GB2305393A - Telephone card with scratch-off panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A telephone card includes a randomly-generated account number protected by a scratch-off panel. The card is activated by the user telephoning a computer for validation and on-line payment.

Description

PHONECARD ACTIVATION This invention relates to a new commercial application associated with the telecommunications product known as a remote-memory pllonecar(l (or telephone card) which is credit-card sized, often made of plastic - or a sinular material - and wllicll is sold with "value" representing so many minutes of phonecall time.

Phonecards are products generally used in conjunction with phone boNes or call boxes and which are traditionally inserted into the slols within a phone box or "swiped" to enable the user to make one or more telephone calls. I he phonecard itself pmvides the value for the phonecalls, and this value is monitored by the information provided to the callbox - and hence to the relevant Exchange. The information can be "read" by way of magnetic stripe (as with the traditional l3T card) and more recently hy way of more sophisticated techniques invohing microchips imbedded in the phonecards - known as "stnart cards". All such cards are provided witll "value", contained as electronic inlormation stored within the card, and when sold, the purchaser is effectively buying "prepaid" phonetime.Some call boxes also allow users to make calls on inserting or swiping their credit cards, such calls being debited directly to those credit cards, but credit cards are not technically phonecards in that they have other specific functions.

The type of phonecard to which this invention particularly applies is known as a remote memory phonecard which differs from the above in that the phonecald is neither inserted into or swiped through the phone hox or call box. The remote memory phonecard operates by dint of a special Account Number or PIN (Personal ldentity Number) published on the card, which when correctly entered via any telephone, will enable the caller to use the facilities to a certain value as offered by the service provider.

All phonecards are bought and stocked for the full value of the calls as displayed on the card. Wholesalers and retailers (and traders) cannot opt to buy a stock of phonecards for a nominal sum and decide when to pul call value on to those cards i.e. they cannot choose to activate the cards at the time of purchase or later, or give purchasens the choice of purchasing a phonecard which is either activated or not.

According to the present invention there is provided on the reverse of certain remote menlol? plionecards a ullique and randomnly generated 1() digit account number covered by a scratch-off panel. There is also printed a special telephone number which connects to a bespoke on-line validation computer software programme. The combination of randomn account number and on-line validation service enables a phonecard to be remotely activated at a time to suit the purchaser.

A speelfic embodiment of time invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings and documentation in which: lrigure I shows the front of a phonecard in two dimensions.

Figure 2 shows the reverse of the same phonecard in two dimensions which can be activated at the discretion of the seller or the purchaser at any time.

Document 3 is an outline of the basic specification of the required "on-line" validation software programme which will allow activation of such phonecards.

Document 4 is the User Guide which is proposed to be available to purchasers of the phonecards which describes the special activation process and unique method of operation embodied with this special type of phonecard.

Referring to Figure 2, the reverse of the phonecard comprises operational text and information combined together with a seratch-off panel which conceals a randomnly generated 10 digit account number which is unique to every card produced. Adjacent to the accoultt number is a panel which contailis details of the value of that card when activated and the number of international call minutes available to the county designated.

This special software programme described in Document 3 enables the caller lo put value o,i the phonecard for call purposes at any time by providing details of the account tllltllher. the value, and suitable credit details for the appropriate credit In lie transferred "on-line" to the card service provider.

Document 4 is a detailed User Guile available lo the purchaser of each remote memory phonecard, which explains clearly and in some detail the method of operation and the various advantages of the particular phonecard service. Although not wholly relevant to the application, the paragraphs headed Activation, Account Number, and Topping Up @eter specifically to the inventive aspects of the service.

In this example, payment of @10 will activate the card, and will enable the user to make 33 minutes of telephone calls fiom the UK to any standard nuniber in tile United Slates. flus concept of remote activation can be applied lo phonecards supplying a voice service from any country to any other country.

Document 3 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL - 1. System "answers" (C@@ identification) and "requests" 10 digit Account No. - "@elcome to the Phonecard Services Activation line. Please enter the Account Number" (if starts with 2 = English Speaking if starts with 3 = German Speaking if starts with 4 = French Speaking if starts with 5 = Japanese Speaking if starts with 6 = Italian Speaking if starts with 7 = if starts with 8 = etc.) If OK, (all 10 digits received in 10 seconds starting with 2,3,4,5,6,7 or 8), then: - 2. System "requests" value of card -"Please enter the value of the card in @s" lr OK (2 digits received, minimum 10. maximum 99). either - 3.System "repeats" account no. and value -"Thank you; the card no. is --------- and the value is - pounds.

Please press * for YES or # for NO" and if "*"/or - 4. System "acknowledges" receipt- "Thank you. Please hold" System searches database for correct percentage figure against acent no. and value System carries out immediate "on-line" debit transaction with credit card account of Caller for filed percentage of above card value; if autliorised. updates dalabase then delivers account number and value data to another host computer - 5. System confirms activation - "We confirm authorisation: thank you for using Phonecard Services Ltd' - 6. System terminates call.

if NOT OK ( < 10 > digits received in 10 seconds, or commence with 0,1 or 9) - 2(a) System "requests" user to re-try- "The account number must be 10 digits and you need a tone-dial telephone. Please try again" > 2 attempts, then terminated.

if NOT OK (number < 10 > 99, more than two digits, > 5 seconds) - 3(a) System "requests" user to retry- "The value must be between @10 and @99.

Please try again" > 2 further attempts. call terminated.

If&num; - 4(a) System "requests" user to re-try- "Please re-enter the account number" then if OK, to 3. If not OK, then: "Thus account no. appears to be incorrect. Please telephone 0181 xxxxxxx for assistance". Then System terminates call.

If debit transaction denied - 5(a) System "reports" to user - "We regret that we are unable to activate this card at this time. Please telephone 0181-xxxxxxx for assistance" Call then terminated.

Document 4 Se@ve@@r et Gift Each phonecard is specially made and printed in the UK and the front shows a picure of a famous national tourist attraction. At the time of printing. there are 20 different pictures in the Souvenir Range. Each card is credit-card sized to fit neartly into a wallet or handbag. is a perfect souvenir or gill, and is printed in the appropriate language.

Languages and Nationallties This range of souvenir phonecards has been produced for visitors from eight countries: USA, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, SOIml AFRICA, GERMANY, PRANCE and @@ALY - and there are currently phonecards available in five different languages ENGLISH, JAPANESE, GERMAN, FRENCH and @TALIAN. with clear activation instructions printed on the reverse of each card.

Activation These cards will not operate kr phonecards will they have been activated. Activation is achieved by prying the full amount specified on the reverse of the card: this payment can be m.de either when the cad is purchased. or by the user telephoning @ special activation telephone number listed on the reverse ofibe card, and quoting valid credit card details. Activation also requires the private Account Number on the phonecard to be quoled ( This service should be available by January 1996) Account Number Each cad lias a private and confidential Account Number printed on the reverse. when the card is new, this is inilially protected by a scratch panel. Careful scratching with a finger nail will reveal the number - a sharp instrument should not be used.Every Account Number begins with t * and is unique to each card; it should not be revealed to anyone after activation has taken place.

For security purposes. the user will be asked to enter the Account Number each time he or rhe dials the Access Number to the telephone service.

Service Access Number The Access Number is the telephone number chat has to be dialled to access the phone service, and is printed immediately under the the Account Number on the reverse of the card. If this number is a Freephone Number (0800, 0500 etc.) there will be no local access charge to the service. Any other number will incur a local access charge but this will be small (less than 6p per minute) in consparison to the large savings made on international telephone calls, which are currently the cheapest call rates of any UK visitor phonecard service.

Cheapest Call Rates - FREE Call minutes- Cheaper than BT, AT & T, Sprint. MCI Calling Cards Phonecard Services Ltd is committed to bringing lower and lower phonecall prices to users of its service. The service will continually improve. Each Souvenir Phonecard offers the lowest cost international calls by a phonecard service from the UK to any other country worldwide, but has a specially low rate to the country featured on the reverse of the card and identified by the natronal flag shown in the panel - see below.

# 10 USA 33 In tfle above example. the user would be entitled to make 33 minutes of calls to the USA for 10 i.e. a rnte of only 33p per minute.

There are also #20 and #50 card values which, by further discounting the call costs, entitle the purchaser to FREE extra call minutes - see die phonecards for details. Elsewhere in this user guide is an example oldie reverse of a Souvenir Phonecard.

How to Use the Service Once the card has been activated as described, the user should telephone the Access Number given, using only a "Touch-Tone" telephone - a telephone which uses a tone rather than a pulse to transmit signals down a telephone lines. (Most UK telephones are Tonch-Tone, but some phonebo@es or callboxes in the UK are not Touch Tone. The card should not be inserted into a phonebox.) When the service answers, the user should enter his/her Account Number, and on acceptance, will then bear a menu spoken in the appropriate language.The menu will prontpt the miser to select different nptions by using the keypad on the telephone, e.g. "Press I to make an International Call " and low cost international calls can then be made immediately, using the fill international dialling code Follow-on calls can be made by pressing Be fl on the telephone keypad at the end of each call, md once credit has been used lip, it is possible to top up the credit by reactivating the cartl Topping up* To top-up the card, the user goes through the same direct activation process as desribed above. telephoning the number printed the bottom of the reverse of each phonecard but he/she may choose the exact amount of additional credit required which can be any amount up to #99. By limiting the amount of credit, the amount subject to the possibility of loss by fraud is reduced. For information about the Sotrvenir Phonecards, and Account and other enquiries, the user should telephone customer services.

(* This service should be available by January 1996) Customer Services Chr Customer Service is available to help all timers holding valid account numbers with any queries or problems they may hnve.

The telephone number is the same as for Topping up and Activation referred to above. and will connect to an Operntor during normal hours 9.30am to 5 pm.

Free Information Service for UK Vislters and Tourists From 1st January 1996, a special information service will link users direct to: Mobile Phone Hire. Box Office and Ticket Agency. Car Hire. Taxl Service, Travel and Tour Agency, Hetel Information.

Language School. Tax and Duty Free Shop etc.

All this useful information can be obtained by selecting the option on the menu provided after the Account Number.

Claims (4)

1) A special method of operation for the remote activation of remote memory phonecards incorporating a unique and randomnly generated 10 digit account lluinber protected by a seratch-off panel in conjunction with a special telepllone nulnber which connects remotely to a bespoke on-line validation computer software programme. This software enables the seller or user of the phonecard to put value on that phonecard and therefore activate and top-up the phonecard credit or value at any time lor calling purposes by providing details of the account number. the value, and suitahle credit delails for the appropriate credil lo be transferred to the card service provider.

2) A special method of operation for the remote activation of phonecards as claimed in Claim 1) where the phonecard has printed on one side or another any randotnnly generated account iltiniber consisting of a sullicicnt number of digits suitably protected by a scratch-off panel or other method. together with a tclcphone number which connects tile caller to a suitable validation programme which will allow registration of the account number together with automatic on-line payment so that the phonecard can pass froni a non-active state to an active state.

3) A special metllod of operation for the remote activation of phonecards as claimed in Claim 1) where the phonecard has printed on one side or another any randomnly generated account number suitably protected by a scratch-off panel or other method.

together with a telephone number wliich connects (lie caller to a suitable validation programme which will allow registration ofthe account number so that the phonecard can pass from a non-active state to an active state.

4) A special method of operation for the remote activation of phonecards substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 and Documents 3 and 4.