# US 6,681,106 B2 · System and method for analyzing wireless communication records and for determining optimal wireless communication service plans > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,681,106 B2 - Document ID: US6681106B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 09/758,816 - Filed: 2001-01-11 - Published: 2001-11-01 - Granted: 2004-01-20 - Earliest claimed: 2000-09-07 - Assignees: Traq Wireless, Inc. - Inventors: William Marsh; John Merritt; Ted Colbert; Juan Gonzales; David Langworthy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6681106B2 ## CPC - H04M 15/8083: {involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts} - G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling - G06Q 30/04: Billing or invoicing - H04L 67/306: User profiles - H04M 15/00: Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication {; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP} - H04M 15/41: {Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]} - H04M 15/42: {Dynamic individual rates per user} - H04M 15/43: {Billing software details} - H04M 15/44: {Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation} - H04M 15/49: {Connection to several service providers} - H04M 15/745: {Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family} - H04M 15/80: {Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects} - H04M 15/8044: {Least cost routing} - H04M 2215/0104: Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing - H04M 2215/0108: Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS] - H04M 2215/0152: General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts - H04M 2215/0164: Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure - H04M 2215/0184: involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list - H04M 2215/32: Involving wireless systems - H04M 2215/42: Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff - H04M 2215/46: Connection to several service providers - H04M 2215/745: Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract In general, a system and method for analyzing wireless communication records and for determining optimal wireless communication service plans is disclosed. A transceiver is configured to receive billing information associated with a subscriber of a telecommunications service under a current rate plan. A storage unit stores the billing information. A processor processes the subscriber related billing information to produce organized data having a predefined format. The processor then analyzes the processed data in relation to a plurality of rate plans of a plurality of telecommunications service providers, and determines at least one proposed rate plan that would save the subscriber telecommunication costs relative to the current rate plan. A report of at least one proposed rate plan is then produced and provided to the subscriber, which enables selection of a best telecommunication service provider. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising the steps of: receiving billing information associated with a subscriber of a telecommunication service under a current rate plan; processing the subscriber related billing information to produce organized data in a calling profile record for each telecommunication service being used by the subscriber; analyzing the processed data in relation to a plurality of rate plans of a plurality of telecommunication service providers; determining at least one proposed rate plan that would save the subscriber telecommunication costs relative to the current rate plan; and producing a report of the at least one proposed rate plan to enable selection of a best telecommunication service provider and a best rate plan. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving billing information further comprises the steps of: importing wireless call detail records; and providing the wireless call detail records to usage history and call detail tables. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the step of importing wireless call detail records is further defined as receiving the call detail records from at least one wireless communications carrier. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the step of importing wireless call detail records further comprises the step of receiving the call detail records from the subscriber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the step of receiving billing information is performed via file transfer protocol. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the step of receiving billing information is further defined as using a staging table as a subset of the total call detail records imported. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the step of receiving billing information comprises using a staging table that allows for extraction of a minimum set of total call detail records used to populate the call detail table. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein said method further comprises more than one telecommunication service, and wherein the step of processing the subscriber related billing information assesses rate plan options in a subscriber home or corporate market. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the calling profile record includes an assessment of rate plan options in a subscriber home or corporate market. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the calling profile record includes an assessment of service plan options that categorizes where calls are made or received into a subscriber home market, corporate market, and alternate markets. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing the processed data comprises the step of evaluating calling profile records of the subscriber in order to determine if the current rate plan is cost effective for the subscriber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the step of analyzing the processed data further comprises the step of determining at least one cost-effective calling plan. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the step of analyzing the processed data further comprises the step of comparing the cost of the at least one cost-effective calling plan to cost of the current rate plan. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the step of analyzing the processed data further comprises the step of selecting a best possible cost-effective calling plan. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the step of selecting the best possible cost-effective plan is performed by using at least one statistical filter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of producing a report further comprises the step of rendering recommendations to the subscriber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the step of producing a report further comprises the step of presenting results of the step of analyzing the processed data to the subscriber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the step of producing a report further comprises the step of executing any actions a viewer of the report may wish to take as a result of viewing the report. ### Claim 19 A system, comprising: means for receiving subscriber related billing information associated with a subscriber of a telecommunication service under a current rate plan; means for processing the subscriber related billing information to produce organized data in a calling profile record for each telecommunication service being used by the subscriber, the means for processing being communicatively coupled to the means for receiving subscriber related billing information; means for analyzing the processed data in relation to a plurality of rate plans of a plurality of telecommunication service providers, the means for analyzing being communicatively coupled to the means for processing the subscriber related billing information; means for determining at least one proposed rate plan that would save the subscriber telecommunication costs relative to the current rate plan, the means for determining being communicatively coupled to the means for analyzing the processed data; and means for producing a report of the at least one proposed rate plan to enable selection of a best telecommunication service provider and a best rate plan, the means for producing a report being communicatively coupled to the means for determining at least one proposed rate plan that would save the subscriber telecommunication costs. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the means for receiving subscriber related billing information further comprises: means for importing wireless call detail records; and means for providing the wireless call detail records to usage history and call detail tables, wherein the means for providing the wireless call detail records to usage history and call detail tables is communicatively coupled to the means for importing wireless call detail records. ### Claim 21 A system comprising: at least one transceiver configured to receive billing information associated with a subscriber of a telecommunication service under a current rate plan; a storage unit configured to store the billing information, wherein the storage unit is communicatively coupled to the transceiver; a memory comprising software, wherein the memory is communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the storage unit; and a processor, communicatively coupled to the transceiver, storage unit and memory, configured by the software to: process the subscriber related billing information to produce organized data in a calling profile record for each telecommunication service being used by the subscriber; analyze the processed data in relation to a plurality of rate plans of a plurality of telecommunication service providers; determine at least one proposed rate plan that would save the subscriber telecommunication costs relative to the current rate plan; and produce a report of the at least one proposed rate plan to enable selection of a best telecommunication service provider and a best rate plan, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the report. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the system comprises a first transceiver and a second transceiver, the first transceiver being configured to receive billing information associated with a subscriber of a telecommunication service under a current rate plan, and the second transceiver being configured to transmit the produced report to the subscriber. ### Claim 23 A computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer readable medium, comprising: logic configured to receive billing information associated with a subscriber of a telecommunication service under a current rate plan; logic configured to store the billing information; logic configured to process the subscriber related billing information to produce organized data in a calling profile record for each telecommunication service being used by the subscriber; logic configured to analyze the processed data in relation to a plurality of rate plans of a plurality of telecommunication service providers; logic configured to determine at least one proposed rate plan that would save the subscriber telecommunication costs relative to the current rate plan; logic configured to produce a report of the at least one proposed rate plan to enable selection of a best telecommunication service provider and a best rate plan; and logic configured to transmit the produced report. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the logic configured to receive billing information further comprises: logic configured to import wireless call detail records; and logic configured to provide the wireless call detail records to usage history and call detail tables. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the logic configured to analyze the processed data further comprises logic configured to evaluate calling profile records of the subscriber in order to determine if the current rate plan is cost effective for the subscriber, wherein the calling profile records are created from the imported wireless call detail records for each individual telecommunication service that assesses rate plan options in a subscriber home or corporate market. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the logic configured to transmit the produced report, transmits the report to the subscriber. ### Claim 27 A system, comprising: a storage unit configured to store billing information associated with a subscriber of a telecommunication service under a current rate plan; a memory comprising software, wherein said memory is communicatively coupled to the storage unit; and a processor communicatively coupled to the storage unit and the memory, configured by the software to: process the subscriber related billing information to produce organized data in a calling profile record for each telecommunication service being used by the subscriber; analyze the processed data in relation to a plurality of rate plans of a plurality of telecommunication service providers; determine at least one proposed rate plan that would save the subscriber telecommunication costs relative to the current rate plan; and produce a report of the at least one proposed rate plan to enable selection of a best telecommunication service provider and a best rate plan. ### Claim 28 A method, comprising the steps of: receiving billing information associated with a subscriber of a telecommunication service under a current rate plan; processing the subscriber related billing information to produce organized data having a predefined format; analyzing the processed data in relation to a plurality of rate plans of a plurality of telecommunication service providers, wherein the analyzing step further comprises the steps of evaluating calling profile records of the subscriber in order to determine if the current rate plan is cost effective for the subscriber and determining at least one cost-effective calling plan, wherein the at least one cost effective calling plan is in the form of a rate plan evaluation record and at least one linked service plan instance record; determining at least one proposed rate plan that would save the subscriber telecommunication costs relative to the current rate plan; and producing a report of the at least one proposed rate plan to enable selection of a best telecommunication service provider and a best rate plan. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the step of receiving billing information further comprises the steps of: importing wireless call detail records; and providing the wireless call detail records to usage history and call detail tables. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the step of importing wireless call detail records is further defined as receiving the call detail records from at least one wireless communications carrier. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the step of importing wireless call detail records further comprises the step of receiving the call detail records from the subscriber. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the step of receiving billing information is performed via file transfer protocol. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the step of receiving billing information is further defined as using a staging table as a subset of the total call detail records imported. ### Claim 34 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the step of receiving billing information comprises using a staging table that allows for extraction of a minimum set of total call detail records used to populate the call detail table. ### Claim 35 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein said method further comprises more than one telecommunication service, and wherein the step of processing the subscriber related billing information further comprises the step of creating a calling profile record from the imported wireless call detail records for each individual telecommunication service that assesses rate plan options in a subscriber home or corporate market. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, wherein the step of creating a calling profile record is further defined as creating a calling profile record that includes an assessment of rate plan options in a subscriber home or corporate market. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, wherein the step of creating a calling profile record further comprises the step of creating a calling profile record that includes an assessment of service plan options that categorizes where calls are made or received into a subscriber home market, corporate market, and alternate markets. ### Claim 38 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the step of analyzing the processed data further comprises the step of comparing the cost of the at least one cost-effective calling plan to cost of the current rate plan. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38, wherein the step of analyzing the processed data further comprises the step of selecting a best possible cost-effective calling plan. ### Claim 40 A method, comprising the steps of: receiving billing information associated with a subscriber of a telecommunication service under a current rate plan; processing the subscriber related billing information to produce organized data having a predefined format; analyzing the processed data in relation to a plurality of rate plans of a plurality of telecommunication service providers, wherein said analyzing step further comprises the steps of: evaluating calling profile records of the subscriber in order to determine if the current rate plan is cost effective for the subscriber; determining at least one cost-effective calling plan; comparing the cost of the at least one cost-effective calling plan to cost of the current rate plan; and selecting a best possible cost-effective calling plan by using a historical predictor algorithm; determining at least one proposed rate plan that would save the subscriber telecommunication costs relative to the current rate plan; and producing a report of the at least one proposed rate plan to enable selection of a best telecommunication service provider and a best rate plan. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the step of receiving billing information further comprises the steps of: importing wireless call detail records; and providing the wireless call detail records to usage history and call detail tables. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, wherein the step of importing wireless call detail records is further defined as receiving the call detail records from at least one wireless communications carrier. ### Claim 43 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, wherein the step of importing wireless call detail records further comprises the step of receiving the call detail records from the subscriber. ### Claim 44 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, wherein the step of receiving billing information is performed via file transfer protocol. ### Claim 45 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, wherein the step of receiving billing information is further defined as using a staging table as a subset of the total call detail records imported. ### Claim 46 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, wherein the step of receiving billing information comprises using a staging table that allows for extraction of a minimum set of total call detail records used to populate the call detail table. ### Claim 47 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, wherein said method further comprises more than one telecommunication service, and wherein the step of processing the subscriber related billing information further comprises the step of creating a calling profile record from the imported wireless call detail records for each individual telecommunication service that assesses rate plan options in a subscriber home or corporate market. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, wherein the step of creating a calling profile record is further defined as creating a calling profile record that includes an assessment of rate plan options in a subscriber home or corporate market. ### Claim 49 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, wherein the step of creating a calling profile record further comprises the step of creating a calling profile record that includes an assessment of service plan options that categorizes where calls are made or received into a subscriber home market, corporate market, and alternate markets. ### Claim 50 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the at least one cost effective calling plan is in the form of a rate plan evaluation record and at least one linked service plan instance record. ### Claim 51 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, wherein the step of producing a report further comprises the step of rendering recommendations to the subscriber. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51, wherein the step of producing a report further comprises the step of presenting results of the step of analyzing the processed data to the subscriber. ### Claim 53 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51, wherein the step of producing a report further comprises the step of executing any actions a viewer of the report may wish to take as a result of viewing the report.