Method and system for providing a billing directed communication service

In an intelligent switched telecommunications network including a switch, a service control point, and a data link functionally connecting said switch and said service control point, a method for providing a billing directed communication service, comprising the steps of:

• receiving at said switch a communication from an originating station associated with an account number identifying an account that is normally charged for telephone calls initiated from the originating station, said communication comprising a unitary request for said billing directed communication service, said unitary request comprising a trigger code, a billing code identifying a billing account that is different from the account that is normally charged for telephone calls initiated from the originating station, and a terminating station number associated with a terminating station;
• in response to said trigger code, sending a data link query message from said switch to said service control point;
• determining at said service control point whether said unitary request is valid by comparing the received billing code to a list of billing codes in a subscriber profile;
• and
• if said unitary request is valid, sending a data link response message from said service control point to said switch, said data link response message instructing said switch to
• route said communication for connection between said originating station and said terminating station, and
• charge a cost associated with the provision of said communication to the billing account identified by the received billing code.

An apparatus for providing a billing directed communication service, comprising:

• means for receiving a communication from an originating station associated with an account number identifying an account that is normally charged for telephone calls initiated from the originating station, said communication comprising a unitary request for said billing directed communication service, said unitary request comprising a billing code identifying a billing account that is different from the account that is normally charged for telephone calls initiated from the originating station and a terminating station number associated with a terminating station;
• means for determining whether said unitary request is valid by comparing the received billing code to a list of billing codes in a subscriber profile;
• means for routing said communication for connection between said originating station and said terminating station;
• and
• means for charging a cost associated with the provision of said communication to the billing account identified by the received billing code.

An apparatus for providing a billing directed communication service between an originating station and a terminating station, said originating station being selectively connected to said terminating station via a voice channel circuit, comprising:

• a switch operable for
• receiving a communication from said originating station associated with an account number identifying an account that is normally charged for telephone calls initiated from the originating station, said communication comprising a unitary request for said billing directed communication service, said unitary request comprising a trigger code, a billing code identifying a billing account that is different from the account that is normally charged for telephone calls initiated from the originating station, and a terminating station number associated with said terminating station,
• sending a data link query message in response to said trigger code,
• holding said communication pending receipt of a data link response message,
• routing said communication for connection between said originating station and said terminating station, and
• charging a cost associated with the provision of communication to said account;
• and
• a service control point functionally connected to said switch via a data link, said service control point being operable for
• receiving said data link query message,
• determining whether said unitary request is valid by comparing the received billing code to a list of billing codes in a subscriber profile, and
• sending said data link response message from said service control point to said switch, said data link response message instructing said switch to
• route said communication for connection between said originating and terminating stations via said voice channel circuit, and
• charge a cost associated with the provision of communication to the billing account identified by the received billing code.

A method of providing a billing directed communication service, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a communication from an originating station connected to a telephone line having an assigned account,
• the communication comprising a unitary request for the billing directed communication service, the unitary request comprising a trigger code, a billing code identifying a billing account that is different from the account assigned to the originating station, and a terminating station number associated with a terminating station;
• determining whether said unitary request is valid by comparing the received billing code to a list of billing codes in a subscriber profile associated with the account assigned to the originating station;
• and
• if said unitary request is valid,
• routing said communication for connection between said originating and terminating stations, and
• charging a cost associated with the provision of said communication to the billing account identified by the received billing code.

A method of providing a billing directed communication service, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a communication from an originating station comprising a cellular mobile radio telephone having an assigned account,
• the communication comprising a unitary request for the billing directed communication service, the unitary request comprising a trigger code, a billing code identifying a billing account that is different from the account assigned to the cellular mobile radio telephone, and a terminating station number associated with a terminating station;
• determining whether said unitary request is valid by comparing the received billing code to a list of billing codes in a subscriber profile associated with the account assigned to the cellular mobile radio telephone;
• and
• if said unitary request is valid,
• routing said communication for connection between said originating and terminating stations, and
• charging a cost associated with the provision of said communication to the billing account identified by the received billing code.

A method of providing a billing directed communication service, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a communication from an originating station associated with an account number identifying an account that is normally charged for telephone calls initiated from the originating station,
• the communication comprising a unitary request for the billing directed communication service, the unitary request comprising a trigger code, a billing code identifying a billing account that is different from the account that is normally charged for telephone calls initiated from the originating station, and a terminating station number associated with a terminating station;
• determining whether said unitary request is valid by comparing the received billing code to a list of billing codes in a subscriber profile associated with the received billing code;
• and
• if said unitary request is valid,
• routing said communication for connection between said originating and terminating stations, and
• charging a cost associated with the provision of said communication to the billing account identified by the received billing code.

A method of providing a billing directed communication service, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a communication from an originating station associated with an account number identifying an account that is normally charged for telephone calls initiated from the originating station,
• the communication comprising a unitary request for the billing directed communication service, the unitary request comprising a trigger code, a billing code identifying a billing account that is different from account that is normally charged for telephone calls initiated from the originating station, and a terminating station number associated with a terminating station;
• determining whether said unitary request is valid by comparing the received billing code to a list of billing codes in a subscriber profile associated with the terminating station number;
• and
• if said unitary request is valid,
• routing said communication for connection between said originating and terminating stations, and
• charging a cost associated with the provision of said communication to the billing account identified by the received billing code.

A method of providing a billing directed communication service, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a communication from an originating station comprising a cellular mobile radio telephone by way of a mobile telephone switching office having an assigned account,
• the communication comprising a unitary request for the billing directed communication service, the unitary request comprising a trigger code, a billing code identifying a billing account that is different from the account assigned to the mobile telephone switching office, and a terminating station number associated with a terminating station;
• determining whether said unitary request is valid by comparing the received billing code to a list of billing codes in a subscriber profile associated with the mobile telephone switching office;
• and
• if said unitary request is valid,
• routing said communication for connection between said originating and terminating stations, and
• charging a cost associated with the provision of said communication to the billing account identified by the received billing code.