U.S. patent application number 09/550941 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-16 for facility modem-to-modem application.
Invention is credited to Dyer, Bruce F..
Application Number | 20020057776 09/550941 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25301003 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020057776 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dyer, Bruce F. |
May 16, 2002 |
Facility modem-to-modem application
Abstract
The present invention comprises a 900 modem to modem application
using the AT&T MultiQuest.RTM. Vari-A-Bill.RTM. feature
designed in an effort to enhance an existing "charge free" medical
credentials verification service. In accordance with the present
invention, the calling party is simply required to dial a
1-900-NXX-XXXX telephone number from their computer terminal,
whereby they are prompted to select the desired service(s) from a
menu, and based on their menu selection(s), the appropriate
charge(s) will be billed to the calling party's telephone bill.
This novel invention allows the general public, hospitals and other
institutions to quickly and efficiently obtain medical credential
information from the convenience of their own computers.
Inventors: |
Dyer, Bruce F.; (Las Vegas,
NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ward & Olivo
708 Third Avenue
New York
NY
10017
US
|
Family ID: |
25301003 |
Appl. No.: |
09/550941 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09550941 |
Apr 17, 2000 |
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08847589 |
Apr 24, 1997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/114.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/16 20130101;
H04M 15/68 20130101; H04M 15/44 20130101; H04M 15/55 20130101; H04M
15/43 20130101; H04M 2215/44 20130101; H04M 2215/018 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/114.01 |
International
Class: |
H04M 015/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A method of processing a call between calling and called parties
in a communications network comprising a network switch, wherein
said network switch provides a plurality of different
communications services, and wherein said method comprises the
steps of: originating said call and associated call information at
said network switch; receiving said call; identifying said
associated call information at a network service processor for
implementing a service associated with said communications network
and providing said associated call information to said network
service processor; and processing said call in response to said
associated call information.
2. A method of processing a call according to claim 1, wherein said
network switch forwards said call to a computer database and
outdials to a modem at said computer database.
3. A method of processing a call according to claim 2, wherein said
outdialing transmits said associated call information to said
remote bulletin board service.
4. A method of processing a call according to claim 1, wherein said
calling party selects the desired service.
5. A method of processing a call according to claim 4, wherein said
calling party is billed for said service.
6. A method of processing a call between calling and called parties
in a communications network comprising the steps of: placing a
call; routing said call; a first outdialing of said call via a
first modem through a switching facility, wherein said first
outdialing sends said call to a remote bulletin board service; and
a second outdialing to said remote bulletin board service using a
second modem, wherein said second outdialing via said second modem
sends billing data into the telephone circuit used by the calling
party which sends said billing data to be stored in a billing
record.
7. A method of processing a call according to claim 6, wherein said
call is originated at a computer.
8. A method of processing a call according to claim 6, wherein said
calling party selects the desired service.
9. A method of processing a call according to claim 8, wherein said
calling party is billed for said service.
10. An apparatus for a telecommunications system comprising: a
terminal; a first modem; a monitoring program associated with said
terminal; a second modem; a first telephone circuit connected to
said first modem for receiving incoming calls; and a plurality of
additional telephone circuits for connecting a plurality of said
calling parties with a remote bulletin board service via a switch
facility.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second modem
transmits billing data.
12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said
telecommunications system further comprises a network switching
facility.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said network
switching facility connects said additional telephone circuits with
said remote bulletin board service.
14. A method of processing a call between calling and called
parties in a communications network comprising the steps of:
placing a call via a first modem; routing said call through an
Integrated Services Digital Network center to a local switch
center; communicating said call with a remote bulletin board
service, said communicating comprising: a customized monitoring
program; a second modem for transmitting billing data; a first
telephone circuit connected to said first modem for receiving
incoming calls; and a plurality of telephone circuits connected to
said local switch center and said remote bulletin board
service.
15. A method of processing a call according to claim 14, wherein
said switch center forwards said call to a computer database and
outdials to said second modem at said computer database.
16. A method of processing a call according to claim 15, wherein
said outdialing transmits said associated call information to said
remote bulletin board service.
17. A method of processing a call according to claim 14, wherein
said calling party selects the desired service.
18. A method of processing a call according to claim 17, wherein
said calling party is billed for said service.
19. A method of processing a call between calling and called
parties in a telecommunications network, said method comprising the
steps of: originating said call and associated call information at
a network switch, wherein said network switch provides a plurality
of different communications services and associated features, and
wherein said calling and called parties subscribe to said
communications services; receiving said call and said associated
call information; identifying, as a function of said associated
call information, a first and second network service processors
operative for implementing said first and second services,
respectively, in said network and passing said associated call
information to said first and second processors, such that said
first and second processors cooperate with one another to implement
said communications services and said associated features within
said telecommunications network on behalf of said calling and
called parties; and selecting, as a function of said associated
call information, one of said first and second processors to
control the processing of said call.
20. A method of processing a call according to claim 19, wherein
said calling party selects the desired service.
21. A method of processing a call according to claim 20, wherein
said calling party is billed for said service.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates in general to 800 and 900 number
programs and more particularly to a pay-per-call modem-to-modem
application with a variable rate billing structure.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] Telecommunications networks presently offer a number of
different services to their subscribers. Such services (and their
features) include, for example, 800 service (automatic call
distribution (ACD), call queuing, interactive announcements, digit
collection, etc.), virtual private networks (abbreviated dialing,
authorization codes, caller privileges, etc.) and plain old
telephone service (call waiting, call forwarding, automatic call
back, etc.).
[0003] Currently, a switch in a telecommunications network
processes a telephone call in accord with the services associated
with only one of the parties involved in the telephone call. For
example, if a called party is a subscriber of a particular service,
e.g., an 800 service, then the switch processes the call in
accordance with that service without considering the telephone
services subscribed to by the calling party.
[0004] The value-added services (e.g., 700 number, 800 number and
900 number services) are designed for mass calling to a service
provider ("sponsor") number wherein the calling party generally
pays for the call. The 900 number services (e.g., DIAL-IT.RTM.
900-service offered by AT&T) allow sponsors to offer a variety
of value-added telecommunication services (Dial-A-Prayer,
Televoting, etc.), to their clientele ("calling party") for which
additional charges are assessed. To access the service, the calling
party dials, illustratively, a 1-900-NXX-XXXX number and is routed
to a Carrier Switch Network ("CSN") Mass Announcement System
("MAS") where the calling party listens to the sponsor's
prerecorded announcement. At present, the sponsors select the rate
callers will pay for the service when the 900 number is assigned by
the CSN.
[0005] The 900 number and the rate selected by a sponsor are stored
in a table in a CSN billing system. When a call is made to a
sponsor's 900 number, the central office switch in the Local
Exchange Company ("LEC") makes a call record including the calling
and called party of each call. These call records are transported
periodically (typically every month) from the LEC to the CSN, and
rated using the appropriate sponsor's rate table. This rating
process involves a table look-up process to determine each calling
party's charge for a call to a particular sponsor's number. The
resulting calling party charge record is then returned to the LEC
which includes the charges as part of the calling party's monthly
telephone bill.
[0006] In accordance with billing methods and apparatus of the
prior art, the calling party is billed for charges incurred during
a call made over a communication network to a sponsor location
(equivalently referred to herein as called party) by: 1)
establishing an Integrated Services Digital Network ("ISDN") call
connection between the network and the called party location; 2)
the network transmitting the caller's identification number to the
called location, over that same ISDN connection; and 3) the network
receiving from the called location, again over that same ISDN
connection, billing information specifying charges incurred by the
calling party during the call.
[0007] This arrangement provides the sponsor with more flexibility
in billing callers for a sponsor's value-added services. Billing
flexibility is achieved in accordance with the prior art by
creating a separate billing record for each call using
sponsor-provided call billing parameters which can be updated
during the call by the sponsor. Desirably, determining sponsor
charges and creating a billing record on a call-by-call basis
eliminates the need for the table look-up procedure required by
other call billing methods.
[0008] Another billing arrangement known to applicants which also
solves the previously-described problems is described in the
allowed patent application of I. Benyacar, et al., Ser. No. 509,662
filed on Apr. 16, 1990, and entitled "Method and Apparatus for the
Billing of Value-Added Communication Calls." The Benyacar
application, however, solves these problems by enabling the
called-party location to access the network's operations support
system (DSD-NCP 180 of FIG. 1) substantially in real time to
specify call rating data and other associated call rate modifiers.
In Benyacar, call rating information is sent to the network's
operations support system via a separate connection which is
different from the calling-to-called-party location connection,
whereas, according to other methods, call billing information is
sent to the network's billing recording toll switch (e.g., the
terminating toll switch) (TTS/SN 160 of FIG. 1) using the same
calling-to-called-party location connection.
[0009] Also described in accordance with various features of the
prior art, caller charges may be specified as call billing
parameters which may be changed in real time during the call and
which may vary depending on the call type, time-of-day, geographic
region, etc. These called party or sponsor-specified caller charges
are then incorporated into the standard Automated Message
Accounting ("AMA") record generated by the CSN for each call and
sent to a network billing system which processes the
sponsor-specified caller charges for inclusion in the network bill
sent to the customer.
[0010] New CSN services now provide the sponsor more flexibility in
defining their services by routing the value-added calls to a
sponsor-selected location. One such service is the MultiQuest.RTM.
telecommunications service offered by AT&T.
[0011] AT&T has patented a technology that is referred to as
MultiQuest.RTM. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,710. It is for use by
900/976 number service providers at only those locations licensed
and equipped to use AT&T's ISDN Primary Rate Interface.
Vari-A-Bill.RTM., a service of MultiQuest.RTM., is an addition to
conventional ISDN capabilities.
[0012] The Vari-A-Bill.RTM. system allows the licensee's equipment
to signal price changes to the AT&T network over a separate
channel while a call to the 900-number is in progress. Five
flexible options may be invoked: 1) Free call, i.e., no charge for
the entire call; 2) Flat Charge, i.e., the price of the call is
fixed at a set fee; 3) New Rate, i.e., the per minute rate can be
changed upward and downward; 4) Premium charge, i.e., this would be
a flat charge added to the per minute rate; and 5) Premium credit,
i.e., this refers to a flat amount to be deducted from the total
price of the call (The total price would not go below $0).
[0013] Therefore, without ISDN or the teachings found in Benyacar,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,584, the needed billing account information was
only able to be assembled from several disparate sources after the
call was completed (too late to deny unbillable services).
[0014] These new services enable a sponsor to provide a greater
variety of value-added services which may now include interactive
dialog between the caller and the sponsor's agent. Moreover, there
is a continuing need for the CSN to add more flexible billing for
these sponsor-provided value-added services.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0015] The present invention comprises a 900 modem-to-modem
application using the AT&T MultiQuest.RTM. Vari-A-Bill.RTM.
feature designed in an effort to enhance an existing "charge free"
medical credentials verification service. The new program allows
the general public, hospitals and other institutions a quick and
efficient means of obtaining medical credential information from
the convenience of their own computer terminals.
[0016] The calling party is simply required to dial a
1-900-NXX-XXXX number (For example, 1-900-555-ASMB) from their
computer terminal, wherein she is prompted to select the desired
service(s) from a menu, and based on the menu selections), the
appropriate charge(s) will appear on the calling party's telephone
bill. Access to the program of the present invention would be
available by contract only. In accordance with the service
agreement, the actual caller rates would vary according to the
location of the calling party and the service desired. Examples of
services provided in accordance with the present invention include:
initial credentialing at $50.00 per inquiry for in state callers
and $75.00 per inquiry for out of state callers; recredentialing at
$20.00 per inquiry for in state callers and $35.00 per inquiry for
out of state callers; detailed verification at $15.00 per inquiry
for in state callers and $20.00 per inquiry for out of state
callers; DEA or malpractice information at $5.00 each for in state
callers ($10.00 for both DEA and malpractice information) and $7.00
each for out of state callers ($14.00 for both DEA and malpractice
information); and the BBS message center service (for example, ASMB
message center) at $0.50 for in state callers and $1.00 for out of
state callers.
[0017] The present invention will allow hospitals, other
institutions and individuals from around the country to access
physicians' licensing and certification information directly from
their own computers. By dialing a 1-900-NXX-XXXX number via their
computer's modem, a BBS allows the calling party to select the
desired information and services from a menu. Note that the choice
of services are available via contract only. Accordingly, depending
on the information sought, the amount for each service may vary.
Also, a different rate will be applied on the basis of the call's
origin, i.e., the calling party's geographic location. The 1-900
service allows for multiple charges on that same call, thus
allowing the end user to access information on more than one
physician. All charges will then appear on the caller's telephone
bill.
[0018] Once the calling party places the 1-900 call from her
computer terminal via modem, AT&T routes the call to a sponsor.
In turn, by outdialing through one of its switching facilities, the
sponsor sends the call to the remote BBS (for example, to the
computer maintained by the service provider). At the same time,
using a second modem to outdial to the remote BBS over a simulated
data channel ("D-channel"), Vari-A-Bill.RTM. data, which is the
specific amount to be charged to the calling party's telephone
bill, is sent. Also, for call association, the data is attached to
the line the caller dialed in on, and, during the course of the
call, is sent to AT&T as a billing record.
[0019] To communicate with the remote BBS, the sponsor has in place
a system comprising: 1) a customized monitoring program; 2) a modem
link, through which the provider sends the sponsor the billing
information; 3) a D-channel telephone circuit dedicated to that
modem link for all incoming 1-900 calls; and 4) one telephone
circuit for each 1-900 caller connected through the sponsor's
switch to the remote BBS.
[0020] Other objects, features, and characteristics of the present
invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the
related elements of the structure, will become more apparent upon
consideration of the following detailed description with reference
to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this
specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
reference is now made to the following drawings, in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a
telecommunications system for use with the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a simplified rendition of services as accessed
on the remote BBS maintained by the service provider;
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a sample provider's menu screen (for instate
callers showing a lower rate for services) prior to activation of
the 900 service where the service provider is Arkansas State
Medical Board; and
[0025] FIG. 4 shows a sample provider's menu screen (for
out-of-state callers showing a higher rate for services) prior to
activation of the 900 service where the service provider is
Arkansas State Medical Board.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] The present invention comprises a 900 modem-to-modem
application using the AT&T MultiQuest.RTM. Vari-A-Bill.RTM.
feature designed in an effort to enhance an existing "charge free"
medical credentials verification service. The new program allows
the general public, hospitals and other institutions a quick and
efficient means of obtaining medical credential information at
varied rates.
[0027] Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a computer-telephony
system 100 which is the backbone of the present invention. The
preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1
allows callers to access medical credential information from their
home or office computer terminal 110 via modem 112 connection.
[0028] In accordance with the present invention, the calling party
is simply required to dial a 1-900-NXX-XXXX (for example,
1-900-555-ASMB) from her computer terminal 110. Once the end user
places the 1-900 call via modem, AT&T routes the call through
ISDN center 120 to the sponsor's switch center 130. This sponsor's
switch center 130 performs two functions. First, it forwards the
calling party's call to the service provider's computer 150.
Second, it outdials to backend modem 152 at the service provider's
computer 150.
[0029] First, by outdialing through one of its switching
facilities, the sponsor switch center 130 sends the call to the
remote BBS which provides the end user with a menu of services as
illustrated by the flow diagram of FIG. 2., and in the application
of the present invention, this is at the service provider's
computer 150 maintained by the service provider. In order to
communicate with the remote BBS, the sponsor would have in place a
system comprising: 1) a customized monitoring program; 2) a modem
link, through which the service provider sends the sponsor the
billing information; 3) a telephone circuit dedicated to the modem
link (D-channel) for all incoming 1-900 calls; and 4) one telephone
circuit for each 1-900 caller connected through the sponsor's
switch center 130 to the remote BBS. The calling party is connected
to the service provider's computer 150 via one of a plurality of
front end modems 140, and is provided with a menu of services as
shown in FIG. 2.
[0030] The calling party then makes a selection from Main Menu 210,
where the choices may comprise Initial Credentials, Temporary
Permits, Verifications, Certification, Exit, etc. Next, the calling
party is prompted to enter the name and/or license number of the
physician whose credentials are sought, as shown in menu 220. If
the system has records of the physician requested, the calling
party is again prompted, but with menu 230 which provides the
calling party with viewing options, such as Print Screen, View Next
Screen, etc. Each menu also provides an escape function which
allows the user to return to the Main Menu 210 at any time. For
example, it may require the end user to press a certain key, such
as the asterisk (*)
[0031] On the other hand, if the physician is not in the system's
records or a release has not been given to the hospital to permit
them to give access to those records, then a screen is displayed
with the appropriate message. For example, screen 240 of FIG. 2 may
be displayed if no release was given. The calling party may then be
prompted to return to Main Menu 210.
[0032] The process illustrated in FIG. 2 and described above may be
repeated by the end user as many times as desired for as many
physicians desired without having to log out and call again. Also,
the billing system allows multiple requests to be billed all on the
same bill.
[0033] The second function of sponsor switch center 130, which
occurs at the same time as the first function, allows the sponsor's
switch center 130, using a second modem 132, to outdial to the
remote BBS, and send Vari-A-Bill.RTM. data, which is the specific
amount to be charged to the calling party's phone bill, over the
simulated ISDN D-channel 122. This second modem 132 also connects
to backend modem 152 at the service provider's computer 150. This
serves as a status line 134 which informs the sponsor when a caller
makes a selection involving a new price. The sponsor then sends the
new Vari-A-Bill.RTM. rate information to AT&T ISDN center 120
via ISDN D-channel 122.
[0034] Furthermore, after the calling party selects the desired
service(s) from the menu, and based on the menu selection(s), the
appropriate charge(s) will later appear on their telephone bill.
Since access to this program is available by contract only, the
rates are determined by these agreements. Further, the actual
caller rates vary according to the location of the calling party
and the service(s) desired.
[0035] Shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are sample menu screens which appear
to the calling party prior to activation of the 1-900 service. FIG.
3 shows information presented to in-state callers, while FIG. 4
shows information presented to out-of-state callers. These menu
screens present the calling party with general information
regarding the service(s) provided, such as the address and phone
number of the service provider, and the rates of the various
services (see screens 310, 320, 410 and 420).
[0036] In accordance with the present invention, services may
include: Initial Credentialing at $50.00 per inquiry for instate
callers and $75.00 per inquiry for out-of-state callers;
Recredentialing at $20.00 per inquiry for in-state callers and
$35.00 per inquiry for out-of-state callers; Detailed Verification
at $15.00 per inquiry for in-state callers and $20.00 per inquiry
for out-of-state callers; DEA or malpractice information at $5.00
each for in-state callers ($10.00 for both DEA and malpractice
information) and $7.00 each for out-of-state callers ($14.00 for
both DEA and malpractice information); and a BBS message center
service (for example, Arkansas State Medical Board) at $0.50 for
in-state callers and $1.00 for out-of-state callers.
[0037] The application of the present invention will allow
hospitals, other institutions and individuals from around the
country to access physicians' licensing and certification
information from their computers. By dialing 1-900-NXX-XXXX via
their computer's modem, a BBS allows the calling party to select
the desired information and services from a menu. Depending on the
information sought, the amount for each service may vary.
Furthermore, a different rate will be applied on the basis of the
call's origin, i.e. the caller's geographic location.
[0038] Also, the 1-900 service allows for multiple charges on that
same call, thus allowing the end user to access information on more
than one physician with all charges then appearing on the caller's
telephone bill.
[0039] While the present invention has been described with
reference to one or more preferred embodiments, such embodiments
are merely exemplary and are not intended to be limiting or
represent an exhaustive enumeration of all aspects of the
invention. The scope of the invention, therefore, shall be defined
solely by the following claims. Further, it will be apparent to
those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such
details without departing from the spirit and the principles of the
invention.
* * * * *