Abstract:
A self-provisioning telephony service includes assigning a toll-free telephone number to a customer account for a customer of a telecommunications provider, distributing the toll-free telephone number and an access number to the customer along with an invitation to provision a toll-free telephone number service, and receiving, at a local exchange carrier switch, a call from the customer. The access number is identified by the local exchange carrier switch for the call in response to performing a call number translation. The telephony service also includes accessing, by a server, the toll-free telephone number identified for the customer account and generating a provisioning order that includes a customer telephone number from the customer account and the toll-free telephone number. The telephony service further includes transmitting the provisioning order to a service control server, the service control server activating the toll-free telephone number for the customer account.
Abstract:
Presenting data received from service providers includes receiving billing data from each of the service providers and formatting, by at least one processor, the billing data in a standardized format. A single bill that consolidates the billing data in the standardized format for each of the service providers, and displays the billing data in the standardized format according to a user-defined organizational relationship for a billed entity, is outputted.
Abstract:
A group call conferencing system and method is disclosed wherein a call to a Virtual Home Phone (VHP) number is processed by a Virtual Home Phone Session Control Function (VHPSCF) to ring all family or group member mobile phones. Any family member can answer the call through a conference bridge set up by the VHPSCF and other family members can participate in the call before the call ends by connecting to the conference bridge.
Abstract:
In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method of providing a bill to a telecommunications subscriber. The method includes distributing a bill using shared account information to the telecommunications subscriber. The shared account information identifies shared telecommunications units used in connection with a first subscriber service and a second subscriber service. The first subscriber service is distinct from the second subscriber service. In another embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a telecommunications subscriber service package. The subscriber service package includes an allocation of shared account units. At least a portion of the allocation of shared account units is available for use of a first subscriber service and available for use of a second subscriber service. The first subscriber service is distinct from the second subscriber service.
Abstract:
A method for providing international telephone call service to a calling party using a PSTN enabled communication device includes dialing the destination telephone number and establishing a connection between a software application installed on the communication device and an application server, authenticating the calling party using the user ID and the caller ID. When the calling party is authenticated, the method includes assigning a local DID number having the same or a nearby area code as the caller ID, notifying the communication device of the assigned local DID number, storing the destination telephone number and the assigned local DID number in a database, initiating a telephone connection over the PSTN to control signaling servers by dialing the assigned local DID number, retrieving the destination telephone number associated with the local DID number from the database, and establishing a voice-based connection between the caller and the callee.
Abstract:
A service for presenting billing information to a customer according to a hierarchal structure defined by the customer. The customer assigns telephone numbers to company units and defines how each of the units relate to each other in the hierarchal structure. The billing information associated with each assigned telephone number is processed in accordance with the hierarchal structure. Thereafter, the bill is presented to the customer.
Abstract:
Exemplary embodiments relate to methods, systems, and storage mediums for providing self-provisioning telephony services. The method includes receiving a request for the self-provisioning telephony services from a caller of a telecommunications service provider. The method also includes prompting the caller to provide information for facilitating implementation of the self-provisioning telephony services. The method further includes implementing the self-provisioning telephony services, without human intervention from a telecommunications service provider, in response to information received as a result of the prompting. The self-provisioning telephony services include activating an account for a new telephone number, modifying an account for an existing telephone number, retrieving a forgotten personal identification number, and canceling an account for an existing telephone number.
Abstract:
A method and a system for dynamic tariffing and billing where tariffs of telecommunication services are adapted based on the usage of telecommunication services between members of a group account.
Abstract:
A method, system, and program for billing for order places from an origin device according to the current caller billing plan are provided. A billing plan associated with an authenticated caller identity of a caller using an origin device is accessed by a vendor order center during a call placed to the vendor order center. At least one account provider is specified in the billing plan. A selection of one from among multiple account providers is specified for the order. The caller then authorizes the order and a bill for the order is transferred according to the authenticated caller identifier and the authorization for the account provider selection, such that the vendor order center is enabled to bill for the order with limited authenticated account information.
Abstract:
A method, system, and program for billing for service provided to an origin device according to the current caller billing plan. A trusted telephone network, including at least one service provider, receives a request for service from an origin device. The origin device is associated with a line number to be billed for according to a line subscriber billing plan. An identity of a caller requesting the service from the origin device is authenticated. Then, a billing plan associated with the authenticated caller identity is accessed and utilized to replace or supplement the line subscriber billing plan, such that billing for service provided at an origin device is specified according to the caller currently utilizing the origin device.