Method and apparatus for recording and rating telecommunication transactions made over a communication network
First Claim
1. A method of deriving charges for a communications transaction completed over a communications network, comprising the steps of:
- storing rating parameters and a unique code for each of a plurality of Carrier Switched Network Point of Attachment (CSN POA) locations of said network,recording a code of at least one CSN POA location participating in the transaction, andcalculating a charge for said transaction using rating parameters associated with at least one recorded code of said transaction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transaction recording and rating method and apparatus rates communication transactions completed using one or more Carrier Switched Network Point Of Attachment (CSN POA) locations of a communication network. The network stores a unique code for each CSN POA location. The rating systems store rating parameters associated with each CSN POA code. During a transaction (e.g., a call), one or more CSN POA locations are identified and their CSN POA codes are recorded. A transaction charge is calculated from the prestored rating parameter(s) obtained using the one or more CSN POA codes in addition to other information.
62 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of deriving charges for a communications transaction completed over a communications network, comprising the steps of:
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storing rating parameters and a unique code for each of a plurality of Carrier Switched Network Point of Attachment (CSN POA) locations of said network, recording a code of at least one CSN POA location participating in the transaction, and calculating a charge for said transaction using rating parameters associated with at least one recorded code of said transaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a communication switching office for establishing and completing transactions made over facilities connected to said office, the method comprising the steps of:
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assigning a code to identify a Carrier Switched Network Point of Attachment (CSN POA) location where one or more facilities connected to said office interface with a CSN, and in response to a transaction completed over a facility connected to said CSN POA location, generating a billing record which includes said CSN POA code. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of operating a rating system for rating transactions placed over a communication network, the method comprising the steps of
storing transaction rating parameters associated with each of a plurality of CSN POA codes, each code assigned to an access location (CSN POA) of said communication network, receiving a transaction billing record including one or more CSN POA codes for a transaction completed over said communication network, and determining charges for each transaction using stored rating parameters associated with said CSN POA codes received in said transaction billing record.
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22. A method of operating a communication network including one or more switching offices and an associated rating system, said rating system arranged to rate transactions completed over the network, said method comprising the steps of:
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assigning codes to each of one or more access locations (CSN POAs) of the network, storing rating parameters associated with each CSN POA location, when a transaction is completed across the network, generating a billing record which includes the CSN POA code for one or more of the CSN POA locations used in said transaction, and calculating the charge for said transaction using the rating parameters associated with each CSN POA code recorded in said billing record. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A communication network comprising:
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one or more interconnected switches, trunk means for interfacing said switches with another network or customer, and a code for identifying a location (CSN POA) where each of said trunk means interfaces said network to said another network or customer. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. An originating switch for use in a communications network, comprising:
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means for receiving a transaction over a trunk connected to said switch, a code for identifying the location (CSN POA) where said trunk enters said network, and means for recording said code in a billing record for said transaction passing through said switch over said trunk. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A terminating switch for use in a communcation network, comprising
means for completing a transaction over a trunk connected to said switch, a code for identifying the location (CSN POA) where said trunk leaves said network, and means for recording said code in a billing record for said transaction passing through said switch over said trunk.
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31. Apparatus for deriving transaction charges for a communications transaction completed over a communications network comprising
means for storing rating parameters and a unique code for each of one or more Carrier Switched Network Point of Attachment (CSN POA) locations of said network, means for recording the code of at least one CSN POA location of a transaction, and means for calculating a transaction charge for said transaction using rating parameters associated with each recorded CSN POA code of said transaction.
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32. A rating system for rating transactions completed over a communication network comprising
means for storing transaction rating parameters associated with each of a plurality of CSN POA codes, each code assigned to a CSN POA access location of said communication network, means for receiving a transaction billing record including one or more CSN POA codes for a transaction completed over said communication network, and means for determining transaction charges for said transaction using stored transaction rating parameters associated with said CSN POA codes received in said transaction billing record.
Specification