Dynamic reporting tool for conferencing customers

• US 7,796,744 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Teleconferencing Services Limited (Premiere Global Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Teleconferencing Services Limited (Premiere Global Services Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mathew, Boban, Evans, Dagny Boyd, Bingaman, Anne K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZENATI, AMAL S
• Application Number:
  US10/848,181
• Time in Patent Office: 2,309 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202.01, 379/201, 379/212, 379/230, 379/246, 705/1, 705/30, 705/34
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• 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 2215/2073 Multipoint, e.g. messaging, broadcast or group SMS
• 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 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A dynamic reporting tool presents conferencing data to customers in a useful and flexible manner. Customers may customize standard reports using dynamic, comprehensive search criteria. Customers may also create custom ad hoc reports as needed. Furthermore, customers may access unbilled usage data and conduct searches on the unbilled usage data.

Claims

1. A method for reporting by a conferencing services provider data related to conferencing services to customers separate from the conferencing services provider, comprising:

receiving a request from a customer for data related to a conference conducted by participants associated with the customer wherein the participants are organized into groups using at least one identifier previously supplied by the customer;

receiving, from the customer, a primary search criteria to identify one of the groups of participants associated with the customer;

determining a set of possible filter criteria based on the identified group of participants and one or more data fields;

presenting the determined set of possible filter criteria to the customer;

receiving, from the customer, a selected filter criteria from among the set of possible filter criteria;

accessing data that satisfies the primary search criteria and the selected filter criteria; and

delivering a report containing data related to the conference meeting both the primary search criteria and the selected filter criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivering further includes:

displaying the report to the customer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivering further includes:

enabling the customer to download the report.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivering further includes:

enabling the customer to print the report.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivering further includes:

sending the report to the customer via e-mail.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of filter criteria includes at least one of:

invoice date, invoice number, office code, moderator, biller code, client code, and matter code.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining possible subsequent search criteria based on the primary search criteria and the filter criteria.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying data fields related to the group of participants associated with the customer to the customer, responsive to receiving the request.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the data related to the conference includes historical invoice data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the data related to the conference includes unbilled usage charge data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the conference is a video conference.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the conference is an audio conference.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the conference is a Web conference.

79. The method of claim 1, wherein the participants are organized according to office groups within the customer.

14. A method for reporting unbilled charges related to conferencing services to customers, comprising:

receiving a request from a customer for data related to unbilled charges for conferences conducted by participants associated with the customer wherein the participants are organized into groups by office using at least one identifier previously supplied by the customer;

receiving, from the customer, a primary search criteria to identify a group of participants associated with the customer;

presenting a list of data fields based on the identified group of participant available within the unbilled charge data corresponding to the customer;

receiving a secondary search criteria selected from among the list of data fields by the customer;

searching the unbilled charge data corresponding to the customer for unbilled charge data meeting both the primary search criteria and secondary search criteria; and

delivering, without concurrently billing, the unbilled charge data meeting both the primary search criteria and secondary search criteria to the customer.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

enabling the customer to select all data within the unbilled usage charge data.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the list of data fields includes at least one of:

office code, moderator, biller code, and billing code.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the unbilled charges relate to at least one of:

conference service usage, conference transcription, conference translation, and conference recording.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the delivering further includes:

displaying a report including the unbilled charge data to the customer.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the delivering further includes:

enabling the customer to download a report including the unbilled charge data.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the delivering further includes:

enabling the customer to print a report including the unbilled charge data.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the delivering further includes:

sending a report including the unbilled charge data to the customer via e-mail.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining possible subsequent search criteria based on the selected search criteria and the remaining data fields in the list of data fields.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the conferences include a video conference.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the conferences include an audio conference.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the conferences include a Web conference.

26. A method for reporting data related to charges for conferencing services to customers, comprising:

receiving a request from a customer for a report of charges related to conferences conducted by participants associated with the customer wherein the participants are organized into groups using at least one identifier previously supplied by the customer;

receiving, from the customer, a primary search criteria to identify a group of participants associated with the customer;

displaying a list of data fields available within charges related to conferences conducted by participants associated with the customer;

receiving a selection of at least one of the listed data fields from the customer;

receiving a display order indicating an order for displaying the selected data fields from the customer;

receiving a sort order indicating an order for sorting data in the selected data fields from the customer; and

generating a report including data in the selected data fields displayed in the display order and sorted in the sort order.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

receiving a grouping selection from the customer; and

wherein the generating further includes;

grouping the data in the selected data fields according to the grouping selection.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

receiving a sum selection from the customer; and

wherein the generating further includes;

summing data in the selected data fields according to the sum selection.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the list of data fields includes at least one of:

office code, moderator, biller code, billing code, invoice number, and invoice date.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

displaying the report to the customer.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

enabling the customer to download the report.

32. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

enabling the customer to print the report.

33. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

sending the report to the customer via e-mail.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the conferences include a video conference.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein the conferences include an audio conference.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the conferences include a Web conference.

80. The method of claim 26, wherein the participants are organized according to office groups within the customer.

37. A system for reporting by a conferencing services provider data related to conferencing services to customers separate from the conferencing services provider, comprising:

a request receiving component configured to receive a request from a customer for data related to a conference conducted by participants associated with the customer wherein the participants are organized into groups using at least one identifier previously supplied by the customer;

a primary receiving component configured to receive, from the customer, a primary search criteria to identify one of the groups of participants associated with the customer;

a determining component configured to determine a set of possible filter criteria based on the identified group of participants and one or more data fields;

a presenting component configured to present the determined set of possible filter criteria to the customer;

a secondary receiving component configured to receive, from the customer, a selected filter criteria from among the set of possible filter criteria;

accessing data that satisfies the primary search criteria and the selected filter criteria; and

a delivering component configured to deliver a report containing data related to the conference meeting both the primary search criteria and the selected filter criteria.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the delivering component further includes:

a displaying component configured to display the report to the customer.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the delivering component further includes:

an enabling component configured to enable the customer to download the report.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the delivering component further includes:

an enabling component configured to enable the customer to print the report.

41. The system of claim 37, wherein the delivering component further includes:

a sending component configured to send the report to the customer via e-mail.

42. The system of claim 37, wherein the set of filter criteria includes at least one of:

invoice date, invoice number, office code, moderator, biller code, client code, and matter code.

43. The system of claim 37, further comprising:

a determining component configured to determine possible subsequent search criteria based on the primary search criteria and the filter criteria.

44. The system of claim 37, further comprising:

a displaying component configured to display the fields related to the group of participants associated with the customer to the customer, responsive to receiving the request.

45. The system of claim 37, wherein the data related to the conference includes historical invoice data.

46. The system of claim 37, wherein the data related to the conference includes unbilled usage charge data.

47. The system of claim 37, wherein the conference is a video conference.

48. The system of claim 37, wherein the conference is an audio conference.

49. The system of claim 37, wherein the conference is a Web conference.

81. The system of claim 37, wherein the participants are organized according to office groups within the customer.

50. A system for reporting unbilled charges related to conferencing services to customers, comprising:

a request receiving component configured to receive a request from a customer for data related to unbilled charges for conferences conducted by participants associated with the customer wherein the participants are organized into groups by office using at least one identifier previously supplied by the customer;

a receiving component configured to receive from the customer a primary search criteria to identify a group of participants associated with the customer;

a presenting component configured to present a list of data fields based on the identified group of participants available within the unbilled charge data corresponding to the customer;

a criteria receiving component configured to receive a search criteria selected from among the list of data fields by the customer;

a searching component configured to search the unbilled charge data corresponding to the customer for unbilled charge data meeting the search criteria; and

a delivering component configured to deliver, without concurrently billing, the unbilled charge data meeting the search criteria to the customer.

51. The system of claim 50, further comprising:

an enabling component configured to enable the customer to select all data within the unbilled usage charge data.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the list of data fields includes at least one of:

office code, moderator, biller code, and billing code.

53. The system of claim 50, wherein the unbilled charges relate to at least one of:

conference service usage, conference transcription, conference translation, and conference recording.

54. The system of claim 50, wherein the delivering component further includes:

a displaying component configured to display a report including the unbilled charge data to the customer.

55. The system of claim 50, wherein the delivering component further includes:

an enabling component configured to enable the customer to download a report including the unbilled charge data.

56. The system of claim 50, wherein the delivering component further includes:

an enabling component configured to enable the customer to print a report including the unbilled charge data.

57. The system of claim 50, wherein the delivering component further includes:

a sending component configured to send a report including the unbilled charge data to the customer via e-mail.

58. The system of claim 50, further comprising:

a determining component configured to determine possible subsequent search criteria based on the selected search criteria and the remaining data fields in the list of data fields.

59. The system of claim 50, wherein the conferences include a video conference.

60. The system of claim 50, wherein the conferences include an audio conference.

61. The system of claim 50, wherein the conferences include a Web conference.

62. A system for reporting data related to charges for conferencing services to customers, comprising:

a request receiving component configured to receive a request from a customer for a report of charges related to conferences conducted by participants associated with the customer wherein the participants are organized into groups using at least one identifier previously supplied by the customer;

receiving, from the customer, a primary search criteria to identify a group of participants associated with the customer;

a displaying component configured to display a list of data fields available within charges related to conferences conducted by participants associated with the customer;

a field receiving component configured to receive a selection of at least one of the listed data fields from the customer;

an order receiving component configured to receive a display order indicating an order for displaying the selected data fields from the customer;

a sort receiving component configured to receive a sort order indicating an order for sorting data in the selected data fields from the customer; and

a generating component configured to generate a report including data in the selected data fields displayed in the display order and sorted in the sort order.

63. The system of claim 62, further comprising:

a group receiving component configured to receive a grouping selection from the customer; and

wherein the generating component further includes;

a grouping component configured to group the data in the selected data fields according to the grouping selection.

64. The system of claim 62, further comprising:

a sum receiving component configured to receive a sum selection from the customer; and

wherein the generating component further includes;

a summing component configured to sum data in the selected data fields according to the sum selection.

65. The system of claim 62, wherein the list of data fields includes at least one of:

office code, moderator, biller code, billing code, invoice number, and invoice date.

66. The system of claim 62, further comprising:

a displaying component configured to display the report to the customer.

67. The system of claim 62, further comprising:

an enabling component configured to enable the customer to download the report.

68. The system of claim 62, further comprising:

an enabling component configured to enable the customer to print the report.

69. The system of claim 62, further comprising:

a sending component configured to send the report to the customer via e-mail.

70. The system of claim 62, wherein the conferences include a video conference.

71. The system of claim 62, wherein the conferences include an audio conference.

72. The system of claim 62, wherein the conferences include a Web conference.

82. The system of claim 62, wherein the participants are organized according to office groups within the customer.

73. A system for reporting by a conferencing services provider data related to conferencing services to customers separate from the conferencing services provider, comprising:

means for receiving a request from a customer for data related to a conference conducted by participants associated with the customer wherein the participants are organized into groups using at least one identifier previously supplied by the customer;

means for receiving, from the customer, a primary search criteria to identify one of the groups of participants associated with the customer;

means for determining a set of possible filter criteria based on the identified group of participants and one or more data fields;

means for presenting the determined set of possible filter criteria to the customer;

means for receiving, from the customer, a selected filter criteria from among the possible filter criteria;

means for accessing data that satisfies the primary search criteria and the selected filter criteria; and

means for delivering a report containing data related to the conference meeting both the primary search criteria and the selected filter criteria.

74. A system for reporting unbilled charges related to conferencing services to customers, comprising:

means for receiving a request from a customer for data related to unbilled charges for conferences conducted by participants associated with the customer wherein the participants are organized into groups by office using at least one identifier previously supplied by the customer;

means for receiving, from the customer, a primary search criteria to identify a group of participants associated with the customer;

means for presenting a list of data fields based on the identified group of participants available within the unbilled charge data corresponding to the customer;

means for receiving a search criteria selected from among the list of data fields by the customer;

means for searching the unbilled charge data corresponding to the customer for unbilled charge data meeting the search criteria; and

means for delivering, without concurrently billing, the unbilled charge data meeting the search criteria to the customer.

75. A system for reporting data related to charges for conferencing services to customers, comprising:

means for receiving a request from a customer for a report of charges related to conferences conducted by participants associated with the customer wherein the participants are organized into groups using at least one identifier previously supplied by the customer;

receiving, from the customer, a primary search criteria to identify a group of participants associated with the customer;

means for displaying a list of data fields available within charges related to conferences conducted by participants associated with the customer;

means for receiving a selection of at least one of the listed data fields from the customer;

means for receiving a display order indicating an order for displaying the selected data fields from the customer;

means for receiving a sort order indicating an order for sorting data in the selected data fields from the customer; and

means for generating a report including data in the selected data fields displayed in the display order and sorted in the sort order.

76. A computer-readable medium with code embodied therein for performing a method for reporting by a conferencing services provider data related to conferencing services to customers separate from the conferencing services provider, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a customer for data related to a conference conducted by participants associated with the customer wherein the participants are organized into groups using at least one identifier previously supplied by the customer;

receiving, from the customer, a primary search criteria to identify one of the groups of participants associated with the customer;

determining a set of possible filter criteria based on the identified group of participants and one or more data fields;

presenting the determined set of possible filter criteria to the customer;

receiving, from the customer, a selected filter criteria from among the set of possible filter criteria;

accessing data that satisfies the primary search criteria and the selected filter criteria; and

delivering a report containing data related to the conference meeting both the primary search criteria and the selected filter criteria.

77. A non-transitory computer-readable medium with code embodied therein for performing a method for reporting by a conferencing services provider data related to conferencing services to customers separate from the conferencing services provider, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a customer for data related to unbilled charges for conferences conducted by participants associated with the customer wherein the participants are organized into groups by office using at least one identifier previously supplied by the customer;

receiving, from the customer, a primary search criteria to identify a group of participants associated with the customer;

presenting a list of data fields based on the identified group of participant available within the unbilled charge data corresponding to the customer;

receiving a secondary search criteria selected from among the list of data fields by the customer;

searching the unbilled charge data corresponding to the customer for unbilled charge data meeting both the primary search criteria and secondary search criteria; and

delivering, without concurrently billing, the unbilled charge data meeting both the primary search criteria and secondary search criteria to the customer.

78. A computer-readable medium with code embodied therein for performing a method for reporting data related to charges for conferencing services to customers, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a customer for a report of charges related to conferences conducted by participants associated with the customer wherein the participants are organized into groups using at least one identifier previously supplied by the customer;

receiving, from the customer, a primary search criteria to identify a group of participants associated with the customer;

displaying a list of data fields available within charges related to conferences conducted by participants associated with the customer;

receiving a selection of at least one of the listed data fields from the customer;

receiving a display order indicating an order for displaying the selected data fields from the customer;

receiving a sort order indicating an order for sorting data in the selected data fields from the customer; and

generating a report including data in the selected data fields displayed in the display order and sorted in the sort order.