US6061436A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone billing system
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1997-05-16
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Granted: 2000-05-09
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Expires: 2017-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for billing a customer for a service that is assessed independent of the calling duration or the per call cost. A service is billed and delivered during a call without the called party being present to receive the call and without operator-assisted verification. A calling party can order a service that is not delivered through the call itself.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Michael Bauer
- 👤 Christopher P. Gilboy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:21
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/41; H04M15/08; H04M15/80; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0152; H04M2215/0164; H04M2215/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for billing a called party for a service delivered during a call between the calling party and a called party, within a communications network, comprising: (a) detecting a preauthorized confirmation signal indicating that the called party is to be billed for the cost of the service; and (b) marking a telephone billing record associated with the call based on the detected confirmation signal, the telephone billing record being a basis of a phone bill and having a billing amount associated with the cost of the delivered service, at least a portion of the billing amount associated with the delivered service being unrelated to a duration of the call.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for billing a called party for a service delivered during a call between the calling party and a called party, within a communications network, comprising: (a) detecting a preauthorized confirmation signal indicating that the called party is to be billed for the cost of the service; and (b) marking a telephone billing record associated with the call based on the detected confirmation signal, the telephone billing record being a basis of a phone bill and having a billing amount associated with the cost of the delivered service, at least a portion of the billing amount associated with the delivered service being unrelated to a duration of the call.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: (c) delivering the service to the called party without confirmation during the call.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: (c) delivering the service to the called party when the call is established without the called party's presence.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: (c) delivering the service to the called party when the call is established without directory assistance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: (c) billing the called party for the service based on the marked billing record of step (b).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: (c) billing the called party for the service based on the marked billing record of step (b) and for the cost of the call.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the service delivered to the called party in step (c) is a newsletter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone billing record is an automatic message accounting (AM) record.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for billing a calling party for a service ordered during a call between a calling party and a called party, within a communications network, comprising: (a) receiving, from a called party, a telephone billing record based on a cost of the service ordered; and (b) updating a rating record of charges of the calling party based on the telephone billing record, the telephone billing record having a billing amount associated with the cost of the ordered service, a billing rate of the call and a duration of the call being unrelated to at least a portion of the billing amount associated with the ordered service.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for billing a calling party for a service ordered during a call between a calling party and a called party, within a communications network, comprising: (a) receiving, from a called party, a telephone billing record based on a cost of the service ordered; and (b) updating a rating record of charges of the calling party based on the telephone billing record, the telephone billing record having a billing amount associated with the cost of the ordered service, a billing rate of the call and a duration of the call being unrelated to at least a portion of the billing amount associated with the ordered service.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising: (c) billing the calling party for the service based on the rating record of step (b).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising: (c) billing the calling party for the service based on the rating record of step (b) and for the cost of the call.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the rating record is an exchange message interface (EMI) record.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the called party is a service provider, the calling party is a customer of the service provider.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for billing a calling party for a service ordered during the call between a calling party and a called party, within a communications network, comprising: (a) updating a telephone billing record based on a cost of the service ordered, the telephone billing record having a billing amount associated with the cost of the ordered service, a billing rate of the call and a duration of the call being unrelated to at least a portion of the billing amount associated with the ordered service; (b) forwarding the updated telephone billing record to a telephone billing processor.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for billing a calling party for a service ordered during the call between a calling party and a called party, within a communications network, comprising: (a) updating a telephone billing record based on a cost of the service ordered, the telephone billing record having a billing amount associated with the cost of the ordered service, a billing rate of the call and a duration of the call being unrelated to at least a portion of the billing amount associated with the ordered service; (b) forwarding the updated telephone billing record to a telephone billing processor.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for billing a calling party for a service ordered during a call between the calling party and a called party, within a communications network, comprising: a switching system connected to the communications network, said switching system receiving, from the called party, a telephone billing record based on a cost of the service ordered, the telephone billing record having a billing amount associated with the cost of the ordered service, a billing rate of the call and a duration of the call being unrelated to at least a portion of the billing amount associated with the ordered service, said switching system updating a rating record of charges of the calling party based on the telephone billing record.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for billing a calling party for a service ordered during a call between the calling party and a called party, within a communications network, comprising: a switching system connected to the communications network, said switching system receiving, from the called party, a telephone billing record based on a cost of the service ordered, the telephone billing record having a billing amount associated with the cost of the ordered service, a billing rate of the call and a duration of the call being unrelated to at least a portion of the billing amount associated with the ordered service, said switching system updating a rating record of charges of the calling party based on the telephone billing record.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said switching system bills the calling party for the service based on the rating record.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said switching system bills the calling party for the service based on the rating record and for the cost of the call.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for billing a calling party for a service ordered during a call between the calling party and a called party, within a communications network, comprising: means for receiving, from a called party, a telephone billing record based on a cost of the service ordered, the telephone billing record having a billing amount associated with the cost of the ordered service, a billing rate of the call and a duration of the call being unrelated to at least a portion of the billing amount associated with the ordered service; means for updating a rating record of charges of the calling party based on the telephone billing record.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for billing a calling party for a service ordered during a call between the calling party and a called party, within a communications network, comprising: means for receiving, from a called party, a telephone billing record based on a cost of the service ordered, the telephone billing record having a billing amount associated with the cost of the ordered service, a billing rate of the call and a duration of the call being unrelated to at least a portion of the billing amount associated with the ordered service; means for updating a rating record of charges of the calling party based on the telephone billing record.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-05-09 | 2003-11-08 | 2004-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-09 | 2007-11-08 | 2008-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-09 | 2011-11-08 | 2012-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |