Technique for attributing communication call transactions to user affiliations and adjusting billings thereof

• US 6,816,580 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
• Inventors: Timmins, Timothy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taylor, Barry W
• Application Number:
  US10/001,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20030076939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.05, 379/114.06, 379/114.12, 379/114.23, 379/114.1, 379/218.01, 379/114.01, 379/114.13, 379/114.18, 379/114.2, 379/114.22, 379/114.24, 379/114.28, 379/121.02, 379/121.03, 379/127.05, 705/412
• US Class Current: 379/114.23
• 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 15/07 Split billing, i.e. both A-party and B-party charged for the communication
• 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 15/54 for revenue sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• 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 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/64 Split billing, sharing the cost of calls, e.g. between calling and called parties
• 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

In prior art, a user can access a particular information assistance service provider only through the carrier contracting the particular provider by dialing special digits recognized by the carrier'"'"'s switches. In accordance with the invention, an independent telephone number is assigned to the particular provider which enables the user to call the provider independent of the carrier used. When the user calls the provider for information assistance service using the independent telephone number, a user affiliation file associated with the user is retrieved. Such a file includes information concerning one or more user affiliations recognized by the provider. Part of the service charges incurred in the information assistance call are allocated to the recognized user affiliations, or the user as a credit, discount or other remuneration.

Claims

1. A method for use by a provider of an information assistance service, the method comprising:

determining that a user is affiliated with at least one of entities which are predetermined by the information assistance service provider;

maintaining a record associated with a user, the record containing information about the at least one entity with which the user is affiliated;

obtaining data identifying the user when the user makes a request for an information assistance service;

providing the information assistance service requested by the user, which incurs charges due to the information assistance service provider;

determining, based on the data, the record associated with the user; and

crediting, by the information assistance service provider, at least a portion of the charges to an entity with which the user is affiliated and which is selected based at least on the information in the record, an amount of the portion being a function of a number of parties affiliated with the selected entity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the request is made through a telephone carrier.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the entities include a second telephone carrier contracting the information assistance service.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the request is made through an Internet.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the charges are collected from the user by an entity other than the selected entity.

6. A method for use by a provider of an information assistance service, the method comprising:

determining that a user is affiliated with at least one of entities which are predetermined by the information assistance service provider;

maintaining a record associated with a user, the record containing information about the at least one entity with which the user is affiliated;

receiving call set-up signals associated with a call by the user for the information assistance service;

deriving from the call set-up signals a call identifier;

determining whether the call identifier corresponds to a predetermined identifier;

obtaining data concerning the user when it is determined that the call identifier corresponds to the predetermined identifier;

providing to the user the information assistance service, which incurs charges due to the information assistance service provider;

identifying, based on the data, the record associated with the user; and

crediting, by the information assistance service provider, at least a portion of the charges to an entity with which the user is affiliated and which is selected based at least on the information in the record, an amount of the portion being a function of a number of parties affiliated with the selected entity.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the call identifier includes a telephone number to which the call is made.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the predetermined identifier includes a telephone number for access to the information assistance service, the access being independent of a telephone carrier used.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the data includes an automatic number identification (ANI) derived from the call set-up signals.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the data includes a personal identification number (PIN).

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the charges are collected from the user by an entity other than the selected entity.

12. A method for use by a provider of an information assistance service, the method comprising:

determining that a user is affiliated with at least one of entities which are predetermined by the information assistance service provider;

maintaining a record associated with a user, the record containing information about the at least one entity with which the user is affiliated;

deriving data from call set-up signals associated with an information assistance call by the user;

providing to the user the information assistance service, which incurs charges due to the information assistance service provider;

conducting during the information assistance call a transaction involving a transaction amount;

identifying, based on the data, a plurality of accounts for billing the user, and the record associated with the user;

charging to a selected one of the accounts the transaction amount; and

crediting, by the information assistance service provider, at least a portion of the charges due to the information assistance service provider to an entity with which the user is affiliated and which is selected based at least on the information in the record, an amount of the portion being a function of a number of parties affiliated with the selected entity.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the charges include cost for providing an information assistance service during the information assistance call.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the selected entity collects the charges.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the selected account includes a credit card account.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the selected account includes a debit card account.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the charges are collected from the user by an entity other than the selected entity.

18. A system for use by a provider of an information assistance service, the system comprising:

a mechanism for determining that a user is affiliated with at least one of entities predetermined by the information assistance service provider;

a database, which includes a record associated with a user, the record containing information about the at least one entity with which the user is affiliated;

an interface for obtaining data identifying the user when the user makes a request for an information assistance service, the information assistance service requested by the user being provided which incurs charges due to the information assistance service provider; and

a processor for determining, based on the data, the record associated with the user, at least a portion of the charges being credited, by the information assistance service provider, to an entity with which the user is affiliated and which is selected based at least on the information in the record, an amount of the portion being a function of a number of parties affiliated with the selected entity.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the request is made through a telephone carrier.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the entities include a second telephone carrier contracting the information assistance service.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the request is made through an Internet.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the charges are collected from the user by an entity other than the selected entity.

23. A system for use by a provider of an information assistance service, the system comprising:

a mechanism for determining that a user is affiliated with at least one of entities predetermined by the information assistance service provider;

a database, which includes a record associated with a user, the record containing information about the at least one entity with which the user is affiliated;

a device for receiving call set-up signals associated with a call by the user for the information assistance service, a call identifier being derived from the call set-up signals;

a controller for determining whether the call identifier corresponds to a predetermined identifier;

an interface for obtaining data concerning the user when it is determined that the call identifier corresponds to the predetermined identifier, the information assistance service being provided to the user which incurs charges due to the information assistance service provider; and

a processor for identifying, based on the data, the record associated with the user, at least a portion of the charges being credited, by the information assistance service provider, to an entity with which the user is affiliated and which is selected based at least on the information in the record, an amount of the portion being a function of a number of parties which are affiliated with the selected entity.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the call identifier includes a telephone number to which the call is made.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the predetermined identifier includes a telephone number for access to the information assistance service, the access being independent of a telephone carrier used.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the data includes an ANI derived from the call set-up signals.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the data includes a PIN.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein the charges are collected from the user by an entity other than the selected entity.

29. A system for use by a provider of an information assistance service, the system comprising:

a mechanism for determining that a user is affiliated with at least one of entities predetermined by the information assistance service provider;

a database, which includes a record associated with a user, the record containing information about the at least one entity with which the user is affiliated;

a controller for deriving data from call set-up signals associated with an information assistance call by the user, a transaction which involves a transaction amount being conducted during the information assistance call, the information assistance service being provided to the user which incurs charges due to the information assistance service provider; and

a processor for identifying, based on the data, a plurality of accounts for billing the user, and the record associated with the user, the transaction amount being charged to a selected one of the accounts, the information assistance service provider crediting at least a portion of the charges due to the information assistance service provider to an entity with which the user is affiliated and which is selected based at least on the information in the record, an amount of the portion being a function of a number of parties affiliated with the selected entity.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the charges include costs for providing an information assistance service during the information assistance call.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the selected entity collects the charges.

32. The system of claim 29 wherein the selected account includes a credit card account.

33. The system of claim 29 wherein the selected account includes a debit card account.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the charges are collected from the user by an entity other than the selected entity.