Methods, systems, and products for billing calls

• US 8,611,515 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2008
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2000
• 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: Ward, Jonathan O.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US12/198,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20080310614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,939 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/114.01, 379/114.05, 379/114.24, 379/114.27, 379/114.28, 379/115.01, 379/115.02, 379/121.01, 379/121.02, 379/125, 379/127.01, 379/120, 379/127.05, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/221.02
• US Class Current: 379/114.24
• 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 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8061 Selecting least cost route depending on origin or type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• 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 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7471 Select route depending on origin or type of service, e.g. route TDMA voice calls differently than VoIP calls

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for routing a communication. An identifier of an origination point of the communication is received. A destination point associated with a destination of the communication is determined. The origination point and the destination point are analyzed to determine whether the communication may be entirely routed within a local service provider'"'"'s geographic area.

Claims

1. A method of routing a communication, comprising:

receiving originating information associated with an originating number of the communication;

receiving terminating information associated with a termination number of the communication;

comparing an originating geographical location of the originating information to a terminating geographical location of the terminating information;

determining the originating geographical information and the terminating geographical information share a common calling area in a particular local access and transport area served by a single local service provider;

determining the communication is a local toll-free communication in response to the common local calling area in the common local access and transport area;

routing the termination number to a switch serving the termination number; and

routing the local toll-free communication to the termination number.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising discriminating the communication from other communications not originating and terminating within the common local calling area.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising routing the local toll-free communication to a switch serving the destination number.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing the originating number for the local toll-free communication.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing for the local toll-free communication.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing for the local toll-free communication at a rate derived from a volume of communications routed to the termination number.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing for the local toll-free communication at a rate derived from a volume of communications routed from the originating number.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing for the local toll-free communication at a rate derived from a subscription term associated with communications routed to the termination number.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing for the local toll-free communication at a rate derived from a subscription term associated with communications routed from the originating number.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an identifier of the originating number.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an identifier of the termination number.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the communication is a toll call.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the local toll-free communication as a local call.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a record of the local toll-free communication.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising routing a call as the local toll-free communication.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a record of the local toll-free communication.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a billing statement for the local toll-free communication.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a subscriber'"'"'s modification of the termination number.

19. A system for routing a communication, comprising:

a processor; and

a database queried by the processor, the processor performing operations comprising;

receiving an originating number of the communication;

receiving originating information associated with the originating number;

receiving terminating information associated with a termination number of the communication;

comparing an originating geographical location of the originating information to a terminating geographical location of the terminating information;

determining the originating geographical information and the terminating geographical information share a common calling area in a common local access and transport area served by a local service provider;

determining the communication is a local toll-free communication in response to the common local calling area in the common local access and transport area;

routing the originating number to a switch serving the termination number; and

routing the local toll-free communication to the termination number.

20. Computer memory storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving an originating number of a communication;

receiving originating information associated with the originating number;

receiving terminating information associated with a termination number of the communication;

comparing an originating geographical location of the originating information to a terminating geographical location of the terminating information;

determining the originating geographical information and the terminating geographical information share a common calling area in a common local access and transport area served by a local service provider;

determining the communication is a local toll-free communication in response to the common local calling area in the common local access and transport area;

routing the originating number to a switch serving the termination number; and

routing the local toll-free communication to the termination number.