Carding card replenishment system

Abstract

A method and system of real-time replenishment and electronic confirmation of sale, such as a SMS text message, to a consumer responsive to purchase or referral of long distance calling minutes, including real-time replenishment of the customer's account, and seamless, pin-less use of the purchased long-distance from the user's chosen phone(s). A computer based server receives a phone number, monetary amount, and an indication of whether an increase or decrease to the balance is requested. Phone number is then compared with a stored list of registered phone numbers having a unique pin and a balance amount. The balance is increased or decreased by desired amount if comparison results in a match. If comparison does not result in a match a new pin is created associating the phone with the balance amount. A message is then sent containing an access number for use in pre-paid long distance calling.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to pending U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 702,342, entitled, “Real-Time Replenishment for Sale of Prepaid Long Distance, filed Feb. 9, 2010, which is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 248,965, entitled, “Electronic Receipts and Real-Time Replenishment for Prepaid Long Distance Calling”, filed Oct. 6, 2009, which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates to real-time replenishment of prepaid long distance accounts with electronic confirmation sent in response to a purchase or a referral of prepaid long distance calling.[0004]2. Brief Description of the Related Art[0005]Calling cards were first invented in the mid 1970's in Europe as a way to pay for phone calls upfront, thus allowing calls to be made from phone booths without using loose change or cash money. A callin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention allows customers to purchase long distance calling minutes without needing to physically take a calling card. They can receive an electronic receipt and use the minutes seamlessly on their chosen phone(s) without needing a PIN. The customer can also dial the access number within the message to access the minutes without having to refer back to the receipt.

Problems solved by technology

If the customer requests a refund and the refund results in the account balance being less than one cent, then the method may further include destroying the unique PIN associated with the phone number.

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