Method and system for determining optimal call periods in accordance with caller and callee parameters

• US 5,978,455 A
• Filed: 05/23/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnson, William J., He, Jingsha
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC MINH
• Application Number:
  US08/862,283
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111-115, 379/121, 379/220-222, 379/130-134, 379/144, 379/127, 379/142, 379/201
• 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 15/28 with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list

Abstract

A methodology for determining optimal calling periods of an automated telephone system allows a user of the automated telephone system to access billing plan and detailed rate information prior to completing a toll telephone call. The user may request billing rate information for the applicable billing rate plan by entering an entire valid DTMF sequence. The optimal call periods billing information is extracted in accordance with callee and caller parameters and when the toll telephone call is to be placed. A user accessing billing rate information can use the billing rate information to determine prior to completing the toll telephone call when the optimal billing period will occur. The user can then make an informed decision as to when to complete the toll telephone call. Upon request, the user is automatically connected to the called party and the toll telephone call is completed.

Claims

1. A method for providing billing rate information to a user of an originating switch automated telephone system after the user is connected to said originating switch and prior to the user completing a telephone call, said method comprising:

monitoring the automated telephone system for a valid sequence entered by the user prior to the entering of called party digits used for establishing a telephone call connection;

establishing a start timestamp of a billing rate information service when the user has entered the valid sequence prior to establishing the telephone call connection;

determining the telephone number of the user and the telephone number dialed by the user;

routing the telephone call to an automated response unit service that provides billing rate information to the user prior to the user completing the telephone call;

releasing the telephone call back to the originating switch;

establishing a stop timestamp of the billing rate information service;

inquiring whether the user would like to complete the telephone call; and

completing the telephone call if the user has indicated to complete the telephone call and not completing the telephone call if the user has indicated to not complete the telephone call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein after establishing a stop timestamp and prior to inquiring whether the user would like to complete the telephone call, further comprising:

cutting a billing record for the duration of the billing rate information service, wherein the duration of the billing rate information service is determined by the start timestamp and the stop timestamp.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the automated telephone system for a valid sequence entered by the user is accomplished by the originating switch.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein releasing the telephone call back to the originating switch is triggered when the user enters a valid termination sequence for automatically performing the telephone call.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein releasing the telephone call back to the originating switch is triggered when the user indicates a desire to receive no more billing rate information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the automated response unit service provides billing rate information to the user prior to the user completing the telephone call by performing the following:

accessing the applicable billing plan determined by the telephone number of the user and the telephone number dialed by the user;

providing billing rate information on the type of the applicable billing plan to the user;

simultaneously to providing billing rate information on the type of the applicable billing plan to the user, accessing a billing rate database of the applicable billing plan;

providing a selectable billing rate menu to the user from which the user can select to receive time-partitioned billing information from the billing rate database;

after the user has made a selection from the selectable billing rate menu, providing the requested time-partitioned billing information to the user;

prompting the user to make an additional selection from the selectable billing rate menu; and

if the user does not make an additional selection from the selectable billing rate menu, releasing the telephone call back to the originating switch, and if the user does make an additional selection from the selectable billing rate menu, providing the requested time-partitioned billing information to the user.

7. A method for providing billing rate information to a user of an originating switch automated telephone system after the user is connected to said originating switch and prior to the user completing a telephone call, said method comprising:

monitoring the automated telephone system for a valid sequence entered by the user prior to the entering of called party digits used for establishing a telephone call connection;

establishing a start timestamp of a billing rate information service when the user has entered the valid sequence prior to establishing the telephone call connection, and not establishing the start timestamp when the user has not entered the valid sequence prior to establishing the telephone call connection;

determining the telephone number of the user and the telephone number dialed by the user;

routing the telephone call to an automated response unit service that provides billing rate information to the user prior to the user completing the telephone call;

releasing the telephone call back to the originating switch;

establishing a stop timestamp of the billing rate information service;

cutting a billing record for the duration of the billing rate information service, wherein the duration of the billing rate information service is determined by the start timestamp and the stop timestamp;

inquiring whether the user would like to complete the telephone call; and

completing the telephone call if the user has indicated to complete the telephone call and not completing the telephone call if the user has indicated to not complete the telephone call.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein when the user has not entered the valid sequence prior to establishing the telephone call connection, the originating switch waits for the user to enter the valid sequence for a predetermined period of time.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein if the user still has not entered the valid sequence during the predetermined period of time, the telephone call is processed for an off-hook timeout condition.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein releasing the telephone call back to the originating switch is triggered when the user enters a valid termination sequence for automatically performing the telephone call.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the automated response unit service provides billing rate information to the user prior to the user completing the telephone call by performing the following:

accessing the applicable billing plan determined by the telephone number of the user and the telephone number dialed by the user;

providing information on the type of the applicable billing plan to the user;

simultaneously to playing information on the type of the applicable billing plan to the user, accessing a billing rate database of the applicable billing plan;

providing a selectable billing rate menu to the user from which the user can select to receive time-partitioned billing information from the billing rate database;

after the user has made a selection from the selectable billing rate menu, providing the requested time-partitioned billing information to the user;

prompting the user to make an additional selection from the selectable billing rate menu;

if the user does not make an additional selection from the selectable billing rate menu, releasing the telephone call back to the originating switch, and if the user does make an additional selection from the selectable billing rate menu, providing the requested time-partitioned billing information to the user.

12. A method of providing a calling party with call rates prior to completing a call connection to a called party from an automated telephone system comprising:

monitoring, at an automated telephone system originating switch of a calling party user requesting service, for a given sequence of inputs entered by said user signifying a billing rate data request prior to entering the called party digits;

determining the telephone number of the calling party user and the telephone number of a party to be called;

routing the request to an automated response unit service that provides billing rate information to the user prior to said user completing a telephone call; and

releasing the call back to the originating switch whereby said user may, upon a review of received billing information, signify to said automated telephone system that a connection should be completed to said party to be called.

13. Apparatus for providing a calling party with call rates prior to completing a call connection to a called party from an automated telephone system comprising:

monitoring means, at an automated telephone system originating switch of a calling party user requesting service, for detecting a given sequence of inputs entered by said user signifying a billing rate data request prior to entering the called party digits;

means for determining the telephone number of the calling party user and the telephone number of a party to be called;

routing means for directing the request to an automated response unit service that provides billing rate information to the user prior to said user completing a telephone call; and

means for releasing the call back to the originating switch whereby said user may, upon a review of received billing information, signify to said automated telephone system that a connection should be completed to said party to be called.

14. A method for providing billing rate information to a user of an originating switch automated telephone system prior to the user completing a telephone call, said method comprising:

monitoring the automated telephone system for a valid sequence entered by the user prior to establishing a telephone call connection;

establishing a start timestamp of a billing rate information service when the user has entered the valid sequence prior to establishing the telephone call connection;

determining the telephone number of the user and the telephone number dialed by the user;

routing the telephone call to an automated response unit service that provides billing rate information to the user prior to the user completing the telephone call; and

releasing the telephone call back to the originating switch, wherein releasing the telephone call back to the originating switch is triggered when the user enters a valid termination sequence for automatically performing the telephone call;

establishing a stop timestamp of the billing rate information service;

inquiring whether the user would like to complete the telephone call; and

completing the telephone call if the user has indicated to complete the telephone call and not completing the telephone call if the user has indicated to not complete the telephone call.

15. A method for providing billing rate information to a user of an originating switch automated telephone system prior to the user completing a telephone call, said method comprising:

monitoring the automated telephone system for a valid sequence entered by the user prior to establishing a telephone call connection;

establishing a start timestamp of a billing rate information service when the user has entered the valid sequence prior to establishing the telephone call connection;

determining the telephone number of the user and the telephone number dialed by the user;

routing the telephone call to an automated response unit service that provides billing rate information to the user prior to the user completing the telephone call;

releasing the telephone call back to the originating switch, wherein releasing the telephone call back to the originating switch is triggered when the user indicates a desire to receive no more billing rate information;

establishing a stop timestamp of the billing rate information service;

inquiring whether the user would like to complete the telephone call; and

completing the telephone call if the user has indicated to complete the telephone call and not completing the telephone call if the user has indicated to not complete the telephone call.

16. A method for providing billing rate information to a user of an originating switch automated telephone system prior to the user completing a telephone call, said method comprising:

monitoring the automated telephone system for a valid sequence entered by the user prior to establishing a telephone call connection;

establishing a start timestamp of a billing rate information service when the user has entered the valid sequence prior to establishing the telephone call connection;

determining the telephone number of the user and the telephone number dialed by the user;

routing the telephone call to an automated response unit service that provides billing rate information to the user prior to the user completing the telephone call;

releasing the telephone call back to the originating switch;

establishing a stop timestamp of the billing rate information service;

inquiring whether the user would like to complete the telephone call; and

completing the telephone call if the user has indicated to complete the telephone call and not completing the telephone call if the user has indicated to not complete the telephone call, wherein providing billing rate information to the user prior to the user completing the telephone call comprises the steps of;

accessing the applicable billing plan determined by the telephone number of the user and the telephone number dialed by the user;

providing billing rate information on the type of the applicable billing plan to the user;

simultaneously to providing billing rate information on the type of the applicable billing plan to the user, accessing a billing rate database of the applicable billing plan;

providing a selectable billing rate menu to the user from which the user can select to receive time-partitioned billing information from the billing rate database;

after the user has made a selection from the selectable billing rate menu, providing the requested time-partitioned billing information to the user;

prompting the user to make an additional selection from the selectable billing rate menu; and

if the user does not make an additional selection from the selectable billing rate menu, releasing the telephone call back to the originating switch, and if the user does make an additional selection from the selectable billing rate menu, providing the requested time-partitioned billing information to the user.

17. A method for providing billing rate information to a user of an originating switch automated telephone system prior to the user completing a telephone call, said method comprising:

monitoring the automated telephone system for a valid sequence entered by the user prior to establishing a telephone call connection;

establishing a start timestamp of a billing rate information service when the user has entered the valid sequence prior to establishing the telephone call connection, and not establishing the start timestamp when the user has not entered the valid sequence prior to establishing the telephone call connection;

determining the telephone number of the user and the telephone number dialed by the user;

routing the telephone call to an automated response unit service that provides billing rate information to the user prior to the user completing the telephone call;

releasing the telephone call back to the originating switch when the user enters a valid termination sequence for automatically performing the telephone call;

establishing a stop timestamp of the billing rate information service;

cutting a billing record for the duration of the billing rate information service, wherein the duration of the billing rate information service is determined by the start timestamp and the stop timestamp;

inquiring whether the user would like to complete the telephone call; and

completing the telephone call if the user has indicated to complete the telephone call and not completing the telephone call if the user has indicated to not complete the telephone call.

18. A method for providing billing rate information to a user of an originating switch automated telephone system prior to the user completing a telephone call, said method comprising:

monitoring the automated telephone system for a valid sequence entered by the user prior to establishing a telephone call connection;

establishing a start timestamp of a billing rate information service when the user has entered the valid sequence prior to establishing the telephone call connection, and not establishing the start timestamp when the user has not entered the valid sequence prior to establishing the telephone call connection;

determining the telephone number of the user and the telephone number dialed by the user;

routing the telephone call to an automated response unit service that provides billing rate information to the user prior to the user completing the telephone call;

releasing the telephone call back to the originating switch;

establishing a stop timestamp of the billing rate information service;

cutting a billing record for the duration of the billing rate information service, wherein the duration of the billing rate information service is determined by the start timestamp and the stop timestamp;

inquiring whether the user would like to complete the telephone call; and

completing the telephone call if the user has indicated to complete the telephone call and not completing the telephone call if the user has indicated to not complete the telephone call, wherein providing billing rate information to the user prior to the user completing the telephone call comprises the steps of;

accessing the applicable billing plan determined by the telephone number of the user and the telephone number dialed by the user;

providing information on the type of the applicable billing plan to the user;

simultaneously to playing information on the type of the applicable billing plan to the user, accessing a billing rate database of the applicable billing plan;

providing a selectable billing rate menu to the user from which the user can select to receive time-partitioned billing information from the billing rate database;

after the user has made a selection from the selectable billing rate menu, providing the requested time-partitioned billing information to the user;

prompting the user to make an additional selection from the selectable billing rate menu;

if the user does not make an additional selection from the selectable billing rate menu, releasing the telephone call back to the originating switch, and if the user does make an additional selection from the selectable billing rate menu, providing the requested time-partitioned billing information to the user.