Method and system for global telecommunications network management and display of market-price information

• US 6,442,258 B1
• Filed: 04/17/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AIP Acquisition LLC
• Original Assignee: ANIP, Inc. (INNOVATE Corp.)
• Inventors: Mashinsky, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US09/551,190
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/112, 379/113, 379/114, 379/115, 379/120, 379/121, 379/124, 379/144, 379/219, 379/220, 379/221, 705/23, 705/26, 380/23, 380/25, 380/49
• US Class Current: 379/114.02
• 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 15/50 for cross-charging network operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/805 Bidding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/52 Interconnection, inter-exchange, reseller billing, billing agreements between different operators, e.g. billing identifier added on the CDR in order to cross charge the other operator, inter-operator accounting, reconciliation, bill directly resellers customers
• 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 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7457 Biding
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0062 Provisions for network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors

Abstract

A system and method for flexibly routing telecommunications in an efficient manner using resources that are traded in a market are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, service providers and requesters submit service offers and requests to a server node. Offers and requests may be submitted automatically by a telecommunications node programmed to dynamically monitor current volume and sell or buy telecommunication time or bandwidth on the basis of the actual and predicted demand. The server node administers all aspects of the trades and the resulting changes in global network operations, hilling, and settlements. When a buyer wishes to use telecommunications resources it has purchased, it may pass supervision to a local telecommunications node, which may establish transmission using the purchased telecommunications resources. Particular SS7 codes, C7 codes, C5 codes, IN codes, or other data messages may be used to inform a switch in the routing path that an incoming telecommunication transaction is in transit to a different location, and is not for termination at the location of the switch so that terminating traffic may be distinguished from transit traffic. In a preferred embodiment the system is capable of displaying market-price information related to the supported telecommunications routes to prospective sellers and buyers.

Claims

1. A method for trading telecommunications services, comprising:

receiving service offers from a plurality of sellers, each seller having an account stored in a memory, each account having a balance, each service offer constituting an offer to sell a block of telecommunications connect time larger in size than a single telecommunications transaction for a route connecting a pair of locations in a network, each service offer comprising a plurality of parameters, the parameters comprising;

a price;

an origination location; and

a destination location;

identifying one or more routes for routing calls from a first location to a second location using the received service offers, each of the identified routes comprising one or more calling legs, service for each calling leg being provided by a service provider;

receiving service requests from a plurality of buyers, each buyer having an account stored in a memory, each account having a balance, each service request requesting purchase of a block of telecommunications connect time larger in size than a single telecommunications transaction, each service request comprising a plurality of parameters, the parameters comprising;

a price;

an origination location; and

a termination location;

matching service requests provided by buyers to at least a portion of one or more service requests provided by sellers;

brokering a transaction that effects a transfer of ownership of at least a portion of the telecommunications connect time specified in the matched service offers from each seller to a respective buyer; and

updating the account balance of each seller and buyer of telecommunications connect time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the buyers are chosen in accordance with a rule or set of rules.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the rule is first-come-first-served.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the rule is an auction between all service requests received within a predetermined window of time.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the auction is a Vickrey style auction.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the auction matches all service requests received through a specific point in time with all service offers received through that same point in time, including requests and offers already matched in previous auctions.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the rule is an auction that matches all service requests received within a predetermined window of time with all available service offers.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the rule is designed to maximize the amount of communication services sold in response to a plurality of requests received within a predetermined amount of time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one seller is a person or entity that does not possess telecommunication transmission facilities capable of providing the offered service.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a single entity may act as both a buyer and a seller of telecommunication services.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least some of the telecommunication service offered for sale is service that had previously been purchased by the seller.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the entity is in possession of a computer system adapted to dynamically monitor market trends and sell or buy telecommunication services on the basis of expected supply and demand for such services.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein statements are periodically transmitted to each seller and buyer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the statements are made available for buyer and seller online perusal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the online perusal is via the world wide web.

16. The method of claim 1, telecommunication status and account status information are periodically transmitted to each seller and buyer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the status information is made available for buyer and seller online perusal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the online perusal is via the world wide web.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the ability of carriers to provide telecommunication services offered for sale is authenticated.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the authentication is based at least in part on the carriers'"'"'historical performance.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein carrier ratings are maintained.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the carrier ratings are maintained adaptively, based on a smoothed average of measurements taken over time.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the carrier ratings are based on the ability of carriers to provide offered services.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of brokering is performed by an entity that assures the ability of carriers and other participants to meet the financial commitments implied by their purchasing activities.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of brokering is performed by a clearing node, further comprising:

at a telecommunications node, comparing the cost and availability for connecting a telecommunication transaction using telecommunication service purchased via the clearing node to the cost of connecting the telecommunication transaction via an alternate means and determining whether the transaction should be connected using telecommunication service purchased via the clearing node or using an alternate means.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein status information on trading activities is available to buyers and sellers.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the status information provided is limited to information directly impacting a subset of buyers and sellers.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the status information is provided for online perusal by buyers and sellers.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the online perusal is via the world wide web.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising determining that the transaction should be connected using telecommunication service purchased via the clearing node if the cost of doing so is less than a predetermined percentage of the cost of connecting the transaction via alternate means.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising determining that the transaction should be connected using telecommunication service purchased via the clearing node on the basis of business considerations.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the clearing node is not privy to the business considerations.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the telecommunications node determines that the transaction should be connected using telecommunication service purchased via the clearing node when no alternative means for carrying the call is available.

34. The method of claim 25, further comprising a plurality of clearing nodes, wherein each clearing node brokers transactions so as to optimize for at least one parameter.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein each clearing node brokers transactions so as to optimize for a distinct parameter.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein one of the parameters is price.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein one of the parameters is network utilization.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the telecommunications node stores one or more selection rules for determining the service offer to accept from among a plurality of service offers proposed by the plurality of clearing nodes.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the set of selection rules is a function of at least one of the following:

affiliations between the buyer and one or more of the clearing nodes;

bandwidth/time volumes available from one or more of the clearing nodes;

volume discounts available from one or more of the clearing nodes;

or transaction charges imposed by one or more of the clearing nodes.

40. The method of claim 25, wherein the telecommunication node is adapted to:

predict on the basis of a plurality of factors the anticipated demand for services via a telecommunications switch for an upcoming predetermined period of time;

compare the anticipated demand to the communication services available for the predetermined period of time to the telecommunications switch;

purchase communications services via the clearing node when the comparison indicates that the anticipated demand exceeds the available communication services for the predetermined period of time; and

sell communications services via the clearing node when the comparison indicates that the anticipated demand is less than the available communication services for the predetermined period of time.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the prediction is based at least in part on recent utilization patterns for the telecommunication switch.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the decision to sell or purchase communication services is additionally a function of a set of predefined rules.

43. The method of claim 25, further comprising a plurality of telecommunications nodes, wherein the telecommunications nodes and the clearing node comprise an overlay network over a distinct communications network.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the telecommunication nodes may communicate directly with elements of the distinct communications network using IN signaling.

45. The method of claim 25, wherein the telecommunications node comprises a first database that stores the cost to a carrier of connecting a call from an originating location to a terminating location.

46. The method of claim 25, wherein the telecommunications node comprises a second database that stores the price published by a service provider offering to connect an originating location to a terminating location.

47. The method of claim 25, wherein the telecommunications node comprises a third database that stores a map of the physical transmission facilities maintained by a communications provider, the technologies supported by the facilities, and the names and locations of other carriers with which the carrier'"'"'s facilities interconnect.

48. The method of claim 25, wherein rate tables are used to periodically update routing tables located at one or more telecommunication switches.

49. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

an IN compatible telecommunications switch;

a telecommunications node associated with the telecommunication switch;

wherein the telecommunications node is adapted to cause an IN signal to be transmitted by the telecommunications switch to a second switch in a route of a telecommunication transaction, the content of the IN signal informing the second switch that the telecommunication is not for termination in the location of the second switch.

50. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

an SS7 compatible telecommunications switch;

a telecommunication node associated with the telecommunication switch;

wherein the telecommunications node is adapted to cause an SS7 signal to be transmitted by the telecommunications switch to a second switch in a route of a telecommunication transaction, the content of the SS7 signal informing the second switch that the telecommunication is not for termination in the location of the second switch.

51. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of brokering is performed by a clearing node comprising a distributed network of computers.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the distributed computers are associated with telecommunications nodes.

53. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of brokering may be performed by any one of a plurality of clearing nodes, wherein each clearing node employs a subset of matching criteria for determining clearing activities.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein a separate computer adjudicates a single clearing result from the plurality of results offered by the distributed network.

55. The method of claim 1, wherein the service offers are submitted via a world-wide-web site.

56. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchase requests are submitted via a world-wide-web site.

57. The method of claim 1, wherein the service offers are submitted via a telecommunication node connected to a clearing node.

58. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchase requests are submitted via a telecommunications node connected to a clearing node.

59. The method of claim 1, wherein the service offers are submitted using a template comprising the following fields:

an offer number field;

a provider name field;

a provider identification number field;

a password field;

a date/time submitted field;

a quality field;

an originating location field;

a terminating location field;

a bandwidth/time available field;

a number of circuits field;

a price field; and

an hours of operation field.

60. The method of claim 1, wherein the service requests are submitted using a template comprising the following fields:

a request number field;

a requester name field;

a requester identification number field;

a password field;

a date/time submitted field;

a quality field;

an originating location field;

a terminating location field;

a bandwidth/time requested field;

a number of circuits field; and

an hours of operation field.

61. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that define a service offer is connection quality.

62. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that define a service offer is service type.

63. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that define a service offer is post dial delay.

64. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that define a service offer is legal restrictions.

65. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that define a service offer is compression level.

66. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that define a service offer is compression type.

67. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that define a service offer is equipment type.

68. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that define a service offer is signaling compatibility.

69. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that define a service offer is maximum latency.

70. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that define a service offer is a field that indicates whether the service provider will provide local termination for communications under the offer.

71. The method of claim 70, sales of communication service offered without local termination are brokered only to buyers that do not require local termination.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the template further comprises a valid until field.

73. The method of claim 71, wherein price and hours of operation fields comprise a table listing distinct prices for distinct periods of time.

74. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that define a service offer is a field that indicates whether communications covered by the offer will trigger a settlement agreement.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the distinct periods of time are described in terms of a calendar.

76. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that define a service offer is a field that indicates whether communications covered by the offer will be carried via a private line.

77. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that define a service offer is a field that indicates whether communications covered by the offer will be carried via a private network.

78. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that define a service offer is a field that indicates whether communications covered by the offer will be carried via satellite.

79. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that define a service offer is usage pattern.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein a plurality of transactions are brokered so that two or more buyers requiring complementary communication services usage patterns purchase communication services from one service provider.

81. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that defines a service offer is termination options, including fax bypass.

82. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that defines a service offer is carrier preference.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein carrier preference overrides other parameters.

84. The method of claim 82, wherein carrier preference establishes an explicit, specified cost margin that must be exceeded to override the preference.

85. The method of claim 1, wherein buyers are required to provide a password that is above a predetermined level before being permitted to submit purchase requests.

86. The method of claim 1, wherein sellers are required to provide a password having a level above the predetermined level before being permitted to submit service offers.

87. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the parameters that defines a route is quality.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein the quality rating of a route may be decreased if the route comprises two or more satellite legs.

89. The method of claim 87, wherein the quality rating of a route may be determined as a function of the type of link employed to carry communications via the route.

90. The method of claim 1, wherein the accuracy of at least one of the parameters that make up the submitted service offers is independently verified.

91. The method of claim 1, wherein a purchase request submitted by a buyer is filled by brokering at least two sales of communications service, a first sale between a first seller and the buyer and a second sale between a second seller and the buyer.

92. The method of claim 1, wherein a purchase request comprises a sort-by parameter regarding the rank order of importance to the buyer of at least one of the other parameters that define the request.

93. The method of claim 1, wherein a purchase request comprises an unacceptable carrier parameter.

94. The method of claim 1, wherein a purchase request comprises a preferred service providers parameter.

95. The method of claim 1, further comprising a clearing node that manages a futures market in communication services.

96. The method of claim 1, further comprising a clearing node that manages a derivatives market in communications services.

97. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer price represents the lowest price that the seller is willing to accept for the offered communication services.

98. The method of claim 1, wherein the request price represents the highest price that the purchaser is willing to pay for the requested communication services.

99. A method for trading telecommunications service, comprising:

receiving service offers by a server node from a plurality of sellers, each service offer constituting an offer to sell a telecommunications service for a route connecting a pair of locations in a network, each service offer comprising at least two of a plurality of parameters, the parameters comprising;

price information;

an origination location; and

a destination location;

receiving service requests by the server node from a plurality of buyers, each service request requesting purchase of a telecommunications service each service request comprising two or more parameters, the parameters comprising;

price information;

an origination location; and

a termination location;

matching service requests provided by buyers to at least a portion of one or more service offers provided by sellers;

identifying one or more routes for transmitting the telecommunications service from a first location to a second location based on the matched service requests, each of the identified routes comprising one or more calling legs; and

brokering a transaction that effects a transfer of ownership of at least a portion of the telecommunications connect time specified in the matched service offers from each seller to a respective buyer.

100. The method of claim 99, further comprising the step of updating an account balance of each seller and buyer by the server node.

101. The method of claim 99, further comprising the step of configuring a telecommunication node to route telecommunications services according to the identified routes.