US 6,636,504 B1 · Reverse billing of internet telephone calls

Abstract

In recent years, the world-wide packet data network, commonly known as the Internet, has grown exponentially. The data network now reaches virtually all businesses, most schools and an increasing number of homes. To provide an alternative to all or portions of the carrier-based telephone network, a number of companies have developed equipment and software that enable voice telephone-like communications via the Internet. Severs are now coming on line, which enable calls over the Internet to go off-net to end user stations still coupled to the local telephone network. A number of situations arise where a telephone service subscriber wants to allow callers to call the subscriber's equipment and have part or all of the communication charges billed to and paid by the subscriber. The invention enables such billing to the called party, for calls routed partially or entirely via the Internet. In one example, a caller with a multimedia PC and Internet access uses the subscriber's Internet address plus the subscriber's telephone number. The address identifies a gateway serving the subscriber, and the gateway places a telephone call to the subscriber's telephone. The network accumulates all billing information in records for application against the called subscriber's account.

Claims37

Dependent claims

A telecommunication system for supporting billing of a called subscriber unit comprising:

a system of interlinked computer networks;
a plurality of separately located central office switching systems interconnected via trunk circuits for selectively establishing telephone call connections;
a computer terminal coupled to one of the computer networks for receiving and initiating telephone calls;
a voice station coupled to one of the central office switching systems for receiving and initiating telephone calls;
a control server coupled to the system of interlinked computer networks for providing authentication services, controlling routing of telephone calls through the system of interlinked computer networks, and processing billing and usage information related to the called subscriber unit, wherein the computer terminal, the voice station, or both can be designated as the called subscriber unit, the control server managing the telephone calls over the systems of interlinked computer networks and tracking the billing and usage information of the called subscriber unit;
and
one or more gateways selectable by the control server for interfacing the system of interlinked computer networks to the plurality of separately located central office switching systems.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Reverse billing of internet telephone calls

Life of this patent

Reverse billing of internet telephone calls

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims37