Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation

Ray Rauba

Mike Pacifico

John Ruckart

Dirk S Henson

Allan J Lenio

A method and system for providing a long distance conference call discount feature is disclosed. Call detail records for calls on a per call basis both in the wireline local and long distance setting and any wireless setting are assembled at a telecommunications service provider billing system for preparation of periodic billing to a subscriber. A discount feature engine reviews a periodic billing record and determines the overlapping long distance call charges. The call with the highest long distance charges may be removed from consideration. The long distance charges for one or more of the remaining calls is reduced by a predetermined amount. The reduced long distance charges are saved in a new periodic billing record.

Method and system for a long distance conference call discount feature

A method and system for allowing a user to dynamically pre-determine the duration and/or cost of a domestic or international long distance call is provided. For a selected outbound originating long distance call, the user is given the opportunity to determine the duration or the cost of the long distance call. In one embodiment, the customer dials *XX and the terminating phone number, where XX are predetermined digits. The originating central office recognizes the *XX code as requiring the invocation of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) platform to allow the user to pre-determine the duration and cost of the call. Instructions are provided to the user for setting the length of the call to be connected and the calculated cost of the call would be communicated to the user. Before the call is to be connected to the terminating (dialed) number, the customer may be given the option to reset the duration and cost of the call. Once the connected call approaches the pre-set duration, a brief tone or recording may be played announcing the call is about to end. The user may also be given the option to extend the call if so desired.

Method and system for pre-setting long distance call charges

A method and system for providing a multiple line long distance discount feature is disclosed. Call detail records for calls on a per call basis both in the wireline local and long distance setting and any wireless setting are assembled at a telecommunications service provider billing system for preparation of periodic billing to a subscriber. A discount feature engine reviews a periodic billing record for a billing telephone number and calculates the long distance charges for each telephone line associated with the billing telephone number. The line with the highest long distance charges is removed from consideration. The long distance charges for one or more of the remaining telephone lines is reduced by a predetermined amount. The reduced long distance charges are saved in a new periodic billing record associated with the billing telephone number. Thus, an incentive is provided for a customer to maintain his long distance service for more than one of his telephone lines with a single service provider because he will receive an incremental discount for at least one of his lines if he does so.

Method and system for a multiple line long distance discount feature

A method and system are provided for analyzing and preparing optimum telephone services calling plans. An optimum calling plan analysis engine analyzes wireline local and long distance and wireless call use during a given period of time for selected wireline and wireless telephone services. Based on a number of factors, including the type, duration, time, day, location, etc. of calls made by the subscriber, the calling plan engine calculates the cost of a number of different calling plans to which the subscriber may change in order to offer a cost savings to the subscriber. After the calling plan engine calculates and identifies alternative calling plans that meet the subscriber's calling patterns and save costs to the subscriber, the subscriber is notified of the alternative calling plans.

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Roswell, GA, United States of America

Ray Rauba