Patent ID: 6804337
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A method of generating a bill image for a customer in a computer implemented billing system for a telecommunications network which includes discounts for a customer applied to calls made during a billing period in which a plurality of discount scheme apply, including:loading qualification criteria for the discount schemes and customer account details into the billing system; generating a data structure for each discount scheme, the data structures defining a time line over at least part of which the discount scheme was operative, the time line being divided in dependence on subscription to the discount scheme by the customer and on changes to the discount scheme during the billing period into a number of segments each of which corresponds to a period during which a respective version of the discount scheme was operative; accumulating charges for the calls made during each segment; and subsequently calculating an appropriate discount from the accumulated charges for each segment for calls which qualify for a discount under the said discount scheme; wherein generating the time line further includes determining the date of the earliest made call of the calls made and, if the date falls before the start of the billing period, extending the billing period to include the date of the call.