Billing for use of a telephony device

• US 7,155,412 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Winters, Scott Lee, Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Weaver, James Mark, McIntyre, Joseph Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, Alain L.
• Application Number:
  US10/022,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,835 Days
• Field of Search: 705/40, 705/44, 705/35, 455/406
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

A method, system, and program for billing a caller for use of an origin device are provided. Usage, of at least one measurable element of a telephony device by an identified individual, is tracked, where the identified individual is distinct from an owner of the origin telephony device. A tariff for the tracked usage is transferred to an intermediary device. The intermediary device charges the tariff according to a billing plan for the identified individual, such that the owner is compensated for use of at least one measurable element of the owner'"'"'s telephony device. Measurable elements may include the time the telephony device is in the identified individual'"'"'s possession, the battery usage, and usage of the address book.

Claims

1. A method for billing for telephone usage, said method comprising:

tracking, at a telephony device, usage of at least one measurable element of said telephony device itself by an identifiable individual, wherein said identifiable individual is distinct from an owner of said telephony device, wherein said usage of said measurable element is separate from any use of telephone service to said telephony device for a call;

calculating, at said telephony device, a tariff for a cost of said amount of usage of said measurable element of said telephony device by said identifiable individual based on a cost per unit of actual usage of said measurable element specified by said owner of said telephony device; and

transferring said tariff to bill a billing plan for said identifiable individual for said tracked usage of said measurable element of said telephony device from said telephony device via a telephone network to a billing service, wherein said billing service is enabled to facilitate transfer of an electronic payment between an account provider designated in said billing plan for said identifiable individual and an account for said owner of said telephony device, such that said owner of said telephony device is electronically compensated for usage of the actual telephony device by said identifiable individual.

2. The method for billing for telephone usage according to claim 1, wherein usage of at least one measurable element of said telephony device comprises at least one from among possession of said telephony device, battery usage of said telephony device, and address book access from said telephony device.

3. The method for billing for telephone usage according to claim 1, wherein said telephony device is a wireless telephone device.

4. The method for billing for telephone usage according to claim 1, wherein said telephony device is a wireline telephone device.

5. The method for billing for telephone usage according to claim 1, further comprising:

alerting said identifiable individual, via said telephony device, to said cost per unit of actual usage specified by said owner of said telephony device for said tracked usage of said telephony device.

6. The method for billing for telephone usage according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an authenticated identity of said identifiable individual;

selecting a particular cost per unit of actual usage specified by said owner of said telephony device for said authenticated identity of said identifiable individual from among a plurality of separate costs per unit of actual usage specified by said owner for each of a plurality of separate authenticated identities; and

calculating said tariff according to said particular cost per unit of actual usage specified for said authenticated identity of said identifiable individual.

7. The method for billing for telephone usage according to claim 1, wherein said identifiable individual is a caller.

8. The method for billing for telephone usage according to claim 1, wherein said identifiable individual is a callee.

9. A system for billing for telephone usage, said system comprising:

a tracking controller within a telephony device;

said tracking controller comprising;

means for tracking usage of at least one measurable element of said telephony device itself by an identifiable individual, wherein said identifiable individual is distinct from an owner of said telephony device, wherein said usage of said measurable element is separate from any use of telephone service to said telephony device for a call;

means for calculating a tariff for a cost of said amount of usage of said measurable element of said telephony device by said identifiable individual based on a cost per unit of actual usage of said measurable element specified by said owner of said telephony device; and

means for transferring said tariff to bill a billing plan for said identifiable individual for said tracked usage of said measurable element of said telephony device from said telephony device via a telephone network to a billing service, wherein said billing service is enabled to facilitate transfer of an electronic payment between an account provider designated in said billing plan for said identifiable individual and an account for said owner of said telephony device, wherein said owner of said telephony device is electronically compensated for usage of the actual telephony device by said identifiable individual.

10. The system for billing for telephone usage according to claim 9, wherein usage of at least one measurable element of said telephony device comprises at least one from among possession of said telephony device, battery usage of said telephony device, and address book access from said telephony device.

11. The system for billing for telephone usage according to claim 9, wherein said telephony device is a wireless telephone device.

12. The system for billing for telephone usage according to claim 9, wherein said telephony device is a wireline telephone device.

13. The system for billing for telephone usage according to claim 9, further comprising:

means for alerting said identifiable individual, via said telephony device, to said cost per unit of actual usage specified by said owner of said telephony device for said tracked usage of said telephony device.

14. The system for billing for telephone usage according to claim 9, further comprising:

means for detecting an authenticated identity of said identifiable individual;

means for selecting a particular cost per unit of actual usage specified by said owner of said telephony device for said authenticated identity of said identifiable individual from among a plurality of separate costs per unit of actual usage specified by said owner for each of a plurality of separate authenticated identities; and

means for calculating said tariff according to said particular cost per unit of actual usage specified for said authenticated identity of said identifiable individual.

15. The system for billing for telephone usage according to claim 9, wherein said identifiable individual is a caller.

16. The system for billing for telephone usage according to claim 9, wherein said identifiable individual is a callee.

17. A computer program product for billing for telephone usage, said computer program product comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for tracking usage of at least one measurable element of said telephony device itself by an identifiable individual at said telephony device, wherein said identifiable individual is distinct from an owner of said telephony device, wherein said usage of said measurable element is separate from any use of telephone service to said telephony device for a call;

means for calculating a tariff for a cost of said amount of usage of said measurable element of said telephony device by said identifiable individual based on a cost per unit of actual usage of said measurable element specified by said owner of said telephony device; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for transferring said tariff to bill a billing plan for said identifiable individual for said tracked usage of said measurable element of said telephony device from said telephony device via a telephone network to a billing service, wherein said billing service is enabled to facilitate transfer of an electronic payment between an account provider designated in said billing plan for said identifiable individual and an account for said owner of said telephony device.

18. The computer program product for billing for telephone usage according to claim 17, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for alerting said identifiable individual to said cost per unit of actual usage specified by said owner of said telephony device for said tracked usage of said telephony device.

19. The computer program product for billing for telephone usage according to claim 17, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for detecting an authenticated identity of said identifiable individual; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for selecting a particular cost per unit of actual usage specified by said owner of said telephony device for said authenticated identity of said identifiable individual from among a plurality of separate costs per unit of actual usage specified by said owner for each of a plurality of separate authenticated identities; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for calculating said tariff according to said particular cost per unit of actual usage specified for said authenticated identity of said identifiable individual.

20. A method for billing a non-owner for telephone usage, said method comprising:

detecting, at a billing service operating outside a trusted telephone network via a secure channel established between a telephone service provider within said trusted telephone network and said billing service, a tariff calculated at a telephony device for usage by an identifiable individual of at least one measurable element of said telephony device communicatively connected with telephone service from said telephone service provider within said trusted telephone network, wherein said identifiable individual is different from an owner of said telephony device, wherein said usage of said measurable element is separate from any use of telephone service by said telephone service provider to said telephony device for a call; and

facilitating, through said billing service, transfer of an electronic payment for a cost designated in said tariff between a first account provider designated for said identifiable individual and a second account provider for said owner of said telephony device, such that said owner is compensated for usage of said telephony device.

21. The method for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 20, further comprising:

receiving, at said billing service with said tariff, voice authenticated identifiers for each of said identifiable individual and said owner of said telephony device; and

retrieving, based on said voice authenticated identifiers, account providers for each of said identifiable individual and said owner of said telephony device.

22. The method for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 21, retrieving account providers further comprising:

retrieving, based on said voice authenticated identifier for said owner, a billing plan for said owner comprising a plurality of providers each specified for handling a particular type of billing from among a plurality of types of billing accessible to said owner, wherein said second account provider is designated from among said plurality of providers for crediting tariff costs.

23. The method for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 21, retrieving account providers further comprising:

retrieving, based on said voice authenticated identifier for said identifiable individual, a billing plan for said identifiable individual comprising a plurality of providers each specified for handling a particular type of billing from among a plurality of types of billing accessible to said owner, wherein said first account provider is designated from among said plurality of providers for charging tariff costs.

24. The method for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 20, wherein said usage of said at least one measurable element of said telephony device occurs during a call originated from said telephony device.

25. The method for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 20, wherein said usage of said at least one measurable element of said telephony device occurs while said telephony device is in the possession of said identifiable individual.

26. The method for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 20, wherein facilitating, through said billing service, transfer of an electronic payment for a cost designated in said tariff further comprises:

establishing a secure channel between said first account provider and said second account provider for a billed transaction of said electronic payment.

27. A system for billing a non-owner for telephone usage, said system comprising:

a billing service operating outside a trusted telephone network via a secure channel established between a telephone service provider within said trusted telephone network and said billing service;

said billing service comprising;

means for detecting a tariff calculated at a telephony device for usage by an identifiable individual of at least one measurable element of said telephony device communicatively connected with telephone service from said telephone service provider within said trusted telephone network, wherein said identifiable individual is different from an owner of said telephony device, wherein said usage of said measurable element is separate from any use of telephone service by said telephone service provider to said telephony device for a call; and

means for facilitating transfer of an electronic payment for a cost designated in said tariff between a first account provider designated for said identifiable individual and a second account provider for said owner of said telephony device, wherein said owner is compensated for usage of said telephony device.

28. The system for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 27, said billing service further comprising:

means for receiving, at said billing service with said tariff, voice authenticated identifiers for each of said identifiable individual and said owner of said telephony device; and

means for retrieving, based on said voice authenticated identifiers, account providers for each of said identifiable individual and said owner of said telephony device.

29. The system for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 28, said means for retrieving account providers further comprising:

means for retrieving, based on said voice authenticated identifier for said owner, a billing plan for said owner comprising a plurality of providers each specified for handling a particular type of billing from among a plurality of types of billing accessible to said owner, wherein said second account provider is designated from among said plurality of providers for crediting tariff costs.

30. The system for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 28, said means for retrieving account providers further comprising:

means for retrieving, based on said voice authenticated identifier for said identifiable individual, a billing plan for said identifiable individual comprising a plurality of providers each specified for handling a particular type of billing from among a plurality of types of billing accessible to said owner, wherein said first account provider is designated from among said plurality of providers for charging tariff costs.

31. The system for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 27, wherein said usage of said at least one measurable element of said telephony device occurs during a call originated from said telephony device.

32. The system for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 27, wherein said usage of said at least one measurable element of said telephony device occurs while said telephony device is in the possession of said identifiable individual.

33. The system for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 27, wherein said means for facilitating transfer of an electronic payment for a cost designated in said tariff further comprises:

means for establishing a secure channel between said first account provider and said second account provider for a billed transaction of said electronic payment.

34. A computer program product for billing a non-owner for telephone usage, said computer program product comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for detecting a tariff calculated at a telephony device for usage by an identifiable individual of at least one measurable element of said telephony device communicatively connected with telephone service from said telephone service provider within said trusted telephone network, wherein said identifiable individual is different from an owner of said telephony device, wherein said usage of said measurable element is separate from any use of telephone service by said telephone service provider to said telephony device for a call; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for facilitating transfer of an electronic payment for a cost designated in said tariff between a first account provider designated for said identifiable individual and a second account provider for said owner of said telephony device, for compensating said owner of said telephony device.

35. The computer program product for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 34, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for receiving with said tariff, voice authenticated identifiers for each of said identifiable individual and said owner of said telephony device; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for controlling retrieval, based on said voice authenticated identifiers, of account providers for each of said identifiable individual and said owner of said telephony device.

36. The computer program product for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 34, frirther comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for retrieving, based on said voice authenticated identifier for said owner, a billing plan for said owner comprising a plurality of providers each specified for handling a particular type of billing from among a plurality of types of billing accessible to said owner, wherein said second account provider is designated from among said plurality of providers for crediting tariff costs.

37. The computer program product for billing a non-owner for telephone usage according to claim 34, wherein facilitating transfer of an electronic payment for a cost designated in said tariff further comprises:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for establishing a secure channel between said first account provider and said second account provider for a billed transaction of said electronic payment.