Method and system for generating a billing record
AssigneeSBC Properties, L.P.
InventorsScott P. Alcott, Thomas L. Linton, Diane I. Primo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transaction record is received including transaction data corresponding to at least one telephone call placed by a subscriber. The transaction data is processed by a plurality of rate plans, each rate plan generating a toll amount corresponding to the telephone calls of the transaction record. The toll amounts from each of the plurality of rate plans are compared to determine a lowest toll amount. An amount x is deducted from the lowest toll amount to form a final toll amount. A billing record is generated for the subscriber based on the final toll amount.
Claims14
A method of generating a billing record for at least one subscriber of a plurality of telecommunication service subscribers, the method comprising:
- processing sample telephone call transaction data by a plurality of service rate plans for competitive interexchange carriers to generate an estimated toll amount for the transaction data for each service rate plan;
- comparing estimated toll amounts to determine a lowest toll amount;
- deducting a constant toll amount from the lowest toll amount to form a final toll amount;
- and
- generating the billing record for the at least one subscriber based on the final toll amount.
In a network for providing telecommunication service to a plurality of network subscribers, a method of generating a billing record for at least one of the plurality of subscribers, the method comprising:
- receiving a transaction record including transaction data corresponding to at least one sample telephone call;
- processing the transaction data by a plurality of rate plans, each rate plan generating a toll amount corresponding to the at least one sample telephone call;
- comparing the toll amounts from each of the plurality of rate plans to determine a lowest toll amount, the rate plan associated with the lowest toll amount being a lowest-cost rate plan of the plurality of rate plans;
- forming a final toll amount which is a fixed amount less than 100% of the amount that would be billed in accordance with the lowest-cost rate plan of the plurality of rate plans;
- comparing billed cost data with previous cost data corresponding to prior billed cost for a corresponding call;
- based on the comparison, detecting a change in a rate plan;
- and
- updating a rate data based upon detecting the change.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.