Activity log for improved call efficiency

• US 6,917,610 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1999
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Russell, Jesse Eugene, Sankalia, Anish, Kung, Fen-Chung, Wang, Spencer
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Frank
• Application Number:
  US09/475,293
• Time in Patent Office: 2,021 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/395.2, 370/395.21, 370/395.41, 370/395.5, 370/401, 379/114.01, 379/114.03, 379/114.06, 379/114.07, 379/114.08
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

The present invention provides for an activity log which may include user proactive billing management for use in a broadband communications system that guarantees voice, data and video communication reliability and security to users for an integrated telephone, television and data network. The activity log and user proactive billing management may log incoming calls directory numbers (DNs) and outgoing call DNs in a database that may be provided at a central system location, such as the IP Central Station or at the system subscriber'"'"'s customer premises equipment. The activity log may also log incoming and outgoing email interactive sessions (e.g., instant message (IM) email) and log multimedia video and audio calls. According to a variation of the invention, the user may access the activity log(s) and identify any communication the cost of which should be billed to a different party. The activity log may also be sorted based on user preferences and set to direct calls to low cost alternatives.

Claims

1. A method of logging using information related to communication activity in an integrated broadband communication system, comprising the steps of:

creating an activity log for a user'"'"'s system address that logs data associated with one of an incoming and outgoing communications of more than one type of media including telephone, text data, and multimedia video and audio, the logged data including the directory number of the incoming/outgoing communication and billing information associated therewith;

determining if there is said one of an incoming and outgoing communication for a user'"'"'s system address; and

creating a new record for said activity log if there is a said one of an incoming and outgoing communication, said new record comprising data associated with one of an incoming and outgoing communications including the directory number of the incoming/outgoing communication and billing information associated therewith.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining if there is a connection identifier for said one of an incoming and outgoing communication for a user'"'"'s system address; and

entering said connection identifier into said new record if there is one of said connection identifier for said one of an incoming and outgoing communication.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

determining if there is supplemental information available for said connection identifier, and

entering said supplemental information into said new record if said supplemental information is available.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

determining if there is billing information available for said one of an incoming and outgoing communication; and

entering said billing information into said new record if there is billing information available for said one of an incoming and outgoing communication.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of:

closing and saving said new record in said activity log.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of:

enabling said user to initiate a new communications session by access and selecting said saved record from said activity log using a telephone.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of:

providing a graphical user interface for accessing said activity log to said user.