System and method for providing communication services

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments include a system and method for providing communication services that enables a customer to deactivate service when the service is not being used and reactivate the service when the service is being used. This process can save the customer money without the hassle of having to contact a service provider to cancel and reinstall communication services repeatedly. In addition, the customer can maintain consistent service such as, but not limited to, maintaining his/her calling number, maintaining contact information, speed dial information, saved voicemails or recordings, and other user personalized settings.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for providing communication services, said method comprising:
 providing communication service to a location for a customer to place communication calls;   in response to receiving an activate code at a service provider system, activating, using a processor of the service provider system, the communication service;   in response to receiving a deactivate code at the service provider system, deactivating the communication service; and   determining whether the communication service was in an activated state during a billing cycle and in response to a determination that the communication service was in the activated state during the billing cycle, billing the customer for the communication service at a first rate;   billing the customer for the communication service at a second rate lower than the first rate in response to a determination that the communication service was not in the activated state during the billing cycle; and   providing an indication that the communication service is inactive in response to receiving an indication of a communication request during a time when the communication service is not in the activated state.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein billing the customer includes billing the customer a premium service charge for the communication service when activated. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the activate code is received from a communication device at the location. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising billing the customer a service charge to maintain a communication identifier during times when the communication service is deactivated. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising billing the customer an additional service charge during times when the communication service is deactivated beyond a predetermined time limit. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the activate and deactivate codes are established by a communications service provider. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving the activate and deactivate codes from a customer, wherein the customer specifies the activate and deactivate codes; and   storing the activate and deactivate codes for use in determining whether to activate and deactivate the communication service.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the activate and deactivate codes are the same. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein deactivating the communication services includes preventing a user from placing calls with the exception of calling  911 . 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising assigning a temporary communication identifier to the location during times that the communication service is active unless the customer pays a service charge to maintain a permanent communication identifier at the location. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising billing the customer on a per-communication basis for communications made using the communication service while the communication service is in an activated state. 
     
     
         12 . A system for providing communication services, said system comprising:
 a server including a processing unit, input/output unit, and storage unit, the processing unit executing software configured to:
 provide communication service to a location; 
 in response to receiving an activate code, activate the communication service; 
 in response to receiving a deactivate code, deactivate the communication service; 
 determine whether the communication service was in an activated state during a billing cycle; 
 in response to a determination that the communication service was in the activated state during the billing cycle, billing a customer for the communication service at a first rate; and 
 in response to a determination that the communication service was not in the activated state during the billing cycle, billing the customer for the communication service at a second rate lower than the first rate; and 
 provide an indication that the communication service is inactive in response to receiving an indication of a communication request during a time when the communication service is not in the activated state. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the software is further configured to bill the customer a premium service charge for the communication service when active. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the software is further configured to activate the communication service in response to receiving the activate code via a second communication device of the customer. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the software is further configured to bill the customer a service charge to maintain a communication identifier during times when the communication service is inactive. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the activate and deactivate codes are established by a communications service provider. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the storage unit is configured to store the activate and deactivate codes for use in determining whether to activate and deactivate the communication service. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the software is further configured to prevent a user from placing calls with the exception of calling  911  when the communication service is inactive. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 12 , further comprising assigning a temporary communication identifier to the location during times that the communication service is active unless the customer pays a service charge to maintain a permanent communication identifier at the location. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the software is further configured to bill the customer on a per-communication basis for communications made using the communication service while the communication service is in a deactivated state.