12 and/or a call manager
system 18 discussed below, is equipped with a network communication
device such as a network interface card, a modem, Infra-Red (IR)
port, a wireless network interface, or other network connection
device suitable for connecting to a network. For example, the
terminal 12 and/or the call manager system 18, can include a
dial-up, narrow-band, modem or a dedicated, broadband, modem that
connects to a data communication service, such as that provided by
an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or Commercial Online Service 14.
Furthermore, the terminal 12 and/or the call manager system 18 can
execute an appropriate operating system, such as Linux, Unix,
Microsoft.RTM. Windows.RTM. 3.1, Microsoft.RTM. Windows.RTM. 95,
Microsoft.RTM. Windows.RTM. 98, Microsoft.RTM. Windows.RTM. NT,
Microsoft.RTM. Windows.RTM. 2000, Microsoft.RTM. Windows.RTM. Me,
Microsoft.RTM. Windows.RTM. XP, Apple.RTM. MacOS.RTM., IBM.RTM.
OS/2.RTM., Microsoft.RTM. Windows.RTM. CE, Palm OS.RTM., or Sun
Solaris.RTM.. The appropriate operating system may advantageously
include a communications protocol implementation, which handles
incoming and outgoing message traffic passed over the network. In
other embodiments, while the operating system may differ depending
on the type of terminal, the operating system may continue to
provide the appropriate communications protocols necessary to
establish communication links with the network.
[0021] While online to the Internet 16 or other network, the user
may be presented with one or more offers to purchase a product or a
service transmitted over the Internet to the user. The phrase
"purchase" as used herein includes a lease or licensing of a good
or service. The offers may come in a plurality of forms such as via
an email, a banner ad, a web page, and/or a collection of some or
all of these forms. By way of example, the offers may be provided
in response to a user visiting a specific Web site or by accessing
a given network resource or URL. A user may initiate a purchase of
a product or service by filling in purchase data, activating a
purchase link or other command, by accessing a specific network
resource, or by otherwise authorizing a purchase.
[0022] If a user makes a purchase decision and authorizes the
merchant or service provider to place the charge for the good or
service on their phone bill, a message is sent over the Internet 16
to the call manager system 18. As discussed above, the user can
complete a web form or activate a link in an email message. The web
form or form associated with the email link may ask the user if the
user wants to pay for the purchase via their phone bill. If the
user indicates that the purchase price is to be billed to the
user's phone bill, a corresponding message is sent by the merchant
or service provider to the call manager system 18. In one
embodiment, the web form requests that the user provide a telephone
number or account number to which the purchase is to be billed. The
merchant or service provider can verify via a merchant user
database or the like that the user has permission to authorize a
charge to the provided number.
[0023] The call manager system 18 includes a user database that
stores user registration information, identification information,
account information, billing information and the like. In one
embodiment, the call manager is implemented using one or more
servers. The call manager system 18 is connected to the Public
Switched Telephone Network 20 by means of a trunk interface 22 and
to the Internet 16 via data connection 36.
[0024] In one example embodiment, the message sent in response to
the purchase request can contain one or more billing attributes or
parameters. For example, the message can contain an account
identifier, such as a phone number, user identifier, password, or
other identifier. Other information which may be passed in the
message can include the amount of the charge, whether the charge is
recurring, such as whether the charge is a daily, weekly, monthly,
or a one-time charge, and the like. In one embodiment, the call
manager system 18 immediately, or at a scheduled or a delayed time,
originates a call over trunk connection 22 to the Public Switched
Telephone Network 20 to a "900", "976" or other pay-per-call
number. As used herein, the terms "900 number", "900 service",
"900/976 service", and the like, denote all such pay-per-call
numbers and services. Thus, the invention is not limited to a
particular pay-per-call service, but is generally applicable to
such services.
[0025] The call may be to a pay-per-call number that is associated
with a specific cost that corresponds to the price of the good or
service being purchased. For example, in response to a user's
request to purchase a $10 item, the call manager system 18 calls a
number for which there is a $10 charge per call. Similarly, in
response to a user's request to purchase a $15 item, the call
manager system 18 calls a number for which there is a $15 charge
per call. Alternatively, in response to a user purchase
instruction, the call manager system 18 places a call to a
pay-per-call number that can vary based on a database query and an
interaction with the billing and rating system. Using still another
process, in response to a user purchase instruction, the call
manager system 18 places a call to a pay-per-call number that is
associated with a specific cost per minute. For example, in
response to a user's request to purchase a $10 item, the call
manager system 18 places a call for 10 minutes to a number for
which there is a $1 per minute charge.
[0026] By way of example, the call manager system 18 delivers, over
a signaling channel, such as an SS7 signaling channel, information
identifying the origin of the call through a service known as
Automatic Number Identification (ANI), or using other types of
signaling information, such as a charge-to number. The ANI
corresponds to the caller's phone number. ANI is well known to one
of ordinary skill in the art of telephony systems and will not be
described further here.
[0027] In one example embodiment, the call manager system 18
modifies the ANI that would normally be associated with a call
manager system phone line by setting the ANI to be the ANI (e.g.,
phone number) of the user who has authorized the purchase. Thus, in
one embodiment, the call manager system 18 is in effect making the
call on behalf of the user by appearing to be the user, even if the
call placed by the call manager system 18 is originating from a
network location out of the user's local calling area or state.
[0028] Optionally, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention
can be utilized with a Common Channel Signaling system, such as
Signaling System 7 (SS7), having separate voice/user data and
signaling channels. In addition, the present invention can be used
with other signaling methods, such as ISDN, Advanced Intelligent
Network (AIN), and/or MF inband signaling. However, the invention
is not limited to these methods and contemplates other methods in
which ANI or similar signaling information can be passed.
[0029] The originated call initiated by the call manager system 18
transits an Originating Local Exchange Network (OLEN) 24 to a
pay-per-call services network 26 through an interconnecting trunk
28, and eventually to a Terminating Local Exchange Network (TLEN)
30 through an interconnecting trunk 32. The TLEN 30 is optionally
connected to a live operator or to customer premise equipment 34
operated by a service provider, a merchant, an online merchant, or
a third party on behalf of the merchant or service provider. The
process of a phone call or interworkings of a pay-per-call service
network are well known to one of ordinary skill and will not be
described here.
[0030] In one embodiment, rather then using a live operator to
answer the call placed by the call manager system 18, the call is
answered by an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) operated by
a service provider or a merchant. The PSTN connects to the IVRS via
a telephone trunk. The telephone trunk has an associated signaling
channel. The signaling channel is provided to communicate the ANI
to the IVRS to enable the IVRS to customize the interaction as
described below. The IVRS, connected to the phone network, can
collect and store the ANI information for the call.
[0031] The collected and stored ANI can be used to identify the
user for post bill auditing, or to customize the interaction, such
as to selectively restrict answered calls to known users, to
identify the billed amount, play audio announcements, record voice
messages, collect and store touch-tone responses, and transfer
calls. Similarly, the ANI can be used to identify the user to
determine what rate or price the user is entitled to for a good or
service. For example, some users may be entitled to a discounted
rate. The IVRS system 34 can be included in the call manager system
18 or can be a separate system from the call manager system 18.
[0032] The pay-per-call service then bills the user for the
purchased services or goods based on the length of the call, a flat
rate charge, or using customized or proprietary signaling
information as discussed above sent from the IVRS into the
pay-per-call services network 26. The charge may appear on the
user's local or long distance carrier's bill for the user. The
interworking of a pay-per-call service are well known and not
described here.
[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates one example process 200 of placing a call
to a pay-per-call service. Starting at start state 202, the process
200 proceeds to state 204, wherein a user initiates a purchase and
indicates that the purchase price is to be billed to the user's
phone bill. At state 206 a message is sent to the call manager
system, including the user's phone number and the purchase price
amount to be charged to the user's phone bill. At state 208 the
call manager sets an ANI associated with an outbound call to be the
same as the user's ANI. At state 210 the call manager system
selects and calls an appropriate pay-per-call number using the
user's ANI. Thus, it will appear to the pay-per-call service that
the user is placing the call. The pay-per-call number can be
selected based on, or to correspond with the amount of the purchase
price. At state 212 the pay-per-call services causes the purchase
price amount to be charged to the user via the user's long distance
or local phone bill. The process 200 ends at state 214.
[0034] In another embodiment, the call manager system 18 directs a
call to the pay-per-call network 28 via the PC or other terminal 12
without manual intervention by the user or other persons. In this
embodiment, the user utilizes the networked computer 12 to connect
to a data communication service via a dial-up or dedicated
connection, such as that provided by the ISP 14. If the user makes
a purchase decision while online and authorizes the merchant or
service provider to place the charge for the good or service on the
phone bill of the user, this event is logged in the call management
system 18. For example, a user can complete a web form or activate
a link in an email message, which causes a message to be sent to
the call manager system 18, or the user can engage in a direct
interaction with the call management system 18 database. For
example, the user can make purchases directly from the operator of
the call management system 18 which will then arrange to have the
corresponding charge appear on the user's phone bill. A message is
then sent from the networked computer 12 to the call manager system
18.
[0035] Upon receipt of the message or transaction event, the call
manager system 18 instructs a networked computer client application
13 over the Internet to schedule an outcall to a pay-per-call phone
number. The client application 13 can be a small software agent
executing on the client terminal 12 that monitors the user's online
access.
[0036] The call manager system 18 monitors the user's session or
the presence of the user on the Internet. In one embodiment, the
client application 13 can make the user's online presence known to
the call manager system 18. In particular, the call manager system
18 communicates with the client application 13 to determine whether
the computer 12 is online. Presence detection can be performed by
call manager system 18 polling or pinging the computer terminal 12
via the client application 13, or by the client application 13
transmitting an "I'm alive" message and subsequent periodic "keep
alive" messages to the call manager system 18.
[0037] The schedule for placing the call from a user could be
immediate. In this case, if the computer 12 is accessing the
Internet 16 over the user's telephone line via a dial-up
connection, the user's networked computer 12 is disconnected from
the Internet and a call is placed from the networked computer 12 to
the call management system 18, as described in greater detail
below. Alternatively, the call schedule can be set for when the
user goes offline, when the user next goes back online, the next
day, month, year, or at the occurrence of other specified time or
event.
[0038] Thresholds on call retries and frequency are optionally
established between the networked computer client application 13
and call management system 18 to reduce the impact on the
availability of the user's phone line. For example, the client may
be restricted to no more than one call attempt within a 24-hour
period. In addition or alternatively, the networked computer-client
application 13 can be restricted from making a call attempt if a
user has received an incoming call within a predetermined amount of
time. Thus, for example, a call may be placed by a caller to the
user while the user's telephone line is being utilized to by the
user's computer terminal. The call is then forwarded to the call
manager system 18 which transmits a notification to the user via
email or the client application 13 regarding the forwarded call. If
the user then goes offline within a predetermined amount of time,
such as within 5 minutes, it may be assumed that the user is
calling the caller back. Therefore, in order to avoid tying up the
user's phone line, the call to the pay-per-call number may be
scheduled for another time, such as the next time the user goes
online.
[0039] When the client application 13 receives an instructional
message from the call manager system 18 to place a call for billing
purposes, the client application 13 uses dialer software and a
modem associated with the networked computer 12 to place a call to
the telephone number provided by the call manager system 18 via a
dial-up or always-on connection, or to place a call to a number
pre-provisioned and stored on the computer 12 in conjunction with
the client application 13.
[0040] The call is switched at a local exchange switch, such as the
OLEN 24, and connects with the pay-per-call network 26, where after
the amount and transaction request are processed according to a
predetermined plan, such as charging for a good or service at a
predetermined price by calling a corresponding pay-per-call number.
The call origin or source is identified using ANI or a similar
service that provides the user's telephone number. The ANI
establishes a billing number from the identified telephone number,
and passes this information to the pay-per-call network 28 for
billing purposes.
[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates an example process 300 of placing a call
to a pay-per-call service employing a user's computer. Starting at
start state 302, the process 300 proceeds to state 304, wherein a
user initiates a purchase and indicates that the purchase price is
to be billed to the user's phone bill. At state 306 a message is
sent to the call manager system, including the user's phone number
or other account identifier, and the purchase price amount to be
charged to the user's phone bill. At state 308 the call manager
instructs the client application executing on the user's computer
to call a pay-per-call number selected based at least in part on
the purchase price. At state 310 the user's computer calls the
selected pay-per-call number. At state 312 the pay-per-call
services causes the purchase price amount to be charged to the user
via the user's long distance or local phone bill. The process 300
ends at state 314.
[0042] In one embodiment, the client application 13 is autonomous
or semi-autonomous. That is, the client application 13 detects or
is directly informed by the merchant when the user is making a
purchase. The client application 13 uses a look-up table stored on
the computer 12 that lists a plurality of pay-per-call numbers and
the corresponding charges for calls to those numbers to determine
the appropriate pay-per-call number to call for the purchase. The
client application 13 then initiates a call via the computer 13 to
the appropriate pay-per-call number. The look-up table may
periodically be updated by the call manager system 18.
[0043] In some embodiments, optionally including the embodiments
described above, the call manager system 18 automatically checks
the balance due for an account after the user logs in to the call
manager system 18 by accessing the user database. If the call
manager system 18 finds a balance due on the account, the call
manager system 18 passes a message to the networked computer 12.
The message may notify the user of the outstanding balance, request
payment of the outstanding balance or a portion of thereof, or
other like actions prior to proceeding with the established
session. The call manager system 18 may effect a payment
transaction via the previously described billing systems and
methods; update the user's account to reflect the payment
transaction; and notify the user of the action taken on the account
via a message to the networked computer 12.
[0044] In addition, the call manager system 18 optionally
determines if a user's phone line is blocked from pay-per-call
services. In one embodiment, this is accomplished using the
following example procedure. Assuming that the user computer 12 is
accessing the Internet using a broadband connection, the call
manager system 12 transmits a request to the networked computer
client application 13 to place a call in real-time while a user is
transacting an order from a web site over the broadband connection.
If it is determined that the user's line is blocked, then the user,
while still transacting the order on the web, can be informed that
another form of payment will be required. This should further
improve the billing and collection conversion rates of the service
provider or merchants.
[0045] The determination of whether the user's line is blocked from
pay-per-call services can be performed using several different
processes, and the response thereto can vary as well. For example,
the call manager system 12 may transmit a request to the networked
computer client application 13 to place a call to a pay-per-call
number associated with the call manager system 12. If the call
manager system 12 fails to receive the call after one or more
attempts, a determination is made that the user's line is blocked
from making such a call. Even is the call is received and the ANI
read, the call manager 12 may not answer the call to avoid billing
the user. Optionally, the call may only be answered if there is a
user balance due. A notation may be used in the user's account
information that the user's line is blocked so further attempts
will not be made. Instead, if the user in the future requests to
make a purchase using a pay-per-call process, the user may
automatically be requested to provide payment using an alternate
method or instructions on how to unblock their line. In another
embodiment, the call manager system 12 may transmit a request to
the networked computer client application 13 to place a call to a
pay-per-call number, and if an operator answers indicating that the
call cannot be completed, a determination is made that the call was
answered by a human voice and it is inferred that the user's line
is blocked.
[0046] FIG. 4 illustrates an example process 400 used to detect
whether a user's phone is blocked from calling a pay-per-call
service. Beginning at start state 402, the process proceeds to
state 404. At state 404, the call manager transmits an instruction
to a client application to call a designated pay-per-call number,
such as a 900 number, associated with the call manager system. At
state 406, the client application instructs the user's computer or
other terminal to call the designated pay-per-call number for the
purpose of determining whether the user's line is blocked from
placing a pay-per-call number. While the call is to a pay-per-call
number, in the example process 400 the user is not charged for the
call.
[0047] At state 408, the call manager system monitors incoming
calls on the pay-per-call number to determine if the user's
computer succeeded in placing the call. Note that the call need not
be answered to succeeded in placing the call. Success is defined in
one embodiment by the user's ANI being received. The call manager
can determine from which number a call is placed via the ANI
transmitted along with the call. If a call is received from the
user computer, the process 400 proceeds to state 410 and then
optionally can perform the purchase and call placement process 300
illustrated in FIG. 3. If instead a call is not received from the
user's computer at the designated pay-per-call number, the user's
account information stored in the user database is annotated to
indicate that the user's phone line is blocked from calling
pay-per-call phone numbers. At state 414, the call manager sends a
request to the user's computer asking the user to provide an
alternate form of payment, such as a credit card charge or a check.
The process 400 ends at state 416.
[0048] If the blocking determination is made in real-time, the user
can be offered an alternative payment method while transacting the
order. In one embodiment, the blocking determination could be made
in advance, and the user could be offered other payment options
automatically when the user attempts to make a transaction.
Further, if an advance blocking determination is made, the user
could be offered only those goods or services that do not require
use of a pay-per-call type service. Additionally, the user is
optionally offered a description on how to unblock pay-per-call
type services on their phone line. The advance determination can be
made by, for example, accessing the user database to determine if a
pay-per-call blocking notation or indication has been provided.
[0049] Thus, as described above, embodiments of the present
invention provide consumers with a reliable, secure, and convenient
method of utilizing a telecommunications network to pay for goods
or services using pay-per-call services.
[0050] Although the description above contains many specifics,
these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the
invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the
presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Therefore, it
will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully
encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those
skilled in the art.
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