Apparatus for tracking connection of service provider customers via customer use patterns

• US 6,700,960 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2000
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Qing, Kaufman, David E., Olecka, Anna
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/650,634
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 707/7, 707/10, 707/6, 707/206, 379/200.01, 379/121.04, 379/127-1-1, 379/201.02, 379/112.01, 379/114.01, 379/114.08, 379/114.14, 379/114.28, 379/114.29, 379/115.01, 379/115.02, 379/116, 379/119, 379/120, 379/121.03, 379/126, 379/133-134, 705/10
• US Class Current: 379/112.01
• 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 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• 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 2215/724 Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 Multiple accounts per user

Abstract

An apparatus for identifying multiple accounts belonging to a customer of a service provider using profiles indicating customer patterns of use of the service. The profiles distinguish the accounts of the service provider customers from each other. Those profiles that substantially match are considered to correspond to the same customer.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing a method of identifying multiple accounts belonging to a customer of a service provider in a telephone system, comprising:

selecting accounts representing a first sample of accounts of customers of the service provider;

selecting accounts representing a second sample of accounts of customers of the service provider;

generating profiles for the accounts representing the first sample of accounts, respectively, wherein the profiles allow the accounts in the first sample of accounts to be distinguished from one another;

generating profiles for the accounts representing the second sample of accounts, respectively, wherein the profiles allow the accounts in the first sample of accounts to be distinguished from one another; and

comparing a profile for a specific account of a specific customer in the second sample of accounts with each of the profiles for the first sample of accounts to determine whether multiple accounts belong to the specific customer.

2. The computer-readable medium according to claim 1, having further computer-executable instructions comprising:

matching the specific customer with the specific account and said at least one of the accounts in the first sample of accounts when the profile for the specific account substantially matches the profile for said at least one of the accounts in the first sample of accounts.

3. The computer-readable medium according to claim 2, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of generating the profiles for the accounts representing the first sample of accounts comprising:

determining calling patterns of each of the accounts in the first sample of accounts over a first predetermined period of time.

4. The computer-readable medium according to claim 3, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of generating the profiles for the accounts representing the second sample of accounts comprising:

determining calling patterns of each the accounts in the second sample of accounts over a second predetermined period of time.

5. The computer-readable medium according to claim 4, having further computer-executable instructions for setting the second predetermined period of time to a time that is different than the first period of time.

6. The computer-readable medium according to claim 4, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of determining the calling patterns of the accounts representing the first sample of accounts comprising:

determining telephone numbers for incoming and outgoing calls for each of the accounts in the first sample of accounts; and

determining, for each of the accounts, a frequency of calls to/from each of the telephone numbers with respect to all calls made/received.

7. The computer-readable medium according to claim 6, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of determining the calling patterns of the accounts in the first sample of accounts further comprising:

adding, for each of the accounts, a particular telephone number to the profile when the frequency of calls to/from the particular telephone number with respect to all calls made/received is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

8. The computer-readable medium according to claim 7, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of determining the calling patterns of the accounts in the first sample of accounts further comprising:

minimizing, for each of the accounts, a list of telephone numbers added to the profile to a number that enables the profile to distinguish the account from the remaining accounts in the first sample of accounts.

9. The computer-readable medium according to claim 4, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of determining the calling patterns of the accounts representing the second sample of accounts comprising:

determining telephone numbers for incoming and outgoing calls for each of the accounts in the second sample of accounts; and

determining, for each of the accounts, a frequency of calls to/from each of the telephone numbers with respect to all calls made/received.

10. The computer-readable medium according to claim 9, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of determining the calling patterns of the accounts in the second sample of accounts further comprising:

adding, for each of the accounts, a particular telephone number to the profile when the frequency of calls to/from the particular telephone number with respect to all calls made/received is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

11. The computer-readable medium according to claim 10, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of determining the calling patterns of the accounts in the second sample of accounts further comprising:

minimizing, for each of the accounts, a list of telephone numbers added to the profile to a number that enables the profile to distinguish the account from the remaining accounts in the second sample of accounts.

12. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of selecting accounts representing the first sample of accounts comprising selecting accounts that have been closed, and computer-executable instructions for performing the step of selecting accounts representing the second sample of accounts comprising selecting accounts representing new accounts with the service provider opened within a predetermined time of the closing of the accounts in the first sample of accounts.

13. The computer-readable medium according to claim 8, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of selecting accounts representing the first sample of accounts comprising selecting accounts that have been closed, and computer-executable instructions for performing the step of selecting accounts representing the second sample of accounts comprising selecting accounts representing new accounts with the service provider opened within a predetermined time of the closing the accounts in the first sample of accounts.

14. An apparatus for identifying customers in a telephone system, comprising:

means for generating profiles for accounts of customers connected to the telephone system, respectively, wherein the profiles allow the accounts to be distinguished from one another;

means for comparing a profile of a specific account of a customer with each of the other profiles; and

means for determining whether the specific account and at least one of the other accounts belong to the customer based upon a result of the comparison.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising means for matching the customer with the specific account and the at least one of the other accounts in the first sample of accounts when the profile for the specific account substantially matches the profile for the at least one of the other accounts in the first sample of accounts.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

means for determining that the specific account represents a new account of the customer when the profile of the specific account substantially matches the profile of said at least one of the accounts.

17. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing a method of identifying multiple accounts belonging to a customer of a service provider, comprising:

selecting accounts representing a first sample of accounts of customers of the service provider;

selecting accounts representing a second sample of accounts of customers of the service provider;

generating profiles for the accounts representing the first sample of accounts, respectively, wherein the profiles allow the accounts in the first sample of accounts to be distinguished from one another;

generating profiles for the accounts representing the second sample of accounts, respectively, wherein the profiles allow the accounts in the second sample of accounts to be distinguished from one another;

comparing a profile for a specific account of a customer in the second sample of accounts with each of the profiles for the first sample of accounts; and

determining whether the specific account of the second sample of accounts and at least one of the accounts in the first sample of accounts belong to the customer based upon a result of the comparison.

18. The computer-readable medium according to claim 17, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

matching the customer with the specific account and said at least one of the accounts in the first sample of accounts when the profile of the specific account substantially matches the profile for said at least one of the accounts in the first sample of accounts.

19. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of generating the profiles for the accounts representing the first sample of accounts comprising:

determining patterns of use of each of the accounts in the first sample of accounts over a first predetermined period of time.

20. The computer-readable medium according to claim 19, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of generating the profiles for the accounts representing the second sample of accounts comprising:

determining patterns of use of each the accounts in the second sample of accounts over a second predetermined period of time.