# US 8,150,009 B1 · Method and apparatus for providing dynamic international calling rates > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,150,009 B1 - Document ID: US8150009B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 11/240,225 - Filed: 2005-09-29 - Granted: 2012-04-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-09-29 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P. - Inventors: Marian Croak; Hossein Eslambolchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8150009B1 ## CPC - H04M 15/42: {Dynamic individual rates per user} - 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 15/56: {for VoIP communications} - H04M 15/80: {Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects} - H04M 15/8022: {Determining tariff or charge band} - H04M 15/81: {Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call} - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract A method and apparatus for enabling VoIP service providers to dynamically adjust international calling rates as a function of adjustments made with partner carrier arrangements that VoIP service providers put in place are disclosed. Thus VoIP service providers can pass on savings, if the new calling rate is lower than the old calling rate, to their subscribers in order to enhance the loyalty of existing subscribers. Instead of having subscribers to call into customer service centers to take advantage of these new lower international calling rates, the new calling rates will be updated dynamically and immediately for subscribers without these subscribers having to call in to request their billing rates to match the new calling rates. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for providing dynamic international calling rates in a communication network, comprising: receiving a new calling rate to an international country by the communication network, wherein the communication network is an internet protocol network; and updating a customer calling rate associated with a billing cycle for a plurality of subscribers of the communication network in accordance with the new calling rate without the plurality of subscribers requesting a rate change. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the new calling rate has been negotiated with one or more international partner carriers of the communication network. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: updating a customer facing website to reflect the updated customer calling rate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending a notification indicating the updated customer calling rate to the plurality of subscribers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the updating the customer calling rate comprises: updating a billing rate of the plurality of subscribers to immediately account for the new calling rate to the international country. ### Claim 6 A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for providing dynamic international calling rates in a communication network, comprising: receiving a new calling rate to an international country by the communication network, wherein the communication network is an internet protocol network; and updating a customer calling rate associated with a billing cycle for a plurality of subscribers of the communication network in accordance with the new calling rate without the plurality of subscribers requesting a rate change. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the new calling rate has been negotiated with one or more international partner carriers of the communication network. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, further comprising: updating a customer facing website to reflect the updated customer calling rate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, further comprising: sending a notification indicating the updated customer calling rate to the plurality of subscribers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the updating the customer calling rate comprises: updating a billing rate of the plurality of subscribers to immediately account for the new calling rate to the international country. ### Claim 11 An apparatus for providing dynamic international calling rates in a communication network, comprising: a processor; and a computer-readable medium in communication with the processor, wherein the computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method, comprising: receiving a new calling rate to an international country by the communication network, wherein the communication network is an internet protocol network; and updating a customer calling rate associated with a billing cycle for a plurality of subscribers of the communication network in accordance with the new calling rate without the plurality of subscribers requesting a rate change. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the new calling rate has been negotiated with one or more international partner carriers of the communication network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: updating a customer facing website to reflect the updated customer calling rate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: sending a notification indicating the updated customer calling rate to the plurality of subscribers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the updating the customer calling rate comprises: updating a billing rate of the plurality of subscribers to immediately account for the new calling rate to the international country.