The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 04, 1988
Filed:
Mar. 13, 1987
Thomas M Bauer, Bellemead, NJ (US);
Thomas A Dunn, Edison, NJ (US);
Ross M Richardson, Sea Bright, NJ (US);
Chun P Tam, Naperville, IL (US);
American Telephone and Telegraph Company, AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and method are disclosed for providing a non-presubscription subaccount billing service utilized by customers on a 'per call' or 'as needed' basis. A calling customer initiates the service by dialing '0' plus the directory number of the called line. The local office serving the calling line recognizes the call as an operator-designated call and forwards the call along with the identification number of the calling line and the directory number of the called line to an operator system. The operator system prompts the calling line to enter additional call information. The calling customer enters a service activation code such as '15' and a two-digit subaccount billing number assigned by the customer. Receiving the service activation code and the subaccount billing number, the operator system activates the service by setting a subaccount billing indicator in an automatic message accounting record and extends the call to the called line. Upon completion of the call, the operator system includes the connect time, elapsed time, calling line identification number, called line directory number, and subaccount billing number for the call into the AMA record. The record along with others is forwarded to a revenue accounting office where a billing system sorts the AMA records by subaccount billing numbers and prepares a billing statement with the details of each call listed for each subaccount billing number assigned by the customer.