PREPAID INFORMATION SERVICES
A prepaid information services card is provided for use in both wireline and wireless communications networks without the cardholder having to be a subscriber to a telecommunications service provider. The prepaid information services card may be used to access directory assistance and enhanced directory assistance information services such as weather information, traffic information, and stock information. A communications platform processes information service requests from cardholders, determines an appropriate information system for fulfilling the request, and communicates the results back to a user communication device associated with the cardholders The results may be communicated to one or more user communication devices in a number of output formats including text, audio, and video. Card usage statistics may be tracked and a facility provided for replenishing the prepaid card when a predetermined number of units falls below a threshold.
1 . A method for accessing a plurality of information services in a communications network, comprising:
receiving a user access code from a prepaid card for accessing the plurality of information services over the communications network;
receiving an information request directed to an information service selected from among the plurality of information services;
determining, based on the request, an information system associated with the selected information service for retrieving the requested information;
formatting a search query containing the information request to send to the information system, wherein the search query is formatted to be compatible with the information system; and
receiving the requested information from the information system.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing a menu of information services to the user;
transmitting the search query to the information system;
formatting the requested information for a user communication device; and
transmitting the requested information to the user communication device.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein formatting the requested information for a user communication device comprises formatting the requested information for a second user communication device which is different from a first communication device from which the user access code is received.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein formatting the requested information for a user communication device comprises formatting the requested information as at least one of an audio message, a video message, an electronic mail message, and a short message service message.
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein transmitting the requested information to the user communication device comprises transmitting a telephone number.
6 . The method of claim 5 further comprising automatically establishing a communications session between the user communication device and the telephone number.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a user access code from a prepaid card for accessing the plurality of information services over the communications network comprises receiving a user access code from a prepaid card over a wireline communications network.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a user access code from a prepaid card for accessing the plurality of information services over the communications network comprises receiving a user access code from a prepaid card over a wireless communications network.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a selection of an information service comprises receiving a selection of a directory assistance service.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a selection of an information service comprises receiving a selection of an enhanced directory assistance service.
11 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
tracking the use of a predetermined number of units assigned to the prepaid card for accessing the plurality of information services;
determining if the predetermined number of units falls below a threshold; and
if the predetermined number of units falls below the threshold, then transmitting a request to replenish the prepaid card.
12 . The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a language selection for accessing the plurality of information services over the communications network.
13 . An apparatus for accessing a plurality of information services in a communications network, comprising:
a communications platform for communicating with a plurality of information systems for providing the plurality of information services and for communicating with at least one user communication device; and
an application program resident on the communications platform and operative to:
receive a user access code from a prepaid card for accessing the plurality of information services;
receive an information request directed to an information service selected from among the plurality of information services;
determine, based on the request, an information system associated with the selected information service for retrieving the requested information;
format a search query containing the information request to send to the information system, wherein the search query is formatted to be compatible with the information system; and
receive the requested information from the information system.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the application program resident on the communications platform is further operative to:
upon receiving the user access code, receive a language selection for accessing the plurality of information services over the communications network
provide a menu of information services to the user;
format the requested information for sending to the at least one user communication device through the communications platform; and
receive a language selection for accessing the plurality of information services over the communications network.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the requested information is formatted for a second user communication device which is different from the at least one user communication device from which the user access code is received.
16 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the formatted requested information comprises at least one of an audio message, a video message, an electronic mail message, and a short message service message.
17 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the information service comprises an enhanced directory assistance service.
18 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the application program resident on the communications platform is further operative to:
track the use of a predetermined number of units assigned to the prepaid card for accessing the plurality of information services;
determine if the predetermined number of units falls below a threshold; and
if the predetermined number of units falls below the threshold, then generate a request for the at least one user communication device to replenish the prepaid card.
19 . A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to perform a method for accessing a plurality of information services in a communications network, comprising:
receiving a user access code from a prepaid card for accessing the plurality of information services over the communications network;
providing a menu of information services to the user;
receiving an information request directed to an information service selected from the plurality of information services;
determining, based on the request, an information system associated with the selected information service for retrieving the requested information formatting a search query containing the information request to send to the information system, wherein the search query is formatted to be compatible with the information system;
transmitting the search query to the information system;
receiving the requested information from the information system;
formatting the requested information for a user communication device; and
transmitting the requested information to the user communication device.
20 . The computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein formatting the requested information for a user communication device comprises formatting the requested information for a second user communication device which is different from a first communication device from which the user access code is received.