Method for billing IP broadband subscribers
US7289489B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 2004 |
| Grant date | Oct 30, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 19, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2215/82
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of billing a variable bit rate communication between a first terminal and a distant terminal to a broadband subscriber permits changing billing parameters during a call in real time in response to user inputs including user requested changes in quality of service, changes in data rate and changes in preferred service provider. A variable bit rate communication to be billed has a variable quality of service related to the degree of utilization of a plurality of different networks. The billing method comprises the steps of i.) receiving user identification data at a first terminal and data representing a required bit rate and a default quality of service selected by the user, ii.) verifying the user identification data to be associated with the broadband service subscriber, iii.) determining least cost alternative network resources available for achieving the communication at the user selected default quality of service and the required bit rate, iv.) determining cost data associated with the network resources, v.) outputting to the user a least cost for the communication according to their selected default quality of service and alternative least cost network resources, vi.…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.