Method for providing telephone services for commercial classes of service

• US 7,099,446 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Benhov GmbH, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Antrim, Todd W., Abrue, Curtis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US10/661,338
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 379/156, 379/157, 379/114.01, 379/114.05, 379/201.01, 379/201.03, 379/201.12, 379/207.02, 379/207.11, 379/210.01, 370/259, 370/271
• US Class Current: 379/157
• 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 15/43 Billing software details
• 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: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A method, such as a method for doing business, is provided. The method includes providing telecommunications dialing features such as, for example, call return, call waiting and speed dialing, for commercial classes of telephone service. The method may include providing the telecommunications dialing features for commercial classes of telephone service on dedicated phone lines, such as a T-1 circuit. The method may also include charging a customer for providing the telecommunications dialing features for commercial classes of dedicated telephone service. According to one embodiment, the method includes charging the customer a fee on a periodic basis for the dialing features.

Claims

1. A method, comprising providing a call return dialing feature for commercial classes of dedicated telephone service, wherein the dedicated telephone service is for at least one terminating piece of customer premises equipment that is in communication with a telecommunications service provider central office, and wherein the call return dialing feature is provided by the telecommunications service provider at the central office, wherein providing the call return dialing feature for commercial classes of dedicated telephone service includes:

establishing a feature identification code (FID) for the call return dialing feature for commercial classes of dedicated telephone service;

assigning a network access register (NAR) to a dedicated commercial telephone, wherein the dedicated commercial telephone line is for the at least terminating piece of customer premises equipment that is in communication with the telecommunications service provider central office; and

associating the FID with the NAR assigned to the dedicated commercial telephone line.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the call return dialing feature on dedicated commercial lines includes providing call return dialing feature for T-1 channels.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising charging a fee for providing the call return dialing feature for T-1 channels.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein charging a fee includes charging a fee on a per usage basis.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein charging a fee includes charging a fixed fee per unit time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the NAR includes assigning the NAR to a plurality of dedicated commercial telephone lines.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein associating the FID includes associating the FID with the NAR assigned to the plurality of dedicated commercial telephone lines.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of dedicated commercial telephone lines includes a group of T-1 lines.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing a customer associated with the dedicated commercial telephone line for the call return dialing feature.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein billing the customer includes:

assigning the FID to a Universal Service Order Code (USOC) for the telephone line; and

billing the customer according to the USOC.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein billing the customer is based on a per usage basis of the call return dialing feature.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein billing the customer is based on a fixed fee per unit time for the call return dialing feature.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a call waiting dialing feature for the commercial classes of dedicated telephone service, wherein the dedicated telephone service is for the at least one terminating piece of customer premises equipment that is in communication with the telecommunications service provider central office, and wherein the call waiting dialing feature is provided by the telecommunications service provider at the central office.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a speed dialing feature for the commercial classes of dedicated telephone service, wherein the dedicated telephone service is for the at least one terminating piece of customer premises equipment that is in communication with the telecommunications service provider central office, and wherein the speed dialing feature is provided by the telecommunications service provider at the central office.