Method of billing a communication session conducted over a computer network

• US 20060153350A1
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Felger
• Original Assignee: David Felger
• Inventors: Felger, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,340,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• 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 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• 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

Abstract

A method of billing a communication session between a user and a value-added service. A request is received from a user for a communication session, such as a circuit-switched call, a computer-network telephony call or a multimedia session, between the user and a value-added service. Information associated with a credit account is requested before the user is connected to the value-added service. The information associated with the credit account, such as credit card information, debit card information or checking account information, is received in real time. Credit account information, which includes the received information associated with the credit account and a predetermined amount that is to be charged to the credit account, is communicated to a payment authorization database, which can be located locally or remotely. Alternatively, the credit account information includes the received information associated with the credit account and a predetermined amount that is to be set aside in the credit account for the communication session. Payment authorization information associated with the credit account is received from the remote site before the user is connected to the value-added service. The user is connected to the value-added service when the payment authorization information is affirmative. A total charge for the communication session that is based on an actual time that the user is connected to the value-added service is calculated when the communication session is terminated. Lastly, session charge information associated with the communication session is transmitted to the remote site when the communication session is terminated, the session charge information including information for charging the credit account an amount representing a charge for the communication session.

Claims

1. A method of billing a communication session over a computer network between a user and a value-added service, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from a user for a communication session over a computer network between the user and a value-added service;

requesting information associated with a credit account before the user is connected to the value-added service;

receiving the information associated with a credit account;

communicating credit account information to a payment authorization database;

receiving payment authorization information associated with the credit account from the payment authorization database before the user is connected to the value-added service;

connecting the user to the value-added service when the payment authorization information is affirmative; and

transmitting session charge information associated with the communication session to the payment authorization database when the communication session is terminated, the session charge information including information for charging the credit account an amount representing a charge for the communication session.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the credit account information includes the received information associated with the credit account and a predetermined amount that is to be charged to the credit account.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the credit account information includes the received information associated with the credit account and a predetermined amount that is to be set aside in the credit account for the communication session.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of calculating a total charge for the communication session when the communication session is terminated, the total charge being based on an actual time that the user is connected to the value-added service.