1. A method comprising:
obtaining automatic number identification (ANI) data or billing telephone number (BTN) data associated with a subscriber account of a telecommunications network;
obtaining first reference subscriber data associated with a subscriber, said first reference subscriber data being different from the ANI data or the BTN data;
accessing a first database location using the ANI data or the BTN data to determine second reference subscriber data;
accessing a second database location using the ANI data or BTN data to determine that the subscriber account associated with the ANI data or BTN data is billable;
comparing the first reference subscriber data and the second reference subscriber data; and
verifying an identity of the subscriber if the first reference subscriber data corresponds to the second reference subscriber data.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a transaction amount to be charged to the subscriber account; and
in response to the verifying of the identity of the subscriber, approving the transaction.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction is for a good or a service unrelated to use of a subscriber line associated with the subscriber account.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transaction is for a good or a service, the good or the service being selected from the group consisting of an online game, music and software.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the ANI data or the BTN data is obtained from a merchant of goods or services.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reference subscriber data is obtained from a merchant of goods or services.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reference subscriber data is a ZIP code or PIN code.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the first database location is a ZIP data source.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reference subscriber data is address data.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first database location is an address data source.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second database location is a database including a plurality of telephone numbers.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first database location is in a first database and the second database location is in a second database, the first database being distinct from the first second database.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing of the first reference subscriber data and the second reference subscriber data comprises determining whether a match exists within a predefined range or geographic area.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying of the identity of the subscriber comprises confirming the identity of the subscriber if the first reference subscriber data matches the second reference subscriber data.
15. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a verification status notification upon verifying the identity of the subscriber.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the status notification is communicated to a merchant device via a network.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the subscriber account associated with the ANI data or BTN data is billable comprises interrogating a network database with the ANI data or BTN data to determine if the subscriber account is billable, and, if so, generating a decline status or an approved status in response to the interrogation.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the subscriber account associated with the ANI data or BTN data is billable comprises determining whether the subscriber account has reached a maximum monetary amount.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the subscriber account associated with the ANI data or BTN data is billable comprises determining whether a billing block has been imposed on the subscriber account.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed in real-time.
21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a monetary amount from a merchant of a sales transaction between the merchant and the subscriber; and
electronically billing the monetary amount to the subscriber account.
22. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the first database location and the second database location comprises requesting a search of at least one database.
23. A non-transitory machine-readable medium for storing a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
obtain automatic number identification (ANI) data or billing telephone number (BTN) data associated with a subscriber account of a telecommunications network;
obtain first reference subscriber data associated with a subscriber, said first reference subscriber data being different from the ANI data or the BTN data;
access a first database location using the ANI data or the BTN data to determine second reference subscriber data;
access a second database location using the BTN data to determine that the subscriber account associated with the ANI data or BTN data is billable;
compare the first reference subscriber data and the second reference subscriber data; and
verify an identity of the subscriber if the first reference subscriber data corresponds to the second reference subscriber data.
24. A method of processing an online transaction, the method comprising
obtaining via a network a telephone number associated with a subscriber account of a telecommunications network;
obtaining first reference subscriber data associated with the subscriber account, said first reference subscriber data being different from the telephone number;
initiating a search using the telephone number to determine second reference subscriber data;
initiating a search using the telephone number to determine that an account associated with the telephone number is billable;
comparing the first reference subscriber data and the second reference subscriber data; and
authorizing an online transaction to be billed to the subscriber account if the first reference subscriber data corresponds to the second reference subscriber data.
25. A system comprising:
a network interface device to receive:
automatic number identification (ANI) data or billing telephone number (BTN) data associated with a subscriber account of a telecommunications network, and first reference subscriber data associated with the subscriber account, the first reference subscriber data being different from the ANI data or the BTN data; and
a processor to execute instructions stored in memory, the instructions comprising:
accessing a first database location using the ANI data or the BTN data to determine second reference subscriber data, accessing a second database location using ANI data or BTN data to determine that an account associated with the ANI data or BTN data is billable, comparing the first reference subscriber data to the second reference subscriber data, and verifying an identity of the subscriber based on the comparison.
26. The system of claim 25, wherein network interface device is to receive the ANI data, the BTN data, and the identification data from a remotely located merchant device.
27. The system of claim 25, wherein the transaction is for a good or a service unrelated to use of a subscriber line associated with the subscriber account.
28. The system of claim 27, wherein the transaction is for a good or a service, the good or service being selected from the group consisting of an online game, music and software.
29. The system of claim 25, further comprising:
receiving a monetary amount to be charged to the subscriber account; and
in response to the verifying of the identity of the subscriber, approving the transaction.
30. The system of claim 25, wherein the first reference subscriber data is a ZIP code or a PIN code.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-11. (canceled)
12. A golf training aid, comprising:
a generally rectangular shaped body supported by folding legs so as to elevate the body above the floor, carpet, or ground by approximately 3 to 4 inches;
said rectangular shaped body being of substantially opaque material;
said rectangular shaped body having a line on said opaque material, parallel to the longest rectangular edge, extending the entire length of said body, to define the target mark;
said rectangular shaped body having a slot extending a substantial length into said body in the approximate length of 10 inches;
said slot extending into said body being parallel to the longest rectangular edge and parallel to said defined target mark beginning approximately at the midpoint of one of the shortest rectangular edges of said body;
said slot having an approximate width of 1.5 inches;
Whereby a golf ball is placed below said target mark in a position for putting; and whereby the golf putter is placed next to the ball in a position for putting; so that the putter shaft is in line with the open slot into said rectangular body.
Whereby upon executing a putting stroke with the putter, the golf ball, immediately after contact with the putter, will pass under the opaque material of the rectangular body and will not be observable to the view of the golfer executing the putting stroke; and
Whereby upon executing the putting stroke with the putter, the shaft of the putter immediately after contact with the golf ball, will pass into the slot of the rectangular body.
13. The golf training aid of claim 1, said slot extending into said body being parallel to the longest rectangular edge and parallel to said defined target mark beginning approximately at the midway point between the target mark and longest rectangular edge nearest the golfer.
14. The golf training aid of claim 1, said slot extending into said body being parallel to the longest rectangular edge and parallel to said defined target mark beginning approximately at the midway point between the target mark and longest rectangular edge opposite the golfer.
15. The golf training aid of claim 1, said rectangular body having multiple target marks on said opaque material, parallel to each of the other target marks and parallel to the longest rectangular edge, extending the entire length of said body, to define the target mark of the golf ball for use of training with different golf putters.
Whereby upon placing the golf putter so that the putter shaft is in line with the open slot of said rectangular body, the golf ball when placed in position for putting will be in line with one of the multiple target lines.