Late stage call setup management
OwnerAri Kahninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for revenue assurance in a telephone network. The method comprises receiving a call request from a first user device on a network to a second user device, where the user device associated with a first user account has an account credit value insufficient to complete the requested call. A call timer duration is set to instantly expire on encountering a chargeable event. The call is continued toward the second user device. Upon encountering a chargeable event, the call is released. The chargeable event may be presenting a Ring Back Tone to the caller and confirming that the second device is ringing. The chargeable event may be detecting when the call has been answered.
Claims13
A method comprising:
- receiving, by at least one network node element, from a first user device, a call request for a call to a telephone number that is associated with a second user device;
- determining, by the at least one network node element, that the first user device is associated with a user account having a credit value that is insufficient to complete the call between the first user device and the second user device;
- setting, by the at least one network node element, a call duration timer to expire upon answering the call;
- instructing, by the at least one network node element, after the setting of the call duration timer, to progress the call toward the second user device, thereby permitting the call to mature to a ringing state;
- and
- instructing, by the at least one network node element, to release the call when the call duration timer expires upon answering the call.
A call servicing network, comprising:
- at least one network node element configured to:
- receive, from a first user device, a call request for a call to a telephone number that is associated with a second user device;
- determine that the first user device is associated with a user account having a credit value that is insufficient to complete the call between the first user device and the second user device;
- set a call duration timer to expire upon answering the call;
- instruct, after the call duration timer is set, to progress the call toward the second user device, thereby permitting the call to mature to a ringing state;
- and
- instructing, by the at least one network node element, release the call when the call duration timer expires upon answering the call.
A method comprising:
- programming at least one network node element to:
- receive, from a first user device, a call request for a call to a telephone number that is associated with a second user device;
- determine that the first user device is associated with a user account having a credit value that is insufficient to complete the call between the first user device and the second user device;
- set a call duration timer to expire upon answering the call;
- instruct, after the call duration timer is set, to progress the call toward the second user device, thereby permitting the call to mature to a ringing state;
- and
- instructing, by the at least one network node element, release the call when the call duration timer expires upon answering the call.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.