Telephonic communications – With usage measurement – Call charge metering or monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2001-06-26
Kuntz, Curtis (Department: 2743)
Telephonic communications
With usage measurement
Call charge metering or monitoring
C379S120000, C379S144020, C348S086000, C348S014090
Reexamination Certificate
active
06252952
ABSTRACT:
A cross-reference of related applications are provided at the end of the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments section of the present application.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to communication between users in diverse communication systems, and more particularly, to providing a broadband communication system including an Internet Protocol Telephony Network and public switched telephone network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Present day telephony voice networks, have a network built around circuit switches, end offices, a toll network, tandem switches, and twisted wires. These voice networks are referred to as a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or plain old telephone service (POTS). Due to bandwidth limitations of plain old telephone service (POTS), there is an inherent inability to efficiently integrate multiple types of media such as telephony, data communication for personal computers (PC), and television (TV) broadcasts. Accordingly, a new broadband architecture is required. This new architecture gives rise to a new array of user services.
There is also a need to provide improved flexible billing plans in a telephony network. For instance, telephony service providers may wish to provide subscribers with unique telephone rate plans based on the user's most frequented calls or based on the subscribers' preferences. While conventional telephony systems offer customized billing plans, they are often of limited practical use because they are typically not dynamically flexible. It would be desirable to be able to be able to select between different billing plans on the fly, as well as to have the billing plans automatically adjust to changing circumstances.
It would also be desirable to provide subscribers with the ability to contact one or more particular other subscribers in a more direct way than via a conventional phone call, such as via intercom-like communication. While conventional telephony systems offer dedicated links such as dedicated T1 links between parties, such dedicated links are expensive and require that a large amount of bandwidth be reserved for use any time by the parties leasing the T1 links. It would be more efficient to be able to provide such direct linking between subscribers without having to pre-reserve a physical link and/or network bandwidth.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Aspects of the invention include to providing broadband access capabilities or enhanced services for use in conjunction with a packetized network such as an Internet Protocol (IP) based system infrastructure.
Other aspects of the invention include providing one or more of the following either individually, or in any combination or subcombination:
a new broadband architecture;
broadband network capabilities, including local access; and
enhanced services for use in conjunction with a packetized network such as an Internet Protocol (IP) based system infrastructure.
For example, according to one aspect of the present invention, systems and methods may provide special billing to closed user groups. The membership of the closed user groups may be defined by the member(s) of the closed user groups and/or by sources external to the closed user groups and/or the network. The external sources may periodically update the membership of the closed user groups depending upon the membership of, e.g., organizations external to and/or independent of the network. An advantage of calling within a closed user group is that the network may bill such a call at a rate different from a rate that would be used if the calling party were not a member of the closed user group.
Another aspect of the invention provides for abbreviated dialing within a closed user group. Using abbreviated dialing, a calling member of the closed user group does not need to dial the complete directory number of a called member. Instead, the calling member just dials a shorter abbreviated number that identifies the called member within the closed user group. If the dialed digits are abbreviated the network may determine whether the calling member is a member of any closed user groups. If the calling member is a member, then the network may determine the identity of the called member based on the abbreviated dialed digits. The network may then establish a call between the calling and called members. The network may also bill the call at a rate different from a rate that would be used if the calling member were not a member of the closed user group.
Although the invention has been defined using the appended claims, these claims are exemplary and not limiting to the extent that the invention is meant to include one or more elements from the apparatus and methods described herein and in the applications incorporated by reference in any combination or subcombination. Accordingly, there are any number of alternative combinations for defining the invention, which incorporate one or more elements from the specification (including the drawings, claims, and applications incorporated by reference) in any combinations or subcombinations.
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Brad Shewmake, “Microsoft tea
Kung Fen-Chung
Russell Jesse Eugene
Walker Hopeton
Wang Spencer
AT&T Corp
Kuntz Curtis
Tieu Binh K.
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