Billing system for communications services involving telephony and instant communications

• US 20030193961A1
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Mumford, Gregory L., Gunasekar, Duraisamy, Moore, Richard G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,260,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/40 Processing or translation of natural language natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/58 Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• 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: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• 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 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/308 Route determination based on user's profile, e.g. premium users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 : wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 : Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 : Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 : Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 : Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• 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 15/07 : Split billing, i.e. both A-party and B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 : Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 : Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 : for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 : for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 : for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/57 : for integrated multimedia messaging subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/63 : based on the content carried by the session initiation protocol [SIP] messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 : shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 : involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 : per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8292 : Charging for signaling or unsuccessful connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 : Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 : Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 : Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 : Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 : Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 : Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 : VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/208 : IMS, i.e. Integrated Multimedia messaging Subsystem
• 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 2215/54 : Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 : Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/64 : Split billing, sharing the cost of calls, e.g. between calling and called parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 : Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 : Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 : Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 : Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42127 : Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 : Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 : Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 : Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 : Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 : for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 : Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0003 : Interconnection between telephone networks and data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 : Click to dial services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 : where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0048 : where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0051 : where the data service is a multimedia messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 : where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/125 : Details of gateway equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 : Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2335 : involving reformatting operations of audio signals, e.g. by converting from one coding standard to another details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 : by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234336 : by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures or audio is converted into text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440236 : by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures, audio is converted into text

Abstract

Systems, methods and program products are disclosed for determining billable usage of a communications system where services are provided involving telephony and instant communications. In some exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides for authorizing the fulfillment of service requests based upon information pertaining to a billable account.

Claims

2. A system for controlling usage of a communications system comprising:

means for receiving from the communication system indication that an activity has been requested of the communications system relating to communication between a first party using a telephone and a second party using an instant communications client; and

means for determining whether a usage charge applies to the activity;

means for identifying an account to which the usage charge is to be applied; and

means for determining whether the account can accommodate the usage charge; and

means for sending to the communications system indication of whether the activity is authorized responsive to whether the account can accommodate the usage charge.

3. A method of controlling usage of a communications system comprising:

determining that an activity has been requested of the communications system relating to communication between a first party using a telephone and a second party using an instant communications client; and

determining whether a usage charge applies to the activity;

identifying an account to which the usage charge is to be applied;

determining whether the account can accommodate the usage charge; and

performing the activity responsive to whether the account can accommodate the usage charge.

4. A method of controlling usage of a communications system comprising:

receiving from the communication system indication that an activity has been requested of the communications system relating to communication between a first party using a telephone and a second party using an instant communications client; and

determining whether a usage charge applies to the activity;

identifying an account to which the usage charge is to be applied; and

determining whether the account can accommodate the usage charge; and

sending to the communications system indication of whether the activity is authorized responsive to whether the account can accommodate the usage charge.

5. A method of assessing charges for usage of a communications system comprising:

receiving indication of activity of the communications system relating to communication between a first party via a telephony connection and a second party via an instant communications client; and

determining a charge to be assessed for the activity of the communications service responsive to the indication.

1. A system for controlling usage of a communications system comprising:

means for determining that an activity has been requested of the communications system relating to communication between a first party using a telephone and a second party using an instant communications client;

means for determining whether a usage charge applies to the activity;

means for identifying an account to which the usage charge is to be applied;

means for determining whether the account can accommodate the usage charge; and

means for performing the activity responsive to whether the account can accommodate the usage charge.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the activity involves the first party establishing communications with the communications system.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the activity is establishing communications between the first party and the second party.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the charge is determined based upon the duration of a communications session between the first party and the second party.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the charge is determined based upon a quantity of data transported in the communications system in the course of a communications session between the first party and the second party.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein the activity involves using a translator to convert textual input from the second party into audio information for reception by the first party.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the charge is determined based upon selection of a specific spoken language according to which the translator converts audio information into text.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein the activity involves using a translator to convert audio information from the first party into textual information for transmitting to the instant communications client used by the second party.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the charge is determined based upon selection of a specific written language according to which the translator converts textual information into audio information.

14. The method of claim 5 wherein the parties are associated with identifiers in the communications system and wherein the activity involves determining that a first identifier and a second identifier are both associated with a common party.

15. The method of claim 5 wherein the activity relates to invoking an optional feature elected by at least one of the first party and the second party.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the feature relates to selection of desired speech characteristics in a text-to-speech translator acting to translate textual information from the second party into audio information.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the feature involves translating audio information into arrangements of symbols having conventionalized meaning in the context of textual communications between the first party and the second party.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the feature involves notifying at least one of the first party and the second party of an account balance.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the feature involves notifying at least one of the first party and the second party of applicable charges pertaining to a communications session.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

determining a charge associated with the use of the feature; and

notifying at least one of the first party and the second party of the charge associated with the use of the feature.

21. The method of claim 5 wherein the activity involves using a presence-determining element to determine whether the second party is available to communicate with the first party.

22. The method of claim 5 wherein the activity involves affecting profile data in the communications system pertaining to at least one of the first party and the second party.

23. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

determining an account to which the charge is to be applied; and

applying the charge to the account.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the account comprises at least one of a calling card account, a credit card account, a telephone subscriber account, an account with a business, and an account with a banking institution.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein information specifying the account is provided by the second party.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising reporting an amount of the usage charge to at least one of the first party and the second party.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

receiving indication from at least one of the first party and the second party that the usage charge is acceptable; and

performing the activity responsive to whether the usage charge is acceptable.

25-1. The method of claim 23 wherein information specifying the account is provided by the first party.

29. A system for assessing charges for usage of a communications system comprising:

means for receiving indication of activity of the communications system relating to communication between a first party via a telephony connection and a second party via an instant communications client; and

means for determining a charge to be assessed for the activity of the communications service responsive to the indication.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the activity relates to invoking an optional feature elected by at least one of the first party and the second party and the system further comprises:

means for determining a charge associated with the use of the feature; and

means for notifying at least one of the first party and the second party of the charge associated with the use of the feature.

31. The system of claim 29 further comprising:

means for determining an account to which the charge is to be applied; and

means for applying the charge to the account.

32. The system of claim 31 further comprising:

means for reporting the usage charge to at least one of the first party and the second party.

33. The system of claim 32 further comprising:

means for receiving indication from at least one of the first party and the second party that the usage charge is acceptable; and

means for performing the activity responsive to whether the usage charge is acceptable.

34. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes a processor to perform a method of assessing charges for usage of a communications system comprising:

receiving indication of activity of the communications system relating to communication between a first party via a telephony connection and a second party via an instant communications client; and

determining a charge to be assessed for the activity of the communications service responsive to the indication.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34 wherein the activity relates to invoking an optional feature elected by at least one of the first party and the second party and the method further comprises:

determining a charge associated with the use of the feature; and

notifying at least one of the first party and the second party of the charge associated with the use of the feature.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 34 wherein the method further comprises:

determining an account to which the charge is to be applied; and

applying the charge to the account.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the method further comprises:

reporting an amount of the usage charge to at least one of the first party and the second party.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 37 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving indication from at least one of the first party and the second party that the usage charge is acceptable; and

performing the activity responsive to whether the usage charge is acceptable.