Patent ID: 6771753
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A method for discounting a customer's bill for telephone calls completed to an automatic selection of facilities-remote tie line (ASF-RTL) host switch in a wide area centrex/PBX network that includes an abbreviated dialing plan, the method comprising:determining whether a call is routed to the ASF-RTL host switch; determining whether the customer subscribes to billing discounting for ASF-RTL; determining whether the call is eligible for the billing discounting; when the call is routed to the ASF-RTL host switch, when the customer subscribes to billing discounting for ASF-RTL, and when the call is an eligible call: modifying the billing record in accordance with a preestablished agreement, and discounting the billing based upon the modified billing record; and when the call is not routed to the ASF-RTL host switch or when the customer does not subscribe to billing discounting for ASF-RTL or when the call is not eligible for the billing discounting, creating a normal billing record; wherein the customer receives a reduced periodic charge for eligible calls employing the ASF-RTL host switch.