Telephonic communications – With usage measurement – Call charge metering or monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-17
2001-07-24
Kuntz, Curtis (Department: 2743)
Telephonic communications
With usage measurement
Call charge metering or monitoring
C379S114030, C379S119000, C379S121020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266401
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to billing systems for telephony networks, and more particularly, to a system and method of integrating billing information acquired from a third-party service provider with network billing information and producing consolidated customer invoices for usage of network and third-party services and equipment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Telephone service providers typically employ a billing system to produce monthly invoices based on customer usage of telephony network resources and equipment. Such conventional billing systems typically constitute an amalgam of disparate computer and data processing systems which must cooperate harmoniously in order to produce a great number of customer invoices on a cyclical basis. Modifying such billing systems to accommodate new services and functionality presents a significant challenge to the providers of telephony network services. Current telephony network billing systems are generally unable to support additional billing requirements necessary to expand the scope of services which can be offered by telephony network service providers.
It can be appreciated that modifying a complex billing system that processes tens of millions of customer invoices each month is both a problematic and expensive proposition. The inability to effect such modifications, however, can result in a loss of market share and a reduction in the future growth of telecommunications companies which typically compete for business within a common customer pool. There is a need in the telecommunications industry for a billing system and methodology that can accommodate current and future telephony network service billing requirements. There exists a further need for such a billing system which does not require significant redesign of existing billing system architecture. The present invention fulfills these and other needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a billing system and method particularly well suited for use in telephony networks. A billing system and methodology that operates in accordance with the principles of the present invention accounts for usage of standard network services, such as voice and data communication, and third-party services, such as paging and voicemail services, supportable by the network. Customer usage of network equipment and third-party equipment is also accounted for by a telephony network billing system operating in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Network and third-party usage and equipment charges incurred by a customer are advantageously integrated by the billing system into a single customer invoice.
The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. Advantages and attainments, together with a more complete understanding of the invention, will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5003584 (1991-03-01), Benyacar et al.
patent: 5103475 (1992-04-01), Shuen
patent: 5353331 (1994-10-01), Emery et al.
patent: 5483445 (1996-01-01), Pickering
patent: 5511113 (1996-04-01), Tasaki et al.
patent: 5754633 (1998-05-01), Levy
patent: 5771282 (1998-06-01), Friedes
patent: 5793853 (1998-08-01), Sbisa
patent: 5844972 (1998-12-01), Jagadish et al.
patent: 5905736 (1999-05-01), Ronen et al.
patent: 6018726 (2000-01-01), Tsumura
patent: 6061436 (2000-05-01), Bauer et al.
patent: 6115458 (2000-09-01), Taskett
U.S. Sprint® Technical Report, Produced by Technical Communications & References, U.S. Sprint Communications Company Limited Partnership, (Jun. 1990).
Coffman Webster S.
Light LeAnn R.
Macha Jonathan D.
Marchbanks Noel Ray
Roman Luis A.
Ball Harley R.
Barnie Rexford
Funk Steven J.
Kuntz Curtis
Sprint Communications Company L.P.
LandOfFree
Consolidated billing system and method for use in telephony... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Consolidated billing system and method for use in telephony..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Consolidated billing system and method for use in telephony... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2565840