System and method for providing usage monitoring telephony services

• US 20040101124A1
• Filed: 11/20/2003
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koch, Robert A., Bedingfield, James C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/220.01
• 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 provide a means to capture usage-monitoring data for multiple telephone numbers in multiple native transport networks.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring telecommunications usage, comprising:

providing a virtual telephone number in a service-providing network;

associating a telephony device with said virtual telephone number;

receiving a call directed to said virtual telephone number;

routing said call to a native transport network in communication with said telephony device;

monitoring a duration of said call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating said telephony device with said virtual telephone number comprises storing said virtual telephone number in a database in said wireline service-providing network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating said telephony device with said virtual telephone number comprises storing said virtual telephone number in a memory device of said telephony device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said telephony device is a telephony device selected from the group consisting of a wireline telephony device, a wireless telephony device, and a packet-based telephony device.

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

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said telephony device comprises an identifier; and

said associating said telephony device with said virtual telephone number comprises storing said identifier and said first directory number in a database.

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

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing a telecommunications provider of said native transport network for said monitoring.

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

7. The method of claim 7, wherein said database comprises a subscriber profile.

11. A system for providing a service to a wireless device, comprising:

a telephony device;

a native transport network in communication with said telephony device;

a service-providing network in communication with said native transport network;

a telephone number associated with said service-providing network and with said telephony device;

a first element in said service-providing network, wherein said first element is operable for monitoring a duration of a call directed to said telephony device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said telephony device is a telephony device selected from the group consisting of a wireline telephony device, a wireless telephony device, and a packet-based telephony device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said telephony device comprises a memory device, and wherein said virtual telephone number is stored in said memory device.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

an identifier of said telephony device; and

a database for storing said identifier and said first directory number.

15. The system of claim 17, wherein said database comprises a profile.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said service-providing network comprises an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN).

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said service-providing network comprises a packet-switching network.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said first element comprises a service control point (SCP).

19. The system of claim 11, wherein said first element comprises a media gateway controller.