CA2625757A1

CA2625757A1 - An intelligence system for the processing of electronic billing data

Info

Publication number: CA2625757A1
Application number: CA 2625757
Authority: CA
Inventors: William Massaad; Steve Bowser
Original assignee: William Massaad; Steve Bowser; 6619673 Canada Inc.
Current assignee: 6619673 CANADA Inc
Priority date: 2008-03-14
Filing date: 2008-03-14
Publication date: 2009-09-14

Abstract

An intelligence system for the processing of electronic billing data pertaining to a subscriber. The system includes a server connected to one or more servers of one or more service providers through a communication network. The system acquires electronic billing data, such as wireless usage, history, and profile of the subscriber from the server of the service provider, along with financial data pertaining to the service provider including details of wireless plans, add-ons, and features that can be used by subscribers. The electronic billing data along with the financial data are then mapped and processed by an intelligence module at the server of system, to allow the subscriber to view, and monitor their wireless usage and manage and manipulate their wireless portfolio with the assistance and recommendations of the intelligence module.

Description

AN INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM FOR THE PROCESSING
OF ELECTRONIC BILLING DATA

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of wireless telecommunications, and more particularly to an intelligence system for the processing and mapping of data, that enables the subscriber to access and view their billing data in the form of reports or graphical representations so that the subscriber can understand and monitor their wireless usage, and manipulate and manage their portfolio based upon the information run by the intelligence system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless services are mostly provided in the form of wireless plans, which provide the subscriber with a number of peak-time minutes, and evenings and week-end minutes.
Some plans include free incoming calls, and some provide for a number of long-distance calls etc.

However, most plans, except for pre-paid plans, do not interrupt the service when the subscriber exceeds the allowable limit defined in the plan that they are under, or when the subscriber uses services that they are not entitled to under their plan.
Additional minutes are usually charged at a much higher rate than per-plan minutes.

Organizations which provide their employees with wireless phones receive large telephone bills for services provided individually to various elements that comprise the organization.
Some large organizations often include various branches, divisions and regional offices.
For financial and management purposes, organizations may need to determine and monitor the charges generated by each department or division, or may need to adjust these charges according to the productivity and/or need of each division.
Accordingly, the larger the division, the harder and more time consuming the process becomes with the conventional methods and systems.

Conventional systems vary between the pen and paper method of managing hard-copy bills and/or electronic bills provided in the form of images, and billing softwares which provide the subscriber with the number of minutes used and the number left.

Many attempts have been made in the past in order to address the above problem. For instance, United States Patent No. 6,745,229 describes a web-based invoice viewing system and method for enabling a customer to generate invoices relating to various network services provided to the customer by an enterprise. A web enabled invoice viewing system provides billing and invoice information to remote customers having a workstation with a web browser and an Internet access. A graphical user interface system at the customer workstation presents a list of invoice documents organized into products and date ranges applicable to the customer for the customer to select and view.
Various displays presented at the customer workstation may be printed, faxed, or queued for batch printing at the enterprise remotely. The customer is enabled to view dynamically summed results of numerical figures displayed on the invoice documents by highlighting the numbers in the document directly on the display.

United States Patent No. 6,937,710 describes a system and method for providing a usage pattern for a customer of an intelligently-switched telecommunications system.
The usage pattern provides historical information concerning the customer's use of the telecommunications system. The usage pattern is acquired from either a service control point operating on the telecommunications system or a database operating on the data network. The usage pattern is then communicated to the customer along either the data network or the telecommunications system, whereby the customer can access the usage pattern using the computer device, or the telephonic/wireless device.

United States Patent No. 7,058,600 describes an Internet/Web-based data management tool that provides a common GUI that enables viewing of various types of unpriced call detail data reports pertaining to a customer's telecommunications network traffic. A traffic view server is provided that enables periodic acquisition of data from the customer's telecommunications network at a user-specified frequency and configured to meet real-time traffic reporting requirements.

United States Patent No. 7,167,699 describes a method for tracking allotted wireless telephone minutes used and providing an alert before overage charges are accrued.
Information about allotted minutes used and days to refresh are obtained from a user's wireless telephone service provider on a periodic basis, such as daily. E-mail or text message reports are provided to the user on such basis as requested by the user and/or to an account administrator.

United States Patent No. 7,280,818 describes a system for notifying users of mobile communication devices. The service provider formats the notification so that it is compatible with the mobile communication device of the user and sends the notification to the mobile communication device of the user.

Accordingly, the systems that have so far addressed this problem are of a narrow view, and consist of acquiring the data from the service provider and display this to the subscriber in the form of a report, without any intelligence processing of this data that assists the subscriber in understanding the bill and effectively manipulate the data displayed.

Therefore, there is a need for a system and method which allow the subscriber to view, monitor and manage their wireless usage, and at the same time assist them in effectively managing and manipulating their portfolio and understanding their bills.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an intelligence system for the processing of electronic billing data pertaining to a subscriber. The system includes a server connected to one or more servers of one or more service providers through a communication network such as the internet.

The system acquires electronic billing data, such as wireless usage, history, and profile of the subscriber from the server of the service provider, along with financial data pertaining to the service provider including details of wireless plans, add-ons, and features provided by the service provider. The Electronic billing data along with the financial data are then mapped and processed by an intelligence module at the server of system.

The intelligence module can provide the user with a report or a graphical representation illustrating their wireless usage, and recommends a wireless plan, add-on, or feature that best suits the subscriber's portfolio based upon the subscriber's history, usage, and future needs. The subscriber can compare the savings and/or additional wireless usage provided by the suggested plan by a graphical representation or a numerical display, and decide whether to adopt the recommendation provided or not.

The invention eliminates the need for the subscriberto periodically check forthe availability of wireless plan and/or features that fit with their portfolio since the intelligence module of the present invention is always updated (may be in real time) of the latest plans and features offered by the service provider.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail hereinbelow, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig.1 is schematic diagram illustrating the general architecture of the system, and a possible way for integrating it in a communication network with one or more service providers;

Fig.2 is a functional flowchart illustrating general steps to be executed by the system when the subscriber runs a session;

Fi.3 is a depiction of the interface that allows the subscriber to select and run several types of filters in order to separate between work related and non-work related numbers dialled;
Fig.4 is a depiction of the interface when illustrating different wireless plans to the subscriber to choose from and run the electronic billing data against in the intelligence module; and Fig.5 is a functional flowchart illustrating the system operation and different steps and options available to the subscriber when the subscriber is a corporate client who acts as an administrator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described with respect to various embodiments. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding of, and enabling description for, these embodiments of the invention. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments of the invention.

It is intended that the terminology used in the description presented be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the invention. Certain terms may even be emphasized below; however, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this Detailed Description section.
Every time a call is made or received (or a message), details of the call such as the time, duration, number called, geographical area, identification whether the call made is long distance, local, or international, per-minute charges, etc. will be recorded in the memory of the service provider's server, as electronic billing data pertaining to a specific subscriber.
As illustrated in Fig. 1, the system 1 of the present invention includes a server 2 connected to a one or more servers 3 of one or more wireless service providers 4 i.e.
Telus , Rogers etc. via a communication network such as the internet.

The system 1 provides a web-based application that enables secure internet sessions using the subscriber's personal computer 6, or any other web enabled device, in order to allow wireless subscribers 5 to view, and monitor their wireless usage on an event basis.
The communication of data between the server 2 and servers 3 of the service providers can be provided in real-time or may also be updated periodically.

The system 1 includes a communication module 9 that handles communications between the server 2 and the subscribers' terminals 6 and the servers 3 of the wireless providers 4. The system 1 also includes a memory 7, and an intelligence module 8 for the processing of data.

In order to run a session, a GUI type interface allows the subscriber to enter his login information, which when verified, allow the server 2 of the system 1 to retrieve the electronic billing information of the subscriber 5 from the server 3 of the wireless service provider 4 which provides the subscriber with the wireless service.

The server 2 of the present invention retrieves the electronic billing data of a specific subscriber or corporate client from the server 3 of the service provider 4, along with details of wireless plans, add-ons, and features provided by the same service provider 4, with identification to what the subscriber 5 is entitled to and what they are not.
For instance, students or members of certain organizations are sometimes entitled to plans that regular subscribers are not entitled to etc.

The system then runs the information retrieved from the service provider 4 and presents the data in the form of a report, graphical representation, numerical display, or any combination thereof, to the subscriber 5 for manipulation, viewing, and monitoring. Based upon the subscriber's usage and profile, the system can recommend a financially optimal wireless plan that best suits the subscriber's needs. The system 1 may then display, either by a graphical representation, or by a numerical display, how the suggested plan allows for better savings and/or more usage. The subscriber has the choice to either accept the plan or feature suggested, or to decline it. The subscriber's decision will then be stored into the system 1 for a certain period before suggesting further features, or until a change occurs in the subscriber's usage or profile.

In suggesting a certain plan, feature, of add-on, the system can also take into consideration future needs of the subscriber or the corporate client. By way of example, if the subscriber expects more long distance for the coming period, or more roaming charges as a result of an expected travel, the system may suggest adding a $5 roaming plan, or long distance plan which allows the subscriber to use 100 long distance minutes or 100 roaming minutes, when in fact, each minute costs 50 cents without a plan.
Additionally, the more the subscriber expects the usage to be the higher the plan suggested by the system would be.

Alternatively, the system can allow the user to manipulate and manage their own portfolio and explore how other plan, features, and add-ons can fit more and provide more efficient use of their telecom usage. For instance, when running a session, the subscriber can drag into their portfolio a feature, plan, or add-on and compare automatically how the new change can provide them with more usage or savings.

The system can also be configured to allow the subscriber to pre-set a future activation and end dates of a certain service, feature, plan, or add-on. For instance, if the subscriber is a corporate client and they are aware of a future work- related travel of one or more of their employees wherein the employees have to use their wireless phones, the subscriber acts as an administrator and sets the activation date of a roaming plan for the employees that are traveling as the expected day of travel, and the end date of the roaming plan can also be set to be the date of return of the employees.

When the subscriber 5 adopts a new plan, feature, or add on, the system 1 notifies the server 3 of the service provider 4 of the new change in the subscriber's account so that the subscriber 5 be entitled to the new services and be billed accordingly.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate depictions of the interface that the subscriber can use in manipulating their portfolio. Figure 3 illustrate different types of filters that can be run against the electronic billing data. Figure 4 illustrates different wireless plans that can also be used by the intelligence module 8 in order to select the best plan and recommend it to the subscriber. The latter can also be done manually if the subscriber elects to manually explore and manipulate their portfolio by trying different plans and features.

The subscriber may also predefine the way they need their billing data to be displayed.
Hence, the server 1 can store the subscriber's preferences, and automatically display the results according to the user's predefined preferences when running future sessions.
The invention is beneficial to individual subscribers who wish to view and monitor their wireless usage and explore how other features and plans fit more and provide them with more efficient use of their telecom expenditure. At the same time, the invention is of a great benefit to corporate clients who have a plurality of accounts with one or more wireless providers. For instance, if a large corporation provides cellular phones to their employees, it is difficult to manage a large amount of bills and monitor abuse and usage of services that employees are not entitled to. The invention can provide corporate clients with the ability to monitor, manage and manipulate the wireless usage of each employee.

Furthermore, by acquiring the financial data available at the service provider in real time when the user runs a session, the invention provides the subscriber with the latest plans and features offered by the service providerwhich eliminates the need to periodically check and search for plans that fit with the subscriber's profile. The system may also be configured to notifythe subscriber in the form of a pop-up windowwhen running a session, or by an email, or short message (sms), when a plan, feature or add-on that suit the subscriber's portfolio becomes available.

Accordingly, the corporate client can view the long distance charges generated by their employees, identify the employees that are using long distance minutes, and at the same time verify whether the employees are entitled to these services or not.

In order to identify non-work related phone calls, the intelligence module 8 of the present invention is equipped with a filtering tool which separates between work numbers, numbers of work-related organizations, and frequently called numbers.

An additional filtering tool embedded into the Intelligence module is a statistical scheme whereby, among numbers which are neither work numbers, nor numbers of work-related organizations, the Intelligence module runs the electronic billing data of the suspect employee versus the electronic billing data of the other employees in order to check whether any of the numbers called is common with other employees, or whether the numbers called are specific to the subject employee. If the number is a common number, the number may be added to the work related numbers. Otherwise, numbers that are not called by other employees would be considered personal calls.

A further filtering tool embedded into the Intelligence module 8 of the system is the time of the call, depending on the business hours of each corporation. For instance, the likelihood that excessive phone calls after 9.OOPM be work related for an organization that operates only between 8.OOAM and 4.OOPM is very minor. Therefore, by setting the start and end times of calls, a corporate client can separate between calls that are made during business hours and calls made after hours. The filter is also configured to separate between week-day calls and week-end and holidays calls.

Similar to the individual subscribers, corporate clients can explore how other features and plans fit more and provide them with more efficient use of their telecom expenditure and more savings either manually or through a plan suggested by the server after running the electronic billing data and the wireless plans provided by the service provider. The system may display, either by a graphical representation, or by a numerical display, how the suggested plan allows for better savings and/or more usage.

Fig.5 illustrates by way of example different options and steps available to the subscriber when the system 1 is used by a corporate client. In which case, the corporate client acts as an administrator to manage the wireless usage of the employees.

The above detailed descriptions of embodiments of the invention are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above.
While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.

Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims.

Claims

1. An Intelligence system for the processing of electronic billing data pertaining to a subscriber, the intelligence system comprising:

at least one server computer connected to at least one server computer of at least one service provider through a first communications network;

at least one subscriber personal computer connected to the at least one server computer through a second communications network;

a communications module:
an Intelligence module; and a graphical user interface module;

wherein the communications module creates a secure connection between the at least one server computer and the at least one server computer of the at least one service provider through the first communications network, creates a secure connection between the at least one subscriber personal computer and the at least one server computer through the second communications network, acquires and stores a subscriber's electronic billing data on the at least one server computer, and acquires and stores financial data pertaining to the at least one service provider on the at least one server computer;

whereby the subscriber's electronic billing data in conjunction with the financial data are then mapped and processed by the intelligence module run on the at least one server computer to create a portfolio;

wherein the graphical user interface module allows the subscriber to be securely connected through the second communications network to the at least one server computer to operably access and use the Intelligence module run on the at least one server computer; and wherein the Intelligence module displays to the subscriber the portfolio through the graphical user interface.

2. The intelligence system according to claim 1, wherein the intelligence module displays to the subscriber recommendations on a more efficient wireless plan, plan add-ons, or features that best suit the subscriber's portfolio.

3. The intelligence system according to claim 2, wherein the intelligence module further provides to the subscriber a comparison of the savings or additional wireless usage provided by the recommendations.

4. The intelligence system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the intelligence module further comprises the ability for the subscriber to input data;
whereby when the data has been input, the intelligence module re-maps and re-processes the electronic billing data in conjunction with the financial data to update and re-display the portfolio.

5. The intelligence system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the Intelligence module further comprises the ability for the subscriber to manipulate or manage their portfolio and explore how other wireless plans, features or add-ons can provide more efficient use;

whereby when the other wireless plans, features or add-ons have been chosen, the intelligence module re-maps and re-processes the electronic billing data in conjunction with the financial data to update and re-display the portfolio.

6. The intelligence system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the Intelligence module further comprises the ability for the subscriber to accept or decline the wireless plan, features or add-ons as recommended by the intelligence module or chosen by the subscriber.

7. The intelligence system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first and second communications network are any one of a local area network, a wide area network, or the internet.