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

• US 20070230674A1
• Filed: 06/13/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• 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:
  US11/762,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20070230674A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.10
• 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 connection for real time communications between a first entity and a second entity; and

changing a fee status for the connection in accordance with an input received from the first entity after the connection is established between the first entity and the second entity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a communication reference for distribution by the first entity;

wherein the connection for real time communications between the first entity and the second entity is established in response to a request from the second entity made via the communication reference.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the communication reference comprises a

representation of a button for distribution by the first entity;

and

wherein the request from the second entity is in response to the second entity activating the representation of the button.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the communication reference comprises a telephone number of a connection server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the establishing of the connection comprises:

a connection server 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 server 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

bridging the first and second VoIP calls.

6. The method of claim 5, 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 bridging of 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 server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection for real time communications between the first entity and the second entity comprises a telephonic connection between the first entity and the second entity.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the input is received at a telephonic apparatus of the first entity used for the connection.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the telephonic apparatus comprises a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a WiFi phone, a Bluetooth phone, a softphone, a USB phone, a software based phone, an IP phone, or a VoIP terminal;

and the input received from the first entity comprises activating one or more buttons on the telephonic apparatus.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the input is received via a graphical user interface, a web based interface, a VoIP terminal, or an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second entity is not charged by the first entity for real time communications with the first entity before the input is received from the first entity.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein after the input, a fee is charged based on a time duration of real time communications between the first entity and the second entity.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein after the input, the second entity is charged a fee independent of a time duration for real time communications between the first entity and the second entity.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the time duration for real time communications between the first entity and the second entity is limited to be less than a duration pre-specified according to the input received from the first entity.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the input received from the first entity includes a price specified by the first entity for a service provided over the connection for real time communications between the first entity and the second entity.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the fee status is changed further according to an input received from the second entity.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the input received from the first entity comprises a request to charge the second entity;

and the input received from the second entity comprises an acceptance of the request; and

the method further comprises;

providing a prompt to the second entity to accept the price specified by the first entity.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection for real time communications between the first entity and the second entity is initiated through a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system.

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

establishing a connection for real time communications between a first entity and a second entity; and

changing a fee status for the connection in accordance with an input received from the first entity after the connection is established between the first entity and the second entity.

20. A system, comprising:

means for establishing a connection for real time communications between a first entity and a second entity; and

means for changing a fee status for the connection in accordance with an input received from the first entity after the connection is established between the first entity and the second entity.