Method and apparatus for billing voice calls over an internet protocol network according to bandwidth criteria

• US 20040136361A1
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mspip LLC
• Original Assignee: Michael Holloway, Samuel Shiffman, Unipoint Holdings, Inc. (TNCI Operating Co. LLC)
• Inventors: Shiffman, Samuel R., Holloway, J. Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,420,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• 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 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/82 Criteria or parameters used for performing billing operations
• 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 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2046 Hybrid network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/78 Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A telecommunication service charges for voice calls entering a network over a particular time period, such as a billing period. A parameter or parameters related to the number of information units (e.g., packets, bytes or bits) used to transmit the plurality of voice calls over the network is measured. A charge for the plurality of voice calls is computed based on the one or more parameters measured. The one or more parameters may be used to compute a charge for the plurality of voice calls based on the total number of information units transmitted, average number of information units transmitted, peak information units transmitted over the billing period or some combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method of charging for a plurality of voice calls received into a packetized voice network, comprising:

determining one or more parameters associated with a number of information units used to transmit the plurality of voice calls over the packetized voice network; and

preparing a bill for the plurality of voice calls as a function of the one or more parameters.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more parameters, is used to prepare the bill according to a total number of information units transmitted during a predetermined period.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more parameters is used to prepare the bill according to an average number of information units transmitted during a predetermined period.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more parameters is used to prepare the bill according to a peak number of information units transmitted during a predetermined time period.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the information units are transmitted over a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) network.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein a network management protocol determines the one or more parameters associated with the number of information units-transmitted.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the voice calls include modem calls.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the voice calls are received into the network form one or more ingress points.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein at least one of the ingress points is coupled to a public switched telephone network.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein at least one of the ingress points is coupled to another packetized network.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more parameters are used to prepare the bill according to at least one of a total number of information units transmitted, an average number of information units transmitted, and a peak number of information units transmitted.

12. A computer program product encoded in at least one computer readable medium to implement a billing program for a packetized network carrying voice traffic:

a first instruction sequence executable to retrieve from a storage location a measure of network utilization associated with a plurality of voice calls received into the packetized network, the measure being a function of a number of information units transmitted over the network to carry the voice calls; and

a second instruction sequence executable to determine a charge for the plurality of voice calls according to the measure of the network utilization.

13. The computer program product as recited in claim 12 wherein the network utilization measure is a function of an average number of the information units transmitted.

14. The computer program product as recited in claim 12 wherein the network utilization measure is a function of a peak number of the information units transmitted.

15. The computer program product as recited in claim 12,

wherein the at least one computer readable medium is selected from the set of a disk, tape or other magnetic, optical, or electronic storage medium and a network, wireline, wireless or other communications medium.

16. A method of determining a cost for a plurality of voice calls transmitted into a network, comprising:

determining one or more measurements indicative of network utilization for the plurality of voice calls, the one or more measurements being related to a number of information units transmitted into the network and associated with a digital representation of the voice calls; and

determining a cost for the plurality of voice calls as a function of the one or more measurements.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the one or more measurements includes a number of information units transmitted from one or more ingress points into the network.

18. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the one or more measurements includes an average number of information units transmitted from one or more ingress points into the network.

19. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the one or more measurements is a function of a peak number of information units transmitted from one or more ingress points into the network.

20. A method of charging for a plurality of voice calls entering a network, comprising:

receiving a plurality of voice calls into the network;

measuring a parameter related to a number of information units transmitted over a time interval, the information units being associated with the voice calls; and

computing a cost for the voice calls based at least in part on the measured parameter.

21. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the cost is computed according to a total number of information units transmitted into the network during the time interval.

22. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the cost is computed according to a peak number of information units transmitted into the network.

23. A method of generating a bill for use of a network carrying voice traffic:

retrieving from a storage location one or more network utilization measures associated with a plurality of calls received into the network, the one or more network utilization measures being related to a number of information units transmitted into the network and associated with the calls; and

calculating a charge for the plurality of calls as a function of the network utilization measures.

24. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein the calls are voice calls.

25. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein the calls include modem calls.

26. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein the one or more network utilization measures include at least one of a measure of peak information units transmitted, a measure of average information units transmitted and a measure of a total number of information units.

27. A method for providing telecommunication services over a network comprising:

providing a telecommunication service in which calls entering the network are charged as a function of a number of information units used to transport the calls across the network; and

receiving the calls into the network.

28. A method for providing telecommunication services over a network comprising:

establishing a billing relationship with a user of the telecommunication services, the billing relationship providing for charging for a group of calls received into the network as a function of a number of information units used to transport the calls across the network; and

receiving the group of calls into the network in accordance with the billing relationship.