Telephonic communications – With usage measurement – Call charge metering or monitoring
Patent
1987-03-13
1988-10-04
Schreyer, Stafford D.
Telephonic communications
With usage measurement
Call charge metering or monitoring
379223, H04M 342, H04M 1512
Patent
active
047760044
ABSTRACT:
Apparatus and method are disclosed for providing a non-presubscription subaccount billing service utilized by customers on a "per call" or "as needed" basis. A calling customer initiates the service by dialing "0" plus the directory number of the called line. The local office serving the calling line recognizes the call as an operator-designated call and forwards the call along with the identification number of the calling line and the directory number of the called line to an operator system. The operator system prompts the calling line to enter additional call information. The calling customer enters a service activation code such as "15" and a two-digit subaccount billing number assigned by the customer. Receiving the service activation code and the subaccount billing number, the operator system activates the service by setting a subaccount billing indicator in an automatic message accounting record and extends the call to the called line. Upon completion of the call, the operator system includes the connect time, elapsed time, calling line identification number, called line directory number, and subaccount billing number for the call into the AMA record. The record along with others is forwarded to a revenue accounting office where a billing system sorts the AMA records by subaccount billing numbers and prepares a billing statement with the details of each call listed for each subaccount billing number assigned by the customer.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4054756 (1977-10-01), Comella et al.
"MCI Prism II", MCI Telecommunication Corporation, 1986.
"ITT Longer Distance Account Code Feature Guide", United States Transmission Systems, Incorporated, (publication date unavailable).
"Alpha 1", STARNET Corporation, (publication date unavailable).
Bauer Thomas M.
Dunn Thomas A.
Richardson Ross M.
Tam Chun P.
American Telephone and Telegraph Company AT&T Bell Laboratories
Godlewski Richard J.
Schreyer Stafford D.
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