Abstract: A method and system for the delivering bills to subscribers of wireless telecommunication services, and the subsequent retrieval of the same, using a voice mail system is disclosed. In an aspect of the invention, a bill is generated from billing information obtained from a billing center containing the call details of individual subscribers. The generated bill is translated into a format comprising synthesized speech message describing the bill specifics. Alternatively, the bill may be translated into a computer readable file capable of being downloading by a computer. The translated bill is stored in the subscriber's voice mailbox following which, a notification is sent to the subscriber to indicate its arrival. The bill can be subsequently retrieved by the subscriber by accessing the voice mailbox with either a phone or a computer. The invention permits cost effective and timely delivery of bills without having to rely on a third party for delivery.

Abstract: A method and system of telephone call processing that provides information to customers while telephone calls are made. Summary information for a customer is stored. A call from the customer is received alt a network switch. The network switch transmits information identifying the customer to a billing analysis system. The billing analysis system transmits the summary information for the customer to the network switch and an audio message based on the summary information is played to the customer.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically generating telephone bills that include customer defined or requested summary information. Customer specific data including pricing data and summary parameters are stored. A plurality of records, each record describing a telephone call, are generated. The record is received at a billing analysis system, which determines a priced call value for each call using the record and the customer specific data and determines summary information for the customer using the record, the priced call values and the summary parameters. A telephone bill for the customer is generated based on the summary information for the customer. The bill may be generated periodically, on a predetermined schedule, or upon demand of the customer. Online access to summary information is also provided.

Abstract: A method for formatting CDRs to reduce storage and processing requirements within a switch or telecommunications network which formats CDRs in accordance with the disclosed techniques. A switch includes a call condense agent for collecting raw call information for calls handled thereby and a formatting agent for selecting, based upon an examination of said raw call information, an optimal data structure for formatting the raw call information and for producing a CDR by formatting said raw call information in accordance with said optimal data structure. The optimal data structure is that which best fits the raw call information.

Abstract: A device for upgrading a reporting system (12) associated with an automatic call distributor (10) in a telephone system having a first utility program for saving a plurality of custom reports to a temporary directory, an upgrade of the reporting system (12), and a second utility program which imports the custom reports from the temporary directory into the upgrade of the reporting system (12).

Abstract: A billing scheme for a telecommunications network is described in which a billing record for a call including at least a plurality of data bytes is generated in a switch (10), each billing record is duplicated, and check information is generated from each data byte of a billing record and associated with each said data byte to form a protected billing record. Each protected billing record of a duplicated pair is transmitted via two independent transmission lines to processing means (40, 50) in which the associated check information is generated byte-for byte from each received billing record and the generated check information is compared byte-for-byte with the transmitted check information in parity checking circuits (60, 61). If for any one byte of a billing record, the generated check information does not agree with the received check information, that billing record is discarded.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically managing billing information for telecommunications service application use at the service application level rather than at the billing system level. Each service application, such as a call forwarding service application, is programmed with application level data records in which are stored the parameters of a given promotion, such as number of free uses, the start time and stop time of the promotion or rental period, etc. Each time a service application is subsequently used, the customer's use of the service application is logged in a customer data record. The customer's use is then compared to a corresponding application level data record. Based on this comparison, a billing record is provided to the billing system which instructs the billing system to either bill or not to bill the customer for the particular use of the service application.

Abstract: According the present invention, a line using status of each personal station which contains an existing analog line in a route between the personal station and an exchange unit is determined. The PS number of a personal station having a telephone call, the line number used for the telephone call, and the line use order of in which the personal station uses the line are registered in a billing unit provided to a cell station every time a telephone call is made, and the line number, the line use order and the charging rate parameter of usage of the line are registered in a billing center every time a telephone call is made. Further, the information registered in the billing unit is periodically collected in the form of analog signals in the billing center, and the PS number and the charging rate parameter are associated with each other by using the line number and the line use order as a key.

Abstract: A method and apparatus using information stored in a communications switch to trace a specific communication in a network, including an in-progress communication. A search request with a set of search criteria is sent to a communications switch that routes communications in the network. Information stored in the communications switch, such as a communications switch call record, is searched to locate information matching the set of search criteria in the search request. The results of the search are reported out of the communications switch allowing the specific communication to be traced.

Abstract: The automated system and method (10) uses a plurality of tables (64, 66, 74, 76, 76') to define the structure and formats of the call data blocks (60) and the destination call or event records (100). These tables (64, 66, 74, 76, 76') are accessed at run time to determine the structure, data definition, data format and size and the call/event records (100) are generated according to the tables.

Abstract: A system for service control and operations for a telecommunications network. In particular, an architecture and method for a service control and operations element system. The system communicates with a plurality of interconnected telecommunications network elements via a switching and signaling subsystem. The system provides and controls the functions of the telecommunications network, including a method of measuring delay between the time a customer dials a phone number of a called party and the time the customer hears a ringback tone indicating that the called party was alerted to the call, a method of synchronizing clocks located at individual network elements with a centralized time source, and a method of time-of-day clock surveillance.

Abstract: A method of processing telephone calls comprising: receiving and storing a directory number of a called party with reference to a calling party, allocating a charge for the call on a billing list of a calling party, receiving a first signal from the calling party indicating a request for credit of the charge, automatically looking up data from the billing list to check against at least one predetermined criterion to determine whether the credit appears to be justified, upon receipt of the first signal, automatically applying the credit to the billing list in the event the at least one criterion is met, and automatically announcing the credit to the calling party, and automatically denying the credit in the event the at least one criterion is not met, and automatically announcing the denial to the calling party.

Abstract: A system and method for the switches of a telecommunications network to generate call records for telephone calls using a flexible and expandable record format. Upon receipt of a telephone call, a switch in the network analyzes the telephone call to determine whether the default call record is sufficiently large to store call record information pertaining to the telephone call, or whether the expanded call record must be used to store the call information pertaining to the telephone call. After determining which call record to use, the switch generates the default or expanded call record. The switch sends a billing block, comprised of completed call records, to a billing center upon filling an entire billing block.

Abstract: A method and system in which calls made by a customer using a calling card are billed in accordance with the customer's subscribed calling plans. In order to price a call made over a network by a customer of the network, information specifying a billing plan of the customer is stored. A call made from a customer station or using a customer calling card or prepaid telephone card is received at a network switch and record that describes the call is generated. The record is received at a billing analysis system and a priced call value for the call is determined based on the record and the information specifying the customer billing plan. If the call is placed using a prepaid telephone card, it is verified that a sufficient balance remains before completing the call.

Abstract: In an automatic message accounting (AMA) record distribution network, a method and system for sorting AMA records by using an area code or numbering plan area (NPA) data array and directory number bit maps to identify AMA records which are of interest to an operation center. Operation centers have access to every AMA record generated by a toll switching network and are initialized with a table of AMA structure and call-type codes, an NPA data array and directory number bit maps. NPA entries in the data array which are of interest to a particular operation center contain pointers (i.e., memory address locations) of the directory number bit maps. As AMA records are received by the operation center, directory numbers which have NPAs of interest to the operation center are compared to directory number bit maps. A directory number of an AMA record which corresponds to a numbered bit position of the directory number bit map is processed by the operation center.

Abstract: A telephone charging system prices calls made by customers in a telecommunications network. The system includes a local exchange which provides a call record for each call, a database containing details of the customers of the network, a database which contains the locations of the individual numbers, details of routes between the numbers and a set of tariffs for pricing calls, a processor which receives call records from the local exchange and data from the databases and uses the call records and data to price calls, and a store for storing details of the priced calls. In order to price a typical call, the processor evaluates a factor relating to the type of service used in the call, a factor relating to the type of customer, a factor relating to the locations of the calling and called number in the network and a factor relating to the day on which the call is made.

Abstract: Aggregated billing for calls originating from separate telephone stations (12-20) may be obtained by accessing a segmentation directory (54) upon the receipt of the call at an originating switch (40.sub.1) within a telecommunications network. The segmentation directory contains a table that associates each of a plurality of common account numbers with telephone stations having telephone numbers assigned to the same subscriber. The common account associated by the segmentation directory for an incoming call is used in creation of the billing record for charges associated with the call. The charges contained in the billing records for calls associated with the common account number can be combined to yield an aggregate bill.

Abstract: A telecommunications switch serving a roaming mobile station transports the resulting billing records by setting up a communication link with an administrative billing center connected to a Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) telecommunications network by utilizing Signal Connection Control Point (SCCP) signals. Once the connection is established between the telecommunication switch and the administrative billing center, Data Message Handler (DMH) formatted data are stored into a Data Form 2 (DT2) SCCP signal by the telecommunication switch and transported to the administrative billing center via the SS7 telecommunications network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording call features, whenever they are sactivated, at the originating and/or terminating switch, whether or not the call features activated have successful results. Many such call feature activation records are gathered together and analogized to assist telecommunications customers make informed decisions about the types of call features they should buy and at what price in order to complete more calls and increase business.

Abstract: The call toll processing method comprises a calling party toll data input step wherein calling party toll data is input from a toll processing data table that stores calling party toll data determined on the basis of data regarding the distance from the originating subscriber to the originating exchange accommodating the originating subscriber, a location data extraction step wherein location data relating to the terminating exchange accommodating the terminating subscriber having the dialed number input by the originating subscriber is extracted from dialing data, a called party toll data input step wherein called party toll data determined on the basis of data regarding the distance from the terminating subscriber to the terminating exchange is input from the terminating exchange, and a call toll computation step wherein call tolls between the originating subscriber and the terminating subscriber are computed on the basis of at least calling party toll data input in the calling party toll data input step, l

Abstract: A telecommunications system has subscriber and/or private automatic branch exchange accesses, an access signalling system, and a connectionless network signalling system. The telecommunications system employs a connectionless signalling interworking unit for controlling the access signalling system remotely from the accesses. The unit is operative for interworking the network signalling system and the access signalling system. The unit includes a transaction control and transaction monitoring function for passing information bi-directionally between network points without establishing a bearer connection between the network points.

Abstract: A call control apparatus for a pay phone includes a reading unit, a calculating unit, and a call enable unit. The reading unit reads out value information of an inserted card. The calculating unit calculates a call time corresponding to a ratio of the value information to a unit call fee when the value information read out by the reading unit does not reach the unit call fee. The call enable unit allows a call service by the call time calculated by the calculating unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing the lowest available telecommunications charge to a user is described. The lowest available charge is provided by locating switches in different telecommunications charge zones, determining which switch will provide the lowest available charge at a selected time, and using that switch to place calls to a transmitter device and a receiver device so that information signals can be transmitted between the devices.

Abstract: Billing records for call attempts directed to an inbound subscriber are sorted by originating telephone number, date and time of day in order to group together a) sequences of call attempts initiated at each telephone number, and b) corresponding disposition for each call attempt in that sequence. When the billing records indicate that all call attempts initiated from an originating telephone number have been unavailing (blocked calls, ring-no-answer), a caller associated with that telephone number is deemed "lost" with respect to a selected time window. The number of lost callers within a predetermined period of time is then used to determine the desirability of committing additional resources to a call center.

Abstract: A facility is provided in a telecommunications network so that a record containing details about an associated call may be delivered to a customer in real time during the progression of the call and/or immediately after the call has been terminated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for prepayment of telecommunication connections between first and second telecommunication devices operably associable with the telecommunication lines of a telecommunication switching network. In general, the method involves storing monetary value data representative of a prepaid e.g. deposited in a centralized storage device, amount of monetary value available for payment of telecommunication connections in the telecommunication switching network. At the initiation of the first telecommunication device, a telecommunication connection is established between the first and second telecommunication devices so that a telecommunication process can be conducted therebetween. The telecommunication connection between the first and second telecommunication devices is terminated in response to termination of the telecommunication process. The time duration of the telecommunication connection is measured.

Abstract: Self-organizing data-base that charges users who find data in it and pays users who supply the data found. Has a built in feedback mechanism, called the Pay-off Meter (POM), that tells users what data needs supplying based on the number of request for that data over time. The POM outputs an expected Pay-off for supplying a piece of data. A sensitive and potent feedback loop is created insuring that the more a piece of data is requested during a period of time, the more likely the data will be supplied by a requestor or by someone a requestor tells of the pay-off.

Abstract: An MDR data record collection and reporting system collects MDRs of various formats from PBX and telephone company Centrex switches of different types, for multiple customers. A set of switches is monitored by a monitor. The monitor includes one message processor connected to each switch, and an administrator processor, which is connected to all message processors for that set of switches. Each message processor captures MDRs from the switch to which it is connected. After the MDR has been captured, the message processor reformats the MDR from a format used on that type of switch into a selected format. The message processor also collects and sends statistics and alarms to the administrator processor. The administrator processor prepares statistical reports and alarm reports. Multiple monitors can be included within a telephone system. A collector is provided which can receive reformatted MDRs from one or more monitors, and can store reformatted MDRs for customers with sets of switches at multiple locations.

Abstract: The standard exchange message interface (EMI) message record generated for interexchange telephone toll calls is enhanced via the addition of a primary interexchange carrier (PIC) indicator, whose value provides an indication as to whether a terminating subscriber has a particular interexchange carrier as his/her PIC. The PIC indicator may be used by the interexchange carrier when bills are rendered for its subscribers--for example, to provide different billing treatment for calls that were made over that carrier's network to terminating subscribers whose PIC is, in fact, that very carrier, as opposed to calls that were made to subscribers with a different PIC.

Abstract: A telecommunications billing record software system which permits the telephone administration which is operating the exchange to interface with and define the criteria for constructing and/or modifying the decision tables used to decide whether or not to generate a billing record for each particular call. In addition, the administration can also define the criteria for specifying the billing record data to be included within the billing records which are generated and the location to which the record is output.

Abstract: A call billing method and apparatus establishes an ISDN connection between the network and a called location which enables the called location to specify call billing information to the network, via the ISDN connection, on a call-by-call basis. The method provides the called party real time access to network rate tables to specify call billing parameters needed to generate a separate billing record for each call made to the called location. Other features enable the caller or called location to provide various types of information for call billing purposes.

Abstract: The invention presupposes the operation by a telephone company of an automatic billing system which incorporates a means of calculating a utilization charge in accordance with the number of seconds during which a user who has called a special number is connected to that number, and then of adding the utilization charge to the user's call charge. At the user's end the invoice charge data is input and the number of seconds of connection to a special line number are set in accordance with the invoice charge and a network control means then connects with the special line number for the number of seconds which has been set. The telephone exchange's utilization charge computation means then adds the utilization charge to the call charge for collection from the user. In this way the telephone company is able to collect an invoice charge on behalf of the supplier of the corresponding service.

Abstract: A unique cellular telephone billing system (100) processes call detail records (102) of cellular telephone calls made by users of multi-line customers to produce invoices and reports containing consolidated billing, usage and cost information for the current and other eligible cellular service plans. The call detail records (301 and 302) for each user of a multi-line customer include a unique key identification number (311 and 321) and may include an information format (401 and 402) having variable-length sub-fields (411-415 and 421-423). A candidate file (136) is created from the customer detail pool file (112) by including active user records for multi-line customers and usage data is accumulated in summary records for each user. Eligible cellular service plans are identified for each user in the candidate file and costs for accumulated usage data are estimated under the current and eligible cellular service plans.

Abstract: A unique cellular telephone billing system (100) processes call detail records (102) of cellular telephone calls made by users of multi-line customers to produce invoices and reports. The call detail records (301 and 302) for each user of a multi-line customer include a unique key identification number (311 and 321) and may include an information format (401 and 402) having variable-length sub-fields (411-415 and 421-423). Call detail records (102) with key identification numbers are pooled into files (110) and then sorted for each multi-line customer by key identification number and corresponding information format to produce consolidated billing and usage information for all of the cellular telephones as well as individual invoices for each of user-employee of each multi-line customer.

Abstract: A mobile radio communication system having a plurality of fixed stations respectively connected to a plurality of subscriber's lines extending from a telephone exchange, and a plurality of mobile stations linked with the fixed stations through radio channels. Each of the mobile stations effect speech via one of the fixed stations. The system comprises means provided for each fixed station for transmitting rate charging information from the telephone exchange to a mobile station under speech, and rate collecting means provided for each mobile station and being responsive to the rate charging information to vary its content.