System and method for providing sponsored of universal telecommunications service and third party payer services

• US 6,584,183 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Freetech, LLC
• Original Assignee: Freetech, LLC
• Inventors: Manto, Charles L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/942,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20020025028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/114.01, 379/114.03, 379/114.05, 379/114.1, 379/114.12, 379/114.15, 379/114.2, 379/114.21, 379/114.22, 379/114.23, 379/114.24, 379/114.25, 379/114.26, 379/115.01, 379/121.01, 379/112.02, 379/144.01, 379/188, 379/201.01
• US Class Current: 379/114.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/57 for integrated multimedia messaging subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/201 automatic recharging with predetermined amount at threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/22 with automatic recharging of account/card, e.g. if limit is reached during connection the account is recharged automatically
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/26 with real-time recharging of account/card, e.g. if limit is reached during connection user is asked if he wants to recharge or not
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/208 IMS, i.e. Integrated Multimedia messaging Subsystem
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation

Abstract

A method of operating a telecommunications device wherein the telecommunications device is used to detect an outgoing call from a calling party to a called number. The calling number is used to determine whether or not the calling party is a universal service user. If it is determined that the called number is among a class of numbers exempt from charges, the call is connected. A determination on the sufficiency of funds in a pre-paid account is made. If it is determined that there are insufficient funds in a pre-paid account to cover charges associated with the outgoing call, a message is generated and sent to the calling party or a third party requesting authorization to charge an additional fee for connecting the calling party with the called party. User input is received from the calling party, indicating the calling party'"'"'s authorization of such charge. The connection between the calling party and the called party is made. In an alternative embodiment, costs for providing data communications between an initiating party and a universal service user are calculated, in response to a request by the initiating party, in accordance with the network elements required for a requested quality of service.

Claims

1. A method for operating a central office switching system, comprising the steps of:

detecting an incoming call from a calling party to a called party;

using a called number to determine whether said called party is a universal service user for whom service is provided at no charge or substantially no charge;

generating and sending a message to said calling party requesting authorization to charge said calling party an additional fee for connecting said calling party to said called party;

receiving user input from said calling party indicating said calling party'"'"'s authorization of said additional charge; and

,

connecting said calling party to said called party.

17. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step of determining whether said called party is a universal service user comprises the step of using a secure identifier.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein said secure identifier comprises a PIN code, digital signature, pseudo-random number generator, biometric or video transmission.

2. A method of operating a telecommunications device, comprising the steps of:

using said telecommunications device to detect an incoming call from a calling party to a called party;

using a called number to determine whether said called party is a user for whom service is provided at no charge or substantially no charge;

generating and sending a message to said calling party requesting authorization to charge said calling party or a third party an additional fee for connecting said calling party to said called party;

receiving user input from said calling party indicating said calling party'"'"'s authorization of said additional charge or authorization of a third party funding source designated by either the calling party or by the called party on an interactive or pre-provisioned basis; and

,

connecting said calling party to said called party.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2, further including the step of:

determining whether sufficient funds exist in a pre-paid account, of the calling party, the called party or a third party, to cover charges associated with said call.

4. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said step of using a telecommnunications device comprises the step of using a central office switch.

5. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said step of using a telecommnunications device comprises the step of using an intelligent peripheral connected to a central office switch.

6. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said step of using a telecommunications device comprises the step of using a PBX.

7. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said step of using a telecommunications device comprises the step of using a network device for wireline local loop service.

8. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said step of using a telecommunications device comprises the step of using a network device for wireless local loop service.

9. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said step of using a telecommunications device comprises the step of using a network device for wireline long distance service.

10. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said step of using a telecommunications device comprises the step of using a network device for wireless long distance service.

11. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said incoming call is a voice call.

12. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said incoming call is a data call.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12, wherein said data call contains multimedia content.

19. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said step of determining whether said called party is a universal service user comprises the step of using a secure identifier.

20. The method in accordance with claim 19, wherein said secure identifier comprises a PIN code, digital signature, pseudo-random number generator, biometric or video transmission.

14. A method for provisioning data services to customers, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from an initiating party to conduct data communications with a receiving party at a specified time;

determining whether said receiving party is a universal or sponsored service user for whom service is provided at no charge or substantially no charge;

calculating a cost for provisioning a quality of service necessary to support said requested data communications at said specified time,

generating and sending a message to said initiating party requesting authorization to charge a fee for connecting said calling party to said called party;

receiving user input from said initiating party indicating said initiating party'"'"'s authorization to charge said fee; and

,

provisioning data services to support said requested data communications at said specified time.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said step of calculating a cost for provisioning a quality of service comprises a step of assessing the network elements and quality of service necessary to support said requested data communications.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein said step of calculating a cost for provisioning a quality of service further comprises a step of assessing a market demand on said network elements at said specified time.

21. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said step of determining whether said receiving party is a universal or sponsored service user comprises the step of using a secure identifier.

22. The method in accordance with claim 21, wherein said secure identifier comprises a PIN code, digital signature, pseudo-random number generator, biometric or video transmission.