At&t Intellectual Property I, LP

Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation

Tingting Lu

Patrick Manno

James Madison Seymour

Phiroz Homi Madon

Kenneth W Hartsfield

Craig L Cook

A method includes receiving, at a first network element of a network, a message to initiate a session of a communication service at a user device. The user device is associated with a plurality of billing accounts. The message includes a particular identifier of multiple identifiers associated with the user device. Each billing account of the plurality of billing accounts is associated with a respective identifier of the multiple identifiers. The method includes initiating the session via the first network element. The method also includes sending, from the first network element to a usage data processing system, a charge data record. The charge data record includes the particular identifier. The usage data processing system aggregates charge data records for the session from multiple network elements used during the session to enable the session to be billed to a particular billing account of the billing accounts corresponding to the particular identifier.

Apparatuses and methods for determining usage of a wireless communication service

An apparatus includes means for accessing a communication service via a wireless network and for sending a first message and a second message via the wireless network. The apparatus also includes means for displaying a user interface and means for receiving a first selection and a second selection responsive to the user interface. The first and second selections respectively indicate work and personal billing accounts. The first message is associated with first usage profile-related information indicating work usage of the communication service that is to be billed to the work billing account. The second message is associated with second usage profile-related information indicating personal usage of the communication service that is to be billed to the personal billing account.

A method includes receiving input at a user interface displayed by a wireless device, the wireless device configured to access a communication service. The method also includes determining, at a processor of the wireless device, usage profile-related information based at least in part on the input. The method further includes generating a message associated with the usage profile-related information, the message indicating that usage of the communication service is to be billed to a first billing account of a plurality of billing accounts associated with the wireless device. The method also includes sending the message from the wireless device via a wireless network and directed to a network element.

Systems and methods for charging and billing

A method for operating a billing system can include receiving a charge from a charging system. The charge can identify one or more accounts associated with one or more public user identifications used to bill for service provided to one or more users. The method can further include applying the charge to the at least one account. A method for operating a usage data processing system can include receiving usage data from one or more network elements. The usage data can be associated with one or more public user identifications that can be used to charge and bill for service provided to at least one user. The method can further include processing the usage data to generate a unified usage record and sending the unified usage record to a charging system that is configured to charge for the service based upon the at least one public user identification.

Systems and methods for charging and billing in converged communications networks

Loop qualification systems and methods involve evaluating Loop Make-Up (LMU) data to determine whether loops qualify for certain services, such as ADSL service or other digital services. The LMU data includes such information as whether the loop is comprised of copper, fiber, is a DLC, the length, resist zone, carrier zone, loading factor, the existence of a DAML, and taper code information. The loop qualification systems and methods obtain LMU data on existing loops and also information on loops that have not yet been completed. Network service providers (NSPs) interface with the loop qualification systems to determine whether certain lines are qualified for a service. The loop qualification systems also include web-based interfaces to allow both the NSPs and end users to make an inquiry as to the capability of a given loop.

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Alpharetta, GA, United States of America

Tingting Lu