US5146491A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone billing method
Assignee: COPLEY COLLETION Inc
•
Filing: 1991-08-08
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Granted: 1992-09-08
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Expires: 2011-08-08
Abstract
Abstract A method of telephone billing comprise providing a toll-free number to a customer to access a provider in a toll-free call from an originating customer telephone number, receiving the originating customer telephone number in response to the toll-free call, converting the toll-free call to a billable call during or after the toll-free call and billing the billable call to the originating customer telephone number.
Inventors
- 👤 David Silver
- 👤 Stanley Kugell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:10
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/81; H04M15/08; H04M15/68; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0112; H04M2215/0196
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of telephone billing comprising the steps of: a. providing a toll-free number or local number to a customer to access a provider in a toll-free call or local call from an originating customer telephone number; b. receiving the originating customer telephone number in response to the toll-free call; c. converting the toll-free call to a billable call during or after the toll-free call; and d. billing the billable call to the originating customer telephone number.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of telephone billing comprising the steps of: a. providing a toll-free number or local number to a customer to access a provider in a toll-free call or local call from an originating customer telephone number; b. receiving the originating customer telephone number in response to the toll-free call; c. converting the toll-free call to a billable call during or after the toll-free call; and d. billing the billable call to the originating customer telephone number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of converting comprises presenting a menu of items and billing rates to the customer, selecting one of the items and the corresponding billing rate and converting the call to a billable call at the corresponding billing rate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the menu of items is presented by a human operator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the menu of items is presented by a recording.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of selecting comprises pressing at least one touch-tone key on a customer telephone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the items include products.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the items include services.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: e. converting the billable call back to a toll-free call after the step of billing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method according to claim 8, further comprises repeating steps c-e.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein the steps c-e are repeated by pressing at least one touch-tone key on a customer telephone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of converting comprises presenting a menu of items and billing rates to the customer, selecting one of the items and the corresponding billing rate and converting the call to a billable call at the corresponding billing rate by terminating the toll-free or local call and calling back the customer at the originating customer telephone number in a collect call at the corresponding billing rate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein the menu of items is presented by a human operator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein the menu of items is presented by a recording.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of selecting comprises pressing at least one touch-tone key on a customer telephone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising prior to the step of converting, the steps of maintaining a database of caller telephone numbers, looking up the originating customer telephone number in the database and rejecting or answering the call in response to information stored in the database for the originating customer telephone number.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of rejecting the call comprises returning a busy signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 15, wherein the database includes information relating to whether the originating customer telephone number is a pay telephone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 15, wherein the database includes information relating to debt associated with the originating customer telephone number.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4054756A
Cited
US5003584A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-08 | 1996-03-09 | 1996-09-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-08 | 2000-03-09 | 2000-09-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-08 | 2004-03-09 | 2004-09-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |