Caller Identification Billing Carrier Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current system for billing caller ID services is complex due to the division of telecommunication providers under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, where ILECs provide caller ID data but CLECs are responsible for billing, leading to difficulties in accurately associating and billing caller ID queries across multiple UNE-P relationships.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that capture, retain, and store information associated with telephone calls, including CNAM queries, using a probe capture processor and data management component to correlate ISUP and TCAP data, enabling accurate billing by associating CNAM queries with the correct carrier and incrementing total call volume records.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ILECs provide caller ID data base searches to CLECs under UNE-P relationships, then caller ID service is available to ported customers, but billing and association of caller ID queries with responsible carriers becomes complex and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary billing system that acts as a mediator between ILECs and CLECs. This system receives caller ID query information from ILECs, processes the billing data, and automatically associates queries with the correct CLEC carriers. The intermediary billing system simplifies the complex multi-carrier billing relationships by centralizing the billing processing and using automated correlation of calling line identification codes with carrier information, thereby reducing the overall system complexity while maintaining service availability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple CLECs lease UNE-P platforms from ILECs, then competitive service options are provided to customers, but tracking and billing individual caller ID queries across multiple carriers becomes a formidable task
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the billing system with carrier correlation data before billing processing is needed. The system maintains pre-established relationships between calling line identification codes and CLEC carriers in a database. When caller ID queries are generated, the billing system can immediately look up and associate the query with the correct carrier using the pre-configured correlation data, eliminating the need for time-consuming real-time analysis of which carrier is responsible for each query.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual or mechanical billing tracking methods with an automated electronic billing system. The system uses computer-based databases and software algorithms to automatically track, correlate, and bill caller ID queries across multiple CLECs. This substitution of mechanical tracking with electronic automation dramatically reduces the time required to process billing for multiple carriers while maintaining accuracy.
3Stability of the object's composition
If ILECs continue to provide caller ID services to ported customers served by CLECs, then service continuity is maintained, but accurate billing identification and association of queries with correct CLECs becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the billing system continuously monitors and tracks caller ID queries, comparing them against the pre-configured carrier correlation database. The system provides feedback by automatically identifying when a query should be billed to a specific CLEC and ensures accurate association through automated correlation processes. This feedback loop maintains billing accuracy by continuously verifying that queries are charged to the correct carrier, even as customers port between different CLECs while ILECs continue to provide the underlying caller ID service.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for attributing costs for a telephone call in an SS7 network. Information associated with the telephone call is captured and retained when the telephone call is provided to a call recipient by a second carrier that is a UNE-P lessee of a first carrier. The captured information is stored when including a CNAM query. The CNAM query is associated with the second carrier and reflected in an updated record containing the total volume of CNAM queries handled by the first carrier for the second carrier.