The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 11, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 04, 1996
Robert H Lorsch, Los Angeles, CA (US);
SmartTalk Teleservices, Inc., Dublin, OH (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for prepaid phone card activation and billing is disclosed. Particularly, a method and apparatus for prepaid phone card activation and billing is disclosed, which provides benefits to a phone card client and to a phone card company. An improved phone card is disclosed that has a magnetic strip for encoding prepaid phone card information adapted for reading by a point of sale terminal. At the time an improved phone card is to be sold or otherwise transferred, the card may preferably be read through a point of sale terminal which may be in communication with a centralized computer. The centralized computer may compare information encoded on the card with information stored in a centralized database and with information from the point of sale terminal to verify that the card is being sold or otherwise transferred rightfully. The centralized computer may then authorize or deny activation of the card. Upon activation, the centralized computer or an invoicing computer may then prepare an invoice or automatically debit a client's bank account.