MXPA98008600A - Universal account of telecommunication services - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for accruing charges for used telecommunications services during a call with calling card, if the call card is periodically invoiced or prepaid. In accordance with the invention, detail information of the call information, such as a user identification, a call start time, and call set-up parameters, is received for a call with calling card. . The rate information of the services is received by the telecommunications services used during the calling card call. The actual time a depletion rate and an available funds account associated with the calling card for calls is then determined, and the available funds account is exhausted at the depletion rate determined during the calling card call, also in time. re

Description

UNIVERSAL ACCOUNT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for charging telecommunications services to a calling account. 2. Description of Related Art Conventional calling cards, if billed periodically or prepaid, provide the same service to each cardholder of a particular card, that is, each cardholder of a particular calling card receives the same service as other recipients receive. Cardholders of the same card. If a particular calling card is for long distance service, all cardholders of that card receive only the long distance fare service. If a carrier of REF .: 28663 card makes a long distance call that originates from a cell phone, only long distance charges will be charged to the card account for calls. Any charges associated with airtime for cellular services are billed to the subscriber of the equipment from which the call originates. What is needed is a way to record charges for services used by a calling card user, if the calling card is billed periodically or prepaid, so that charges for actual services by the cardholder are accumulated against the card account for calls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method and system for recording charges for services used by a card user for calls, in real time, so that the charges for the actual services used by the cardholder are accumulated against the account of the cardholder. card for calls. The advantages of the present invention are provided by a method and system for accruing charges for used telecommunications services during a calling card call, if the calling card is periodically invoiced or prepaid. In accordance with the invention, call detail information, such as a user identification, a call start time, and call set-up parameters, are received for a calling card call. Information on the rate of services is received, for the telecommunications services used during the call with calling card. Then a depletion rate of an available funds account associated with the calling card for calls is determined in real time, and the available funds account is exhausted at the depletion rate determined during the calling card call, also in time. real. Preferably, the rate information of the services may include information about a calling plan to which a caller subscribes of the calling card call, the information of the long distance rate fee, information on the airtime rate of cell-type services, and the rate of services for Internet provider services.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying figures in which similar reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which: Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a telecommunications system using a calling card according to the present invention; Y Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the details of the billing system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides a method and system for recording charges for services used by a calling card user, if the calling card is periodically invoiced or prepaid, in real time so that charges for the actual services used by the cardholder are accrued against the card account for calls. That is, the present invention provides a method and system that uses a universal type card account for calls to accumulate charges for telecommunications services, in real time, despite the particular type of service used, and despite the type of card for calls, used. That is, the present invention is applicable for calling cards that are periodically billed, such as each month, calling cards, pre-paid, and calling card accounts, virtual, that are periodically billed or prepaid. A virtual card account for calls is a call transaction account in which a physical card is not issued, but a subscriber can be easily identified with an account with any association in a well-known way, with, for example, the Call adjustment information, a personal identification number (PIN) and / or an electronic identification number (EIN). In addition, the present invention can be customized for each cardholder so that specific calling plans subscribed by a cardholder are considered, so that charges accrue against the calling card account. Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a telecommunications system 10 in which a network company 11 provides access to telecommunications services, such as voice services, normal, via normal telephones 12 and 13, and a telephone pay 14, voice service, international 15, cellular service 16, packet telephone service 17 and Internet service 18. Voice services, normal provided by network company 11, such as telephone service of old plans (POTS), long distance services, voice message generation services, 800"free" services and "900" services, are accessed either through a local telephone company (LEC) a well-known way, or by direct connection to the network company 11. The network company 11 includes a billing system 20, an individual billing database 21 and a database of service type 22. The system The billing department 20 receives and accumulates the billing information of the different platforms that provide the different services offered by the network 11 to generate the records of the details of the services in real time for each card account for calls. "Real time" as used herein, means simultaneous with an occurrence of a telecommunications service transaction that incurs a charge, or within a relatively short period of time after the occurrence of a service transaction that incurs a a charge . The individual billing database 21 stores the information of the fees with respect to the billing plans to which each subscriber subscribes, such as the calling plans, SND, etc., if the subscriber is an individual or a business . The service type database 22 stores the information of the rates for the services that can be accessed from the network company 11 that are provided by the service providers other than the network company 11, such as Internet voice and data services. The billing system 20, the individual billing database 21 and the service type database 22 are interconnected, so that questions can be asked between each platform in a well-known manner. Additionally, the billing system 20, the individual billing database 21 and the service type database 22, can each be distributed platforms located remotely from each other, be separate platforms in a central location, or be integrated into an individual platform in a central location. Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the details of the billing system 20. The billing system 20 includes a card validation system 30 for calls, a registration and billing processor 31, a database of the rate of the services 33 and a database of the records of the details of the calls 34. The system of validation of the card for calls 30 validates the accounts of the cards for calls in a well-known manner when a user using a card account for calls has access to the network company 11. While Figure 2 shows the card validation system 30 for calls, as part of the billing system 20, the card validation system 30 for calls can be located remotely from the billing system 20. The billing and registration processor 31 includes a timer 32 for synchronizing each call with call card. The database in the rate of the services 33 stores the information of the current billing rate for incoming calls using calling cards. The database of the records of the details of the calls 34 store the billing record with respect to the accounts of the cards for calls for complete calls. The inventory control of the calling cards for a particular business can be done with an online access and the analysis of the information stored in the database of the records of the details of the calls 34 in a well known way. When a user has access to the network company 11 using a calling card account, the account information of the card is validated in a manner well known by the validation platform 30 of the calling card. Once a calling card account has been validated, the registration and billing processor 31 determines in a well-known manner whether the calling card account has sufficient funds to initiate a call. If the account has sufficient funds, the call is allowed to continue and the billing system 20 receives the call detail information in real time from the platforms that provide the particular service (s) ordered (s). ) by the user of the card for calls, such as the identification of the user, the time of beginning of the call, the parameters of adjustment of the call, and any additional information that is pertinent for the billing of the particular service that is used. The detail information of the call is processed by the billing and registration processor 31, which accesses the individual billing information of the individual billing database 21 in a well-known manner, to obtain the appropriate billing rates for plans. of calls to which a particular subscriber subscribes, such as business or residential call plans. The registration and billing processor 31 also has access to the rate information of the * services stored in the service type 22 database in a well-known manner to obtain the rate information for the services that are provided by service providers other than the network company 11. The current information obtained from the databases 22 and 23 is stored in the database of the service fee 22 for access by the registration and billing processor 31 according to the information of the call is received. The detail information of the call received by the billing system 20 for a particular account of the calling card call is accumulated against the funds account for the card so that the full charges of the inspected call are recorded. As the call is connected, the billing system 20 keeps track of the time of the call and charges the account balance of the calling card used for the call as the call continues in real time. For example, if a call is made from a cell-type service to an Internet mesh site to access data, the actual time associated with the cellular call based on the subscriber's billing structure plus the charges for the Internet data services are charged against the account at their respective service rates. Therefore, different rates can be loaded for access to different types of data. For example, the video and graphic information may incur a charge rate, while the audio information may incur another rate. Charges to 900 numbers may also be recorded and accrued by the present invention. When the card account for calls is a pre-paid card account for calls, the funds account associated with the card is an available funds account. The present invention continuously checks the account against a sufficient threshold of funds as charges as the charges against a particular account are recorded. When funds available in an account fall below the sufficient threshold of funds, the present invention sends a message to the user in a well-known manner that informs the user of the status of the account with an estimated amount of time remaining at the current rate. that is running out of the account When the call is of the local type service call type, the billing system 20 notifies the user, for example, when generating an audio message in a well known manner that is being played by the user, or sends an electric contact message or a facsimile message to the user in a well-known manner. When the call is a multimedia service call, the billing system 20 generates a message in a well-known manner that is suitable for the call of multimedia services. The user may have to place money in the account of funds available for the calling card, after he receives the notification message, through a credit card transaction and be validated online in a well known manner. As a separate option, the money can be automatically transferred to the card in a well-known manner once the balance of the available funds account falls below a predetermined amount. While the present invention has been described in conjunction with the illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated and understood that modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and true scope of the invention.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the present invention is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property:

Claims (48)

1. A method for accumulating charges for used telecommunications services during a calling card call, the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: receiving the detail information of the call for a calling card call; receive the rate information of the services for telecommunications services used during the call with calling card; determine a charge accrual rate for a fund account associated with the calling card for calls based on the detail information of the received call and the rate information of the services; accumulate the charges for the funds account at the charge accumulation rate, determined, during the call with calling card.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of determining a charge accumulation rate and the step of accumulating charges for the fund account occur in real time.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the detail information of the call includes at least one of a user identification, a time of the start of the call, and a setting parameter of the call.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the information of the service fee includes information about a call plan to which a person who calls the calling card with calls is subscribed.

5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the service rate information includes at least one of the long distance rate information information and the airtime information of the cell type services.

6. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the information of the service fee includes the rates of the telecommunications services for Internet provider services.

7. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the calling card is invoiced periodically.

8. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the calling card is a calling card, prepaid.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the calling card is a virtual calling card.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the funds account is an available fund associated with the calling card for calls, pre-paid, wherein the step of determining a charge accumulation rate includes the step of determining an exhaustion rate for the available funds account associated with the calling card, pre-paid, based on the detail information of the received call and the rate information of the services; and where the step of accumulating the charges includes the step of exhausting the available funds account at the determined exhaustion rate during the calling card call, the method that also includes the step of validating the available funds account associated with the card for calls, pre-paid, before the step of receiving the information of the detail of the information of the call for the call with calling card, pre-paid.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that it also comprises the step of notifying a caller of the calling card call, pre-paid, when a balance of funds in the available funds account is less than an amount threshold of funds, default.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the step of notifying the caller includes the step of generating an audio message for the caller.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the step of notifying the caller includes the step of sending an e-mail message to the caller.

14. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the step of notifying the caller includes the step of sending a facsimile message to the caller.

15. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that it also comprises the step of increasing the balance of funds in the available funds account by a credit card transaction.

16. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that it also includes the step of increasing the balance of funds in the account of available funds by an automatic transfer of funds to the account of available funds.

17. A system for accumulating the charges for telecommunications services used during a call with calling card, the system that is characterized in that it comprises: a database that stores the information of the billing rates for telecommunications services, predetermined; and a billing processor, coupled to the database, which receives the detail information of the call for a calling card for calls, the billing processor that determines a charge accumulation rate of a fund account associated with the call card for calls based on the information of the detail of the received call and the billing rates stored in the database, and accumulate the charges for the funds account at the charge accumulation rate, determined, during the call with the card for calls.

18. The system according to claim 17, characterized by the billing processor determines the charge accumulation rate and accumulates charges to the fund account in real time.

19. The system according to claim 18, characterized in that the detail information of the call includes at least one of a user identification, a call start time, and a call adjustment parameter.

20. The system according to claim 18, characterized in that the information of the billing rate stored in the database includes information on the rate of services for Internet telecommunication services.

21. The system according to claim 18, characterized in that the information of the billing rate stored in the database includes a billing rate for a plan for calls subscribed by a caller of the call with the card for calls.

22. The system according to claim 18, characterized in that the billing rate information includes at least one of the long-distance rate information information and the air-time rate information of the cell-type services.

23. The system according to claim 22, characterized in that the calling card is invoiced periodically.

24. The system according to claim 22, characterized in that the calling card is a call card, prepaid.

25. The system according to claim 24, characterized in that the calling card is a virtual calling card.

26. The system according to claim 24, characterized in that the funds account is an available funds account associated with the calling card, pre-paid, wherein the billing processor determines a depletion rate for the associated available funds account. with the card for calls, pre-paid, based on the information of the detail of the received call and the information of the rate of the services, and where the invoicing processor exhausts the account of available funds at the determined exhaustion rate during the call with the calling card, the billing processor additionally validates the available funds account associated with the call with the call card, pre-paid, before receiving the detail information of the call information for the call with the calling card, pre-paid.

27. The system according to claim 26, characterized in that the billing processor notifies a caller of the call with the call card, pre-paid, when a balance of funds in the available funds account is less than an amount default threshold of funds.

28. The system according to claim 27, characterized in that the billing processor notifies the caller when generating an audio message for the caller.

29. The system according to claim 27, characterized in that the billing processor notifies the caller when sending an electric contact message to the caller.

30. The system according to claim 27, characterized in that the billing processor notifies the caller when sending a facsimile message to the caller.

31. The system according to claim 27, characterized in that the billing processor increases the balance of funds in the funds account available for a credit card transaction.

32. The system according to claim 27, characterized in that the billing processor increases the balance of funds in the available funds account by an automatic transfer of funds to the available funds account.

33. A method for accumulating the charges for the telecommunications services used during a call with calling card, the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: recording information of the detail of the call for a call with card for calls; associate the service rate information with the telecommunications services used by the calling card; determine a charge accrual rate for a funds account associated with the calling card for calls, based on the information of the detail of the registered call and the rate information of the services; accumulate the charges for the funds account at the rate of accumulation of charges determined during the calling card call.

34. The method according to claim 33, characterized in that the step of determining a charge accumulation rate and the step of determining charges for the fund account occur both in real time.

35. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that the detail information of the call includes at least one of a user identification, a call start time, and an adjustment parameter during the call.

36. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that the service fee information includes the information about a call plan to which a caller subscribes of the calling card call.

37. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that the service rate information includes at least one of the long distance rate information information and the air time rate information of the cell type services .

38. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that the rate information of the services includes the rate of the telecommunications services for Internet provider services.

39. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that the calling card is invoiced periodically.

40. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that the calling card is a call card, prepaid.

41. The method according to claim 40, characterized in that the calling card is a calling card, virtual.

42. The method according to claim 40, characterized in that the fund account is an available funds account associated with the calling card for calls, prepaid, where the step of determining a charge accrual rate includes the step of determining an exhaustion rate for the available funds account associated with the calling card, pre-paid, based on the information of the received call and information on the rate of services, and where the step of accumulating the charges includes the step of exhausting the available funds account at the rate of exhaustion determined during the call with calling card, the method that also includes the step to validate the available funds account associated with the calling card, pre-paid, before the step of receiving the detail information of the call information for the calling card, pre-paid.

43. The method according to claim 42, characterized in that it comprises the step of notifying a caller of the calling card call, pre-paid, when a balance of funds in the account of available funds is less than an amount of threshold, of funds, predetermined.

44. The method according to claim 43, characterized in that the step of notifying the caller includes the step of generating an audio message for the caller.

45. The method according to claim 43, characterized in that the step of notifying the caller includes the step of sending an electric contact message to the caller.

46. The method according to claim 43, characterized in that the step of notifying the caller includes the step of sending a facsimile message to the caller.

47. The method according to claim 43, characterized in that it also comprises the step of increasing the balance of funds in the available funds account by a credit card transaction.

48. The method according to claim 43, characterized in that it also includes the step of increasing the balance of funds in the available funds account by an automatic transfer of funds to the available funds account.