Method and system for operating a communication service portal

• US 8,045,544 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2005
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Platt, Richard B., Fausak, Louis G., Fullford, Andrew K., Corley, Robert David
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAN, SAI MING
• Application Number:
  US11/178,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20060215557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,297 Days
• Field of Search: 370/231, 370/353, 725/5, 705/52, 705/53, 455/408
• US Class Current: 370/353
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0087 Network planning or provisioning

Abstract

A method of providing communication service, includes receiving user identification information and first communication service criteria. The user identification information identifies a user, while the first communication service criteria describe a first communication service requested by the user. The method also includes generating a first communication service order based on the first communication service criteria. The first communication service order includes the user identification information and the communication service criteria;

The method further includes selecting premise equipment for the user and generating an equipment order, wherein the equipment order includes the user identification information and identifies the selected premise equipment. Additionally, the method includes transmitting the first communication service order to a first service provider and transmitting the equipment order to an equipment provider.

Claims

1. A method for billing a user for communication services, comprising:

receiving a first service rate at a billing server comprising hardware from a first communication service provider for a first type of communication service provided by the first communication service provider;

receiving, for a particular user, a first usage amount at the billing server from the first communication service provider, the first usage amount comprising an amount of the first type of communication service used by the user;

determining, at the billing server, a first communication service charge for the user based on the first service rate and the first usage amount;

receiving an equipment charge at the billing server from an equipment provider, the equipment charge comprising an amount to be charged the user for premise equipment provided to the user;

receiving a broadband connection charge for the user from a broadband connection provider, the broadband connection charge comprising an amount to be charged the user for a broadband connection that couples premise equipment operated by the user to one or more communication service providers; and

determining, at the billing server, a total charge based on the first communication service charge, the broadband connection charge, and the equipment charge.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a bill for the user, the bill comprising the total charge.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising deducting the total amount from an account associated with the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging the total amount to a credit account associated with the user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second service rate for a second type of communication service provided by the first communication service provider;

receiving a second usage amount for the user from the first communication service provider, the second usage amount comprising an amount of the second type of communication service used by the user; and

determining a second communication service charge for the user based on the second service rate and the second usage amount; and

wherein determining the total charge comprises determining the total charge based on the first communication service charge, the second communication service charge, and the equipment charge.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the first service rate and receiving the second service rate comprise receiving the first service rate and the second service rate in a single rate table.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first type of communication service and the second type of communication service each comprise one of local telephone service, long-distance telephone service, and international telephone service.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the first type of communication service and the second type of communication service each comprise one of telephone service and Internet service.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second service rate for a second type of communication service provided by a second communication service provider;

receiving a second usage amount for the user from the second communication service provider, the second usage amount comprising an amount of the second type of communication service used by the user; and

determining a second communication service charge for the user based on the second service rate and the second usage amount; and

wherein determining the total charge comprises determining the total charge based on the first communication service charge, the second communication service charge, and the equipment charge.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first type of communication service and the second type of communication service each comprise one of local telephone service, long-distance telephone service, and international telephone service.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first type of communication service and the second type of communication service each comprise one of telephone service and Internet service.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an installation service charge for the user from an installation service provider, the installation service charge comprising an amount to be charged the user for installation services associated with premise equipment requested by the user;

and wherein determining the total charge comprises determining the total charge based on the first communication service charge, the installation service charge, and the equipment charge.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the bill to the user electronically.

14. A system for billing a user for communication services, comprising:

a first communication access equipment operable to provide communication services on a first network and to transmit billing information associated with the communication services to a billing server comprising hardware;

an equipment provider interface operable to transmit, to the billing server, billing information associated with premise equipment provided by an equipment provider;

a broadband service provider interface operable to transmit billing information associated with a broadband connection supporting broadband communication to and from the premise equipment; and

the billing server operable to;

receive a first service rate from the first communication access equipment for a first type of communication service provided by the first communication access equipment;

receive, for a particular user, a first usage amount from the first communication access equipment, the first usage amount comprising an amount of the first type of communication service used by the user;

determine a first communication service charge for the user based on the first service rate and the first usage amount;

receive an equipment charge from the equipment provider interface, the equipment charge comprising an amount to be charged the user for premise equipment provided to the user;

receive a broadband connection charge for the user from the broadband service provider interface, the broadband connection charge comprising an amount to be charged the user for the broadband connection; and

determine a total charge based on the first communication service charge, the broadband connection charge, and the equipment charge.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the billing server is further operable to generate a bill for the user, the bill comprising the total charge.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the billing server is further operable to initiate a transaction, the transaction comprising deducting the total amount from an account associated with the user.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the billing server is further operable to initiate a transaction, the transaction comprising charging the total amount to a credit account associated with the user.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the billing server is further operable to:

receive a second service rate for a second type of communication service provided by the first communication service provider;

receive a second usage amount for the user from the first communication service provider, the second usage amount comprising an amount of the second type of communication service used by the user; and

determine a second communication service charge for the user based on the second service rate and the second usage amount; and

wherein the billing server is operable to determine the total charge by determining the total charge based on the first communication service charge, the second communication service charge, and the equipment charge.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the billing server is operable to receive the first service rate and receive the second service rate by receiving the first service rate and the second service rate in a single rate table;

and the billing server is further operable to store the rate table in a memory.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the first type of communication service and the second type of communication service each comprise one of local telephone service, long-distance telephone service, and international telephone service.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the first type of communication service and the second type of communication service each comprise one of telephone service and Internet service.

22. The system of claim 14, further comprising second communication access equipment operable to provide communication services on a second network and to transmit billing information associated with the communication services to the billing server;

and wherein the billing server is further operable to;

receive a second service rate for a second type of communication service provided by the second communication access equipment;

receive a second usage amount for the user from the second communication access equipment, the second usage amount comprising an amount of the second type of communication service used by the user;

determine a second communication service charge for the user based on the second service rate and the second usage amount; and

determine the total charge by determining the total charge based on the first communication service charge, the second communication service charge, and the equipment charge.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the first type of communication service and the second type of communication service each comprise one of local telephone service, long-distance telephone service, and international telephone service.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the first type of communication service and the second type of communication service each comprise one of telephone service and Internet service.

25. The system of claim 14, further comprising an installation service provider interface operable to transmit billing information associated with installation services provided for the premise equipment provided for the user by an installation service provider, and wherein the billing server is further operable to:

receive an installation service charge from the installation service provider interface, the installation service charge comprising an amount to be charged the user for installation services associated with premise equipment provided to the user; and

determine the total charge by determining the total charge based on the first communication service charge, the installation service charge, and the equipment charge.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the billing server is further operable to transmit the bill to the user electronically.

27. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising logic for billing a user for communication services, the logic operable when executed by a processor to:

receive a first service rate at a billing server comprising hardware from a first communication service provider for a first type of communication service provided by the first communication service provider;

receive, for a particular user, a first usage amount at the billing server from the first communication service provider, the first usage amount comprising an amount of the first type of communication service used by the user;

determine, at the billing server, a first communication service charge for the user based on the first service rate and the first usage amount;

receive a broadband connection charge for the user from a broadband connection provider, the broadband connection charge comprising an amount to be charged the user for a broadband connection that couples premise equipment operated by the user to the first communication service provider;

receive an equipment charge at the billing server from an equipment provider, the equipment charge comprising an amount to be charged the user for premise equipment provided to the user; and

determine, at the billing server, a total charge based on the first communication service charge, the broadband connection charge, and the equipment charge.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the logic is further operable to generate a bill for the user, the bill comprising the total charge.

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the logic is further operable to initiate a transaction, the transaction comprising deducting the total amount from an account associated with the user.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the logic is further operable to initiate a transaction, the transaction comprising charging the total amount to a credit account associated with the user.

31. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the logic is further operable to:

receive a second service rate for a second type of communication service provided by the first communication service provider;

receive a second usage amount for the user from the first communication service provider, the second usage amount comprising an amount of the second type of communication service used by the user; and

determine a second communication service charge for the user based on the second service rate and the second usage amount; and

wherein the logic is operable to determine the total charge by determining the total charge based on the first communication service charge, the second communication service charge, and the equipment charge.

32. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the logic is operable to receive the first service rate and receive the second service rate by receiving the first service rate and the second service rate in a single rate table;

and wherein the logic is further operable to store the rate table in a memory.

33. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the first type of communication service and the second type of communication service each comprise one of local telephone service, long-distance telephone service, and international telephone service.

34. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the first type of communication service and the second type of communication service each comprise one of telephone service and Internet service.

35. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the logic is further operable to:

receive a second service rate for a second type of communication service provided by a second communication service provider;

receive a second usage amount for the user from the second communication service provider, the second usage amount comprising an amount of the second type of communication service used by the user; and

determine a second communication service charge for the user based on the second service rate and the second usage amount; and

wherein the logic is operable to determine the total charge by determining the total charge based on the first communication service charge, the second communication service charge, and the equipment charge.

36. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the first type of communication service and the second type of communication service each comprise one of local telephone service, long-distance telephone service, and international telephone service.

37. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the first type of communication service and the second type of communication service each comprise one of telephone service and Internet service.

38. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the logic is further operable to:

receive an installation service charge for the user from an installation service provider, the installation service charge comprising an amount to be charged the user for installation services associated with premise equipment requested by the user; and

wherein the logic is operable to determine the total charge by determining the total charge based on the first communication service charge, the installation service charge, and the equipment charge.

39. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the logic is further operable to transmit the bill to the user electronically.

40. A system for billing a user for communication services, comprising:

means for receiving a first service rate from a communication service provider for a first type of communication service provided by the first communication service provider;

means for receiving, for a particular user, a first usage amount from the first communication service provider, the first usage amount comprising an amount of the first type of communication service used by the user;

means for determining a first communication service charge for the user based on the first service rate and the first usage amount;

means for receiving an equipment charge from an equipment provider, the equipment charge comprising an amount to be charged the user for premise equipment provided to the user;

means for receiving a broadband connection charge for the user from a broadband connection provider, the broadband connection charge comprising an amount to be charged the user for a broadband connection that couples premise equipment operated by the user to one or more communication service providers; and

means for determining a total charge based on the first communication service charge and the equipment charge.