System, method and apparatus for placing a telephone call

Abstract

In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect an identity of a caller; receive an assigned incoming telephone number; identify a recipient associated with the assigned incoming telephone number and the identity; and connect the caller and the recipient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 detecting an identity of a caller;   receiving an assigned incoming telephone number;   identifying a recipient associated with the assigned incoming telephone number and the identity; and   connecting the caller and the recipient.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising searching for a profile information associated with the identity of the caller. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the profile information includes an originating telephone number associated with the caller. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the profile information includes the assigned telephone number associated with the recipient. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the profile information includes a list of funds associated with the caller. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein detecting the identity of the caller further comprises detecting an originating telephone number of the caller. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein detecting the originating telephone number utilizes a caller identification service. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the recipient is located outside of a local calling area of the caller. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising checking for availability of funds prior to connecting the caller and the recipient. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the availability of funds is based on an amount of money pre-purchased by the caller. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the availability of funds is based on an amount of credit extended to the caller. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising charging for a call connecting the caller and recipient based on a length of the call. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising charging for a call connecting the caller and recipient based on a location of the recipient. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 means for detecting an identity of a caller;   means for receiving an assigned incoming telephone number;   means for identifying a recipient associated with the assigned incoming telephone number and the identity; and   means for connecting the caller and the recipient.   
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 an originating telephone number module to an originating telephone number of a caller;   a telephone number detection module for detecting an assigned telephone number dialed by the caller; and   a call connection module for connecting the caller with a recipient based on the assigned telephone number and the originating telephone number.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a storage module to store a record containing profile information associated with the caller. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the profile information includes the assigned telephone number assigned to the recipient. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the profile information includes the originating telephone number assigned to the caller. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 15 , further comprising an accounting module for charging for a connection between the caller and the recipient. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the recipient is located outside a local calling area of the caller.