Method and System for Providing Long Distance Service

Abstract

A system and method of providing long distance service products to users. Post-paid debit calling cards are purchased on-line by a customer or user and the user is billed monthly, along with other service charges. The calling card account, however, is debited as it is used. Since the fee for the account is charged against an existing customer account, fraudulent purchases are reduced. In an embodiment, the purchaser is provided access to a restricted web page on the Internet using a user name and password, where the user name and password are associated with the customer's account. Once accessed, the user is able to purchase “post-paid debit calling cards.” Upon sending a request to purchase such a calling card, the user is provided a toll free number and PIN. Subsequently, the purchase is logged and the fee is added to the customer's monthly bill.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A computer system for purchasing post-paid communication service comprising: 
 a server layer for receiving a request to purchase communication service using a post-paid debit account, validating customer information using user identification information, and providing communications service when the customer information is validated; and    a platform layer for storing customer information and communicating with the server layer when validating the customer information.    
   
   
       18 . The computer system of  claim 17  further comprising a client layer for sending the request to purchase communication service to the server layer.  
   
   
       19 . The computer system of  claim 18 , wherein the client layer comprises: 
 a secure web module for evaluating the user identification information; and    an account management module for performing account management functions associated with the client layer.    
   
   
       20 . The computer system of  claim 19 , wherein the account management module manages at least one of the following: home telephone service and one or more calling cards.  
   
   
       21 . The computer system of  claim 17 , wherein the server layer further comprises: 
 a receive module for receiving a request for the communication service;    a customer filter module for receiving customer identification information and for determining whether the user is trustworthy by identifying a pre-existing communication service from the customer information;    a process order module for processing the request for the new communication service after the customer filter module has determined that the user is trustworthy, the new communication service being a post-paid debit communication product; and    a communication module for enabling the post-paid debit communication service in response to the request.    
   
   
       22 . The computer system of  claim 17 , wherein the server layer validates the customer information by checking the customer information associated with the received request to purchase communication service against a list of trusted client information.  
   
   
       23 . The computer system of  claim 22 , wherein the server layer determines whether the user has an existing account when validating the customer information.  
   
   
       24 . The computer system of  claim 17 , wherein the platform layer comprises: 
 a data store for storing customer information;    a number/pin generation module for generating a pin/new number combination for use in providing communication service; and    a billing module for charging the user when the number/pin generation module generates a pin/new number combination for association with the user.    
   
   
       25 . A computer-readable medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for purchasing post-paid communication service, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising: 
 receiving a request to purchase the post-paid communication service, the post-paid communication service comprising a post-paid debit account;    receiving user identification information on the user;    determining whether the user is trustworthy by validating the user identification information; and    upon determining that the user is trustworthy based on the user identification information, providing the user with communication service access information so that the user can use the post-paid communication service.    
   
   
       26 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 25  wherein determining if the user is deemed trustworthy comprises receiving user identification information that establishes that the user has an existing account.  
   
   
       27 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 26  further comprising billing the user for the post-paid communication service.  
   
   
       28 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 25  wherein receiving the request comprises receiving a telephone call containing a platform access number and a personal identification number.  
   
   
       29 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 25 , further comprising billing the user in a predetermined manner for the communication service and for other services associated with an existing account.  
   
   
       30 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein determining that the user is trustworthy comprises determining that the existing account has a positive billing history.  
   
   
       31 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 25 , wherein determining whether the user is trustworthy comprises determining if the user has an existing physical billing address for a separate account.  
   
   
       32 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 25 , wherein determining whether the user is trustworthy comprises determining if the user has an existing email address.  
   
   
       33 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 25 , wherein the communication service comprises a long distance telephony service.  
   
   
       34 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 25 , wherein the post-paid debit account provides a limited amount of communication services for predefined period of time.  
   
   
       35 . A system for providing a voice communication service to a user, comprising: 
 means for establishing a user account for the voice communication service;    means for defining the user account as a post-paid debit account;    means for creating a predefined limited amount of usage for the voice communication service for a certain period of time;    means for receiving a request from the user to initiate the voice communication service;    means for verifying that the request is associated with the user account;    means for facilitating the voice communication service for the user;    means for debiting usage of the voice communication from the limited amount of usage; and    after expiration of the certain period of time, means for invoicing the user for the usage of the voice communication service during the certain period of time.    
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the request is received at a platform and wherein a valid PIN from the user is used to verify the request.