Methods, Systems, and Products for Billing Calls

• US 20080310614A1
• Filed: 08/26/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ward, Jonathan O.
• Granted Patent: US 8,611,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/221.14
• 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 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8061 Selecting least cost route depending on origin or type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7471 Select route depending on origin or type of service, e.g. route TDMA voice calls differently than VoIP calls

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for routing a communication. An identifier of an origination point of the communication is received. A destination point associated with a destination of the communication is determined. The origination point and the destination point are analyzed to determine whether the communication may be entirely routed within a local service provider'"'"'s geographic area.

Claims

1. A method of routing a communication, comprising:

receiving an identifier of an origination point of the communication;

determining a destination point associated with a destination of the communication; and

analyzing the origination point and the destination point to determine whether the communication may be entirely routed within a local service provider'"'"'s geographic area.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising discriminating the communication from other communications not originating and terminating within the local service provider'"'"'s geographic area.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the communication is toll-free.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing an originating number for the communication.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing for the communication at a selected rate.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing for the communication at a selected rate derived from a volume of communications routed to the destination point.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing for the communication at a selected rate derived from a volume of communications routed from the origination point.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing for the communication at a selected rate derived from a subscription term associated with communications routed to the destination point.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing for the communication at a selected rate derived from a subscription term associated with communications routed from the origination point.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the identifier of the origination point comprises receiving an originating number associated with the communication.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the destination point comprises receiving a destination number associated with the communication.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining when the originating point and the destination point are within a same service area.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the communication as a local call.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the communication as a toll call.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising routing the communication to the destination point.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a record of the communication.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a billing statement for the communication.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a subscriber'"'"'s modification of a terminating number.

19. A system for routing a communication, comprising:

means for receiving an identifier of an origination point of the communication;

means for determining a destination point associated with a destination of the communication; and

means for analyzing the origination point and the destination point to determine whether the communication may be entirely routed within a local service provider'"'"'s geographic area.

20. A computer program product storing processor executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving an identifier of an origination point of the communication;

determining a destination point associated with a destination of the communication; and

analyzing the origination point and the destination point to determine whether the communication may be entirely routed within a local service provider'"'"'s geographic area.