Patent ID: 7797206
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: G06Q,H04M

Abstract:
1. A method of billing, the method comprising: in a billing system for a communication network operated by a first service provider, generating account information related to provisioning a communication service from a third-party network for a customer, wherein the third-party network is operated by a second service provider; receiving network information of the first service provider from the communication network into the billing system; in the billing system, processing the network information to determine network charges related to usage of the communication network of the first service provider by the customer; receiving third-party information in a standard file layout from the third-party network into the billing system, wherein the standard file layout comprises service account records, wherein the service account records comprise an identifier for the customer and usage charge information for the customer associated with the communication service from the third-party; in the billing system, processing the third-party information to identify the account information, detect errors in the third-party information, and extract the third-party information from the standard file layout; in the billing system, processing the third-party information extracted from the standard file layout to determine third-party charges related to usage of the third-party network by the customer; in the billing system, calculating a single invoice for the customer that includes the network charges and third-party charges; and in the billing system, generating the single invoice.