Direct distance dialing (DDD) access to a communication services platform
First Claim
1. In a telecommunications network having a platform for providing multiple communications services on behalf of a subscriber, a method of billing a call that is initiated from a caller to the subscriber and is serviced by the platform, comprising the steps of:
- charging the caller for calling the subscriber, including charges from the caller'"'"'s point of origin to a direct distance dialing destination, the charges to the caller not including charges for the services by the platform; and
charging the services by the platform to the subscriber, including charges from the direct distance dialing destination to a final destination.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Direct Distance Dialing (DDD) access is provided for a communications services platform. A caller may dial a local DDD number or a long distance DDD number to access the communications services platform. A platform may provide a plurality of different communications services, including voicemail services, paging services, automatic routing services, and facsimile messaging services. Expenses associated with servicing the call are partitioned between a caller and a subscriber of the communications services platform in an intuitive and reasonable fashion.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a telecommunications network having a platform for providing multiple communications services on behalf of a subscriber, a method of billing a call that is initiated from a caller to the subscriber and is serviced by the platform, comprising the steps of:
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charging the caller for calling the subscriber, including charges from the caller'"'"'s point of origin to a direct distance dialing destination, the charges to the caller not including charges for the services by the platform; and
charging the services by the platform to the subscriber, including charges from the direct distance dialing destination to a final destination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of billing a call that is initiated from a caller to a subscriber, comprising:
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servicing the call by a platform within a telecommunications network;
charging the caller for calling the subscriber, including charges from the caller'"'"'s point of origin to a direct distance dialing destination, the caller being a non-subscriber, the charges to the caller not including charges for the services by the platform; and
charging the services by the platform to the subscriber, including charges from the direct distance dialing destination to a final destination. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
routing the call to the subscriber.
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12. The method of claim 10, wherein the caller dials a direct distance dialing (DDD) number to initiate the call.
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13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of servicing comprises:
directing the call to a destination that is assigned the DDD number.
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14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of servicing comprises:
directing the call to an alternate destination that is not assigned the DDD number.
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15. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of servicing comprises:
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directing the call to a messaging facility that includes at least one of a voice mail facility and a facsimile facility; and
handling the call by the messaging facility.
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16. The method of claim 15, wherein the subscriber is charged for the handling by the messaging facility.
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17. A method of sharing charges for a call between a calling party and a called party for services of a communication platform, the method comprising:
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attributing charges to the calling party for a first call leg associated with the call by the calling party, the first call leg including a point of origin of the call to a direct distance dialing destination, the charges to the calling party not including charges for services performed by the platform; and
attributing charges to the called party for a second call leg associated with a call to the called party made by the platform, the second call leg including the direct distance dialing destination to a final destination, the charges to the called party including the charges for the services performed by the platform. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification