METHOD OF ENABLING OPERATORS TO ALLOW THEIR CUSTOMERS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN CALLING-PARTY-PAYS AND RECEIVING-PARTY-PAYS ON INCOMING CALLS
First Claim
1. A method for allowing calling-party-pays charging on roaming calls, comprising:
- receiving, at a network, a request for an originating device to connect to a roaming device;
determining whether the roaming device is in a cellular local network or outside the cellular local network, wherein the roaming device is roaming only if the roaming device is outside the cellular local network;
if the roaming device is roaming outside the cellular local network;
determining from a database whether the originating device is in a list;
if the originating device is in the list, connecting the originating device and roaming device and billing the charge for the connection to the roaming device;
if the originating device is not in the list;
prompting a message to the originating device, wherein the message prompts the originating device to pay the charge for the connection;
if the originating device transmits an acceptance of the charge for the connection, connecting the originating device to the roaming device and billing the charge to the originating device; and
if the originating device rejects the charge for the connection, terminating the connection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and methods are described which enable cellular operators to implement the Calling Party Pays (“CPP”) approach for roaming charges. Mobile Service Providers are enabled to allow their roaming customers to choose between the CPP approach and the Receiving Party Pays (“RPP”) approach on specific incoming roaming calls. Before a call from an originating caller to a Roaming customer is connected, a party is advised of the charge that he will incur by virtue of the Roaming customer being outside his cellular local network, and is given an opportunity to accept the charge. In addition, roaming customers may determine the charge a specific caller will pay for a call.
42 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method for allowing calling-party-pays charging on roaming calls, comprising:
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receiving, at a network, a request for an originating device to connect to a roaming device; determining whether the roaming device is in a cellular local network or outside the cellular local network, wherein the roaming device is roaming only if the roaming device is outside the cellular local network; if the roaming device is roaming outside the cellular local network; determining from a database whether the originating device is in a list; if the originating device is in the list, connecting the originating device and roaming device and billing the charge for the connection to the roaming device; if the originating device is not in the list; prompting a message to the originating device, wherein the message prompts the originating device to pay the charge for the connection; if the originating device transmits an acceptance of the charge for the connection, connecting the originating device to the roaming device and billing the charge to the originating device; and if the originating device rejects the charge for the connection, terminating the connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for managing roaming charges for a mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a network, a request for an originating device to connect with the mobile device; determining a charge required to be accepted by the originating device to connect with the mobile device; transmitting, from the network to the originating device, a request to accept the charge; receiving, at the network, an acceptance of the charge; completing the connection between the originating device and the mobile device; and charging the charge to an account associated with the originating device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for managing roaming charges for a roaming customer telephony device, comprising the steps of:
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identifying a contact telephony device attempting to establish a connection to a roaming customer telephony device, wherein the connection is at least partially wireless; associating the contact telephony device with a contact entry stored in a database; determining a roaming status of the roaming customer telephony device; determining a service level associated with the contact entry; providing the associated service level to the contact telephony device; and providing the contact telephony device with an opportunity to accept or reject the connection based on the associated service level. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A system for directing charges for connecting to a mobile device, the system implemented for use in a network adapted to accept incoming calls from an originating device that are directed to a telephone number, and to establish a connection between the originating device and a mobile device associated with the telephone number, the connection permitting bi-directional transmission of voice data between the originating device and the mobile device, the system comprising:
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a pass list comprising at least one selected from the group of phone number, area code, contact identifier or search string; a call transition module adapted to automatically establish a connection between the originating device and the mobile device if the originating device is identified on the pass list; a presenter adapted to transmit a request to incur a charge to the originating device, and to receive a response to the request; a switch adapted to establish a connection between the originating device and the mobile device where the presenter receives a response to the request that indicates acceptance of the charge; a biller adapted to direct the charge to an account associated with the originating device. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A system for a redirecting a roaming charge for a mobile device, the system implemented for use in a network adapted to accept incoming calls from an originating device that are directed to a telephone number, and to establish a connection between the originating device and the mobile device associated with the telephone number, which mobile device is located outside its cellular local network, the connection permitting bi-directional transmission of voice data between the originating device and the mobile device, the system comprising:
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a charge determiner adapted to quantify the mobile device roaming charge for a connection between the originating device and the mobile device, the mobile device roaming charge being a charge associated with the mobile device being located outside its cellular local network; and a biller adapted to bill the mobile device roaming charge to the originating device'"'"'s telephone number. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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44. A system for a redirecting a roaming charge for a mobile device, the system implemented for use in connection with a network adapted to accept incoming calls from an originating device that are directed to a telephone number, and to establish a connection between the originating device and the mobile device associated with the telephone number, which mobile device is located outside its cellular local network, the connection permitting bi-directional transmission of voice data between the originating device and the mobile device, the system comprising:
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a charge determiner adapted to quantify the mobile device roaming charge for a connection between the originating device and the mobile device, the mobile device roaming charge being a charge associated with the mobile device being located outside its cellular local network; and a presenter adapted to present a request to incur the mobile device roaming charge to the originating device, and to receive a response to the request; and a charge acceptor adapted to send an indication of an acceptance of the mobile device roaming charge to the network adapted to establish a connection between the originating device and the mobile device associated with the telephone number.
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45. A method for directing roaming charges for a mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, within a network, a request for a connection between an originating device and a mobile device; determining a charge required for the connection between the network and the mobile device; transmitting, from the network, in response to the request for the connection, a request to accept the required charge for the connection; receiving, at the network, an acceptance of the required charge for the connection; establishing the connection between the originating device and the mobile device; and charging the charge to an account associated with acceptor of the required charge. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification