Conference billing system with ID tagging
First Claim
1. In a telecommunications network, a system for processing billing information of a conference of calls carried on said telecommunications network, comprising:
- reservation means for using information provided by a conference leader to generate a file referencing said conference, said file including an identifier for said conference;
switch means, in receipt of a dial-in call for said conference during call setup of said conference, for querying a database to retrieve routing information therefrom for routing said dial-in call, said dial-in call being tagged with said identifier;
a conference bridge for connecting said dial-in call to said conference in response to the routing thereof by said switch means, a call record that includes said identifier being generated by said switch means; and
processing means for using said identifier to create a billing record for said dial-in call, group said dial-in call with calls of said conference, and print an invoice to be provided to at least one party identified to be responsible for charges incurred for said conference.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A conference billing system with ID tagging allocates charges for a conference based on a prior reservation. The billing system also supports different tariffs and pricing structures for individual call legs in the conference, such as audio, video, digital data, or mixed. In addition, the billing system prepares a consolidated bill for dial-in and dial-out calls based on a unique ID assigned to each conference. The bill contains the description of the conference with its individual call legs grouped together for easy identification and verification by the customer, even though the individual call legs of the conference may be serviced by different long distance switching offices.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a telecommunications network, a system for processing billing information of a conference of calls carried on said telecommunications network, comprising:
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reservation means for using information provided by a conference leader to generate a file referencing said conference, said file including an identifier for said conference; switch means, in receipt of a dial-in call for said conference during call setup of said conference, for querying a database to retrieve routing information therefrom for routing said dial-in call, said dial-in call being tagged with said identifier; a conference bridge for connecting said dial-in call to said conference in response to the routing thereof by said switch means, a call record that includes said identifier being generated by said switch means; and processing means for using said identifier to create a billing record for said dial-in call, group said dial-in call with calls of said conference, and print an invoice to be provided to at least one party identified to be responsible for charges incurred for said conference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a telecommunications network, a system for processing billing information of a conference of calls carried on said telecommunications network, comprising:
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reservation means for using information provided by a conference leader to generate a file referencing said conference, said file including an identifier for said conference; a conference bridge for receiving said identifier; switch means, in receipt of a dial-out call from said conference, for retrieving from said conference bridge said identifier and tagging said dial-out call with said identifier during call setup, said switch means generating a call record that includes said identifier; and processing means connected to said reservation means and said switch means for using said identifier to create a billing record for said dial-out call, group said dial-out call with calls of said conference, and print an invoice to be provided to at least one party identified to be responsible for charges incurred for said conference. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of processing billing information for a conference of calls carried on a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating a file relating to said conference based on information provided by a conference leader; (b) assigning an identifier to each call of said conference during a call setup; (c) creating a call record for said each call upon its completion; (d) using said identifier for processing billing information for said conference including generating a billing record for said each call, grouping said each call with other calls of said conference, and printing an invoice to be provided to at least one party identified to be responsible for charges incurred for said conference. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification