Online reporting tool for conferencing customers

• US 20070124258A1
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• 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: Mathew, Boban, Evans, Dagny, Schmitt, Kesah, Scott, Alina, Bingaman, Anne
• Granted Patent: US 8,340,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/400
• 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. A method for managing moderators of conferences, comprising:

receiving a request to create a moderator report from a customer via a network, wherein the request includes an identifier for at least one moderator associated with the customer;

compiling account details relating to conferences assigned to the at least one moderator to create the moderator report; and

providing the moderator report to the customer via the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the moderator report comprises one of:

displaying the moderator report, downloading the moderator report, e-mailing the moderator report, and printing the moderator report.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier includes one of:

a name, a company, and a passcode.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying a permission associated with the customer before receiving the request to create the moderator report.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving search criteria for the at least one moderator from the customer; and

searching a database using the search criteria to locate the identifier of the at least one moderator.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection from the customer to add a moderator to the customer account;

establishing a record of the moderator account based on the selection; and

submitting a moderator creation request to a conferencing services provider based on the record.

7. A method for creating an unbilled usage data report for conferencing services, comprising:

receiving usage data relating to a conference;

using the usage data and at least one billing rate associated with a customer to calculate unbilled charges for each conference related to the usage data;

calculating an estimated tax for each conference related to the usage data; and

providing the unbilled usage data report to the customer, wherein the unbilled usage data report includes the unbilled charges and the estimated tax.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the usage data includes a moderator, a phone number, a call period, and a date.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the billing reference includes a client code and a matter code.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

formatting the unbilled usage data report according to customer specifications.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein providing the unbilled charges and the estimated tax comprises one of:

displaying the unbilled usage data report, downloading the unbilled usage data report, e-mailing the unbilled usage data report, and printing the unbilled usage data report.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising calculating total charges based on the unbilled charges and the estimated tax.

13. A method for managing moderator time spent on conferences, comprising:

receiving a selection for the moderator and a time period from a customer via a network;

creating a record of time spent by a moderator on conferences, based on each conference associated with the moderator during the time period; and

providing the record to the customer via a network.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, from the customer, a primary search criteria selected from among a set of data fields related to the conferences;

presenting possible secondary search criteria based on the primary search criteria selected and remaining data fields in the set of data fields;

receiving, from the customer, a selected secondary search criteria; and

retrieving data related to the conference meeting the primary search criteria and the secondary search criteria.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the record to a customer via a network comprises one of:

displaying the record, downloading the record, e-mailing the record, and printing the record.

16. An online reporting system for conferencing services comprising:

an account information component for tracking information for a customer;

a management component for managing moderators associated with the customer;

a usage reports component for generating online reports related to the moderators'"'"' usage of conferencing services; and

a billing reports component for providing online reports related to billed charges for conferencing services provided to the customer.

17. The online reporting system of claim 16, further comprising:

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

18. The online reporting system of claim 16, wherein the reports related to the moderators'"'"' usage of conferencing services are provided via one of display on a computer screen, downloading, e-mailing, and printing.

19. The online reporting system of claim 16, 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, and printing.

20. The online reporting system of claim 16, wherein the online reports related to the moderators'"'"' usage of conferencing services include unbilled usage data.