MXPA97000655A - System and method for computed services in billing line and numbers collection - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for using an access management computer to control a user's access to digital data provided by an online server through a data network where a billing system separate from the online server charges the user for access to digital data, comprising the steps of: the access management computer receives, from the billing system, a message indicating that the user has requested access to the digital data, the access management computer interfaces with the online server, the access management computer sends an access message to the online server to signal the online server to provide the digital data to the user through the data network, and the access management computer provides to the billing system the access message corresponding to the user's access request

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD P? RA COMPUTED SERVICES IN BILLING LINE AND COLLECTION OF NUMBERS 900 BACKGROUND The present invention relates in general to billing for online services made available to a user in a computer or data network, and more particularly, to a billing and collection system and method in which access to these services in the computer or data network and the billing thereof is linked to a telephone connection associated with a billing network that manages and bills for access to information about the data network. One of the key problems with online services (the "Internet") when it comes to commerce is the difficulty of Internet information service providers ("online service managers") to charge users for minute, incremental or fixed rates for use. One way that these fees are charged for access to several online service managers is simply billing the user's online service account when that account exists. Another way in which the information sub-administrators can charge the payment is by having the user establish an account with the online service sub-managers on a charge basis on a billing or credit card. This form of approach can be difficult, time consuming and risky from a security point of view. Moreover, for an access to the online service manager in which relatively low costs are incurred, the collateral costs associated with a small incremental billing makes this approach form not economical. Unfortunately, transferring credit card numbers via the Internet carries the risk of theft of unscrupulous computer thieves pirates, and digital money or encoded measurement concepts are still far from practical implementation. Although coding systems will eventually facilitate the common use of credit card numbers for transmission through cyberspace for decoding in the online service manager, some users will never be completely comfortable providing their credit card numbers. this way, even if communications become ostensibly secure. Moreover, some users may not be able to obtain a credit card or not have one with a sufficient amount of available credit. In addition, credit card companies may assess or require a minimum charge in order to process billing. In summary, there is a problem that casual short-term visits or single-use visits to an online service manager in a computer network can not be charged for access on a per-minute or fraction basis in an inexpensive manner for both the sub-administrator of service in 5 line as for the user.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION In view of the drawbacks described '' hereinabove, billing practices by 10 services obtained on the Internet, it is an object of the invention to provide a billing and collection system in which the information is communicated to a user through a data network or first communication channel, and billing is implemented through of a billing network or second 15 communication channel. It is another object of the present invention to provide a billing and collection system by which a user on the Internet can gain access to an online service manager and incur costs. 20 associated with this access through the use of a telephone line that communicates through a billing network. It is a further object of the invention to provide decoupled time-defined billing for online services provided over a data network, where the 25 billing is implemented through the use of a telephone line associated with a billing network. It is still another object of the invention to provide a billing and collection system whereby access to online services over the Internet and billing 5 thereof is implemented through a call rate number based on 900-type revenue sharing. over the billing network for which revenue based on the call rate is shared by the telephone company or billing agent associated with the billing network and the 10 service manager, office and / or any representative thereof. It is still another object of the invention to provide a billing and collection system by which a company charges the payment of 900 calls and pays the 15 online service managers a percentage of all income. - "" It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for billing and charging for Internet services in accordance with the above objectives. In accordance with the above objects and the additional objects that will become apparent hereinafter, the present invention provides billing and charging in a computer system, where, in one embodiment, the system comprises a data network that includes at least 25 an online service manager for online access by a user over a first telephone line with a user computer through the data network, a billing network that includes a second telephone line in the user's residence or business from which access is desired, and an access management computer. The access management computer allows a user to access the online service manager by communicating a single user access message and the online service manager. The computer of 10 access management may be associated with the billing network, an independent service office that handles billing shared between the billing network and the data network, or may associate directly with the online service manager. The access management computer includes 15 o is associated with a database, in which access messages are stored for the different sub-administrators of the online service. Alternatively, the access management computer may generate a particular access message. The access message may be valid for a single online service manager or for a plurality of online service sub-managers, and for a single session or for a plurality of sessions. In one embodiment of the invention, when a user arrives at the "base page" of an online service manager 5, a telephone number is displayed on the screen for the user to call to obtain the access message. The base page may also display a message that the cost to use this service manager is xx cents per minute, or xx cents per minute after the first x minutes, or something similar, or a fixed charge. In an alternative mode, the instructions for the user and the related telephone information reside in a directory, either stored in the memory in the user's computer or in some external medium. 10 When the user wants access to an online service manager, he or she dials the 900 number that routes the call through the billing network to the access management computer. The access management computer provides the user access message about the 15 voice network and at the same time provides the online service manager with instructions to allow the user ** - that introduces that access message on the user's computer, which has access to the online service manager for as long as the second telephone line is 20 leave open, or for a predetermined amount of time after the end of the 900 call. When the user enters the access message on the user's computer, the online service manager reads the access message and if the user's message Access entered by the user 25 agrees that with access message provided by the access management computer, the user is given access to the online service manager. When the user wishes to leave the service manager online, the user simply terminates the connection of the second telephone line 5. This signals the access management computer that terminates access to the online service manager for the particular access message associated with this session. This arrangement separates communication channels between the network ^ Voice and data network. The user is simply billed 10 for access to the online service manager through a telephone company (or billing agent) associated with the billing network for call rate calls in the usual course of telephone charges for telephone calls made on the second telephone line. 15 Revenue based on the call rate is shared between the telephone company (or bill collecting agent) "** and the service manager, and any service office or representative thereof, the billing and collection representative may be an online service such as 20 America On-Line, Prodigy and the like. Thus, the online service becomes a billing and collection agent for the online service manager and the telephone company. In still another embodiment of the invention, the 25 system uses the # 900 billing network as a port of the online service manager. This system operates in a manner similar to the modality described above, but does not require communications to be separated between the data network and the voice network. The user's computer can 5 access the voice network and the data network directly through a single telephone connection. In this connection, the user's computer operates in the same way to provide access to an online service manager '""' particular enabling the same with an access message. The billing network provides billing to the user as long as the access computer keeps the online service manager open for that access message, or for a predetermined amount of time. The user can then be billed for a single aggregate charge for the online service manager who was accessed or the sub-managers of the online service they had access to. - • access. In an alternative mode of a single communication channel, the access message may be authenticated for which it is generated by the user's computer using known coding protocols and communicated to the online service manager through the network of data after it is read and is authenticated (decoded) by the online service manager for access. In connection with this, the authenticatable access message 5 may contain limitations speed by the user such as the desired access time and the maximum cost that will be incurred during any session. In another embodiment of the invention, credit is obtained from the billing network and the user is charged through the telephone company as described above with respect to the other modalities. This credit is charged to the user's computer and communicated to the online service manager about the data network. The "" '- system operates as follows. First, the user's computer 0 marks # 900 and connects to the access management computer. This can be done in a single telephone line that serves to connect with the billing network and the data network, or through a second telephone line that independently communicates to the user's computer 5 with the billing network for the sole purpose to obtain credit. The user is notified through the "and appropriate software that introduces the amount of credit required for access to the online service manager, the user enters the amount in the user's computer, and the access management computer generates a message in authenticated value bit configuration. which is based on the amount of the credit required, a message identifying the particular online service required, and possibly # 900 or the user's own telephone number 5 or some other personal identification key. The value is transmitted to the user's computer and stored in the memory. The user then connects to the online service manager who has his own computer that reads and authenticates the message 5 in value bit configuration. Authentication can take the form of coding and decoding. The user is given access to the online service manager to the extent of the available credit incorporated in the message in the configuration of value bits. The message in 0 value bit configuration can be obtained in fractional quantities if desired. In relation to this, the message in value bits configuration may represent a series of fractional amounts of credit (for example, cents, and coins of other denominations) that are used by the online service manager to have access for corresponding limited amounts of time . Thus, the < * "online service manager would intermittently read and authenticate the message in value bit settings and allow the user continued access as long as 0 has remaining credit.When all credit is terminated, user access is terminated until the user returns to the billing network and repeats the procedure, the user is charged and the revenue is shared with the online service manager as described above with respect to the other modalities.

Alternatively, the billing provider may be available on the Internet itself in the form of a dedicated billing site. The billing site serves as a port for all service sub-administrators in 5 line in the network and regulates all billing for and access to them. The billing site has an access management computer associated with it that facilitates access to the online service sub-administrators and communicates with "^ - a billing system The billing system bill or access charges to the account of the user's online service When a user wishes to gain access to an online service manager, he or she receives a notice from the Billing site to enter an identification message associated with the user's online billing account 5. The billing site then provides an anonymous access message to the particular online service manager to whom access is required. Online service can have its own computer that records the amount of access time that is available for any given session, Similarly, the access management computer on the billing site can do the same to serve as a track. redundant verification.The access management computer continuously monitors the connection.When the user wishes to 5 terminate access to In the online service manager, the access management computer sends a termination message to the online service manager to terminate user access. The process can be repeated if the user wishes to have access to another online service manager. The billing site accumulates invoices for all on-line service manager sessions, and then bills the user through the billing system in a conventional manner. Since the charges for different online service managers may vary, the billing site can bill the user for a single charge added by all online service managers that were accessed during any given period of time, even if Individual charges differ among all sub-administrators of the online service. 5 In any of the modes described above, the online service manager can ** "load software instead of information on the user's computer. 0 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic of the billing and collection system according to a first principal embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a flowchart of the billing and charging process in the first main mode; and Figure 3 is a schema of the access message database; Figure 4 is a schematic of the billing and charging system in a second main embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a schematic of a billing and charging system in a third main embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a flowchart of the billing and charging process in the third main embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a schematic of the billing and charging system in a fourth main embodiment of the invention; Y Figure 8 is a flowchart of the billing and charging process in the fourth main embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES With reference to the various views of the drawings, various modalities of a parallel invoicing and charging system according to the present invention are represented. Referring now to Figure 1, a block diagram of a first main mode of the system generally referred to by reference numeral 10 is represented. The system 10 includes an access management computer 12, which communicates via a convenient connection 14. with a telephone network 16. The telephone network 16 is connected to the data network 18 (the "Internet"), and includes or connects to a billing network 19. In this connection, the telephone network 16 may be composed of a plurality of individual networks, where the Internet 18 and the billing network 19 communicate with the user through * "**" different telephone companies. The Internet is made up 10 of a plurality of online service sub-administrators 27. The operation of online services is well known and it is not necessary to describe it here in detail. To the telephone network 16 a user computer 22 is accessed through typical hardware such as a modem 24 on a first line 15 telephone 26. Only one user computer 22 is shown for the purpose of illustration, but Internet 18 is accessible to a large number of individual users. Each user requires a telephone 28 which communicates with the telephone network 16 and the billing network 19 over a second one. 20 telephone line 30 that is separate and apart from the first telephone line 26 and allows calls to be placed on the access management computer 12 to facilitate access to the online service sub-managers 27 as described below. The combination of the user's computer 5 22 and the telephone 28 can be referred to collectively as the user site 21. Here again, only the telephone 28 is represented for the sake of clarity. Of course, it is anticipated that the user's computer 22 itself could dial the billing network 19 on the second telephone line 30, if the user's computer 22 is installed to accommodate parallel lines of communication. Another embodiment where the user's computer 22 communicates through a single communication line is discussed below and illustrated in Figure 4. Referring again to Figure 1 the system 10 uses a first communication channel to communicate information through the Internet 18 and a second communication channel, the billing network 19, to facilitate billing for the information service provided. Billing network 19 includes a revenue share call rate of type # 900 or premium charge network 32 that automatically charges a call fee or prescribed charge to the party making the call each time a call is made through of the call rate network. These call rate numbers are typically used to provide information or services specific to a given caller, for example, stock prices, weather, travel information, and the like. For the purposes of the present invention, the use of the term "# 900", identified by the reference numeral 35, is not limited to the use of the call rate network "900", but may cover any call rate network. or a premium charge that automatically charges a prescribed calling fee that is shared between the online service manager 27 (and any service 5 or agent associated with them) and the telephone company (and any billing agent) each time that you have access to the call rate network 32. Since some users may wish to have access from a business where 900 calls are blocked, charges may be incurred 10 in relation to, for example, a line 800 as long as the user knows what the charges are for. Access to the prescribed call rate can be accessed on a per-minute basis, or a combination of rate levels for different amounts of time (ie, xx cents per minute or xx cents per 15 minutes after the first x minutes or similar), or a fixed rate charge. A chronological record 33 of the rate '' "calls keeps the record of the 35 called numbers.

This information is entered into a billing system 34, so that the company that manages the billing network 20 can periodically bill callers who used the # 900. As shown in the block diagram of Figure 2, the user first registers on the Internet 18 in the usual way on the user's computer 22 about 25 the first telephone line 26. The user selects an online service manager 27 which contains an information service that he wants to browse. In one embodiment of the invention, the base page 29 of the online service manager 27 displays instructions for the user to follow them to access the online service manager 27. These require the user to call # 900 35 at least. which will be charged, for example, xx cents per minute, a fixed fee or a combination thereof. The user then calls the number # 900 35 on the telephone 28, whose call is communicated on the second telephone line 30 and through the billing network of the telephone network 16 to the access management computer 12. The term "computer Access management "is used in a general sense. The access management computer 12 can actually comprise a plurality of computers that are coupled together through an appropriate network, for example, a local area network (LAN). The access management computer 12 also communicates through the telephone network 16 with the Internet 18 (and thus with the online service administrators 27). When the user calls # 900, 35, the call is routed to the access management computer 12. The user transmits an online service identification message 29 via telephone 28 and the second telephone line 30, which makes that the access management computer 12 provides an exclusive access message 39 for the service that is being accessed. The access message 39 is generated either by the access management computer 12 or is removed from the database 40. The user is given a notice on the base page 29 of the online service manager 27 to enter the access message 39 on the user's computer 22. The access management computer 12 uses the access message 39 to allow access to an online service manager 27, transmitting the access message 39 to the Internet 18 to put the online service manager 27 available to browse for a specific user who enters the same access message 39 on the user's computer 22. In a mode, the user receives information from the online service manager 27 for as long as desired , and the costs associated with it are incurred through the call rate register 33 and the user is billed via the billing system 34 in accordance with conventional practice. The call rate register 33 calculates the rate as a function of the duration of the telephone call time 900. The user terminates access to the online service manager by simply hanging the telephone 28. The access management computer knows which call it is finished by checking the corresponding access message 39 for the particular online service manager 27 to which you are having access. Thus, when the call ends, the access management computer 12 generates a termination message 43 and communicates the same to the online service 18, where it is processed to terminate access to the online service manager 27. In an alternative mode, the user does not need to have the second telephone line 30 open. After the user places a 900 call as described above, the access management computer 12 similarly generates or removes an access message 41 from the online service manager 27 to allow the required information to be loaded over the Internet and through the first telephone line 26 to the user's computer 22, or allowing limited access to the online service manager 27 during some predetermined amount of time. The use charge for the information in the online service manager is incurred in connection with the call 900 in some established tariff base (fixed, variable or similar). Here again, the cost of obtaining information from the online service becomes linked to the user's telephone bill. In relation to this, it is also anticipated that, in addition to or in place of information, software may be uploaded to the user's computer 22 in the same manner. The main advantage provided by these embodiments of the present invention is the separation through parallel communication channels of the money flow of the information flow through the computer network, allowing small charges to be charged for access to the service sub-managers. on line 27 through a billing network or service office that then shares a percentage of the revenues charged with the online service sub-managers 27. Another advantage realized by billing for services on the Internet 18 in this way, is the elimination the risk of an unauthorized party obtaining access to a user's credit card number or information related to the payment method. The user is simply billed for the 900 calls on his monthly telephone billing statement. The information transaction becomes easier and less time-consuming, and overall billing costs are reduced. According to the above description, the present invention contemplates a method for billing and charging in a system to allow revenue sharing between an online service manager 27 over a data network 18 and a separate billing network 19 billing a customer by a separate telephone connection on a second telephone line 30 through the billing network 19 where the telephone connection on the second telephone line 30 regulates access to the online service manager 27 on the data network 18 on the first telephone line 26 comprising: a data network 18 including at least one online service manager 27 for a user presenting at least one service for online access by a user on a first telephone line 26 with a user computer 22 through the data network 18; a billing network 19 accessible through a second telephone line 30; and an access management computer 12 for controlling access to the online service manager 27 by at least one of generating, and removing from a database 40, an access message 39 in response to a telephone connection on the second line telephone 30 comprising the steps of: (a) connecting the user's computer 22 to the data network 18 over the first telephone line 26 to reach an online service manager 27; (b) calling a telephone number 35 of shared revenue type 900 on the second telephone line 30 through the billing network 19 to establish a telephone connection with the access management computer 12; (c) at least one of generating and removing from a database 40, an access message 39 with the access management computer 12 and communicating the access message 39 to at least one of the user and the online service manager 27; (d) allowing access to the online service manager 27 for the user on the user's computer 22 after receiving the access message 39 via the online service manager from the access management computer 12; (e) communicating information (or software) from the online service manager 27 to the user's computer 22; and (f) generating a billing charge for the telephone connection on the second telephone line 30, billing the user in relation to the call rate for the 900 call and sharing revenue between the telephone company (or his billing agent) and the online service manager 27 (and any service office or agent associated with them). In one embodiment, the telephone connection on the second telephone line 30 is terminated when the user wishes to leave the online service manager 27 causes the access management computer 12 to terminate access to the online service manager 27. Alternatively, the method involves terminating the call 900 immediately after obtaining the access message 39, whose access message allows access to the online service manager 27 during some predetermined amount of time, either to communicate certain information, or to upload software to the user's computer 22. Referring now to Figure 4, a second main mode 10 'of the invention is represented where the data network and billing network function essentially as a single entity. The billing network 19 thus serves as a port of the online service manager. In relation to this, the user's computer 22 communicates on a single telephone line 26 with the telephone network and obtains access to the Internet 18 by dialing # 900, 0 35. When access to an online service manager is desired. In particular, the access management computer generates or removes an access message 39 as described above.This access message 39 is communicated to the online service manager 27 to allow access 5 to the online service manager 27 for the user The access management computer 12 also sends the message of - access 39 to the billing network 19 to allow a billing fee to be made in relation to the opening of the online service manager 27 for the user. Here 0 again, the billing network 19 may generate a fixed charge for the particular session, or may generate a per minute or incremental charge based on the amount of time the user spends browsing through the online service manager. When the user wishes to terminate a session, he or she leaves the online service manager 5 following the instructions associated with the online service manager 27, causing the online service manager 27 to send a completion message 41 to the access management computer 12 and the billing network 19, or if the access management computer 12 continuously monitors access to that particular online service manager 27 for that joint access message 39, the access management computer 12 will signal to the billing network 19 that the '"billing for that session is about to end. 10 invoice for access to the online service manager as described with respect to the first main mode. However, in this modality, the user can be billed for all time on line 900, plus the costs of access to any of the sub-managers of 15 online service 27. Since different online service sub-administrators can charge different amounts for '"- access, these charges could be detailed in the bill of the user for calls made to the billing network In an alternative mode of a single communication channel, the access message 39 can be authenticated by generating it by the user's computer using known coding protocols and communicating with the online service manager 27 through the data network 18 after which the online service manager 27 reads it and 5 authenticates (decodes) to give access. with this, the authenticated access message may contain limitations specified by the user such as the desired time of access and the maximum cost that will be incurred by any session. Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, a third main embodiment of the invention is shown in which credit is obtained from the billing network and the user is charged through the telephone company as described above in relation to the others modalities. This credit is loaded into the user's computer 22 and communicated to the online service manager 27 over the data network 18. The system operates in the following manner. First, the user's computer 22 dials # 900, 35, and connects to the access management computer 12. This can be done either on a single telephone line 26 that serves to connect to both the billing network 19 and to the data network 18, or through a second telephone line 30 that independently communicates to the user's computer 22 with the billing network for the sole purpose of obtaining credit. The user is advised through the appropriate software to enter the amount of credit required for access to the online service manager. The user enters the amount in the user's computer 22, and the access management computer 12 generates a message in authenticated value bit configuration 60 that is based on the amount of credit requested, an identification message 62 of the online service particular required, and possibly # 900 or the user's own telephone number or some other personal identification code. The message in value bit configuration is transmitted to the user's computer 22 and stored in the memory. The user then connects with the online service manager 27 who has his own computer 52 that reads and '"" * "" authenticates the message in bit configuration of value 60. 10 Authentication may take the form of coding and decoding. The user is given access to the online service manager to the degree of available credit incorporated in the message in the configuration of bits of value 60. The message in configuration of bits of value 60 15 can be obtained in fractional quantities if desired. In relation to this, the message in configuration of value bits '~ 60 can represent a series of fractional amounts of credit (for example, cents or other denominations of currencies) that are used by the service manager in 20 line to access by corresponding limited amounts of time. Thus, online service manager 27 would intermittently read and authenticate the message in a 60-bit configuration and allow the user continued access to the extent of any credit 25 remaining. When all the credit is finished, the access for the user is terminated until the user returns to the billing network 19 and repeats the procedure. The user is billed through the billing system 34 and the revenue is shared with the online service manager 27 5 as described above with respect to the other modalities. Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, in a fourth main embodiment of the invention, computer "" * of user 22 communicates through the telephone network 16 0 with an access billing site ("billing site"). 45 which regulates all billing for and access to the information service of the online service sub-administrators 27 The billing site 45 has an access management computer 12 associated therewith which facilitates access to the 5 service manager on line 27 and communicates with a billing system 34. The billing system 34"" 'invoices access charges to the online service account of the user 50. When a user wishes to access an online service manager 27, he or she is given a warning by the billing site 45 of that you enter an identification message 49 associated with the online billing account of the user 50. The billing site then provides an anonymous access message 52 to the online service manager 27 for which access was requested. The online service manager 27 may have its own computer 52 which records the amount of access time that is available for any given session. Similarly, the access management computer 12 on the billing site 45 can do the same to serve as a redundant verification trail. The access management computer associated with the billing site 45 continuously monitors the connection. When the user wishes to terminate access to the online service manager 27, the access management computer 12 sends a termination message 56 to the online service manager 27 to terminate the user's access. This process may be repeated if the user wishes to have access to another online service manager 27. The billing site 45 accumulates invoices for all on-line service manager sessions, and then invoices the user through the billing system 34 of a conventional way Since charges for several online service manager 27 may vary, billing site 45 may bill the user for a single aggregate charge by all online service managers that were accessed during any given period of time, even if if the individual charges differ between all the online service sub-administrators. The present invention has been shown and described in what are considered to be the most practical and preferred modalities. It is anticipated, however, that variations thereof may be made and that those skilled in the art may present obvious modifications.

Claims (9)

1. A billing and charging system to allow revenue sharing between a service provider over a data network and a billing network by billing a customer over a separate telephone connection over a second telephone line through the billing network where the telephone connection on the second telephone line regulates the , r "* access to the service provided over the data network in the The first telephone line, comprising: a data network including at least one online service manager for a user for online access by a user on a first telephone line with a user computer through the data network; 15 a billing network accessible through a second telephone line; an access management computer to control access to the online service manager by at least one of generating, and withdrawing from a base of Data, an access message in response to a telephone connection over the second telephone line through the billing network, and using the access message to allow a user to access the online service manager, 25 whereby a prescribed call rate for the telephone connection on the second telephone line is billed to the user for calls made on the second telephone line over the billing network, and the revenues charged from the call rate are shared with the 5 service manager online.

2. The billing and collection system mentioned in claim 1, wherein the online service manager loads software onto the computer data network. "'" "" of the user.

3. The billing and charging system mentioned in claim 1, wherein the user's computer communicates with the billing network through the second telephone line to connect to the access management computer. 15

4. A method for invoice and charge in a system to allow revenue sharing between a sub-manager of '"*"' online service over a data network and a separate billing network that bill a customer over a separate telephone connection over a second telephone line to 20 through the billing network where the telephone connection in the second telephone line regulates access to the service provided over the data network in the first telephone line comprising: a data network that includes at least one online service manager for access in 25 line by a user on a first telephone line with a user computer through the data network, - a billing network accessible through a second telephone line; and an access management computer for controlling access to the online service manager by at least one of generating, and removing from a database, an access message in response to a telephone connection on the second telephone line, and using the access message to allow a user to access the online service manager until the termination of the telephone connection on the second telephone line, which comprises the steps of: (a) connecting the user's computer to the data network about the first telephone line to reach an online service manager; (b) at least one of the user and the user's computer call a 900-type revenue-sharing telephone number on the second telephone line through the billing network to establish a telephone connection to the access management computer; (c) at least one of generating and removing from a database, an access message with the access management computer and communicating the access message to at least one of the user, the user's computer and the service manager in line; (d) allow access to the administrator of the online user service on the user's computer after receiving the access message through the online service manager from the access management computer; e) communicate information from the online service manager to the user's computer; (f) terminate the telephone connection on the second telephone line to cause the computer to operate "** access terminates access to the 10-line service manager, and (g) the billing network generates a billing fee associated with a telephone connection over the second telephone line, billing the user and sharing revenue between the telephone company and the manager of 15 online service.

5. A method for billing and charging in a system '- to allow revenue sharing between an online service manager on a data network and a separate billing network by billing a customer for a connection 20 a separate telephone line over a second telephone line through the billing network where the telephone connection in the second telephone line regulates access to the service provided over the data network in the first telephone line comprising: a data network that includes when 25 minus one online service manager for online access by a user over a first telephone line with a user computer through the data network; a billing network accessible through a second telephone line; and an access management computer for controlling access to the online service manager by at least one of generating, and removing from a database, an access message in response to a telephone connection on the second telephone line, comprising the steps of: (a) connecting the user's computer to the data network on the first telephone line to reach an online service manager; (b) at least one of the user and the user's computer call a 900-type revenue-sharing telephone number on the second telephone line through the billing network to establish a telephone connection to the access management computer; (c) at least one of generating and removing from a database, an access message with the access management computer to allow access to the online service manager for a predetermined amount of time and to communicate the access message at least one of the user, the user's computer and the online service manager; (d) communicate information from the online service administrator to the user's computer, and (e) that the billing network generates a billing fee associated with the telephone connection on the second telephone line, billing the user and sharing 5 revenues between the telephone company and the online service manager. The method mentioned in claim 5, wherein step (d) comprises loading software associated with the "" Online service manager on the data network in the user's computer. 7. A billing and charging system to allow revenue sharing between a service provider over a data network and a billing network by billing a customer over a telephone connection through the network of Billing where the telephone connection regulates access to the service provided over the data network, comprising: r - a data network that includes at least one online service manager for user for online access by a user with a computer user to 20 through the data network, - a billing network accessible through the user's computer; and an access management computer to control access to the online service manager 25 on the data network by at least one of generating, and removing from a database, an access message in response to a telephone connection between the user's computer and the access management computer through the billing network , and communicating the access management computer the access message to the online service manager to allow a user to access the online service manager from the user's computer, J. whereby a call rate or prescribed for the telephone connection on the second telephone line is billed to the user for calls made on the second telephone line over the billing network, and the revenues charged from the call rate are shared with the online service manager. 8. The billing and charging system mentioned in claim 7, wherein the user's computer generates an authenticated access message that is read and authenticated by the online service manager, where the authenticated access message represents the 0 limitations selected by the user that include access time and costs. 9. A method for billing and charging in a system to allow revenue sharing between a service provider over a data network and a separate billing network 5 where the telephone connection with the billing network facilitates access to the service provided over the network of data: comprising a data network that includes at least one online service manager for online access by a user over the data network; a billing network; and an access management computer for controlling access to the online service manager and providing the billing network with an authenticated value bit configuration message representing the credit provided to the user to access the online service, which comprises the steps of: (a) connecting the user's computer with the access management computer through the billing network; (b) generating a message in the configuration of authenticated value bits with the access management computer, and communicating the message in configuration of bits of authenticatable value to the user's computer, the message representing the authenticated value bits representing the credit representing the message. of the user to access the online service manager, - (c) communicate the message in authenticated value bit configuration from the user's computer to the online service manager where the online service manager reads and authenticates the message in configuration of authenticatable value bits; r '(d) allow access to the online service manager for the user on the user's computer and communicate information from the online service manager to the user's computer, - and (e) generate the billing network a charge of Billing for the user's credit and sharing revenue with the online service provider.