Technique for assessing charges for a telecommunication service including information assistance

• US 20050018829A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
• Inventors: Baker, Nathan Bryant
• Granted Patent: US 6,999,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/207.20
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing

Abstract

A call to an information/call center is assigned a call sequence number. Call segments associated with the call sequence number are bundled as a single call session. A call session begins with the connection between the caller and the information/call center, and continues until that connection is torn down. Call segments are realized when connections are made or torn down between the information/call center and called parties. Each call is billed per call session, not per call segment. Call charges for each call session are determined, as are taxes allocated to one or more call segments.

Claims

1. A method for use by a service provider for providing at least an information assistance service, comprising:

receiving a call by a caller which includes at least one information assistance request, the call being realized by a connection from a first terminal associated with the caller to the service provider;

assigning an identifier to the call;

in response to the request, searching for a desired telephone number;

connecting the first terminal to a second terminal associated with the desired telephone number without terminating the connection;

generating a plurality of records for activities in a session during which the connection is maintained, the records including the identifier therein;

associating the records based on the identifier therein; and

determining a charge for the session based on selected ones of the records.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising dividing the session into call segments based on information in the selected records.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising dividing the session into tax segments based on information in the selected records.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein if a first call segment comprising an information assistance service is followed by a second call segment comprising a connection to the second terminal, a tax segment comprises the first and second segments.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the tax segment is charged tax at a selected tax rate if the first terminal is in a calling area different from the second terminal.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the tax segment is charged tax at a second tax rate if the first terminal is in the same calling area as the second terminal.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein if a first call segment comprising an information assistance service is not followed by a second call segment comprising a connection to the second terminal, a tax segment comprises the first segment only.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein a tax charged on the call is based on the time proportion of each tax segment compared to the time of the session.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein an amount of a charge for the call is based on the length of the session.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein an amount of a charge for the call is based on the durations of call segments and the number of call segments.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the call includes a second request for customer service.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the call includes a second request for a concierge-type service for providing information concerning a supplier of desired goods or services.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the concierge-type service includes making a reservation with the supplier.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein a database is searched for the desired telephone number.

15. A system for providing at least an information assistance service by a service provider, comprising:

an interface for receiving a call by a caller which includes at least one information assistance request, the call being realized by a connection from a first terminal associated with the caller to the service provider, the call being assigned an identifier;

a database server responsive to the request for searching for a desired telephone number, the first terminal being connected to a second terminal associated with the desired telephone number without terminating the connection;

one or more devices for generating a plurality of records for activities in a session during which the connection is maintained, the records including the identifier therein; and

a processor for associating the records based on the identifier therein, a charge for the session being determined based on selected ones of the records.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the session is divided into call segments based on information in the selected records.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the session is divided into tax segments based on information in the selected records.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein if a first call segment comprising an information assistance service is followed by a second call segment comprising a connection to the second terminal, a tax segment comprises the first and second segments.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the tax segment is charged tax at a selected tax rate if the first terminal is in a calling area different from the second terminal.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the tax segment is charged tax at a second tax rate if the first terminal is in the same calling area as the second terminal.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein if a first call segment comprising an information assistance service is not followed by a second call segment comprising a connection to the second terminal, a tax segment comprises the first segment only.

22. The system according to claim 17, wherein a tax charged on the call is based on the time proportion of each tax segment compared to the time of the session.

23. The system according to claim 16, wherein an amount of a charge for the call is based on the length of the session.

24. The system according to claim 16, wherein an amount of a charge for the call is based on the durations of call segments and the number of call segments.

25. The system according to claim 15, wherein the call includes a second request for customer service.

26. The system according to claim 15, wherein the call includes a second request for a concierge-type service for providing information concerning a supplier of desired goods or services.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the concierge-type service includes making a reservation with the supplier.