Method and apparatus for providing prepaid local telephone services in metered states

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing prepaid local telephone services is provided. The method includes determining if a subscriber is making a qualified local telephone call, checking to see if a maximum number of calls have been made by the subscriber and decrementing a call counter if a telephone call in connected. The system includes a switch for receiving telephone calls and identifying subscribers and qualified telephone calls. In addition, the system includes a telephone network element in communication with the switch, the telephone network element having logic for identifying local telephone calls, a notification timer configured to remove the telephone network element from a telephone call after a predetermined period of time, and a call counter for monitoring a number of local calls permitted to a subscriber.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for providing prepaid local telephone services to a subscriber having a telecommunications device connected to a subscriber line and in communication with a telephone network via the subscriber line, the method comprising: 
 receiving a telephone call from the subscriber at a first network element in the telephone network;    automatically verifying at the first network element that the telephone call is from a prepaid local telephone service subscriber;    verifying that the telephone call is a qualified local telephone call;    exchanging data communications between the first network element and a second network element to determine if a maximum number of local telephone calls has been completed by the subscriber;    providing instructions from the second network element to the first network element to connect the telephone call if the maximum number of local telephone calls has not been completed; and    decrementing a call counter at the second network element if the telephone call is completed.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first network element comprises a service switching point (SSP).  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the second network element is a service control point (SCP).  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising initiating a notification timer if the predetermined maximum number of local telephone calls has not been reached.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein decrementing the call counter at the second network element further comprises decrementing the call counter upon expiration of a time period monitored by the notification timer.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein decrementing the call counter at the second network element further comprises decrementing the call counter prior to expiration of a predetermined time period monitored by the notification timer upon receipt of a call termination signal from at least one of the subscriber and a party called by the subscriber.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the call termination signal comprises an on-hook signal.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the call termination signal further comprises a termination message sent from the first element network to the second network element.  
     
     
         9 . A method for providing prepaid local telephone services to a subscriber having a telecommunications device connected to a subscriber line and in communication with a telephone network via the subscriber line, the method comprising: 
 verifying at a first network element that a telephone call is from a telecommunications device associated with a prepaid local telephone service subscriber based on a telephone number associated with the telecommunications device;    verifying that the telephone call originating from the telecommunications device is a qualified local telephone call;    providing instructions from a second network element to the first network element to connect the telephone call if a maximum number of local telephone calls has not been completed; and    decrementing a call counter at the second network element if the telephone call is connected.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the first network element comprises a service switching point (SSP).  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the second network element is a service control point (SCP).  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising initiating a notification timer if the maximum number of local telephone calls for the prepaid local telephone service subscriber has not been reached.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein decrementing the call counter at the second network element further comprises decrementing the call counter upon expiration of a time period monitored by the notification timer.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein decrementing the call counter at the second network element further comprises decrementing the call counter prior to expiration of a predetermined time period monitored by the notification timer upon receipt of a call termination signal from at least one of the telecommunications device of the prepaid local telephone service subscriber and a party called from the telecommunications device of the prepaid local telephone service subscriber.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the call termination signal comprises an on-hook signal.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the call termination signal further comprises a termination message sent from the first element network to the second network element.  
     
     
         17 . A system for monitoring and implementing prepaid dialtone services for local telephone calls in regions having metered calling, the system comprising: 
 first network means for receiving telephone calls from prepaid local telephone service subscribers, for maintaining information on prepaid local telephone service subscribers and for maintaining information for identifying local telephone calls; and    second network means for determining whether a telephone call received at the first network means is a local telephone call, for removing the second network means from a telephone call transaction after expiration of a predetermined time, and for changing a call counter tracking a number of local telephone calls permitted to a subscriber if the telephone call is a local telephone call from a prepaid local telephone service subscriber and the telephone call has not terminated prior to expiration of the predetermined time.