System, method and device for managing VOIP telecommunications

• US 8,781,089 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AudioGate Technologies Ltd.
• Original Assignee: AudioGate Technologies Ltd.
• Inventors: Gilboa, Shai Haim, Fogel, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Nigh, James D
• Application Number:
  US11/937,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20090122726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,440 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.03, 379/114.23, 379/115.01
• US Class Current: 379/114.03
• 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 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/54 for revenue sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/59 based on real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/705 Account settings, e.g. limits or numbers or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/82 Criteria or parameters used for performing billing operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/842 Announcement, e.g. IVR dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/844 Message, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/24 Voice over IP billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• 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 2215/7009 Account settings, e.g. users, terminals, limits, numbers or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8133 : Announcement, e.g. IVR dialogue, intelligent peripheral or switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8137 : Message, e.g. alphanumeric text, SMS, MMS, EMS or www-based messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 : Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A system, method or device for sharing revenue for incoming Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls between a VoIP service provider and VoIP service subscribers. The VoIP subscribers may earn credits for receiving incoming calls from a first network to an Internet Protocol (IP) network, based on a revenue sharing model. The first network may be any cellular, fixed line or other IP network in the world. The user earns credits for incoming calls to his softphone, initiated by any landline, mobile phone or VoIP phone user in the world, which dials his local number. After the softphone user accumulates credits, he may be able to initiate outgoing calls to any telephone in the world, by using his credits. The user can also register others for the service (using email or any other method), and obtain a portion of their credits, when they receive incoming calls to their softphones from external callers.

Claims

1. A method for sharing revenue between a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service provider and a VoIP end user, comprising:

charging a call fee to a first service provider for a specific incoming call, the call fee charged for connection of the specific incoming call, the call fee charged by a VoIP service provider,

the incoming call passing a gateway maintained between a first network and an Internet Protocol (IP) network,

the fee charged via a VoIP proxy associated with the VoIP service provider; and

crediting a VoIP end user account of the VoIP service provider with at least a portion of the call fee charged to the first service provider for receiving the specific incoming call via the first network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein charging the fee to a first service provider is for an incoming call passing a gateway between one of a cellular network or a fixed line network and an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

displaying on a softphone credits credited by the VoIP service provider to the end user.

4. The method according to claim 2 further comprising:

changing the balance of credits for the end user account during a call.

5. The method according to claim 4 further comprising:

announcing the number of credits from the VoIP service provider that an end user has earned or used up during an ongoing call.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

providing credits to an end user account when the credits are purchased by the end user of the VoIP service provider.

7. The method according to claim 3 wherein the displayed credits apply to voice calls made by the end user and video calls made by the end user.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein crediting the VoIP end user account is credited at a rate that depends on the number assigned to the VoIP phone of the VoIP end user account.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

registering a plurality of end users as subscribers to the VoIP service and

awarding a portion of the credits for incoming calls to the registered plurality of end users.

10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising awarding one or more end user accounts with the portion of the credits for incoming calls to the registered plurality of end users up to ‘

n’

generations.

11. The method according to claim 6 further comprising:

showing the budget remaining for voice calls.

12. The method according to claim 2 further comprising:

providing a choice to a VoIP end user,

the choice allowing the VoIP end user to select a destination and

the choice allowing the VoIP end user to view accumulated credit for a selected destination.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the destination is a number or country.

14. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

offering the ability for a VoIP end user to use accumulated credits earned in a VoIP end user account, for the purchase of goods or services.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein charges for multiple phone numbers are credited to the same VoIP end user account.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein a the VoIP end user account has a plurality of Direct In Dialing (DID) numbers corresponding to national numbers in at least two countries world-wide and associated with the VoIP end user account.

17. A system for sharing revenue, for an incoming Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call, between a VoIP service provider and a VoIP end user, comprising:

a VoIP proxy server having a processor,

the VoIP proxy server processor configured with code resident in memory such that when executed, the code configures the VoIP proxy server to charge a first service provider for connecting a specific incoming call from a first network to an Internet Protocol (IP) network, if the incoming call is to a VoIP end user of a VoIP service provider, and

the VoIP proxy server processor is further configured to provide credits to an account of the VoIP end user with a portion of said charge to the first service provider.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the first network comprises a cellular network or a fixed line network.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the VoIP proxy server is further configured to provide credits to an account of a VoIP end user running a softphone client on one of a wireless device, desktop computer, laptop computer, PDA, gaming console, or server.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the proxy server is further configured to allow the VoIP end user to use accumulated credits to make outgoing VoIP calls credits over the first network.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the fixed line network is a public telephony network (PSTN).

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the VoIP proxy server is further configured to provide credits to a VoIP end user account with additional credits purchased by a VoIP end user through the VoIP service provider.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the VoIP proxy server is further configured to provide partial credits to a VoIP end user account for incoming calls to other VoIP end users.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the server is further configured to award with credits to a VoIP end user based on user registrations registered by the VoIP end user account being credited.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein the VoIP proxy server is further configured to provide credits to an account of a VoIP end user where the VoIP end user is using a mobile phone with VoIP capabilities.

26. The system of claim 17 wherein the VoIP proxy server is further configured to provide credits to an account of a VoIP end user where the VoIP end user is using an Analog Terminal Adaptor (ATA) along with analog phone.

27. The system of claim 17 wherein the VoIP proxy server is further configured to provide credits to a VoIP end user account where the VoIP service end user has a plurality of Direct In Dialing (DID) numbers corresponding to national numbers in at least two countries world-wide and associated with the VoIP end user.