SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LEAST COST CALL ROUTING AMONG MULTIPLE SERVICE PROVIDERS

• US 20160337833A1
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Published: 11/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Choupin, Ombeline, Benko, John, Jain, Akshay, Yu, Dachuan
• Application Number:
  US15/112,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20160337833A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/10 Metering calls from calling party , i.e. A-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/805 Bidding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8055 Selecting cheaper transport technology for a given service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8351 before establishing a communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/851 Determined tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A system and method for call routing among multiple service providers is disclosed. In one aspect, a call dialed by the user is directed to a call routing broker for determination of a cost effective or otherwise best call option for the user. If an option to place a call through a service provider that does not incur extra charge and does not accrue data or minutes against a plan quota, the call will be placed through that service provider. If only an option to place the call through a service provider that does not incur extra charge but does accrue data and/or minutes is identified, the call will be placed through that service provider. If only an option to place the call through a service provider that does incur extra charge, the call will be placed through a service provider selected based in part on the best rates.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

routing a call from a caller'"'"'s communication device to a recipient with a broker application hosted on the communication device, the method comprising the following acts performed by the communication device;

receiving a destination number for the call;

identifying a plurality of communication services available to the communication device to call the destination number;

obtaining cost factor information for the plurality of available communication services using an application interface of at least one communication service provider;

determining cost of calling the destination number through each of the plurality of communication services based on the cost factor information;

selecting a communication service from the plurality of communication services based at least in part on the determined cost; and

placing the call to the destination number through the selected communication service.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging the broker application provider for the call to the destination; and

billing the communication device through the caller'"'"'s carrier using a carrier application interface.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating call rate information from an over-the-top communication service provider.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of available communication services includes at least one voice-over-IP service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the optimal communication service is based in part on quality of service (QoS) of the communication service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the optimal communication service is based in part on existence of an installed application for the communication service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the call to the destination number is performed using the broker application provider'"'"'s account with the selected communication service.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost factor information includes at least one of:

time of day;

country of destination;

call rate set by an over-the-top communication service provider;

over-the-top communication service account of the caller;

carrier of the caller;

carrier of the recipient;

call history of the caller;

availability of the recipient through at least one of the communication services;

existence of the caller'"'"'s communication service account;

predetermined rate of at least one of the plurality of communication services;

carrier plan of the caller; and

network connectivity.

9. A communication device for routing a call from a caller to a recipient with a broker application hosted on the communication device, the communication device comprising:

a processor configured by software to;

receive a destination number for the call;

identify a plurality of communication services available to the communication device to call the destination number;

obtain cost factor information for the plurality of available communication services using an application interface of at least one communication service provider;

determine cost of calling the destination number through each of the plurality of communication services based on the cost factor information;

select a communication service from the plurality of communication services based at least in part on the determined cost; and

place the call to the destination number through the selected communication service.

10. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the system is further configured to:

charge the broker application provider for the call to the destination; and

bill the communication device through the caller'"'"'s carrier using a carrier application interface.

11. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the system is further configured to:

update call rate information from an over-the-top communication service provider.

12. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of available communication services includes at least one voice-over-IP service.

13. The communication device of claim 9, wherein selecting the optimal communication service is based in part on quality of service (QoS) of the communication service.

14. The communication device of claim 9, wherein selecting the optimal communication service is based in part on existence of an installed application for the communication service.

15. The communication device of claim 9, wherein placing the call to the destination number is performed using the broker application provider'"'"'s account with the selected communication service.

16. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the cost factor information includes at least one of:

time of day;

country of destination;

call rate set by an over-the-top communication service provider;

over-the-top communication service account of the caller;

carrier of the caller;

carrier of the recipient;

call history of the caller;

availability of the recipient through at least one of the communication services;

existence of the caller'"'"'s communication service account;

predetermined rate of at least one of the plurality of communication services;

carrier plan of the caller; and

network connectivity.

17. An application embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the application being configured to route a call from a caller'"'"'s communication device to a recipient, the application comprising instructions for:

receiving a destination number for the call;

identifying a plurality of communication services available to the communication device to call the destination number;

obtaining cost factor information for the plurality of available communication services using an application interface of at least one communication service provider;

determining cost of calling the destination number through each of the plurality of communication services based on the cost factor information;

selecting a communication service from the plurality of communication services based at least in part on the determined cost; and

placing the call to the destination number through the selected communication service.

18. The application of claim 17, further comprising instructions for:

charging the broker application provider for the call to the destination; and

billing the caller through the caller'"'"'s carrier using a carrier application interface.

19. The application of claim 17, further comprising instructions for:

updating call rate information from an over-the-top communication service provider.

20. The application of claim 17, wherein the plurality of available communication services includes at least one voice-over-IP service.

21. The application of claim 17, wherein selecting the optimal communication service is based in part on quality of service (QoS) of the communication service.

22. The application of claim 17, wherein selecting the optimal communication service is based in part on existence of an installed application for the communication service.

23. The application of claim 17, wherein placing the call to the destination number is performed using the broker application provider'"'"'s account with the selected communication service.

24. The application of claim 17, wherein the cost factor information includes at least one of:

time of day;

country of destination;

call rate set by an over-the-top communication service provider;

over-the-top communication service account of the caller;

carrier of the caller;

carrier of the recipient;

call history of the caller;

availability of the recipient through at least one of the communication services;

existence of the caller'"'"'s communication service account;

predetermined rate of at least one of the plurality of communication services;

carrier plan of the caller; and

network connectivity.