Systems and Methods to Convert a Free Call to a Fee-Based Call

• US 20070165804A1
• Filed: 03/05/2007
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: UTBK, Inc.
• Original Assignee: UTBK, Inc.
• Inventors: HIRSON, Ron, FABER, Scott, ALTBERG, Ebbe, VAN DER LINDEN, Sean, MANCA, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/682,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20070165804A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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 15/07 Split billing, i.e. both A-party and B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/12 Discriminative metering , charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8353 during the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/204 on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/24 with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0112 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2006 Fixed telephone network, e.g. POTS, ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/64 Split billing, sharing the cost of calls, e.g. between calling and called parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7806 Time based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8112 : during the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 : Available credit

Abstract

A method and system for converting a free call to a fee-based call are disclosed. According to an embodiment of the invention, an automated system establishes a connection between a first entity and a second entity. After the connection has been established, the system monitors the connection to determine if one participant has selected to convert the connection from a free connection to a fee-based connection. Upon detecting an indication that an entity has converted such a call, the system monitors the duration of the call to determine the proper fee for the connection.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing a first connection with a first entity and a second connection with a second entity;

joining the first connection and the second connection into a connection between the first entity and the second entity;

monitoring a communication between the first entity and the second entity to detect a pre-defined indication; and

changing a fee status for the connection between the first entity and the second entity in accordance with a detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing of the first connection with a first entity and the second connection with the second entity comprises:

a connection provider establishing a first Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) call with a telecommunication carrier which bridges the first VoIP call to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) to the first entity;

the connection provider establishing a second Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call with a telecommunication carrier which bridges the second VoIP call to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) to the second entity; and

wherein the joining of the first connection and the second connection comprises connecting the first and second VoIP calls.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a first virtual softphone of the telecommunication carrier terminates the first VoIP call for bridging onto a public switched telephone network (PSTN);

a second virtual softphone of the telecommunication carrier terminates the second VoIP call for bridging onto a public switched telephone network (PSTN); and

the connecting the first and second VoIP calls comprises;

directing the first and second softphones to establish a direct media connection which does not go through the connection provider.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein no fee is charged for the connection between the first entity and the second entity before the detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication;

and after the detected occurrence, a fee is charged based on a time duration starting from the detected occurrence, for the connection between the first entity and the second entity.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the pre-defined indication includes one or more signals generated according to pressing at least one key of a phone.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one key includes a # key or a * key.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more signals includes a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signal.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said monitoring comprises detecting the one or more signals from the first entity;

and the fee is charged to the first entity.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

detecting signals specifying a rate at which the first entity is charged after the detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication for the connection between the first entity and the second entity.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the rate is specified by the second entity.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a first voice prompt to the first entity to accept the rate to continue the connection between the first entity and the second entity before the detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first voice prompt is not provided to the second entity.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a second voice prompt to the second entity to specify the rate.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second voice prompt is not provided to the first entity.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitoring comprises detecting the pre-defined indication from the first entity;

the first entity is not charged for the connection between the first entity and the second entity before the detected occurrence;

the first entity is charged a fee for the connection between the first entity and the second entity starting from the detected occurrence; and

the method further comprises;

after the detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication, detecting a further pre-defined indication from the second entity;

wherein the first entity is not charged a fee for the connection between the first entity and the second entity maintained for a time duration after a detected occurrence of the further pre-defined indication from the second entity.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first connection and the second connection are initiated through a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a representation of a button for distribution by the second entity, the representation of the button comprising at least a reference to the second entity; and

wherein the first connection with a first entity and the second connection are established in response to the first entity activating the button presented by the second entity.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a telephonic contact of a server to the second entity;

wherein the second connection with the second entity is established in response to the first connection with the first entity is established with the server at the telephonic contact.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephonic contact comprises a telephone number of a circuit switched network.

20. A machine readable media embodying instructions, the instructions causing a machine to perform a method, the method comprising:

establishing a first connection with a first entity and a second connection with a second entity;

joining the first connection and the second connection into a connection between the first entity and the second entity;

monitoring a communication between the first entity and the second entity to detect a pre-defined indication; and

changing a fee status for the connection between the first entity and the second entity in accordance with a detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.

21. A data processing system, comprising:

means for establishing a first connection with a first entity and a second connection with a second entity;

means for joining the first connection and the second connection into a connection between the first entity and the second entity;

means for monitoring a communication between the first entity and the second entity to detect a pre-defined indication; and

means for changing a fee status for the connection between the first entity and the second entity in accordance with a detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.

22. A method, comprising:

providing a second entity with information pointing to a server, the information to be embedded in and presented with a document of the second entity;

receiving a request from a first entity for a telephonic connection between the first entity and the second entity, the request being generated using the information;

joining the first connection with the first entity and the second connection with the second entity into a telephonic connection between the first entity and the second entity;

detecting a pre-defined indication from the first entity; and

starting to charge the first entity a fee for the telephonic connection between the first entity and the second entity maintained in a time period after a detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication;

wherein the first entity is not charged a fee for the telephonic connection between the first entity and the second entity for a time duration ended at the detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.