Patent ID: 6947531
Filing Date: 2005-09-20
Classification: G06Q,H04M

Abstract:
1. A method for advertising-supported communications in a telecommunications network, the method comprising: receiving a call request to connect a call from an originating subscriber terminal to a destination subscriber terminal, the call request including a destination identifier associated with the destination subscriber terminal; in response to the call request, providing at least one advertisement to a subscriber associated with the originating subscriber terminal; determining a free calling balance for the subscriber based on the destination identifier and based on providing the at least one advertisement to the subscriber; connecting the call from the originating subscriber terminal to the destination subscriber terminal; and monitoring the free calling balance as the call progresses, wherein the step of determining the free calling balance comprises (i) determining an advertisement time associated with the at least one advertisement being provided to the subscriber, (ii) determining a number of credits of free calling time based on the advertisement time, (iii) determining a zone measure between the originating subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal, (iv) determining a free calling time based on the number of credits of free calling time and the zone measure.