Method and apparatus for use in providing a discounted call rate for wireless communications

• US 6,640,096 B1
• Filed: 04/25/2000
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Anderson, Brian, Alho, Steven, Feinstein, Jacob D., Scharosch, Dina M., Benton, Heidi, Zeitz, Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, John J.
• Application Number:
  US09/557,381
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/414, 455/415, 455/462-464, 455/456, 379/121, 379/111, 379/143, 379/113, 379/114
• US Class Current: 455/406
• 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7652 shared by users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• 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 2215/0164 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 2215/0184 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 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7245 Shared by users, e.g. group accounts or one account for different users

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for use in providing discounted call rates for wireless communications are described. In one particular implementation, the method includes the steps of receiving a call record having an originating telephone number, a terminating telephone number, and one or more system identification codes (SIDs); determining whether the one or more SIDs are included as part of a predetermined geographic area that is smaller than and included within boundaries of a home area of at least one of the telephone numbers; determining whether a predefined relationship exists between the originating telephone number and the terminating telephone number; and providing data that is indicative of a discounted wireless call rate if it is determined that the one or more SIDs are included as part of the predetermined geographic area and the predetermined relationship exists between the originating telephone number and the terminating telephone number.

Claims

1. A method for use in providing a discounted call rate for wireless communications, comprising:

determining whether an originating subscriber and a terminating subscriber of a telephone call are located within a predetermined geographic area that is smaller than and included within boundaries of a home area of at least one of the subscribers having a wireless connection in the telephone call;

determining whether a predetermined relationship exists between the originating and terminating subscribers; and

providing data that is indicative of a discounted call rate for the wireless connection if it is determined that the originating and terminating subscribers are located within the predetermined geographic area and have the predetermined relationship.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a call record having a dialed telephone number corresponding to the terminating subscriber; and

wherein determining whether a predetermined relationship exists between the originating and terminating subscribers further includes the step of comparing the dialed telephone numbers with each one of multiple telephone numbers in a subscriber list.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a call record having caller identification (ID) information associated with the originating subscriber; and

wherein the step of determining whether a predetermined relationship exists between the originating and terminating subscribers further includes the step of comparing the caller ID information with each one of multiple telephone numbers in a subscriber list.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a call record having one or more system identifiers (SIDs) which define a geographic area of the call.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a call record having one or more system identifiers (SIDs) which define a geographic area of the call; and

wherein the step of determining whether the originating and terminating subscribers are located within a predetermined geographic area further includes the step of comparing the one or more SIDs with one or more prestored SIDs indicative of the predetermined geographic area.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a call record having a primary interexchange carrier (PIC) indicator;

determining whether the PIC indicator has a predetermined value indicative of a predetermined PIC; and

providing the data that is indicative of the discounted call rate for the wireless connection if it is determined that the originating and terminating subscribers are located within the predetermined geographical area, the predetermined relationship exists, and the PIC indicator has the predetermined value indicative of the predetermined PIC.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the data that is indicative of a discounted call rate for the wireless connection further comprises the step of providing data that is indicative of a 0.00 charge per unit time period.

8. A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a processing apparatus to perform a method for use in providing a discounted call rate for wireless communications, the method comprising the steps of:

determining whether an originating subscriber and a terminating subscriber of a telephone call are located within a predetermined geographic area having different boundaries than a home area of at least one of the subscribers having a wireless connection in the telephone call;

determining whether a predetermined relationship exists between the originating and terminating subscribers; and

providing data that is indicative of a discounted call rate for the wireless connection if it is determined that the originating and terminating subscribers are located within the predetermined geographic area and have the predetermined relationship.

9. The medium according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined geographic area is smaller than and included within boundaries of the home area.

10. The medium according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined geographic area comprises boundaries that are outside the home area.

11. The medium according to claim 8, wherein the program of machine-readable instructions is executable by the processing apparatus to perform the further steps of:

receiving a call record having dialed telephone digits corresponding to the terminating subscriber; and

wherein determining whether a predetermined relationship exists between the originating and terminating subscribers further includes the step of comparing the dialed telephone digits with each one of multiple telephone numbers in a subscriber list.

12. The medium according to claim 8, wherein the program of machine-readable instructions is executable by the processing apparatus to perform the further steps of:

receiving a call record having caller identification (ID) information associated with the originating subscriber; and

wherein the step of determining whether a predetermined relationship exists between the originating and terminating subscribers further includes the step of comparing the caller ID information with each one of multiple telephone numbers in a subscriber list.

13. The medium according to claim 8, wherein the program of machine-readable instructions is executable by the processing apparatus to perform the further steps of:

receiving a call record having one or more system identifiers (SIDs) which define a geographic area of the call; and

wherein the step of determining whether the originating and terminating subscribers are located within a predetermined geographic area further includes the step of comparing the one or more SIDs with one or more prestored SIDs indicative of the predetermined geographic area.

14. The medium according to claim 8, wherein the program of machine-readable instructions is executable by the processing apparatus to perform the further steps of:

receiving a call record having a primary interexchange carrier (PIC) indicator;

determining whether the PIC indicator has a predetermined value indicative of a predetermined PIC; and

providing the data that is indicative of the discounted call rate for the wireless call if it is determined that the originating and terminating subscribers are within the predetermined geographical area, the predetermined relationship exists, and the PIC indicator has the predetermined value indicative of the predetermined PIC.

15. The medium according to claim 8, wherein the step of providing the data that is indicative of a discounted call rate for the wireless connection further comprises the step of providing data that is indicative of a $0.00 charge per unit time period.

16. A software-implemented method for use in providing a discounted wireless call rate for wireless communications, the method comprising:

receiving a call record having an originating telephone number, a terminating telephone number, and one or more system identification codes (SIDs);

determining whether the one or more SIDs are included as part of a predetermined geographic area that is smaller than and included within boundaries of a home area of at least one of the telephone numbers;

determining whether a predefined relationship exists between the originating telephone number and the terminating telephone number; and

providing data that is indicative of a discounted wireless call rate if it is determined that (1) the one or more SIDs are included as part of the predetermined geographic area, and (2) the predetermined relationship exists between the originating telephone number and the terminating telephone number.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

providing data that is indicative of a non-discounted wireless call rate if it is determined that either (1) the one or more SIDs are not included as part of the predetermined geographic area, or (2) the predetermined relationship does not exist between the originating telephone number and the terminating telephone number.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of providing of data that is indicative of a discounted wireless call rate further comprises providing data that is indicative of a $0.00 charge per unit time period for the wireless connection.