Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02319982 2000-09-19
METHOD FOR PROVIDING A QUANTITY
OF TELEPHONE TIME FROM AN ATM
OR A POS TERMINAL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for providing a pre-paid quantity of
telephone time to a customer via an automated teller machine (ATM) or a POS
terminal,
and an ATM adapted for such purpose.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pre-paid telephone access codes, and the automated vending to the public of
telephone cards bearing such pre-paid telephone access codes, have been in use
in
various forms since at least as early as 1972.
A typical example of an automated means for dispensing a pre-paid telephone
card
is disclosed in United States Patent No. 5,696,908. Such patent discloses a
microprocessor controlled vending machine , which in return for provision c.f
federal
reserve notes or provision of a debit or credit card for electronic funds
transfer payment, '
dispenses a telephone card having an access code for a selected telephone
service
provider. In the preferred embodiment the access code is provided to the
telephone service
provider by the vending machine via a real- time communication with the
telephone
service provider at the time the card is being dispensed, to allow the
card/code to be
immediately activated by the telephone service provider for the quantity of
purchased
-1-
CA 02319982 2000-09-19
telephone time. As may be seen from col. 7, lines 38-40, the machine may
dispense the
access code through a printer port 34 or display such code via a visual
display32, rather
than dispense a phone card 12 bearing such code.
As another typical example of a prior art telephone card vending machine, US
5,868,236 discloses a phone card vending machine which dispenses a phone card
as well
as a slip receipt that contains information about the value of service
purchased, and on
which an activated access code is printed.
Disadvantageously, each of the devices disclosed in US 5,696,908 and 5,868,236
relate to a dedicated vending machine for dispensing phone cards. Such
dedicated
machines are thus costly in that they do nothing else but dispense phone
cards, and require
an outlay of capital to purchase. They cannot therefore economically be
ubiquitously
provided at numerous locations such as at airports, train stations, bus
terminals and the
like, to allow ready access by customers needing to purchase telephone time at
such
locations.
Use of devices other than specially dedicated phone card dispensers, such as
automated/automatic teller machines (ATM's) to dispense specially adapted
telephone
cards, are known. For example, US 5,673,309 teaches a system whereby an_ ATM
is
provided with telephone card sheetlets. Each of the sheetlets has a
coefficient of friction
differential between opposed surfaces thereof which enables the sheetlets to
be dispensed
as individual sheetlets from an ATM in a manner identical to paper money,
which allows
an ATM to be used for dispensing pre-paid phone cards as an alternate to its
normal
money dispensing function. The ATM disclosed in US 5,673,309 must be of a
multiple
bin or multiple drawer configuration (col. 4, lines 4-7) in order to permit
one bin to
-2-
CA 02319982 2000-09-19
contain paper money to be dispensed, and the other bin to contain the
sheetlets.
Accordingly, although US 5,673,309 discloses a system which dispenses
telephone access
codes [ie. personal identification numbers (PIN's)] for pre-paid quantities of
telephone
time via an ATM and thereby overcomes the disadvantages of US 5,696,908 and
5,868,236 in having to otherwise acquire a dedicated apparatus to dispense pre-
paid
telephone time. Disadvantageously, however, the system of US 5,673,309 is
limited to
ATM's of a particular configuration. In particular, the system taught in US
5,673,309 is
limited to ATM's having at least two (ie multiple ) bins to hold both money,
and sheetlets.
Moreover, the system of US 5,673,309 requires use of specially-adapted
sheetlets which
must be specially supplied to the ATM's to permit them to dispense pre-paid
telephone
access codes.
Can. Pat. Application 2,222,749 , entitled "Methods and Apparatus for
Providing
a Pre-paid, Remote Entry Customer Account" discloses an ATM (202) that in one
embodiment is used to print an immediately-activated authorization code on a
receipt
(referred to as an "instrument" 100) which is provided to a purchaser. Such
authorization
code, when provided by the purchaser to a telephone service provider 208 along
with a
dialed number, permits the purchaser to carry on conversation with a party at
such dialed
number up to the limit of the purchased time. Importantly, ATM (202) is in
communication with service provider 208 via direct hardware link 209
(typically a modem
communication link), or alternatively to a network host 230, with host 230
being
connected to service provider 208 via link hardware/communication link 232.
This
feature permits telephone service provider 208 to keep track of authorization
codes
dispensed at the time of purchase and simultaneously to activate them at the
time of
dispensing (printing) to the customer. This system does not use the ATM, or
the financial
institution which operates the ATM and in respect of which the ATM may
physically
-3-
T8-465969CIP CA 02319982 2000-o9-i9
communicate with, to store pre-printed cards having authorization (access)
codes already
printed thereon. Instead, it allows the authorization number to be immediately
activated
by the telephone service provider at the time of dispensation to the customer
for
immediate use by the customer. The interactive link 209/ 232 between the
telephone
service provider 208 and the ATM 202 further allows the capability of
providing the
customer with any quantum of pre-paid telephone time he/she may wish to
purchase,
rather than the purchaser only being able to select the telephone time from a
limited
selection of pre-determined quantities of telephone time.
Disadvantageously, however, in order to operate, the system and apparatus
disclosed in Can. Pat. 2,222,749 as discussed above requires a hardware
communication
link 232 between the ATM and each of the telephone service providers 208 with
whom
a customer is given the option of purchasing pre-paid telephone time from.
Accordingly,
creating this communication link 232 between each ATM and each and every
telephone
service provider 208 who desires to vend pre-paid telephone time via such
ATM's
represents considerable added expense in implementing such a system. Due to
the added
expense, few ATM's are adapted to utilize this system, creating a serious
problem in
availability to potential users desiring to purchase telephone time through
automated
vending machines, including ATM's.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, in one of its broad embodiments, provides a method of
vending pre-paid telephone time to customers through the many existing ATM
machines
-4-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
already conveniently located at airports, train stations, banks, shopping
centres, and the
like, with no physical modification to existing ATM's or their hardware, other
than
through software modifications on the ATNI and/or the network host of the
financial
institution through which each ATM is connected .
In addition, the invention further discloses a method by which telephone
service
time may be purchased from a point-of sale (POS) terminal which is available
at retail
purchase counters and which typically have a display screen and a printer
capability for
printing a receipt, which heretofore have only been used by customers in
association with
a debit card to debit funds from a bank account for purchase of retail items.
Such method
hereinafter disclosed requires no physical communication link between the POS
terminal
and a telephone service provider in order for the customer to be provided with
a PIN
number.
Accordingly, in one of its broad embodiments, the present invention comprises
a method for providing a fixed quantity of pre-paid telephone time from a
device
comprising an automated teller machine (ATM) or a point-of sale (POS) terminal
having
a display screen and printing capability, to a patron of said device who
accesses said
device through provision to said device of an encoded card and first personal
identification number (PIN), without hardware modifications to said device or
additional
' communication links to a telephone service provider, comprising the steps
of:
-5-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
a) making available to said device a plurality of pre-assigned second PIN
numbers, each of said second PIN numbers adapted, when provided by
said patron during a telephone call to a telephone service provider, to
allow telephone service for the patron for a period of time up to said
quantity of pre-paid time;
b) querying said patron of said device as to whether the patron wishes to
purchase telephone time;
c) verifying that the patron has sufficient funds to purchase said quantity of
telephone time, and charging such funds for said quantity of time;
d) upon satisfaction of c) above, selecting one of said plurality of second
PIN numbers; and
e) printing said selected second PIN number and providing it to such patron
via an account statement printer used in association with said device.
The funds against which the telephone time may be charged include a patron's
bank account, or a patron's credit card.
Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the invention comprises a
method for providing a quantity of pre-paid telephone time from a device
comprising an
-6-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
automated teller machine (ATl~() or a point-of sale (POS) terminal, to a
patron who
accesses said device through provision of an encoded card and first personal
identification
number (PIN), without hardware imodification or additional communication links
to said
devices, is provided, comprising the steps of:
a) supplying the ATM with a plurality of second PIN numbers, each of said
second PIN numbers adapted, when purchased by a patron and
subsequently provided by said patron to a telephone service provider, to
allow telephone service for the patron for a period of time up to said
quantity of pre-paid time;
b) querying said patron of said ATM as to whether the patron wishes to
purchase telephone time;
c) in response to input from said patron desiring to purchase telephone time,
querying said patron as to whether the patron desires to charge the
patron's credit card or to debit the patron's bank account;
d) in the event that the patron desires to charge the patron's bank account,
verifying through an electronic clearing house that the patron has
sufficient funds to purchase said quantity of telephone time, and debiting
said bank account for said quantity of time;
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
e) in the event the patron desires to charge the patron's credit card,
verifying
through an electronic clearing house that the quantity of time desired to be
purchased may be charged to said credit card, and charging said credit
card for said quantity of time;
S
f) upon satisfaction of d) or e) above, selecting one of said plurality of
second PIN numbers; and
g) printing said selected second PIN number and providing it to such patron
via an existing account statement printer on said ATM machine.
Advantageously, using the above method, no hardware link is required between
the device which dispenses the PIN (ie the access code) and the telephone
service
provider from whom the pre-paid telephone time is purchased. Instead, it is
contemplated
that the customer will, after purchasing the PIN number from the device,
provide the PIN
number dispensed by the device to the telephone service provider at the time
of placing
a call to a desired number (or shortly prior to placing the call in the manner
as later
explained herein), thereby permitting the telephone company to initially
credit the
customer's account with the purchased time and thereafter commence "debiting"
the
customer's account corresponding to the purchased authorization code, for the
duration
of such call, and for all further telephone calls, until such pre-paid
telephone time is
exhausted. This approach has the added advantage in that it permits telephone
service
providers , in the case of wireless telephones and patrons who provide the
telephone
_g_
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
service provider with their purchased PII'd number using their wireless
telephone, to
correlate the frequency and identification code of the incoming wireless call
with the
purchased PIN number, thereafter eliminating the need for the patron to advise
the
telephone service provider of his/her PIN number every time a call is
dialed/placed.
As well, the method as above described does not require supply of an specially-
adapted sheetlets, instead printing the authorization code (PIN number) on
paper via the
existing account statement printer existing on nearly all ATM machines.
Where a POS Terminal is used, having a pre-existing communication capability
with a financial institution and having an associated printer for printing
receipts and the
like as typically employed by retailers, the step of making the second PIN
number
available comprises storing said second PIN numbers on a database which is
maintained
by the financial institution and which is capable of being accessed by the POS
terminal.
In a further preferred embodiment of the above method, the patron is given the
opportunity to purchase not just a fixed quantity of telephone time, but the
ability to select
from a variety of pre-determined quantities of telephone time. Accordingly, in
such
preferred method, the plurality of second PIN numbers from which the device
(POS
Terminal or ATM unit) may select on behalf of a customer comprises a plurality
of
groups of second PIN numbers. Each second PIN number in a respective group of
said
groups of second PIN numbers permits telephone service for a pre-determined
quantity
of time, and each second PIN number within a respective group providing a
different
quantity of pre-paid telephone time than second PIN numbers within another
group. The
-9-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
patron in step b) above is further queried as to what quantity of a number of
pre-defined
quantities of telephone time such patron wishes to purchase; and in response
to input from
said patron as to the particular quantity of telephone time desired to be
purchased, a
second PIN number is selected from a respective group of second PIN numbers
which
provides telephone time corresponding to the particular quantity of pre-
defined quantities
of telephone time selected by said patron. This selected second PIN number is,
after
verification that the patron possesses sufficient funds or has provided a
valid credit card
with an unexceeded limit, then printed and provided to the patron via the
device's existing
account statement printer.
In another embodiment of the method of the present invention, it is desired to
give the patron the option of not only purchasing a variety of pre-determined
quantities
of telephone time, but further the option of purchasing a variety of pre-
determined
quantities of telephone time from a variety of telephone service providers.
This capability
is extremely desirable as it is an added convenience to patrons, particularly
where the
patron is in possession of a wireless telephone which can only be operated
through a
particular service provider, and wishes to utilize the particular method of
the invention
(described supra) which allows the patron to simply contact his/her telephone
service
provider only once to advise of his/her purchased PIN number and thereafter
need not
advise his/her telephone service provider of the PIN number for each and every
subsequent dialed telephone call.
Accordingly, in another aspect of the present invention wherein the patron may
select to purchase time from a selection of telephone service providers, and
may further
-IO-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
select to purchase a particular quantity of pre-paid telephone time from a
variety of pre
defined telephone times, the present invention in this particular aspect
providing a method
for providing a quantity of pre-paid telephone time from a device comprising
an
automated teller machine (AT'M) or a point-of sale terminal to patrons of said
device,
comprising in combination:
a) ordering a pre-determined amount of telephone time from a plurality of
telephone service providers, and further obtaining from each telephone
service provider a plurality of groups of second PIN numbers, each of
said second PTN numbers when provided to a patron of such POS terminal
and subsequently supplied by the patron to the telephone service provider
adapted to allow telephone service for said patron for a pre-determined
quantity of time, each of said second PIN numbers having associated
therewith a pre-determined quantity of time for which telephone service
will be enabled, said pre-determined quantity of time associated with
second PIN numbers within one group of said plurality of groups being
different from the pre-determined quantity of time associated with second
PIN numbers within another of said groups of unique second PIN
numbers;
b) querying a patron of such POS terminal, who accesses the POS terminal
by providing the POS terminal with an encoded card and a first PIN
number, as the whether the patron wishes to purchase telephone time;
-11-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
c) in response to a positive reply to the aforesaid query, providing the
patron
with a plurality of telephone service providers to select from;
d) providing to the patron a plurality of pre-defined quantities of telephone
times which may be purchased, and requesting the patron select a
particular pre-defined quantity of telephone time;
e) verifying that the patron has sufficient funds to purchase said quantity of
telephone time, and debiting such funds;
f) upon satisfaction of e) above, selecting a second PIN number from a
selected group of said plurality of groups of second PIN numbers, said
selected group corresponding to a group of second PIN numbers
associated with said selected telephone service provider and said selected
quantity of telephone service time; and
g) providing said selected second PIN number to such patron.
The step of providing the selected second PTN number to the patron [step i)
above]
may comprise providing it to the patron by displaying it on the device's
cathode ray tube
or liquid crystal display. However, in the preferred embodiment of this
particular aspect
of the invention, the step of providing the second PIN number to the patron
comprises
printing the selected second PIN number on the device's existing account
statement
-12-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
printer, and thereafter providing it to said patron, where such ATM or POS
Terminal
additionally has a printer.
Advantageously, as mentioned above, the method of the present invention
wherein
the patron is provided with a PIN, and thereafter provides such PIN to his/her
telephone
service provider is particularly adapted for a method whereby the patron in
possession
of a wireless telephone need only provide his/her purchased PIN number once to
his/her
telephone service provider, and thereafter may place calls without having to
further dial
in the patron's purchased PIN number at the time of placing a call.
Accordingly, in a further aspect of the present invention, a method is
provided for
crediting, via an automated teller machine (ATM) or POS Terminal, a quantity
of pre-
determined telephone time to a patron who possesses a wireless telephone
having a pre-
assigned telephone number, which permits said patron, after the initial
provision of a
second personal identification number(PIN) to a telephone service provider, to
thereafter
utilize said telephone for a period of time up to said quantity of pre-
determined quantity
of telephone time without having at the time of each subsequent telephone call
to provide
said telephone service provider with said second PIN number prior to being
permitted to
make said telephone call, which comprises in combination:
a) querying a patron of a POS terminal, who accesses said terminal through
provision to the terminal of an encoded card and a first personal
identification number (PIN), as to whether the patron wishes to purchase
telephone time and what quantity of telephone time;
-13-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
b) querying said patron as to said quantity of time desired to be purchased,
querying said patron as to whether the patron desires to charge the
patron's credit card or to debit the patron's bank account;
c) verifying that the patron has sufficient funds to purchase said desired
quantity of telephone time;
d) debiting such funds;
e) selecting said second PIN number from a plurality of second PIN
numbers, each of said second PIN numbers adapted, when supplied by
said patron during a telephone call to a telephone service provider, to
allow telephone service for the patron for a period of time up to said
quantity of purchased time;
f) providing said selected second PIN number to such patron;
g) receiving said second PIN number from said patron;
h) correlating the pre-assigned telephone number of said wireless telephone
with a corresponding account held by said telephone service provider in
respect of said patron; and
-14-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
i) crediting said account with said quantity of pre-determined telephone time
purchased by said patron as ascertained from said second PIN number.
Again, the step of providing the selected second PIN number to the patron may
comprise displaying it on the device's display screen, but in the preferred
embodiment
comprises printing the selected second PIN number on the device's existing
account
statement printer, and thereafter providing it to said patron.
Using the method of the invention as described above, when a patron places a
telephone call to his/her telephone service provider (the same telephone
service provider
from whom he/she purchased the second PIN number) on the patron's wireless
telephone,
because each wireless telephone has a specific frequency and identification
code, the
telephone service provider is able to, in accordance with the method of the
present
invention, correlate the supplied PIN with an existing account held by that
particular
patron/subscriber with the telephone service provider by referencing the PIN
and
identification code of the patron's wireless telephone with the telephone
company's
records for the subscribed patron having the particular wireless telephone
number (ESN
and/or MIN). Thereafter, having then credited the patron's account with the
quantity of
purchased time as indicated from the purchased PIN, the telephone company need
not
thereafter be provided at the time of a placed call with the PIN number.
Rather, by
acknowledging the wireless telephone identification code when the call is
placed, the
telephone service provider can ascertain the identity of the caller and debit
the
caller/patron's account for the duration of all subsequently placed calls, up
to the amount
of pre-paid telephone time which had been credited to the patron's account.
-15-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
In a further aspect of the invention, the invention comprises an ATM
(programmed itself or directed by a network computer to which the ATM is
connected)
which is adapted to permit patrons of such ATM to purchase a quantity of
telephone time
from one of a plurality of telephone service providers, wherein such ATM is
adapted to
dispense a personal identification number (PIN), said PIN adapted, when
supplied
to a telephone service provider, to allow telephone service for said patron
for said
quantity of time, wherein the ATM operates in the following manner, namely:
a) queries a patron who accesses the ATM through provision to the ATM of
an encoded card and a first personal identification number (PIN), as to
whether the patron wishes to purchase telephone time and what quantity
of telephone time;
b) verifies that the patron has sufficient funds to purchase said quantity of
1 S telephone time, and debits said funds for such quantity of time;
c) selects a second PIN number from a plurality of groups of second PIN
numbers , each of said second PIN numbers within a group of second PIN
numbers having associated therewith a pre-determined quantity of time
for which telephone service will be enabled, said pre-determined quantity
of time associated with said second PIN numbers within one group of said
plurality of groups being different from the pre-determined quantity of
time associated with second PIN numbers within another of said groups
of second PIN numbers; said selected second PIN number adapted, when
-16-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
supplied by said patron during a telephone call to a telephone service
provider, to thereafter allow telephone service for the patron for a period
of time up to said quantity of purchased time; and
d) provides said selected second PIN number to such patron.
Again, the step of providing said selected second PIN number to said patron
may
comprise displaying such PIN number on the ATM's display screen, but in the
preferred
embodiment comprises printing said second PIN number on paper normally used
for
account statement print-outs, and providing it to said patron.
Likewise, the said funds may be supplied by a patron's bank account, or may be
a cash advance from a charge made against a patron's credit card.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood having reference to the
accompanying drawings depicting non-limiting particular embodiments of the
invention,
as well as the following detailed description, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a broad embodiment of the method of
the present invention for providing a patron with a pre-paid quantity of
telephone
time from an existing ATM machine;
-17-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the embodiment of the method shown
in Figure 1, with the step of verifying if the patron has sufficient funds
shown as
including inquiring if the patron wishes to charge a bank account or a credit
card;
Figure 3 is a further preferred embodiment of a method of the present
invention
for providing a patron with a pre-paid quantity of telephone time from an
existing
ATM machine, wherein the patron is given not only a selection of pre-paid
quantities of time to chose from, but is further given a selection of telco's
(ie
telephone service providers) in which to purchase hi/her desired quantity of
pre-
paid telephone time;
Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the embodiment of the method shown
in Figure 3, with the step of verifying if the patron has sufficient funds
shown as
including inquiring if the patron wishes to charge a bank account or credit
card;
Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of the components and apparatus used in
the
method of the present invention, where the device being used to dispense the
PIN
is an ATM; and
Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of the components and apparatus used in
the
method of the present invention, where the device being used to dispense the
PIN
is a point-of sale terminal.
-18-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figure 5 shows apparati 10 for use in the method of the present invention
where
the device being used to dispense the PIN is an ATM. An automated/automatic
teller
machine (ATM) 12 of the type commonly employed by financial institutions is
shown,
having a cathode ray tube, liquid crystal, or other type of visual display
screen 14, a
keypad comprising a series of buttons 18 for inputting selections and keying
in numbers,
and an account statement printer i 6. Such ATM 12 is typically linked to a
network host
computer 22 operated by the financial institution or bank with which the ATM
12 is
associated, for permitting clients of such financial institution to access
their accounts with
such financial institution via such ATM 12. Such ATM 12 either itself or
through the
network host computer 22 as shown in Fig. 3 is typically linked to an
electronic clearing
house 24 to provide interface with accounts held by other financial
institutions other than
the financial institution with which ATM 12 may be associated.
A patron typically accesses the ATM 12 through provision of an encoded card
50,
and by entering a first personal identification number on buttons 18
comprising the
keypad on the ATM 12.
Figure 6 shows apparati 10 for use in the method of the present invention,
where
the device being used to dispense the PIN is a point-of sale (POS) terminal
13. Such POS
termina113 is of a type typically provided to retail customers of retail
institutions, and is
provided with a liquid crystal or other type of visual display screen 14, a
keypad
comprising a series of buttons 18 for inputting selections and keying in
numbers, and an
account statement printer 16. Such POS terminal 13 is typically linked to a
network
-19-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
host computer 22 operated by the financial institution or bank with which the
POS
terminal 13 is associated, for permitting clients of such retail institutions
to access their
accounts with the financial institution via such POS terminal 13. Such POS
terminal 13
either itself or through the network host computer 22 as shown in Fig. 4 is
typically linked
to an electronic clearing house 24 to provide interface with accounts held by
other
financial institutions other than the financial institution with which POS
terminal 13 may
be associated.
A patron typically accesses the POS terminal 13 through provision of an
encoded
card 50, and by entering a first personal identification number on buttons 18
comprising
the keypad on the POS terminal 13.
The various methods of the present invention will now be described, with
reference to Figs. 1-6 of the drawings. In general, description of the method
of the
invention with respect to an ATM 12 is generally equally applicable to the
method of the
invention utilizing a POS terminal 13, and vice versa, unless specifically set
out to the
contrary. When reference to a device is made, such reference is understood to
comprise
either an ATM 12 as shown in Fig. 5, or a POS terminal 13 as shown in Fig. 6.
In one of its broad aspects, the method of the present invention comprises
supplying an ATM 12 (Fig. 5) or a network host 22 with which a POS terminal
may be
in pre-existing communication with (see Fig. 6) with a plurality of second PIN
numbers.
Such second PIN numbers may be loaded into a Read Only Memory (ROM) (not
shown)
onboard the ATM 12. Alternatively, and more preferably, second PIN numbers are
-20-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
provided to the network host computer 22 of the host financial institution
with which the
ATM 12 or POS terminal 13 interfaces (see Figs. 5 & 6, respectively), and
loaded therein
on a ROM chip or peripheral data storage device, such as a hard drive, CD-ROM,
or the
like. Each of the second PIN numbers, which may be in the form of a numeric or
alpha-
s numeric code sequence of digits/alpha-numeric characters, are provided by
telephone
service providers 30 and are capable of being recognized by such service
providers 30 in
the manner more fully set out below. Alternatively, an intermediary entity may
purchase
a block of pre-paid telephone time from a telephone service provider 30,
ascribe second
PIN numbers for individual time allotments totalling the block of purchased
telephone
time, and thereafter supply the second PIN numbers to the telephone service
provider 30
for its use in using them in the manner hereinafter described. Each of such
second PIN
numbers are adapted, when a patron who has purchased a (preferably unique)
second PIN
number supplies such second PIN number to an associated telephone service
provider 30,
to permit the service provider 30 to confirm the validity of such PIN number
as being a
valid number and one which designates a pre-paid quantity of telephone time.
Typically
the service provider 30 provides atoll-free 1-800 number or the like which may
be dialed
by a patron. Upon dialing such 1-800 number the patron is queried for and then
provides
(usually through a series of keyed-in entries on the alpha-numeric buttons on
a telephone)
the purchased second PIN number, and immediately thereafter enters the digits
of the
telephone number to which he desires to place a call, and the patron is
connected to such
number (or additional numbers as the patron may dial, each time keying in the
second
PIN number) for the duration of the purchased telephone time.
-21 -
CA 02319982 2001-09-17
A patron who accesses an ATM 12 or POS terminal 13 through provision to such
device of an encoded card 50 and a first PIN number is queried whether the
patron wishes
to purchase a quantity of telephone time. This query may take the form of a
single query,
appearing on the visual display screen 14 if only one pre-determined quantity
of pre-paid
telephone time is available for purchase. Alternatively, such may take the
form of two
queries, namely whether telephone time is desired to be purchased, and if so
the amount
of telephone time desired to be purchased which may be selected from a
plurality of pre-
determined fixed quantities of telephone times displayed on the display screen
14.
Affirmative responses and selections are entered by the patron on one of the
buttons 18
on the keyboard of the ATM 12 or POS terminal 13. Verification is then
proceeded with
to determine if the patron has sufficient funds to purchase such selected
quantity of
telephone time. In practice, the funds typically come from such sources as a
patron's bank
account or from a credit card advance from a patron's credit card.
Accordingly, in
practice, the patron is queried as to whether the patron desires to charge the
patron's credit
card or debit the patron's bank account. In the event the patrons possess or
desires to
charge the patron's bank account, verification through an electronic clearing
house 24
(which includes the financial institution with which the ATM 12 or POS
terminal 13 is
associated) is conducted to verify that the patron has sufficient funds to
purchase the
selected quantity of telephone time, and the account debited for the amount of
purchased
telephone time. In the event the patron desires to charge a credit card (which
typically can
only be done if the encoded card 50 is encoded with the patron's credit card
number),
verification occurs through an electronic clearing house 24 to ensure the
quantity of
purchased telephone time may be charged to the card, and if so the credit card
charged for
such amount.
-22-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
The ATM 12 or POS terminal thereafter proceeds to select one of the plurality
of
second PIN numbers which have been pre-provided as discussed previously, and
thereafter proceeds to print the selected second PIN number on paper 20
normally made
available to the account statement printer 16 of ATM 12 or POS terminal 13,
and
thereafter provided to the patron.
In a preferred embodiment, where it is desired to give a patron a choice of
pre-
determined quantities of telephone time (see Fig. 1 & 2), the supplied second
PIN
numbers provided to the ATM 12 or POS terminal 13 in the manner described
above are
broken down into groups of second PIN numbers. Each second PIN number in a
respective group of second PIN numbers is recognized by the telephone service
provider
30 as permitting telephone service for a pre-determined quantity of time (such
as $10,
$20, or $30, as shown in Fig. 1). Each second PIN number within a respective
group
provides a different quantity of pre-paid telephone time than second PIN
numbers within
another group.
In yet a further preferred embodiment, where it is desired to give a patron a
choice
of telephone service providers 30 to choose from (eg. telephone service
provider A
("Telco A"), telephone service provider B ("Telco B), etc., etc., as well as a
choice of pre-
paid time from each telephone service provider 30 (see Figs. 3 & 4), a
plurality of groups
of second PIN numbers from each Telco A, B, etc. are provided to the ATM 12 or
the
network host computer 22 interfacing with such ATM 12 or POS terminal 13 in
the
manner previously described, each group corresponding to a series of second
PIN
numbers corresponding to pre-paid service which would be supplied by a
particular
- 23 -
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
telephone service provider. For example, second PIN numbers associated with
Telco A
may have an "A" prefix, while those second PIN numbers associated with Telco B
may
have a "B" pre-fix or suffix. Each of the second PIN numbers in a particular
group are
sub-divided into sub-groups, with each second PIN number in a particular sub-
group
providing a pre-paid quantity of telephone time , with the pre-determined
quantity of time
associated with second PIN numbers within one sub-group being different from
the pre-
determined quantity of time associated with second PIN numbers within another
of the
sub-groups. For example, as may be seen from Fig. 4, a patron is give a choice
of
telephone service providers 30 (Telco A, Telco B, etc), and in respect of each
telephone
service provider a choice of three pre-determined quantities of telephone time
($10, $20,
and$30), prior to be thereafter being asked to select the desired mode of
payment.
The method of the present invention, where the patron purchases telephone time
for a wireless telephone 36, lends itself to certain advantages, namely not
having to supply
the second PIN number each and every time the patron places a call on the
wireless
telephone 36. Such method takes advantage of the fact that each wireless
telephone 36 not
only has a unique 10 digit mobile identification telephone number (MIN), but
also
possesses a special electronic identification serial number (ESN) used by the
telephone
service provider 30 to identify the wireless telephone 36 and to transmit to
it.
Accordingly, in this particular embodiment of the invention, with reference to
Figs. 3 and
4, upon the patron purchasing a second PIN number, either printed on paper 20
or being
provided by display 14 of ATM 12 or POS terminal 13, the patron places a call
to the
associated telephone service provider 30 from whom pre-paid telephone time was
purchased. The second PIN number (typically a 10 digit numeric or alpha-
numeric group
-24-
CA 02319982 2001-05-22
of characters) is provided to the telephone service provider 30 by dialing a
dedicated
number, typically a 1-800 number or the like, and keying in via the alpha
numeric keypad
on the wireless telephone, the second PIN number. The telephone service
provider 30,
when provided with the second PIN number in this manner, is able to correlate
the
existing telephone number of the wireless telephone 36 when it receives the
radio
frequency signal 38 (comprising the wireless telephone's ESN and/or MIN)from
the
wireless telephone 36 with a corresponding patron account maintained by the
service
provider 30 on a computerized account system 32 which telephone service
providers 30
typically maintain for keeping track of customer accounts. The
patron/customer's account
is then immediately credited with the amount of purchased telephone time.
Thereafter, it
is no longer necessary for the patron to provide the second PIN number to the
telephone
service provider, in order to be connected with a dialed telephone number,
since the
telephone service provider can simply reference the patron's account upon
receiving the
wireless signal 38 containing the special identification code (MIN and/or ESN)
which is
evident from the call placed by the patron over wireless telephone 36.
Although the disclosure describes and illustrates the preferred embodiments of
the
invention, it is understood that the invention is not limited to these
particular
embodiments. Many variations and modifications will now occur to those skilled
in the
art. For a definition of the invention, reference is made to the appended
claims.
- 25 -
