System and method for generating call records based on account codes

• US 20040240647A1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Inventors: Tiliks, Dianna Inara, Book, Nancy Ann, Gruchala, Carol Shifrin, Crockett, Susanne Marie, Moss, John Wesley, Moy, William M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,095,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.14
• 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/50 for cross-charging network operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/52 Interconnection, inter-exchange, reseller billing, billing agreements between different operators, e.g. billing identifier added on the CDR in order to cross charge the other operator, inter-operator accounting, reconciliation, bill directly resellers customers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts

Abstract

A telecommunications service implements an account code reporting feature by storing an account code associated with a subscriber at a service control point (SCP) in the public switched telephone network (PSTN). When a call is initiated from the subscriber'"'"'s terminal, the SCP receives outgoing call data, including the subscriber'"'"'s telephone number, a called party number and an account code entered from the subscriber'"'"'s terminal. The SCP determines whether the call is subject to the account code reporting service and, if so, stores the call data. The SCP transmits the call data to a service management system accessible by the subscriber via a graphical user interface through a packet switched data network and an interactive voice response through the PSTN. The call is subject to the account code reporting service when the called party number is in the same local access and transport area as the subscriber'"'"'s telephone number.

Claims

1. A method for tracking calls from a subscriber number to called party numbers in the same local access and transport network (LATA) as the subscriber number, according to an intraLATA call tracking service, the method comprising:

receiving call data relating to an intraLATA call from the subscriber number;

when the intraLATA call tracking service is active, receiving a code entered from a terminal associated with the subscriber number;

comparing the received code with a previously stored subscriber account code;

when the received code matches the subscriber account code, storing data in association with the subscriber account code and continuing processing of the call, the data comprising at least the call data; and

when the received code does not match the subscriber account code, discontinuing processing of the call.

2. The method for tracking calls according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a report based on the stored call data; and

sending the report, via a packet switched data network, to a graphical user interface associated with the subscriber.

3. The method for tracking calls according to claim 1, in which the call data comprises AIN data.

4. The method for tracking calls according to claim 1, in which the call comprises an intraLATA toll call and the stored data further comprises a charge associated with the call.

5. The method for tracking calls according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the account code from the subscriber via one of a graphical user interface and an interactive voice response system; and

storing the account code in association with the subscriber number.

6. The method for tracking calls according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an service activation command from the subscriber via one of a graphical user interface and an interactive voice response system; and

activating the intraLATA call tracking service in response.

7. A computer readable medium for storing a computer program that enables collection of data relating to outgoing calls, placed from a terminal of an account code service subscriber, based on at least one predetermined account code associated with the subscriber, the computer readable medium comprising:

a first receiving source code segment that receives signaling data relating to an outgoing call from the subscriber terminal, the signaling data indicating at least a calling party number and a called party number;

a first determining source code segment that determines whether the calling party number is in the same local access and transport area (LATA) as the called party number, based on the signaling data;

a second receiving source code segment that receives a code entered at the subscriber terminal, when the calling party number and the called party number are in the same LATA;

a second determining source code segment that determines whether the received code matches the at least one predetermined account code associated with the subscriber;

a storing source code segment that stores at least a portion of the signaling data in association with the at least one predetermined account code when the received code matches the at least one predetermined account code; and

a terminating source code segment that initiates termination of the outgoing call when the second receiving source code segment does not receive the code entered by the subscriber or the second determining source code segment determines that the code entered by the subscriber does not match the at least one predetermined account code.

8. The computer readable medium according to claim 7, further comprising a transmitting source code segment that transmits the stored data to a server that is accessible by the subscriber via at least a graphical user interface through a packet switched data network.

9. The computer readable medium according to claim 8, in which the transmitting source code segment also transmits the stored data to a server that is accessible by the subscriber via an interactive voice response unit through a telecommunications network.

10. The computer readable medium according to claim 8, in which the stored data is accessible by the subscriber via the graphical user interface in near real-time.

11. The computer readable medium according to claim 8, further comprising a third receiving source code segment that receives instructions to change the least one account code associated with the subscriber via the graphical user interface.

12. The computer readable medium according to claim 7, in which the first determining source code segment further determines to apply the account code service based on the calling party number corresponding to the subscriber terminal.

13. The computer readable medium according to claim 7, in which the first determining source code segment further determines whether the account code service is activated.

14. The computer readable medium according to claim 13, in which the account code service is activated via on of the graphical user interface and the interactive voice response unit.

15. A method for tracking and controlling calls by a calling party from at least one subscriber directory number, in a local access and transport area (LATA) of a telecommunications network, to called party directory numbers in the same LATA, the at least one subscriber directory number having an associated account code, comprising one of a verified account code for tracking and completing the calls and an unverified account code for tracking the calls, the method comprising:

receiving data relating to an outgoing call from the at least one subscriber directory number, the data indicating the at least one subscriber directory number and a called party number;

determining whether the at least one subscriber directory number and the called party number are in the same LATA based on the received data;

when the at least one subscriber directory number and the called party number are in the same LATA, requesting entry of the account code associated with the at least one subscriber directory number and receiving a code entered by the calling party;

determining whether the entered code matches the account code;

when the entered code matches the account code, storing the data in association with the account code and processing the call;

when the entered code does not match the associated account code, determining whether the account code is a verified account code or an unverified account code;

when the account code is a verified code, terminating the call without storing the data; and

when the account code is an unverified account code, storing the data in association with the account code and processing the call.

16. The method for tracking and controlling calls according to claim 15, further comprising:

formatting the stored data; and

providing the formatted data to at least one of a graphical user interface and an interactive voice response system.

17. The method for tracking and controlling calls according to claim 16, further comprising:

receiving instructions to activate the tracking and controlling method via at least one of the graphical user interface and the interactive voice response system.

18. The method for tracking and controlling calls according to claim 15, in which the received data comprises AIN data.

19. The method for tracking and controlling calls according to claim 15, further comprising:

initially receiving the account code associated with the at least one subscriber directory number via a web server, accessible by a graphical user interface over a packet switched data network.

20. The method for tracking and controlling calls according to claim 19, in which the packet switched data network comprises the Internet.