Apparatus and method for managing call billing records

• US 6,904,276 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1999
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Jarrett, Michael D., Pickeral, Eddie L., Webster, Roland B., Freeman, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, CHARLES CHIANG
• Application Number:
  US09/464,784
• Time in Patent Office: 1,999 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/405, 455/403, 455/557, 455/414.2, 455/408, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/407, 455/410, 455/411, 455/507, 455/456.2, 455/436, 455/432.2, 455/433, 455/517, 455/455, 705/40, 705/34, 705/30, 709/200, 709/201, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 379/126.01, 37911501-11503, 379/114.01, 379/120, 379/112, 379/134, 379/135, 379/126, 379/127, 379/140, 379/229, 379/230, 379/243, 370/385, 370/410, 370352-563, 370/466, 370/467, 370/522
• US Class Current: 455/406
• 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/53 using mediation
• 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 2215/0172 Mediation, i.e. device or program to reformat CDRS from one or more switches in order to adapt to one or more billing programs formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for managing call billing records of communications network users. The apparatus includes a communications network, a gateway, a communications link, and a network processor. The communications network is operative to carry user calls. The gateway communicates with the network and is operative to collect call billing data from the network in a first data structure format. The communication link is coupled to the gateway. The network processor communicates with the gateway via the communication link. The network processor is operative to receive the collected call billing data in the first data structure format and convert the collected call billing data from the first data structure format to a second data structure format. A method is also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus for managing call billing records for users of a signaling network operative to carry user calls, comprising:

a gateway interfacing the signaling network with an Internet Service Provider and a local exchange carrier and operative to collect call billing data from the signaling network in a first data structure format; and

a network processor operative to;

receive the collected call billing data in the first data structure format from the gateway,

convert the collected call billing data from the first data structure format to a second data structure format,

access a directory of call event records associated with the call billing data in the first data structure within the gateway;

generate an output file representing the call billing data in the second data structure based on the call event records, wherein the second data structure includes default values for header fields and trailer fields; and

transmit the output file to a data network for billing processing by a co-carrier access billing system for settlement with the Internet Service Provider and the local exchange carrier.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gateway comprises a signaling gateway.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network processor comprises an interface that mates with a communication link coupled to the gateway.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network processor is further operative to poll the gateway to collect the collected call billing data in the first data structure format.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second data structure format comprises data in a Bellcore automatic message accounting (AMA) format.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the data network is configured to periodically receive the call billing data in the second data structure format for billing processing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the data network comprises a local traffic system (LTS), and wherein the second data structure format comprises an industry standard automatic message accounting (AMA) format.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network processor comprises a network platform.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the local exchange carrier comprises an incumbent local exchange carrier.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network processor is further operative to:

maintain a counter of block sequence numbers for the gateway, wherein the default values of the header fields and the trailer fields include, respectively, the block sequence numbers to specify a first and last block in the output file.

11. A system for managing call billing records for users of a signaling network, comprising:

a signaling network having communications capabilities to carry user calls;

a signaling gateway interfacing the signaling network with an Internet Service Provider and a local exchange carrier and operative to collect call billing data resulting from the calls in a first data structure format;

a communication link coupled to the signaling gateway, and a network processor communicating with the signaling gateway via the communication link and with a data network and operative to;

convert the collected call billing data from the first data structure format to a second data structure format conducive to conducting billing processing;

access a directory of call event records associated with the call billing data in the first data structure;

generate an output file representing the call billing data in the second data structure based on the call event records, wherein the second data structure includes default values for header fields and trailer fields; and

transmit the output file to the data network for billing processing by a co-carrier access billing system for settlement with the Internet Service Provider and the local exchange carrier.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the data network is operative to periodically receive the call billing data in the second data structure format for billing processing.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the network processor is operative to poll the gateway to collect the collected call billing data in the first data structure format.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the network processor is operative to poll the gateway at preset intervals.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the data network is configured to receive the call billing data in the second data structure format for billing processing.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the data network comprises a local traffic system (LTS), and wherein the received call billing data in the second data structure format comprises an industry standard automatic message account (AMA) structure code 625 format that is used to implement billing processing.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the network processor includes an interface coupled with the communication link operative to mate the network processor with the signaling gateway.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the local exchange carrier comprises an incumbent local exchange carrier.

19. A method of managing call billing records of users of a signaling network operative to carry user calls, comprising:

collecting call billing data with the first computer device in a first data structure format at a first computer device, said first computer device interfacing the signaling network with an Internet Service Provider and a local exchange carrier;

transferring the call billing data from the first computer device to a second computer device;

converting the call billing data at the second computer device from the first data structure format to a second data structure format;

accessing a directory of call event records associated with the call billing data in the first data structure;

generating an output file representing the call billing data in the second data structure based on the call event records, wherein the second data structure includes default values for header fields and trailer fields; and

transmitting the output file to a data network for billing processing by a co-carrier access billing system for settlement with the Internet Service Provider and the local exchange carrier.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the first computing device includes a signaling gateway.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the second computer device includes a network processor.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of transferring includes transferring the call billing data in accordance with a file transfer protocol.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of transferring includes transferring the call billing data over a communication link provided between the first computer device and the second computer device.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the local exchange carrier comprises an incumbent local exchange carrier.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

maintaining a counter of block sequence numbers for the first computer device, wherein the default values of the header fields and the trailer fields include, respectively, the block sequence numbers to specify a first and last block in the output file.

26. A method of managing call billing records generated from usage within a signaling network by users, comprising:

collecting call billing data with a signaling gateway in a first data structure format, said signaling gateway interfacing the signaling network with an Internet Service Provider and a local exchange carrier;

transferring the call billing data from the signaling gateway to a network processor;

converting the call billing data with the network processor from the first data structure format to a second data structure format conducive to processing billing information;

accessing a directory of call event records associated with the call billing data in the first data structure format;

generating an output file representing the call billing data in the second data structure based on the call event records, wherein the second data structure format includes default values for header fields and trailer fields; and

transmitting the output file to a data network for billing processing by a co-carrier access billing system for settlement with the Internet Service Provider and the local exchange carrier.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising routing call billing data for a user via the network processor to a data network.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising generating an invoice from the data network for delivery to individual users.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of transferring includes transferring the call billing data using a file transfer protocol.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of transferring includes transferring the call billing data via a communication link between the signaling gateway and the network processor.

31. The method of claim 26 further comprising generating an alarm signal with the network processor.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein the local exchange carrier comprises an incumbent local exchange carrier.