Telephony services system with instant communications enhancements

• US 7,382,868 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Mumsford, Gregory L., Gunasekar, Duraisamy, Moore, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US10/404,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20030185360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,889 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/115.01, 379/115.03, 379/121.01, 379/126, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.18, 379/88.19, 379/88.21
• US Class Current: 379/114.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/40 Processing or translation of natural language natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/58 Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/308 Route determination based on user's profile, e.g. premium users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 : wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 : Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 : Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 : Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 : Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• 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 15/07 : Split billing, i.e. both A-party and B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 : Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 : Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 : for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 : for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 : for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/57 : for integrated multimedia messaging subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/63 : based on the content carried by the session initiation protocol [SIP] messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 : shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 : involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 : per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8292 : Charging for signaling or unsuccessful connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 : Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 : Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 : Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 : Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 : Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 : Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 : VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/208 : IMS, i.e. Integrated Multimedia messaging Subsystem
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 : Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 : Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 : Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/64 : Split billing, sharing the cost of calls, e.g. between calling and called parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 : Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 : Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 : Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 : Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42127 : Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 : Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 : Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 : Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 : Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 : for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 : Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0003 : Interconnection between telephone networks and data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 : Click to dial services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 : where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0048 : where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0051 : where the data service is a multimedia messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 : where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/125 : Details of gateway equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 : Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2335 : involving reformatting operations of audio signals, e.g. by converting from one coding standard to another details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 : by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234336 : by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures or audio is converted into text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440236 : by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures, audio is converted into text

Abstract

An interactive telephony services system is provided with instant communications function. In accordance with some embodiments, presence information related to the availability of a called party to be contacted via instant communications affects the handling of telephone calls to the called party. In accordance with some embodiments, a telephone call may be connected to an instant communications client used by a called party.

Claims

1. A method of providing service in a communications system comprising:

from a first party using a telephone device, receiving a request to establish communications with a second party;

from a presence-determining element, obtaining presence information related to the availability of the second party to engage in communications wherein the presence information is already maintained in the presence-determining element before the receiving the request;

responding to the request to establish communications with the second party responsive at least to the presence information by acting to establish communications with the second party; and

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the obtaining the presence information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications comprise instant messaging communications.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining billable usage of the system related to usage of the communication system by at least one of the first party and the second party.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and

selectively performing the establishing communications between the first party and the second party responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications comprise instant messaging communications.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications comprise communicating with an instant communications client associated with the second party.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

causing audio information from the first party to be translated into corresponding textual information communicated to the instant communications client.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

causing textual information from the instant communications client to be translated into corresponding audio information communicated to the first party.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the acting to establish communications with the second party comprises causing a communications network element to establish communications involving the second party.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the communications network element is a gateway.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing, to the presence-determining element, a presence identifier associated with the second party, wherein the presence identifier specifies that presence information is sought for the second party.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the presence identifier is a screen name associated with the instant communications client by which the second party may be reached.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

obtaining the presence identifier from the first party.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the presence identifier comprises at least one of:

a screen name, a logical address, a physical address, an electronic pseudonym, a chat identifier, an instant messaging identifier, an alias, a telephone number, an email address, a physical address, a uniform resource locator (URL), a universal resource identifier (URI), a given name and a personal identification number.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

from the first party, obtaining identifying information for identifying the second party; and

determining the presence identifier corresponding to the identifying information.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

indicating, to the billing system, activity pertaining to the obtaining the presence identifier based on the identifying information.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the identifying information comprises at least one of:

a screen name, a logical address, a physical address, an electronic pseudonym, a chat identifier, an instant messaging identifier, an alias, a telephone number, an email address, a uniform resource locator (URL), a universal resource identifier (URI), a given name and a personal identification number.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

obtaining from a capabilities-determining element information pertaining to the manner by which the first party may communicate with the second party.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

providing to the capabilities-determining element, a capabilities identifier associated with the second party.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the capabilities identifier is the same as the presence identifier.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing to the second party an identifier associated with the first party.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the identifier associated with the first party comprises at least one of:

a screen name, a logical address, a physical address, an electronic pseudonym, a chat identifier, an instant messaging identifier, an alias, a telephone number, an email address, a uniform resource locator (URL), a universal resource identifier (URI), a given name and a personal identification number.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the identifier associated with the first party is obtained from the first party.

24. A voice processing system for providing service to parties in a communications system comprising:

means for receiving, from a first party using a telephone device, a request to establish communications with a second party;

means for obtaining, from a presence-determining element, presence information related to the availability of the second party to engage in communications wherein the presence information is already maintained in the presence-determining element before the receiving the request;

means for responding to the request to establish communications with the second party responsive at least to the presence information; and

a billing system interface for communicating, with a billing system, information about billable usage of the communications system pertaining to the obtaining of the presence information.

25. The voice processing system of claim 24 further comprising:

means for determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage, wherein the responding to the request is selectively performed responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for usage charges.

26. The voice processing system of claim 24 wherein the communications with the second party involve an instant communications client associated with the second party.

27. The voice processing system of claim 26 further comprising:

means for causing textual information from the instant communications client to be translated into corresponding audio information communicated to the first party.

28. The voice processing system of claim 26 further comprising:

means for causing audio information from the first party to be translated into corresponding textual information communicated to the instant communications client.

29. The voice processing system of claim 24 further comprising:

means for obtaining from a capabilities-determining element information pertaining to the manner by which the first party may communicate with the second party.

30. The voice processing system of claim 24 further comprising:

means for providing, to the presence-determining element, a presence identifier associated with the second party, wherein the presence identifier specifies that presence information is sought for the second party.

31. The voice processing system of claim 30 further comprising:

means for obtaining the presence identifier from the first party.

32. The voice processing system of claim 30 further comprising:

means for obtaining, from the first party, identifying information for identifying the second party; and

means for determining the presence identifier corresponding to the identifying information.

33. The voice processing system of claim 24 further comprising:

providing to the second party an identifier associated with the first party.

34. The voice processing system of claim 33 wherein the identifier associated with the first party comprises at least one of:

a screen name, a logical address, a physical address, an electronic pseudonym, a chat identifier, an instant messaging identifier, an alias, a telephone number, an email address, a uniform resource locator (URL), a universal resource identifier (URI), a given name and a personal identification number.

35. The voice processing system of claim 33 wherein the identifier associated with the first party is obtained from the first party.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 33 wherein the identifier associated with the first party comprises at least one of:

a screen name, a logical address, a physical address, an electronic pseudonym, a chat identifier, an instant messaging identifier, an alias, a telephone number, an email address, a uniform resource locator (URL), a universal resource identifier (URI), a given name and a personal identification number.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 33 wherein the identifier associated with the first party is obtained from the first party.

39. The device of claim 33 further comprising a network signaling interface acting to coordinate with a network in establishing communications between the first and second parties.

38. In a communication system, a device acting to establish communications comprising:

a telephony interface acting to communicate with a first party via a telephone call;

an interactive response station acting to conduct an interactive session with the first party via the telephone call;

a presence interface acting to obtain presence information pertaining to a second party;

a bearer channel interface operably coupled to an instant communications client associated with the second party, the bearer channel interface acting to establish communications between the first and second parties responsive to at least one of the interactive session and the presence information; and

a billing system interface for communicating, with a billing system, information about billable usage of the communications system pertaining to the obtaining of the presence information.

40. The device of claim 38 further comprising:

means for determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage, wherein the bearer channel interface acts to establish communications between the first and second parties responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

41. In a communication system, a device operable to establish communications comprising:

telephony interface means for communicating with a first party via a telephone call;

interactive response means for conducting an interactive session with the first party via the telephone call;

presence determining means for obtaining presence information pertaining to a second party;

bearer channel interface means operably coupled to an instant communications client associated with the second party, wherein the bearer channel interface means establishes communications between the first and second parties responsive to at least one of the interactive session and the presence information; and

a billing system interface for communicating, with a billing system, information about billable usage of the communications system pertaining to the obtaining of the presence information.

42. The device of claim 41 further comprising:

means for determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage, wherein the establishing communications between the first party and the second party is selectively performed responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for usage charges.

43. The device of claim 41 further comprising:

network signaling interface means for coordinating with a network in establishing communications between the first and second parties.

44. A voice processing system for providing service to parties in a communications system comprising:

means for receiving, from a first party using a telephone device, a request to establish communications with a second party;

means for obtaining, from a presence-determining element, presence information related to the availability of the second party to engage in communications using an instant communications client;

means for responding to the request to establish communications with the second party responsive at least to the presence information; and

a billing system interface means for communicating, with a billing system, information about billable usage of the communications system pertaining to the obtaining of the presence information.

45. The voice processing system of claim 44 further comprising:

means for determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage, wherein the responding to the request is selectively performed responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for usage charges.

46. The voice processing system of claim 44 further comprising:

means for causing audio information from the first party to be translated into corresponding textual information communicated to the instant communications client.

47. The voice processing system of claim 44 further comprising:

means for causing textual information from the instant communications client to be translated into corresponding audio information communicated to the first party.

48. The voice processing system of claim 44 further comprising:

means for obtaining, from a capabilities-determining element, information pertaining to the manner by which the first party may communicate with the second party.

49. The voice processing system of claim 48 further comprising:

means for providing, to the capabilities-determining element, an identifier which specifies at least one of the first party and the second party for which capabilities information is sought from the capabilities determining element.

50. The voice processing system of claim 44 further comprising:

means for providing, to the presence-determining element, a presence identifier associated with the second party, wherein the presence identifier specifies that presence information is sought for the second party.

51. The voice processing system of claim 50 further comprising:

means for obtaining the presence identifier from the first party.

52. The voice processing system of claim 50 further comprising:

means for obtaining, from the first party, identifying information for identifying the second party; and

means for determining the presence identifier corresponding to the identifying information.

53. A method of providing service in a communications system comprising:

from a first party using a telephone device, receiving a request to establish communications with a second party;

from a presence-determining element, obtaining presence information related to the availability of the second party to engage in communications using an instant communications client;

responding to the request to establish communications with the second party responsive at least to the presence information by acting to establish communications with the second party; and

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the obtaining the presence information.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the communications comprise instant communications.

55. The method of claim 53 further comprising:

determining billable usage of the system related to usage of the communication system by at least one of the first party and the second party.

56. The method of claim 55 further comprising:

determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and

selectively performing the establishing communications between the first party and the second party responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

57. The method of claim 53 further comprising:

causing audio information from the first party to be translated into corresponding textual information communicated to the instant communications client.

58. The method of claim 53 further comprising:

causing textual information from the instant communications client to be translated into corresponding audio information communicated to the first party.

59. The method of claim 53 wherein the responding to the request comprises causing a communications network element to establish communications involving the second party.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the communications network element is a gateway.

61. The method of claim 53 further comprising:

providing, to the presence-determining element, a presence identifier associated with the second party, wherein the presence identifier specifies that presence information is sought for the second party.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the presence identifier is a screen name associated with the instant communications client by which the second party may be reached.

63. The method of claim 61 further comprising:

obtaining the presence identifier from the first party.

64. The method of claim 61 wherein the presence identifier comprises at least one of:

a screen name, a logical address, a physical address, an electronic pseudonym, a chat identifier, an instant messaging identifier, an alias, a telephone number, an email address, a uniform resource locator (URL), a universal resource identifier (URI), a given name and a personal identification number.

65. The method of claim 61 further comprising:

from the first party, obtaining identifying information for identifying the second party; and

determining the presence identifier corresponding to the identifying information.

66. The method of claim 65 further comprising:

indicating, to said billing system, activity pertaining to the obtaining the presence identifier based on the identifying information.

67. The method of claim 65 wherein the identifying information comprises at least one of:

a screen name, a logical address, a physical address, an electronic pseudonym, a chat identifier, an instant messaging identifier, an alias, a telephone number, an email address, a uniform resource locator (URL), a universal resource identifier (URI), a given name and a personal identification number.

68. The method of claim 61 further comprising:

obtaining from a capabilities-determining element information pertaining to the manner by which the first party may communicate with the second party.

69. The method of claim 61 further comprising:

providing to the capabilities-determining element, a capabilities identifier associated with the second party.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein the capabilities identifier is the same as the presence identifier.

71. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method for providing service to parties in a communications system, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first party using a telephone device, a request to establish communications with a second party;

obtaining, from a presence-determining element, presence information related to the availability of the second party to engage in communications using an instant communications client;

responding to the request to establish communications with the second party responsive at least to the presence information by acting to establish communications between the first party and the second party; and

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the obtaining of the presence information.

72. The computer-readable medium of claim 71 wherein the method further comprises:

causing audio information from the first party to be translated into corresponding textual information communicated to the instant communications client.

73. The computer-readable medium of claim 72 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to the billing system, activity pertaining to the causing the audio information from the first party to be translated.

74. The computer-readable medium of claim 71 wherein the method further comprises:

causing textual information from the instant communications client to be translated into corresponding audio information communicated to the first party.

75. The computer-readable medium of claim 74 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to the billing system, activity pertaining to the causing the textual information from the instant communications client to be translated.

76. The computer-readable medium of claim 71 wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining, from a capabilities-determining element, information pertaining to the manner by which the first party may communicate with the second party.

77. The computer-readable medium of claim 71 wherein the method further comprises:

providing, to the presence-determining element, a presence identifier associated with the second party, wherein the presence identifier specifies that presence information is sought for the second party.

78. The computer-readable medium of claim 77 wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining the presence identifier from the first party.

79. The computer-readable medium of claim 77 wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining, from the first party, identifying information for identifying the second party; and

determining the presence identifier corresponding to the identifying information.

80. The computer-readable medium of claim 77 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to the billing system, activity pertaining to the obtaining the presence identifier based on the identifying information.

81. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method of providing service to parties in a communications system, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first party using a telephone device, a request to establish communications with a second party;

obtaining, from a presence-determining element, presence information related to the availability of the second party to engage in communications wherein the presence information is already maintained in the presence-determining element before the receiving the request;

responding to the request to establish communications with the second party responsive at least to the presence information; and

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the obtaining of the presence information.

82. The computer-readable medium of claim 81 wherein the method further comprises:

responsive to the request, acting to establish communications between the first party and the second party.

83. The computer-readable medium of claim 81 wherein the communications with the second party involve an instant communications client associated with the second party.

84. The computer-readable medium of claim 83 wherein the method further comprises:

causing textual information from the instant communications client to be translated into corresponding audio information communicated to the first party.

85. The computer-readable medium of claim 83 wherein the method further comprises:

causing audio information from the first party to be translated into corresponding textual information communicated to the instant communications client.

86. The computer-readable medium of claim 81 wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining from a capabilities-determining element information pertaining to the manner by which the first party may communicate with the second party.

87. The computer-readable medium of claim 81 wherein the method further comprises:

providing, to the presence-determining element, a presence identifier associated with the second party, wherein the presence identifier specifies that presence information is sought for the second party.

88. The computer-readable medium of claim 87 wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining the presence identifier from the first party.

89. The computer-readable medium of claim 81 wherein the method further comprises:

from the first party, obtaining identifying information for identifying the second party; and

determining the presence identifier corresponding to the identifying information.

90. The computer-readable medium of claim 89 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to the billing system, activity pertaining to the obtaining the presence identifier based on the identifying information.

91. The computer readable medium of claim 81 wherein the method further comprises:

providing to the second party an identifier associated with the first party.