Origin device order billing according to caller

• US 20050238151A1
• Filed: 06/22/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: James Mark Weaver, Joseph Herbert Mcintyre, Michael A. Paolini, Michael Wayne Brown, Scott Lee Winters
• Inventors: Winters, Scott Lee, Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Weaver, James Mark, McIntyre, Joseph Herbert
• Granted Patent: US 7,394,893 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• 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 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• 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 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set
• 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 2215/7254 Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier

Abstract

A method, system, and program for billing for order places from an origin device according to the current caller billing plan are provided. A billing plan associated with an authenticated caller identity of a caller using an origin device is accessed by a vendor order center during a call placed to the vendor order center. At least one account provider is specified in the billing plan. A selection of one from among multiple account providers is specified for the order. The caller then authorizes the order and a bill for the order is transferred according to the authenticated caller identifier and the authorization for the account provider selection, such that the vendor order center is enabled to bill for the order with limited authenticated account information.

Claims

1. A method for controlling telephone orders, comprising:

receiving a billing plan for an authenticated caller identifier of a caller during a call placed to a vendor order center, wherein at least one account provider is specified in said billing plan;

specifying an order with a selection of one from among said at least one account provider specified for billing for said order;

receiving an authorization from said caller for said order;

transferring a bill for said order according to said authenticated caller identifier and said authorization for said selection of one from among said at least one account provider, such that said vendor order center is enabled to bill for said order with limited account information.

2. The method for controlling telephone orders according to claim 1, wherein said at least one account provider comprises at least one from among a credit account provider, a debit account provider, and a savings account provider.

3. The method for controlling telephone orders according to claim 1, wherein said authenticated caller identifier comprises a caller name.

4. The method for controlling telephone orders according to claim 1, wherein said at least one account provider is specified for a context of said call.

5. The method for controlling telephone orders according to claim 1, wherein said billing plan further comprises at least one shipping address.

6. The method for controlling telephone orders according to claim 1, wherein specifying an order further comprises:

automatically specifying said selection of one from among at least one account provider where one account provider is provided.

7. The method for controlling telephone orders according to claim 1, further comprising:

specifying said selection of one from among at least one account provider according to a selection by said caller.

8. The method for controlling telephone orders according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a first account provider for billing for said order; and

only adjusting said selection if said caller requests selection options of another account provider.

9. The method for controlling telephone orders according to claim 1, wherein receiving an authorization comprises receiving a keypad authorization entry by said call from an origin device.

10. The method for controlling telephone orders according to claim 1, wherein receiving an authorization comprises receiving a voice authorization entry by said call from an origin device.

11. The method for controlling telephone orders according to claim 1, wherein receiving an authorization comprises receiving a touch selection authorization entry by said call from an origin device.

12. The method for controlling telephone orders according to claim 1, wherein transferring a bill further comprises:

transferring said bill to said selection of one from among said at least one account provider.

13. The method for controlling telephone orders according to claim 1, wherein transferring a bill further comprises:

transferring said bill to a billing service enabled to negotiate payment from said selection of one from among said at least one account provider to a vendor account provider.

14. The method for controlling telephone orders according to claim 1, wherein said vendor ordering center comprises a single terminal.

15. The method for controlling telephone orders according to claim 1, wherein said vendor ordering center comprises a call center enabled with an interactive voice recognition unit for facilitating order placement.

16. The method for controlling telephone orders according to claim 1, wherein said vendor ordering center comprises a call center managing a plurality of representatives.

17. A system for controlling telephone orders, comprising:

a server system enabled for processing a call;

means for receiving a billing plan for an authenticated caller identifier of a caller during a call placed to a vendor order center at said server system, wherein at least one account provider is specified in said billing plan;

means for specifying an order with a selection of one from among said at least one account provider specified for billing for said order;

means for receiving an authorization from said caller for said order;

means for transferring a bill for said order according to said authenticated caller identifier and said authorization for said selection of one from among said at least one account provider.

18. The system for controlling telephone orders according to claim 17, wherein said at least one account provider comprises at least one from among a credit account provider, a debit account provider, and a savings account provider.

19. The system for controlling telephone orders according to claim 17, wherein said authenticated caller identifier comprises a caller name.

20. The system for controlling telephone orders according to claim 17, wherein said at least one account provider is specified for a context of said call.

21. The system for controlling telephone orders according to claim 17, wherein said billing plan further comprises at least one shipping address.

22. The system for controlling telephone orders according to claim 17, wherein said means for specifying an order further comprises:

means for automatically specifying said selection of one from among at least one account provider where one account provider is provided.

23. The system for controlling telephone orders according to claim 17, further comprising:

means for specifying said selection of one from among at least one account provider according to a selection by said caller.

24. The system for controlling telephone orders according to claim 17, further comprising:

means for selecting a first account provider for billing for said order; and

means for only adjusting said selection if said caller requests selection options of another account provider.

25. The system for controlling telephone orders according to claim 17, wherein receiving an authorization comprises receiving a keypad authorization entry by said call from an origin device.

26. The system for controlling telephone orders according to claim 17, wherein receiving an authorization comprises receiving a voice authorization entry by said call from an origin device.

27. The system for controlling telephone orders according to claim 17, wherein receiving an authorization comprises receiving a touch selection authorization entry by said call from an origin device.

28. The system for controlling telephone orders according to claim 17, wherein said means for transferring a bill further comprises:

means for transferring said bill to said selection of one from among said at least one account provider.

29. The system for controlling telephone orders according to claim 17, wherein said means for transferring a bill further comprises:

means for transferring said bill to a billing service enabled to negotiate payment from said selection of one from among said at least one account provider to a vendor account provider.

30. The system for controlling telephone orders according to claim 17, wherein said vendor ordering center comprises a single terminal.

31. The system for controlling telephone orders according to claim 17, wherein said vendor ordering center comprises a call center enabled with an interactive voice recognition unit for facilitating order placement.

32. The system for controlling telephone orders according to claim 17, wherein said vendor ordering center comprises a call center managing a plurality of representatives.

33. A computer program product for controlling telephone orders, comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for enabling receipt of a billing plan for an authenticated caller identifier of a caller during a call placed to a vendor order center, wherein at least one account provider is specified in said billing plan;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for specifying an order with a selection of one from among said at least one account provider specified for billing for said order;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for receiving an authorization from said caller for said order;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for controlling transfer of a bill for said order according to said authenticated caller identifier and said authorization for said selection of one from among said at least one account provider.

34. The computer program product for controlling telephone orders according to claim 33, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for automatically specifying said selection of one from among at least one account provider where one account provider is provided.

35. The computer program product for controlling telephone orders according to claim 33, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for specifying said selection of one from among at least one account provider according to a selection by said caller.

36. The computer program product for controlling telephone orders according to claim 33, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for selecting a first account provider for billing for said order; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for only adjusting said selection if said caller requests selection options of another account provider.

37. The computer program product for controlling telephone orders according to claim 33, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for controlling transfer of said bill to said selection of one from among said at least one account provider.

38. The computer program product for controlling telephone orders according to claim 33, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for controlling transfer of said bill to a billing service enabled to negotiate payment from said selection of one from among said at least one account provider to a vendor account provider.

39. A method for account management, comprising:

receiving a bill for an order placed via a telephone call, wherein a billed party is identified by an voice authenticated identifier; and

providing payment for said bill from an account managed according to said voice authenticated identifier.

40. The method for account management according to claim 39, wherein said bill is received from a secure billing service negotiating payment from said billed party to a vendor.

41. The method for account management according to claim 39, wherein said bill is received for a vendor order center.

42. The method for account management according to claim 39, wherein said bill is received for an individual.

43. A method for managing payments, comprising:

receiving a bill for an order placed by a plurality of callers via a telephone call, wherein said plurality of callers splitting a cost of said bill are each identified by one of a plurality of voice authenticated identifiers; and

facilitating payment for said bill from a plurality of account providers according to said plurality of voice authenticated identifiers; and

providing a single payment transaction for said bill to an account provider for a billing party.