DETERMINING A TIME TO PERMIT A COMMUNICATIONS SESSION TO BE CONDUCTED
First Claim
1. In a telecommunications network, a computer-implemented method of determining a time to permit a communication session by telecommunications participants to be conducted, the method comprising:
- causing a telecommunications processor to retrieve, from a data storage;
a free time value that is representative of a free time attributed to a participant in the communication session;
a funds balance held by the participant;
a pre-stored cost per unit time value;
a representation of a billing pattern for the participant;
causing the telecommunications processor to determine a maximum time to permit the communication session to be conducted as a function of the free time value, the funds balance, the cost per unit time value and the billing pattern.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method to facilitate communication between telecommunications participants in a telecommunications network is disclosed. In one aspect, a method of determining a time to permit a communication session by telecommunications participants to be conducted includes causing a telecommunications processor to retrieve, from a data storage: a free time value that is representative of a free time attributed to a participant in the communications session, a funds balance held by the participant, a pre-stored cost per unit time value, and a representation of a billing pattern for the participant. The method also includes causing the telecommunications processor to determine a maximum time to permit the communication session to be conducted as a function of the free time value, the funds balance, the cost per unit time value and the billing pattern. The telecommunications processor initiates ending the communication session when the time to permit the communication session to be conducted expires.
19 Citations
37 Claims
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1. In a telecommunications network, a computer-implemented method of determining a time to permit a communication session by telecommunications participants to be conducted, the method comprising:
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causing a telecommunications processor to retrieve, from a data storage; a free time value that is representative of a free time attributed to a participant in the communication session; a funds balance held by the participant; a pre-stored cost per unit time value; a representation of a billing pattern for the participant; causing the telecommunications processor to determine a maximum time to permit the communication session to be conducted as a function of the free time value, the funds balance, the cost per unit time value and the billing pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In a telecommunications network, a system for determining a time to permit a communication session to be conducted, the system comprising:
a telecommunications processor configured to; retrieve, from a data storage; a free time value that is representative of a free time attributed to a participant in the communication session; a funds balance held by the participant; a pre-determined cost per unit time value; a representation of a billing pattern for the participant; determine a maximum time to permit the communication session to be conducted as a function of the free time value, the funds balance, the cost per unit time value and the billing pattern. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
Specification