Method and apparatus for prepayment of telecommunication connections in a telecommunication switching network

摘要

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for prepayment of telecommunication connections between first and second telecommunication devices operably associatable with the telecommunication lines of a telecommunication switching network. In general, the method involves storing telecommunication-time data representative of a prepurchased amount of telecommunication-time available for payment of telecommunication connections in the telecommunication switching network. At the initiation of the first telecommunication device, a telecommunication connection is established between the first and second telecommunication devices so that a telecommunication process can be conducted therebetween. The telecommunication connection between the first and second telecommunication devices is terminated in response to termination of the telecommunication process. The time duration of the telecommunication connection is measured. The stored telecommunication-time data is processed to indicate a decrement in the available telecommunication-time, which is essentially equal to the measured time duration of the telecommunication connection. Various embodiments of telecommunication-time metering apparatus are provided for carrying out the method of the present invention.