Method of accounting fees in switching system and apparatus for performing same
First Claim
1. A method of accruing fees in a switching system for an electronic exchange mail service which includes a) an electronic exchange, b) subscribers'"'"' terminal equipment connected to said electronic exchange, c) mail storage means connected to the electronic exchange to provide a variety of mail services demanded by each call originating subscriber plurality of call originating subscribers to at least one call terminating subscriber of a plurality of subscribers, and d) accounting means connected to the electronic exchange, for accruing fees to be charged to a person specified by each call originating subscriber, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) requesting the mail storage means to store data as mail from a first call originating subscriber of said plurality of call originating subscribers;
(b) registering an accounting identification (ID) specified by the first call originating subscriber in the mail storage means and at least one call terminating number of the at least one call terminating subscriber to be provided with the mail;
(c) sending
1) the at least one call terminating number of the at least one call terminating subscriber and
2) the registered accounting identification (ID) to the electronic exchange when the mail storage means calls the at least one call terminating subscriber;
(d) performing a connection to said at least one call terminating subscriber to receive the mail in accordance with the at least one call terminating number sent from the mail storage means in the electronic exchange; and
(e) sending accounting information to the accounting means containing both the at least one call terminating number and the accounting identification (ID) sent from the mail storage means to charge fees to a person identified by the accounting identification (ID) specified by the call originating subscriber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A switching system having at least an electronic exchange, a mail service system and an accounting system. When a mail service demanding subscriber requests the provision of mail service such as facsimile and voice to a plurality of other subscribers, the accounting system can issue a bill to the service demanding subscriber by employing an accounting ID coupling unit in the mail system and an accounting ID separation unit in the electronic exchange. The accounting ID indicating the service demanding subscriber is coupled to each of the terminating numbers of the service receiving subscribers, and then separated therefrom in the electronic exchange to give the same to the accounting system, while the terminating numbers are used for an exchange of calls.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of accruing fees in a switching system for an electronic exchange mail service which includes a) an electronic exchange, b) subscribers'"'"' terminal equipment connected to said electronic exchange, c) mail storage means connected to the electronic exchange to provide a variety of mail services demanded by each call originating subscriber plurality of call originating subscribers to at least one call terminating subscriber of a plurality of subscribers, and d) accounting means connected to the electronic exchange, for accruing fees to be charged to a person specified by each call originating subscriber, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) requesting the mail storage means to store data as mail from a first call originating subscriber of said plurality of call originating subscribers; (b) registering an accounting identification (ID) specified by the first call originating subscriber in the mail storage means and at least one call terminating number of the at least one call terminating subscriber to be provided with the mail; (c) sending
1) the at least one call terminating number of the at least one call terminating subscriber and
2) the registered accounting identification (ID) to the electronic exchange when the mail storage means calls the at least one call terminating subscriber;(d) performing a connection to said at least one call terminating subscriber to receive the mail in accordance with the at least one call terminating number sent from the mail storage means in the electronic exchange; and (e) sending accounting information to the accounting means containing both the at least one call terminating number and the accounting identification (ID) sent from the mail storage means to charge fees to a person identified by the accounting identification (ID) specified by the call originating subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for accruing fees in a switching system for an electronic exchange mail service, comprising:
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an electronic exchange; a plurality of subscribers'"'"' equipment connected to said electronic exchange; mail storage means, connected to the electronic exchange, for providing a variety of mail services demanded by each call originating subscriber of a plurality of call originating subscribers to at least one call terminating subscriber of a plurality of subscribers; accounting means, connected to the electronic exchange, for charging fees to a person identified by an accounting identification (ID) specified by each of said call originating subscribers; first means operatively connected to the mail storage means, for registering an accounting identification (ID) to respective terminating numbers of respective call terminating subscribers of the plurality of call terminating subscribers to be given the mail service; and second means operatively connected to said first means and to the electronic exchange to receive said respective terminating numbers and said accounting identification (ID) from the first means and further connected to the accounting means through the electronic exchange, the second means also applying each of said terminating numbers from the mail storage means to the electronic exchange, and applying both the terminating numbers and a corresponding accounting identification (ID) from the mail storage means to said accounting means. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification