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:
Nov. 02, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 28, 1995
Applicant:
Inventors:
Elaine Reed, Vienna, VA (US);
Kevin McMahon, Herndon, VA (US);
Assignee:
MCI Communications Corporation, Washington, DC (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04M / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
379145 ; 379112 ; 379 9101 ; 379 9302 ; 379144 ; 380 24 ; 380 23 ; 235380 ;
Abstract
A cost-efficient method that utilizes encryption techniques to prevent the unauthorized use of telephone customer calling card account and personal identification numbers (access codes), by electronic telephone network eavesdroppers and telephone company employees. The access codes are encrypted by the telecommunications carrier's access code collection device. The encrypted access codes are subsequently used instead of the clear-text access codes in all subsequent transmissions and subsequent processes that make use of access codes including billing and printing of calling card access codes.