Method for billing IP broadband subscribers

• US 7,760,711 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sankalia, Anish, Kung, Fen-Chung, Wang, Spencer, Walker, Hopeton
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong; Frank
• Application Number:
  US11/903,310
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/145 trading network capacity or selecting route based on tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/765 triggered by the end-points
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/808 User-type aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0112 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/018 On-line real-time billing, able to see billing information while in communication, e.g. via the internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7414 QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 : Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation

Abstract

A method of billing a variable bit rate communication between a first terminal and a distant terminal to a broadband subscriber permits changing billing parameters during a call in real time in response to user inputs including user requested changes in quality of service, changes in data rate and changes in preferred service provider. A variable bit rate communication to be billed has a variable quality of service related to the degree of utilization of a plurality of different networks. The billing method comprises the steps of i.) receiving user identification data at a first terminal and data representing a required bit rate and a default quality of service selected by the user, ii.) verifying the user identification data to be associated with the broadband service subscriber, iii.) determining least cost alternative network resources available for achieving the communication at the user selected default quality of service and the required bit rate, iv.) determining cost data associated with the network resources, v.) outputting to the user a least cost for the communication according to their selected default quality of service and alternative least cost network resources, vi.) coupling the first terminal and the distant terminal via the least cost determined network resources at the default quality of service and the required bit rate responsive to user authorization and vii.) billing for the communication at the default quality of service and according to the required bit rate after the termination of the communication.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing to a subscriber a least cost for a variable bit rate communication between a first terminal and a distant terminal to said subscriber, the apparatus comprising:

i) means for determining least cost alternative network resources available for achieving said communication at a default quality of service and a required bit rate;

ii) means for determining cost data associated with said network resources; and

iii) means for outputting to said subscriber a least cost for said communication according to said default quality of service and said least cost alternative network resources.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for coupling said first terminal and said distant terminal via said least cost alternative network resources and said default quality of service at said required bit rate.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising means for billing for said communication at said default quality of service and according to said required bit rate after the termination of the communication.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for displaying a least cost route through a plurality of different networks, alternative network paths having a different quality of service, alternative selectable required bit rates and alternative costs;

means for receiving a subscriber request for one of a different quality of service, a different required bit rate and a different alternative network path; and

means for repeating steps i) through iii) in accordance with said subscriber request.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said subscriber request comprises a request for at least one of a different required bit rate during said communication, a different quality of service, and a different network path.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first terminal comprises means for capturing a visual image and said communication comprises an audio communication simultaneous with a visual communication.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first terminal further comprises means for displaying and means for accepting subscriber input and said apparatus further comprises:

means for displaying a least cost route through a plurality of networks alternative network paths having a different quality of service, alternative selectable required bit rates and alternative costs; and

means for receiving a subscriber request for one of a different quality of service, different required bit rate and a different network path.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said different network path comprises a selection of a heterogeneous network of two or more different ones of internet protocol networks, the public switched telephone network, asynchronous transfer mode networks and frame relay networks.

9. Apparatus for billing a communication among a circuit-switched network and a packet switched network comprising:

means for forwarding data received from a broadband residential gateway to a central call station;

means for receiving alternative route data consistent with a default quality of service data and user-required bit rate from a network server for the other of said circuit-switched network or said packet-switched network;

means for routing said communication according to said alternate route;

means for receiving one of different quality of service and required bit rate data input by a user during said communication;

means for rerouting said communication in real time in response to said user input during said communication; and

means for communicating with an accounting gateway for billing said communication.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for forwarding data comprises means for operating an optimized routing algorithm, said means for operating coupled to a router and an internet gateway.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for forwarding data comprises an internet gateway having a processor for operating an optimized routing algorithm and said network server comprises a gateway to a circuit switched network.

12. A method comprising:

billing a variable bit rate communication between a first terminal and a distant terminal to a user at a first billing rate;

billing the variable bit rate communication at a second billing rate in response to a user input to change said first billing rate; and

adjusting communication parameters in real time in response to the user input.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said communication parameters include a bit rate during said communication.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said communication parameters include a quality of service.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said communication parameters include a network path.

16. An apparatus comprising:

means for billing a variable bit rate communication between a first terminal and a distant terminal to a user at a first billing rate,

means for billing the variable bit rate communication at a second billing rate in response to a user input to change said first billing rate; and

means for-adjusting communication parameters in real time in response to the user input.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said communication parameters include a bit rate during said communication.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said communication parameters include a quality of service.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said user communication parameters include a network path.