Patent EA-003330-B1 (EA)
Title: Method for effecting telecommunication connections at low cost and a device for carrying out the method
IPC: H04M15/00
Filed: 1999-11-16
Abstract: 1. Method for effecting telecommunication connections for a user in a telecommunication system having competing rates, wherein a choice is made for a rate which is as economical as possible for the user based on data of competing rates contained in a memory, wherein these data represent prices in dependence on at least one of the following parameters, the starting time of the communication connection, the day of the week, holiday, the rate zone, the end time and the duration of a telecommunication connection and the data associated therewith belong to the above mentioned data for the rate, wherein the telecommunication connection is switched through without previous choice of one single rate, characterized in that after the above mentioned telecommunication connection has ended, the rate data of this connection are used to determine which rate is the most economical for this connection while taking into consideration the duration of the telecommunication connection and this most economical rate is taken into consideration when invoicing the user. 2. Method according to claim 1, wherein determination of the most economical rate is made immediately after the end of the telecommunication. 3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the costs incurred between the calling party and the network of the provider having the most economical rate as well as the costs after leaving the network between the party being called and the network are taken into consideration when determining the most economical rate. 4. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that it is carried out by a network provider in his network. 5. Method according to any one of claims 1 through 4, characterized in that it is carried out by an intermediate distributor in such a fashion that a network via which the intermediate distributor offers connections without being a network provider himself, provides a data set (call detail record) to the intermediate distributor for each individual telecommunication connection and the intermediate provider uses this data set to determine which of the stored rates is the most economical for this call at this point in time in dependence on the duration of the call. 6. Device for carrying out a method according to any one of the preceding claims in using a network which is configured to carrying out the method, a memory (rate memory 20) being present in which data of a plurality of rates are stored in dependence on a plurality of parameters including the end time and connection duration, and a device is provided to which data from the network characterizing the conversation (call detail record, data file) can be fed, characterized in that this device is adapted to use this data from the individual conversations or connections and the individual rates from the stored data to determine that rate which gives the lowest price for the particular call which has already ended. 7. Method according to any one of the claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the conversation fees of a user per invoicing period are associated with the rates utilized in each case and a sum is generated for each rate in such a fashion as to determine volume rebates or the like contained in the rates or in the regulations of the associated provider for the corresponding rates. 8. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the device is adapted to associate the conversation fees of a user per invoicing period with the rates utilized in each case and to generate a sum for each rate in such a fashion as to determine volume rebates or the like contained in the rates or in the regulations of the associated provider for the corresponding rates.