Method and system for allowing extended connections to content providers via prepaid content provider accounts

摘要

A method and system for connecting a caller to a content provider who provides a service to the caller over the telephone system is disclosed. In accordance with the invention, a transaction processor (i.e., debit card platform) is disclosed which generally receives a telephone call from a caller identifying (a) a first account identifier corresponding to a balance of a first account, the balance of the first account being associated with an amount of available funds, and (b) a content provider identifier corresponding to a telephone number of the content provider. The debit card platform establishes a telephone connection between the caller and the content provider to enable the content provider to provide a service to the caller through the telephone connection. During the course of the connection, the debit card platform continuously monitors the caller's amount of available funds in the first account and, upon occurrence of a “triggering event,” performs an action to increase the amount of available funds. The triggering event may be, e.g., the receipt of the telephone call, providing the caller with the cost of the service, the amount of available funds reaching a threshold value, or the expiration of a period of time. When the transaction is completed, the debit card platform debits the first account by a transaction amount based on the content provider and the service provided.