Shared usage telecommunications billing system and method

• US 20050055291A1
• Filed: 09/04/2003
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Moran, Douglas Robert, Roper, Danny Lee, Anderson, Jennifer Lynn, Koeppen, Gregg R., Thane-Paquette, Michael, Wolken, Kimberly Renee, Bevente, Guy
• Granted Patent: US 7,987,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• 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 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/75 Account location specifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7652 shared by users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/773 per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless
• 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 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 2215/0164 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 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/72 Account specifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7245 Shared by users, e.g. group accounts or one account for different users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 : Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7268 : per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless

Abstract

In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method of providing a bill to a telecommunications subscriber. The method includes distributing a bill using shared account information to the telecommunications subscriber. The shared account information identifies shared telecommunications units used in connection with a first subscriber service and a second subscriber service. The first subscriber service is distinct from the second subscriber service. In another embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a telecommunications subscriber service package. The subscriber service package includes an allocation of shared account units. At least a portion of the allocation of shared account units is available for use of a first subscriber service and available for use of a second subscriber service. The first subscriber service is distinct from the second subscriber service.

Claims

1. A method of providing a bill to a telecommunications subscriber, the method comprising:

distributing a bill including shared account information to the telecommunications subscriber, the shared account information identifying shared telecommunication units used in connection with a first subscriber service and a second subscriber service, the first subscriber service being distinct from the second subscriber service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the shared telecommunication units are shared telecommunication minutes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first subscriber service is a land-line telecommunications service and the second subscriber service is a mobile telecommunications service.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the land-line telecommunications service comprises a long distance telephony service.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the land-line telecommunications service comprises a local telephony service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the bill further comprises charges for usage in excess of available shared telecommunication units identified by the shared account information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving first subscriber service usage;

receiving second subscriber service usage; and

determining whether the sum of the first subscriber usage and the second subscriber usage exceeds the shared telecommunication units.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the shared telecommunication units are used in connection with a third subscriber service.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the third subscriber service is a calling card service.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the shared account information further identifies a second set of telecommunication units.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second set of telecommunication units is applied to usage of the second subscriber service when the combined usage of the first subscriber service and the second subscriber service exceeds the shared telecommunication units.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the bill further includes charges for local calling service.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the bill further includes taxes.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the bill further includes charges associated with internet service.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the internet service comprises broadband service.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first subscriber service is associated with a first operating entity and the second subscriber service is associated with a second operating entity.

17. A telecommunications subscriber service package comprising:

an allocation of shared account units, at least a portion of the allocation of shared account units available for use of a first subscriber service and available for use of a second subscriber service, the first subscriber service being distinct from the second subscriber service.

18. The telecommunications subscriber package of claim 17, wherein the shared account units are shared minutes.

19. The telecommunications subscriber package of claim 17, wherein the first subscriber service is a land-line service and the second subscriber service is a wireless communication service.

20. The telecommunications subscriber package of claim 19, wherein the land-line service comprises a long-distance calling service.

21. The telecommunications subscriber package of claim 19, wherein the land-line service comprises a local calling service.

22. The telecommunications subscriber package of claim 17, further comprising:

a first subscriber service rate associated with usage of the first subscriber service.

23. The telecommunications subscriber package of claim 17, further comprising:

a second subscriber service rate associated with usage of the second subscriber service.

24. The telecommunications subscriber package of claim 17, further comprising a second allocation of subscriber account units.

25. The telecommunications subscriber package of claim 24, wherein the second allocation of subscriber account units is available for use in connection with the first subscriber service and the second subscriber service when the combined usage of the first subscriber service and the second subscriber service exceeds the allocation of the shared account units.

26. The telecommunications subscriber package of claim 24, wherein the second allocation of second subscriber account units is available during specific time periods.

27. The telecommunications subscriber package of claim 17, wherein the allocation of shared account units is available for a period of time.

28. The telecommunications subscriber package of claim 27, wherein the period of time is one month.

29. The telecommunications subscriber package of claim 27, wherein the availability of the allocation of shared account units is conditional upon payment of a fee.

30. The telecommunications subscriber package of claim 17, wherein an additional allocation of shared account units is provided.

31. The telecommunications subscriber package of claim 30, wherein the additional allocation of shared account units is provided upon payment of a fee.

32. The telecommunications subscriber package of claim 17, wherein an additional allocation of shared account units is provided monthly and wherein the subscriber package has a monthly subscription fee.

33. A method of providing a bill to a telecommunications subscriber, the method comprising:

receiving a first subscriber service invoice including shared account information, the shared account information identifying shared telecommunication minutes used in connection with a first subscriber service and a second subscriber service, the first subscriber service being a wireless phone service, the second subscriber service being a landline long distance service; and

distributing a bill including the shared account information to the telecommunications subscriber.