Patent ID: 6526043
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A method of charging a subscriber for an outgoing voice call to a called party, the outgoing voice call being placed via a computer which is simultaneously used for an Internet session, the outgoing voice call being transmitted between the computer and the called party via a Voice Gateway Module (VGWM), the method comprising the steps of:establishing, in the VGWM, an association between the subscriber and the outgoing voice call, thereby enabling the subscriber to be charged for the outgoing voice call; establishing a cost for the outgoing voice call; and charging the subscriber, according to the established association, with the cost; wherein an IP-address is associated with the subscriber during the Internet sessions, the IP-address being stored in an Internet session record: the step of establishing comprises transferring the IP-address to the VGWM and storing the IP-address in a call record in the VGWM; the association between the subscriber and the outgoing voice call consists of an association between the IP-address and the outgoing voice call; and the step of charging comprises processing said call record and said Internet session record; and the step of charging further comprises adding the cost to an Internet bill of the subscriber.