Methods and systems for billing and routing local toll-free calls

• US 7,072,454 B1
• Filed: 09/24/2003
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ward, Jonathan O.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US10/669,923
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/114.01, 379/114.05, 379/114.24, 379/114.27, 379/114.28, 379/115.01, 379/115.02, 379/121.01, 379/121.02, 379/125, 379/127.01, 379/120
• US Class Current: 379/114.24
• 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 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900

Abstract

A system routes local toll-free calls dialed to a toll-free number via local switches and network onto interconnecting local providers with local access settlement rates, thereby allowing a local rather than toll cost structure. The system operates with existing a subscriber'"'"'s existing toll-free service provider. When an originating number is identified as an LCA or intraLATA call, the system routes the local toll-free call from the SCP network to participating local switches that service the subscriber'"'"'s terminating number. The originating calls are separated between the LCA and the rest of the LATA based upon the NPA-NXXs that are considered local to the subscriber'"'"'s terminating number. The system also provides for routing local toll free calls and for reporting each local toll free call to the subscriber.

Claims

1. A method for billing a subscriber for a local toll-free communication comprising:

receiving information related to an originating number;

transmitting the originating number information to a local intelligent network element;

receiving information related to a terminating number;

transmitting the terminating number information to the local intelligent network element;

having the local intelligent network element compare the geographical location of the originating number information to the geographical location of the terminating number information,

if the comparison is within the same telecommunication service area, routing the originating number to at least one participating local switch serving the terminating number;

completing the local toll-free communication to the terminating number;

transmitting a call record to a billing database; and

billing for the local toll-free communication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the NPA-NXX of the originating number is compared with the NPA-NXX of the terminating number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the NPA-NXX-XXXX of the originating number is compared with the NPA-NXX of the terminating number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the call record contains information for the local toll free communication, the call record comprising at least one of geographic location of the originating number, geographic location of the terminating number, minutes of use, routing, call features, and troubleshooting information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the participating local switch that processes the local toll-free call completes the associated call record.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein multiple local toll-free call records are combined into a billing block.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the originating number comprises a portable telephone number.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminating number comprises a portable telephone number.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminating number is selected from a plurality of subscriber locations serving the originating number.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting an interactive subscriber interface, the interactive subscriber interface for accessing and configuring a local toll-free database of at least one terminating number, a geographic location associated with one or more originating numbers, a geographic location associate with the terminating number, a call volume feature, a time of day, and a routing preference.

11. A system for routing a telephone call from an originating party who dials a local toll-free call comprising:

means for receiving information related to an originating number;

means for transmitting the originating number information to a local intelligent network element;

means for-receiving information related to a terminating number,

means for transmitting the terminating number information to the local intelligent network element;

means for having the local intelligent network element compare the geographical location of the originating number information to the geographical location of the terminating number information;

if the comparison is within the same telecommunication service area and if there is at least one participating local switch, means for routing the originating number to the at least one participating local switch serving the terminating number;

means for completing the local toll-free communication to the terminating number;

means for transmitting a call record to a billing database; and

means for billing for the local toll-free communication.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising billing means for producing bills based upon the geographical location of the originating number placed to the local toll-free number.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the routing means is connected by a local network to the subscriber'"'"'s long distance carrier (IXC).

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the originating number further comprises a portable telephone number.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the terminating number is selected from a plurality of geographic locations serving the originating number.

16. A method for discriminating among toll-free calls to identify each communication that originates and terminates within a common geographic area in order to bill the communication at a selected rate, the method comprising:

receiving an identifier associated with an origination point in which the communication originates;

determining a destination point associated with the destination to which the communication is directed;

analyzing the origination point and the destination point to determine whether the communication may be routed via a local telecommunications service provider; and

billing the communications routed by a local telecommunications service provider at the selected rate.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the selected rate is derived from a call volume of communications routed via the local telecommunications service provider to the destination point.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the selected rate is derived from a subscription term for participating over an amount of time for communications routed via the local telecommunications service provider to the destination point.