Rating billing events in real time according to account usage information
First Claim
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1. A computer implemented method for rating a billing event in a real time accounting system, comprising:
- receiving at a processor a billing event for an account, wherein the billing event is triggered by a user action, and wherein the billing event is received at the processor at the time of the user action;
retrieving current usage information for the account; and
rating the billing event using the processor upon receiving the billing event according to the billing event, the current usage information, and a usage dependent rating scheme;
wherein said usage dependent rating scheme comprises one or more rate step points and two or more tiers, said billing event having an associated event quantity, wherein the event quantity is an amount of the event;
wherein rating comprisesdetermining a current tier responsive to the current accumulated usage information;
determining a current tier reservoir, wherein the current tier reservoir is a distance to a next step point on a rating curve;
comparing the event quantity to the current tier reservoir; and
if the event quantity is less than the tier reservoir, adjusting an account balance responsive to the current tier and the event quantity.
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Abstract
A method and system are provided for applying a volume discount scheme and rating transactions accordingly on a continuous basis, in a continuous processing system. At the time of a transaction or potential transaction, a cost including applicable volume discount is provided to a customer with reference to his current accumulated usage. When a customer is shopping on-line or placing a phone order, he can learn what discount he will obtain if he spends an incremental amount. A person using a service can inquire what the discounted cost or applicable rate is for a contemplated transaction.
54 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for rating a billing event in a real time accounting system, comprising:
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receiving at a processor a billing event for an account, wherein the billing event is triggered by a user action, and wherein the billing event is received at the processor at the time of the user action; retrieving current usage information for the account; and rating the billing event using the processor upon receiving the billing event according to the billing event, the current usage information, and a usage dependent rating scheme; wherein said usage dependent rating scheme comprises one or more rate step points and two or more tiers, said billing event having an associated event quantity, wherein the event quantity is an amount of the event; wherein rating comprises determining a current tier responsive to the current accumulated usage information; determining a current tier reservoir, wherein the current tier reservoir is a distance to a next step point on a rating curve; comparing the event quantity to the current tier reservoir; and if the event quantity is less than the tier reservoir, adjusting an account balance responsive to the current tier and the event quantity. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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2. A computer implemented method for rating a billing event in a real time accounting system, comprising
receiving a billing event for an account; -
retrieving current usage information for the account; and a processor rating the billing event upon receiving the billing event according to the billing event, the current usage information, and a usage dependent rating scheme; wherein said usage dependent rating scheme comprises one or more rate step points and two or more tiers, said billing event having an associated event quantity; wherein rating comprises initializing a remaining event quantity; determining a current tier; determining a current tier reservoir; if the event quantity is not less than the tier reservoir performing; calculating a portion cost for a portion of the event quantity equal to the current tier reservoir; adjusting an account balance by the portion cost; adjusting the remaining event quantity by the current tier reservoir;
incrementing the current tier;setting the current tier reservoir to be a distance to a next step point from the incremented current tier; repeating said steps of calculating, adjusting the account balance, adjusting the remaining event quantity, incrementing and setting until the event quantity is less than the tier reservoir, then performing; calculating a final portion cost of the remaining event quantity responsive to the current tier; adjusting the account balance by the final portion cost.
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Specification