Calling card replenishment system

摘要

A method and system of real-time replenishment and electronic confirmation of sale, such as a SMS text message, to a consumer responsive to purchase or referral of long distance calling minutes, including real-time replenishment of the customer's account, and seamless, pin-less use of the purchased long-distance from the user's chosen phone(s). A computer based server receives a phone number, monetary amount, and an indication of whether an increase or decrease to the balance is requested. Phone number is then compared with a stored list of registered phone numbers having a unique pin and a balance amount. The balance is increased or decreased by desired amount if comparison results in a match. If comparison does not result in a match a new pin is created associating the phone with the balance amount. A message is then sent containing an access number for use in pre-paid long distance calling.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method of real-time replenishment with electronic confirmation in the sale of prepaid long distance calling, comprising:
receiving a phone number to a computer based server, the phone number associated with a prepaid long distance calling account, the account having a monetary balance; receiving a monetary amount to the server, wherein the monetary amount is a value by which the monetary balance is to be increased or decreased; receiving to the server an indication of whether an increase or decrease to the monetary balance of the account is requested; comparing the phone number to a stored list of registered phone numbers, each registered phone number having a unique pin and a balance amount; creating a new pin, responsive to the comparison not resulting in a match and receiving the indication that an increase to the balance amount of the account has been requested; responsive to the new pin being created, associating the new pin with the phone number, such that the new pin becomes the unique pin for the phone number; increasing the balance amount of the account by the monetary amount, responsive to receiving the indication that an increase to the balance amount of the account has been requested; decreasing the balance amount of the account by the monetary amount, responsive to receiving the indication that a decrease to the balance amount of the account has been requested; indicating an error responsive to receiving the indication that a decrease to the balance has been requested and the comparison not resulting in a match; transmitting from the server a request containing the phone number and a message to be sent to the phone number; and destroying the unique pin associated with the phone number responsive to receiving the indication that a decrease to the balance has been requested and the balance amount being less than a predetermined amount, said message containing an access phone number; wherein said access phone number is for use in the prepaid long distance calling.