IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,971,843

Granted Patent B2

US 8,971,843 · App. 13/525,140 · Granted Mar 3, 2015

Communication tracking and billing system

Inventor: Ibrahim N. Al-Zaben (Jeddah, SA)

Assignee: Amana Future, LLC

H04M15/41 H04L12/1439 H04L12/1471 H04M15/07 H04M15/43 H04M15/61 H04M15/62 H04M15/68

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 8,971,843
App. No.: 13/525,140
Granted: Mar 3, 2015
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A system for billing communications between a subscriber and a verified professional comprising a verified professional repository and a central tracking system. The central tracking system is configured to receive a communication request targeting the registered device ID, determine an applied billing rate using a value set by the verified professional, and transmit the applied billing rate to the subscriber. The central tracking system is further configured to track the connection, generate a communication data file comprising the registered device ID, the subscriber ID, the applied billing rate, the communication duration, and the billing signal. The central tracking system is further configured to obtain a billable duration by parsing the communication data file using the billing signal and the communication duration, calculate a communication charge using the applied billing rate and billable duration, and pay the verified professional a portion of the communication charge.

Claims (63)

1. A system to bill communications between a subscriber and a verified professional comprising:

a server;

a verification module executing on the server and configured to verify that the verified professional matches an individual sought by the subscriber, by:

obtaining a plurality of verification data for the verified professional,

verifying, based on the plurality of verification data, at least one selected from a group consisting of an identity of the verified professional and a credential of the verified professional to generate a verified professional repository that matches the individual, and

storing, in the verified professional repository, the plurality of verification data and a registered device identification (ID) associated with a communication device used by the verified professional; and

a central tracking system executing on the server and configured to:

receive a communication request targeting the registered device ID from a subscriber communication device associated with a subscriber ID,

determine an applied billing rate using a value set by the verified professional,

transmit the applied billing rate to the subscriber communication device,

initiate a connection between the subscriber communication device and the communication device used by the verified professional,

track the connection to obtain a communication duration and a billing signal,

initiate a termination of the connection between the subscriber communication device and the communication device used by the verified professional,

generate a communication data file comprising the registered device ID, the subscriber ID, the applied billing rate, the communication duration, and the billing signal,

obtain a billable duration by parsing the communication data file using the billing signal and the communication duration,

calculate a communication charge using the applied billing rate and billable duration, and

pay the verified professional a portion of the communication charge.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the billing signal is set automatically by the communication device used by the verified professional.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication request is one selected from a group consisting of a request to connect a voice call, a request to transmit a text message, and a request to transfer funds to the verified professional.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the registered device ID is a first phone number, and wherein the subscriber ID is a second phone number.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the verified professional is one selected from a group consisting of a media personality, a physician, and a professional athlete.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a telecommunication system used by the central tracking system to communicate with the subscriber communication device and the communication device used by the verified professional.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of verification data comprises a license number for the verified professional.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the subscriber contacts the verified professional using the license number.

9. A method for billing communications between a subscriber and a verified professional comprising:

obtaining a plurality of verification data for the verified professional;

verifying, based on the plurality verification data, at least one selected from a group consisting of an identity of the verified professional and a credential of the verified professional to generate a verified professional repository that matches an individual sought by the subscriber;

storing, in the verified professional repository, the verification data and a registered device identification (ID) associated with a communication device used by the verified professional;

receiving a communication request targeting the registered device ID from a subscriber communication device, wherein the subscriber communication device is associated with a subscriber ID;

determining an applied billing rate using a value set by the verified professional;

transmitting the applied billing rate to the subscriber communication device;

initiating a connection between the subscriber communication device and the communication device used by the verified professional;

tracking the connection to obtain a connection duration and a billing signal;

terminating the connection between the subscriber communication device and the communication device used by the verified professional;

generating a communication data file comprising the registered device ID, the subscriber ID, the applied billing rate, the connection duration, and the billing signal;

obtaining a billable duration by parsing the communication data file using the billing signal and the connection duration;

calculating a communication charge using the applied billing rate and billable duration; and

paying the verified professional a portion of the communication charge.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the billing signal is sent automatically by the communication device used by the verified professional.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the communication request is one selected from a group consisting of a request to connect a voice call, a request to transmit a text message, and a request to transfer funds to the verified professional.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the registered device ID is a first phone number, and wherein the subscriber ID is a second phone number.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the verified professional is one selected from a group consisting of a media personality, a physician, and a professional athlete.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the central tracking system communicates with the subscriber communication device and the communication device used by the verified professional via a telecommunication system.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of verification data comprises a license number for the verified professional.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the subscriber contacts the verified professional using the license number.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions for billing communications between a subscriber and a verified professional, wherein the instructions, when executed, perform a method, the method comprising: