Method of billing a communication session conducted over a computer network
First Claim
1. A method for initiating fraud control features used in billing a communication session over a computer network between a user and a value-added service, the method comprising the steps of:
- establishing session limit criteria for a communication session over a computer network;
determining an identity of a user;
retrieving communication session history information from memory for the identified user;
comparing the communication session history information with the session limit criteria;
limiting at least one of a duration of a communication session, a number of communication sessions of the identified user and an amount of money that can be spent by the user;
receiving communication session origination information;
requesting communication session origination information from the user;
receiving the requested communication session origination information from the user;
comparing the requested communication session origination information with the received communication session origination information; and
blocking a communication session when the requested communication session origination information not match the received communication session origination information.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
241 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method for initiating fraud control features used in billing a communication session over a computer network between a user and a value-added service, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing session limit criteria for a communication session over a computer network;
determining an identity of a user;
retrieving communication session history information from memory for the identified user;
comparing the communication session history information with the session limit criteria;
limiting at least one of a duration of a communication session, a number of communication sessions of the identified user and an amount of money that can be spent by the user;
receiving communication session origination information;
requesting communication session origination information from the user;
receiving the requested communication session origination information from the user;
comparing the requested communication session origination information with the received communication session origination information; and
blocking a communication session when the requested communication session origination information not match the received communication session origination information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
comparing a postal code of the user obtained during the identity determination step with a postal code address obtained from storage for the user; and
denying service when the postal codes do not match.
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4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:
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comparing a predetermined number of digits of an address of the user obtained during the identity determination steps with address information obtained from storage for the user; and
denying service when the predetermined number of digits do not match the address information obtained from storage.
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5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes the step of verifying the address information from a credit card agency.
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6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes the step of verifying the address information from a banking institution.
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7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the value-added service is a connection to a service representative, and
wherein when the call is not blocked, the method further comprising the steps of: -
determining whether a service representative is available for a communication session; and
offering an alternative service to the user when a service representative is not available for a communication session.
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8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the value-added service is a connection to a service representative, and
wherein when the call is not blocked, the method further comprising the steps of: -
determining whether a service representative is available for a communication session; and
automatically switching the user to another service representative when a service representative is not available for a communication session.
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9. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the call is not blocked, the method further comprising the steps of:
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collecting a form of payment information;
communicating the form of payment information to a remote site; and
receiving payment authorization from the remote site before the user is connected to the value-added service.
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10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of sending communication session information to a remote site when the communication session is completed.
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11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving communication session origination information is performed by receiving packetized information when the communication session is requested.
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12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
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comparing the received communication session origination information against a stored list of communication origination information for which communication sessions should be blocked; and
blocking a communication session when the received communication session origination information is included in the stored list of communication origination information for which communication sessions should be blocked.
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13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes the step of comparing a voiceprint of the user against a voiceprint database.
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14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes the step of comparing a fingerprint image of the user against a fingerprint database.
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15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes the step of comparing a portrait image of the user against a portrait image database.
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16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication session is a computer-network telephony call.
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17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication session includes packetized data communicated between the user and the value-added service.
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18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication session is a multimedia session.
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19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
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collecting a form of payment information;
communicating the form of payment information to a payment authorization database; and
receiving payment authorization from the payment authorization before the user is connected to the value-added service.
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20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of 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 a credit account an amount representing a charge for the communication session.
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21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the form of payment is a credit card.
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22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the form of payment is a debit card.
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23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the form of payment is a checking account.
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24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the form of payment is an electronic funds transfer.
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25. The method according to claim 20, wherein the form of payment is a telephone account.
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26. The method according to claim 20, wherein the form of payment is a cable television account.
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27. The method according to claim 20, wherein the form of payment is a utility service account.
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28. The method according to claim 20, wherein the form of payment is an Internet service provider account.
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29. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving communication session origination information is performed by receiving packetized information when the communication session is requested.
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30. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of connecting the user to a chatroom environment when the communication session is not blocked.
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31. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of connecting the user to a talk line when the communication session is not blocked.
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32. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of connecting the user to a pay information service when the communication session is not blocked.
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33. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a checking account number of the user against a checking account number database.
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34. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a credit card account number of the user against a credit card account number database.
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35. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a debit card account number of the user against a debit card account number database.
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36. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a credit card expiration date of the user against a credit card account database.
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37. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing an address of the user against an address database.
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38. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a zip code of the user against a zip code database.
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39. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a birth date of the user against a birth date database.
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40. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a driver'"'"'s license number of the user against a driver'"'"'s license number database.
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41. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a social security number of the user against a social security number database.
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42. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a password associated with the user against a password database.
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43. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a digital certificate of the user against a digital certificate database.
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44. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a maiden name of the user'"'"'s mother against a mother'"'"'s maiden name database.
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45. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a telephone number of the user against a telephone number database.
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46. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a cable television account number of the user against a cable television account number database.
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47. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a utility service account number of the user against a utility service account number database.
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48. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing an Internet Service Provider account number of the user against an Internet Service Provider account number database.
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49. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing electronic wallet information associated with the user against an electronic wallet database.
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50. The method according to claim 20, wherein the form of payment is received from a cookie associated with the user.
Specification