Prepaid phone card service using speech recognition
View Patent ↗A method for placing a telephone call from a caller using a prepaid phone card includes the steps of connecting a caller with a caller interface having a speech recognition application, receiving voice input from the caller in the form of phone card information spoken by the caller, comparing the voice input from the caller with personalized prepaid phone card information previously stored in a database and placing a requested telephone call if the voice input from the caller matches the personalized prepaid phone card information stored in the database. The personalized prepaid phone card information stored in the database may be a personal identification number (PIN) assigned to the caller's phone card and the voice input from the caller is in the form of a personal identification number (PIN) spoken by the caller. The speech recognition application then compares the spoken personal identification number with the personal identification number (PIN) stored in the database. The method may further include the step of retrieving a telephone number stored in the database if a voice input from the caller matches a telephone number identifier assigned to the telephone number.
1. A method for placing a telephone call from a caller using a prepaid phone card, the method comprising the steps of:
connecting a caller with a caller interface having a speech recognition application, wherein said caller initially dials a telephone network access number to connect to said caller interface;
identifying said caller based on the origination of said initial telephone call by comparing the origination of said initial telephone call with a telephone number associated with said prepaid phone card previously stored in a database;
prompting said caller to vocally input a personal identification number (PIN) associated with said prepaid phone card if the origination of said initial telephone call matches said telephone number previously stored in said database;
receiving voice input from said caller in the form of said PIN spoken by said caller;
comparing said PIN spoken by said caller with a PIN associated with said prepaid phone card previously stored in said database;
prompting said caller to vocally input a desired call connection if said spoken PIN matches said PIN previously stored in said database;
receiving voice input from said caller in the form of a desired call connection spoken by said caller;
comparing said voice input spoken by said caller with a personal voice print associated with said call connection and assigned to said caller's phone card and previously stored in a database; and
placing said desired call connection if said voice input spoken by said caller matches said personal voice print assigned to said caller's phone card stored in said database with respect to said call connection,
wherein said database is accessible by said caller via the internet for enabling said caller origination identification step and for storing and modifying said caller origination telephone number, said PIN and said personalized voice print with respect to said call connection associated with said prepaid phone card.
2. A method for placing a telephone call as defined in claim 1 , wherein said voice print comprises a verbal telephone number identifier previously stored in said database by said caller with respect to said call connection and said step of placing said desired call connection comprises the step of retrieving a telephone number stored in said database if said voice input from said caller matches said telephone number identifier assigned to said telephone number.
3. A method for placing a telephone call as defined in claim 1 , further comprising the step of voice prompting said caller to verbally provide said desired call connection.
4. A method for placing a telephone call as defined in claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing said caller with an option to purchase additional prepaid time for said phone card via the internet.
5. A method for placing a telephone call as defined in claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing said caller with an option to store a personalized phonebook in said database via the internet, said phonebook containing a plurality of telephone numbers and associated telephone identifiers.