System and method for controlling outgoing telephone calls

• US 6,788,772 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2001
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Gad Barak, Sarah Barak, Zvi Barak
• Inventors: Barak, Zvi, Barak, Sarah, Barak, Gad
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AGDEPPA, HECTOR A
• Application Number:
  US09/988,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20020126820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.01, 379/201.12, 379/120, 379/121.01, 379/210.02
• US Class Current: 379/130
• 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 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/885 limit per application
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/886 limit per terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/887 limit per user or user related number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/888 severing connection after predetermined time or data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0132 Limit per application
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0136 Limit per terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/014 Limit per user or user related number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/70 Administration aspects, modify settings or limits or counter-check correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7072 Validate charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords

Abstract

A telephone call control system includes a database containing user identifiers and call control limitations assigned to the user identifiers. Call control limitations may include budgetary, time, geographic (e.g., area code or city and/or country codes), and other limitations to a call. A telephone line is subscribed to the system, and users of the line are provided user identifiers which may have one or more of the call control limitations. When making an outgoing call, the telephone network queries the database and determine whether the telephone line is subscribed. If the telephone is subscribed, the telephone network communicates with a server which requests the user to enter the user'"'"'s identifier, e.g., a dialing code or voice print. It is then determined which, if any, call control limitations, are placed upon the user and whether and for how long the call can be connected.

Claims

1. A method for budgeting telephone calls by a user over a telephone line, comprising:

a) providing a plurality of templates, each having a plurality of calling rates for different types of calls, wherein at least one of said plurality of templates is defined by user-input;

b) providing a user with an account balance;

c) using one of the templates to determine a calling rate for a particular telephone call;

d) monitoring a length of the particular telephone call;

e) determining an effective cost for the particular telephone call based upon the calling rate and the length of the particular telephone call; and

f) deducting the effective cost from the account balance to provide an updated account balance.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one template is at least one of user-created and user-modified.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said calling rates do not all exactly correspond to the actual rates for all of the telephone calls.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said calling rates for selected destination telephone numbers are above actual rates.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

different calling rates are provided for local destination telephone numbers, long distance destination telephone numbers, and mobile telephone numbers.