Importance

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Abstract

The inventive network architecture and call processing logic enable Calling Party Pays billing for calls to wireless subscribers, including calls that would otherwise leak through the billing operations of the principle carriers. A landline network, such as a LEC network, routes incoming calls to a wireless network and recognizes each call subject to Calling Party Pays billing. If the LEC can bill charges to a party associated with the calling station, the LEC network routes the call to the mobile carrier's network and creates records for billing for the air-time. If the LEC can not bill a calling station subscriber, the LEC network hands the call off to another switch, to select an appropriate one of two or more alternate billing facilities. The alternate billing facilities preferably include a clearinghouse and a credit card billing system. A database indicates whether it is possible to bill for the air-time through the clearinghouse. If so, the switch completes the call to the mobile carrier's network and creates appropriate records to enable the clearinghouse to bill the air-time to a subscriber associated with the calling station. If the call is not billable through the clearinghouse, the switch extends the call to the automated credit card billing system. The credit card system obtains credit card information from the caller and makes all necessary records to bill the air-time charges for the call to the caller's credit card.

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First Claim