| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 379114030 |
Billing computing software or program
| 34 |
| 379114150 |
Calling card
| 27 |
| 379114210 |
Redirect billing
| 20 |
| 379114100 |
Incentive billing
| 17 |
| 379121010 |
At local exchange carrier (e.g., central switching office)
| 12 |
| 379114140 |
Fraud detection or control
| 12 |
| 379114050 |
Special service fees (e.g., customized feature)
| 10 |
| 379114280 |
Advanced intelligent billing network (e.g., a billing service control processor)
| 6 |
| 379114020 |
Least cost | 5 |
| 20080205613 | UPDATING ROUTING PATTERNS IN AN ENTERPRISE NETWORK - The present disclosure is directed to updating routing patterns in an enterprise network. In some implementations, a method for routing sessions includes identifying information associated with call sessions in an enterprise network. The information includes costs to an enterprise for using carrier services during the call sessions. Routing patterns for call sessions are dynamically updated through at least a portion of the enterprise network based, at least in part, on the costs associated with the call sessions. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20130022186 | TELECOMMUNICATIONS LEAST COST ROUTING SYSTEM - Methods, systems and apparatus for populating a least cost routing database. In one aspect, a method includes receiving from a carrier a bid for routing a telephone call to a destination; automatically loading the received bid into a least cost routing database to generate an updated least cost routing database; and making the updated least cost routing database accessible for use in determining one or more least cost routes. Further, the received bid can be analyzed to generate a projected business result and the projected business result can be presented to the carrier before loading the received bid into the least cost routing database. Additionally, input can be received from the carrier specifying an historical period and the projected business result can be generated based on data associated with the specified historical period. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130094640 | TOLL-FREE REVERSE LEAST COST ROUTING PRICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present disclosure describes systems and methods for performing reverse least cost routing and price management. In particular, a telecommunications carrier monitors network traffic for a wholesale carrier customer using the carrier's telecommunication services. A new pricing scheme and/or rate for network usage by the wholesale carrier may be generated based on a set of policies created by the carrier, such as when it is determined that the wholesale customer's network usage has decreased. The generated rates and/or pricing schemes may be provided to the wholesale carrier customer in real time. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20140119521 | TELEPHONY SERVICES OPTIMIZATION THROUGH CALLING PLAN ANALYSIS - Embodiments of the present invention provide optimization of telephone services through telephone calling plan/card analysis. The least expensive rate is found for telephone calls at any given time and/or date, either through static pre-entry of data, or through dynamic querying of rates via a web-based look-up table, and places calls according to an optimized calling plan. Specifically, in a typical embodiment, an outgoing/target telephone number for an intended telephone call is captured, and a corresponding destination geographic region is identified. Based on the geographic region, a calling plan resulting in a lowest price for the telephone call is identified. This is typically accomplished by consulting at least one table (e.g., call information table) that associates (among other things) calling plans and/or calling cards with geographic regions. Once a calling plan and/or calling card is identified/selected, a corresponding set of dialing instructions will be obtained from the table and used to make/place the telephone call. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20160182735 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ROUTING COMMUNICATIONS | 06-23-2016 |
| 379114040 |
Charge error detection | 5 |
| 20100091964 | System and Method for Identifying Billing Errors - A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for identifying billing discrepancies includes receiving billing data from a billing entity, the billing data including an assessed fee and call details associated with each of a plurality of calls made by a customer, identifying, based at least in part on the call details received from the billing data, rate information associated with the customer, generating an expected fee for each of the plurality of calls, and comparing, for each of the plurality of calls, the expected fee with the assessed fee to identify discrepancies. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20110305329 | Network Assurance Analytic System - A network assurance analytics (NAA) system and method is disclosed. The NAA can be part of a risk analytic for telecom (RAFT) program. The NAA system is configured to monitor telecommunications networks, detect errors or fraud in those telecommunications networks, and provide solutions to resolve the errors or reduce the fraud. Traffic of a telecommunications network is electronically monitored for at least one pattern that is indicative of a telecommunications anomaly. Based on a set of a set of telecommunications profiles stored in a database, a model score representing a value of the telecommunications anomaly is generated. A solution for the telecommunications network to reduce the model score associated with the telecommunications anomaly is then generated for execution on the telecommunications network. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20130195263 | System And Method For Identifying Billing Errors - a system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for identifying billing discrepancies includes receiving billing data from a billing entity, the billing data including an assessed fee and call details associated with each of a plurality of calls made by a customer, identifying, based at least in part on the call details received from the billing data, rate information associated with the customer, generating an expected tee for each of the plurality of calls, and comparing, for each of the plurality of calls, the expected fee with the assessed fee to identify discrepancies. | 08-01-2013 |
| 20140064468 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OFF-NET PLANNED COST DERIVATION, ANALYSIS, AND DATA CONSOLIDATION - Implementations of the present disclosure involve a system and/or method for correlating the cost of ordered telecommunications services. The system receives a customer order that includes various services. The services are matched to available solutions for the services. Each solution includes one or more product instances that are used to implement the solution. Each product instance may be matched to a service component. Each service component may be associated with an on-net service or an off-net service. Service components associated with on-net services may be assigned a cost. Service components associated with off-net services may be correlated to an off-net service and an estimated cost. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20150304505 | DYNAMIC USAGE INEQUITY DETECTION AND/OR REMEDY - An architecture that can dynamically detect and/or automatically remedy service usage inequities in a communications network is provided. For example, based upon a comparison of incoming call detail records (CDRs) to various subscriber information entities (e.g., service plan, blacklisted devices for the service plan, historic or current billing cycle usage, etc.), the architecture can identify when a usage inequity occurs or is likely to occur, substantially in real time. | 10-22-2015 |
| 379115010 |
Interexchange billing operation | 4 |
| 20090080627 | BILLING METHOD AND SYSTEM, AND BILLING SERVER - This invention relates to the field of communication technology, and provides a billing method and system, and a billing server. The method includes: generating, by a PBX, billing ticket information and reporting the billing ticket information to a billing server when an incoming call from an external user to an internal user of the PBX, an outgoing call from an internal user of the PBX, or a call between internal users of the PBX occurs; receiving and storing, by the billing server, the billing ticket information reported from the PBX; initiating, by the billing server, a service connection to a billing center through the PBX, or triggering, by the billing server, a fixed wireless station to initiate a service connection to a billing center directly when the PBX system is in an idle state; and sending, by the billing server, the stored billing ticket information to the billing center after the connection is established successfully. The present invention can implement billing for internal calls within the service scope of a wireless PBX without too many modifications to the existing network equipment, and has little adverse effect on the call. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20130163735 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF CREDIT-DEBIT OPERATIONS IN ACCOUNTS RELATED TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES - A method and a system for the management of telecommunication services provided by an operator to users ( | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130243173 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR MANAGING TANDEM SWITCH INFORMATION - A system and associated methods for automation and management of trunk routing among switches in a telecommunications network between carriers connected to a third party tandem services provider or manager (a “neutral tandem network.”) The system and methodology can be used to, among other things, effectuate a business model for providing preferred rates, or other preferences, to a defined group of members or subscribers by managing and directing subscriber-associated call traffic from subscriber-owned switches to one or more tandem switches owned by a third-party tandem managing entity other than a LEC or ILEC. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20140185782 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM FOR TELECOM BILLING OUTSOURCING - A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium for outsourcing telecom billing are disclosed for issuing one or more first billing statements and one or more second billing statements from a first telecom network; and transmitting at least the one or more first billing statements to a second telecom network. The one or more first billing statements may reflect one or more charges from the first telecom network to the second telecom network, and the one or more second billing statements may reflect one or more charges from the second telecom network to one or more customers thereof. The one or more charges of the first and second billing statements may reflect the same service(s). | 07-03-2014 |
| 379130000 |
At subscriber station | 3 |
| 20110110507 | System And Method For Communication Account Management - According to one embodiment, a method includes receiving a notification of a first communication number from a first prime provider of a first institution. The method also includes determining a first account associated with the first communication number. The method also includes determining whether the first account includes sufficient funding for a first communication session involving the first communication number. The method includes sending a first message to the first prime provider indicating that the first account comprises sufficient funding for the first communication session. Further, the method includes receiving a notification of a second communication number from the first prime provider of the first institution. The method also includes determining that the second communication number is associated with the first account. The method also includes sending a second message to the first prime provider indicating that a communication session to the second communication number may proceed. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110038469 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING CALLS IN AN ARCHITECTURE ALLOWING A TELEPHONY IDENTIFIER TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH A GROUP OF IDENTITIES - A system and a method for processing calls. The system comprises a database including: a plurality of telephony identifiers; and for each telephony identifier, information regarding a group of persons that is associated with the telephony identifier, each person of the group of persons being reachable by placing a call to the telephony identifier, the information comprising, for each person of the group of persons, information related to processing of calls involving the person. The system also comprises a processing element having access to the database and being operative for: determining that a given call involves a particular person of the group of persons that is associated with a given one of the telephony identifiers: and processing the given call based on the information related to processing of calls involving the particular person. Also provided is a method for associating an additional telephony identifier wish one or more identities of a group of identities that is associated with a telephony identifier, and a method for associating an additional identity with a telephony identifier that is associated with a group of identifies. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20140321629 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTENT PRESENTATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH A TELEPHONE CALL - A method and apparatus are provided for presenting multimedia content to a caller and/or a called party in association with a telephone call. Content may be presented pre-ring (before the called party's telephone rings), in-call, and/or post-call. Content presented to a party may be related to another party participating in the call or may be related to a third party (e.g., an advertiser that paid for the ability to have its content presented). Presented content may be actuable, to allow a caller to change the destination of a call, take advantage of an offer presented to him or her, redeem a coupon, schedule or queue a subsequent call, etc. To find a desired destination party, a caller may initiate a manual or automatic search of his or her local contacts (on his telephone) and/or a central or global directory or contact list. | 10-30-2014 |
| 379114060 |
Variable rate | 3 |
| 20100002858 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ISSUING A CREDIT - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method to monitor service outages of a service center, detect a service outage, identify one or more customers affected by the service outage, and assign a credit to each of the affected one or more customers. Additional embodiments are disclosed. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20120106722 | METHOD, A TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND A NETWORK NODE FOR SPONSORING A COMMUNICATION SERVICE - The invention concerns a method for sponsoring a communication service, wherein said communication service is made available directly, in particular to a user of said communication service, and wherein a rule, in particular applicable for charging a sponsor of said communication service, is determined dynamically. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20160028900 | System and Method for Determining and Associating Tariff Rates for Institutional Calls - A telecommunications method for call forwarding including storing information regarding a called party in at least one local database, where the information regarding the called party is stored in a user account and making a telephone call by dialing a telephone number with a telephone, where the telephone is contained in a telephone management system. The method also includes determining whether the telephone number is associated with the user account and transferring, via the switchboard, the call to the called party if the telephone number is associated with the user account, where the telephone management system is in communication with a revenue management system, and also where the revenue management system contains at least one local database. | 01-28-2016 |
| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
|---|
| 20080205612 | TRACKING TRUNK USAGE IN AN ENTERPRISE NETWORK - The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for tracking trunk usage in an enterprise network. In some implementations, a method for identifying trunk expenses includes aggregating data identifying telecommunication services associated with a plurality of trunks in an enterprise network. Charges for the used telecommunication services are identified. The charges are associated with a carrier that provided the telecommunication services. Carrier charges for each of the plurality of the trunks are automatically identified based, at least in part, on the aggregated data and the carrier charges. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20090003567 | System and Method for Telephone Directory Advertising - A directory advertising system includes a user interface module, a database, and a control module. The user interface module displays a special telephone number for an advertiser in a directory advertisement. The database stores the directory advertisement, the special telephone number, and a maximum amount to be charged to the advertiser. The control module decrements the amount stored in the database when the special telephone number is dialed and deactivates the special telephone number when the amount reaches a predetermined level. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090010408 | Systems and Methods to Provide Information via Connections for Real Time Communications Between People - Methods and apparatuses to connect people for real time communications to access diverse categories of information. One embodiment includes: storing data representing a privilege of a user during a predetermined period of time; responsive to a first request made via a presentation of a listing of the first entity for a service of the first entity, establishing a connection for real time communications between the user and the first entity to deliver the service of the first entity, if the user has the privilege at a time of the first request; and responsive to a second request made via a presentation of a listing of the second entity for a service of the second entity, establishing a connection for real time communications between the user and the second entity to deliver the service of the second entity, if the user has the privilege at a time of the second request. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090016507 | Systems and Methods for Dynamic Pay for Performance Advertisements - Methods and apparatuses to dynamically determine the performance event of a listing based on the progress levels of responses received in response to a presentation of the listing. One embodiment includes: providing a listing on behalf of an entity for presentation to a user; identifying an event from a set of predetermined events based on communications made by the user responsive to a presentation of the listing; and charging the entity a fee per the event identifying from the set of predetermined events. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090060153 | METHOD FOR MAINTAINING A CUSTOMER ACCOUNT - A customer is provided a telephone number to which a calling party incurs a charge to be connected. An account balance, which reflects funds deposited into the customer's account but not yet used by the customer, is increased in proportion to the incurred charge. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090086941 | Systems and Methods to Connect People for Real Time Communications - Methods and apparatuses to present information to sellers/advertisers/advisors for connections to customers for real time communications. One embodiment includes: responsive to a request from a customer, determining a telephonic reference of the customer; presenting to at least one entity an option to be connected to the customer; responsive to a first entity selecting the option, initiating a telephonic connection to the customer using the determined telephonic reference of the customer to provide a telephonic connection between the customer and the first entity; and charging the first entity a fee for a lead to the customer in response to establishing the telephonic connection between the customer and the first entity. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090110163 | System and method for inbound call billing - A system and method for billing an incoming communication. A code is received from a calling party during the incoming communication. Expenses of the incoming communication are allocated to an account of the calling party in response to receiving the code. An invoice is generated for the calling party and a receiving party specifying the expenses. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090136011 | TELEPHONE NUMBER-BASED ADVERTISING - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a first telephone number is associated with a second telephone number, and a web-based advertisement is served for an advertiser that includes the first telephone number. A call placed to the first telephone number is received, and the call is routed to the second telephone number based on the association of the second telephone number with the first telephone number. A determination as to whether a call-through event in response to receiving the call placed to the first telephone number has occurred, and an advertiser associated with the second telephone number is charged a cost-per-call amount if the call-through event is determined to have occurred. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090304166 | System and method for determining and associating tariff rates for institutional calls - A telecommunications method for call forwarding including storing information regarding a called party in at least one local database, where the information regarding the called party is stored in a user account and making a telephone call by dialing a telephone number with a telephone, where the telephone is contained in a telephone management system. The method also includes determining whether the telephone number is associated with the user account and transferring, via the switchboard, the call to the called party if the telephone number is associated with the user account, where the telephone management system is in communication with a revenue management system, and also where the revenue management system contains at least one local database. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100008483 | CHARGING METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR GROUP MAIN LINE SERVICE - A charging method for group main line, GML, service is disclosed. For an outgoing call from an extension of the GML, the initiated call is identified by adding a prefix for group service before the called number. When an intelligent network, IN, finds that there is the prefix for group service before the called number, the call is processed as collectively paid by the GML. A service control point, SCP, generates a call record for the call and places a special identification code in the call record. An incoming call redirected through the GML is also processed as collectively paid by the GML. The SCP generates a call record for the call and places a special identification code in the call record. The present invention also discloses a service control device. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100040214 | System and method for transmitting illusory identification characteristics - Methods and systems for associating one or more fees with transmissions of one or more illusory identification characteristics are provided. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100104076 | REAL-TIME FLEXIBLE ACCOUNT SELECTION FOR COMMUNICATIONS - A communications system ( | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100104077 | PUBLIC TELEPHONE FOR MANAGING AND PAYING SERVICES IN SITU AND OPERATION METHODS - A public telephone for managing and paying services in situ, the public telephone consists of a microphone and auricular, at least one input device for input of selective information for services management function and for general functioning of telephone calls, at least one output device for displaying selective information on the service management function and on the general telephone calls function, at least one communication interface faciliting the general telephone calls function, at least one communication interface with at least one services provider for faciliting the services management function; and at least one device for reception of payment of charges due to the service management function or the general telephone calls function. Operation methods for the public telephone as per the invention are described. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100128861 | DATABASE FAILURE DETECTION AND RECOVERY FOR CALL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Methods, systems, apparatus and computer program products for managing calls using a call management system are described. The call management system can receive a call from a communication device and directs the call to a call database containing configuration information for supporting outbound calls. If the call management system detects or obtains notification of a failure associated with the call database, the system automatically bypasses the call database and makes the outbound call using default configuration and call routing information. A second or backup database is used to log call details which can be copied or moved to the call database after the call database is back in service. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100202600 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION CONTROL DEVICE, COMMUNICATION METHOD, COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD AND RECORDING MEDIUM - A communication control device executes a call-out process of calling out a recipient telephone device while specifying an importance level via a telephone network in response to a request from a transmitter telephone device. A recipient received a call operates a mobile communication terminal after a telephone call ends, accesses an information providing server via a wireless LAN access point and the Internet, and inputs information evaluating whether or not an importance level specified for the received call is appropriate. The information providing server provides the input evaluation information to a storage device. The communication control device determines whether or not to execute a call-out process based on the evaluation information stored in the storage device when there is a call-out request from a transmitter. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100208875 | SERVICE DELIVERY PLATFORM DOCKING STATION - A service delivery platform (SDP) docking station (DS) is part of a multiple layer service delivery platform implementation. The SDP DS adds a second SDP layer between the end user and the Core SDP. The Core SDP implements the process flows that enable, provision, and execute telecommunications products and services. The SDP DS provides a customizable front end to the Core SDP to provide local service provider customization, flexible local selection and activation of products and services, and other features. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20110164736 | Methods, Apparatuses, System, Computer Program Product and Data Structure for Call Charge Indication (AOC) - It is disclosed a apparatus including transmitting a request message including first information being different from credit control information, second information indicating absence of a need for credit control, third information indicating a need for call charge indication, and fourth information concerning a service requested; and a method including transmitting an answer message including call charge information responsive to reception of the request message. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110235791 | PAYMENT SYSTEM FOR PAYING PEERING PARTNERS IN A TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - Peering partners register with a peering network for direct broadband routing of call offers. The peering network terminates call offers on behalf of peering partners, collecting call detail records, summarizing termination usage, and calculating a payment to be provided to the peering partner in return for using the services of the peering network. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110243314 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM FOR TELECOM BILLING OUTSOURCING - A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium for outsourcing telecom billing are disclosed for issuing one or more first billing statements and one or more second billing statements from a first telecom network; and transmitting at least the one or more first billing statements to a second telecom network. The one or more first billing statements may reflect one or more charges from the first telecom network to the second telecom network, and the one or more second billing statements may reflect one or more charges from the second telecom network to one or more customers thereof. The one or more charges of the first and second billing statements may reflect the same service(s). | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110280384 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR GENERATING PHONE BILL - The present invention discloses a method and a device for generating a phone bill, which is applied to a charging system in the communication field, wherein the method comprises a preprocessing process and a process of combining phone bills, wherein in the preprocessing process, the charging system uses multiple threads for preprocessing a plurality of service logs simultaneously, and each service log is preprocessed to generate one or more intermediate phone bills, wherein information in the service log is converted into information required for the intermediate phone bills when performing preprocessing, and a single thread is used for processing in the process of combining phone bills to generate required phone bills one by one, and during each process of generating a phone bill, the charging system collects and combines the intermediate phone bills required for generating present phone bill, accomplishes encoding record serial numbers and file serial numbers, and generates one phone bill. The present invention reduces the processing complexity while guaranteeing the processing capacity of the system. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110299673 | CLOUD-BASED VIRTUAL TANDEM - Peering partners register with a peering grid for direct broadband routing of call offers. The peering grid terminates call offers on behalf of peering partners, collecting call detail records, summarizing termination usage, and calculating a payment to be provided to the peering partner in return for using the services of the peering grid. A call detail record may be generated for the peering partner, which may include a market value of call traffic, a variable cost of the call traffic, and a determined compensation amount. The market value is based on revenue for terminations of the call traffic from the peering grid, the variable cost is a function of sharing the market value between the peering grid and the peering partner, and the compensation amount due is a function of the variable cost. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20120002795 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO ANALYZE CALLS TO ADVERTISED TELEPHONE NUMBERS - A system and method for analyzing information associated with voice calls placed during a telephone number advertising campaign is described. The system receives information characterizing voice calls to advertiser telephone numbers and information from advertisers such as information about the outcome of the voice call (e.g., conversion information). The system correlates the voice call information with the advertiser information and generates reports based on the correlated information. The system can perform or enable the performance of other actions based on the correlated information. For example, the system may modify an ongoing advertising campaign based on an analysis of the correlated information. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120063579 | Disposable Telephone Numbers - Methods, systems, and products are disclosed that provide disposable numbers for a conference service. A disposable number is assigned to a conference bridge that is only activated for a defined period of time, after which the disposable number is disposed and deactivated. A call is received to the disposable number, and the call is routed to the conference bridge. A database is queried that associates the disposable number to a subscriber's number. Subscriber information is retrieved that describes when a conference bridge subscription is active. If the conference bridge subscription is active, then a caller is connected to the conference bridge. If the conference bridge subscription is inactive, then the caller is prompted to pay for a conference service. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120099715 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR DIAMETER ROUTING AGENT (DRA) BASED CREDIT STATUS TRIGGERED POLICY CONTROL - According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for credit status triggered policy control. The method may include monitoring one or more credit control request (CCR) and credit control answer (CCA) messages associated with a request of credit for a subscriber. The method may further include determining whether an amount of granted credit for a service flow associated with the subscriber has reached a predetermined minimum threshold value. The method may further include notifying a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) of the credit status associated with the subscriber when the predetermined minimum threshold value has been reached. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120106721 | WIRELESS CALL ROUTING IN A COMMUNICATION PEERING GRID - A peering grid component operates to facilitate connections of call traffic in a peering grid comprised of customers interconnected with peering partners. A switch is configured to receive call traffic from a customer, and a routing engine is configured to analyze parameters of the call traffic to classify the call traffic as wireless or wire-line traffic. The classification of the call traffic is achieved through the provision of updated wireless routing information accessed by the routing engine. With the classification, the switch, for wireless traffic, accepts and transmits the call traffic at a wireless rate to a peering partner via a connection to the peering partner, and, for wire-line traffic, either transmits the call traffic back to the customer or accepts the call traffic for transmisson at a wire-line rate. The wire-line rate is different than the wireless rate, and the associated rates are charged to the customer. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120155624 | Frequency Capping and Throttling of Calls in a Pay-Per-Call Advertising Solution - Various methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for controlling a number of calls based on promotional message impressions. The method may include receiving a request to communicate at least one promotional message, wherein the at least one promotional message is associated with one or more phone numbers. The method may include communicating the at least one promotional message and the one or more phone numbers. The method may include receiving one or more calls associated with the at least one promotional message. The method may include determining a call through rate for the at least one promotional message based on the one or more calls. The method may include determining a number of impressions of the at least one promotional message based on the determined call through rate. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120263284 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING PROPOSED SERVICE FEATURES IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK - Method and apparatus for analyzing a proposed service feature in a communication network is described. In one example, a call flow for supporting the service feature in the communication network is created, where at least one network component supports the call flow. First cost data for internally developing the at least one network component is determined. Second cost data for procuring the at least one network component from third party entity is determined. The first cost data and the second cost data are processed to generate a recommendation for either internally developing or externally procuring the at least one network element. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120314852 | Pairing and Sharing Between a Non-Mobile Telephone System and a Computer System Call Features in a Non-Mobile Telephone System - Technology for a non-mobile telephone system which in addition to processing voice signal data, can execute applications transferring data responsive to user input received through a graphical user interface of the telephone system. Examples of call features include a call back feature and a service ordering feature. The graphical user interface provides visual displays to assist a user in selecting call features. Non-voice signal data retrieved from another computer system can be transferred with a call from the non-mobile telephone system. The non-mobile telephone system can pair with the other computer system for security. An example of a sharing data is downloading a file stored on the other computer system or sharing the screen of the other computer system at a resource location accessible by a caller on the other end of a call with the non-mobile telephone system. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20130089193 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM FOR TELECOM BILLING OUTSOURCING - A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium for outsourcing telecom billing are disclosed for issuing one or more first billing statements and one or more second billing statements from a first telecom network; and transmitting at least the one or more first billing statements to a second telecom network. The one or more first billing statements may reflect one or more charges from the first telecom network to the second telecom network, and the one or more second billing statements may reflect one or more charges from the second telecom network to one or more customers thereof. The one or more charges of the first and second billing statements may reflect the same service(s). | 04-11-2013 |
| 20130101101 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USER LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT IN TRADITIONAL TELECOM/CABLE OPERATOR TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENTS - A system and method are provided for enabling user lifecycle management for individual users of media and network services offered by a telecommunications, cable or media provider. The method comprises providing a first component to create and maintain individual users and associated profile information, and mapping subscriptions or entitlements to those users via interfacing to underlying information technology systems. The method also comprises components to associate network service information to these users, in order to enable authorized, personalized and seamless access to multiple network services across multiple devices. The method is also used to enable new, one-to-one relationships between telecommunications, cable, and media operators and the consumers of their services. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130101102 | System and Method for Inbound Call Billing - A system and method for billing an incoming communication. A code is received from a calling party during the incoming communication. Expenses of the incoming communication are allocated to an account of the calling party in response to receiving the code. An invoice is generated for the calling party and a receiving party specifying the expenses. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130101103 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR SERVICE ASSOCIATION BASED ON SERVICE NESTING CHARGING - The present invention discloses a method, an apparatus and a system for service association based on service nesting charging. Wherein the method for service association based on the service nesting charging includes: obtaining a request message sent from a service platform, wherein the request message carries key service information; searching in stored service record information for the service record information which matches the key service information, wherein if matched service record information exists, then a charging identifier in the matched service record information is obtained, and if no matched service record information exists, then a charging identifier is allocated, said charging identifier being used for performing an association charging on multiple services which have the same charging identifier by a charging platform; sending the charging identifier and the information carried in the request message to a receiving end of the request message. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130287192 | Methods for Providing Overdraft Protection for Post-Paid Communication Service Plans - Methods for adding minutes to a calling plan having a calling plan period. The methods including determining whether a threshold number of minutes have been reached during the calling plan period; and incrementally adding minutes to the calling plan when the threshold number of minutes has been reached. The cost per minute of the added minutes is less than the high-cost per minute rate normally associated with exceeding the threshold number of minutes during the calling plan period. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130308765 | Disposable Telephone Numbers - Methods, systems, and products are disclosed that provide disposable numbers for a conference service. A disposable number is assigned to a conference bridge that is only activated for a defined period of time, after which the disposable number is disposed and deactivated. A call is received to the disposable number, and the call is routed to the conference bridge. A database is queried that associates the disposable number to a subscriber's number. Subscriber information is retrieved that describes when a conference bridge subscription is active. If the conference bridge subscription is active, then a caller is connected to the conference bridge. If the conference bridge subscription is inactive, then the caller is prompted to pay for a conference service. | 11-21-2013 |
| 20140146954 | Method of and a Server for Establishing Communication in a Telecommunication System wherein Calling Party Identity is Withheld | 05-29-2014 |
