Cost-free calling system and method

• US 20070201643A1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David Greenlee, Tracie Eisenman
• Original Assignee: David Greenlee, Tracie Eisenman
• Inventors: Greenlee, David, Eisenman, Tracie
• Application Number:
  US11/644,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20070201643A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.210
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2006 Fixed telephone network, e.g. POTS, ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7806 Time based
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A telephone service that is completely free to the cell phone user provides a billing arrangement between a called party and a cellular service provider in which the called party agrees to assume all costs for calls to the called party by any cellular caller who is a customer of the cellular service supplier. Billing data for a cellular call from a caller to the called party is automatically captured by a logging computer for use by the cellular service provider to credit the caller for any charges normally associated with said call, and bill the called party for the call.

Claims

1. A method of cost-free telephone calling which enables all costs of a phone call from each of a plurality of cell phone callers to a called party to be borne by the called party, comprising the steps of

a. establishing a billing arrangement between the called party and a cell phone service provider for the callers,

b. automatically logging information about a telephone call from the callers to the called party and transmitting the logged information to the cell phone service provider,

c. crediting the costs of the telephone call to the callers so that the call is cost-free to the caller, and

d. charging the cost of the call to the called party.

2. The method of claim 1, including the steps of

e. establishing a billing arrangement between the called party and a plurality of different cell phone service providers, and

f. transmitting the logged information to the cell phone provider of the service used by each caller.

3. A method of billing for cellular telephone calls, comprising the steps of

a. forming a billing arrangement between a called party and a cellular service provider in which the called party agrees to assume all costs for calls to the called party by any cellular caller who is a customer of the cellular service supplier,

b. automatically capturing billing data for a cellular call from a caller to the called party for use by the cellular service provider,

c. using the billing data to credit the caller for any charges normally associated with said call, and

d. billing the called party for the call.

4. The method of claim 3, including the steps of

stablishing a billing arrangement between the called party and a plurality of different cell phone service providers, and

ransmitting the logged information to the cell phone provider of the service used by each caller.

5. The method of claim 4, including the further step of providing a third party to contract separately with the cellular service providers and with the designated called party to log and bill the calls.