Online reporting tool for conferencing customers

• US 8,774,382 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Teleconferencing Services Limited (Premiere Global Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Teleconferencing Services Limited (Premiere Global Services Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bingaman, Anne K., Evans, Dagny Boyd, Mathew, Boban, Schmitt, Kesah N., Scott, Alina K.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZENATI, AMAL S
• Application Number:
  US13/174,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20110261936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 379/120, 379/114, 379/119, 379/112, 379/144, 379/202
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home

Abstract

Embodiments consistent with the present invention provide an integrated system for conferencing services reporting to support customer billing needs. Systems consistent with the present invention enable a customer to retrieve and use integrated usage data, including data for unbilled conferencing services. Furthermore, systems consistent with the present invention provide an integrated account management interface to enable a customer to retrieve and use account information in real time and to manage a conferencing services account with ease. Still further, systems consistent with the present invention enable a customer to establish multiple levels of security to easily manage multiple users with multiple information needs and responsibilities. Systems consistent with the present invention also provide tools to analyze and track moderator conferencing schedules to enhance accurate timekeeping and billing.

Claims

1. An online reporting system for conferencing services comprising:

at least one computer processor;

an account information component for tracking information for a customer;

a management component for managing one or more moderators associated with the customer;

an interface component for receiving search criteria from the customer and for searching a usage database using the search criteria to locate usage information relating to the one or more moderators'"'"' usage of the conferencing services;

a usage reports component for generating online reports related to the one or more moderators'"'"' usage of conferencing services, the usage reports component being configured to generate, based on the located information relating to the one or more moderators'"'"' usage of the conferencing services, (1) a usage report that includes historical details of the one or more moderators'"'"' usage of the conferencing services and (2) an unbilled usage data report that includes estimated charges incurred by the one or more moderators'"'"' usage of the conferencing services for which the customer has not been invoiced; and

a billing reports component for providing online reports related to billed charges for conferencing services provided to the customer, the billing reports component being configured to generate, based on the located information relating to the one or more moderators'"'"' usage of the conferencing services, (3) a billed usage data report that includes final charges incurred by the one or more moderators'"'"' usage of the conferencing services to be invoiced to the customer.

2. The online reporting system of claim 1, further comprising:

a time management component for tracking time management data when the moderators conduct conferences.

3. The online reporting system of claim 1, wherein the reports related to the moderators'"'"' usage of conferencing services are provided via one of display on a computer screen, downloading, e-mailing, or printing.

4. The online reporting system of claim 1, wherein the reports related to billed charges for conferencing services provided to the customer are provided via one of display on a computer, downloading, e-mailing, or printing.

5. The online reporting system of claim 1, wherein the online reports related to the moderators'"'"' usage of conferencing services include unbilled usage data.