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"Flight by machines heavier than air is unpractical and insignificant, if not utterly impossible."
Simon Newcomb, astronomer ; Said in 1902, less than two years before the first flight at Kitty Hawk
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8175235 | Lease model for avoiding permanent card locking Methods relating to prepaid services include determining an unlocked status of an account configured to track usage of prepaid services. The methods further include locking the account for a length of time after the determining step. The methods further include prov... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8175236 | IMS and SMS interworking Providing for inter-working between SMS network architectures and IMS network architectures in a mobile environment is described herein. By way of example, a next generation (NG) short message service center (SMSC) is provided that can receive SMS messages in mobile... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8144849 | Selective pre-authorized credit for incoming calls Establishing a connection from a caller to a user using a pre-authorized credit from the user is described. A processor identifies one or more source identifications (IDs) for receiving pre-authorized credit for the incoming call. One or more destinations are specif... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8094795 | Method for handling accounts in a network A method for operating a computer system to handle switch over between several accounts at account selection in a real time charging system, wherein at a charging rating of a session, a first account is selected from a set of accounts, to be used and rated with its ... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8085913 | Mobile telephone services provided using pre-paid financial accounts A method and system for providing telephone services. An exemplary system includes a financial account having at least one balance. Funds can be added to the balance of the account using a variety of deposit mechanisms. Similarly, the funds located in the account ma... | 12/27/2011 |
| 8064581 | Method of associating multiple prepaid cards with a single account A set of multiple prepaid calling cards that are associated with a single account is disclosed. A predetermined amount of minutes is associated with the set of cards. Cards within the set can be used simultaneously and extract minutes from the account in predetermin... | 11/22/2011 |
| 8054956 | Flexible recharge system for prepaid telecommunications service This invention relates to a method and apparatus for handling prepaid recharge requests in a telecommunications network. If the prepaid recharge request results in exceeding a recharge cap, the requesting customer is provided with one or more alternative rewards, su... | 11/08/2011 |
| 8014505 | Point-of-sale electronic PIN distribution system A point-of-sale electronic distribution system for distributing an access code (e.g., a personal identification number (PIN)) is provided. The system allows retailers/distributors to purchase access codes for use with pre-paid products using conventional telephones ... | 09/06/2011 |
| 7991131 | Control of prepaid balance status notification This invention relates to an enhanced method and apparatus for providing notification to a telecommunications customer using prepaid service that his/her prepaid balance is below a pre-specified threshold. The number of notifications is limited to a specified number... | 08/02/2011 |
| 7974393 | Prepaid services with security provisions to protect against unauthorized use A method and apparatus for providing a telecommunication service is disclosed wherein a call associated with a first prepaid services account identifier is received from a user. An offer is provided to the user to initiate a replacement service for the first prepaid... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7965827 | Methods, systems, and products for purchasing pre-paid services Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for purchasing prepaid services. A request to purchase a prepaid service is received. The request includes a service number that uniquely identifies the prepaid service and a device number that uniquely identifies a reque... | 06/21/2011 |
| 7953213 | Systems and methods for providing prepaid collect telecommunications service A method of transmitting value via a telephone system, includes receiving a request from a Grantor to designate a predetermined number of minutes that are to be reserved to fund a telephone call between a telephone number associated with a Beneficiary and a telephon... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7945033 | Prepaid calling time processing: a method and apparatus for processing pre-paid calling time in a telephone communication system Methods and systems are provide for processing prepaid calling time to a subscriber by determining an identity of a subscriber of prepaid calling time upon origination of a call to which a subscriber of prepaid calling time is to be a party; determining an amount of... | 05/17/2011 |
| 7940903 | Financial card activation method and system A sponsor purchases a prepaid card that can be transmitted to an intended user with increased security. Using a prepaid card dispenser, the sponsor elects an amount for the prepaid card and is prompted for at least one telephone number at which a server platform sho... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7899166 | Flexible billing support in a service selection gateway (SSG) A service selection gateway (SSG) which permits multiple access quotas associated with a pre-paid service accessed by a user. For example, the user's access may be terminated if the usage exceeds a specified time or volume of data transferred (examples of access quo... | 03/01/2011 |
| 7889848 | Telecommunication service with pre-paid access A method and system for implementing pre-paid telephone service with direct dial pre-paid access and direct dial or indirect dial post paid access. The method includes receiving a telephone call and routing the telephone call to a pre-paid platform if the access des... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7873151 | User-controlled personalized announcements for account-based services System for providing a custom message to a calling card account for a user to receive the custom message upon usage of the calling card account include at least two data databases on data storage devices, wherein the databases are in communication with a processor a... | 01/18/2011 |
| 7864933 | System and method for managing prepaid card A prepaid card management method and system which can comprehensively manage an issuance of personal identification numbers (PINs) of various affiliated prepaid card companies and even when each generation system of each PIN is different for each affiliated prepaid ... | 01/04/2011 |
| 7844039 | Methods for providing prepaid telephony service via an internet protocol network system Methods are disclosed for providing prepaid telephony service via an Internet protocol (IP) network system. A first method provides controlling at least one media agent or call routing station/switch of an IP network system for allowing and/or blocking call media st... | 11/30/2010 |
| RE41535 | System and method for pre-paid and pay-per-use internet services A telecommunications system and method for providing access to the Internet on a pre-paid or pay-per-use basis that utilizes an Advanced Intelligent Network (“AIN”) to set up a dial up connection between a subscriber and an Internet Service Provider (“ISP”).... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7773735 | Route information message for delivery of prepaid flexible alerting call A plurality of route information messages that correspond to a plurality of telecommunication devices are sent to a prepaid service control point for delivery of a prepaid flexible alerting call. ... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7769151 | System and method for implementing prepaid data services The present invention discloses a system and method for implementing prepaid data services in a mobile communication network. In this system, a Data service Access Control Point (DACP), which is used for fulfilling price confirmation function and fee application fun... | 08/03/2010 |
| 7746991 | Apparatus and method of providing a call service using a prepaid card in a portable terminal An apparatus and method of providing a call service using a prepaid card in a portable terminal is provided. The prepaid card is photographed according to a predetermined prepaid card capturing mode operation, and a unique prepaid card number is recognized from the ... | 06/29/2010 |
| 7729484 | System and method for providing prepaid communications A method and system for network-based control over voice calling from a client telephony device. A client telephony device receives a user-request to place a voice call from the client telephony device and responsively sends to a controller, via a packet-data connec... | 06/01/2010 |
| 7711097 | Pay-per-connection scheme for wireless access to internet A pay-per-connection system is coupled to a network service provider and to a client computer. The pay-per-connection system receives payment and a passcode from a user, determines duration of use based on the payment, and provides access by the client computer to t... | 05/04/2010 |
| 7684551 | Method, means and a computer program product for managing online charging in a communications network A method of online charging in a communication network. The method includes receiving a service request from a user, determining whether the service request is an access network session, a media network session or a service network session, determining if a type of ... | 03/23/2010 |
| 7660403 | Multi-networking communication system and method The architecture of the present invention includes a multi-media multi-network communication server connected to a variety of access and delivery platforms via a variety of communication networks. Access to services is controlled and billed by a virtual prepaid card... | 02/09/2010 |
| 7627100 | Method for providing virtual private network services The present invention discloses a method for providing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service. The method comprises the steps of: after receiving a call request from a user terminal, a Service Control Point (SCP) judging whether the user terminal has applied for a ... | 12/01/2009 |
| 7539294 | System and method for providing prepaid telecommunication services The present invention relates to a system and method for providing prepaid telecommunication services. More particularly, prepaid telephone calls can be made by users without entering any access code, if such calls are made from telephone numbers previously register... | 05/26/2009 |
| 7532711 | Systems and methods for providing calling plan information Calling plan information is provided whenever a user makes a call that fits within the plan. The user may be assigned an account related to the calling plan with information associated with the account. The information may include a time function such as the time re... | 05/12/2009 |
| 7505573 | Inmate called party prepaid card method and system A system for enabling an inmate to make a telephone call to a called party telephone located outside of a correctional facility includes a facility network having inmate and prepaid platforms associated with a PSTN. A called party provides the prepaid platform with ... | 03/17/2009 |
| 7502454 | Method of accounting prepaid online internet service credit values A method of accounting for online Internet usage credit includes establishing an account identifier in a database for a selected user. A number of credit value block records are associated in the database with the account identifier. Each credit value block has a st... | 03/10/2009 |
| 7466807 | Methods, systems and computer program products for offloading prepaid status queries from a prepaid status database for unlimited in-network prepaid calls Methods, systems, and computer program products for offloading prepaid credit status queries from prepaid credit status databases for unlimited-plan prepaid in-network calls is provided. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method ... | 12/16/2008 |
| 7466806 | Pre-paid wireless interactive voice response system with variable announcements A wireless communications system providing interactive voice response is disclosed. The system is menu driven, and can accept information as well as deliver information to the customer in the form of prompts or prompt information. The system includes provisions that... | 12/16/2008 |
| 7453999 | Prepaid services with security provisions to protect against unauthorized use A method and apparatus for providing a telecommunication service is disclosed wherein a call associated with a first prepaid services account identifier is received from a user. An offer is provided to the user to initiate a replacement service for the first prepaid... | 11/18/2008 |
| 7447300 | Prepaid calling time processing: a method and apparatus for processing pre-paid calling time in a telephone communication system Methods and systems are provide for processing prepaid calling time to a subscriber by determining an identity of a subscriber of prepaid calling time upon origination of a call to which a subscriber of prepaid calling time is to be a party; determining an amount of... | 11/04/2008 |
| 7437144 | Method of managing prepaid subscription information A method, a telecommunications system and a network node are provided for managing subscription information of a prepaid subscription in a telecommunications system. According to the present invention, a first time limit indicating when the subscription will expire ... | 10/14/2008 |
| 7433453 | Method and system for transmitting useful data between telecommunication devices A method and system for transmitting service data between telecommunication devices. Pre-paid access data including a first digital key and control data is stored in a memory module of a telecommunication device, a second digital key being stored on one or more cont... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7424100 | Prepaid telephony system and method of activating a prepaid telephony account In one particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method of activating a prepaid telephony account. The method includes receiving a call from a caller at a prepaid service destination address identified by a prepaid calling card; receiving a prepaid card... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7403766 | Telecommunication call management and monitoring system with voiceprint verification Disclosed is a secure telephone call management system for authenticating users of a telephone system in an institutional facility. Authentication of the users is accomplished by using a personal identification number, preferably in conjunction with speaker independ... | 07/22/2008 |
