Integrated communication system and method

摘要

There is described herein a method and apparatus for providing a telecommunications link between a first user and a second user in a telecommunications network. A request is received from the first user to provide a telecommunications link to the second user. The system then determines from a server hosting a networked community of users in which users interact over a communications network independent of the telecommunications network whether the first user and the second user have a specified relationship in the community of users. At least one setting for the telecommunications link is specified based on whether the first user and the second user have a specified relationship in the community of users.

主权项

1. A method of providing a telecommunications link between a first user and a second user in a telecommunications network, the method comprising:
receiving in the telecommunications network, a call setup connection request from the first user to provide a telecommunications link to the second user over the telecommunications network, the telecommunications network being a mobile telephone network to which the first and second users are subscribers; determining, based on information from a remote server hosting an external and independent networked community of users in which users interact over a social group platform external to and independent of the telecommunications network, whether the first user and the second user have a pre-existing, specified relationship to each other in the external and independent networked community of users, wherein said determining comprises,
sending a request from the telecommunications network to said remote server, wherein said request includes an identifier of the first user and an identifier of the second user,receiving, at the telecommunications network, relationship data from said remote server responsive to said request, andanalyzing, in the telecommunications network, said relationship data received from said remote server to determine whether the first user and the second user have the pre-existing, specified relationship to each other in the external and independent networked community of users; establishing the telecommunications link in the telecommunications network between the first user and the second user; and specifying a billing policy setting for the telecommunications link in the telecommunications network based on said determining whether the first user and the second user have the pre-existing, specified relationship to each other in the external and independent networked community of users, wherein said billing policy setting specifies a discounted rate charged by the telecommunications network to said first user for said telecommunications link in the telecommunications network when the first user and the second user have the pre-existing, specified relationship to each other in the external and independent networked community of users.