Customer billing in a communications network

• US 8,606,704 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Roberts, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Akintola, Olabode
• Application Number:
  US10/720,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20040125755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,669 Days
• Field of Search: 705/65, 726/1, 726/2, 726/4, 726/5, 726/9, 726/20, 726/26, 726/31, 713/168, 713/172, 713/159, 713/166
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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 15/46 Real-time negotiation between users and providers or operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• 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 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• 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 2215/018 : On-line real-time billing, able to see billing information while in communication, e.g. via the internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 : Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 : Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/204 : UMTS; GPRS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 : Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 : Involving wireless systems
• 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 2215/56 : On line or real-time flexible agreements between service providers and telecoms operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 : Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay

Abstract

In a packet communications network, e.g. a third generation wireless network, combined billing of a user is provided for the delivery of communications services to that user and for the on-line purchase of goods and services by the user via the communications network. A set of rules is provided and a respective billing tariff and account is determined from the rules and each packet address. Credit transfers are made between user accounts and the accounts of goods/services supplies held in a common database.

Claims

1. A method of billing a communications network user for the purchase of goods or services associated with the transport of packet traffic from that communications network into a packet communications network, each packet having an address which identifies a provider of goods or services, wherein the method is executed by a server and comprises:

accessing, by the server, a set of rules,

determining, by the server, from said rules and each packet address, a respective billing tariff and a network user account to be debited for the transport of that packet,

obtaining, by the server, a coupon from an account database, representing an amount of credit, and

debiting, by the server, a network user account by the amount of that credit, before allowing the transport of packet traffic for that network user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein account details for network users and account details of providers of goods and services are stored in a common accounts database.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein transfers of credit between accounts stored in the accounts database are determined from coupons generated for each transaction.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein network users have prepaid and postpaid accounts.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each user account is accorded a respective credit limit.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a user validation is performed prior to completion of a transaction.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the network is a wireless network.

8. A billing system for providing combined billing of a communications packet network user for the delivery of communications services to that user and for the on-line purchase of goods and services by the user via the communications network, the goods and services being associated with the transport of packet traffic wherein each packet includes a packet address, the billing system comprising:

a database having stored therein a set of rules; and

a server communicatively coupled to the database, the server being configured to;

determine from said rules and each packet address, a respective billing tariff and a network user account to be debited for the transport of that packet,

obtain a coupon from an account database, representing an amount of credit, and

debit a network user account by the amount of that credit, before allowing the transport of packet traffic for that network user.

9. The billing system of claim 8, wherein network users have prepaid and postpaid accounts.

10. The billing system of claim 9, wherein each user account is accorded a respective credit limit.

11. The billing system of claim 10, wherein the server is configured to credit a supplier of goods or services a portion of the network operator'"'"'s revenue for the transport of packet traffic relating to a transaction.

12. The billing system of 11, wherein said network comprises a wireless network.

13. A non-transitory machine readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions that, in response to being executed, result in a computing device determining from a set of rules and each packet address, a respective billing tariff and a network user account to be debited for the transport of that packet,

obtaining a coupon from an account database, representing an amount of credit, and

debiting a network user account by the amount of that credit, before allowing the transport of packet traffic for that network user.

14. Apparatus for billing a communications network user for the purchase of goods or services associated with the transport of packet traffic from that communications network into a packet communications network, the apparatus comprising:

means for providing each packet with an address which identifies a provider of goods or services,

a store having a set of rules,

a packet analyzer for determining from said rules and each packet address, a respective billing tariff and a network user account to be debited or credited for the transport of that packet; and

means for obtaining a coupon from an account database, representing an amount of credit, and debiting a network user account by the amount of that credit, before allowing the transport of packet traffic for that network user.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein network users have prepaid and postpaid accounts.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein each user account is accorded a respective credit limit.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said network comprises a wireless network.