Billing for use of a telephony device

• US 20030115138A1
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Winters, Scott Lee, Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Weaver, James Mark, McIntyre, Joseph Herbert
• Granted Patent: US 7,155,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

A method, system, and program for billing a caller for use of an origin device are provided. Usage, of at least one measurable element of a telephony device by an identified individual, is tracked, where the identified individual is distinct from an owner of the origin telephony device. A tariff for the tracked usage is transferred to an intermediary device. The intermediary device charges the tariff according to a billing plan for the identified individual, such that the owner is compensated for use of at least one measurable element of the owner'"'"'s telephony device. Measurable elements may include the time the telephony device is in the identified individual'"'"'s possession, the battery usage, and usage of the address book.

Claims

1. A method for billing for telephone usage, said method comprising:

tracking usage of a telephony device by an identifiable individual, wherein said identifiable individual is distinct from an owner of said telephony device; and

transferring a tariff for said tracked usage of said telephony device to a billing plan for said identifiable individual, such that said owner of said telephony device is electronically compensated for said usage of said telephony device by said identifiable individual.

2. The method for billing for telephone usage according to claim 1, wherein usage of said telephony device comprises at least one from among possession of said telephony device, battery usage of said telephony device, and address book accessed from said telephony device.

3. The method for billing for telephone usage according to claim 1, wherein said telephony device is a wireless telephone device.

4. The method for billing for telephone usage according to claim 1, wherein said telephony device is a wireline telephone device.

5. The method for billing for telephone usage according to claim 1, further comprising:

alerting said identifiable individual to said tariff for said tracked usage of said telephony device.

6. The method for billing for telephone usage according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an authenticated identity of said identifiable individual; and

calculating said tariff according to said authenticated identity of said identifiable individual.

7. The method for billing for telephone usage according to claim 1, wherein said identifiable individual is a caller.

8. The method for billing for telephone usage according to claim 1, wherein said identifiable individual is a callee.

9. A system for billing for telephone usage, said system comprising:

a tracking controller connected to a telephony device;

means for tracking usage of said telephony device by an identifiable individual at said tracking controller, wherein said identifiable individual is distinct from an owner of said telephony device; and

means for transferring a tariff for said tracked usage of said telephony device to a billing plan for said identifiable individual, wherein said owner of said telephony device is electronically compensated for said usage of said telephony device by said identifiable individual.

10. The system for billing for telephone usage according to claim 9, wherein usage of said telephony device comprises at least one from among possession of said telephony device, battery usage of said telephony device, and address book accessed from said telephony device.

11. The system for billing for telephone usage according to claim 9, wherein said telephony device is a wireless telephone device.

12. The system for billing for telephone usage according to claim 9, wherein said telephony device is a wireline telephone device.

13. The system for billing for telephone usage according to claim 9, further comprising:

means for alerting said identifiable individual to said tariff for said tracked usage of said telephony device.

14. The system for billing for telephone usage according to claim 9, further comprising:

means for detecting an authenticated identity of said identifiable individual; and

means for calculating said tariff according to said authenticated identity of said identifiable individual.

15. The system for billing for telephone usage according to claim 9, wherein said identifiable individual is a caller.

16. The system for billing for telephone usage according to claim 9, wherein said identifiable individual is a callee.

17. A computer program product for billing for telephone usage, said computer program product comprising:

a recording medium

means, recorded on said recording medium, for tracking usage of said telephony device by an identifiable individual, wherein said identifiable individual is distinct from an owner of said telephony device; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for transferring a tariff for said tracked usage of said telephony device to a billing plan for said identifiable individual for compensating said owner of said telephony device.

18. The computer program product for billing for telephone usage according to claim 17, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for alerting said identifiable individual to said tariff for said tracked usage of said telephony device.

19. The computer program product for billing for telephone usage according to claim 17, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for detecting an authenticated identity of said identifiable individual; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for calculating said tariff according to said authenticated identity of said identifiable individual.

20. A method for billing a non-owner for telephone usage, said method comprising:

detecting usage of at least one measurable element of a telephony device by an identifiable individual, wherein said identifiable individual is different from an owner of said telephony device; and

charging said identifiable individual a tariff for said usage of said at least one measurable element of said origin telephony device, such that said owner is compensated for usage of said telephony device.

21. The method for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 20, further comprising:

loading a profile according to said identity of said identifiable individual for billing charges associated with a call originated from said telephony device.

22. The method for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 20, further comprising:

authenticating an identity of said identifiable individual.

23. The method for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 22, wherein said identity of said identifiable individual is authenticated according to a voice utterance provided by said identifiable individual.

24. The method for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 20, wherein said usage of said at least one measurable element of said telephony device occurs during a call originated from said telephony device.

25. The method for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 20, wherein said usage of said at least one measurable element of said telephony device occurs while said telephony device is in the possession of said identifiable individual.

26. The method for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 20, wherein charging said identifiable individual a tariff further comprises:

negotiating payment of said tariff from a service provider for said identifiable individual to an additional service provider for said owner.

27. The method for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 20, wherein charging said caller a tariff further comprises:

transferring said tariff to a billing service for said identifiable individual, wherein said billing service charges said identifiable individual for said tariff and transfers a micropayment to said owner for said tariff.

31. The system for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 22, wherein said identity of said identifiable individual is authenticated according to a voice utterance provided by said identifiable individual.

28. A system for billing a non-owner for telephone usage, said system comprising:

means for detecting usage of at least one measurable element of a telephony device by an identifiable individual, wherein said identifiable individual is different from an owner of said telephony device; and

means for charging said identifiable individual a tariff for said usage of said at least one measurable element of said origin telephony device, wherein said owner is compensated for usage of said telephony device.

29. The system for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 28, further comprising:

means for loading a profile according to said identity of said identifiable individual for billing charges associated with a call originated from said telephony device.

30. The system for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 28, further comprising:

means for authenticating an identity of said identifiable individual.

32. The system for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 28, wherein said usage of said at least one measurable element of said telephony device occurs during a call originated from said telephony device.

33. The system for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 28, wherein said usage of said at least one measurable element of said telephony device occurs while said telephony device is in the possession of said identifiable individual.

34. The system for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 28, wherein charging said identifiable individual a tariff further comprises:

means for negotiating payment of said tariff from a service provider for said identifiable individual to an additional service provider for said owner.

35. The system for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 28, wherein charging said caller a tariff further comprises:

means for transferring said tariff to a billing service for said identifiable individual, wherein said billing service charges said identifiable individual for said tariff and transfers a micropayment to said owner for said tariff.

36. A computer program product for billing a non-owner for telephone usage, said computer program product comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for detecting usage of at least one measurable element of a telephony device by an identifiable individual, wherein said identifiable individual is different from an owner of said telephony device; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for charging said identifiable individual a tariff for said usage of said at least one measurable element of said origin telephony device for compensating said owner of said telephony device.

37. The computer program product for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 36, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for loading a profile according to said identity of said identifiable individual for billing charges associated with a call originated from said telephony device.

38. The computer program product for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 36, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for authenticating an identity of said identifiable individual.

39. The computer program product for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 36, wherein charging said identifiable individual a tariff further comprises:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for negotiating payment of said tariff from a service provider for said identifiable individual to an additional service provider for said owner.

40. The computer program product for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 36, wherein charging said caller a tariff further comprises:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for transferring said tariff to a billing service for said identifiable individual, wherein said billing service charges said identifiable individual for said tariff and transfers a micropayment to said owner for said tariff.