IP Library Granted Patent US 8,553,862
Granted Patent B2
US 8,553,862 · App. 13/206,421 · Granted Oct 8, 2013

Determining communications charging

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,553,862
App. No.
13/206,421
Granted
Oct 8, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for determining a communication charge comprising a charging equation determiner, an inflection point determiner, and a charge determiner. The charging equation determiner for determining a charging equation based at least in part on a normalized set of inputs. The inflection point determiner for determining an inflection point based at least in part on a charging structure database. The charge determiner for determining a communication charge based at least in part on the charging equation and the inflection point.

Claims (30)

1. A system for determining a communication charge, comprising:

a charging equation determiner configured to determine a charging equation based at least in part on a normalized set of inputs;

an inflection point determiner configured to:

determine an inflection point based at least in part on a charging structure database; and

in the event that the inflection point is reached, determine the next inflection point by simulating a change in a parameter and determining at what value of the parameter the normalized set of inputs change, wherein the parameter comprises one or more of the following: time, dollars in an account balance, remaining minute balance, bytes, or call minutes, and wherein the simulating of the change in the parameter comprises determining a parameter value that the charging conditions will change under the condition of charging according to the current charging equation; and

a charge determiner configured to determine a communication charge based at least in part on the charging equation and the inflection point.

2. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the normalized set of inputs are used as look-up indices for determining the charging equation.

3. A system as in claim 2 , wherein the look-up indices look up the charging equation in one of the following: a matrix, a database, or a table.

4. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the charging equation is determined using one or more linear equations that are determined based on the normalized set of inputs.

5. A system as in claim 4 , wherein the one or more linear equations are determined based at least in part on one or more of the following: a user data, a charging structure data, or a status system data.

6. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the charging equation is used to determine authorization for a call.

7. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the charging equation is used to determine reauthorization for a call.

8. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the charging structure database indicates an inflection point defined by a rate change.

9. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the charging structure database indicates an inflection point defined by a balance value.

10. A system as in claim 9 , wherein the balance value comprises a time balance value.

11. A system as in claim 9 , wherein the balance value comprises a byte balance value.

12. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the charging structure database indicates an inflection point defined by a balance range.

13. A system as in claim 12 , wherein the balance range has a minimum balance value.

14. A system as in claim 12 , wherein the balance range has a maximum balance value.

15. A method for determining call charging, comprising:

determining a charging equation based at least in part on a normalized set of inputs;

determining a inflection point based at least in part on a charging structure database;

in the event that the inflection point is reached, determining the next inflection point by simulating a change in a parameter and determining at what value of the parameter the normalized set of inputs change, wherein the parameter comprises one or more of the following: time, dollars in an account balance, remaining minute balance, bytes, or call minutes, and wherein the simulating of the change in the parameter comprises determining a parameter value that the charging conditions will change under the condition of charging according to the current charging equation; and

determining a communication charge based at least in part on the charging equation and the inflection point.

16. A computer program product for determining call charging, the non-transitory computer program product being embodied in a computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

determining a charging equation based at least in part on a normalized set of inputs;

determining an inflection point based at least in part on a charging structure;

in the event that the inflection point is reached, determine the next inflection point by simulating a change in a parameter and determining at what value of the parameter the normalized set of inputs change, wherein the parameter comprises one or more of the following: time, dollars in an account balance, remaining minute balance, bytes, or call minutes, and wherein the simulating of the change in the parameter comprises determining a parameter value that the charging conditions will change under the condition of charging according to the current charging equation; and

determining a communication charge based at least in part on the charging equation and the inflection point.

17. A system as in claim 1 , wherein in the event that the parameter value of the next inflection point exceeds a predefined threshold value, the predefined threshold value is used as the next inflection point.

Assignments (6)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, RECORDED AT REEL: 057719, FRAME: 0417 Recorded Dec 23, 2025
From: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
To: MATRIXX SOFTWARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 074052/0748 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2024
From: MATRIXX SOFTWARE, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 066597/0905 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2021
From: MATRIXX SOFTWARE, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 058322/0431 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2021
From: MATRIXX SOFTWARE, INC.
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB (AS AGENT)
Reel/Frame 057719/0417 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 3, 2019
From: MATRIXX SOFTWARE, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 048783/0582 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2011
From: LABUDA, DAVID; SAXE, NORIN
To: MATRIXX SOFTWARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 027030/0233 →