Prepaid calling time processing: a method and apparatus for processing pre-paid calling time in a telephone communication system

1. A method for purchasing and processing pre-paid calling time, comprising:

electronically transferring funds from a bank account to an account of a pre-paid call time provider using an automated teller machine, the amount of funds transferred equal to the dollar amount of pre-paid calling time to be credited to a pre-paid account associated with a subscriber;

crediting to the pre-paid account associated with the subscriber an amount of pre-paid calling time corresponding to the dollar amount of the transferred funds;

receiving a request from an originating party to initiate a call to a destination party;

determining whether the destination party is the subscriber;

determining an amount of prepaid calling time available to the subscriber;

allowing the call to be connected if prepaid calling time is available to the subscriber; and

deducting calling time from the available prepaid calling time of the subscriber as the connected call proceeds.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automated teller machine does not dispense pre-paid calling cards.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bank account is associated with the subscriber.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pre-paid calling time comprises time for landline telephone services.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pre-paid calling time comprises time for mobile phone services.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the pre-paid calling time allows the subscriber to make and receive calls.

7. A method for purchasing and processing pre-paid calling time, comprising:

electronically transferring funds from a bank account to an account of a pre-paid call time provider using an automated teller machine, the amount of funds transferred equal to the dollar amount of pre-paid calling time to be credited to a pre-paid account associated with a subscriber;

crediting to the pre-paid account associated with the subscriber an amount of pre-paid calling time corresponding to the dollar amount of the transferred funds, wherein the pre-paid calling time allows the subscriber to initiate a call without dialing a telephone access number of a prepaid call time provider or a personal identification number;

receiving a request from an originating party to initiate a call to a destination party;

determining whether the destination party is the subscriber;

determining an amount of prepaid calling time available to the subscriber;

allowing the call to be connected if prepaid calling time is available to the subscriber; and

deducting calling time from the available prepaid calling time of the subscriber as the connected call proceeds.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the bank account is associated with the subscriber.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the pre-paid calling time comprises time for landline telephone services.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the pre-paid calling time comprises time for mobile phone services.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the pre-paid calling time allows the subscriber to make and receive calls.

12. A method for purchasing and processing pre-paid calling time, comprising:

electronically transferring funds from a bank account to an account of a prepaid call time provider, the amount of funds transferred equal to the dollar amount of pre-paid calling time to be credited to a pre-paid account associated with a subscriber, and wherein the amount of funds transferred, or the amount of calling time credited, is selected by the subscriber;

crediting to the pre-paid account associated with the subscriber an amount of pre-paid calling time corresponding to the dollar amount of the transferred funds, wherein the pre-paid calling time allows the subscriber to initiate a call without dialing a telephone access number of a prepaid call time provider or a personal identification number;

receiving a request from an originating party to initiate a call to a destination party;

determining whether the destination party is the subscriber;

determining an amount of prepaid calling time available to the subscriber;

allowing the call to be connected if prepaid calling time is available to the subscriber; and

deducting calling time from the available prepaid calling time of the subscriber as the connected call proceeds.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the bank account is associated with the subscriber.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pre-paid calling time comprises time for landline telephone services.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pre-paid calling time comprises time for mobile phone services.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the pre-paid calling time allows the subscriber to make and receive calls.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the electronic transfer of funds is effectuated by a message transmitted from a telephone of the subscriber.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the electronic transfer of funds is effectuated without the subscriber having to first dial a telephone access number of a pre-paid call time provider or having to enter a personal identification number to effectuate the transfer.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the message comprises the dollar amount of pre-paid time to be purchased.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the message comprises the amount of pre-paid time to be purchased.

21. A method of purchasing, crediting, and processing pre-paid calling time for mobile phone calls by use of an automated teller machine, comprising:

assigning to a consumer a prepay account with a mobile phone service provider; in response to a selection by a user of an automated teller machine, transferring an amount from the user's bank account to the prepay account with the mobile phone service provider;

adding the amount to the current balance in the prepay account;

automatically transferring the amount into an additional amount of pre-paid calling time available to the consumer;

receiving a request from an originating party to initiate a call to a destination party;

determining whether the destination party is the consumer;

determining an amount of prepaid calling time available to the consumer;

allowing the call to be connected if prepaid calling time is available to the subscriber; and

deducting calling time from the available prepaid calling time of the consumer as the connected call proceeds.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the automated teller machine does not dispense prepaid calling cards.

23. A method of administering a pre-paid calling time account for mobile phone calls by use of an automated teller machine, comprising:

assigning to a consumer a prepay account for mobile phone services;

accepting an initial deposit into the prepay account for mobile phone services; in response to a selection by a user of an automated teller machine, transferring an amount from the user's bank account to the prepay account for mobile phone services;

adding the amount to the current balance in the prepay account for mobile phone services;

receiving a request from an originating party to initiate a call to a destination party;

determining whether the destination party is the consumer;

determining an amount of prepaid calling time available to the consumer;

allowing the call to be connected if prepaid calling time is available to the consumer; and

debiting the prepay account for mobile phone services by a dollar amount corresponding to calling time consumed.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the automated teller machine does not dispense prepaid calling cards.

25. A method of replenishing and debiting a prepaid calling time account for mobile communication service by use of an automated teller machine, comprising:

in response to a selection by a user of the automated teller machine, transferring an amount from the user's bank account to a prepay account for mobile phone services associated with a consumer, wherein the selection by the user comprises selecting the dollar amount of pre-paid time to be purchased or selecting the amount of pre-paid calling time to be purchased;

adding the amount to the current balance in the prepay account for mobile phone services;

receiving a request from an originating party to initiate a call to a destination party;

determining whether the destination party is the consumer;

determining an amount of prepaid calling time available to the consumer;

allowing the call to be connected if prepaid calling time is available to the consumer; and

debiting the prepay account for mobile phone services by a dollar amount corresponding to calling time consumed.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the automated teller machine does not dispense prepaid calling cards.

27. A method of replenishing and debiting a prepaid calling time account for mobile communication service by use of an automated teller machine, comprising:

in response to a selection by a user of an automated teller machine, transferring an amount from the user's bank account to a prepay account for mobile phone services, wherein the prepay account was previously associated with a consumer and an initial deposit was previously made to the prepay account;

adding the amount to the current balance in the prepay account for mobile phone services;

receiving a request from an originating party to initiate a call to a destination party;

determining whether the destination party is the consumer;

determining an amount of prepaid calling time available to the consumer;

allowing the call to be connected if prepaid calling time is available to the consumer; and

debiting the prepay account for mobile phone services by a dollar amount corresponding to calling time consumed.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the automated teller machine does not dispense prepaid calling cards.