Method and apparatus for providing multi-service package priced according to bandwidth and distance

A method for providing a multi-service telecommunications billing package comprising the following steps:

• a) selecting a bandwidth of service to be provided between said end user and said point of presence:
• b) providing a connection between said end user and said point of presence based on said bandwidth of service:
• c) determining a distance between said end user and said point of presence:
• and
• d) billing said customer for said connection wherein a billing rate for said connection is based on said bandwidth and said distance, said step of billing said customer comprising:
• storing a plurality of distance ranges and a plurality of distance factors wherein said plurality of distance ranges correspond to said plurality of distance factors;
• storing a plurality of bandwidth values and a plurality of bandwidth factors wherein said plurality of bandwidth values corresponds to said plurality of bandwidth factors;
• retrieving a distance factor for said end user corresponding to a one of the plurality of distance ranges within which said distance is located;
• retrieving a bandwidth factor for said end user corresponding to a one of the plurality of bandwidth values corresponding to said bandwidth;
• and
• multiplying said distance factor for said end user and said bandwidth factor for said end user to determine said billing rate.

A method for charging a customer of a multi-service telecommunication package comprising the following steps:

• locating a first end user at a first location
• connecting the first location of the end user to a customer's central office connected to a point of presence of a second location:
• determining a distance between said first location and said second location:
• determining a bandwidth of the connection:
• calculating a price for the connection using said distance and said bandwidth:
• and billing the customer:
• wherein said step of calculating said price comprises the steps of:
• converting said distance into a distance factor;
• retrieving a unit price for said bandwidth from a predetermined array of unit prices;
• and
• multiplying said distance factor by said unit price.

An apparatus for providing a multi-service telecommunications package, for connecting an end user to a point of presence of a customer, said apparatus comprising:

• a) means for dynamically selecting a service from a plurality of available services based on a bandwidth of service selected by said customer and actual traffic volume for each of said available services in said plurality;
• b) means for providing a connection between said end user and said point of presence based on said selected service;
• c) means for determining a distance between said end user and said point of presence;
• and
• d) means for billing said customer for said connection wherein a billing rate for said connection is based on said bandwidth and said distance.

An apparatus for providing a multi-service telecommunications package for connecting an end user to a point of presence of a customer, said apparatus comprising:

• a) means for providing a connection between said end user and said point of presence based on a bandwidth of service selected by said customer;
• b) means for determining a distance between said end user and said point of presence:
• and
• c) means for billing said customer for said connection wherein a billing rate for said connection is based on said bandwidth and said distance, said means for billing comprising a data processing system wherein said billing rate is determined by retrieving a first value for a bandwidth of said connection and multiplying said first value by a factor derived from said means for determining said distance.

An apparatus for providing a multi-service telecommunications package for connecting an end user to a point of presence of a customer, said apparatus comprising:

• a) means for providing a connection between said end user and said point of presence based on a bandwidth of service selected by said customer;
• b) means for determining a distance between said end user and said point of presence-and
• c) means for billing said customer for said connection wherein a billing rate for said connection is based on said bandwidth and said distance, said means for billing including a data processing system comprising:
• means for storing a plurality of distance ranges wherein each of said plurality of distance ranges corresponds to a distance factor;
• means for storing a plurality of bandwidth values wherein each of said plurality of bandwidth values corresponds to a bandwidth factor;
• means for retrieving a distance factor for said end user from said means for storing a plurality of distance ranges;
• means for retrieving a bandwidth factor for said end user from said means for storing a plurality of bandwidth values;
• and
• means for multiplying said distance factor for said end user and said bandwidth factor for said end user to determine said billing rate.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for billing a customer based on a bandwidth and distance for a connection provided between an end user and a point of presence, the computer program product comprising:

• a) first instructions for determining a distance between said end user and said point of presence;
• b) second instructions for determining a bandwidth for said connection:
• c) third instructions for billing said customer for said connection wherein a billing rate for said connection is based on said bandwidth and said distance,
• d) fourth instructions for storing a plurality of distance ranges wherein said plurality of distance ranges correspond to a plurality of distance factors;
• e) fifth instructions for storing a plurality of bandwidth values wherein said plurality of bandwidth values correspond to a plurality of bandwidth factors;
• f) sixth instructions for retrieving a distance factor for said end user from said means for storing a plurality of distance ranges;
• g) seventh instructions for retrieving a bandwidth factor for said end user from said means for storing a plurality of bandwidth values;
• and
• h) eighth instructions for multiplying said distance factor for said end user and said bandwidth factor for said end user to determine said billing rate.