Patent ID: 7664484
Filing Date: 2010-02-16
Classification: G06Q,H04L,H04M

Abstract:
1. A method for pooling telecommunication users to reduce telecommunication service costs, the method comprising: ranking a plurality of telecommunication users in an order based on service time usage per month; pooling the telecommunication users into first and second groups such that the first group includes the highest ranked telecommunication user and the second group includes the remaining telecommunication users; averaging the service time usage for the telecommunication users in each group to obtain a service time usage average for each group; selecting, for each group, a cost-effective rate plan from a number of available rate plans, the cost-effective rate plan selected on the basis of the service time usage average; applying the service time usage average to the selected rate plan for each telecommunication user in the respective group to obtain an estimated cost for each telecommunication user; mathematically combining the estimated costs for each telecommunication user to obtain a total estimated cost; moving the highest ranked telecommunication user in the second group to the first group; repeating the averaging, selecting, applying, combining, and moving until only one telecommunication user remains in the second group; and determining one or more of the most cost-effective pooling combinations and corresponding rate plans based on the respective total estimated costs.