Method for determining an entity responsible for billing a called party

• US 6,639,978 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Evercom Systems Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Walsh, David J., Ramirez, Aytxa, Draizin, Nadia
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Application Number:
  US10/022,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20030112934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 379/121.05, 379/126, 379/114.29, 379/114.28, 379/114.02, 379/114.21, 379/114.23, 379/127.01, 379/114.26, 379/121.01, 379/115.01, 379/115.02, 379/121.06, 379/127.03, 379/127.05, 379/127.06, 379/130, 379/144.02, 379/144.01, 379/221.13, 379/207.13, 379/207.14, 379/207.15, 379/221.14
• US Class Current: 379/114.21
• 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 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• 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 2215/62 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

Abstract

A method for determining an identity of an entity responsible for billing a called party of an alternatively billed telephone call is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a telephone number, the telephone number being associated with the called party. An initial entity identifier is acquired, the initial entity identifier being an OCN associated with the telephone number. Additional steps may be made in response to the telephone number wherein more accurate information is gathered and utilized to ensure the reliable determination of the identity of the entity responsible for ultimately billing the called party.

Claims

1. A method for determining an identity of a billing entity responsible for billing a called party of an alternatively billed telephone call, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a telephone number, the telephone number being associated with the called party;

acquiring a billing entity identifier from a first database, the billing entity identifier being an operating company number (OCN) associated with the telephone number;

invoking an originating line number screening (OLNS) query to a line information database (LIDB) database associated with the telephone number of the called party;

receiving an OCN in response to the OLNS query; and

replacing the billing entity identifier acquired from said first database with the OCN received in response to the OLNS query.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

invoking a validation query to the LIDB database for determining a line status;

receiving a reply in response to the validation query; and

updating the billing entity identifier in response to the reply received in response to the validation query.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

updating a negative database with the billing entity identifier.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the validation query to the LIDB database is an alternative billing service (ABS) query.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the validation query to the LIDB database is a billing number screening (BNS) query.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein acquiring a billing entity identifier comprises the steps of:

accessing an area code split exchange diskette (ACSED) database to determine an alternate telephone number.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

accessing a terminating point masterfile (TPM) database; and

determining the LIDB database in response to the alternate telephone number.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining portability of the telephone number;

acquiring a service provider identification (SPID) associated with the telephone number; and

replacing the billing entity identifier with the SPID.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein acquiring a SPID comprises:

accessing a number portability administration center (NPAC) database;

performing a local number portability (LNP) lookup in response to the telephone number; and

identifying an LNP LIDB associated with the telephone number.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

invoking a BNS query to the LNP LIDB for determining a line status;

receiving a reply in response to the BNS query to the LNP LIDB; and

updating the billing entity identifier in response to the reply received.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

updating a negative database with the billing entity identifier.

12. A method for determining the identification of a billing entry ultimately responsible for billing a called party of an alternately billed telephone call, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a telephone number, the telephone number being associated with the called party;

utilizing a terminating point masterfile (TPM) and a line information database (LIBD) access routing guide (LARG) database to acquire a billing entity identifier, the billing entity identifier being an operating company number (OCN) associated with the telephone number;

utilizing the TPM and LARG databases to identify a LIDB in response to a portion of the telephone number;

invoking an originating line number screening (OLNS) query of the identified LIDB;

determining the account owner, the account owner being derived in response to the reply returned from the OLNS query; and

replacing the billing entity identifier with the determined account owner derived in response to the reply returned from the OLNS query.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

acquiring a company identifier in response to the OLNS query.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

invoking a billing number screening (BNS) query to the LIDB identifier by the TPM and LARG in response to the telephone number.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

accessing the LARG to determine whether the telephone number of the called party of portable.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

accessing a number portability administration center (NPAC) database in response to the determination of whether the telephone number is portable; and

utilizing a portion of the telephone number of the called party to determine the local number portability of the telephone number.

17. A method for determining identification of a billing entity having responsibility for billing a called party of an alternatively billed telephone call, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to provide a line status and a company identifier, the line status and company identifier being associated with a telephone number of the called party

utilizing a terminating point masterfile (TPM) and a line information database (LIBD) access routing guide (LARG) database to acquire the company identifier, the company identifier being an operating company number (OCN) associated with the telephone number;

utilizing the TPM and LARG databases to identify a LIDB in response to a portion of the telephone number;

determining whether the telephone number is portable;

invoking an originating line number screening (OLNS) query of the identified LIDB;

determining the account owner, the account owner being derived in response to the reply returned from the OLNS query; and

replacing the company identifier with the determined account owner derived in response to the reply returned from the OLNS query.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the determining the portability of the telephone number further comprises:

accessing a number portability administration center (NPAC) database in response to the determination of whether the telephone number is portable;

searching the NPAC database for the telephone number;

invoking a billing number screening (BNS) query in response to the search, the BNS query for determining whether the LIDB database provides account ownership identification date;

invoking an OLNS query to the LIDB database in response to the BNS query;

acquiring an OCN in response the OLNS query;

invoking a validation query to the LIDB database for determining an ability to receive the collect call; and

responding to the requester.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of:

utilizing the OCN to determine the billing entity having responsibility for billing the associated telephone number.

20. A method for determining an identity of a billing entity responsible for billing a called party of an alternatively billed telephone call, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a telephone number, the telephone number being associated with the called party;

acquiring an initial entity identifier, the initial entity identifier being an operating company number (OCN) associated with the telephone number and acquired form a line information database (LIDB) identified by a terminating point masterfile (TPM) database in cooperation with a LIBD access routing guide (LARG) database in response to the telephone number;

determining whether the telephone number is portable;

invoking either a method for determining the identity of the entity in response to the determination of the telephone number being portable or a method for determining the identity of the entity in response to the determination of the telephone number being non-portable,

the method for determining the entity identity for the telephone number being non-portable comprising the steps of;

invoking a first billed number screening (BNS) query to the LIDB being associated with the telephone number; and

updating the entity identifier in response to a first account owner (AO) being returned in response to the first BNS query to the LIDB;

the method for determining the entity identity for the telephone number being portable comprising the steps of;

determining whether the telephone number is associated with a facility based provider;

performing a local number portability (LNP) search of a number portability administration center (NPAC) database to determine whether the telephone number is associated with a facility based provider or a non-facility based provider;

invoking either a method for determining the identity of the entity in response to the determination of the telephone number being associated with a facility based provider or a method for determining the identify of the entity in response to the determination of the telephone number being associated with a non-facility based provider;

the method for determining the identity of the entity in response to the determination of the telephone number being associated with a facility based provider comprising the steps of;

determining whether a service provider identification (SPID) is associated with the telephone number, the SPID being acquired form a LNP LIDB being identified during the LNP search;

invoking either a method for determining the identity of the entity in response to a SPID being available or a method for determining the identity of the entity in response to the SPID not being available;

the method for determining the identity of the entity in response to the SPID being available comprising the steps of;

assigning the SPID as the entity identifier;

invoking a second BNS query to the LNP LIDB; and

updating the entity identifier in response to a second AO being returned from the second BNS Query invoked to the LNP LIDB;

the method for determining the identity of the entity in response to the SPID not being available comprising the steps of;

determining whether the LIDS supports AO;

invoking either a method ofr determining the identity of the entity in response to the determination that the LIDB supports AO or a method for determining the identity of the entity in response to the determination that the LIDB does not support AO;

the method for determining the identity of the entity in response to the determination that the LIDB supports AO comprising the steps of;

invoking a third BNS query to the LIDB being associated with the telephone number and determined by the LARG; and

updating the entity identifier in response to third AO being returned in response to the third BNS query to the LIDB;

the method for determining the identity of the entity in response to the determination that the LIDB does not support AO comprising the steps of;

determining whether the LIDB supports originating line number screening (OLNS);

invoking either a method for determining the identity of the entity in response to the determination that the LIDB supports AO or a method for determining the identity of the entity in response to the determination that the LIDB does not support OLNS;

the method for determining the identity of the entity in response to the determination that the LIDB does support OLNS comprising the steps of;

invoking an OLNS query to the LIDB determined by the LARG;

receiving an OCN in response to the OLNS query;

assigning the OCN received in response to the OLNS query as the entity identifier;

invoking a fourth BNS query to the LIDB determined by the LARG; and

updateing the entity identifier in response to a fourth AO being returned in response to the fourth BNS query invoked to the LIDB;

the method for determining the identity of the entity in response to the determination that the LIDB databse does support OLNS comprising the steps of;

invoking a fifth BNS query to the LIDB determined by the LARG; and

updating the entity identifier in response to a fifth AO being returned in response to the fifth BNS query invoked to the LIDB;

the method for determining the identity of the entity in response to the determination of the telephone number being associated with non-facility based provider comprising the steps of;

invoking the method for determining the identity of the entity in response to the SPID not being available.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

updating a negative database with the entity identifier.