Voice mail based billing delivery system

• US 6,201,956 B1
• Filed: 09/24/1998
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sbc Holdings Properties, LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Tehan, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, DORIS HA
• Application Number:
  US09/159,583
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/405, 455/412, 455/413, 455/422, 455/507, 455/575, 379/111-114, 379/115, 379/133, 379/134, 379/126
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• 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 15/04 Recording calls , or communications in printed, perforated or other permanent form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/34 Charging, billing or metering arrangements for private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/53 using mediation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/84 Types of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/253 where a visual mode is used instead of a voice mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0172 Mediation, i.e. device or program to reformat CDRS from one or more switches in order to adapt to one or more billing programs formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/81 Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8129 Type of notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method and system for the delivering bills to subscribers of wireless telecommunication services, and the subsequent retrieval of the same, using a voice mail system is disclosed. In an aspect of the invention, a bill is generated from billing information obtained from a billing center containing the call details of individual subscribers. The generated bill is translated into a format comprising synthesized speech message describing the bill specifics. Alternatively, the bill may be translated into a computer readable file capable of being downloading by a computer. The translated bill is stored in the subscriber'"'"'s voice mailbox following which, a notification is sent to the subscriber to indicate its arrival. The bill can be subsequently retrieved by the subscriber by accessing the voice mailbox with either a phone or a computer. The invention permits cost effective and timely delivery of bills without having to rely on a third party for delivery. Moreover, the subscriber is able to attain access to their bill from any location.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a bill to a subscriber of a wireless telecommunication network using a voice mail system comprising the steps of:

collecting billing information by a billing center linked to said network and wherein said billing information includes detailed information on calls made by said subscriber;

processing said billing information into a bill that is in a compatible format for storage in said associated voice mailbox;

storing said bill in a voice mailbox associated with said subscriber within said voice mail system;

notifying said subscriber of said stored bill;

accessing said voice mailbox by said subscriber; and

retrieving said bill from said voice mailbox.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said processing step includes translating said billing information into a voice message bill.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said retrieving step includes accessing said mailbox from a phone by listening to said voice message bill.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said processing step includes translating said billing information into a bill that is a computer readable file.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said retrieving step includes accessing said mailbox with computer and downloading said computer readable file.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said storing step is performed by dialing to the destination with a standard modem.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said notifying step includes displaying an voice mail indicator symbol on the subscriber'"'"'s mobile station.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said notifying step includes sending an short message service message for display on the subscriber'"'"'s mobile station.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said voice mail system is incorporated for use with said wireless telecommunication network.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein said voice mail system is incorporated for use with a remote private branch exchange (PBX).

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said storing step includes dialing directly to a selected mailbox within said voice mail system.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein an acknowledgment of the retrieved bill is indicated in the billing center.

13. A system in wireless telecommunication network for delivering bills to a subscriber for wireless telecommunication services for subsequent retrieval by said subscriber, said system comprising:

a billing center linked to said wireless telecommunication network for collecting billing information associated with the calling activity of said subscriber;

a voice mail system comprising a plurality of voice mailboxes each being associated with an individual subscriber; and

means for translating said billing information into a bill that is compatible for storage in the voice mail system;

wherein said translated bill is stored in a voice mailbox associated with said subscriber and wherein the subscriber retrieves said bill by accessing said voice mailbox.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein said voice mail system is incorporated for use with said wireless telecommunication network.

15. A system according to claim 13 wherein said voice mail system is incorporated for use with a remote PBX.

16. A system according to claim 13 wherein said means for translating said billing information includes a computer.

17. A system according to claim 13 wherein said translated bill is in the form of a voice message bill.

18. A system according to claim 17 wherein said stored bill is retrieved by accessing the subscriber'"'"'s voice mailbox with a phone.

19. A system according to claim 13 wherein said translated bill is in a digital computer readable file.

20. A system according to claim 19 wherein said stored bill is retried by accessing the subscriber'"'"'s voice mailbox with a computer.