KR20070007976A - Method and apparatus for ordering goods, services and content over an internetwork - Google Patents

Abstract

A billing system is provided that allows a consumer to order products from computers connected to the Internet, wherein the consumer is automatically billed for the ordered good or service by its telephone service provider. The billing system comprises a plug-in component (52, 52'), a billing server component (62, 62'), and in some embodiments, a merchant session gateway component (65). When a consumer orders a product over the Internet (20), the plug-in component (52) of the consumer's computer (42) establishes an Internet connection to a billing server (34) located elsewhere on the Internet (20) to order the product. In a first embodiment, the billing server component (62) of the billing server (34) transfers an encrypted version of the product to the plug-in component (52). The plug-in component (52) then disconnects from the Internet (20) and establishes a point-to-point (PPP) connection with the billing server (34). During the PPP connection, the billing server component (64) transfers an access key assigned to the order to the plug-in component (52) so that the plug-in component (52) may decrypt the product. The consumer is charged a unit rate or 'drop-charge' for the product by the telephone service provider when the PPP connection is established using a premium telephone number assigned and administered by the telephone service provider. In a second embodiment, the consumer is charged a per minute rate for his of her time spent accessing the product, rather than a drop-charge. ® KIPO & WIPO 2007

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ORDERING GOODS, SERVICES AND CONTENT OVER AN INTERNETWORK}

1 shows an internet portion of the prior art;

2 illustrates a local area network (LAN) connected to the Internet for supplying goods, services and content ordered by a consumer using a computer connected to the Internet in accordance with the present invention.

3 is a block diagram illustrating various components of the consumer's computer shown in FIG. 2 used to order goods, services and content on the Internet in accordance with the present invention.

4 is a block diagram illustrating the various components of the billing server shown in FIG. 2 used to provide ordered goods, services and content locations and to confirm the order in accordance with the present invention.

5 is a block diagram illustrating various components of the merchant server shown in FIG. 2 providing goods, services, and content ordered in accordance with the present invention.

6A and 6B illustrate windows created by a web browser installed on a consumer's computer on which the consumer orders goods and / or services.

7 is a flow diagram illustrating logic used by a consumer's computer to initiate an order of goods and / or services from the Internet.

8A-8C are flow diagrams illustrating logic used by a consumer's computer to complete an order of goods and / or services via the Internet.

9A-9F illustrate various windows generated by a consumer's computer displaying a message relating to an order of goods and / or services.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating logic used by a billing server connected to the LAN shown in FIG. 2 to provide ordered goods and / or services to a consumer's computer.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating logic used by the billing server connected to the LAN shown in FIG. 2 to confirm an order for goods and / or services.

12 is a flow diagram illustrating the action taken by a telephone service provider to automatically bill a consumer for ordered goods and / or services.

13 is a flow diagram illustrating the actions taken in parallel by the consumer's computer and billing server to order and provide goods and / or services.

FIG. 14 illustrates a window created by a web browser installed on a consumer's computer in which the consumer orders premium content, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

15A-15C are flow diagrams illustrating the logic used by a consumer's computer to order premium content over the Internet.

16A-16D illustrate various windows generated by a consumer's computer to display a message associated with an order of premium content.

17 is a flow diagram illustrating logic used by a consumer's computer to order previously bookmarked premium content.

FIG. 18 illustrates a window generated by a consumer's computer to display a message associated with an order of premium content previously bookmarked.

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram illustrating logic used by a billing server connected to the LAN shown in FIG. 13 to initially proceed with the ordering of premium content made by a consumer's computer.

20A-20B are flow diagrams illustrating access to logic used by a billing server to provide and obtain access information for premium content on a consumer's computer.

FIG. 21 is a flow diagram illustrating logic used by a merchant server to provide billing server with access information for premium content. FIG.

22A-22B illustrate operations taken in parallel by a consumer's computer, billing server, and merchant server to order and provide premium content.

The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus by which goods, services and content can be ordered from one or more computers connected via a general communication link. More specifically, the consumer can order goods, services and content from a computer connected to the Internet. And a method and apparatus for which a consumer is automatically charged for goods, services and content ordered by a telephone service provider.

Communication networks are known in the field of computer communications. A network is a group of computers and their associated devices that are connected by a communications facility or link. Network communication may be permanent, such as through a cable, or may be temporary, such as via a telephone or wireless. A network is a remote access that interconnects remote computers through a temporary communications link from a local area network (LAN) of several computers and workstations and their associated devices and from a geographically dispersed LAN and a wide area network (WAN) that interconnects computers. The size can be varied until the service RAS. A network is a combination of multiple or similar computer networks, similar or dissimilar by a router or gateway that facilitates data transfer and conversion from multiple networks. The acronym "Internet" is a known term. As currently understood, an "Internet" is a collection of networks or routers that use Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP) to communicate with each other.

A portion of the Internet 20 in which a plurality of LANs 24 and one WAN 26 are interconnected by a router 22 is shown in FIG. 1. The communication links inside the LANs may be twisted pair or coaxial cables, and the communication links between networks may use 56 Kbps analog telephone lines, 1 Mbps digital T-1 lines and / or 45 Mbps T-3 lines. In addition, computer and other related electronics 28 are shown in FIG. 1 as being connected to one of the LANs 24 by a dotted line. The Internet includes a number of such interconnected networks, computers, and routers, but only a portion of the Internet 24 is shown in FIG.

The Internet has recently seen explosive growth by being able to link computers deployed around the world. As the Internet grows, so does the World Wide Web. The WWW is a vast collection of interconnected or "hypertext" documents written in hypertext markup language (HTML) that is stored electronically on "websites" over the Internet. A web site is a server connected to the Internet that has a mass storage facility for storing hypertext documents and that runs management software that handles the need for stored hypertext documents. Hypertext documents generally include a number of hyperlinks, which are highlighted portions of text that link the document to other hypertext documents stored on web sites on the Internet. Each hyperlink is associated with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that provides the exact address of the linked document on a server connected to the Internet and describes the document. Thus, whenever a hypertext document is retrieved from any web server, it is considered to be retrieved from the WWW.

The consumer is allowed to retrieve the hypertext document from the WWW, that is, allow the consumer to "navigate the web" through a web browser. Web browsers, such as Netscape's Navigator or Microsoft's Explorer, are software programs implemented by a Web client, or consumer's computer, to provide a graphical user interface to the WWW. On request from a consumer via a web browser, the web client accesses and retrieves the desired hypertext document from the appropriate web server using a URL for the document and a protocol known as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). HTTP is a higher level protocol than TCP / IP and is a protocol specifically designed for the needs of the World Wide Web. It is used on top of TCP / IP to transfer hypertext documents between servers and clients.

With the advent of the World Wide Web, information stored on the Internet has been freely transferred between groups interested in the information. However, WWW is rapidly becoming a commercial channel, which has led many companies to develop their Web sites to advertise and sell their products and services. A consumer can visit a company's "web site", that is, search for a hypertext document on a particular company's web server, and order any goods and services that the company offers. If such goods and services are in the form of electronically stored information such as books, videos, music CDs or computer games, the consumer simply downloads the goods and services from the company's website to his computer for immediate consumption and use. If the goods and services are more touchable, clothing or appliances ordered from on-line inventory, more general methods such as postal services are used. The conventional payment method for these goods and services is by a main credit card, and the consumer is required to transmit his credit information to the company's web site via the Internet. However, there are many questions about the security and reliability of this electronic transmission. Also, many consumers do not have a credit card to make such a purchase. Alternative billing systems, such as sending credit information by facsimile or postal service, are much more inconvenient and often demonstrate sufficient barriers to prohibit selling them all at once. Finally, conventional billing and payment methods do not adequately protect consumers and sellers from savvy buyers.

In addition to goods and services, most companies want to provide consumers with "premium content", namely electronically stored and transportable information and hypertext documents that are believed to bring financial value to the company. Examples of such premium content may include magazine articles, ownership databases, movies, stock information, wireless broadcasts, and the like. Conventional payment methods for accessing such content have been made with major credit cards, where consumers are required to pay for reservations for the content and transmit their credit information over the Internet to the company's website. . Again, such billing and payment systems do not adequately protect consumers and sellers from fraudulent purchases and do not provide adequate security to consumers.

Thus, there is a need for a more effective billing and payment system, ultimately the Internet, for goods, services and content over the network. This method and apparatus should provide automatic billing to the consumer without the need to transfer credit card information or any sensitive credit information over the Internet. In addition, the consumer should be allowed to use the purchased goods or services, if downloaded, only after billing is complete. Finally, the method and apparatus should provide the consumer with unpaid details from purchasing additional goods, services and content.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for ordering goods, services and content from one or more computers connected to the Internet, where a consumer is automatically charged for goods, services and content ordered by a telephone service provider. And an apparatus.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for ordering goods, services and content from one or more computers connected to the Internet, where a consumer is automatically charged for goods, services and content ordered by a telephone service provider. In one embodiment, the billing system includes a plug-in component and a billing server component. When a consumer orders a product over the Internet, the plug-in component establishes an Internet connection with a billing server on the Internet. In response, the billing server component sends a transaction I.D. identifying the order to the plug-in component. The plug-in component then disconnects from the Internet and establishes a PPP connection with the billing server. Once the PPP connection is established, the plug-in component sends the transaction I.D. back to the billing server component, which sends the access key assigned to the order identified by transaction I.D. to the plug-in component. The consumer uses the access key to claim the ordered product. The consumer is automatically charged by the telephone service provider when a PPP connection is established using a telephone number assigned and managed by the telephone service provider.

According to another aspect of the invention, the billing server component sends an encrypted version of the ordered product to the plug-in component before the plug-in component disconnects from the Internet. The plug-in component then uses the access key to decrypt the encrypted version of the product.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a billing system includes a plug-in component, a billing server component, and a billing system component to order products, such as premium content, over the Internet so that consumers are charged per minute for accessing the content. Contains a merchant server component. When a consumer orders a product over the Internet, the plug-in component establishes a premium telephony link to a billing server on the Internet and sends the order for the product to the billing server. The billing server component then establishes an internet connection with a merchant server that can provide the ordered product and sends an order for the product to the merchant server. In response, the merchant server component provides the billing server component and the plug-in component with the information needed by the plug-in component to access and locate the ordered product. The consumer is charged for the product ordered by the telephone service provider as the consumer accesses the ordered product during the premium telephony link to the billing server. Specifically, the consumer is charged for during the premium telephone link at a predetermined rate associated with the ordered product and the premium telephone communication link.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the billing server component may determine a predetermined rate and premium phone number to be billed to the consumer for the ordered product through the internet connection established by the billing server prior to establishing a premium telephony link with the billing server. Provided in plug-in components.

In general, the methods and apparatus described above capable of performing an operation compatible with plug-in components, billing server components, and merchant server components represent another aspect of the present invention.

Such aspects and other advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated as they become better understood with reference to the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

As described above and shown in FIG. 1, the Internet 20 may include routers 22, remote computers 28, and telecommunication networks (WANs) that use Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP) to communicate with each other. 26 and local area networks (LANs) 24. On the other hand, the World Wide Web (WWW) is a vast collection of interconnected and electronically stored information located on servers connected via the Internet 20. Many companies use the World Wide Web to sell access to their products, services and premium content over the Internet. In accordance with the present invention, a consumer may order goods, services and content (hereafter referred to interchangeably with "product") via the Internet 20 in a web browser and automatically be billed on their monthly telephone bill. You will be charged. More specifically, the consumer places orders for goods, services and premium content from a computer 42 connected to the Internet 20. The order is processed and confirmed by a billing server 34 connected to a LAN 24 on the Internet 20, which obtains the product from a merchant server 39, which is a server owned by the person who sponsors and sells the product. .

A LAN 24 is shown in detail in FIG. 2 where the billing server 34 is connected and the consumer's computer 42 has established an Internet connection for ordering a product. In addition to billing server 34, LAN 24 includes a management computer 32 that is used to manage the services, seller and purchaser information, and products provided by billing server 34. The LAN 24 also includes an access server 32 with a number of high speed digital modems used to accept temporary telephone links from other computers on the Internet 20, such as the consumer's computer 42. do. Finally, LAN 24 includes a personal computer 36 equipped with a computer-assisted telephony application (CSTA), a standard protocol used in North America for interfacing computer 36 to telephone switch 40. However, those skilled in the art will, in another embodiment of the present invention, access server 38 itself be equipped with computer telephone / caller identification software suitable for the particular telephone system with which telephone switch 40 operates. As a result, in these embodiments, the CSTA monitor 36 is unnecessary.

As will be described in detail below, the consumer orders using the computer 42 over the Internet 20, and the consumer's computer 42 is disconnected from the Internet 20 and billing server 34 to confirm the purchase. Establish a PPP connection with In detail, a telephone call to the premium telephone number assigned to the telephone switch 40 is made. The telephone switch routes the premium telephone call to the access server 38, and the modem responds to the telephone call and notifies the billing server that a TCP / IP connection to the consumer's computer 42 has been established. On the other hand, the CSTA monitor 36 monitoring the telephone switch 40 notifies the billing server that a telephone call has been made, and completes the PPP connection between the billing server 34 and the consumer's computer 42. In embodiments of the present invention that do not include a CSTA monitor 36, it will be appreciated that computer telephone software residing on the access server 38 provides its functionality.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the LAN 24 is isolated from the Internet 20 by a firewall server 30 that tracks and controls the flow of all data passing through using the TCP / IP protocol. Firewall server 30 protects LAN 24 from harmful inward data traffic. LAN 24 is a bus network that interconnects multiple computers and servers. The LAN 24 shown in FIG. 2 may be formed of a bonding medium such as glass or plastic optical fiber cable, coaxial cable, twisted pair cable, ribbon cable, or the like. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that a coupling medium may include a radio frequency coupling medium or other intangible coupling medium. Any computer system or many computer systems with the necessary interface hardware, including but not limited to workstations, personal computers, laptop computers, servers, and remote computers, may be temporarily or permanently attached to the LAN 24 according to the Internet 20. ) Can be connected. However, if temporarily connected via a telephone link to another device connected to LAN 24, the interface hardware of remote computer 28 and the device to which it is connected must include a modem. Finally, a person skilled in the art shows only one consumer computer 42, billing server 34 and merchant server 39 in FIG. 2, but a number of consumer computers with hardware and software components as described below. It will be appreciated that the billing server and merchant server may be connected to the Internet 20.

Related consumer computer, billing server, and merchant server components

3 shows a number of main components of the consumer's computer 42. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that they may include more components than shown in FIG. However, it is not necessary to express all of the above general components in order to disclose an exemplary embodiment for the practice of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the consumer's computer includes a network interface 44 for connecting to the LAN 24 or the WAN 26 or for connecting remotely to the LAN or the WAN. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that network interface 44 includes the necessary circuitry for such a connection, and is also configured for use with certain types of combination modems and specific network configurations to the LAN or WAN to which the TCP / IP protocol circuits are connected.

The consumer's computer 42 includes a processing unit 46, a display 48, a modem 49 and a memory 50. Memory 50 generally includes permanent mass storage such as RAM, ROM, and disk drives. The memory 50 stores data and program code necessary to order a product via the Internet 20 according to the present invention. Specifically, memory 50 stores plug-in components 52, 52 ', and / or 52' 'formed in accordance with the present invention required for product ordering. This component may be loaded into and stored in the memory 50 of the consumer computer 42 using a drive mechanism associated with a computer-readable medium, such as a floppy or CD-ROM drive. The memory 50 also includes a web browser 51, such as Netscape's Navigator or Microsoft's Explorer.

As will be described in detail below, the product ordered by the consumer is supplied by a remote server, which is a billing server 34 on the Internet, such as LAN 24 shown in FIG. 4 shows various main components of billing server 34. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that they include more components than shown in FIG. However, these general components need not be shown to disclose exemplary embodiments for practicing the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the billing server 34 is connected to the LAN 24 via a network interface 54. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the network interface 54 includes circuitry for connecting the billing server 34 to the LAN 24 and the firewall 30, and with the TCP / IP protocol, the bus network configuration of the LAN, and certain types of coupling media. Is configured for use.

The billing server 34 also includes a processing unit 56, a display 58 and a mass memory 60. Mass memory 60 includes permanent mass storage devices such as hard disk drives, tape drives, optical drives, floppy disk drives, or a combination thereof, as well as RAM and ROM. Mass memory 60 stores data and program code necessary to supply products to consumers in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, mass memory 60 stores billing server components 62 and / or 62 'formed in accordance with the present invention to provide ordered products and confirm product orders. The mass memory 60 also stores a database 64 of product information continuously logged by the billing server 34 for sellers, consumers, and products. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a database 64 of logged product information may be stored on a storage device or other server connected to the LAN. The database 64 of billing server components 62 and / or 62 'and product information can be accessed using a large amount of memory (e.g., memory) of the billing server 34 using drive mechanisms associated with computer-readable media such as floppy or CD-ROM drives. 60) and stored on a computer-readable medium. Finally, mass memory 60 stores web server software 66 to handle requests for stored information received via the Internet 20 and the WWW.

As described in detail below, the product ordered by the consumer and provided by the billing server 34 is provided to the billing server 34 by a merchant server 39 on the Internet 20. 5 illustrates several major components of merchant server 39. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the merchant server 39 includes more components than shown in FIG. However, these general conventional components need not be shown to represent exemplary embodiments of the invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the merchant server 39 includes a network interface 55 for connecting to the LAN 24 or the WAN 26, or for connecting remotely to the LAN or the WAN. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that network interface 55 includes the necessary circuitry for such a connection and is configured for use with the TCP / IP protocol, the specific network configuration of the LAN or WAN to which it is connected, and the particular type of bonding medium.

The merchant server 39 also includes a processing unit 57, a display 59 and a mass memory 61. Mass memory 61 includes permanent mass storage devices such as hard disk drives, tape drives, optical drives, floppy disk drives, or a combination thereof, as well as RAM and ROM. In one embodiment, the mass memory includes a product database 67 containing electronically stored goods or services ordered by the consumer. In one embodiment, the product database 67 stores premium content ordered by the consumer, which is a hypertext document or other electronically stored information deemed of value by the merchant. In this embodiment, the mass memory 61 stores access information for premium content, data and program code for supplying the billing server 34 with a URL for premium content. More specifically, the mass memory 61 provides a merchant session gateway component 65 formed in accordance with the present invention to provide the billing server 34 with access information that may be needed for the computer 42 to access the desired premium content. Save it. The merchant session gateway component 65 and the product database 67 are loaded into the mass memory 61 of the merchant server 39 using a drive mechanism associated with a computer-readable medium, such as a floppy or CD-ROM drive. May be stored in a readable medium. Finally, mass memory 61 stores web server software 66 to handle requests for stored information, including premium content received via the Internet and WWW.

Order goods and services

Consumer computers, such as computer 42, are generally equipped with a web browser 51, such as Netscape's Navigator, to provide consumers with graphical user interfaces for the Internet and the World Wide Web. 6A illustrates a consumer's computer 42 with a web browser 51 implemented. The consumer's computer 42 includes a main unit 78 that includes a display or monitor 72, a keyboard 74, a mouse 76 and the components described in connection with FIG. The monitor 72 includes a screen 73 on which elements of the web browser 51 are displayed. This element includes a main window 80 for displaying the hypertext document required by the consumer and graphical cursor 82.

In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, a consumer may use a web browser 51 to visit a merchant's web site and retrieve a hypertext document that orders consumer goods and services. As an example, a consumer using the consumer's computer 42 and web browser 51 hypothetically retrieves the hypertext document shown in main window 80 of FIG. 6A from a bookstore web site such as "Albert's Book Department Store". can do. The consumer can select a particular book by manipulating the graphical cursor 82 with the mouse 76 to select and “single-click” items. In response, as shown in FIG. 6B, the order window 70 is displayed on the screen of the customer's computer 42. The order window 70 displays to the consumer another hypertext document containing various payment options that are a credit card, either electronically or by facsimile transmission of credit information. However, according to the present invention, automatic billing icon 68 is also displayed as a payment option. As described below, if the consumer selects the billing icon 68, the consumer is automatically charged with a lump sum or "drop" charge for the product ordered in his next month's telephone bill.

7 shows the logic implemented by the web browser 51 installed on the customer's computer 42 when the automatic billing icon 68 is selected. This logic begins at block 100 and proceeds to block 102 where the web browser 51 determines whether the plug-in component 52 of the first embodiment of the present invention is installed on the customer's computer 42. Proceed. If not installed, in block 104 the customer's computer 42 downloads the plug-in 52 from the billing server 34 via the Internet 20 to transfer the plug-in 52 to the memory 50. Install. If the plug-in component 52 has been installed or downloaded and installed on the customer's computer 42, the logic proceeds to block 106 where the plug-in component 52 is initialized by the customer's computer 42. do. This logic ends at block 104. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the plug-in component 52 of the present invention is downloaded, installed and initialized on a customer's computer using methods known in the field of computer networks.

Once the plug-in component 52 is initialized, the plug-in 52 of the first embodiment performs the logic shown in FIGS. 8A-8C to place a customer's order to the billing server 34. This logic begins at block 120 of FIG. 8A and proceeds to block 122 where the customer's computer 42 establishes an Internet connection to billing server 34 using methods known in the art. Next, at block 124, plug-in 52 displays a purchase confirmation window 84 as shown in FIG. 9A on screen 73 of the customer's computer 42. When the consumer enters "OK", the logic identifies the product I.D. that identifies the product ordered to billing server 34. And block 126 where the plug-in sends the purchaser I.D. assigned to the consumer to the billing server 34 via the Internet 20. As described below, the consumer is assigned a purchaser I.D. and initially orders billing server 34. Therefore, when a consumer is first to place an order, the consumer is not assigned a buyer I.D. and no I.D. is sent to block 126.

Purchaser I.D. And after sending the product ID to the billing server 34, the plug-in 52 sends the transaction ID for which the billing server 34 identifies the consumer and the product ordered by the consumer (by the product ID) to the consumer's computer. Sending to 42 and waiting for the billing server 34 to provide an order (one of one or more billing servers on the Internet 20). As described in more detail below, transaction I.D. is used later to confirm a consumer's order. If transaction I.D. has not yet been received at the consumer's computer, plug-in 52 simply repeats (essentially waits) decision block 128 until transaction I.D. is received from billing server 34. Once received, the plug-in 52 prompts the consumer for a network or local directory on the consumer's computer 42 to store the product purchased by the consumer, as shown in FIG. 9B. ). After entering the directory where the consumer wishes to keep the purchased product, the logic proceeds to block 132 where the consumer's computer 42 begins to receive an encrypted version of the product sent by the billing server 34. . However, as explained below, the consumer is not allowed to decipher the product until the consumer actually pays for the product. In this regard, billing server 34 transmits, and the consumer's computer 42 also receives a premium phone number used to establish a PPP connection to billing server 34 and obtains an access key for decrypting the product. .

While the encrypted product is being downloaded over the Internet 20, the plug-in 52 is in a download transaction state as shown in FIG. 9C on the screen of the consumer's computer 42 instructing the consumer of the change in download status. The window 88 is displayed. Next, at block 136, plug-in 52 determines whether all encrypted products have been received. Otherwise, the logic repeats blocks 134 and 136 until the encrypted product is fully downloaded to the consumer's computer 42.

Once downloading of the encrypted product is complete, plug-in 52 displays an acknowledgment transaction window 89 in block 137 as shown in FIG. 9D. Once the consumer presses the OK button indicating order approval, plug-in 52 disconnects the consumer's computer 42 from the Internet 20 at block 138 shown in FIG. 9B. Next, at block 140, the plug-in 52 provides the modem 49 of the computer 42 with the premium phone number provided by the billing server 34, which is then PPP to the billing server 34. Dial the phone number to establish a connection. In the embodiment described herein, the telephone number provided by the billing server 34 and dialed by the modem 49 of the consumer's computer 42 is a " 900 number " The ten-digit numeric number with the 900 area code assigned. One skilled in the art of telephone switching will recognize that it is a 900 area code that is typically held for commercial purposes, and consumers are generally charged at a specific rate or a fixed rate per minute for telephone calls, a portion of which is charged by the telephone service provider. Payment is made to the merchant or seller assigned the number. However, it will be appreciated that other types of telephone numbers may be used and may in fact be governed by the telephone service provider without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Telephone calls made by modem 49 are answered by telephone switch 40 connected to CSTA monitor 36 of LAN 24. The telephone switch 40 routes the telephone call to the access server, which notifies the billing server 34. Thus, the consumer's computer 42 establishes a PPP connection via billing server 34, access server 38, and telephone switch 40. While this connection is being established, at block 142 the plug-in 52 displays an authorization window (as shown in FIG. 9E) on the screen of the consumer's computer 42 indicating the connection status to the billing server 34. 90).

Once the PPP connection is fully established between the consumer's computer 42 and the billing server 34, the plug-in 52 may have previously assigned a transaction ID to allow the billing server 34 to accept the order at block 144. Is transmitted to the billing server 34. Most consumers can place orders at the same time, so that most computers on the Internet 20 can establish a PPP connection with the billing server 34 at any given time. Thus, transaction I.D. provides a plug-in 52 installed on the consumer's computer 42 with the appropriate access key to identify the consumer and the orders placed by the consumer and to decrypt the previously sent product. In other words, transaction I.D acts as a billing ticket used by the consumer to claim to correct the once-billed access key.

Next, at block 146, plug-in 52 begins to download the appropriate access key to decrypt the product. As described below, a transaction from the plug-in 52 is made within the billing server 34 within a certain period of time (ie, a free period at the beginning of a 900 telephone call while the caller hangs up an uncharged call). While receiving the ID, billing server 34 will send the appropriate access key to decrypt the encrypted product. Otherwise, the PPP connection between the consumer's computer 42 and the billing server 34 is terminated and the consumer will not be billed for the phone call or product.

While waiting for the access key, at block 148 the plug-in 52 displays another authorization window 90 informing the consumer of the status of the download of the access key. At decision block 150, the logic determines whether the consumer's computer 42 has finally received the access key. If not, block 148 and block 150 simply repeat until an access key is received. When received, plug-in 52 stops the phone call and thus terminates the PPP connection with billing server 34 at block 152.

After terminating the PPP connection with billing server 34, plug-in 52 begins to decrypt the encrypted product using the access key at block 152. At block 156, plug-in 52 displays another approval window 90 that notifies the consumer that decryption of the product is in progress at block 156. Thus, at decision block 150, plug-in 52 determines whether the product has been fully decrypted. If not decrypted, blocks 156 and 158 simply repeat until the product is fully decrypted. If fully decrypted, logic proceeds to block 160 shown in FIG. 8C where plug-in 52 deletes the encrypted product from memory 50 of the customer's computer to save space. Next, at block 162, plug-in 52 shows a transaction-completed window 91 on screen 73 of the consumer's computer 42, as shown in FIG. 9F. The consumer is provided with an option in the transactionally completed window 91 to reconnect to the Internet through a typical Internet service provider. Logic relating to plug-in 52 ends at block 164.

The logic implemented by the plug-in component 52 has now been described, and the billing server component implemented by the billing server 34 of the first embodiment to provide an encrypted product and an access key to the consumer's computer 42. It is necessary to explain (62). As shown in FIG. 10, the logic implemented by the billing server component 62 to provide an encrypted product proceeds to block 170 and the connection between the consumer's computer 42 and the billing server 34 is connected to the Internet. Proceeds to decision block 172, which determines whether it is established through. If not established, decision block 172 only repeats until such a connection is established. In decision block 173, billing server component 62 determines whether product I.D. has been received from the consumer's computer 42. If not, decision block 173 is repeated until only product I.D. is received.

If product I.D. has been received, then billing server component 62 at decision block 174 determines whether the consumer is a new consumer, i.e., what the consumer ordered is the first order. If this is the first order the consumer has made, the plug-in 52 will not be able to provide the billing server 34 with the purchaser I.D. for the consumer. Thus, billing server component 62 assigns purchaser I.D. to the consumer at block 176 and transmits purchaser I.D. to consumer's computer 42 at block 178. As noted above, plug-in 52 will return purchaser I.D. and place the order at each subsequent time. The purchaser I.D. is logged in the billing server's product and information database 64 and used for recordkeeping and accounting purposes such as payment history and consumer statistics.

If the consumer is not the first-time buyer or is the first-time buyer and therefore a buyer ID has been assigned, the logic allows billing server component 62 to determine whether an order by this particular consumer should be rejected. Proceed to decision block 180. In detail, the billing server 34 determines whether the purchaser I.D. is blocked. Over time, certain consumers may not be able to pay their phone bills, including the charges charged for those ordered through the present invention. The log for this purchaser I.D. will be maintained in the database of information 64 and the product logged in the large memory 60 of the billing server 34. If the purchaser I.D. of the consumer placing the order matches the logged purchaser I.D., then at block 182 the consumer will be prevented from placing the order and the consumer will be properly notified. This notification includes a message displayed on the screen 73 of the consumer's computer 42 following the end of the PPP connection between the billing server 34 and the consumer's computer 42 at block 183. The logic then ends at block 183. On the other hand, if the consumer is not blocked by the purchaser ID at decision block 184, the logic goes to block 186 where the billing server 34 assigns the transaction ID to the order and sends the transaction ID to the consumer's computer 42. Proceed. Transaction I.D. identifies the consumer, ordered product (by product I.D.) and billing server 34. As noted above, the plug-in 52 installed on the consumer's computer 42 waits for the transaction I.D. before prompting the consumer for a directory for storing the ordered product.

After sending the transaction I.D. to the consumer's computer 42, the billing server component 62 locates and decrypts the product ordered by the consumer at block 188. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the product may be stored in a database 64 of product information located in the mass memory 60 of the billing server 34 or may be located in a merchant server 39 on the Internet. If the product is located in such a merchant server 39, billing server 34 may establish an Internet connection with the corresponding merchant server 39 to download the ordered product. It will also be appreciated that the product may be pre-encrypted where it is located in the mass memory 60 of the billing server 34 or where it is on the Internet 20. Thus, billing server 34 may not need to encrypt the product itself.

Next, at block 190, the billing server component 62 stores the encrypted product as a precursor for transferring the encrypted product to the customer's computer 42 in a working directory in the mass memory 60 of the billing server 34. In block 192, billing server component 62 selects an access key, that is, a password, to decrypt the encrypted product stored in the working directory. Billing server component 62 selects an access key from a predefined list stored in database 64 of product and logged information, or billing server component 62 generates an access key randomly or using various selection algorithms. You can. Once the access key is selected by the billing server component 62, the billing server 34 establishes a PPP connection with the billing server 34 such that billing can be done and the access key provided to the plug-in 52. The encrypted product is transmitted to the consumer's computer 42 and the telephone number used for the purpose. The logic then ends at block 196.

The logic employed in the first embodiment of the invention by the billing server component 62 to confirm the completion of billing for the ordered order and thus to provide the access key to the plug-in 52 is shown in FIG. 11. have. The billing server component 62 determines whether a PPP connection was established at the billing server 34 by any consumer computer 42 with logic started at block 200 in FIG. 11 and a plug-in 52 installed. The decision proceeds to decision block 202 where it is determined. As noted above, most consumers can place orders at any given time, so that most computers try to establish a PPP connection to billing server 34 so that they can obtain the appropriate access key to decrypt the ordered product. can do. Therefore, decision block 202 is repeated until such a connection is established.

Once the PPP connection is established, the logic is placed by the consumer by determining whether an order placed by the consumer has been assigned to the consumer and the purchaser ID sent to block 34 by plug-in 52 has been blocked. Proceeding to decision block 204, where the billing server component 62 determines whether the order should be rejected. If it should be rejected, the consumer is appropriately informed by a message displayed on screen 73 of the consumer's computer 42, for example, at block 206. Thus, billing server component 62 terminates the premium telephone call and terminates the PPP connection with consumer's computer 42. It will be appreciated from the following description that if a premium telephone call is ended at this time, ie before the expiration of the free period, the consumer will not be billed for the order placed.

If the order was not rejected by the purchaser ID, the logic proceeds to decision block 212 where the order is placed on the consumer's phone number (i.e., the modem of the consumer's computer calls the premium server to the billing server 34). Based on the number of the person making the call). In one embodiment of the invention, a list of telephone numbers, i.e. telephone numbers for persons who have not paid their monthly telephone bills for the products ordered or for all consumers indicated that all purchases by their telephone numbers should be rejected. The list of is maintained by the CSTA monitor 36. If the order is to be rejected based on the consumer's phone number, the CSTA monitor 36 automatically provides a busy signal to the modem 49 of the consumer's computer 42 at block 206. Next, at block 208, the telephone number call is made by the modem 49 of the consumer's computer 42, thus terminating the PPP connection to the billing server 34. The logic then ends at block 210.

At decision block 212, if the order is allowed, the logic proceeds to decision block 214 which determines whether billing server component 62 has received a transaction I.D. from plug-in 52. If not, the logic proceeds to another decision block 216 where the billing server component 62 determines whether the free period has expired. As described above and below, the free time is the time interval at the beginning of a 900 telephone call where the consumer can hang up and is not charged for the telephone number service by the telephone number service provider. Unconditionally, free time is typically 18.9 seconds. However, free time is variable because it is defined by the telephone number service provider. During the free time, the plug-in 52 may display a message informing the consumer that the consumer can hang up the phone and there is no charge for the call or product. If the transaction ID has not been received from the plug-in 52 during the free time, the billing server component 62 will automatically terminate the premium phone call at block 208 so that the consumer is not charged for the premium phone call. It is not wrong. As a result, the logic ends at block 210. When the transaction I.D. is leisurely received, logic proceeds from decision block 214 to another decision block 216 where the billing server component 62 determines whether the free period has expired. In other words, once billing server 34 has received transaction I.D. from plug-in 52, billing server component 62 simply waits for the free time to expire. Upon expiration, the telephone number service provider bills the consumer for the ordered product as follows and the billing server component 62 decrypts the product that the plug-in 52 has already provided by the billing server component 62. The access key assigned to the order identified by the transaction ID to the consumer's computer 42. The logic then ends at block 219.

The plug-in and billing server components of the present invention have now been described and the operation provided by the telephone number service provider for automatically billing the consumer for the ordered product is described in detail with reference to FIG. The flowchart begins at block 220 and blocks 220 where a telephone number service provider routes premium telephone calls made to the consumer's computer 42 to the telephone switch 40 connected to the CSTA monitor 36 of the LAN 24. Proceed to If telephone switch 40 answers the call, the telephone number service provider waits for the above free period to expire at block 224 before billing the consumer for the order at block 226. During this time, the consumer's computer 42 or billing server 34 may terminate the telephone call and prevent billing of the order. Once the free cycle expires, the telephone number service provider bills the ordered product as a unit charge or "drop charge" using its internal accounting and billing procedures. As a result, the charges for product and premium telephone calls will appear on the consumer's next month's telephone bill for the telephone number on which the consumer's computer 42 makes a telephone call to billing server 34. At block 228, the telephone number service provider collects payment for premium phone calls and products ordered from the consumer through a general collection process. The telephone number service provider charges a service fee to the provider of billing server 34 at block 230.

FIG. 13 generally shows the plug-in 52 / consumer's computer 42 and billing server component 62 / billing server 34 working in parallel. As a result, FIG. 13 shows a consumer's computer 42 establishing an Internet connection to billing server 34. The consumer's computer 42 then sends the product I.D. of the ordered product to the billing server 34. In response, billing server 34 sends a transaction I.D. for the order to consumer's computer 42. Billing server 34 also transmits the telephone number and encrypted product for establishing a PPP connection to billing server 34 at the consumer's computer 42. Once the consumer's computer 42 has a transaction I.D. And upon receiving the encrypted product, the consumer's computer 42 dials the telephone number sent by the billing server 34 to release the connection from the Internet 20 and obtain an access key for decrypting the product. Hang. Once a PPP connection with the billing server 34 is established, the consumer's computer 42 returns the transaction ID back to the billing server 34 such that the billing server component 64 matches the transaction ID assigned to the transaction and identifies the order. send. Thus, the billing server sends the appropriate access key to the consumer's computer for the plug-in 52 to decrypt the product. As can be readily seen from FIG. 13, plug-in 52 can only decrypt the ordered product so that the consumer can only use the product and, if an access key is provided, this is the consumer's computer. Need to be a premium telephone call billed by the telephone number service provider to the telephone number service account of the consumer.

Order Premium Content

In a second embodiment of the present invention, a consumer may order premium content provided by a merchant via the Internet 20 and rather than charge a unit rate or drop charge for the premium content, the consumer may access the premium content. You will be charged automatically for the amount of time you spend.

As shown in FIG. 14, a consumer is a computer with a web browser 51 installed to retrieve a haripertext document and visit a merchant's website, which may link to or include content that is deemed of value to the merchant. Can be used. By way of example, a consumer using computer 42 and web browser 51 may retrieve the hopper text document shown in main window 70 of FIG. 14 from merchant server 39. The consumer can order premium content stored on the merchant's website, which is the merchant server 39, by selecting the automatic billing icon 68. As described below, when the consumer selects the automatic billing icon 68, the consumer is informed of the consumer's next month's telephone bill for the time of using the premium telephone line accessing premium content retrieved from the merchant server 39. You are billed automatically by the telephone number service provider.

The logic implemented by the web browser 51 installed on the customer's computer 42 when the automatic billing icon 68 is selected is the same as in the first embodiment in the second embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to that in FIG. It has been described above in connection with. In summary, in response to the selection of the automatic billing icon 68, the web browser 51 downloads the plug-in component 52 ′ from the billing server 34 via the Internet 20 and plug-in component 52. Is not installed in the consumer's computer 42, the plug-in component 52 'is installed in the memory 50 of the consumer's computer 42. It will be appreciated that the logic implemented by the plug-in component 52 'in the second embodiment is slightly different from that described above in connection with the first embodiment. Therefore, reference numeral 52 for the plug-in component is written in prime "" in the second embodiment.

Once the plug-in 52 'is initialized, the plug-in 52' may be placed in FIGS. 15A-15C to place a consumer's order for premium content information with the billing server 34 using methods known in the art. Perform the logic shown. The logic begins at block 240 of FIG. 15A and proceeds to block 242 where the consumer's computer 42 establishes an Internet connection to billing server 34. Next at block 244, plug-in 52 ′ displays premium content access window 280 on the screen 73 of consumer's computer 42 as shown in FIG. 16A. The premium content access window 280 provides the consumer an opportunity to confirm the consumer's order for premium content and cancel the request. When the consumer enters "OK", the logic sends to billing server 34 a product I.D. that uniquely identifies the buyer I.D. assigned to the consumer in FIG. 15A and the premium content desired by the consumer. As explained in detail below, the consumer is assigned a buyer I.D. and at first it places an order on the billing server 34. Thus, if this is the first time a consumer places an order, the consumer will not be assigned a buyer I.D. and no I.D. will be sent to block 246. However, in another embodiment of the present invention, when the plug-in 52 'is downloaded, the buyer I.D. is downloaded to the consumer, thereby eliminating the need for the billing server 34 to provide it later. Product I.D. In addition to the purchaser I.D., the plug-in sends to the billing server 34 a merchant I.D. that uniquely identifies the merchant providing the premium content and an advertising rate billed to the consumer while accessing the premium content. It will be appreciated that Merchant I.D. and advertising rates are obtained directly from merchant websites used by consumers to order premium content.

Buyer I.D., Product I.D., Merchant I.D. And after the advertisement rate is transmitted to the billing server 34, the plug-in 52 ′ may display the premium content ordered by the billing server 34 to the consumer's computer 42 by the consumer, the consumer (by order ID). , And wait to send a transaction ID identifying the billing server 34 that processes the order (as described above, there may be one or more billing servers on the Internet 20). The consumer's computer 42 also waits for the billing server 34 to send the premium access phone number and the actual premium access fee to be billed to the consumer (as may be different from the advertised fee). A premium access phone number is a phone number used by a consumer's computer 42 to establish a PPP connection to billing server 34 and billed to the consumer per minute (or other time interval) for accessing premium content. It will be recognized as a premium rate phone number. As described below, once the PPP connection is established, the consumer is allowed to download the desired premium content from the merchant server 39 and begin billing at the actual premium rate.

As shown in Fig. 16B, once a transaction ID, premium phone number and actual premium rate are received by the plug-in 52 ', the plug-in 52' will have a premium phone number field 282 and a rate field, respectively. Displayed at 284 is a premium content access window 280 equipped with the actual premium rate and premium phone number received from billing server 34 as completed. When the OK button is pressed indicating that the consumer wishes to continue ordering premium content, the plug-in 52 'is inserted from the consumer's computer 42 from the Internet 20 at block 252 shown in FIG. 15B. Next, at block 254, the plug-in 52'is connected to the modem 49 of the computer 42 and the modem that dials the telephone number to establish a PPP connection to the billing server 34. Is provided by the billing server 34. As described above, the premium phone dialed by the modem 49 of the consumer's computer 42 and provided by the billing server 34 as described above. The number is a "900" number, a ten digit number with a 900 area code, assigned by the telephone service provider of the billing server. For those skilled in the field of telephone switching, the 900 area code has generally been reserved for commercial use Usually You will be charged a specific or flat rate per minute for call calls and a portion of this fee will be paid by your telephone service provider to a merchant assigned a 900 number, however other types of phone numbers may also be used, It will be appreciated that it is designated by the telephone service provider without departing from the scope of the invention.

In block 254, the CSTA monitor 36 is not necessary for embodiments of the present invention to establish a PPP connection to the billing server 34. Instead, premium telephone calls made by the modem 49 of the consumer's computer 42 are answered by the telephone switch 40 connected to the access server 38 informing the billing server 34 of the incoming telephone call directly. do. Thus, the consumer's computer 42 establishes a PPP connection to the billing server 34 via the telephone switch 40 and the access server 38. Once the PPP connection is established and the free cycle associated with the premium telephone number expires, billing is initiated by the accounting and billing procedure by the telephone service provider. Thus, plug-in 52 'calculates the amount of time spent by a consumer accessing premium content, the premium rate charged to the consumer for viewing or searching for premium content, and for accessing premium content. The consumer's time spent displaying the timer window 290 and accessing premium content, as shown in FIG. 16C on the screen 73 of the consumer's computer 42, including the total cost for the consumer. A premium access timer is started at block 256 to track the amount. Next, at block 258, plug-in 52 'places an order for premium content to billing server 34 by sending previously assigned transaction I.D. to billing server 34. It will be appreciated that the majority of consumers can order premium content at the same time and thus the majority of computers on the Internet 20 can establish a PPP connection to the billing server 34 at any given time. Thus, a transaction ID is required and thus the billing server 34 has a plug-in 52 'installed on the consumer's computer 42 with appropriate information to identify the consumer and the order by the consumer and to gain access to premium content. ).

After the transaction ID is sent to billing server 34, the logic proceeds to decision block 260 which determines whether the consumer's computer 42 has received and received an access ID, password and URL from billing server 34. . As will be seen below, when the billing server 34 receives an order for premium content from the consumer's computer 42, the billing server 34 sends the order to the merchant server 39 of the merchant providing the ordered premium content. In response, the merchant server 39 may include (a) a URL for the premium content ordered; (b) a password that allows the consumer's computer 42 to claim the premium content ordered and enter the merchant's premium website; And (c) providing billing server 34 with access I.D. which provides access to an Internet Protocol (I.P.) session by merchant server 39 to consumer's computer 42. If this information was not received from billing server 34, decision block 260 simply repeats, i.e., plug-in 52 ', simply waits until the information is received. When received, the plug-in 52 'launches a web browser 51 with the URL for the premium content already loaded at block 262 and the consumer's computer 42 has a merchant server 39 identified by the loaded URL. Establish an Internet connection. For those skilled in the art, an internet connection between the merchant server 39 and the consumer's computer 42 is established through the access server 38 and billing server 34 to which the billing server is connected. In other words, LAN 24 acts as a gateway for consumer computers to the Internet 20. Once this connection is established, the consumer's computer 42 may, at block 262, associate the merchant with the password and access ID already given to enable the consumer's computer 42 to access the IP session specified by the merchant server 39. Transfer to server 39. The consumer's computer 42 downloads premium content located at the merchant web site, ie, merchant server 39, identified by the URL at block 264 of FIG. 15C.

Billing continues at the premium rate as the consumer continues to access the premium content and only the consumer selects the billing server 34 and merchant server (by selecting the disconnect button 294 of the timer window 290 shown in FIG. 16C). Terminate only when selecting disconnect from 39). In response, the logic determines at block 266 whether the consumer has selected the disconnect button 294. If selected, the logic proceeds to block 271 where the PPP connection to the billing server 34 is terminated via the premium telephone line, thus ending the internet connection between the merchant server 39 and the consumer's computer 42. When the PPP connection is terminated, the billing for the use of the premium telephone number also ends. Thus, at block 271, the premium access timer ends, and at block 274 the plug-in 52 'accesses the premium content by multiplying the actual rate by the time consumed by the consumer on the premium phone line. Calculate the total cost for the consumer for something. The total cost is then displayed in the timer window 290 as shown in FIG. Next at block 276, an exit window 296 as shown in FIG. 16D is displayed to the consumer on the display 73 of the consumer computer 42. From the exit window 296 the consumer may choose to re-enter the Internet 20 via a general Internet service provider. The logic of the plug-in component 52 'ends at block 278.

At decision block 266, if the consumer does not choose to disconnect from billing server 34, the consumer will instead choose to create a bookmark on the premium website if the consumer does not wish to access the premium content again. Can be. When the consumer chooses to create a bookmark, a bookmark icon containing the URL for the merchant's premium website, premium content and a premium number associated with the actual charges for that content are generated on the consumer's computer display for the future. . If the consumer does not want to create a bookmark or has already been created, the logic returns to block 264 whereby the consumer continues to access the premium content.

The behavior of the plug-in component 52 'is that the plug-in component will already have the actual charges for accessing the premium content and the desired premium content on the associated premium phone number possession, so that the consumer will be able to If you choose to access the website, it's a bit different. As a result, a plug-in component is not necessary to obtain this information from billing server 34. The logic implemented by the plug-in component when the premium content bookmark has been selected by the consumer is shown in detail in FIG. 17 and hereafter referred to as plug-in component 52 ″. Logic begins at block 300 and proceeds to block 302 where the consumer's computer establishes an Internet connection to billing server 34. Next, at block 304, plug-in 52 ″ displays a premium content access window 310 as shown in FIG. 18 on screen 73 of consumer computer 42. The premium content access window 310 confirms the consumer's order for premium content and displays the previously obtained actual premium rate and premium phone number billed to the consumer in fields 312 and 312, respectively. If the consumer enters "OK", the logic in FIG. 17 indicates that the plug-in 52 '' is selected by the purchaser I.D., product I.D., merchant I.D. And block 306 for sending the actual fee to the billing server 34. The consumer's computer then waits at block 308 for billing server 34 to return the transaction I.D. for the order. Once received, the logic proceeds to block 252 on FIG. 15B such that the remaining logic shown in FIGS. 15B and 15C described above in connection with the plug-in component 52 ″ is performed.

The logic implemented by the plug-in components 52 'and 52' 'has been described so far, and provided by the billing server 34 to provide the consumer's computer with the information needed to gain access to premium content. It is necessary to describe the billing server component 62 'implemented. The logic implemented by billing server component 62 'in the second embodiment is slightly different from that described in connection with the first embodiment. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the reference numeral 62 for the billing server component is denoted by "". As shown in FIG. 19, the logic implemented by billing server component 62 ′ to provide a premium phone number begins at block 320 and proceeds to decision block 322 where the consumer's computer 42 is located. It is determined whether a connection between the billing server 34 and the billing server 34 has been established through the Internet 20. If not connected, decision block 322 continues only until such a connection is established. Next, at block 324, the billing server component 62 ′ determines whether the product ID, merchant ID, fee, and purchaser ID have been received from the consumer's computer 42, and if not, the decision block 324. Is repeated until such information is received.

Once the product ID, merchant ID, fee, and purchaser ID have been received, the billing server component 62 'determines whether the consumer is a new consumer, that is, whether the consumer is the first to order for premium content. Decide on First time, the plug-in 52 'will not be able to provide the billing server component 62' with the purchaser I.D. for that consumer. Thus, billing server component 62 'assigns the purchaser I.D. to the consumer at block 328. As noted above, plug-in 52 'will subsequently return this purchaser I.D. each time a consumer places an order. This buyer I.D. And product I.D. are logged in the product and information database 64 of the billing server 34 and used for accounting, reporting and recordkeeping purposes such as payment history, consumer statistics, account matching, and the like.

If the consumer is not the first purchaser, or if the purchaser ID is assigned as the first purchaser, the logic proceeds to decision block 332 where billing server component 62 'indicates whether the order by this particular consumer should be rejected. Determine whether or not. More specifically, billing server 34 determines whether purchaser I.D. is valid. If it is not valid, the customer placing the order is notified at block 334 and the PPP connection between billing server 34 and the consumer's computer 42 is disconnected at block 336. The logic then proceeds to block 338. On the other hand, if the purchaser ID is valid, logic proceeds from decision block 332 to block 340 where billing server 34 assigns a transaction ID for the order and sends the transaction ID to the consumer's computer 42. do. Transaction I.D. identifies the consumer, ordered product (product I.D.) and billing server 34. As noted above, the plug-in 52 'installed on the consumer's computer 42 waits for this transaction I.D. before disconnecting from the Internet 20 and establishing a PPP connection with the billing server 34. The logic of FIG. 19 ends at block 342.

The logic is employed by the billing server component 62 'to obtain the information needed by the consumer's computer 42 to access premium content from the merchant server 39 and the same is provided to the consumer's computer 42. 20a-2-b. The logic starts at block 350 in FIG. 20A to determine whether a PPP connection to billing server 34 has been established by consumer's computer 42 with plug-in 52 'installed. Proceed to decision block 352 to determine. As noted above, most consumers can place orders at any given time and thus attempt to establish a PPP connection to billing server 34 so that they can gain access to the desired premium content. Thus, decision block 352 is repeated until such a connection is established.

Once the PPP connection is established, the logic is a decision block that determines whether the billing server 34 has received a transaction ID from the consumer's computer 42 that signals that the consumer's computer 42 is requesting access to premium content. Proceed to 354. If not, decision block 354 simply repeats until the time as transaction I.D. was received. Once received, the logic proceeds to block 356 where the billing server 34 obtains an Automated Number Identification (ANI) of the PPP connection between the billing server and the consumer's computer 42 from the access 38. The ANI is logged by the billing server 34 in the product and information database 64 and used for accounting, recording and recordkeeping procedures. The billing server also obtains the Internet Protocol (IP) that was assigned to the consumer's computer 42 by the access server 38 when the PPP connection was established. As will be described in detail below, the billing server 34 is configured to retrieve transaction I.D. And the consumer computer IP address.

Next, at block 358, the billing server component 62 'confirms that the consumer's computer 42 dialed the correct premium phone number for the desired premium content. The premium content is identified by product I.D. and each product I.D. is associated with a specific telephone number in the database of products and the logged information 64 stored in the mass memory 64 of the billing server 34. As a result, billing server component 62 ", at block 354, establishes a premium phone number to establish a current PPP connection that matches the premium phone number associated with the premium content (i. E., Product ID) received from the consumer's computer. Determines whether the computer has been established by the consumer's computer. If the correct premium phone number has been dialed, the logic will proceed to block 366 where a merchant providing premium content ordered from block 360 is identified to billing server 34. More specifically, each product I.D. that identifies premium content is associated with a particular merchant, which association is stored in the billing server 34's product and logged information database 67. Once the merchant is identified at block 366, the billing server component 62 ′ may generate a merchant server for the particular merchant server 39 that promotes premium content from the product and logged information database 67 at block 368. 39), that is, an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

Next, at block 370 shown in FIG. 20B, billing server 34 establishes an Internet connection with the merchant server 39 located using the IP address obtained at block 368. Once the connection is established, the billing server, in block 372, communicates with the merchant server 39 for the transaction I.D. And IP address. As described below, the merchant server 39 sends the billing server 34 the information necessary for the consumer's computer 42 to access premium content in response to the transaction ID received from the billing server 34. . Thus, at decision block 374, the logic determines whether billing server 34 has received access I.D., password and URL for premium content from merchant server 39. If not, the decision block 374 simply repeats as long as the billing server 34 receives this information. If so, the billing server 34, at block 376, launches the web browser with the appropriate URL of the consumer's computer 42, establishes an Internet connection to the merchant server 39 and the merchant server 39 receives it. Provide the merchant server 39 with an access ID for accessing the designated IP session, and a password required to obtain an entry to premium content. The logic then proceeds to decision block 378 and determines whether the consumer's computer 42 has terminated the PPP connection with the billing server 34. If not, decision block 378 simply repeats until the PPP connection is terminated. In other words, as long as the consumer's computer 42 continues downloading premium content from the merchant server 39 and the PPP connection is maintained between the consumer's computer 42 and the billing server 34, the consumer uses the premium phone number. The actual fee provided by billing server 34 will be billed until one established PPP connection is terminated, i.e., until the consumer hangs up.

When the PPP connection is terminated between the consumer's computer 42 and the billing server 34, the billing server 34 includes a transaction ID, the IP address of the consumer computer and the access ID, at block 380. Which sends a request to the merchant server 39 for the consumer's computer 42 to deny further access to the premium content. As described below, in response to this request, the merchant server 39 establishes a new PPP connection to the billing server 34 via the premium telephone line to which the consumer's computer 42 will be billed to the consumer and delivers the premium content. It will deny further access to the consumer's computer 42 until reordering. If a reject request is sent, at block 381, billing server 34 is disconnected from merchant server 39. Logic for billing server component 62'ends at block 381.

The logic implemented by the merchant session gateway component 65 that provides the billing server 34 with access information for the ordered premium content is shown in more detail in FIG. The logic begins at block 390 and proceeds to block 392 where a direct internet connection is established between merchant server 39 and billing server 34. If not established, decision block 392 only repeats until such a connection is established. Once established, the logic may determine whether the merchant server 39 has received from the billing server 34 a transaction ID identifying the IP address assigned to the consumer's computer 42 and the ordered premium content. Proceed to block 392 to determine. The IP address of the consumer's computer is logged in the product database 67 of the merchant server 39 and verifying that the merchant server 39 delivers the ordered premium content to a valid IP address, that is, the IP address of the appropriate consumer's computer. Used by the merchant server 39 for this purpose.

At decision block 394, if the result is negative, decision block 394 is repeated until such information is received from billing server 34. In other words, if an Internet connection is established between merchant server 39 and billing server 34, merchant server 39 waits to receive transaction I.D. for premium content from billing server 34. When received, the merchant session gateway component 65 may determine the URL for the ordered premium content, access I.D. And a password to the billing server 34. In the second embodiment described herein, each product I.D. is associated with a URL of the product database 67 of the merchant server 39. As noted above, the URL provides an address on the Internet of premium content. It will be appreciated that the premium content may be located on another merchant server on the Internet or on a merchant server 39 that implements this logic. As noted above, access I.D. identifies the IP session assigned by the merchant server 39 to which the consumer's computer 42 has access to download premium content ordered from the merchant server. Finally, the password is a unique string that ultimately returns to the merchant server 39 for the consumer's computer to enter the premium content site.

The merchant server 39 is configured to access the URL, access I.D. And after sending the password to billing server 34, merchant session gateway component 65 waits from billing server 34 for an indication that the consumer has terminated the premium telephone call. Thus, at decision block 398, the logic waits whether the merchant server 39 has received a request from the billing server 34 to deny access to the consumer's computer 42. As described above, when the billing server 34 detects that the consumer's computer 42 has terminated the PPP connection with the billing server 34 and disconnected from the premium telephone line, the billing server 34 is a merchant server ( The access ID initially assigned by 39), the IP address of the consumer's computer, and the transaction ID are sent to the merchant server 39 requesting denial of further access to that consumer. Therefore, decision block 398 is simply repeated until such a request is received. From the above description, the merchant session gateway component 65 sends the premium content to the consumer's computer 42 while the consumer's computer 42 is waiting for the premium phone call to end. (And this delivery is governed by the web server component 63 of the merchant server 39) the consumer will continue to access the premium content while billed. Further, as described above, as the merchant server 39 transmits, the consumer's computer 42 downloads the ordered premium content, and the merchant server 39 stores the merchant server 39 in its memory. Already sent by billing server 34 to verify that each page of premium content ordered is delivered to the correct destination address, which is the IP address of the consumer's computer 42 downloading premium content that matches the consumer IP address. And the consumer IP address stored in the mass memory 61.

When a request is received to deny access, the merchant session gateway component 65 sends the consumer's computer 42 to the consumer's computer 42 so that the consumer's computer 42 can no longer obtain access from the assigned IP session with the merchant server 39. Invalidates a given consumer IP address and access ID. As a result, the consumer's computer 42 can no longer communicate with the merchant server and can no longer access premium content. The logic of the merchant session gateway component 65 ends at block 402.

If a person skilled in the art uses a premium telephone line to establish a PPP connection between the consumer's computer 42 and the billing server 34, the telephone service provider will continue to bill the consumer during the premium telephone call cycle using a method known to the consumer. Will be recognized. When a consumer terminates, or "hangs", a PPP connection using a premium phone number, billing stops, as in any other premium phone call. The telephone service provider then charges a service fee to the provider of billing server 34, and the merchant pays the premium content provision portion.

22A-22B illustrate plug-in component 52 '/ consumer's computer 42, billing server component 62' / billing server 34, and merchant session gateway component 65 / merchant server 39. Overall diagram showing parallel operation. As a result, FIG. 22A shows a consumer computer 42 establishing an Internet connection to billing server 34. The consumer's computer 42 then sends to billing server 34 a product I.D. identifying the merchant I.D., the advertised billing fee and the purchaser I.D., and the premium content ordered. In response, billing server 34 also transmits the actual premium rate charged to the consumer for accessing premium content and a premium phone number associated with the ordered premium content. The consumer's computer 42 is responsible for transaction I.D. And upon receiving the premium telephone number, the consumer's computer 42 disconnects from the Internet and dials the premium telephone number sent by the billing server 34 to establish a PPP connection with the billing server 34. Once the connection is established, billing for the consumer's time spent accessing the premium content begins and the consumer's computer 42 causes the billing server component 62 'to identify the order and send it to the appropriate merchant server 39. The transaction ID is transmitted back to the billing server 34 to be sent.

Thus, billing server 34 establishes an Internet connection to merchant server 39 and executes transaction I.D. And the IP address of the consumer's computer to the merchant server 39. In response, the merchant server 39 sends the billing server 34 access information, which is the access I.D., password and URL that will be used by the consumer's computer 42 to locate and access the desired premium content. On the other hand, billing server 34 transmits the access information to the computer 42 of the consumer. When the consumer's computer 42 receives the access information, the consumer's computer 42 has an Internet connection and uses the URL to locate the premium content and merchant server 39 stored there. The consumer's computer 42 is then given access I.D. And password. In response, the merchant server 39 sends the ordered premium content to the consumer's computer 42. During such time, the consumer will continue to be billed in time for accessing premium content to the consumer because the PPP connection between the consumer's computer 42 and the billing server 34 is maintained on the premium telephone line. However, when the consumer's computer 42 terminates the PPP connection, the billing is terminated and the billing server 34 may allow the merchant server 39 to deny access to the premium content to the consumer's computer 42. Send a request to the merchant server 39 to deny access to the content (otherwise, the consumer reorders the premium content using the plug-in component 52 'or 52' 'as described above). . Billing server 34 terminates the Internet connection with merchant server 39.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be appreciated that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. By way of example, the billing system of the present invention may be used when ordering products that are not electronically stored and shipped. It is delivered by other means such as postal service, express delivery package service, etc. In such a case, instead of providing the plug-in 52 with an encrypted product and an access key that decrypts the encrypted product, a claim number to be presented upon delivery of the product to the consumer so that the consumer can claim the product. And an access key. The billing system of the present invention can also be used to order products that can be used by a consumer only for a certain period of time. For example, a consumer may purchase as much computer game time as one hour. In such a case, the game is not allowed to play until an access key is provided, which is later returned to the computer game provider.

With such a configuration, the billing system can be used even when ordering a product that is not electronically stored and shipped, and provides the plug-in 52 with an encrypted product and an access key for decrypting the encrypted product. Instead, the consumer is provided with a claim number and access key that must be presented upon delivery of the product so that the consumer can claim the product, so that the billing system of the present invention can be used by the consumer only for a predetermined period of time. Has the effect that can also be used to order products.

Claims (1)

A method of ordering a product over the Internet, wherein the product is ordered from a consumer computer connected to the Internet (“Internet”) of a computer system and billed by a billing server connected to the Internet. (a) establishing a connection between the consumer computer and the billing server via the Internet; (b) sending the order for the product from the consumer computer to the billing server via the Internet; (c) calculating a fee for the ordered product based on the premium telephone connection duration and the predetermined rate between the consumer computer and the billing server; (d) sending a request to reject an order for a product from the billing server to the merchant server via an internet connection between the billing server and the merchant server.

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