Patent US6553108B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6553108B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of billing a communication session conducted over a computer network
Assignee: CREDIT FRAUD CONTROL Corp
•
Filing: 2000-02-02
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Granted: 2003-04-22
•
Expires: 2020-02-02
Abstract
Abstract A method of billing a communication session between a user and a value-added service. A request is received from a user for a communication session, such as a circuit-switched call, a computer-network telephony call or a multimedia session, between the user and a value-added service. Information associated with a credit account is requested before the user is connected to the value-added service. The information associated with the credit account, such as credit card information, debit card information or checking account information, is received in real time. Credit account information, which includes the received information associated with the credit account and a predetermined amount that is to be charged to the credit account, is communicated to a payment authorization database, which can be located locally or remotely. Alternatively, the credit account information includes the received information associated with the credit account and a predetermined amount that is to be set aside in the credit account for the communication session. Payment authorization information associated with the credit account is received from the remote site before the user is connected to the value-added service. The user is connected to the value-added service when the payment authorization information is affirmative. A total charge for the communication session that is based on an actual time that the user is connected to the value-added service is calculated when the communication session is terminated. Lastly, session charge information associated with the communication session is transmitted to the remote site when the communication session is terminated, the session charge information including information for charging the credit account an amount representing a charge for the communication session.
Inventors
- 👤 David Felger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/12; H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/47; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/51; H04M3/56; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/60; H04M2203/6027; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0148; H04M2242/00; H04M2242/22; H04M3/38; H04M3/42025; H04M3/42034; H04M3/42059
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for initiating fraud control features used in billing a communication session over a computer network between a user and a value-added service, the method comprising the steps of: establishing session limit criteria for a communication session over a computer network; determining an identity of a user; retrieving communication session history information from memory for the identified user; comparing the communication session history information with the session limit criteria; limiting at least one of a duration of a communication session, a number of communication sessions of the identified user and an amount of money that can be spent by the user; receiving communication session origination information; requesting communication session origination information from the user; receiving the requested communication session origination information from the user; comparing the requested communication session origination information with the received communication session origination information; and blocking a communication session when the requested communication session origination information not match the received communication session origination information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for initiating fraud control features used in billing a communication session over a computer network between a user and a value-added service, the method comprising the steps of: establishing session limit criteria for a communication session over a computer network; determining an identity of a user; retrieving communication session history information from memory for the identified user; comparing the communication session history information with the session limit criteria; limiting at least one of a duration of a communication session, a number of communication sessions of the identified user and an amount of money that can be spent by the user; receiving communication session origination information; requesting communication session origination information from the user; receiving the requested communication session origination information from the user; comparing the requested communication session origination information with the received communication session origination information; and blocking a communication session when the requested communication session origination information not match the received communication session origination information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of obtaining address information from storage for a user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 2 , further comprising the steps of: comparing a postal code of the user obtained during the identity determination step with a postal code address obtained from storage for the user; and denying service when the postal codes do not match.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method according to claim 2 , further comprising the step of: comparing a predetermined number of digits of an address of the user obtained during the identity determination steps with address information obtained from storage for the user; and denying service when the predetermined number of digits do not match the address information obtained from storage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes the step of verifying the address information from a credit card agency.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes the step of verifying the address information from a banking institution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the value-added service is a connection to a service representative, and wherein when the call is not blocked, the method further comprising the steps of: determining whether a service representative is available for a communication session; and offering an alternative service to the user when a service representative is not available for a communication session.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the value-added service is a connection to a service representative, and wherein when the call is not blocked, the method further comprising the steps of: determining whether a service representative is available for a communication session; and automatically switching the user to another service representative when a service representative is not available for a communication session.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein when the call is not blocked, the method further comprising the steps of: collecting a form of payment information; communicating the form of payment information to a remote site; and receiving payment authorization from the remote site before the user is connected to the value-added service.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of sending communication session information to a remote site when the communication session is completed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving communication session origination information is performed by receiving packetized information when the communication session is requested.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: comparing the received communication session origination information against a stored list of communication origination information for which communication sessions should be blocked; and blocking a communication session when the received communication session origination information is included in the stored list of communication origination information for which communication sessions should be blocked.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes the step of comparing a voiceprint of the user against a voiceprint database.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes the step of comparing a fingerprint image of the user against a fingerprint database.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes the step of comparing a portrait image of the user against a portrait image database.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the communication session is a computer-network telephony call.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the communication session includes packetized data communicated between the user and the value-added service.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the communication session is a multimedia session.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: collecting a form of payment information; communicating the form of payment information to a payment authorization database; and receiving payment authorization from the payment authorization before the user is connected to the value-added service.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method according to claim 19 , further comprising the step of transmitting session charge information associated with the communication session to the payment authorization database when the communication session is terminated, the session charge information including information for charging a credit account an amount representing a charge for the communication session.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein the form of payment is a credit card.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein the form of payment is a debit card.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein the form of payment is a checking account.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein the form of payment is an electronic funds transfer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein the form of payment is a telephone account.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein the form of payment is a cable television account.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein the form of payment is a utility service account.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein the form of payment is an Internet service provider account.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving communication session origination information is performed by receiving packetized information when the communication session is requested.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of connecting the user to a chatroom environment when the communication session is not blocked.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of connecting the user to a talk line when the communication session is not blocked.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of connecting the user to a pay information service when the communication session is not blocked.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a checking account number of the user against a checking account number database.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a credit card account number of the user against a credit card account number database.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a debit card account number of the user against a debit card account number database.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a credit card expiration date of the user against a credit card account database.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing an address of the user against an address database.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a zip code of the user against a zip code database.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a birth date of the user against a birth date database.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a driver's license number of the user against a driver's license number database.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a social security number of the user against a social security number database.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a password associated with the user against a password database.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a digital certificate of the user against a digital certificate database.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a maiden name of the user's mother against a mother's maiden name database.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a telephone number of the user against a telephone number database.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a cable television account number of the user against a cable television account number database.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing a utility service account number of the user against a utility service account number database.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing an Internet Service Provider account number of the user against an Internet Service Provider account number database.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the identity of a user includes a step of comparing electronic wallet information associated with the user against an electronic wallet database.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein the form of payment is received from a cookie associated with the user.
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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) | 2006-04-21 | 2006-10-21 | 2007-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-21 | 2010-10-21 | 2011-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-21 | 2014-10-21 | 2015-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |