System and method for reporting and delivering calls

• US 20020031210A1
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globys Inc (Constellation Software Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: OneLink, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, Michael J., Armstrong, Andrew, Mohn, Gregory H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,092,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus for arranging, reporting, and delivering call record information to customers. The communication records of each customer includes call transaction data corresponding to call transaction activity of the customer. The call transaction data is received and matched to a customer. The call transaction data is appropriately formatted, and electronically transmitting the formatted call transaction data to the subscriber, such as via e-mail.

Claims

1. A method for reporting communication records to at least one subscriber, the communication records of each subscriber including call transaction data corresponding to call transaction activity of the subscriber, the method comprising:

receiving the call transaction data;

matching the call transaction data associated with the subscriber;

formatting the call transaction data; and

electronically transmitting the formatted call transaction data to the subscriber via electronic mail (e-mail).

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein electronically transmitting the formatted call transaction data to the subscriber via e-mail comprises transmitting the e-mail in a text format.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein electronically transmitting the formatted call transaction data to the subscriber via e-mail comprises transmitting the e-mail in an HTML format.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein electronically transmitting the formatted call transaction data to the subscriber via e-mail comprises transmitting the formatted call transaction data via the e-mail in a plurality of formats.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the formatted call transaction data comprises one or more of text, tables, graphs and maps.

6. The method as in claim 1, further comprising configuring formatting options by the subscriber.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein the formatted call transaction data comprises at least a summary report portion and at least one detailed report portion.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein the e-mail includes a selectable option to change subscriber service.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein the change of subscriber service comprises at least one of an upgrade to a different subscriber service, a downgrade to a different subscriber service, and canceling the subscriber service.

10. The method as in claim 1, wherein the e-mail includes advertisements.

11. The method as in claim 1, wherein formatting the call transaction data comprises parsing through message content and replacing content variables with message content from call transaction data.

13. The method as in claim 12, wherein receiving the call transaction data comprises receiving an electronic representation of the call transaction data from a call switching system.

14. The method as in claim 12, wherein matching the call transaction data associated with the subscriber comprises comparing a subscriber list to a subscriber identification associated with the call transaction data.

15. The method as in claim 12, wherein formatting the call transaction data comprises arranging the data into a file capable of electronic transmission.

16. The method as in claim 12, wherein electronically transmitting the formatted call transaction data comprises delivering the formatted call transaction data via a wireless application protocol (WAP).

17. The method as in claim 12, wherein electronically transmitting the formatted call transaction data comprises delivering the formatted call transaction data via one or more of a network download, a wireless protocol, an FTP transfer, an audio signal, and an Internet phone.

18. The method as in claim 12, wherein electronically transmitting the formatted call transaction data comprises delivering the formatted call transaction data via e-mail.

19. The method as in claim 18, wherein delivering the formatted call transaction data via e-mail comprises delivering the e-mail periodically.

20. The method as in claim 18, wherein delivering the formatted call transaction data via e-mail comprises delivering the e-mail upon request by the subscriber.

21. The method as in claim 18, wherein delivering the formatted call transaction data via e-mail comprises delivering the e-mail upon occurrence of a predetermined event.

22. The method as in claim 18, further comprising associating a geographic location to parties of each call engaged with the subscriber through analyzation of one or more location parameters included in the call transaction data, wherein the accuracy of the geographic location is a function of the location parameters.

23. The method as in claim 18, further comprising verifying the validity of the call record data.

24. The method as in claim 18, further comprising geocoding the call transaction data, wherein geocoding the call transaction data comprises associating a geographic region corresponding to the location of a non-subscriber party of each call.

25. The method as in claim 18, further comprising geocoding the call transaction data, wherein geocoding the call transaction data comprises associating a longitude and latitude corresponding to the location of a non-subscriber party of each call.

26. The method as in claim 18, wherein formatting the call transaction data comprises aggregating the call transaction records and geocoded data into a transportable file.

27. The method as in claim 18, further comprising presenting the formatted call transaction data as a report to the subscriber, wherein the report comprises at least one of a table, a map, and a graph.

28. The method as in claim 18, further comprising collecting the call transaction data corresponding to each subscriber by recognizing each of the subscriber'"'"'s call transactions that traverses a communications hub.

29. The method as in claim 28, wherein the communications hub comprises at least one of a telephone switch, router or bridge.

12. A method for reporting communication records to at least one subscriber, the communication records of each subscriber including call transaction data corresponding to call transaction activity of the subscriber, the method comprising:

receiving the call transaction data;

matching the call transaction data associated with the subscriber;

formatting the call transaction data; and

electronically transmitting the formatted call transaction data to the subscriber.

30. A call reporting apparatus for reporting communication records to at least one subscriber, the communication records of each subscriber including call transaction data corresponding to call transaction activity of the subscriber, the call reporting apparatus comprising:

means for receiving the call transaction data;

means for matching the call transaction data associated with the subscriber;

means for formatting the call transaction data; and

means for electronically transmitting the formatted call transaction data to the subscriber via electronic mail (e-mail).

31. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for facilitating the reporting of call records to at least one subscriber, the call records including call transaction data corresponding to call transaction activity of the subscriber, the computer-executable instructions performing steps comprising:

receiving the call transaction data;

matching the call transaction data associated with the subscriber;

formatting the call transaction data; and

electronically transmitting the formatted call transaction data to the subscriber.

32. A method for reporting calls having associated call transaction data, the calls being between a subscriber and at least one second caller, the method comprising:

accessing the call transaction data;

identifying the subscriber associated with each call;

determining an approximate longitude and latitude of the second caller for each call using the call transaction data; and

delivering a call report including the approximate longitude and latitude for each call to the subscriber associated with the call.

33. The method as in claim 32, wherein delivering the call report comprises delivering a hardcopy report.

34. The method as in claim 32, wherein delivering the call report comprises delivering at least one storage media storing an electronically-perceivable representation of the call transaction data.

35. The method as in claim 32, wherein delivering the call report comprises delivering the call report via electronic mail (e-mail).

36. The method as in claim 35, wherein delivering the call report via email comprises delivering the call report via e-mail for all calls occurring over a predetermined time period to the subscriber.

37. The method as in claim 35, wherein the call transaction data includes at least one of calls placed by the second caller to the subscriber, and calls placed by the subscriber to the second callers.

38. The method as in claim 35, wherein the call transaction data for a given call includes a postal code of the call originator for the given call and wherein determining an approximate longitude and latitude comprises using the postal code to obtain the approximate longitude and latitude of the call originator.

39. The method as in claim 38, wherein the determining step comprises correlating the postal code with the longitude and latitude of a geographic centroid of an area defined by the postal code.

40. The method as in claim 35, wherein the call transaction data includes an area code of a telephone line number of the call originator and wherein the determining step comprises using the area code of the telephone line number of the call originator to obtain the approximate longitude and latitude.

41. The method as in claim 40, wherein the determining step comprises correlating the area code with the longitude and latitude of a geographic centroid of an area defined by the area code.

42. The method as in claim 35, wherein the call transaction data comprises an area code and exchange code of a telephone line number of the call originator and wherein the determining step comprises using the area code and exchange code of the telephone line number of the call originator to obtain the appropriate longitude and latitude.

43. The method as in claim 42, wherein the determining step comprises correlating the area code and exchange code with the longitude and latitude of a geographic centroid of an area defined by the area code and exchange code.

44. A method for reporting call records of calls involving a call party, wherein each of the calls has associated call transaction data, the method comprising:

accessing the call transaction data;

identifying the call party associated with each call;

verifying the validity of the call transaction data;

generating a statistical report related to the call transaction data if the call transaction data is valid; and

delivering the statistical report to the call party via electronic mail (email).

45. The method as in claim 44, wherein the verifying step comprises performing statistical analysis to determine whether certain variables fall within parameters established using previously collected statistical call transaction data.

46. A method for reporting calls having associated call transaction data, the calls being between at least first and second callers, the method comprising:

accessing the call transaction data;

identifying a caller associated with each call;

analyzing the call transaction data to determine an approximate geographical reference related to each call; and

electronically delivering to at least one caller a plurality of variable telecommunication transaction attributes associated with each call and correlated to the geographical reference for each call.