Systems and methods for prerating costs for a communication event

Abstract

Systems and methods for prerating communication events, such as telephone calls, for prepaying customers are described. The systems and methods permit, at the beginning of a communication event, the determination of a time limit for the event based on the available balance in a prepayment account associated with the event.

1 . A method of enabling a dynamically responsive communications accounting system comprising: 
 monitoring an on-going communications session for a threshold event;    upon detection of the threshold event, identifying an updated rate schedule associated with a respective participant in the communications session based upon characteristics associated with the threshold event; and    accounting for the remainder of the communications session according to the updated rate schedule.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the on-going communications session has an original rate schedule associated therewith prior to occurrence of the threshold event.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold event is selected from the group consisting of a change in the number of  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the original rate schedule and the updated rate schedule are identical. 
 communications devices participating in the communications session, a change in the distance between communications devices participating in the communications session, a change in the absolute location of a communications device participating in the communications session, and a change in a service provider involved in the communications session.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 upon detection of the threshold event, updating an account balance associated with the respective participant based upon the duration of the communications event and on the original rate schedule prior to accounting for the remainder of the communications schedule.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 calculating an allowable duration for the on-going communications session based upon the updated account balance and the updated rate schedule.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 upon initiation of the communications session, identifying an account balance associated with the respective participant in the communications session;    associating an original rate plan with the communications session; and    calculating an allowable duration for the communications session based upon the account balance and the original rate plan.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein calculating an allowable duration for the communications session comprises determining a duration for which an accrued cost is approximately equal to the account balance.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein associating an original rate plan and identifying an updated rate schedule each comprise identifying at least one service provider involved in the communications session.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying an updated rate plan comprises identifying at least one of a connection charge rate and a tax charge rate.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying an updated rate plan comprises incorporating at least one of an initial rate period, at least one fixed fee, available free time, and a cost per unit time for the communications session.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the respective participant is identified by a telephone number associated with the participant.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the telephone number associated with the participant is identified from data associated with the party originating the communications session or from data associated with the party to whom the communications session is directed.  
   
   
       14 . A dynamic communications accounting system, comprising: 
 at least one communications interface for monitoring data characteristic of an on-going communications session;    at least one database for storing 
 information representative of rate plans for a plurality of communications service providers, and  
 information associated with a plurality of user accounts; and  
   at least one processor in communication with the at least one communications interface and the at least one database for identifying account information, stored in the at least one database, associated with at least one user participating in an on-going communications session, for identifying a rate plan, stored in the at least one database, according to characteristics of the on-going communications session monitored at the at least one communications interface, for detecting a threshold event associated with the on-going communications session, and for calculating an updated rate schedule according to the identified account information and the identified rate plan upon the detection of the threshold event associated with the on-going communications session.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the information associated with each of a plurality of user accounts includes at least one of accrued account balance information, available credits, debit account balance information, and applicable service plan information.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the identified rate plan comprises a connection charge rate and a tax charge rate.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the updated rate schedule includes at least one of an initial rate period, at least one fixed fee, available free communications session time, and a charge per unit time for the communications session.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor is further for calculating, on the basis of the identified account information and the updated rate plan, at least one of a temporal endpoint for the on-going communications session, the distance between participants to the on-going communications session, and the identity of the service provider or service providers enabling in the on-going communications session.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor is further for updating a respective account balance for a participant to the on-going communications session upon detection of the threshold event.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor is further for recalculating a maximum allowable duration for the on-going communications session upon the detection of the threshold event, the maximum allowable duration being recalculated on the basis of the respective account information for a participant to the on-going communications session and the updated rate plan.