Patent ID: 7233918
Filing Date: 2007-06-19
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method for rating a billing event in a real time accounting system, comprising: receiving at a processor a billing event for an account, wherein the billing event is triggered by a user action, and wherein the billing event is received at the processor at the time of the user action; retrieving current usage information for the account; and rating the billing event using the processor upon receiving the billing event according to the billing event, the current usage information, and a usage dependent rating scheme; wherein said usage dependent rating scheme comprises one or more rate step points and two or more tiers, said billing event having an associated event quantity, wherein the event quantity is an amount of the event; wherein rating comprises determining a current tier responsive to the current accumulated usage information; determining a current tier reservoir, wherein the current tier reservoir is a distance to a next step point on a rating curve; comparing the event quantity to the current tier reservoir; and if the event quantity is less than the tier reservoir, adjusting an account balance responsive to the current tier and the event quantity.