US20080130851A1 - Casual usage alternate billing - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a casual usage alternate billing. More particularly, the invention encompasses a method and an apparatus for casual usage alternate billing. The invention intercepts a call, especially a dial-around call, to either verify the existence of information in a database or to obtain and authenticate a mode of payment prior to allowing the call to proceed.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/247,900 filed Sep. 20, 2002, entitled, “CASUAL USAGE ALTERNATE BILLING”, which has been allowed. The aforementioned related patent application is herein incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates generally to a casual usage alternate billing. More particularly, the invention encompasses a method and an apparatus for casual usage alternate billing. The invention intercepts a call, especially a dial-around call, to either verify the existence of information in a database or to obtain and authenticate a mode of payment prior to allowing the call to proceed.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
• Virtually every business requires that potential customer's credit worthiness be known prior to extension of credit. Wireless carriers and Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) all require a customer application and authentication prior to granting network access. However, Inter-Exchange Carriers (IXCs) are the only entities in the telecommunications industry that allow unknown parties to place calls without credit worthiness information by providing dial-around access to their networks. This results in additional revenue but also exposes the IXCs to experience fraud and uncollectible debts, which could be in excess of millions of dollars per year, due to the present access methods.
• Additionally, more and more telecommunications carriers are becoming “any distance” providers and thus they are all facing this problem and are also working toward various solutions to prevent fraud and secure revenues.
• With this invention, any telecommunication provider will be able to eliminate the fraud losses, as well as increase revenues.
PURPOSES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The invention is a novel method and an apparatus for casual usage alternate billing.
• Therefore, one purpose of this invention is to provide an apparatus and a method that will provide a casual usage alternate billing.
• Another purpose of this invention is to provide a caller with an alternate billing method.
• Still another purpose of this invention is to eliminate fraud.
• Yet another purpose of this invention is to increase collections from the dial-around calls.
• Still yet another purpose of the invention is to allow a platform to determine if an alternate billing method is needed for all calls that are placed.
• Therefore, in one aspect this invention comprises a casual usage alternate billing method comprising the steps of:
• (a) intercepting a dial-around call placed from a first communication device to at least one second communication device;
• (b) checking at least a portion of information from the first communication device against a first database;
• (c) allowing the call to proceed if information exists for the first communication device in the database or allowing the first communication device to provide additional information to continue the call.
• In another aspect this invention comprises an apparatus for casual usage alternate billing comprising:
• (a) at least one means for intercepting a dial-around call placed from a first communication device to at least one second communication device;
• (b) at least one means for checking at least a portion of information from the first communication device against a first database;
• (c) means for allowing the call to proceed if information exists for the first communication device in the database or allowing the first communication device to provide additional information to continue the call.
• In yet another aspect this invention comprises a program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for casual usage alternate billing, the method steps comprising:
• (a) intercepting a dial-around call placed from a first communication device to at least one second communication device;
• (b) checking at least a portion of information from the first communication device against a first database;
• (c) allowing the call to proceed if information exists for the first communication device in the database or allowing the first communication device to provide additional information to continue the call.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The features of the invention believed to be novel and the elements characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. Furthermore, like numbers represent like features in the drawings. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
• FIG. 1 is an exemplary flow diagram to illustrate an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2A illustrates an example of data for use in the present invention.
• FIG. 2B is an exemplary apparatus and process to illustrate the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• The present invention uses network switches and database(s) to route a caller to a platform needed for alternate billing. For example, when a caller dials a 1+direct distance dialed LD (Long Distance) number such as a dial-around number, for example 1010, with a Carrier Identifier Code (CIC) XXX, the call “1010XXX” is routed to an inter-toll switch. With this invention, an appropriate switch sends a query to at least one network database containing all approved customers. The query also contains the caller's ANI (Automatic Number Identifier). If the ANI is not present in the database, it would signify that either the caller is not a customer or is a customer who is not on an approved list within the routed database; thus the call needs to be routed to a platform for alternate billing. The platform then will require the caller to provide a commercial credit card, a debt card or any other valid means of payment, such as a calling card or a third party payer, to name a few. Using this invention, the caller may also be given the option to purchase a pre-paid calling card with a valid commercial credit card or any other valid means of payment.
• FIG. 1 is an exemplary flow diagram to illustrate an embodiment of the present invention. Atstep10 the casual usagealternate billing architecture23 is initiated. Atstep12 the caller dials, for example, 1010ATT-NPA-NXX-XXXX, where1010 is the dial-around number, ATT or 288 is the Carrier Identifier Code (CIC), NPA is the National Public Access (NPA) number or “area code”, NXX is the Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) number while XXXX is the Called Party Number (CdPn). Atstep14 the switch queries a customer database for the caller's telephone number. If the customer telephone number is in the database, then atstep16 the call is allowed to proceed tostep18. However, if atstep16 the customer telephone number is not in the database, or is not on an approved list within the database, the call is then routed to a platform for furtherprocess using step22. Atstep18 the call is allowed to proceed to the dialed number until either the calling party (CgP) or the called party (CdP) terminates the call atstep20.
• Atstep22 the call is sent to a platform, such as a commercial credit card platform. Atstep24 the caller is requested to enter a mode of payment, such as a commercial credit card number. Atstep26 the platform will validate the payment, such as verifying that the commercial credit card number is valid and activating the billing protocols. If, atstep26, the commercial credit card number is determined to be valid, then the call is routed and completed atstep18 until either the calling party (CgP) or the called party (CdP) terminates the call atstep20. However, if it is determined, atstep26 that the mode of payment, such as the commercial credit card number, is not valid, then the caller is denied further processing of the call atstep28 and the call is stopped atstep20.
• In another embodiment of this invention, the caller atstep28 after being denied the further continuation of the call may be given an option to provide another mode of payment for the call to continue so that the call could be routed and completed until it is terminated.
• FIG. 2A illustrates an example ofdata30 for use in the present invention where a caller uses a first telecommunication device having, for example, a phone number 708-949-1234 (CgPn) (Calling Party Number) to call a second telecommunication device having, for example, a phone number 732-420-1234 (CdPn) (Called Party Number), using a dial-around number 1010, and using CIC 288.
• FIG. 2B is an exemplary apparatus and process to illustrate the present invention. The casual usagealternate billing architecture50 is initiated when a caller usestelecommunication device40, such as a telephone, a cellular phone, a lap-top, a PDA, to name a few, to contact anothertelecommunication device60, such as a telephone, a cellular phone, a lap-top, a PDA, to name a few, by dialingnumbers62. The call fromdevice40 is routed to afirst switch42, such as an IXC (Inter-Exchange Carrier), a LEC (Local Exchange Carrier), a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a PBX (Private Branch Exchange), to name a few, and then is connected to asecond switch44, such as an IXC (Inter-Exchange Carrier), a LEC (Local Exchange Carrier), a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a PBX (Private Branch Exchange), to name a few. At either, switch42 orswitch44, or anywhere along the communication path, the calling party number of thedevice40, such as 708-949-1234 (CgPn), is checked against acustomer database46. The calling party number (CgPn) of thedevice40 could be a phone number or any other device or customer identification number. For the purposes of illustrationFIGS. 2A and 2B are using 708-949-1234 (CgPn) as the phone number or device identification number for thefirst communication device40 and are using 732-420-1234 (CdPn) as the phone number or device identification number for thesecond communication device60. Thecustomer database46 checks whether or not the device or customer information exists fordevice40. The results are then sent back to switch44. If the device or customer information exists fordevice40, then the call is allowed to proceed to thecommunication device60. However, if the device or customer information does not exists fordevice40, then the call is not allowed to proceed and is routed to aplatform54, such as a commercialcredit card platform54 via athird switch52. In the example, thedata base query48 verifies that the phone number or device identification number 708-949-1234 (CgPn) for thecommunication device40 is not present in thedatabase46. The commercialcredit card platform54 then requests call payment information from the caller ofdevice40. Upon receipt of the mode of payment, theplatform54 verifies the payment information from adatabase56, such as acredit card database56. Upon verification and authentication of the mode of payment from thedatabase56, the call from the caller ofdevice40 is allowed to proceed and connected to thecommunication device60. Upon termination of the call, thedatabase56 is instantaneously charged for the call.
• Therefore, using the present invention when the caller uses afirst telecommunication device40—having, for example, the phone number 708-949-1234—to call thesecond telecommunication device60—having, for example, the phone number 732-420-1234—the system automatically intercepts the call to check, for example, whether or not the phone number 708-949-1234 is in the database. If it is in the database, then the call is allowed to proceed, because upon the connection and termination of the call the phone number 708-949-1234 can be billed for the call. However, in our example the phone number 708-949-1234 is not in the database, therefore the connection is put on “hold” while the system attempts to get payment information. The caller from thefirst telecommunication device40 could provide a valid commercial credit card, a debit card or any other valid means of payment, such as a calling card, a pre-paid calling card, a third party payer, to name a few, or even change the call as a collect call to be billed and paid by the operator of thesecond telecommunication device60 having, for example, the phone number 732-420-1234.
• With this invention, fraud will be eliminated because a valid form of billing is required. Additionally, revenues will increase because the LD provider will not need to interact with LECs and CLECs to find the caller's billing name and address. The additional steps to locate the original caller can take months and considerable expense to collect for the original call. Additionally, in some states (e.g., California) the BPU (Board of Public Utilities) requires that the service provider, such as a telecommunication carrier, must submit their bill to the caller within a fixed period of time—such as 90 days—or forfeit the revenue.
• This invention is also applicable when an individual who is not an IXC (Inter-Exchange Carrier) customer places a 1 + call using 1010 (IXC's prefix number) as the prefix. Theswitch42 or44 will look at adatabase46, such as acustomer database46, to see if the caller's ANI (Automatic Number Identifier) for thedevice40 is subscribed to the telecommunication carrier, such as, AT&T. If the ANI for thedevice40 is not in thedatabase46, then the call will be re-routed to aplatform54 for alternate billing, such as, a commercialcredit card platform54 or a Pre-Paid card platform (not shown) via athird switch52. It should be appreciated that the Pre-Paid card platform may offer the caller an option to purchase a pre-paid card using, for example, a commercial credit card, or to add more minutes to the pre-existing calling card using, for example, a commercial credit card.
• With this invention, the mode of payment is secured prior to the connection of the call and the billing for the call can take place immediately upon termination of the call; this is especially important for the dial-around calls.
• While the present invention has been particularly described in conjunction with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims (21)

1. A billing method, comprising:

intercepting a dial-around call placed from a first communication device to at least one second communication device;

checking at least a portion of information from the first communication device against a first database; and

allowing the call to proceed if information exists for the first communication device in the database, or allowing the first communication device to provide additional information to continue the call.

2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said at least a portion of information from the first communication device comprises a phone number of the first communication device.

3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the additional information from the first communication device comprises a mode of payment.

4. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the mode of payment comprises at least one of: a credit card, a debit card, a calling card, a pre-paid calling card, or a third party payment arrangement.

5. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the mode of payment for the call is billed immediately upon a termination of the call.

6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the call is terminated if the first communication device is unable to provide additional information.

7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the additional information is verified and authenticated before the call is allowed to proceed.

8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the call from the first communication device to the at least one second communication device is intercepted prior to a completion of the call.

9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first communication device comprises at least one of: a telephone, a cellular phone, a lap-top, or a PDA.

10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the second communication device comprises at least one of: a telephone, a cellular phone, a lap-top, or a PDA.

11. An apparatus for billing, comprising:

at least one means for intercepting a dial-around call placed from a first communication device to at least one second communication device;

at least one means for checking at least a portion of information from the first communication device against a first database; and

means for allowing the call to proceed if information exists for the first communication device in the database, or allowing the first communication device to provide additional information to continue the call.

12. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein said at least a portion of information from the first communication device comprises a phone number of the first communication device.

13. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the additional information from the first communication device comprises a mode of payment.

14. The apparatus ofclaim 13, wherein the mode of payment comprises at least one of: a credit card, a debit card, a calling card, a pre-paid calling card, or a third party payment arrangement.

15. The apparatus ofclaim 13, wherein the mode of payment for the call is billed immediately upon a termination of the call.

16. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the call is terminated if the first communication device is unable to provide additional information.

17. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the additional information is verified and authenticated before the call is allowed to proceed.

18. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the call from the first communication device to the at least one second communication device is intercepted prior to a completion of the call.

19. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the first communication device comprises at least one of: a telephone, a cellular phone, a lap-top, or a PDA.

20. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the second communication device comprises at least one of: a telephone, a cellular phone, a lap-top, or a PDA.

21. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps of a billing method, comprising:

intercepting a dial-around call placed from a first communication device to at least one second communication device;

checking at least a portion of information from the first communication device against a first database; and

allowing the call to proceed if information exists for the first communication device in the database, or allowing the first communication device to provide additional information to continue the call.

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