Method and system for improving the billing of multiple customer services

• US 20060098797A1
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rancont, Nancy W., Wells, Betty M., Roman, Pamela D., Unkenholz, Douglas B., Cauthren, Lesa J.
• Application Number:
  US10/985,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20060098797A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/126
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• 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 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

Abstract

A method and system are provided for improving the billing of multiple customer services. The method includes determining a first billing interval for a first customer service, determining a different billing interval for an additional customer service, determining a periodic billing charge for the first billing interval, determining a periodic billing charge for the additional billing interval, and generating a bill at the end of the first billing interval including a total billing charge. The total billing charge includes the periodic billing charges for the first billing interval and the additional billing interval. The additional billing interval may be based on an installation date of the additional customer service, a predetermined time period, or a preexisting billing interval. If the additional billing interval is based on the installation date, then partial month charges may be avoided for newly added customer services. If additional billing interval is based on the preexisting billing interval, then partial month charges may be avoided for customer services converted to a single billing system.

Claims

1. A method for the improved billing of multiple customer services, comprising:

determining a first billing interval for a first customer service;

determining at least one additional billing interval for at least one additional customer service, wherein the at least one additional billing interval is not equivalent to the first billing interval;

determining a periodic billing charge for the first billing interval;

determining a periodic billing charge for the at least one additional billing interval; and

generating a bill at the end of the first billing interval comprising a total billing charge, the total billing charge comprising the periodic billing charges for the first billing interval and the at least one additional billing interval.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one additional billing interval is based on an installation date of the at least one additional customer service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one additional billing interval is based on a predetermined time period.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one additional billing interval comprises a preexisting billing interval for the at least one additional customer service.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising disconnecting the first customer service and the at least one additional customer service, wherein disconnecting the customer services comprises:

determining a disconnect date for the customer services; and

generating a final bill comprising a final billing charge for the first customer service and a final billing charge for the at least one additional customer service, based on the disconnect date.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein generating a final bill comprising a final billing charge for the first customer service and a final billing charge for the at least one additional customer service, based on the disconnect date, comprises:

determining whether a time period remains in the first billing interval for the first customer service based on the disconnect date;

if a time period remains in the first billing interval, then calculating the final billing charge for the first customer service based on the remaining time period;

determining whether a time period remains in the at least one additional billing interval for the at least one additional customer service based on the disconnect date; and

if a time period remains in the at least one additional billing interval, then calculating the final billing charge for the at least one additional customer service based on the remaining time period.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating the final billing charge for the first customer service based on the remaining time period comprises calculating a partial credit based on the remaining time period in the first billing interval.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating the final billing charge for the first customer service based on the remaining time period comprises calculating a partial charge based on the remaining time period in the first billing interval.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating the final billing charge for the at least one additional customer service based on the remaining time period comprises calculating a partial credit based on the remaining time period in the at least one additional billing interval.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating the final billing charge for the at least one additional customer service based on the remaining time period comprises calculating a partial charge based on the remaining time period in the at least one additional billing interval.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first customer service and the at least one additional customer service are currently billed customer services.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first customer service and the at least one additional customer service are newly billed customer services.

13. A system for the improved billing of multiple customer services, comprising:

a first billing database for storing first billing interval data and first billing charge data for a first customer service, wherein the first billing interval data comprises a first billing interval for the first customer service and the first billing charge data comprises a first periodic billing charge for the first billing interval;

a second billing database for storing second billing interval data and second billing charge data for a second customer service, wherein the second billing interval data comprises a second billing interval for the second customer service and the second billing charge data comprises a second periodic billing charge for the second billing interval, and wherein the second billing interval is not equivalent to the first billing interval; and

a billing engine, in communication with the first billing database and the second billing database, wherein the billing engine is operative to generate a bill at the end of the first billing interval comprising a total billing charge, the total billing charge comprising the periodic billing charges for the first billing interval and the second billing interval.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the billing engine is further operative to disconnect the first customer service and the second customer service by determining a disconnect date for the customer services and generating a final bill comprising a final billing charge for the first customer service and a final billing charge for the second customer service, based on the disconnect date.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein in generating a final bill the billing engine is further operative to:

determine whether a time period remains in the first billing interval for the first customer service based on the disconnect date;

if a time period remains in the first billing interval, then calculate the final billing charge for the first customer service based on the remaining time period;

determine whether a time period remains in the second billing interval for the second customer service based on the disconnect date; and

if a time period remains in the second billing interval, then calculating the final billing charge for the second customer service based on the remaining time period.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein in calculating the final billing charge for the first customer service based on the remaining time period the billing engine is further operative to calculate a partial credit based on the remaining time period in the first billing interval.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein in calculating the final billing charge for the first customer service based on the remaining time period the billing engine is further operative to calculate a partial charge based on the remaining time period in the first billing interval.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein in calculating the final billing charge for the second customer service based on the remaining time period the billing engine is further operative to calculate a partial credit based on the remaining time period in the second billing interval.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein in calculating the final billing charge for the second customer service based on the remaining time period the billing engine is further operative to calculate a partial charge based on the remaining time period in the second billing interval.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the second billing interval is based on an installation date of the second customer service.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the second billing interval is based on a predetermined time period.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the second billing interval comprises a preexisting billing interval for the second customer service.

23. A computer-readable medium containing computer executable instructions which when executed on a computer perform a method for the improved billing of multiple customer services, the method comprising:

determining a first billing interval for a first customer service;

determining at least one additional billing interval for at least one additional customer service, wherein the at least one additional billing interval is not equivalent to the first billing interval; and

determining a periodic billing charge for the first billing interval;

determining a periodic billing charge for the at least one additional billing interval; and

generating a bill at the end of the first billing interval comprising a total billing charge, the total billing charge comprising the periodic billing charges for the first billing interval and the at least one additional billing interval.