Reverse rating system for determining duration of a usage transaction
First Claim
1. A method for reverse rating a service use transaction, the method comprising:
- receiving through a communication interface a reverse rating rate message for a telecommunications service use transaction;
processing the reverse rating message to obtain a source identifier from the reverse rating rate message;
determining whether a customer account exists for the source identifier;
when no customer account exists, initiating transmission through the communication interface of a no-account rejection response; and
when the customer account does exist;
establishing a resource expenditure threshold for determining a maximal duration of the telecommunications service use transaction;
initiating determination of multiple partial service use durations, each for a specific time band;
maintaining a sum of the multiple partial service use durations;
monitoring a resource expenditure as the multiple partial service use durations are determined;
comparing the resource expenditure against the resource expenditure threshold;
when the resource expenditure exceeds the resource expenditure threshold, returning the sum as an approximation to the maximal duration of the service use transaction; and
,when the resource expenditure does not exceed the resource expenditure threshold and there are no more partial service use durations to determine, returning the sum as the maximal duration of the service use transaction.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reverse rating system determines the duration for which a phone call or other transaction may continue, given an account balance on a pre-paid customer account. The duration may take into consideration multiple time bands, applicable discounts, rating plans and other characteristics of the customer account and telecommunications service. The telecommunications service provider may employ the duration information to determine when to disconnect an ongoing transaction. As a result, the telecommunications service provider avoids substantial revenue loses from continuing to allow a pre-paid customer to continue their transaction longer than their account balance will support.
16 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for reverse rating a service use transaction, the method comprising:
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receiving through a communication interface a reverse rating rate message for a telecommunications service use transaction; processing the reverse rating message to obtain a source identifier from the reverse rating rate message; determining whether a customer account exists for the source identifier; when no customer account exists, initiating transmission through the communication interface of a no-account rejection response; and when the customer account does exist; establishing a resource expenditure threshold for determining a maximal duration of the telecommunications service use transaction; initiating determination of multiple partial service use durations, each for a specific time band; maintaining a sum of the multiple partial service use durations; monitoring a resource expenditure as the multiple partial service use durations are determined; comparing the resource expenditure against the resource expenditure threshold; when the resource expenditure exceeds the resource expenditure threshold, returning the sum as an approximation to the maximal duration of the service use transaction; and
,when the resource expenditure does not exceed the resource expenditure threshold and there are no more partial service use durations to determine, returning the sum as the maximal duration of the service use transaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A product comprising:
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a machine readable medium; and instructions encoded on the medium for execution by a processor in a reverse rating system and which cause the reverse rating system to perform a method comprising; processing a reverse message rating to obtain a source identifier associated with a service use transaction; determining whether a customer account exists for the source identifier; and when the customer account exists; establishing a resource expenditure threshold for determining a maximal duration of the service use transaction; initiating determination of multiple partial service use durations, each for a specific time band; maintaining a sum of the multiple partial service use durations; monitoring a resource expenditure as the multiple partial service use durations are determined; comparing the resource expenditure against the resource expenditure threshold; when the resource expenditure exceeds the resource expenditure threshold, returning the sum as an approximation to the maximal duration of the service use transaction; and
,when the resource expenditure does not exceed the resource expenditure threshold and there are no more partial service use durations to determine, returning the sum as the maximal duration of the service use transaction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A reverse rating system for reverse rating a telecommunications service use transaction, the system comprising:
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a communication interface that receives a reverse rating message for a telecommunications service use transaction; memory storing reverse rating parameters; and
,a processor that is operable to; process the reverse rating message to extract a source identifier from the message; determine whether a customer account exists for the source identifier; when no customer account exists, initiate transmission through the interface of a no-account rejection response; and when the customer account does exist; establish a resource expenditure threshold for determining a maximal duration of the telecommunications service use transaction as part of the reverse rating parameters; initiate determination of multiple partial service use durations, each for a specific time band; maintain a sum of the multiple partial service use durations; monitor a resource expenditure threshold as the multiple partial service use durations are determined; compare the resource expenditure against the resource expenditure threshold; return the sum as an approximation to the maximal duration of the service use transaction when the resource expenditure exceeds the resource expenditure threshold; and return the sum as the maximal duration of the service use transaction when the resource expenditure does not exceed the resource expenditure threshold and there are no more partial service use durations to determine. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification