Billing system for communications services involving telephony and instant communications
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for controlling usage of a communications system comprising:
- means for determining that an activity has been requested of the communications system relating to communication between a first party using a telephone and a second party using an instant communications client, wherein the first party requests communication with the second party based on a telephone identifier of the second party, the communication system determining, by a presence identifier, presence of the second party on the instant communications client if the second party is unavailable via a telephone, the activity comprising verifying the presence of the second party;
means for providing an up-to-date indication of the presence of the second party on a continual basis at a user interface to offer alternatives for communication between the first party and the second party by transmitting an inquiry to the first party if the second party is unavailable via a telephone;
means for selecting a language for the activity from a plurality of languages;
means for determining whether a usage charge applies to the activity, the usage charge is based on the selected language;
means for identifying an account to which the usage charge is to be applied;
means for determining whether the account can accommodate the usage charge; and
means for performing the activity responsive to whether the account can accommodate the usage charge,wherein the activity further comprises conducting an interactive communication session between the first party telephone and the second party via the instant communications client, and invoking an optional feature elected by at least one of the first party or the second party, the feature comprising one of selection of desired speech characteristics in a text-to-speech translator for translation of textual information from the second party into audio information, translating audio information into arrangements of symbols having conventionalized meaning in the context of textual communications between the first party and the second party, notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of an account balance, or notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of applicable charges pertaining to a communications session,wherein a connection between the first party telephone and the instant communications client is made based on the presence identifier;
means for determining a charge associated with the use of the feature; and
means for notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of the charge associated with the use of the feature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods and program products are disclosed for determining billable usage of a communications system where services are provided involving telephony and instant communications. In some exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides for authorizing the fulfillment of service requests based upon information pertaining to a billable account.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A system for controlling usage of a communications system comprising:
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means for determining that an activity has been requested of the communications system relating to communication between a first party using a telephone and a second party using an instant communications client, wherein the first party requests communication with the second party based on a telephone identifier of the second party, the communication system determining, by a presence identifier, presence of the second party on the instant communications client if the second party is unavailable via a telephone, the activity comprising verifying the presence of the second party; means for providing an up-to-date indication of the presence of the second party on a continual basis at a user interface to offer alternatives for communication between the first party and the second party by transmitting an inquiry to the first party if the second party is unavailable via a telephone; means for selecting a language for the activity from a plurality of languages; means for determining whether a usage charge applies to the activity, the usage charge is based on the selected language; means for identifying an account to which the usage charge is to be applied; means for determining whether the account can accommodate the usage charge; and means for performing the activity responsive to whether the account can accommodate the usage charge, wherein the activity further comprises conducting an interactive communication session between the first party telephone and the second party via the instant communications client, and invoking an optional feature elected by at least one of the first party or the second party, the feature comprising one of selection of desired speech characteristics in a text-to-speech translator for translation of textual information from the second party into audio information, translating audio information into arrangements of symbols having conventionalized meaning in the context of textual communications between the first party and the second party, notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of an account balance, or notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of applicable charges pertaining to a communications session, wherein a connection between the first party telephone and the instant communications client is made based on the presence identifier; means for determining a charge associated with the use of the feature; and means for notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of the charge associated with the use of the feature. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A system for controlling usage of a communications system comprising:
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means for receiving from the communications system indication that an activity has been requested of the communications system relating to communication between a first party using a telephone and a second party using an instant communications client, wherein the first party requests communication with the second party based on a telephone identifier of the second party, the communications system determining, by a presence identifier, presence of the second party on the instant communications client if the second party is unavailable via a telephone, the activity comprising verifying the presence of the second party; means for providing an up-to-date indication of the presence of the second party on a continual basis at a user interface to offer alternatives for communication between the first party and the second party by transmitting an inquiry to the first party if the second party is unavailable via a telephone; means for selecting a language for the activity from a plurality of languages; means for determining whether a usage charge applies to the activity, the usage charge is based on the selected language; means for prompting the second party for approval of the activity; means for identifying an account to which the usage charge is to be applied; means for determining whether the account can accommodate the usage charge; means for sending to the communications system indication of whether the activity is authorized responsive to whether the account can accommodate the usage charge, wherein the activity further comprises conducting an interactive communication session between the first party telephone and the second party via the instant communications client, and invoking an optional feature elected by at least one of the first party or the second party, the feature comprising one of selection of desired speech characteristics in a text-to-speech translator for translation of textual information from the second party into audio information, translating audio information into arrangements of symbols having conventionalized meaning in the context of textual communications between the first party and the second party, notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of an account balance, or notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of applicable charges pertaining to a communications session, wherein a connection between the first party telephone and the instant communications client is made based on the presence identifier; means for determining a charge associated with the use of the feature; and means for notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of the charge associated with the use of the feature.
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4. A method of controlling usage of a communications system comprising:
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determining that an activity has been requested of the communications system relating to communication between a first party using a telephone and a second party using an instant communications client, wherein the first party requests communication with the second party based on a telephone identifier of the second party, the communications system determining, by a presence identifier, presence of the second party on the instant communications client if the second party is unavailable via a telephone, the activity comprising verifying the presence of the second party; providing an up-to-date indication of the presence of the second party on a continual basis at a user interface to offer alternatives for communication between the first party and the second party by transmitting an inquiry to the first party if the second party is unavailable via a telephone; selecting a language for the activity from a plurality of languages; determining whether a usage charge applies to the activity, the usage charge is based on the selected language; identifying an account to which the usage charge is to be applied; determining whether the second party authorizes the activity; determining whether the account can accommodate the usage charge; performing the activity responsive to whether the account can accommodate the usage charge and whether the second party authorizes the activity, wherein the activity further comprises conducting an interactive communication session between the first party telephone and the second party via the instant communications client, and invoking an optional feature elected by at least one of the first party or the second party, the feature comprising one of selection of desired speech characteristics in a text-to-speech translator for translation of textual information from the second party into audio information, translating audio information into arrangements of symbols having conventionalized meaning in the context of textual communications between the first party and the second party, notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of an account balance, or notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of applicable charges pertaining to a communications session, wherein a connection between the first party telephone and the instant communications client is made based on the presence identifier; determining a charge associated with the use of the feature; and notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of the charge associated with the use of the feature. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method of controlling usage of a communications system comprising:
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receiving from the communication system indication that an activity has been requested of the communications system relating to communication between a first party using a telephone and a second party using an instant communications client, wherein the first party requests communication with the second party based on a telephone identifier of the second party, the communication system determining, by a presence identifier, presence of the second party on the instant communications client if the second party is unavailable via a telephone, the activity comprising verifying the presence of the second party; providing an up-to-date indication of the presence of the second party on a continual basis at a user interface to offer alternatives for communication between the first party and the second party by transmitting an inquiry to the first party if the second party is unavailable via a telephone; selecting a language for the activity from a plurality of languages; determining whether a usage charge applies to the activity, the usage charge is based on the selected language; identifying an account to which the usage charge is to be applied; determining whether the account can accommodate the usage charge; sending to the communications system indication of whether the activity is authorized responsive to whether the account can accommodate the usage charge, wherein the activity further comprises conducting an interactive communication session between the first party telephone and the second party via the instant communications client, and invoking an optional feature elected by at least one of the first party or the second party, the feature comprising one of selection of desired speech characteristics in a text-to-speech translator for translation of textual information from the second party into audio information, translating audio information into arrangements of symbols having conventionalized meaning in the context of textual communications between the first party and the second party, notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of an account balance, or notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of applicable charges pertaining to a communications session, wherein a connection between the first party telephone and the instant communications client is made based on the presence identifier; determining a charge associated with the use of the feature; and notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of the charge associated with the use of the feature.
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7. A method of assessing charges for usage of a communications system comprising:
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receiving indication of activity of the communications system relating to communication between a first party via a telephony connection and a second party via an instant communications client, wherein the first party requests communication with the second party based on a telephone identifier of the second party, the communication system determining, by a presence determining element, presence of the second party on the instant communications client if the second party is unavailable via a telephone, the activity comprising verifying the presence of the second party; providing an up-to-date indication of the presence of the second party on a continual basis at a user interface to offer alternatives for communication between the first party and the second party by transmitting an inquiry to the first party if the second party is unavailable via a telephone; selecting a language for the activity from a plurality of languages; determining a charge to be assessed for the activity of the communications service responsive to the indication, the charge is based on the selected language, wherein the activity further comprises conducting an interactive communication session between the first party telephone and the second party via the instant communications client, and invoking an optional feature elected by at least one of the first party or the second party, the feature comprising one of selection of desired speech characteristics in a text-to-speech translator for translation of textual information from the second party into audio information, translating audio information into arrangements of symbols having conventionalized meaning in the context of textual communications between the first party and the second party, notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of an account balance, or notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of applicable charges pertaining to a communications session, wherein a connection between the first party telephone and the instant communications client is made based on the presence determining element; determining a charge associated with the use of the feature; and notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of the charge associated with the use of the feature. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for assessing charges for usage of a communications system comprising:
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means for receiving indication of activity of the communications system relating to communication between a first party via a telephony connection and a second party via an instant communications client, wherein the first party requests communication with the second party based on a telephone identifier of the second party, the communication system determining, by a presence identifier, presence of the second party on the instant communications client if the second party is unavailable via a telephone, the activity comprising verifying the presence of the second party; means for providing an up-to-date indication of the presence of the second party on a continual basis at a user interface to offer alternatives for communication between the first party and the second party by transmitting an inquiry to the first party if the second party is unavailable via a telephone; means for selecting a language for the activity from a plurality of languages; means for determining a charge to be assessed for the activity of the communications service responsive to the indication, the charge is based on the selected language, wherein the activity further comprises conducting an interactive communication session between the first party telephone and the second party via the instant communications client, and invoking an optional feature elected by at least one of the first party or the second party, the feature comprising one of selection of desired speech characteristics in a text-to-speech translator for translation of textual information from the second party into audio information, translating audio information into arrangements of symbols having conventionalized meaning in the context of textual communications between the first party and the second party, notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of an account balance, or notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of applicable charges pertaining to a communications session, wherein a connection between the first party telephone and the instant communications client is made based on the presence identifier; means for determining a charge associated with the use of the feature; and means for notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of the charge associated with the use of the feature. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes a processor to perform a method of assessing charges for usage of a communications system comprising:
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receiving indication of activity of the communications system relating to communication between a first party via a telephony connection and a second party via an instant communications client, wherein the first party requests communication with the second party based on a telephone identifier of the second party, the communication system determining, by a presence identifier, presence of the second party on the instant communications client if the second party is unavailable via a telephone, the activity comprising verifying the presence of the second party; providing an up-to-date indication of the presence of the second party on a continual basis at a user interface to offer alternatives for communication between the first party and the second party by transmitting an inquiry to the first party if the second party is unavailable via a telephone; selecting a language for the activity from a plurality of languages; determining a charge to be assessed for the activity of the communications service responsive to the indication, the charge is based on the selected language, wherein the activity further comprises conducting an interactive communication session between the first party telephone and the second party via the instant communications client, and invoking an optional feature elected by at least one of the first party or the second party, the feature comprising one of selection of desired speech characteristics in a text-to-speech translator for translation of textual information from the second party into audio information, translating audio information into arrangements of symbols having conventionalized meaning in the context of textual communications between the first party and the second party, notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of an account balance, or notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of applicable charges pertaining to a communications session, wherein a connection between the first party telephone and the instant communications client is made based on the presence identifier; determining a charge associated with the use of the feature; and notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of the charge associated with the use of the feature. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification