Systems and methods for a carrier-independent calling-party-pays system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a telephone call originating from a calling party directed to a called party using a non-premium-rate telephone number for the called party;
determining if the called party is a calling-party-pays customer;
associating, on a temporary basis, a premium-rate number with said called party in response to determining the called party is the calling party pays customer;
billing the telephone call according to a first method if the called party is the calling party pays customer; and
,billing the telephone call according to a second method if the called party is not the calling party pays customer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are systems and methods for providing a carrier-independent calling-party-pays system. In one embodiment, upon having a call routed to a mobile switching center from a calling party, the mobile switching center determines if the called party is a calling-party-pays (CPP) customer. Depending on whether the called party is a CPP customer or not, the mobile switching center may bill only the calling party, or both the calling party and the called party.
13 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
receiving a telephone call originating from a calling party directed to a called party using a non-premium-rate telephone number for the called party; determining if the called party is a calling-party-pays customer; associating, on a temporary basis, a premium-rate number with said called party in response to determining the called party is the calling party pays customer; billing the telephone call according to a first method if the called party is the calling party pays customer; and
,billing the telephone call according to a second method if the called party is not the calling party pays customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A system comprising:
-
a mobile switching center in communication with a called party, wherein the mobile switching center; receives a telephone call originating from a calling party directed to the called party using a non-premium-rate telephone number for the called party, determines if the called party is a calling-party-pays customer, associates, on a temporary basis, a premium-rate number with said called party in response to determining that the called party is the calling-party-pays customer; bills the telephone call according to a first method if the called party is the calling-party-pays customer, and bills the telephone call according to a second method if the called party is not the calling-party pays customer. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A computer readable medium including one or more software modules to control a processor to:
-
receive a telephone call originating from a calling party directed to a called party using a non-premium-rate telephone number for the called party; determine if the called party is a calling-party-pays customer; associate, on a temporary basis, a premium-rate number with said called party in response to determining that the called party is the calling-party-pays customer; bill the telephone call according to a first method if the called party is the calling-party-pays customer; and
,bill the telephone call according to a second method if the called party is not the calling-party pays customer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A method comprising the acts of:
-
receiving a telephone call request originating from a calling party directed to a calling-party-pays customer using a non-premium-rate telephone number; associating, on a temporary basis, a premium-rate number with the calling-party-pays customer, wherein the premium-rate number is unknown to the calling party; routing the telephone call to a premium-rate-number platform; receiving an indication that the calling party is willing to pay for the telephone call; and connecting the telephone call to the calling-party-pays customer. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
-
Specification