Billing systems and methods for communication networks providing differentiated services

• US 6,741,685 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Zanaty, Farouk M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/672,598
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 379/112.01, 379/112.06, 379/114.01, 379/114.03, 379/114.05, 379/114.06, 379/115.01, 379/119, 379/133, 379/114.07, 379/114.08, 379/114.1, 379/114.28, 379/114.29, 379/115.02, 379/116, 379/120, 379/121.01, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/221.02, 379/221.07, 379/221.08, 379/221.15, 379/222, 705/52, 705/400, 370/351, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/114.01
• 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 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/773 per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7268 per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7414 QoS

Abstract

A preferred method for billing for utilization of a communications network includes receiving routing information corresponding to routing of data via the communications network. Thereafter, the routing information may be correlated with a transaction model and billing information may be generated based upon the correlated information. Systems and computer readable media also are provided.

Claims

1. A method for billing use of a communications network, the communications network being configured to enable communication between sources and destinations and being adapted to provide differentiated services to users thereof such that data communicated from a first user is routed at a higher priority than data communicated from a second user, the higher priority corresponding to at least one of a higher data transfer rate, a higher reliability of data transfer, a lower latency of data transfer, and a lower loss rate of data from a respective source to a corresponding destination, said method comprising:

receiving routing information corresponding to routing of data via the communications network;

correlating the routing information with a transaction model, the transaction model comprising at least one billing formula configured to assess communications network utilization by the first user based upon correlating the actual routing of data of the first user via the communications network with the differentiated service to be provided to the first user by the communications network; and

generating billing information based upon the routing information correlated with the transaction model such that the billing information includes a billing amount to be charged to the first user for using the communications network;

wherein, in generating the billing information, the billing amount is increased if the actual data transfer rate of data associated with the first user is higher than the data transfer rate corresponding to the differentiated service that the communication network is to provide to the first user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications network comprises class routers communicatively coupled to each other, each of the class routers being adapted to receive data from multiple sources and transmit the data received from each source in accordance with the differentiated service of the user corresponding to the data, and wherein receiving routing information comprises receiving router information corresponding to the class routers utilized while routing the data via the communications network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transaction model comprises at least one billing formula, the billing formula being configured to assess communications network utilization by a user based upon actual routing of data of the user via the communications network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the class routers is associated with a first service provider, and wherein generating billing information comprises generating billing information based upon the router information corresponding to the at least one of the class routers of the first service provider.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the communications network comprises switches communicatively coupled to each other, and wherein receiving routing information comprises receiving switch information corresponding to the switches utilized while routing the data via the communications network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one billing formula is configured to assess communications network utilization by a user based upon correlating the actual routing of data of the user via the communications network with the differentiated service to be provided to the user by the communications network.