Decision network based event pricing system in a component based, object oriented convergent customer care and billing system

• US 6,456,986 B1
• Filed: 07/15/1999
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CGI Technologies and Solutions Incorporated (CGI Group)
• Original Assignee: American Management Systems, Incorporated (CGI, Inc.)
• Inventors: Boardman, Stuart, Rübesam, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US09/353,588
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/114, 455/405, 455/406, 705/1, 705/30, 705/34, 705/51, 705/52, 705/53, 705/59, 705/400, 705/418
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• 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 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/52 for operator independent billing system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 2215/0108 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 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 : Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 : On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 : Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 : Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 : Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection

Abstract

A ratings engine system that uses decision networks to select and execute Price Plans to rate an Event. A plan selection rule set is used to select a Price Plan for the Event and an Algorithm rule set is used to select an Algorithm to rate the Event. The Price Plans and rule sets are stored in a database. Conditions are also evaluated as the rule sets are traversed and include a program that determines if an Event qualifies for the Condition. Conditions can have a range or domain of applicability. The changing of the decision network changes the business rules for the Event without changing the Algorithms or Conditions.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

storage storing a price plan and a corresponding decision network; and

a processor obtaining an event to be rated, evaluating the decision network to determine within an applicable price plan according to the event to be processed, and processing the decision network within the applicable price plan selecting a rating algorithm guiding the event to algorithms to calculate or modify a price and managing dependencies between price plans rating the event.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor processes the rating algorithm during processing of the price plan.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor traverses a plan selection rule set to select a price plan to evaluate and traverses an algorithm selection rule set to select an algorithm to rate the event.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor processes a global decision network to select a price plan, processes a price plan decision network to select a rating algorithm and processes the algorithm to rate the event.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor evaluates a condition during processing of the price plan.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said condition comprises an event qualification determination program.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

storage storing a price plan and a corresponding decision network; and

a processor obtaining an event to be rated, and rating and summarizing the event by evaluating the price plan using the decision network, the decision network comprising

a plan selection rule set selecting the price plan according to the event, and

an algorithm selection rule set according to the price plan selected guiding the event to algorithms to calculate or modify a price, and managing dependencies between price plans rating the event.

8. A billing apparatus for rating a telecommunications transaction billing event, comprising:

storage for storing price plans and decision networks of a telecommunications customer care and billing system; and

a processor obtaining the telecommunications transaction billing event to be rated, and rating and summarizing the event by traversing a plan selection rule set and processing conditions within the plan selection rule set to select a price plan, traversing an algorithm selection rule set of the selected price plan and processing conditions within the algorithm selection rule set to select a rating algorithm, and processing the rating algorithm to rate the event with each condition comprising an event qualification determination program.

9. A computer readable storage medium storing a process for controlling a computer to rate an event by traversing a plan selection rule set to select a price plan to evaluate and traversing an algorithm selection rule set to select an algorithm guiding the event to algorithms to calculate or modify a price and managing dependencies between price plans rating the event.

10. A process, comprising:

obtaining an event to be rated;

evaluating the decision network to determine an applicable price plan to process;

evaluating a condition during processing of the price plan;

processing a decision network within the applicable price plan to select a rating algorithm; and

processing the rating algorithm selected during processing of the applicable price. plan guiding the event to algorithms to calculate or modify a price and managing dependencies between price plans rating the event.

11. A process as recited in claim 10, wherein said condition comprises an event qualification determination program.

12. A process as recited in claim 10, wherein said evaluating the decision network traverses a plan selection rule set to select a price plan to evaluate and traverses an algorithm selection rule set to select an algorithm to rate the event.

13. A process as recited in claim 10, wherein said evaluating the decision network processes a global decision network to select a price plan, processes a price plan decision network to select a rating algorithm and processes the algorithm to rate the event.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor obtaining an event to be rated, evaluating a decision network to determine within an applicable price plan according to the event to be processed, and processing the decision network within the applicable price plan selecting a rating algorithm guiding the event to algorithms to calculate or modify a price and managing dependencies between price plans rating the event.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

storage storing a price plan and a corresponding decision network; and

a processor obtaining a telecommunications event to be rated, evaluating the decision network to determine an applicable price plan according to the telecommunications event to process, and processing the decision network within the applicable price plan selecting a rating algorithm guiding the telecommunications event to algorithms to calculate or modify a price and managing dependencies between price plans rating the telecommunications event.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

storage storing a price plan and a corresponding decision network; and

a processor obtaining a telecommunications event to be rated, and rating and summarizing the telecommunications event by evaluating the price plan using the decision network, the decision network comprising

a plan selection rule set selecting the price plan according to the telecommunications event, and

an algorithm selection rule set according to the price plan selected

guiding the telecommunications event to algorithms to calculate or modify a price, and

managing dependencies between price plans rating the telecommunications event.

17. A computer readable storage medium storing a process for controlling a computer to rate a telecommunications event by traversing a plan selection rule set to select a price plan to evaluate and traversing an algorithm selection rule set guiding the telecommunications event to algorithms to calculate or modify a price and managing dependencies between price plans rating the telecommunications event.

18. A process, comprising:

obtaining a telecommunications event to be rated;

evaluating the decision network to determine an applicable price plan to process;

evaluating a condition during processing of the price plan;

processing a decision network within the applicable price plan to select a rating algorithm; and

processing the rating algorithm selected during processing of the applicable price plan guiding the telecommunications event to algorithms to calculate or modify a price and managing dependencies between price plans rating the telecommunications event.