Patent · US Expired

Method and system for connecting a caller to a content provider

US6246755A · kind A · utility

40Cited by
21References
44Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 31, 1996
Grant dateJun 12, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 31, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M2215/0196
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and systems for connecting a caller to a content provider who provides a service to the caller over the telephone system. In accordance with the invention, a caller establishes a prepaid account with an intermediary, termed a transaction processor. When the caller wishes to access a content provider, the caller makes a telephone call to the transaction processor providing access to a plurality of content providers via a common access number. The caller identifies his prepaid account and the desired content provider. The transaction processor connects the caller to the content provider, monitors the connection between the caller and the content provider, and debits the caller's prepaid account according to the service provided by the content provider.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.