United States Patent [191
`Ahearn et al.
`
`lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
`US005163086A
`5,163,086
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent: Nov. 10, 1992
`
`[75]
`
`[54] TELEPHONE NETWORK CREDIT CARD
`CALLING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF
`OPERATION TO DETERMINE
`VALIDATION AND FRAUDULENT USE OF
`CREDIT CARDS IN PLACING TELEPHONE
`CALLS
`Inventors: Kathleen M. Ahearn, San Jose, Calif.;
`Nandakishore A. Alba!, Pataskala,
`Ohio; Daniel D. Cottrell, Geneva,
`Ill.; Richard M. Harris, Hoboken,
`N.J.; Julie M. Ladieu-Walton,
`Lawrenceville, N.J.; Hamid C.
`Razavi, Highlands, N.J.
`[73] Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray
`Hill, N.J.
`[21] Appl. No.: 636,051
`[22] Filed:
`Dec. 31, 1990
`Int. CJ.5 ............................................ H04M 11/00
`[51]
`[52] U.S. CI ....................................... 379/91; 379/144;
`379/145
`[58] Field of Search .......................... 379/91, 143-145,
`379/154, 155, 130-132, 123, 32, 33
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,162,377 7/1979 Mearns .
`4,191,860 3/1980 Weber .
`4,439,636 3/1984 Newkirk et al. .................... 379/123
`4,731,818 3/1988 Clark, Jr. et al. ..................... 379/91
`4,750,201 6/1988 Hoogson et al. ..................... 379/91
`4,893,330 1/1990 Franco .................................. 379/91
`
`[56]
`
`4,935,956 6/1990 Hellwarth et al. .................. 379/155
`4,972,461 11/1990 Brown et al. ......................... 379/91
`Primary Examiner-James L. Dwyer
`Assistant Examiner-Wing F. Chan
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dwight A. Marshall
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`Apparatus and method of controlling a telephone net(cid:173)
`work to establish connections between calling and
`called telephone stations in accordance with dialed
`telephone numbers identified by ones of a plurality of
`calling party credit cards. The apparatus responds to
`the receipt of a telephone number and a credit card
`number from a calling telephone by identifying a com(cid:173)
`pany having issued the credit card assigned the received
`credit card number. A data link connection is estab(cid:173)
`lished with a data base maintained by the identified
`company and the received credit card number is trans(cid:173)
`mitted to the identified company during the call se(cid:173)
`quence for a determination of the validity of the re(cid:173)
`ceived credit card numb~r. The apparatus controls the
`telephone network to establish a network connection
`between the calling telephone and a telephone identi(cid:173)
`fied by the called telephone number upon receiving
`validation of the validity of tile credit card and to estab(cid:173)
`lish a network connection between the calling tele(cid:173)
`phone and an announcement circuit stating that the
`identified credit card cannot be used for telephone calls
`upon receiving non-validation of the credit card or
`upon identifying the credit card as fraudulent.
`
`16 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`11213
`
`I
`
`11113
`
`~======~~~~--~rr~L~~~H~OO~E-~
`
`EX. 1020-1
`
`T-MOBILE US, INC.
`EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1992
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`5,163,086
`
`( 2
`
`_f40
`
`DDD
`DDD
`DDD
`
`n~-~0
`~ DDD
`-
`4031-
`
`.J31
`LEG
`
`230-
`
`_I30
`
`LEG
`
`_f41
`
`~
`
`4132-
`
`J32
`LEC
`
`3111"'"
`
`3011-
`
`I
`
`r.-11113
`
`-
`( 111
`( 110
`GATE WAY
`GATE WAY
`SWITCH
`SWITCH
`~1111 /. ~1101 11b1 11120
`
`11013~
`
`-
`
`3211-
`-
`
`( 12
`
`r112
`GATE WAY
`SWITCH
`c ~1121
`121122
`
`SWITCH
`
`r13J-1213
`
`11213-
`
`I
`
`STP
`
`1310~ t10
`
`NCP
`
`l
`I
`
`TELEPHONE NETWORK
`-
`
`""'(1
`
`r.-10100
`
`r.-10101
`
`r100
`SUPPORT
`SYSTEM
`
`!101
`
`SECURITY
`
`1050-
`fr5o 1051:1 r511052-
`r52
`CREDIT
`CREDIT
`CREDIT
`CARD
`CARD
`CARD
`co 1
`co 2
`co 3
`
`1053-
`
`1054""
`
`r53
`CREDIT
`CARD
`co 4
`
`r54
`CREDIT
`CARD
`co 5
`
`FIG. 1
`
`EX. 1020-2
`
`T-MOBILE US, INC.
`EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1992
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`5,163,086
`
`t-1310
`
`-
`
`NCP
`
`r103
`
`I
`
`INTERFACE
`
`ADDRESS
`DATA
`CONTROL
`
`-
`ADDRESS
`DATA
`CONTROL
`
`--
`
`!100
`CENTRAL
`PROCESSING
`UNIT
`
`l.Q---
`
`10100
`l
`
`10~01
`
`I
`
`ADDRESS
`DATA
`CONTROL
`
`104""
`
`-
`
`f 101
`
`MEMORY
`UNIT
`
`f 102
`
`6 6 ~ 6 6
`
`~
`
`1020
`
`1021
`
`1023
`
`1024
`
`1022
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`-1054
`
`- -
`
`~1053
`1-1052
`r--1051
`-1050
`
`FIG. 2
`
`EX. 1020-3
`
`T-MOBILE US, INC.
`EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`
`--1010
`
`MATCH
`
`CREDIT CARD CO
`
`CREDIT CARD IDENTITY
`VALIDATION
`DATA LINK
`1050
`1051
`1052
`1053
`1054
`
`891288 CREDIT CARD CO 1
`4XXXXX CREDIT CARD CO 2
`52XXXX CREDIT CARD CO 3
`340349 CREDIT CARD CO 4
`620XXX CREDIT CARD CO 5
`
`FIG. 3
`
`FIG. 4
`
`TELEPHONE NUMBER
`
`CREDIT CARD CO 1 CREDIT CARD CO 2
`RECEIVED
`· VALID
`FRAUD
`CREDIT CARD
`VALID
`FRAUD
`NUMBER
`CALLING
`CALLED
`YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO
`v
`8912-88XX-XXXX-XXXX 614-555-YYYY 206-555-ZZZZ v
`614-555-YYYY 201-555-WWWW
`620XXX-XXXX
`4XXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
`
`--------
`
`~---
`
`v
`
`-
`
`~ •
`00.
`•
`~ =
`f""t-n> =
`
`f""t-
`
`z 0
`
`~
`loo-6
`~Q
`
`loo-6
`\C
`\C
`N
`
`ft>
`
`00 =-ft>
`.....
`0 ....,
`
`~
`
`,1011
`CREDIT CARD CO 5 CALL
`COMP
`VALID
`FRAUD
`YES NO YES NO YES NO
`v
`
`~ tl'i
`
`v
`v
`
`v
`
`v
`
`USAGE
`
`--1012
`
`Ul
`
`FIG. 5
`
`CREDIT CARD
`NUMBER
`
`8912-88XX-XXXX-XXXX
`620XXX-XXXX
`
`CREDIT CARD
`COMPANY
`co 1
`co 5
`
`EXCEED
`TIME CALLS/TIME THRESHOLD THRESH.
`PERIOD
`PERIOD
`YES NO
`v
`
`70
`7
`
`v
`
`FRAUD
`
`ROUTE
`TO ANC
`YES NO YES NO
`v
`v
`
`v
`
`v
`
`Ul
`'"'
`"'""'
`·0\
`(N
`
`'"' = 00
`
`0\
`
`4 HR
`12 HR
`
`45
`9
`
`- - - · - · - - - - - - - - - -
`
`EX. 1020-4
`
`T-MOBILE US, INC.
`EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1992
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`5,163,086
`
`FIG. 6
`
`10101
`
`RECEIVE
`CALLED TELEPHONE
`AND CREDIT CARD
`NUMBERS
`
`10102
`
`IDENTIFY
`CREDIT CARD NUMBER
`
`10104
`PROMPT CALLER FOR
`CREDIT CARD NUMBER
`
`YES
`
`10108
`
`RETURN ANC
`AND DENY ATTE~PT
`
`10107
`
`IDENTIFY
`CREDIT CARD COMPANY
`
`10109
`
`YES
`
`TRANSMIT
`VALIDATION REQUEST
`TO IDENTIFIED
`CREDIT CARD COMPANY
`
`10111
`ADD RECEIVED
`~----. CREDIT CARD NUMBER
`TO USAGE UST
`
`A 1011.3
`(FIG. 7)
`
`EX. 1020-5
`
`T-MOBILE US, INC.
`EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 10, 1992
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`5,163,086
`
`FIG. 7
`
`10114
`
`INCREASE
`USAGE COUNT BY 1
`
`10119
`TRANSMIT RECEIVED
`~-... CREDIT CARD NUMBER
`TO SECURITY
`
`NO
`
`10117
`BILL RECEIVED
`CREDIT CARD
`
`IDENTIFY RECEIVED
`CREDIT CARD NUMBER
`AS FRA
`
`EX. 1020-6
`
`T-MOBILE US, INC.
`EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`
`1
`
`5,163,086
`
`TELEPHONE NETWORK CREDIT CARD
`CALLING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF
`OPERATION TO DETERMINE VALIDATION AND
`FRAUDULENT USE OF CREDIT CARDS IN
`PLACING TELEPHONE CALLS
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`The invention relates to telephone network apparatus
`and in particular to the control of a telephone network
`to establish credit card telephone connections.
`
`10
`
`2
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`FIG. 1 illustrates an illustrious embodiment of a tele(cid:173)
`phone network for establishing telephone connections
`5 in response to dialed telephone numbers identified with
`ones of a number of credit card numbers,
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the network control
`apparatus used in the telephone network for identifying
`valid received credit card numbers,
`FIGS. 3 through S set forth an illustrative section of
`data recorded by the network control apparatus set
`forth in.FIGS. 1 and 2, and
`FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrates a flow chart of the operation
`of the network control apparatus set forth in FIGS. 1
`and 2 in accordance with principles of the invention.
`
`15
`
`BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM
`Telephone networks respond to a telephone·number
`dialed from a calling telephone by establishing a con(cid:173)
`nection in response to the dialed telephone number
`between the calling telephone and a called telephone
`identified by the dialed telephone number. Tradition(cid:173)
`ally, a telephone network identifies the calling tele- 20
`phone and generates billing information that is subse(cid:173)
`quently transmitted to a subscriber in whose name the
`calling telephone is listed for payment or requests a
`calling party at a coin telephone to deposit coins in
`payment for the telephone call.
`Credit cards, such as the AT&T Calling Card, have
`been issued by telephone companies that enables a call(cid:173)
`ing party having such a card to dial a telephone number
`of a called telephone and the telephone company credit
`card number. If the dialed telephone company credit 30
`card is valid, a network connection is established be(cid:173)
`tween calling and called telephones, and the credit card
`customer is billed for the telephone call on the custom(cid:173)
`er's telephone billing statement.
`Credit card customers desiring to make telephone 35
`calls may have several credit cards none of which are
`credit cards issued by telephone companies. A problem
`arises in that telephone calls may only be made on tele(cid:173)
`phone company networks by using a credit card issued
`by the telephone companies. Another problem that 40
`arises in using foreign credit cards, i.e., credit cards
`issued by companies other than telephone companies
`used to place telephone calls, is determining the validity
`of foreign credit cards prior to the establishment of a
`telephone connection.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, tele(cid:173)
`phone network 1 is arranged to establish connections
`between calling and called telephones 2, 40, 41 in accor(cid:173)
`dance with dialed telephone numbers identified by call(cid:173)
`ing party credit cards. Telephone network 1 may be any
`one of a number of telephone networks, such as the
`AT&T Telephone Network. Typically, such telephone
`networks have switches 110, 111, 112 and 12 which are
`controlled by data messages transmitted by signal trans(cid:173)
`fer point 13,_ via data links'11013, 11113, 11213 and 1213
`to set up telephone connections on network trunks
`11120, 11121, and 121122 between calling and called
`telephones 2, 40, 41 served by network 1.
`Certain telephone network switches are designated
`gateway switches 110, 111, 112 and function to enable
`access oflocal exchange carriers 30, 31, 32, such as local
`telephone companies, access to telephone network 1.
`Gateway switches may be any of a number of well(cid:173)
`known types of telephone switching equipment, such as
`AT&T 4 ESS TM and S ESS ® electronic equipment
`switching systems or automated operator systems, ar(cid:173)
`ranged to selectively interconnect trunks 3011, 3111,
`3211 incoming from local exchange carriers 30, 31, 32
`with network trunks 11120, 11121, 121122.
`Each telephone network switch 12, 110, 111, 112 is
`interconnected by data links 1213, 11013, 11113, 11213
`of the well-known common channel signaling network
`with a signal transfer point 13 which is arranged to
`exchange data messages with network switches 12, 110,
`111, 112 and which data messages are used to control
`network switches 12, 110, 111, 112 to interconnect call(cid:173)
`ing telephone 2 with called telephones 40, 41. Tele(cid:173)
`phone network 1 is also assumed to have a number of
`centralized data bases, sometimes called network con(cid:173)
`trol points 10, positioned at various locations within
`telephone network 1 and which are interconnected
`either directly by data links similar to data links 1213,
`11013, 11113, 11213 to network switches 12, 110, 111,
`112 or by data link 1310 to signal transfer point 13.
`Network control point 10, FIG. 2, has computers that
`may be, although not limited thereto, a computer such
`as an AT&T lB or 3B20 simplex or duplex computer.
`Such computers need not be described in detail for an
`understanding of the invention and in general have a
`programmed central processor unit 100, memory unit
`101, and an interface unit 103 each connected by ad(cid:173)
`dress, data and control leads to a data bus 104. Interface
`unit 103 couples data links 1310 interconnected with
`signal transfer point 13, FIG. 1, data links 10100, 10101
`interconnected with support system 100 and security
`system 101, respectively, and data links 1050 through
`
`25
`
`45
`
`SOLUTION
`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
`invention, the foregoing problems are solved by a tele(cid:173)
`phone network for establishing connections between 50
`calling and called telephones in accordance with dialed
`telephone numbers identified with any one of a number
`of calling party credit cards. The network responds to
`the receipt of a telephone number and a credit card
`number dialed from a calling telephone by identifying a 55
`company having issued a credit card assigned the re(cid:173)
`ceived credit card number. The received credit card
`number is traD:smitted to a data base maintained by the
`identified company for a determination of the validity
`of the credit card assigned the received credit card 60
`number. A network connection is established between
`the calling telephone and a called· telephone identified
`by the dialed telephone number upon receiving valida(cid:173)
`tion of the validity of the credit card and another net(cid:173)
`work connection is established between the calling tele- 65
`phone and an announcement circuit stating that the
`credit card cannot be used for telephone calls upon
`receiving non-validation of the credit card.
`
`EX. 1020-7
`
`T-MOBILE US, INC.
`EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`
`5,163,086
`
`3
`1054 interconnected with data base systems 50 through
`54 owned and maintained by various credit card compa(cid:173)
`nies with data bus 104, FIG. 2, so that data may be
`exchanged with central processor unit 100 and memory
`unit 101. Data bus 104 is also interconnected with mass
`data storage device 102 which includes data base infra(cid:173)
`structures 1020 through 1024 and which are intercon(cid:173)
`nected by address, data and control leads with data bus
`104.
`Support system 100 coupled with data link 10100, 10
`FIG. 1, may be any of a number of well-known com(cid:173)
`puter terminals, sometimes referred to as personal com(cid:173)
`puters or large computers, that are coupled to interface
`unit 103, FIG. 2, so that update and maintenance data
`may be entered into and read from central processor 15
`unit 100, memory unit 101, and data base infrastructures
`1020 through 1024. Similarly, security system 101, cou(cid:173)
`pled with data link 10101, may be any of a number of
`well-known computer systems or terminals, sometimes
`referred to as personal computers, that are coupled to 20
`interface unit 103. Information in the form of security
`data relating to fraudulent credit cards, or the use .
`thereof, may be entered into and read from central
`processor unit 100, FIG. 2, memory unit 101, and data
`base infrastructures 1020 through 1024.
`Credit card companies 1 through 5, FIG. 1, may be
`any number of bank or financial companies having is(cid:173)
`sued credit cards each identified by a credit card num(cid:173)
`ber and which companies maintain unique, national or
`international data bases 50 through 54 associated there- 30
`with. Each credit card company data base has the iden(cid:173)
`tity of each credit card and associated credit card num(cid:173)
`ber issued by the credit card company stored therein
`along with information identifying the current valida(cid:173)
`tion status of the credit card. The credit card company 35
`data bases 50 through 54 are each connected by a data
`links 1050 through 1054 with network control point 10.
`Data bases 50 through 54 may be, although not limited
`thereto, any of a number of well-known independent
`computer systems that are coupled by their associated 40
`data links 1050 through 1054 to interface unit 103, FIG.
`2, of control network control point 10.
`Memory unit 101 is used to store programs that con(cid:173)
`trol central processor unit 100 in the operation of net(cid:173)
`work control point 10 and mass data storage device 102 45
`is used to store data, such as subroutines 1010, 1011, and
`1012, FIGS. 3 through 5, that are used in association
`with programs controlling the operation of central pro(cid:173)
`cessor unit 100.
`In the instant embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1, it SO
`is assumed that a calling party is located at telephone 2
`which is connected by a telephone line 230 to and
`served by a local telephone company hereinafter called
`local exchange carrier 30. Local exchange carriers 30,
`31, 32 are connected by trunks to telephone network 55
`switches each of which are herein identified as gateway
`switches 110, 111, 112 and serve to interface local ex(cid:173)
`change carriers 30, 31, 32 with telephone network 1.
`Telephone 2 may be a standard telephone, a public
`coin telephone or a special telephone arranged to accept 60
`a calling party credit card in order that the calling party
`may place a telephone call on telephone network 1. A
`calling party initiates a telephone call to a called tele(cid:173)
`phone 40, 41 by placing telephone 2 in an off-hook
`condition and in the well-known manner dialing the 65
`telephone number of a called telephone 40, 41 followed
`by the credit card number of a calling party credit card
`20. The dialed telephone number and credit card num-
`
`4
`her is received by serving local exchange carrier 30
`over telephone line 230. A switching office of local
`exchange carrier 30, having received the dialed infor(cid:173)
`mation, generates the telephone number assigned call-
`S ing telephone 2 and transmits the dialed telephone num(cid:173)
`ber and received credit card number along with the
`generated calling telephone number over trunk 3011 to
`gateway switch 110. In the event a calling party gener-
`ates the telephone call through a telephone network
`operator, the operator requests that the credit card
`number be verbally or electronically sent over the tele-
`phone connection after transmission of the calling and
`dialed called telephone numbers and is subsequently
`received by gateway switch 110.
`Gateway switch 110 responds to the receipt of the
`telephone numbers and of the credit card number by
`formulating a data message containing the identified
`telephone number of called telephone 40, 41 and the
`received credit card number, and in some cases the
`calling telephone number, and transmits the data mes(cid:173)
`sage over data link 11013 to signal transfer point 13.
`Signal transfer point 13, in turn, transmits the received
`data message over data link 1310 to network control
`point 10. In accordance with the illustrious embodiment
`25 of the invention, network control point 10 is pro(cid:173)
`grammed for use with telephone network 1 for control(cid:173)
`ling telephone network 1 to establish connections be(cid:173)
`tween calling telephone 2 and called telephones 40, 41
`in accordance with dialed telephone numbers and re(cid:173)
`ceived calling party credit card numbers.
`Upon receipt of the data message incoming on data
`link 1310, FIG. 6, steps 10100, 10101, central processor
`unit 100 of network control point 10, FIG. 2, operating
`in accordance with programmed instructions stored in
`memory 101 and mass store 102, FIG. 2, reads the data
`message, via data bus 104, into memory unit 101. Each
`credit card company has a unique identification strata(cid:173)
`gem for identifying credit cards issued by them to their
`card holders. For example, it is assumed that credit card
`company COl, FIG. 3, subroutine 1010, has a field in
`each of their credit cards assigned the number 891288
`for use in identifying credit cards issued by credit card
`company COl. Subroutine 1010 also identifies that data
`link 1050, FIG. 1, interconnects network control point
`10 with credit card company COl data base 50 and is to
`be used in determining the validity of a credit card
`company COl credit card used in placing a telephone
`call on telephone network 1. Subroutine 1010, FIG. 3,
`also
`records
`identification
`classification
`fields
`4XXXXX, 52XXXX, 340349, and 620XXX used in
`identifying credit cards issued by credit card companies
`COl through COS, respectively, and the associated
`validation data links 1051, 1052, 1053, 1054 intercon(cid:173)
`necting network control point 10, FIG. 1, with each
`credit card company data base 51 through 54.
`After receiving a credit card used in placing a tele(cid:173)
`phone call on telephone network 1, central processor
`unit 100, identifies the received credit card number,
`FIG. 6, step 10102. It is assumed that a calling party,
`FIG. 1, located at calling telephone 2, assigned the
`telephone number 614-555-YYYY, has dialed telephone
`number 206-555-ZZZZ assigned to called telephone 41
`and is using a credit card assigned the credit card num(cid:173)
`ber 8912-88XX-XXXX-XXXX. Network control point
`central processor unit 100, FIG. 2, matches a predeter(cid:173)
`mined portion of the received credit card number 8912-
`88XX-XXXX-XXXX with prerecorded identification
`classifications set forth in subroutine 1010, FIG. 3, each
`
`EX. 1020-8
`
`T-MOBILE US, INC.
`EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`
`5,163,086
`
`5
`identifying a credit card company having issued credit
`cards having access to telephone network 1, FIG. 6,
`step 10103.
`If the received credit number should fail to match one
`of the prerecorded identification classifications set forth 5
`in subroutine 1010, step 10104, central processor unit
`100, FIG. 2, formulates a control message which is
`transmitted to gateway switch 110, FIG. 1, via signal
`transfer point 13 and data links 1310, 11013, to enable
`announcement circuit 1101 of gateway switch 110 to 10
`prompt the calling party to repeat the credit card num(cid:173)
`ber. When there is a failure to match the prompted
`credit card number with one of the prerecorded identifi(cid:173)
`cation classifications set· forth in subroutine 1010, net(cid:173)
`work control point central processor unit 100, FIG. 6, 15
`step 10105, determines that the received credit card
`number does not identify a valid credit card. Another
`control message is transmitted via signal transfer point
`13, FIG. 1, and data links 1310, 11013 to gateway switch
`110 which responds thereto by enabling announcement 20
`circuit 1101 to transmit a message to the calling party at
`telephone 2 denying the use the credit card number in
`placing a telephone call on telephone network 1, FIG.
`6, step 10108. Gateway switch 110 then disconnects
`from the connection step 10118.
`. 25
`When there is a match of a predetermined portion of
`either the received or prompted credit card number
`8912-88XX-XXXX-XXXX with a prerecorded identifi(cid:173)
`cation classification field 891288 set forth in subroutine
`1010, FIG. 3, network control point processor unit 100, 30
`FIG. 6, steps 10103, lOiOS, determines that the received
`credit card number identifies a valid credit card and
`initiates a sequence to determine if the identified credit
`card is fraudulent, step 10106. Subroutine 1010, FIG. 3,
`recognizes that the received credit card number 8912- 35
`88XX-XXXX-XXXX identifies credit card company
`COl, FIG. 3, as having issued the identified cr.edit card
`and enables network control point central processor
`unit 100, FIG. 2, via data bus 104 and interface unit 103,
`over data link 1050, FIG. 1, to establish a data connec- 40
`tion with identified credit card company data base 50.
`Network control point central processor 100, FIG. 2,
`formulates a request for a validity check of the received
`credit card number and transmits the request over the
`established data link 1050 connection, FIG. 1, to the 45
`identified credit card company COl data base SO, FIG.
`6, step 10109. If the information returned by credit card
`company data base SO to network control point 10 iden(cid:173)
`tifies non-validation of the credit card identified by the
`received or prompted credit card number, FIG. 6, step 50
`10110, a data message is generated and transmitted to
`gateway switch 110, FIG. 1, controlling gateway
`switch announcement circuit 1101 to return a voice
`message to calling telephone 2 denying the use of the
`credit card number in placing a telephone call on tele- 55
`phone network 1, FIG. 6, step 10108. Gateway switch
`110 then disconnects from the connection step 10118.
`When receiVin-g information identifying validation of
`the received credit card number 8912-88XX-XXXX(cid:173)
`XXXX, step 10110, over the established data link 1050 60
`connection, network control point 10 proceeds to deter(cid:173)
`mine if there is possible fraudulent usage of the credit
`card identified by the received credit card number in
`placing telephone calls on telephone network 1 within a
`predefined interval of time. A usage subroutine 1012, 65
`FIG. S, is maintained by network control point 10 to
`indicate the usage of certain credit cards in placing a
`large number of telephone calls on telephone network 1
`
`6
`within a predetermined period of time. For example, a
`lost or stolen credit card, which may or may not have
`been reported as lost or stolen to the credit card com(cid:173)
`pany having issued the credit card, may be fraudulently
`used to place a large number of telephone calls on tele(cid:173)
`phone network 1 within a short period of time. Subrou(cid:173)
`tine 1012 enables network control point 10 to identify
`credit cards used in placing large number of calls and
`the credit card company having issued such credit
`cards.
`In addition, subroutine 1012 records time periods
`used in determining fraudulent use of credit cards. The
`time period varies for different credit cards. Thus, a
`credit card assigned for corporate use by a sales person
`who makes a lot of sales calls in a day and phones in
`customer orders to a home office may be assigned a time
`period of four hours. If the usage of such a credit card,
`for example credit card 8912-88XX-XXXX-XXXX,
`exceeds a threshold count of 70 telephone calls within
`the four-hour time period, then usage of the credit card
`is excessive and there may be possible fraud involved in
`use of the credit card. When 45 telephone calls are made
`within the four-hour time period and the number is less
`than threshold 70, it is determined that usage does not
`exceed the threshold and no fraud is involved. When a
`credit card is assigned to a person who makes few call
`telephone calls, a longer time period of twelve hours
`and a threshold of seven may be assigned to credit card
`620XXX-XXXX issued by credit card company COS.
`If, during the twelve-hour time period, central proces(cid:173)
`sor unit 100 determines that the usage of credit card
`number 620XXX-XXXX in placing telephone calls on
`telephone network 1 has exceeded the predefined
`threshold number 7 within the predefined time interval
`of twelve hours, subroutine 1012 is updated to indicate
`that usage of credit card 620XXX-XXXX has exceeded
`threshold 7 and that possible fraud may be involved in
`the excessive use of credit card 620XXX-XXXX.
`Thus, .when subsequent telephone calls are made
`using credit card 620XXX-XXXX, central processor
`unit 100 determines that the threshold number 7 has
`been exceeded. and· that a question of fraud may be
`involved. In such cases, central processor unit 100,
`FIG. 2, formulates a data message and transmits the
`data message via data links, 1310, 11013, FIG. 1, and
`signal transfer point 13 to gateway switch itO to inform
`the calling party that credit card 620XXX-XXXX may
`not be used in placing the telephone call on telephone
`network 1. Once network control point central proces(cid:173)
`sor unit 100 has identified the received credit card num(cid:173)
`ber 620XXX-XXXX as having a possible fraudulent
`usage, a data conn~tion is establish~d over data link
`10101 with security organization 101. The identified
`fraudulent credit card number 620XXX-XXXX and the
`telephone number assigned calling telephone 2 is trans(cid:173)
`mitted thereto to aid security organization 101 in appro(cid:173)
`priate action in investigating the possible fraudulent use
`of credit card 620XXX-XXXX.
`When a data message is returned from credit card
`company COl data base SO indicating that the received
`credit card number 8912-88XX-XXXX-XXXX identi(cid:173)
`fies a valid credit card, central processor unit 100, FIG.
`6, step 10112, determines if received credit card number
`8912-88XX-XXXX-XXXX is recorded in usage subrou(cid:173)
`tine 1012. If the received credit card number is not
`recorded in usage subroutine 1012, NCP 10 records the
`received credit card number therein, step 10111, and an
`appropriate time period, FIG. S, and threshold number
`
`EX. 1020-9
`
`T-MOBILE US, INC.
`EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`
`5,163,086
`
`7
`is assigned thereto. When the received credit card num(cid:173)
`ber is recorded in usage subroutine 1012, FIG. 6, step
`10112, or is added thereto, step 10111, the usage count
`increases, FIG. 5, subroutine 1012, as indicated by the
`calls per time period, by 1, FIG. 7, step 10114.
`Upon determining that the calls per time period usage
`of 45 for received credit card 8912-88XX-XXXX(cid:173)
`XXXX is less than or equal to the assigned threshold
`number 70 recorded in usage subroutine 1012, FIG. 5,
`network control point 10, FIG. 1, enables gateway 10
`switch 110 to initiate establishment of the telephone call
`connection, FIG. 7, steps 10115, 10116. Network con(cid:173)
`trol point 10, FIG. 1, formulates a data message and
`transmits the data message via signal transfer point 13
`and data links 1310, 11013 to gateway switch 110. Gate- 15
`way switch 110 responds to the enabling data message
`by initiating the call set-up sequence wherein data mes(cid:173)
`sages are transmitted to signal transfer point 13 and over
`data links 11013, 1213, 11213 to control gateway
`switches 110, 112, and switch 12 to establish a telephone 20
`connection between calling telephone 2 and called tele(cid:173)
`phone 41. The telephone connection extends from call(cid:173)
`ing telephone 2 over telephone line 230, through local
`exchange carrier 30 and trunk 3011 to gateway switch
`110. The telephone connection extends through gate- 25
`way switch 110, over trunks 11121, 121122, via switch
`12, through gatew11y switch 112, over trunk 3211, via
`local exchange carrier 32 and telephone line 4132 to
`called telephone 41.
`Central processor unit 100 subroutine 1011, FIG. 4, 30
`indicates that a valid received credit card 8912-88XX(cid:173)
`XXXX-XXXX was used to place a telephone call from
`a calling telephone station assigned telephone number
`614-555-YYYY to a called telephone assigned telephone
`number 206-555-ZZZZ. There was apparently no fraud 35
`involved and the call connection was completed. Billing
`apparatus, not shown, records the origination, destina(cid:173)
`tion, and length of the telephone call and transmits
`billing information to identified credit card company
`COl so that a charge for the completed telephone call 40
`can be billed against the credit card identified by the
`received credit card number 8912-88XX-XXXX(cid:173)
`XXXX.
`When a credit card assigned the credit card number
`620XXX-XXXX has a call usage count 9 exceeding a 45
`predefined threshold of 7, FIG. 7, steps 10115, 10119,
`the received credit card number 620XXX-XXXX, FIG.
`1, is transmitted over data link 10101 to security organi(cid:173)
`zation 101 and from on-line information received there(cid:173)
`from is determined if there has been excessive usage, 50
`step 10120. In some instances, a calling party may have
`requested credit card company COS to temporarily
`increase the threshold limitation or the security organi(cid:173)
`zation may determine that a small increase of the call
`usage time during the threshold time period may be 55
`warranted. In accordance with information received
`from security organization 101, network control point
`10, FIG. 7, step 10120, may identify the received credit
`card number 620XXX-XXXX as fraudulent, step 10121,
`and updates subroutines 1011, 1012, FIGS. 4, 5. In such 60
`event, network control point central processor unit 100,
`FIG. 1, controls gateway switch 110 to return an an(cid:173)
`nouncement denying the call attempt and disconnects
`from the call connection, FIGS. 7, 6, steps 10122, 10118.
`Even though the call usage count has exceeded the 65
`threshold limit, FIG. 7, step 10115, security organiza(cid:173)
`tion 101 may determine that the call attempt may pro(cid:173)
`cetd, step 10120. Thus, network control point central
`
`8
`processor unit 100, steps 10116, 10117, 10118, controls
`gateway switch 110, FIG. 1, to complete a call tele(cid:173)
`phone connection between calling telephone station ·2
`and called telephone station 40 via telephone line 230,
`5 local exchange carrier 30, trunk 3011 to gateway switch
`110. The call connection is continued through gateway
`switch 110 over trunk 11120, through gateway switch
`111, trunk 3111, local exchange carrier 31 and over
`telephone line 4031 to called telephone 40.
`It is obvious from the foregoing that the flexibility,
`economy, and efficiency of telephone networks may be
`substantially enhanced by on-line apparatus arranged to
`con