EP1920397A2

EP1920397A2 - Sender identification system and method

Info

Publication number: EP1920397A2
Application number: EP06786927A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jens Begemann; Philipp Moeser; Frank Biedka; Marc Westphal; Gautier Lobry; Santhirasegaram Elankovan; Markus Berger-De Leon; Gugulethu Ncube
Original assignee: Verisign Inc
Current assignee: Verisign Inc
Priority date: 2005-07-12
Filing date: 2006-07-12
Publication date: 2008-05-14
Also published as: WO2007008922A3; AU2006268206A1; WO2007008922A2

Abstract

A method, machine-readable medium, and apparatus for automatically establishing a subscription based upon a request for content. The new subscription account can be linked to an existing account of the user. The existing account can be debited for the cost of the subscription, and the subscription account can be credited for purchases of electronic content.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC SUBSCRIPTION SETUP WITH

CONTENT ORDERING

This application claims the benefit of provisional application number 60/698,014 filed 12 July 2005.

BACKGROUND

Content ordering via wireless appliance (e.g., cellular telephone, Personal Digital Assistant, etc.) has become increasingly popular in recent years, for example, ordering ring tones, music, screen backgrounds, and screen savers. In certain known systems, a wireless telephone user sends a text message containing a code that corresponds to some desired content (such as a ringtone) to a content provider. The content provider bills the user's mobile telephone account for the content and sends the requested content to the user's wireless telephone.

Such individual transactions can be suitable users who order content infrequently. However, some users want content more often, e.g., to change the ringtone of their wireless telephones. The overhead to the content provider for managing frequent standard debit-type billing to users' accounts can be inefficient. Psychologically, users are discouraged from making frequent purchases because they can not be certain about how rapidly their content costs are mounting.

To solve these problems, some providers have developed content packages that allow users to purchase multiple content items at once at discount pricing. With the purchase of these packages, the user receives a cost savings compared to the total amount the user would pay for each item individually. And the content provider only has to bill the user's account once for all of the elements in the package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for automatically establishing subscriptions when content ordering. This advantageously allows the user to send a single request to the content provider to efficiently order content packages at discount pricing and/or to establish a subscription.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the system can include a communication device, e.g., a wireless telephone, Personal Digital Assistant, computer, etc. The communication device can be coupled electronically to a subscription server. The subscription server can receive the user's content order and, if needed, automatically establish a subscription for the user. The method can include receiving a request for content from a user's communication device, automatically establishing a subscription for a new user if necessary, linking the subscription to an existing user account (e.g., the user's existing wireless services account,) debiting the account and sending the requested content to the user's communication device. As used herein, an "existing account" is an account that exists before the request for content from the user. For example, a user must have an existing wireless services account (e.g., cell phone account) with a carrier to be able to submit a request for content over a wireless network. Other existing accounts can include debit accounts, credit card accounts, bank accounts, prepaid accounts (e.g., for wireless services or other prepaid accounts,) etc.

In embodiments of the present invention, content can include any electronic content, such as telephone ring tones, downloadable music, screen backgrounds, screen savers, etc.

FIG. 1 is an overview of a system for implementing an embodiment of the present invention. The system can include server 110, communication devices 120-1 through 120-n, and databases 130-1 through 130-m. Server 110 can include a processor such as the Pentium IV microprocessor and/or an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) that embodies at least part of the method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in hardware and/or firmware. The processor can be coupled to memory storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to perform the method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Memory can also store existing account data, subscription account data, user (e.g., content requester) data, etc. Memory can be any suitable device adapted to store electronic information, such as a hard disk, flash memory, a CD ROM, etc.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, server 110 can receive requests for content, access databases to retrieve and store subscription information and content, and establish subscriptions for new users.

Communication devices 120-1 through 120-n can be any device capable of transmitting and receiving data, voice, video, audio, or any like signal to and from a user of the device. In an embodiment of the present invention, communication device 120-1 can be a wireless telephone (e.g., a cellular telephone), a wire-based telephone, a computer coupled to the Internet or another network, a Personal Digital Assistant, etc. Communication device 120-1 can send a request for content in any suitable manner, e.g., via text message, e-mail message, Interactive Voice Response System, etc.

Databases 130-1 through 130-m can be any device capable of storing data, and can include one or more processors such as the Intel Pentium IV coupled to a memory device such as a hard drive, CD-ROM, etc. The memory device can store software instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to perform at least part of the method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Database 130-1 can also store subscriber information and database 130-m can store content that can be ordered by a user.

Communication device 120-1 can communicate with server 110 via any suitable network, such as mobile telephony network 150. Communication device 120-n can communication with server 110, e.g., via Internet 140. Databases 130-1 through 130-m can transmit to and receive from server 110 via LAN, WAN, or any other such transmission media. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, server 110 can receive a request for content from a user via wireless telephone 120-1, for example. To generate the request, the user can select a particular content package available from the content provider and send to server 100 a message (e.g., a text message) a code corresponding to the selected content package.

Upon receipt of the request, server 110 can determine whether the user has an existing subscription for content by checking subscriber database 130-1. As subscription can be implemented by billing the user (e.g., to an existing user account such as a user wireless services account) a fixed amount each month for a certain number of credits to be posted to the user's subscription account. Generally, a subscription may be established with any repeated (e.g., periodic) billing to the user (e.g., to an existing account, via invoice to the user, etc.) and crediting a subscription account accordingly. For example, the user can be billed via an established user account, such as the user's wireless services account. A corresponding credit can be established in the user's content subscription account. For example, for $11.95 per month, which can be billed to the user's wireless services account, a predetermined number of "credits" can be posted to the user's content subscription account. For example, ten content credits can be posted per month to the user's subscription account. A ringtone may be "priced" at one credit for any five ringtone package, which can be selected by the user.

Thus, if server 110 determines that the user has an existing subscription account, server 110 cause the user's subscription account to be debited the correct number of credits for the requested content. Thus, for example, if the user orders ten ringtones, server 110 can cause the user's subscription account to be debited two credits. Any number of credits can be debited for any amount of content, depending on commercial considerations. Further, the credits may expire after a predetermined amount of time in the subscription account, just as the number of wireless airtime minutes allocated per month on certain known wireless services plans expire at the end of each month. Alternatively, credits in subscription accounts need not expire after a predetermined amount of time.

If the user has only an existing (e.g., wireless services) account and no subscription account, a subscription account can be automatically established for the user triggered by the user's request for content. An advertisement for the service in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can inform the user that placing an order for ringtones, for example, will cause the user's existing account to be debited a certain amount per month until cancelled by the user. In exchange, the user may request and receive up to (for example) thirty ringtones per month. Thus, the initial request for content made by the user automatically establishes the subscription. The request can include an identifier of the user (e.g., a Mobile Identification Number, Electronic Serial Number, e-mail source address, Internet Protocol address, an IPv6 address, etc.) along with an identifier (e.g., a code) that corresponds to a particular piece of requested content, such as a ringtone. The code can be established by the service and published on a web site, in print, etc. For example, Star Wars® ringtones can be assigned code "642", while a set of classical music ringtones can be assigned code "341."

Server 110 can correlate the device or user identifier with an existing account, e.g., by correlating a Mobile Identification Number with an existing wireless services account. Thereafter, server 110 can cause the existing account to be charged the subscription amount, until cancelled by the user. This can occur automatically, without any further action by the user other than placing an initial request for content.

FIG. 2 shows a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Server 110 can receive a request for content (205) and use information contained in the request (e.g., the Mobile Identification Number, e-mail address, etc.) to identify an existing account (such as a wireless services account) and determine (210) if the user has an existing subscription account. If the user has an existing subscription account, the correct amount can be debited from the account (220) and the requested content can be sent to the user (250). If the user does not have a subscriber account, information contained in the request can be used to identify an existing user account (230) and establish a subscriber account (240.) The subscriber account can be debited (220) for the content and the content can be sent to the user (250.)

For security, communications between server 110 and the caller device can be encrypted using any suitable protocol. The server can authenticate the user and/or device and/or vice versa. Authentication protocols can, for example, be based upon public/private key pairs. One or both parties can verify the other's public key (e.g., respectively stored in the device 120-1 and/or server 100) by receiving and verifying a digital certificate belonging to the other party. Similarly, a user can be asked to provide a shared secret, e.g., a password to server 110. The password must be verified as correct by server 110 before the transaction is permitted to proceed. These measures can prevent spoofing and repudiation. Server 110 can compare the unique identifier with subscribers' identifiers already in subscriber database 130-1 to determine whether the user is authentic and has an existing subscription. The subscriber's account information can include the subscriber's unique identifier, a subscriber and/or other account number, the account balance or balances, etc.

If the user requests content and has an insufficient subscription account balance to pay for the requested content, the service can refuse to provide the requested content and send a message indicating that the subscription account is depleted. Alternatively, the service can automatically, or upon authorization from the user, bill the cost of the content to the extent it exceeds the available balance in the subscription account to another account, e.g., to a wireless services account. This amount could appear, for example, on the user's monthly wireless services bill. Alternatively, the subscription could be automatically upgraded. For example, if a user orders content in excess of his monthly allowance under his current subscription plan for, say $11.95 per month, he could be automatically upgraded to a higher tier subscription that permits him to obtain more content per month at $19.95 per month. Alternatively, the user could be asked for authorization to upgrade his subscription, triggered by the user's request for content beyond that available to him on the basis of his current subscription.

The foregoing is a discussion of certain embodiments of the present invention that are meant to illustrate and not limit the scope of the claims. One of skill in the art will recognize that the claims cover other embodiments besides those examples discussed above

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method comprising: receiving a request for content, wherein the request includes a requester identifier; if there is no subscription account associated with the sender identifier, then automatically establishing a subscription account based upon the request for content; associating the subscription account with an existing account; and debiting the existing account an amount based upon the cost of the subscription.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the requester identifier includes an Electronic Serial Number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the requester identifier includes a Mobile Identifier Number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the requester identifier includes a sender e- mail address.

5. The method of claim 1, further including crediting the subscription account.

6. The method of claim 1, further including sending the requested content to the requester.

7. The method of claim 1, further including debiting the subscription account an amount equal to the cost of the requested content.

8. The method of claim 1, further including sending a message indicating that the subscription account is depleted.

9. The method of claim 1, further including billing the cost of the content to the extent it exceeds the available balance in the subscription account to another account.

10. A machine-readable medium storing a set of instructions capable of being executed by a processor to implement a method comprising: receiving a request for content, wherein the request includes a requester identifier; if there is no subscription account associated with the sender identifier, then automatically establishing a subscription account based upon the request for content; associating the subscription account with an existing account; and debiting the existing account an amount based upon the cost of the subscription.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said instructions are further capable of crediting the subscription account.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said instructions are further capable of sending the requested content to the requester.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said instructions are further capable of debiting the subscription account an amount equal to the cost of the requested content.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, further including sending a message indicating that the subscription account is depleted.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, further including billing the cost of the content to the extent it exceeds the available balance in the subscription account to another account.

16. An apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to said processor, said memory storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to receive a request for content, wherein the request includes a requester identifier and if there is no subscription account associated with the sender identifier, then to automatically establish a subscription account based upon the request for content, associate the subscription account with an existing account and debit the existing account an amount based upon the cost of the subscription.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said instructions are further capable of crediting the subscription account.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said instructions are further capable of sending the requested content to the requester.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said instructions are further capable of debiting the subscription account an amount equal to the cost of the requested content.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said instructions are further capable of sending a message indicating that the subscription account is depleted.