Missed calls accounting and reporting system

• US 5,528,676 A
• Filed: 08/29/1994
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel D. Feinsmith, Michael A. Sussell
• Original Assignee: Daniel D. Feinsmith, Michael A. Sussell
• Inventors: Feinsmith, Daniel D., Sussell, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOOMIS, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US08/298,223
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 379/34, 379/111, 379/112, 379/113, 379/121, 379/130, 379/131, 379/132, 379/133, 379/140, 379/157, 379/139
• US Class Current: 379/111
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42127 Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58

Abstract

A method is disclosed for monitoring the activity of a subscriber line to determine the adequacy of the current service and service options. Central to the method is determining the number of missed calls and attempted calls to the line in a given time period. A missed call is defined as a call which is not received due to the line being busy or unattended. The method comprises the steps of: monitoring the subscriber line for activity; determining the number of attempted calls to the line in a period of time; determining the number of missed calls to the line in the period of time; and generating a missed calls percentage which can be presented to the subscriber to show the inadequacy of the current level of subscriber service.

Claims

1. A method for determining the adequacy of the current service and service options of a subscriber line, the method comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring the activity of a subscriber line;

b) determining the number of attempted calls to the subscriber line in a unit time;

c) determining the number of missed calls to the subscriber line in the unit time; and

d) performing statistical computations with the number of attempted calls to the subscriber line, determined in step b, and the number of missed calls to the subscriber line, determined in step c, wherein the statistical calculation is a missed calls percentage which is the percentage the missed calls is of the attempted calls, and wherein the percentage of missed calls is further processed and categorized into a plurality of daily time slots.

2. A method for determining the adequacy of the current service and service options of a subscriber line, the method comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring the activity of a subscriber line;

b) determining the number of attempted calls to the subscriber line in a unit time;

c) determining the number of missed calls to the subscriber line in the unit time; and

d) performing statistical computations with the number of attempted calls to the subscriber life, determined in step b, and the number of missed calls to the subscriber line, determined in step c, wherein the statistical calculation is a missed calls percentage which is the percentage the missed calls is of the attempted calls, and wherein the missed calls percentage further comprises a busy missed calls percentage and an unattended missed calls percentage.

3. A method for determining the adequacy of the current service and selection of service options of a subscriber line, the method comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring the activity of a subscriber line;

b) determining the number of attempted calls to the subscriber line in a unit time;

c) determining the number of missed calls to the subscriber line in the unit time;

d) performing statistical computations with the number of attempted calls to the subscriber line, determined in step b, and the number of missed calls to the subscriber line, determined in step c, wherein the statistical calculation is a missed calls percentage which is the percentage the missed calls is of the attempted calls;

e) installing a custom service option; and

f) repeating recited steps a through d to determine a modified missed calls percentage.

6. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the missed calls percentage and the modified missed calls percentage is an unattended missed calls percentage, and the custom service option is selected from voice mail and call forwarding.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the missed calls percentage and the modified missed calls percentage is a busy missed calls percentage, and the custom service option is selected from call waiting, transfer on busy, and the installation of an additional subscriber line.

4. A method for determining the adequacy of the current service and service options of a subscriber line, the method comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring the activity of a subscriber line;

b) determining the number of attempted calls to the subscriber line in a unit time;

c) determining the number of missed calls to the subscriber line in the unit time;

d) performing statistical computations with the number of attempted calls to the subscriber line, determined in step b, and the number of missed calls to the subscriber line, determined in step c, wherein the statistical calculation is a missed calls percentage which is the percentage the missed calls is of the attempted calls, and wherein the subscriber line is associated with a callee telephone number, and the missed calls percentage is determined and a subscriber line is added for the callee telephone number repeatedly until the missed calls percentage is acceptable.

5. A method for determining the adequacy of the current service and service options of a subscriber line, the method comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring the activity of a subscriber line;

b) determining the number of attempted calls to the subscriber line in a unit time;

c) determining the number of missed calls to the subscriber line in the unit time;

d) performing statistical computations with the number of attempted calls to the subscriber line, determined in step b, and the number of missed calls to the subscriber line, determined in step c, and

wherein the step of determining the number of missed calls further comprises a step selected from the group consisting of;

determining that the subscriber line is off-hook, and the subscriber line does not have a voice mail capability and does not have a call waiting service option; and

determining that the subscriber line is on-hook and the caller has hung up.