Apparatus and method for credit based management of telecommunication activity

An apparatus for allowing a telecommunication service provider to manage the risk associated with the payment by a subscriber for use of the provider's telecommunication system comprising:

• a digital computer;
• interface means, operating within said digital computer, for communicating information relating to a particular subscriber, said interface means includes a first portion for communicating information relating to said particular subscriber with a credit information source and a second portion for receiving a call information record for each call involving said particular subscriber, said call information record derived from information compiled by a switching center that is capable of establishing connections between a plurality of pairs of telecommunication devices and simultaneously maintaining such connections;
• credit means, operating within said digital computer, for using said first portion of said interface to obtain a credit score for said particular subscriber, for using said credit score to establish a credit limit for said particular subscriber and for obtaining updated credit scores for said particular subscriber;
• analysis means, operating within said digital computer, for receiving each of said call information record for said particular subscriber from said second portion of said interface means and using said call information record to compare call usage of said particular subscriber call to said credit limit for said particular subscriber and generate an indication if said call usage of said particular subscriber exceeds said credit limit for said particular subscriber;
• and
• output means, operating within said digital computer, for outputting an indication to the telecommunication service provider that said particular subscriber has exceeded said credit limit for said particular subscriber and outputting an indication to the telecommunication service provider that an updated credit score for said particular subscriber differs from a prior credit score for said particular subscriber.

An apparatus for allowing a telecommunication service provider to manage the risk that a subscriber will not pay their bill for use of the provider's telecommunication system comprising:

• a digital computer;
• interface means, operating within said digital computer, for communicating information relating to a particular subscriber, said interface means includes a first portion for communicating information relating to said particular subscriber with a credit information source and a second portion for receiving a call information record for each call involving said particular subscriber, said call information record derived from information compiled by a switching center that is capable of establishing connections between a plurality of pairs of telecommunication devices and simultaneously maintaining such connections;
• credit means, operating within said digital computer, for using said first portion of said interface to obtain a credit score for said particular subscriber and for using said credit score to establish a credit limit for said particular subscriber, and for retaining a plurality of credit scores for said particular subscriber and for using said plurality of credit scores to identify the existence of a credit pattern;
• analysis means, operating within said digital computer, for receiving each of said call information record for said particular subscriber from said second portion of said interface means and using said call information record to compare call usage of said particular subscriber to said credit limit for said particular subscriber and generate an indication if said call usage of said particular subscriber exceeds said credit limit for said particular subscriber;
• and
• output means, operating within said digital computer, for outputting an indication to the telecommunication service provider that said particular subscriber has exceeded said credit limit for said particular subscriber and for outputting information to the telecommunication service provider indicating the existence of said credit pattern in said plurality of credit scores.