Method for billing in a telecommunications network

• US 20020146005A1
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: McMurry, Kathleen A., Gallant, John K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,406,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1446 inter-operator billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/125 by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2433 Allocation of priorities to traffic types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4523 using lightweight directory access protocol [LDAP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 : for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 : at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 : specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 : Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 : Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 : Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/085 : specially adapted for interworking of IP-based networks with other networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• 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 15/43 : Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 : Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/53 : using mediation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 : for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 : for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/63 : based on the content carried by the session initiation protocol [SIP] messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/67 : Transmitting arrangements for sending billing related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8292 : Charging for signaling or unsuccessful connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 : Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0172 : Mediation, i.e. device or program to reformat CDRS from one or more switches in order to adapt to one or more billing programs formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 : VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 : Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 : Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method for placing a call between a client in one network and a client in another network. The IP network includes a SIP server and a network gateway configured to provide access to a public switched network. The method includes receiving a SIP call request message from the first client. The SIP call request message is authenticated to thereby identify an authentic originating client. Subsequently, a database is searched to find client billing tag corresponding to the authentic originating client. The call is completed if the client billing tag is obtained, and not completed if the client billing tag cannot be obtained. Thus, the present invention provides an efficient method for billing phone calls that are placed from SIP enabled devices to a telephone connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The method of the present invention also substantially eliminates certain types of fraud.

Claims

1. A method for placing a call between a first client and a second client, the method comprising:

receiving a call request message;

authenticating the call request message, whereby an authentic originating client is identified; and

searching a database to find a predetermined client billing tag corresponding to the authentic originating client, whereby the call is authorized to be completed if the client billing tag is obtained, and the call is not authorized to be completed if the client billing tag is not obtained.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inserting the client billing tag into the call request message; and

transmitting the call request message to the gateway after the client billing tag is inserted into the call request message.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the gateway provides a network operating support system with the client billing tag.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of authenticating includes performing a calculation using a hash algorithm.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of authenticating includes an evaluation of a profile of the second client, the profile including information corresponding to at least one calling feature activated by the second client.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the server inserts the client billing tag corresponding to the second client into the call request message based on the at least one calling feature.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the server transmits the call request message to the gateway after the client billing tag corresponding to the second client is inserted into the call request message.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the gateway provides a network operating support system with the client billing tag.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one calling feature includes a call forwarding command.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one calling feature includes a call transfer command.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

evaluating at least one calling feature activated by the second client;

determining the authentic originating client based on the at least one calling feature;

retrieving the client billing tag corresponding to the authentic originating client; and

inserting the client billing tag corresponding to the authentic originating client into the call request message.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the server transmits the call request message to the gateway after the client billing tag is inserted into the call request message.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one calling feature includes a call forwarding command.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one calling feature includes a call transfer command.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adding a header to the call request message, the header including a server identifier; and

transmitting the call request message to the gateway, the gateway being configured to complete the call if the header is detected and not complete the call if the header is not detected.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

checking the call request message for the presence of a header, the header including a server identifier; and

completing the call if the header is detected.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the call is not completed if the header is not detected.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first client is a SIP-telephone and the second client is SIP-telephone.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first client is a SIP-telephone and the second client is a standard telephone coupled to a PSTN.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first client or the second client is coupled to a network gateway.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first client or the second client is coupled to an enterprise gateway.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first client or the second client includes a SIP voicemail server.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first client or the second client includes a SIP conferencing server.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first client or the second client is coupled to a DAL gateway.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first client or the second client includes a client PBX system.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first client or the second client includes a personal computer.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the server completes the call if the client billing tag is obtained, and does not complete the call if the client billing tag cannot be obtained.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the gateway provides a network operating support system with the client billing tag and call statistics after receiving the call request message from the server.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein the gateway provides a network operating support system with the client billing tag and at least one call statistic after the call is completed.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the gateway is configured to complete the call is the header is present and not complete the call if the header is not present.

27. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for placing a call between a first client and a second client, the method comprising:

receiving a call request message;

authenticating the call request message, whereby an authentic originating client is identified; and

searching a database to find a predetermined client billing tag corresponding to the authentic originating client, whereby the call is authorized to be completed if the client billing tag is obtained, and the call is not authorized to be completed if the client billing tag is not obtained.

28. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for placing a call between a first client and a second client, the method comprising:

receiving a SIP call request message;

authenticating the SIP call request message, whereby an authentic originating client is identified;

searching a database to find a client billing tag corresponding to the authentic originating client;

inserting the client billing tag into the call request message; and

transmitting the call request message to the gateway.

31. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for placing a call between a first client and a second client, the method comprising:

receiving a SIP call request message from the first client;

evaluating at least one calling feature in a profile of the second client;

determining an authentic originating client based on the at least one calling feature;

retrieving the client billing tag corresponding to the authentic originating client; and

inserting the client billing tag into the call request message.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the server transmits the call request message to the gateway after the client billing tag is inserted into the call request message.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least one calling feature includes a call forwarding command.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least one calling feature includes a call transfer command.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the party to be billed is the first client.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the party to be billed is the second client.

38. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for placing a call between a first client and a second client, the method comprising:

receiving a SIP call request message;

adding a header to the SIP call request message, the header including a server identifier; and

transmitting the SIP call request and header to a network gateway.

40. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for placing a call between a first client and a second client, the method comprising:

receiving a call request message;

checking the call request message for the presence of a header appended to the call request message; and

completing the call based on the presence of the header.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the call is not completed if the header is not present.

41. The method of claim 401, wherein the call is completed if the header is present.

43. A system for placing a call between a first client and a second client, the system comprising:

an IP network;

a SIP server coupled to the IP network, the SIP server being configured to process at least one SIP call request message received from the first client to determine an authentic originating client, the SIP server also being configured to obtain a client billing tag corresponding to the authentic originating client; and

a network gateway coupled to the SIP server, the network gateway being configured to provide at least one of the first client and the second client conditional access to a public switched telephone network.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the server transmits the call request message to the gateway if the client billing tag is obtained, and does not transmit the call request message to the gateway if the client billing tag cannot be obtained.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the server is configured to insert the client billing tag into the at least one SIP call request message and transmit the call request message to the network gateway.

46. The system of claim 45, further comprising a network operation support system coupled to the network gateway, the network gateway being configured to transmit the client billing tag to the network operation support system after the call is completed.

47. The system of claim 43, wherein the SIP server identifies the authentic originating client by evaluating the profile of the second client.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the profile includes information corresponding to at least one calling feature activated by the second client.

49. The network of claim 48, wherein the server inserts client billing tag corresponding to the second client based on the at least one calling feature.

50. The network of claim 43, wherein the server is configured to add a header to the at least one SIP call request message.

51. The network of claim 50, wherein the gateway is configured to complete the call if the header is detected and not complete the call if the header is not detected.

52. The method of claim 43, wherein the first client is a SIP-telephone and the second client is SIP-telephone.

53. The method of claim 43, wherein the first client is a SIP-telephone and the second client is a standard telephone coupled to a PSTN.

54. The method of claim 43, wherein at least one of the first client or the second client is coupled to a network gateway.

55. The method of claim 43, wherein at least one of the first client or the second client is coupled to an enterprise gateway.

56. The method of claim 43, wherein at least one of the first client or the second client includes a SIP voicemail server.

57. The method of claim 43, wherein at least one of the first client or the second client includes a SIP conferencing server.

58. The method of claim 43, wherein at least one of the first client or the second client is coupled to a DAL gateway.

59. The method of claim 43, wherein at least one of the first client or the second client includes a client PBX system.

60. The method of claim 43, wherein at least one of the first client or the second client includes a personal computer.

61. A server system for placing a call between a first client and a second client, the system comprising:

a database configured to store at least one client billing tag; and

processor coupled to the database, the processor being programmed to, process at least one call request message to identify an authentic originating client, and

search the database to find the client billing tag corresponding to the authentic originating client, whereby the server allows the call to be completed if the client billing tag is obtained, and does not allow the call to be completed if the client billing tag cannot be obtained.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the processor is programmed to insert the client billing tag into the at least one call request message.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the processor is programmed to transmit the call request message with the client billing tag to a network gateway.

64. The system of claim 61, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

add a header to the SIP call request message, the header including a server identifier; and

transmit the call request message and header to a network gateway.

65. A network gateway system for placing a call between a first client and a second client, the system comprising:

a communications interface for establishing a call with a circuit switched network; and

a processor coupled to the communications interface, the processor being programmed to,

receive at least one call request message,

attempt to retrieve a client billing tag from the at least one call request message, and

transmit the client billing tag and at least one call statistic to a network management system.

66. A network gateway system for placing a call between a first client and a second client, the system comprising:

a communications interface for establishing a call with a circuit switched network; and

a processor coupled to the communications interface, the processor being programmed to, receive a call request message;

check the call request message for the presence of a header appended to the call request message; and

complete the call based on the presence of the header.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein the call is completed if the header is present.

68. The system of claim 66, wherein the call is not completed if the header is not present.