Method and apparatus for validating pre-pay and post-pay communication services using the same integrated database

1. A method of providing pre-pay calls and post-pay calls using an integrated service platform and an integrated validation database, the method comprising:

receiving a pre-pay call from a switching system into the integrated service platform;

in the integrated service platform, obtaining a pre-pay account code and a pre-pay destination number for the pre-pay call;

transmitting a pre-pay query including the pre-pay account code from the integrated service platform to the integrated validation database;

in the integrated validation database, retrieving a pre-pay validation parameter based on the pre-pay account code;

in the integrated validation database, transmitting a pre-pay validation response including the pre-pay validation parameter and a pre-pay indication of whether the pre-pay account code is valid;

transferring the pre-pay destination number and the pre-pay validation parameter from the integrated service platform to the switching system that extends the pre-pay call based on the pre-pay destination number;

dropping the integrated service platform from the pre-pay call;

receiving a post-pay call from the switching system into the integrated service platform;

in the integrated service platform, obtaining a post-pay destination number and a post-pay account code for the post-pay call;

in the integrated service platform, transmitting a post-pay query including a post-pay account code into the integrated validation database;

in the integrated validation database, retrieving a post-pay validation parameter based on the post-pay account code;

transmitting a post-pay validation response including the post-pay validation parameter and a post-pay indication of whether the pre-pay account code is valid;

transferring the post-pay destination number and the post-pay validation parameter from the integrated service platform to the switching system that extends the post-pay call based on the post-pay destination number; and

dropping the integrated service platform from the post-pay call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-pay validation parameter comprises a period of time.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-pay validation parameter comprises a monetary value.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in the integrated service platform, playing a message for the pre-pay call based on a called number.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in the integrated service platform, playing a message for the pre-pay call based on a caller number.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in the integrated service platform, playing a message for the post-pay call based on a called number.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in the integrated service platform, playing a message for the post-pay call based on a caller number.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the post-pay validation parameter corresponds to a predetermined credit limit.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in the integrated service platform, updating the pre-pay validation parameter with a pre-pay duration of the pre-pay call;

generating and transmitting a pre-pay update instruction including the pre-pay validation parameter from the integrated service platform to an integrated validation database;

receiving the pre-pay update instruction into the integrated validation database; and

updating the integrated validation database with the pre-pay validation parameter and the pre-pay account code.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating and transmitting a post-pay update instruction including the post-pay validation parameter from the integrated service platform to an integrated validation database;

receiving a post-pay update instruction including the post-pay validation parameter and the post-pay account code; and

updating the integrated validation database with the post-pay validation parameter and the post-pay account code.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring the pre-pay destination number and the pre-pay validation parameter from the integrated service platform to the switching system further comprises:

in the integrated service platform, generating and transmitting a transfer request message for a service control point.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring the post-pay destination number and the post-pay validation parameter from the integrated service platform to the switching system further comprises:

in the integrated service platform, generating and transmitting a transfer request message for a service control point.