Patent ID: 7272218
Filing Date: 2007-09-18
Classification: H04L,H04M

Abstract:
1. A method of billing a telephone call made through a shared local access network that shares at least one modem in a shared modem pool among multiple users, the method comprising: receiving a request from one of the users of the shared local network to place a telephone call from the shared local network and through the shared modem pool to access a public telephony network, wherein the request includes a telephone number of the user, and wherein the shared local access network and shared modem pool together provide shared access to the public telephony network; authenticating the request as coming from a valid user based at least in part on user identifying information for the user, wherein the authenticating is not performed at a destination associated with the telephone call, and wherein the telephone call placed through the shared modem pool to the public telephony network includes the user's telephone number in addition to, or in substitution of, any telephone number associated with the shared modem pool; correlating the user identifying information with billing information associated with the user, including the user's telephone number; and forwarding call charge information from the public telephony network so that the user is billed for the call, while other users of the shared modem pool are separately billed for telephone calls they place.