DE102005003640B4 - A method and system for electronically acquiring and managing at least one prepaid, limited communication credit balance - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for electronically acquiring and managing at least one prepaid, limited communication credit quota (26) in a communication network (10), characterized by the steps of: electronically connecting to a computing device (21) via at least one communication terminal (15) having a characteristic addressing; produced in the communication network (10); via the communication terminal (15) is - in particular by means of a menu control - electronically booked at least one temporally and / or geographically limited communication credit balance (26) with a defined scope; and after the booking is made by the computer device (21) electronically a booking confirmation (27) on the communication terminal (15) and for the communication terminal (15) network side provided the at least one communication credit quota (26); wherein, in the event that the communication credit balance (26) is consumed before the expiration of the time limit beyond that communication links are billed at a standard rate, in particular according to a standard call-by-call rate and / or wherein communication links to the outside geographic limitation according to a standard tariff, in particular according to a standard call-by-call tariff.

Description

The present invention initially relates to a method for electronically acquiring and managing at least one prepaid, limited communication credit quota in a communication network. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding system.

In such communication networks may be, for example, telecommunications networks, in which case the communication devices are advantageously designed as telephones.

For some time now, it has become increasingly popular to use so-called call-by-call methods when making a call. The telephone subscriber decides before each call for a particular telecommunications network operator. This is done in such a way that the telephone subscriber preselects a multigigbed, usually five-digit prefix number before dialing the number actually desired by him. This is a network code that must be dialed before the actual prefix and phone number. Such a procedure is the so-called "open call-by-call procedure".

One advantage of the open call-by-call method is that the telephone subscriber can decide on the cheapest provider before each telephone call. Furthermore, the use of these services does not require any registration. The billing of call-by-call calls via the usual telephone bill of the subscriber.

However, the known call-by-call method also has a number of disadvantages. Thus, the fees of the providers are subject to constant change or a constant change. In order to find out the cheapest provider for a particular telephone call, the subscriber would have to inquire before each individual call, which prices are currently up to date with which provider. There are meanwhile different possibilities of price comparison. However, such comparison price lists are generally available on the Internet or in the form of print media content, which means that the subscriber first has to conduct price research and thus an increased, undesirable expense.

In order to communicate to a participant before the beginning of a telephone call the currently valid tariff of the selected offerer, is in the DE 100 39 285 A1 a system for advanced tariff information for telecommunication connections is described. According to this system, the subscriber is sent a rate information in the form of electronic data, voice or acoustic signals after entering a destination code before the conclusion of the connection.

A disadvantage of this known solution, however, is that the subscriber is forced to choose before the conclusion of a telephone connection in addition to the actual call-by-call prefix and the other destination code. In addition, the telephoning of a destination phone number by the first required queries of the tariff information extends even further.

In the DE 199 47 069 A1 a method for loading card accounts of a prepaid card for mobile devices is described. For this purpose, charging data of the user to be entered on the mobile device, which include the value amount and a payment information. The load data is transmitted via mobile network to the world map operator, and after a credit check of the user, the corresponding value amount is assigned to the card account by a charging system of the world map operator.

The EP 0 848 537 A1 discloses a method for recharging a calling card for a mobile telephone, wherein the credit balance is provided in the communication network. After the recharge of the credit balance this is available to the user.

In the WO 98/21874 A1 describe a method and a device for providing prepaid services, ie pre-paid telecommunications services.

The WO 00/19702 A2 discloses a method and apparatus for providing prepaid calls or services to a user of a telephone.

In the DE 202 04 929 U1 an information carrier is described with which the use of so-called prepaid calling cards should be made more secure.

Based on the cited prior art, the present invention has the object to provide an improved method and an improved system in which the disadvantages mentioned can be avoided. In particular, an electronic acquisition and handling of at least one prepaid, limited communication credit balance in a communication network is to be enabled and further improved.

This object is achieved by the method with the features according to independent claim 1 and the system with the features according to independent claim 15. Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. Advantages, features and details which are described in connection with the method according to the invention, of course, also apply in connection with the system according to the invention, and vice versa.

• • über wenigstens eine Kommunikationsendeinrichtung mit einer charakteristischen Adressierung wird elektronisch eine Verbindung zu einer Rechnereinrichtung im Kommunikationsnetzwerk hergestellt;
• • über die Kommunikationsendeinrichtung wird – insbesondere mittels einer Menüsteuerung – elektronisch wenigstens einzeitlich und/oder geographisch begrenztes Kommunikations-Guthabenkontingent mit einem definierten Umfang gebucht; und
• • nach erfolgter Buchung wird von der Rechnereinrichtung elektronisch eine Buchungsbestätigung auf die Kommunikationsendeinrichtung übertragen und für die Kommunikationsendeinrichtung netzwerkseitig das wenigstens eine Kommunikations-Guthabenkontingent bereitgestellt.

According to the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for electronically acquiring and managing at least one prepaid limited communication credit quota in a communication network, characterized by the steps of:

• • via at least one communication terminal with a characteristic addressing is electronically established a connection to a computer device in the communication network;
• • via the communication terminal is - in particular by means of a menu control - electronically booked at least one time and / or geographically limited communication credit balance with a defined scope; and
• • After the booking has been made, the computer device electronically transmits a booking confirmation to the communication terminal device and, for the communication terminal, provides the network side with the at least one communication credit balance.

It is also provided according to the invention that, in the event that the communication credit balance is used up before the expiration of the time limit, further communication links are billed according to a standard tariff, in particular according to a standard call-by-call tariff, and / or that communication connections be billed outside the geographic boundary according to a standard tariff, in particular according to a standard call-by-call tariff.

The present invention is based on the finding that the users of the communication network are now offered and made available by the network operator prepaid communication credit quotas, which are booked by the users as packages. This results in a transparency for the users in terms of costs, scope and duration of the credit balances, which allows the users an improved possibility of calculation within the scope of their communication.

In order to acquire a communication credit balance, the user is electronically connected to a computer device in the communication network via at least one communication terminal assigned to him which has a characteristic addressing. The acquisition of the communication credit quota then takes place in a dialogue between the communication terminal and the computer device.

This dialog is advantageously automated. This means that, for example, a dialog sequence is initiated on the part of the computer device, for example by playing an automatic tape announcement. At certain selection points, the user is then prompted to make a selection so that a branch occurs within the dialog sequence in the direction desired by the user. This branching within the dialog sequence can be done, for example, by pressing certain keys of the communication terminal, by entering certain voice commands in the communication terminal or the like.

Advantageously, the dialog sequence provided by the computer device, for example a corresponding tape announcement, is structured in such a way that the key information relevant to the user is provided right at the start of the dialogue sequence and less significant information components are only provided at a later time within the dialog sequence. This allows the user to recognize what it is about right at the beginning of the dialogue sequence. He is therefore no longer forced to first have to listen to general background information before the dialogue sequence comes to the actually important key information.

At least one communication credit balance with a defined scope is subsequently booked electronically via the communication terminal device. The selection and booking of a communication credit balance can advantageously be menu-driven. This can be done for example via DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency).

Once the booking has been made, the computer device electronically transmits a booking confirmation to the communication terminal device and, for the communication terminal device, provides the at least one communication credit quota to the network side. The user can now communicate in the desired manner, whereby the communication fees incurred are subtracted from the communication credit balance.

The present invention is not limited to certain types of communication networks limited. For example, the method for electronic purchase and handling of a prepaid telephone credit balance may be used in at least one telecommunications network, wherein the at least one communication terminal is designed as a telephone device and it is the characteristic addressing to the phone number of the telephone device. In the following, the invention will be described for the sake of clarity preferably on a communication network configured in this way, without, however, being understood as limiting the scope of protection.

If the communication network is designed as a telecommunications network, the connection between the telephone device (the communication terminal) and the computer device for the purpose of booking a telephone credit balance can be made by means of a call on a specific booking platform of the computer device. The user selects via his telephone device menu-driven at least a certain telephone credit balance. The credit balance will be reconfirmed after booking and will be available - preferably immediately.

Advantageously, it can be provided that when establishing a communication connection, which is billed via the communication credit balance, in the communication terminal before entering a destination, in particular a destination number, a prefix number, in particular a call-by-call prefix number is entered. It can be provided that only communication links, such as telephone calls, which are routed via the prefix number, are credited to the purchased communication credit balance. Consequently, the prefix number must always be selected for the use of the credit balance.

Advantageously, the addressing of the communication terminal can be stored on the network side when the at least one communication credit quota is booked. Furthermore, it can be provided that only those communication connections which are initiated by the communication terminal with the specific addressing are billed via the at least one communication credit balance. The booked communication credit then only apply to the actual booking characteristic addressing of the communication terminal.

In the case of a telecommunications network, this may mean that the booked telephone credit balance, depending on the setting also applies to ISDN connections with multiple numbers, only for the phone number from which the phone credit balance was purchased.

In another embodiment, it can also be provided that multiple addresses of communication devices - such as different telephone numbers - and thus possibly also different communication terminals can access even one and the same communication credit balance. In the case of an ISDN connection, this could mean, for example, that all call numbers assigned to the connection can access the credit balance. However, it is also conceivable that the addresses or communication terminals authorized to access the credit balance can be freely determined by the respective owner of the credit balance. This could deposit the authorized addresses, for example, in the system. This would have the advantage that the user could modify the list of authorized addresses at any time.

It can preferably be provided that at least one communication credit quota has a constant price index which is independent of time of day and / or date. By purchasing such a credit balance, it is no longer necessary for the user of the system to make price comparisons with respect to the time of day, with respect to a comparison of working days / holidays and the like. He acquires a credit balance of a certain amount at a fixed price, regardless of when the credit is used up.

According to the invention, at least one time-limited communication credit balance is booked and provided. Preferably, it can be provided that the credit balance is purchased or booked and provided in the form of a minute packet. The credit balance comprises a certain maximum number of minutes, for example 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 120 minutes, 250 minutes, 500 minutes or the like at a fixed minute rate. For example, in the case of a telecommunications network, this means that the user acquires a certain number of telephone minutes at a fixed total package price.

It is also conceivable that a time limit is provided with respect to the maximum duration of the communication credit balance. Thus, it is conceivable, for example, that the purchased communication credit balance has only a limited validity. For example, such validity could be 30 days from the time the credit balance was deposited, with Of course, the invention is not limited to specific time limits.

Advantageously, no further provision can be made for the fact that time-varying communication credit balances can or can be booked via the communication terminal (s). These credit balances may differ in their maximum number of minutes and / or in their validity limit.

In the event that the communication credit balance is consumed before the expiration of the time limit (in particular the maximum validity limit), the invention provides that beyond this range connections are billed according to a standard rate, in particular according to a standard call-by-call rate.

In the case of a telecommunications network, this may mean, for example, the following: If a customer exceeds his booked minute volume in the credit package before expiry of the set time limit, he will until the booking of another minute packet, in the further choice of the call-by-call prefix number to each valid standard call-by-call rate charged.

In a further embodiment, according to the invention, at least one geographically limited communication credit balance is booked and provided. For example, different credit balances may be provided for different geographical zones. It can be provided in particular that the different credit balances are also different costs. This will be illustrated by an example in a telecommunication network. Here, there could be different - especially different - expensive credit balances for local calls, short-distance calls, long distance or international calls, of course - especially with regard to the credit balances for international calls - further fine-tuning are possible. In addition, it could also be distinguished whether the credit balance should apply to calls to a landline or mobile network. For example, however, a localized communication credit quota, such as with respect to certain given telephone area codes, or the like, could be booked and provided.

If there is a geographical limitation of the communication credit balance, it is provided according to the invention that communication connections to the outside of the local limit are billed according to a standard tariff, in particular according to a standard call-by-call tariff. For the example in connection with the telecommunications network, this means that calls - in particular via the previously selected call-by-call prefix number - that are not routed to a booked distance zone, at the respectively valid standard rates - in particular call-by-call standard rates - be billed.

For all the above-described variants of a communication credit balance, it can be advantageously provided that a limited communication credit balance is booked and provided and that components of the communication credit balance that have not yet been consumed after reaching the limit are automatically deleted. This means that any remaining parts of a communication credit balance expire automatically after expiry of its validity.

It can preferably be provided that a new communication credit balance can only be posted again via at least one communication terminal if a previously booked communication credit quota has been used up or has been deleted. Thus, the user is forced to use an acquired credit balance first, before he can buy a new one. In particular, this reduces the organizational effort required for the care and monitoring of the individual communication credit quotas.

In another embodiment, it can be advantageously provided that more than one communication credit balance can be booked simultaneously via at least one communication terminal and the communication terminal can be provided by the communication network.

It can also be provided that more than one communication credit balance can be booked simultaneously via at least one communication terminal and the communication terminal can be provided by the communication network and that the number of booked and provided communication credit quotas is limited. For example, it could be provided that only a limited number of credit balances with a certain limit - such as a temporal and / or local limit - can be booked at the same time. For example, in the case of a telecommunications network, according to one non-limiting example, it may only be possible to acquire a maximum of one more minute packet of the same range and / or the same number of minutes during the term of a minute packet (credit balance).

In a further embodiment it can be provided that the electronic connection of the at least one communication terminal to the computer device in the communication network is established via a specific destination address, in particular a specific destination telephone number. This can be, for example, a specific dial-in number - advantageously a free dial-up number for the user. In the case of a telecommunications network, provision may be made, for example, for the user to be able to reach the booking platform on the computer device in order to book a telephone credit balance under an access number announced by the operator of the network, advantageously free of charge.

Furthermore, it can advantageously be provided that the billing of the at least one communication credit quota takes place via the billing associated with the addressing of the communication terminal. For example, it may be provided that the billing of each booked credit balance is made immediately after the booking has been made, namely via the billing, for example a telephone bill, incurred anyway for the communication terminal device.

Preferably, it can also be provided that information about the currently existing communication credit quota can be retrieved or retrieved electronically via the communication terminal device by means of a menu control. This gives the user the opportunity to query the current account balance of his at least one communication credit quota until the end of its term. For this purpose, it can be provided, for example, that a communication connection, in particular free of charge, is established by the communication terminal device to a computer device of the communication network, wherein the computer device can advantageously be identical to the computer device described above. The information can again, for example, via a corresponding, as described above dialog sequence, such as in the form of a band announcement or the like, are performed, so that reference is made to the corresponding statements. In particular, the dialogue sequence can be designed such that the user receives information about the current amount of his credit balance and / or the remaining duration of his credit balance right at the beginning.

The inventive method results in a number of advantages for its users. For example, it is no longer necessary to make a price comparison before the establishment of a communication connection. A communication credit balance of a certain amount is purchased for a certain price, and the price does not change within the credit quota duration. In connection with a telecommunications network, this may mean, for example, that it is possible to telephone around the clock for the same price during the duration of the telephone credit balance. For the duration of the credit balance, a guaranteed minute rate applies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. An annoying minute price announcement before each call, as known from the prior art, can be omitted.

Furthermore, the billing of the communication credit quotas in the usual way via the already incurred billing. For the booking of a credit balance, which is preferably free of charge, no written registration is required. Furthermore, no monthly base price to pay, but there are only package prices for the actually booked credit balance. The booking of the credit balance can be made by the user freely and demand-dependent.

The use of the method according to the invention is particularly advantageous for those users who want to budget for their communication costs, for example telephone costs, and who are prepared to pay in advance for their upcoming call volume. Even for those users who have a high monthly Usage in one or more distance zones (landline, abroad), are very price sensitive and contractually do not want to bind permanently to a single provider, the inventive method is advantageous.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for electronically acquiring and managing at least one prepaid, limited communication credit balance, comprising a communication network and at least one communication terminal, and further comprising means for performing the method of the invention as described above.

With regard to the advantages, effects and mode of operation of the system according to the invention, reference is made in full to the above statements on the method according to the invention and reference is hereby made.

Advantageously, the communication network can be designed as at least one telecommunications network and the at least one communication terminal as a telephone device.

Compared to the known from the prior art solutions, the present Invention a number of advantages and specifics, of which a few are to be mentioned below. For example, it is not necessary to dial another special dial-in number prior to the call-by-call prefix number to obtain information about current prices. For booking the communication credit quotas, no complicated procedures with PIN numbers or the like are required. The booking of a credit balance is via the addressing of the communication terminal, such as a phone number. Therefore, no pre-registrations, voucher distributions, account details and the like are required. The billing of the credit balance is done via the already for the communication terminal to be created, regular billing, for example, via a telephone bill. The communication credit balances are target-specific and each user may simultaneously have more than one credit balance. If the credit balance is used up during an existing communication connection, the connection is not interrupted but the connection time beyond the credit is billed according to the otherwise valid standard rates.

The invention will now be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. The only one shows 1 a schematic view of a communication network in which the inventive method for electronically acquiring and managing at least one prepaid, limited communication credit balance expires. The communication credit balance in the present example should be a prepaid telephone minute packet in connection with an open call-by-call procedure.

In the figure is formed as a telecommunication network communication network 10 in which each user has a communication terminal assigned to him 15 features. In this example, these are telephone devices.

The telecommunications network 10 has a number of components through which pre-paid, limited communication credit balances 26 , in this example telephone minute packets, can be purchased and handled.

In that with the reference number 20 The provided portion of the figure is shown as such telephone minute packets 26 can be purchased by a user.

In that with the reference number 30 provided portion of the figure is shown as a user-purchased telephone minute packet 26 can be handled.

The booking of a telephone minute packet 26 can be advantageously carried out in the manner described below:
The user puts on his phone device 15 a connection to a computer device 21 of the telecommunications network 10 ago. This can be done by means of a free call from the telephone device 15 on a booking platform of the computer device 21 respectively. For this purpose, the customer communicates via his telephone device 15 with one in the computer device 21 integrated purchase dialogue system 22 , The telephone number of the telephone device 15 (This is the characteristic addressing of the telephone device) is in the computer device 21 registered and, if necessary, with a database 23 compared to customer validation. Subsequently, the customer can use his telephone device 15 Menu-controlled a suitable telephone minute packet 26 select and book.

The procedure of a booking and purchase procedure from the customer's point of view for acquiring a minute package "domestic" with a scope of 250 minutes is described below by way of example:
After dialing the appropriate telephone number and establishing a connection with the purchase dialog system 22 is from the computer device 21 automatically play a purchase dialog announcement, which could read as follows:
"Welcome to ARCOR. You are connected to the service computer for ARCOR call-by-call "minutes". Below you will find some product information. To skip an announcement, please press the hash key. With the star key you can repeat the respective announcement. => Announcement product information ... "

So that the current product information is always available, is the computer device 21 advantageous with a database 24 connected, in which the current product master data are stored.

The fictitious automatic purchase dialog could continue as follows:
"We offer the following services, please press for:
The purchase of minute packages the [1]
For account distance questions the [2]

You can choose between the following distance zones, please press for:
Domestic landline the [1]
Foreign landline the [2]

You can choose between the following menu packages, please press for:
Package 1 with 250 minutes domestic landline for (X, XX EURO) the [1]
Package 2 with 500 minutes domestic landline for (Y, YY EURO) the [2]

You have selected the following package: ... announcement, selection text. Please confirm the booking by pressing the button 5. "

Confirmation of the booking will automatically result in a purchase order 25 triggered and the user the booked telephone minute packet 26 made available. The user can use the telephone minute packet 26 use now. For this purpose, this is in a corresponding database 32 set, which will be explained in more detail below.

With successful booking is by the computing device 21 automatically a booking confirmation 27 generated and to the telephone device 15 submitted by the user.

The billing of the telephone minute packet 26 takes place immediately after booking. For this purpose, appropriate data from the computer device 21 to a billing unit 33 transfer in which the customer bills 34 be generated. These are the bills that accrue anyway for the use of the telecommunications network. Of course, the billing unit could also be part of the computer device 21 or the computing device described in more detail below 31 be.

In addition to booking telephone minute packages 26 It is also always possible for the user, via a communication link between his telephone device 15 and the computer device 21 Information about the current account balance (remaining duration, remaining amount and the like) of his telephone minute packet 26 to obtain.

Once the user has a telephone minute packet 26 he can use this for telephoning. This is in connection with the figure area 30 shown.

If now the user through his phone device 15 initiates a telephone call and preselects the required call-by-call prefix number, the subsequent call on the purchased minute minute packet 26 credited. The telephone conversation initiated by the user is from a computer device 31 detected. This computer device 31 compares the phone number of the phone device 15 , which is its characteristic addressing, with those in a database 32 telephone minute packets stored for existing communication credit quotas 26 , If an overlap is detected, the phone conversation will be on the appropriate phone minute packet 26 of the user counted.

Even if in the figure to illustrate the process flow two computer devices 21 . 31 It is obvious that basically a single computer device is sufficient.

The telephone minute quota booked by the user 26 may, for example, have a limited duration, approximately 30 days from the time of booking. After expiry of the parcel validity, any residual minute quota will be canceled. If the user exceeds the minute volume purchased by him in his telephone minute packet 26 before expiry of the parcel validity he is, until the booking of another telephone minute packet 26 , billed in the further choice of the call-by-call prefix number or on continuation of a telephone conversation already started to the current call-by-call standard price list. The billing takes place again via the billing unit 33 , Calls via the call-by-call prefix number that are not routed to the booked distance zone will also be billed in the same way at the standard call-by-call standard rates.

For verification and verification of the telecommunications network 10 made phone calls, in particular the call-by-call calls as described above can be a suitable report generator in the network 35 be provided, in particular by the computer device 31 and the billing unit 33 is supplied with data.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Communication network (telecommunication network)

15

Communication terminal device (telephone device) of a user

20

Method steps for electronically acquiring a communication credit balance

21

Computer device

22

Purchase dialogue system

23

Database for customer validation

24

Database with product master data

25

purchase order

26

Communication credit balance (telephone minute packet)

27

booking confirmation

30

Method steps for handling an acquired communication credit balance

31

Computer device

32

Database regarding existing communication credit quotas

33

accounting unit

34

customer invoice

35

Report generator

Claims (15)

Method for electronically acquiring and managing at least one prepaid, limited communication credit balance ( 26 ) in a communication network ( 10 ), characterized by the following steps: via at least one communication terminal ( 15 ) with a characteristic addressing is electronically connected to a computer device ( 21 ) in the communication network ( 10 ) produced; via the communication terminal device ( 15 ) is electronically at least one temporally and / or geographically limited communication credit balance (in particular by means of a menu control) ( 26 ) posted with a defined scope; and after the booking is made by the computer device ( 21 ) electronically a booking confirmation ( 27 ) to the communication terminal ( 15 ) and for the communication terminal ( 15 ) the at least one communication credit quota ( 26 ) provided; in the case that the communication credit balance ( 26 ) is consumed before the expiration of the time limit, beyond that, communication links are billed according to a standard rate, in particular according to a standard call-by-call rate, and / or where communication links to the outside of the geographical limit according to a standard rate, in particular a standard call By-call tariff, to be settled. The method of claim 1 for electronically acquiring and managing a prepaid telephone credit balance in at least one telecommunications network, the at least one communication terminal ( 15 ) is designed as a telephone device and it is the characteristic addressing to the phone number of the telephone device. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, when a communication connection is established via the communication credit balance ( 26 ) is billed in the communication terminal ( 15 ) is entered before entering a destination address, in particular a destination number, a prefix number, in particular a call-by-call prefix number. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the addressing of the communication terminal ( 15 ) when the at least one communication credit quota ( 26 ) is stored on the network side and that only those communication connections that are used by the communication terminal ( 15 ) are initiated with the specific addressing via which at least one communication credit balance ( 26 ). Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one communication credit balance ( 26 ) has a constant price index independent of time of day and / or date. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a communication credit balance ( 26 ) is posted and provided in the form of a minute packet. Method according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that via the communication terminal device (s) ( 15 ) temporally differently limited communication credit quotas ( 26 ) can or can be booked. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a limited communication credit balance ( 26 ) and that components of the communication credit balance ( 26 ), which are not used up after reaching the limit, are automatically deleted. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that via at least one communication terminal ( 15 ) only then a new communication credit balance ( 26 ) can be posted if a previously booked communication credit balance ( 26 ) has been used up or deleted. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that via at least one communication terminal ( 15 ) more than a communication credit balance ( 26 ) and the communication terminal device ( 15 ) from the communication network ( 10 ) can be provided. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that via at least one communication terminal ( 15 ) more than a communication credit balance ( 26 ) and the communication terminal device ( 15 ) from the communication network ( 10 ) and that the number of booked and provided communication credit balances ( 26 ) is limited. Method according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the electronic connection of the at least one communication terminal ( 15 ) to the computing device ( 21 ) in the communication network ( 10 ) is established via a specific destination address, in particular a specific destination number. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the billing of the at least one communication credit quota ( 26 ) via the addressing of the communication terminal ( 15 ) associated billing takes place. Method according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that via the communication terminal ( 15 ) electronically via a menu control information about the currently existing communication credit balance ( 26 ) can be retrieved or retrieved. System for electronically acquiring and managing at least one prepaid, limited communication credit quota ( 26 ), comprising a communication network ( 10 ) and at least one communication terminal ( 15 ), and further comprising means for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 14.

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