Method and system for updating a call rating database
DC CAFC
First Claim
1. A method for updating a database that stores billing rate parameters for a call rating device used for cost determinations for a calling station, comprising the steps ofconnecting at a predetermined time and date via a data transfer line the call rating device to a rate provider having billing rate parameters for a plurality of calling stations,transmitting over the data transfer line indicia identifying the call rating device and the date and time of the last update of the billing rate parameters,verifying if billing rate parameters should be updated, andtransmitting from the rate provider to the call rating device the updated billing rate parameters when the rate provider determines that an update is required.
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Litigations
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for updating a database stores billing rate parameters for call rating devices associated with a calling station. The calling station calls at a predetermined date and time a rate provider, which includes billing rate parameters for a plurality of calling stations. The call rating device transmits over the telephone network to the rate provider the phone number of the calling station, and the date and time of the last updated database. The rate provider verifies that the billing rate parameters of the calling station should be updated, then transmits back over the telephone network to the calling station the updated database. The rate provider also sends data as to the new date and time for the call rating device to place a call to the rate provider.
273 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method for updating a database that stores billing rate parameters for a call rating device used for cost determinations for a calling station, comprising the steps of
connecting at a predetermined time and date via a data transfer line the call rating device to a rate provider having billing rate parameters for a plurality of calling stations, transmitting over the data transfer line indicia identifying the call rating device and the date and time of the last update of the billing rate parameters, verifying if billing rate parameters should be updated, and transmitting from the rate provider to the call rating device the updated billing rate parameters when the rate provider determines that an update is required.
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11. A method for updating a database that stores billing rate parameters for a call rating device associated with a calling station operatively connected to a telephone network, comprising
calling at a predetermined date and time a rate provider having billing rate parameters for a plurality of calling stations so as to connect between the calling station with the associated call rating device and the rate provider, transmitting over the telephone network to the rate provider the phone number of the calling station and the date and time of the last update of the billing rate parameters, verifying if the billing rate parameters should be updated, and transmitting over the telephone network to the calling station the updated billing rate parameters when the rate provider determines that a database update is required.
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23. A method for updating subscriber databases that store billing rate parameters for call rate devices which are associated with respective subscriber calling stations operatively connected to a telephone network, comprising the steps of
each subscriber station calling at a scheduled time a rate provider having billing rate parameters for each calling station, wherein the scheduled time for each call is such that the calls from each calling station are substantially spaced apart in time from each other, each station transmitting over the telephone network the respective phone number of its station and the date and time of the last update of the billing rate parameters, verifying in the rate provider that an update is required, and transmitting over the telephone network from the rate provider to the calling station the updated billing rate parameters when an update is required.
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35. A call rating updating system comprising
a call rating device, including a database that stores current updated billing rate parameters used for cost determinations for a calling station, a data transfer line operatively connected to the call rating device, means for transmitting over the data transfer line indicia information identifying the call rating device and update information identifying the last update of the billing rate parameters, and a rate provider operatively connected to said data transfer line, said rate provider including a) a database having updated billing rate parameters for a plurality of calling stations, b) means for receiving the information from the call rating device, c) means for verifying if billing rate parameters should be updated, and d) means transmitting from the rate provider to the call rating device the updated billing rate parameters when the rate provider determines that an update is required.
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43. A system for updating a database having billing rate parameters for determining the cost of telephone calls originating from a calling station to a destination calling station via a telephone network, comprising
a calling station operatively connected to the telephone network, and including database means associated with the calling station for storing billing rate parameters for determining the cost of the phone call, and including means for transmitting over the telephone network information identifying the phone number of the calling station and the date and time of the last update of the billing rate parameters, rate providing means operatively connected to the phone network for storing billing rate parameters for calling stations, said rate providing means including means for receiving said information from the calling station, said rate providing means including: -
a) control means for determining whether the calling party database should be updated, and b) means for transmitting updated billing rate parameters to the calling party when an update is required. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeEpstein Drangel LLP
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Original AssigneeRates Technology, Inc.
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InventorsWeinberger, Gerald J., Lee, Roger C.
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Primary Examiner(s)Chin, Stephen
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Assistant Examiner(s)Shankar, Vijay
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Application NumberUS08/223,082Time in Patent Office778 DaysField of Search379/111, 379/112, 379/113, 379/114, 379/115, 379/116, 379/130, 379/131, 379/132, 379/88, 379/104, 379/105, 379/106US Class Current379/114.02CPC Class CodesH04M 15/30 the meter or calculation of...H04M 15/8044 Least cost routingH04M 17/023 Circuit arrangementsH04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. pr...H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Au...H04Q 2213/13103 MemoryH04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billingH04Q 2213/13138 Least cost routing, LCRH04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, ci...H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulationH04Q 2213/13204 ProtocolsH04Q 2213/13332 Broadband, CATV, dynamic ba...H04Q 3/665 Circuit arrangements therefor
