Methods and systems for providing on-line bills for use in communications services

A communications system for providing a service, wherein a plurality of parties may be associated with an account with the system to receive the service, the system comprising:

• an interface to a network;
• and
• a processor coupled to the interface, the processor being programmed to:
• provide a bill for a service requested by one of a plurality of parties associated with an account and provided by the system, to a communications device via the network;
• and
• provide an indicator of the one party requesting the service, in association with a respective entry for the service in the bill.

A method of operating a communications system, wherein the system provides a service for a first party with respect to a second party, the first party being associated with an account with the system, the method comprising:

• providing a bill for the account for a service provided to the account, to a communications device via a network;
• providing an indicator of the second party in association with an entry in the bill for the requested service;
• and
• providing an option to either elect or suppress provision of the indicator.

A communications system for providing a service for a first party with respect to a second party, the first party being associated with an account with the system, the system comprising:

• a database to store contacts information of accounts with the system in a folder associated with a respective account;
• and
• a processor coupled to the interface and to the database, the processor being programmed to:
• prepare a bill for services provided to the account with respect to a second party;
• and
• store contact information related to the second party in the folder.

A method of operating a communications system, comprising:

• establishing a communication with a first party requesting a communications number of a second party;
• processing the request for the communications number of the second party;
• generating an event record related to the request during processing of the request, the event record including an indicator of the second party;
• and
• providing a bill for the communication to a communications device via a network, the bill being based, at least in part, on the event record and including the indicator of the second party associated with an entry for the communication.

A method of operating a communications system, comprising:

• processing a communication between a first communications device of a first party initiating a communication with a second communications device of a second party;
• generating an event record related to the communication, including an indicator of the second party, during processing of the communications connection;
• and
• providing a bill for the communication to a communications device via a network, the bill being based, at least in part, on the event record and including the indicator of the second party.

A communications system for establishing a communication, the system comprising:

• an interface to:
• receive signals from a first communications device of a first party to process a communication with a second communications device of a second party;
• and
• access a network;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• generate an event record including an indicator of the second party, during processing of the communication;
• and
• provide a bill for the communication to a third communications device via a network, the bill being based, at least in part, on the event record and including the at least one indicator of the second party.

A method of operating a communications system, comprising:

• receiving signals from a first communications device of a first party seeking a communications number of a second communications device of a second party;
• connecting the first communications device to an information assistance service to identify the communications number of the second communications device;
• establishing a communication between the first communications device and the second communications device after the communications number of the second communications device is identified;
• inserting an indicator of the second party into an event record generated by the communications system associated with connecting the first party to the second party, while establishing the communication between the first party and the second party;
• and
• providing a bill for the communication to a third communications device via a network, the bill being based, at least in part, on the event record and including the indicator of the second party.

A communications system, comprising:

• an interface to:
• receive signals from a first communications device of a first party calling an information assistance service system to obtain a communications number of a second communications device of a second party;
• and
• access a network;
• and
• a control device coupled to the interface, wherein the control device is programmed to:
• connect the first communications device to the information assistance service;
• process a communication between the first communications device and the second communications device;
• generate an event record of the communication between the first communications device and the second communications device, during processing of the communication between the first communications device and the second communications device, the event record including an indicator of the second party;
• and
• provide a bill for the communication to a third communications device via a network, the bill being based, at least in part, on the event record and including the indicator of the second party.

A method of operating a communications system, the system identifying a concierge provider of at least one of goods and services, the method comprising:

• receiving a request for identification of a concierge provider from a user, the request including identification of at least one of goods and services;
• identifying an appropriate concierge provider based on the identification of the at least one goods and services;
• and
• providing a bill for identifying the concierge provider, the bill including the identification of the at least one goods and services associated with an entry for the request for identification of the concierge provider.