# US 9,001,987 B2 · 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 9,001,987 B2 - Document ID: US9001987B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/047,782 - Filed: 2013-10-07 - Published: 2014-02-06 - Granted: 2015-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2005-09-29 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P. - Applicants: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P. - Inventors: Marian Croak; Hossein Eslambolchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9001987B2 ## 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 updating a customer international calling rate in a communication network, comprising: receiving, by a processor, a new calling rate to an international country by the communication network from an international partner carrier of the communication network, wherein the communication network is a packet network; and updating, by the processor, the customer international calling rate associated with a billing cycle for a plurality of subscribers of the communication network in accordance with the new calling rate for the international country 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 the international partner carrier of the communication network. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: updating a customer facing website to reflect the customer international calling rate that has been updated. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending a notification indicating the customer international calling rate has been updated to the plurality of subscribers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the updating the customer international calling rate comprises: updating a billing rate of the plurality of subscribers to account for the new calling rate to the international country. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the communication network provides a voice over internet protocol service. ### Claim 7 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations for updating a customer international calling rate in a communication network, the operations comprising: receiving a new calling rate to an international country by the communication network from an international partner carrier of the communication network, wherein the communication network is a packet network; and updating the customer international calling rate associated with a billing cycle for a plurality of subscribers of the communication network in accordance with the new calling rate for the international country without the plurality of subscribers requesting a rate change. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the new calling rate has been negotiated with the international partner carrier of the communication network. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising: updating a customer facing website to reflect the customer international calling rate that has been updated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising: sending a notification indicating the customer international calling rate has been updated to the plurality of subscribers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the updating the customer international calling rate comprises: updating a billing rate of the plurality of subscribers to account for the new calling rate to the international country. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the communication network provides a voice over Internet protocol service. ### Claim 13 An apparatus for updating a customer international calling rate in a communication network, comprising: a processor; and a computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising: receiving a new calling rate to an international country by the communication network from an international partner carrier of the communication network, wherein the communication network is a packet network; and updating the customer international calling rate associated with a billing cycle for a plurality of subscribers of the communication network in accordance with the new calling rate for the international country without the plurality of subscribers requesting a rate change. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the new calling rate has been negotiated with the international partner carrier of the communication network. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: updating a customer facing website to reflect the customer international calling rate that has been updated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: sending a notification indicating the customer international calling rate has been updated to the plurality of subscribers. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the updating the customer international calling rate comprises: updating a billing rate of the plurality of subscribers to account for the new calling rate to the international country. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the communication network provides a voice over internet protocol service.