Secure internet-based call accounting service

• US 20050044360A1
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Wengrovitz
• Original Assignee: Michael Wengrovitz
• Inventors: Wengrovitz, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/942,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20050044360A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/165
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• 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 15/31 Distributed metering or calculation of charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• 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 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• 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 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• 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 2215/96 Distributed calculation of charges, e.g. in different nodes like for mobiles between HLR and VLR, or between the terminal and the billing function
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13339 Ciphering, encryption, security
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/625 Arrangements in the private branch exchange

Abstract

A system and method for providing call accounting services in a secure, cost-effective manner. A network enterprise includes an intelligent ticket collector (ITC) that retrieves call detail record (CDR) data generated by one or more private branch exchange units. The ITC retrieves the CDR data and transmits it, through encrypted email or other encrypted means, to a service provider over the Internet. The service provider receives, decrypts, and processes the CDR data for generating a call accounting report.

Claims

1. A system for providing call accounting services, the system comprising:

a first network collecting and encrypting call parameter information; and

a second network receiving, decrypting, and processing the call parameter information for generating a usage profile;

wherein the call parameter information is transmitted from the first network to the second network over a public computer network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network is an enterprise network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network includes:

a private branch exchange unit for generating the call parameter information;

a storage device for storing the call parameter information; and

an encrypter for encrypting the call parameter information.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second network is a service provider network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the public computer network is a public internet.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the encrypted call parameter information is transmitted via electronic mail.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the usage profile includes call cost information.

8. An intelligent ticket collector comprising:

an input for receiving call parameter information;

an encrypter for encrypting the call parameter information; and

an output for transmitting to a call accounting service provider the encrypted call parameter information via public computer network, wherein the call accounting service provider receives, decrypts, and processes the call parameter information for generating a usage profile.

9. The intelligent ticket collector of claim 8, wherein the public computer network is a public internet.

10. The intelligent ticket collector of claim 8, wherein the encrypted call parameter information is transmitted via electronic mail.

11. The intelligent ticket collector of claim 8, wherein the usage profile includes call cost information.

12. A method for providing call accounting services for an enterprise, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving call parameter information from a storage location;

encrypting the retrieved call parameter information; and

transmitting to a call accounting service provider the encrypted call parameter information via a public computer network, wherein the call accounting service provider receives, decrypts, and processes the call parameter information for generating a usage profile.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the public computer network is a public internet.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the encrypted call parameter information is transmitted via electronic mail.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the usage profile includes call cost information.

16. A system for providing call accounting services, the system comprising:

a call accounting application service provider network wherein the call accounting application service provider network receives and decrypts call parameter information and derives from the decrypted call parameter information a usage profile; and

an enterprise network comprising;

a private branch exchange unit for generating the call parameter information;

a storage device for storing the call parameter information generated by the private branch exchange; and

an intelligent ticket collector for polling stored call parameter information within the enterprise network, the intelligent ticket collector comprising;

an input for receiving the polled call parameter information;

an encrypter for encrypting the received call parameter information;

a data transfer protocol stack; and

an output for transmitting to the call accounting application service provider network the encrypted call parameter information via a data network.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the enterprise network further comprises a network access server for receiving the encrypted call parameter information transmitted from the intelligent ticket collector and wherein the encrypted call parameter information is transmitted to the call accounting application service provider network from the network assess server via the data network.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the enterprise network transmits the encrypted call parameter information to the call accounting application service provider network as electronic mail.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the storage device of the enterprise network is a buffer in direct communication with the public branch exchange.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the enterprise network further comprises a switching node for generating call information for calls managed by the switching node, wherein the switching node includes one or more internal buffers for storing the call parameter information generated by the switching node.