Method and system for ordering a telecommunication service

• US 6,041,104 A
• Filed: 10/01/1997
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lipton, Marc Ira, Dunny, Gregory John
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US08/942,342
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.01, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/91.01, 379/92.02, 379/93.12, 379/93.13, 379/100.01, 379/112, 379/114, 379/116, 379/201, 379/265
• US Class Current: 379/67.1
• 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 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A method of providing a session for ordering a telecommunication service includes receiving a telecommunication call for ordering the telecommunication service, communicating a prerecorded terms and conditions message for the telecommunication service to an individual ordering the telecommunication service, and receiving a reply message to the terms and conditions message from the individual. The prerecorded terms and conditions message is communicated to the individual and the reply message is received during the telecommunication call. A system for providing the session is disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of providing a session for ordering a telecommunication service, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a telecommunication call for ordering the telecommunication service;

communicating a prerecorded terms and conditions contract message for the telecommunication service to an individual ordering the telecommunication service, the prerecorded terms and conditions contract message communicated to the individual during the telecommunication call and after the individual has indicated the telecommunication service being ordered;

receiving a reply message to the terms and conditions contract message from the individual, the reply message received during the telecommunication call, the reply message including a spoken message indicative of acceptance of the terms and conditions contract; and

creating and maintaining a record of the session in a database, the record including a recorded audio representation of at least a portion of the telecommunication call which documents that the individual has affirmatively accepted the terms and conditions contract.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the record includes subscriber identification information, service identification information, a time and a date at which the telecommunication service is ordered, and calling party identification for the telecommunication call.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the recorded audio representation is of a substantially entire portion of the telecommunication call to document that the individual has affirmatively accepted the terms and conditions contract.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of communicating a written confirmation which includes the terms and conditions contract to the individual.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the written confirmation is communicated by at least one of mail, a delivery service, or fax.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the terms and conditions contract message includes a verbal message.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the telecommunication service includes a telephone service.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the telecommunication call includes a voice call.

9. A method of providing a session for ordering a telephone service, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a telephone call for ordering the telephone service, wherein the telephone call is a voice call;

communicating a prerecorded terms and conditions contract message for the telephone service to an individual ordering the telephone service, the prerecorded terms and conditions contract message communicated to the individual during the telephone call and after the individual has indicated the telephone service being ordered, the prerecorded terms and conditions contract message including a verbal message;

receiving a reply message to the terms and conditions contract message from the individual, the reply message received during the telephone call, the reply message including a spoken message indicating an acceptance by the individual of the terms and conditions contract;

creating and maintaining a record in a database to document the acceptance of the terms and conditions contract, the record including a recorded audio representation of at least a portion of the telephone call which documents the acceptance of the terms and conditions contract; and

communicating a written confirmation of the terms and conditions contract to the individual.

10. A system for providing a session for ordering a telecommunication service, the system comprising:

a telephone network element to receive a telecommunication call for ordering the telecommunication service;

a storage medium having a prerecorded terms and conditions contract message for the telecommunication service;

a transmitter associated with the telephone network element and the storage medium to communicate the prerecorded terms and conditions contract message during the telecommunication call; and

a receiver associated with the telephone network element to receive a reply message to the terms and conditions contract message during the telecommunication call, wherein the reply message includes a spoken message indicative of acceptance of the terms and conditions contract;

a processor in communication with the receiver; and

a database in communication with the processor;

wherein the processor creates a record of the session in the database, wherein the database maintains a recorded audio representation of at least a portion of the telecommunication call which documents that an individual has affirmatively accepted the terms and conditions contract.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the record includes subscriber identification information, service identification information, a time and a date at which the telecommunication service is ordered, and calling party identification for the telecommunication call.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the recorded audio representation is of a substantially entire portion of the call to document that the individual has affirmatively accepted the terms and conditions contract.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising at least one of a printer and a facsimile machine to generate a written confirmation of the terms and conditions.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the terms and conditions contract message includes a verbal message.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the telecommunication service includes a telephone service.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the telecommunication call includes a voice call.

17. An article of manufacture, the article of manufacture comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium; and

computer-readable data stored by the computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable data operative to direct a system for providing a session for ordering a telecommunication service to perform steps of;

receiving a telecommunication call for ordering the telecommunication service;

communicating a prerecorded terms and conditions contract message for the telecommunication service to an individual ordering the telecommunication service, the prerecorded terms and conditions contract message communicated to the individual during the telecommunication call and after the individual has indicated the telecommunication service being ordered;

receiving a reply message to the terms and conditions contract message from the individual, the reply message received during the telecommunication call, the reply message including a spoken message indicative of acceptance of the terms and conditions contract; and

creating and maintaining a record of the session in a database, the record including a recorded audio representation of at least a portion of the telecommunication call which documents that the individual has affirmatively accepted the terms and conditions contract.