Telephonic communications – With usage measurement – Call charge metering or monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-30
2001-07-10
Woo, Stella (Department: 2643)
Telephonic communications
With usage measurement
Call charge metering or monitoring
C379S100040, C379S114030, C379S126000, C705S400000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259778
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method for detecting modem tones in a central office or a PBX system so that a different billing structure can be established for the call so that the network resources supporting the call are more favorably experienced to those users occupying the most resources.
BACKGROUND
A rising problem and also opportunity for telecommunication companies today is the increased use of data transmissions primarily through customer use of the Internet. In addition, business customers are increasingly using the Internet or company Intranets for communication, access and transfer of data. While this increased level of activity provides increased business opportunities for the telecommunication companies, unfortunately a significant part of this activity tied up local resources for long periods of time using low margin billing structures.
Unlike the majority of voice telephone calls, the majority of modem calls accessing an Internet service provider's point-of-presence or an Intranet's point-of-presence often last hours. In addition, in some instances the line connecting the modem with the Internet service provider is maintained for hours, often with the transmission of little if any data. Many Internet service provides automatically disconnect users if the resources are not used after a specific period (usually 15 to 20 minutes).
The major problem is resource utilization of analog lines. Where as digital modems packetized data and share switching resources, analog modems tie up the same resources as an analog voice call. The switch must allocate a time slice to the call and resources are used whether data is being exchanged, or the user is off getting a donut. Many users dial up their Internet service first thing in the morning and don't disconnect until late at night. This type of usage can cause a shortage of resources for analog voice calls. Telecommunication companies are forced to add resources to handle the additional traffic load while the revenue collected from customers using these resources is treated as a voice analog call.
This problem also exists in hotels catering to business travelers. Valuable private branch exchange resources are tied up catering to business travelers who are accessing the Internet or their company's Intranet. In most major hotels, local calls either are free or require a nominal charge of less than one dollar. While most local hotel calls last less than ten minutes, the same local modem calls to a customer's Internet service provider last significantly longer. However, while the hotel receives the same revenue for each call, the hotel must support a larger private branch exchange (PBX) system to support customer making modem calls several lasting hours.
A need exists for telecommunication companies to recognize the incoming call as a modem call and route billing messages so that the customer is billed at a rate that differs from local traffic. In addition, operators of private branch exchanges also need to recognize modem calls from local calls, where in certain locations such as hotel operations, new sources of revenue can be obtained from customers.
SUMMARY
This invention provides telecommunication companies with the ability to detect the use of modem calls and bill the user accordingly. Many telecommunication companies currently bill in bands with the smallest band being charged as a fixed call. Internet service providers (ISPs) take advantage of this banding and provide customers with “local points of presents (local POPs)” sites which are local numbers which can be used to dial up their service at the fixed call rate. While a modem call's connection time might be several hours, it is billed the same a local call that uses the same communication resources for a significantly shorter time period.
By detecting a modem call, the telecommunication company can bill the modem call differently than a voice call. The telecommunication company can create a variety of billing rate structure plans based on the time a modem user needs the connection resources, the amount of traffic between the POP, or a combination of both time of occupying the resources and amount of traffic.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5790642 (1998-08-01), Taylor et al.
patent: 5835240 (1998-11-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 5898763 (1999-04-01), Azuma et al.
patent: 5905785 (1999-05-01), Dunn et al.
patent: 5946670 (1999-08-01), Motohashi et al.
patent: 6088687 (2000-07-01), Leleu
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Tieu Binh K.
Woo Stella
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for detecting modem tones for... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for detecting modem tones for..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for detecting modem tones for... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2516769