Abstract: A telecommunications service billing administrator for providing real-time billing query functionality. The billing administrator has a billing system with a processor coupled to a billing information data repository. The billing information data repository updates an account table and a call table during the placement of a telecommunications call leg. The information updated includes a billing account summary. The subscriber can issue a billing inquiry request in which the billing system responds with an announcement of the billing account summary.

Abstract: Real-time, per call charge information is provided to a subscriber for calls in progress using a communications system having a service interface supporting the charge display feature. A repository of billing rate information is accessible to the communications system, which selects the appropriate billing rate based on call attributes such as time of day, geographic location, etc. The charge information may be periodically computed within a switch or data processing system within the communications system and transmitted to a remote display device for display. Alternatively, raw billing rate information may be transmitted to an intelligent device at the subscribers location, which periodically computes the charge information and updates the display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a communications system for providing post call information to a caller using a data processing system within the communications system. The processes of the present invention are implemented in a data processing system within the communications system. A connection of the caller to the communications system is detected in which the caller is initiating a call for which post call charge information is desired. The post call charge information for the call is automatically identified in response to termination of the call by the caller. The post call charge information is automatically presented to the caller.