Patent EP0705019A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0705019A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Call charge control and notification
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1995-09-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-09-14
Abstract
Abstract A limit is placed on charges to be incurred on a telecommunications call. Normally, this limit is specified by the caller. The telecommunications network maintains a running tally of the charges being incurred and notifies the caller when the charges approach the limit. At that time, the caller may specify a new limit, simply disconnect, or be automatically disconnected when the limit is reached. Advantageously, callers can limit the charges on a particular call without having to be aware of the exact charging parameters for that call.
Inventors
- 👤 David B. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:17
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/88; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0116
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
In a telecommunications network, a method of managing call charges comprising the steps of: specifying a tentative limit for charges to be incurred on a telecommunications call; specifying a destination for said call; establishing said call; maintaining in said network a running indication of accumulated telecommunications charges for said call.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein prior to a time when said accomulated charges equal or exceed said limit, a caller of said call receives an indication.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said indication wherein the step of receiving an indication comprises receiving a tone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said of receiving an indication comprises receiving an announcement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving an indication comprises receiving data for controlling a visual indication.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: disconnecting said call when said indication of accumulated telecommunications charges equals or exceeds said limit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: storing class information for a caller of said call said class information for specifying treatment of calls which exceed said limit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said class information comprises one or more personel identification numbers for overriding said limit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising specifying a tentative limit for calls placed during a period of time and further comprising the step of maintaining a running indication of accumulated telecommunications charges for calls made made during said period of time and wherein said step of specifying a tentative limit comprises testing whether said specified limit exceeds an amount left in said accumulated charges for said period and, if so, reducing said limit to said remainder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of specifying a tentative limit comprises the steps of testing if this is a collect call and if the result of said testing is that this is a collect call, specifying said tentative limit from said called customer; and if this is not the result of said test, indicates that this is not a collect call specifying said tentative limit from said calling customer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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