System and method for providing usage monitoring telephony services

• US 8,150,368 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2003
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koch, Robert A., Bedingfield, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): DESIR, PIERRE LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US10/717,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20040101124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,057 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/417, 4554321-433, 455/551, 455/186.1, 455/461, 455405-409, 455/414.1, 455/456.1, 455/517, 455/453, 379/142.07, 379/211.01, 379/220.01, 379/220.02, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/201.12, 379/114.01, 379/114.05, 379/111, 379/114, 379/221.08, 379/207.01, 370/342
• US Class Current: 455/406
• 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 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2046 Hybrid network
• 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 2215/70 Administration aspects, modify settings or limits or counter-check correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7072 Validate charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42127 Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a usage monitoring telephony service. A service-providing network, which has the capability of monitoring attributes, including duration, for calls that traverse it, provides usage-monitoring services for calls directed to a telephony device on a native transport network. The native transport network is a network that naturally carries a subscriber'"'"'s calls but does not have the capabilities required to provide usage monitoring. The system uses a virtual number to map a service in the service-provider network with a device in the native transport network. The usage monitoring services capture usage-monitoring data for multiple telephone numbers in multiple native transport networks.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a call to a dialed number from a native transport network having limited capability of providing advanced telephony services;

storing a profile in a database that associates preferences for the advanced telephony services;

retrieving a preference associated with the dial number and with an advanced telephony service;

associating the dialed number to a virtual telephone number;

routing the call in a service-providing network to receive the advanced telephony service;

providing the advanced telephony service to the call by the service-providing network;

routing the call from the service-providing network to a terminating network destination; and

monitoring a duration of the call traversing the service-providing network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a status of the call.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising routing the call via the native transport network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the service-providing network is selected from a group consisting of a wireline network, a wireless network, and a packet-switching network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the virtual telephone number to a wireless telephone number.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the virtual telephone number to another telephone number.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the native transport network is selected from a group consisting of a wireline network, a wireless network, and a packet-switching network.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing for monitoring the duration of the call.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing a subscriber based on the duration of the call.

10. A system for monitoring communications usage, the system comprising:

a processor executing software stored in memory that causes the processor to;

receive a call to a dialed number routed from a native transport network having limited capability of providing advanced telephony services;

store a profile in a database that associates preferences for the advanced telephony services;

associate the dialed number to an advanced telephony service;

retrieve a preference from the profile that is associated with the advanced telephony service;

associate the advanced telephony service to a virtual telephone number;

associate the dialed number to the virtual telephone number;

route the call from in a service-providing network to receive the advanced telephony service;

provide the advanced telephony service to the call by the service-providing network;

route the call from the service-providing network to a terminating network destination; and

monitor a duration of the call traversing the service-providing network.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the software further causes the processor to monitor a status of the call.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the software further causes the processor to route the call via the native transport network.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the software further causes the processor to associate the virtual telephone number to another telephone number.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the software further causes the processor to associate a calling number to the advanced telephony service.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the service-providing network comprises an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN).

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the service-providing network comprises a packet-switching network.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the software further causes the processor to modify messages accompanying the call.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the software further causes the processor to modify caller information associated with the call.

19. Non-transitory memory storing software that causes a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a call to a dialed number routed a native transport network having limited capability of providing advanced telephony services;

storing a profile in a database that associates preferences for the advanced telephony services;

associating the dialed number to an advanced telephony service;

retrieving a preference from the profile that is associated with the advanced telephony service;

associating the advanced telephony service to a virtual telephone number;

routing the call in a service-providing network to receive the advanced telephony service;

providing the advanced telephony service to the call by the service-providing network;

routing the call from the service-providing network to the dialed number; and

monitoring a duration of the call traversing the service-providing network.