System and method for real-time bundled telecommunications account processing and billing

• US 6,885,857 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2000
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Freedom Wireless Incorporated (Freedom Wireless)
• Original Assignee: VeriSign, Inc.
• Inventors: Hanson, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US09/521,541
• Time in Patent Office: 1,876 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/409, 379/114.01, 379/114.05, 379/114.06, 379/114.1, 379/114.12, 379/114.15, 379/114.16, 379/114.17, 379/114.19, 379/114.2, 379/114.21, 379/114.24, 379/114.25, 379/114.26, 379/114.27, 379/114.28, 379/114.29, 379/115.01, 379/115.02, 379/115.03, 379/121.02, 379/121.03, 379/121.04, 379/123, 379/126, 379/127.01, 379/127.03, 37912704-12706
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/50 for cross-charging network operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8351 before establishing a communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/52 Interconnection, inter-exchange, reseller billing, billing agreements between different operators, e.g. billing identifier added on the CDR in order to cross charge the other operator, inter-operator accounting, reconciliation, bill directly resellers customers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8108 before establishing a communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation

Abstract

A method for real-time bundled call processing and billing telecommunications services includes the steps of recognizing a real-time bundled account access call at a telecommunications carrier switch, and routing the real-time bundled account access call to a real-time bundled call processing and billing call management platform coupled to the telecommunications carrier switch. An account number and an optional personal identification number associated with the account are collected and verified. A destination number is then collected. A customer credit profile associated with the real-time bundled account is obtained from a database, and a method of computing charges associated with terminating the call to the collected destination number is determined. Next, whether the customer credit profile permits the call is determined. The call is released to the telecommunications carrier switch for line termination if it is permissible, and the call is monitored for call completion. The charges associated with the call are then posted to the real-time bundled account.

Claims

1. A method for real-time call processing and billing, comprising:

receiving an account access call from a telecommunications carrier switch;

receiving an account number from a customer in response to an account number prompt;

receiving a destination number from the customer in response to a destination number prompt;

determining a credit limit associated with the account number;

computing a maximum allowable call duration based on the credit limit, the account number and the destination number; and

if the maximum allowable call duration is greater than zero;

releasing the call back to the telecommunications carrier switch for connection to the destination number,

monitoring the call for call completion,

calculating an amount of funds expended by the call, and

posting the amount of funds expended to the account number.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the telecommunications carrier switch;

recognizing the account access call; and

transferring the call to a call management platform.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a personal identification number associated with the account number in response to a personal identification number prompt.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said computing the maximum allowable call duration includes:

determining a rate per minute; and

calculating the maximum allowable call duration in minutes based on the rate per minute and the credit limit.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allocating a predetermined amount of advance credit to the account number.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether each of a plurality of restrictive conditions associated with the account number is satisfied before releasing the call, the plurality of restrictive conditions including at least one of an account balance, a credit limit, a length-of-call limit, and a time-of-call limit.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the destination number is an emergency number, releasing the call to the telecommunications carrier switch for connection to the destination number.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

starting a call duration timer;

if the call duration timer reaches the maximum call duration, disconnecting the call.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

starting a call duration timer; and

if the call duration timer reaches the maximum call duration, prompting the customer for a credit card number to charge additional amounts over the credit limit to continue the call.

10. A computer readable medium including instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to execute a method for real-time call processing and billing, the method comprising:

receiving an account number from a customer in response to an account number prompt;

receiving a destination number from the customer in response to a destination number prompt;

determining a credit limit associated with the account number;

computing a maximum allowable call duration based on the credit limit, the account number and the destination number; and

if the maximum allowable call duration is greater than zero;

releasing an account access call back to a telecommunications carrier switch for connection to the destination number,

monitoring the call for call completion,

calculating an amount of funds expended by the call, and

posting the amount of funds expended to the account number.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein said computing a maximum allowable call duration based on the credit limit includes:

determining a rate per minute; and

calculating the maximum allowable call duration in minutes based on the rate per minute and the credit limit.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

allocating a predetermined amount of advance credit to the account number.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether each of a plurality of restrictive conditions associated with the account number is satisfied before releasing the call, the plurality of restrictive conditions including at least one of an account balance, a credit limit, a length-of-call limit, and a time-of-call limit.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

if the destination number is an emergency number, releasing the call to the telecommunications carrier switch.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

starting a call duration timer;

if the call duration timer reaches the maximum call duration, disconnecting the call.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

starting a call duration timer; and

if the call duration timer reaches the maximum call duration, prompting the customer for a credit card number to charge additional amounts over the credit limit to continue the call.

17. A system for real-time call processing and billing, comprising:

a switch matrix, coupled to a telecommunications carrier switch, to;

receive an account access call from the telecommunications carrier switch; and

a call processor, coupled to the switch matrix, to;

receive an account number from a customer in response to an account number prompt;

receive a destination number from the customer in response to a destination number prompt;

determine a credit limit associated with the account number;

compute a maximum allowable call duration based on the credit limit, the account number and the destination number; and

if the maximum allowable call duration is greater than zero, to;

release the call back to the telecommunications carrier switch for connection to the destination number,

monitor the call for call completion,

calculate an amount of funds expended by the call, and

post the amount of funds expended to the account number.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a database server, coupled to the call processor, to store customer account information.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein to compute the maximum allowable call duration includes to:

determine a rate per minute; and

calculate the maximum allowable call duration in minutes based on the rate per minute and the credit limit.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the call processor is adapted to:

allocate a predetermined amount of advance credit to the account number.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the call processor is adapted to:

determine whether each of a plurality of restrictive conditions associated with the account number is satisfied before releasing the call, the plurality of restrictive conditions including at least one of an account balance, a credit limit, a length-of-call limit, and a time-of-call limit.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the call processor is adapted to:

release the call to the telecommunications carrier switch if the destination number is an emergency number.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the call processor is adapted to:

start a call duration timer;

disconnect the call if the call duration timer reaches the maximum call duration.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the call processor is adapted to:

start a call duration timer; and

prompt the subscriber for a credit card number to charge additional amounts over the credit limit to continue the call if the call duration timer reaches the maximum call duration.