WO2000005684A2 - Internet billing - Google Patents
Internet billing Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2000005684A2 WO2000005684A2 PCT/IL1999/000399 IL9900399W WO0005684A2 WO 2000005684 A2 WO2000005684 A2 WO 2000005684A2 IL 9900399 W IL9900399 W IL 9900399W WO 0005684 A2 WO0005684 A2 WO 0005684A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- internet
- user
- account
- paid
- computer
- Prior art date
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F9/00—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units
- G06F9/06—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
- G06F9/44—Arrangements for executing specific programs
- G06F9/455—Emulation; Interpretation; Software simulation, e.g. virtualisation or emulation of application or operating system execution engines
- G06F9/45504—Abstract machines for programme code execution, e.g. Java virtual machine [JVM], interpreters, emulators
- G06F9/45508—Runtime interpretation or emulation, e g. emulator loops, bytecode interpretation
- G06F9/45512—Command shells
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
- G06Q20/04—Payment circuits
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
- G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
- G06Q20/14—Payment architectures specially adapted for billing systems
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
- G06Q20/22—Payment schemes or models
- G06Q20/28—Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/02—Details
- H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/02—Details
- H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
- H04L12/1453—Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network
- H04L12/1464—Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network using a card, such as credit card, prepay card or SIM
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/02—Details
- H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
- H04L12/1453—Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network
- H04L12/1467—Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network involving prepayment
Definitions
- the present invention is related to the filed of Internet access and in particular to methods and apparatus for charging for Internet access.
- the Internet is generally accessed using one of two methods, either by a dial-up connection from a personal computer to an ISP (Internet Service Provider) or through a LAN to a computer which is connected to an Internet.
- ISP Internet Service Provider
- Internet cafes are institutions where a person may walk in and access the Internet. Some such institutions, for example Sannela Global Systems, provide a prepaid card which allows a limited access to the facilities.
- Auric, inc. provides an "Intercard" system, in which a user uses a card having a pre- assigned user/password combination. When the user calls up a toll free 800 number, he enters this user/password information into his web browser and receives a certain amount of Internet access time. Further details are discussed in Auric's web site at "http://www.auricweb.com", downloaded on June 3, 1998, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. It should be noted that an e-mail account is not provided with the card.
- US patent 5,749,075 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a prepaid Internet access card, in which the card number and pin number are dialed, as in a prepaid long distance telephone card, to provide a connection to an Internet supplier.
- a user is required to call up a toll free number, enter the card and pin numbers and then either download or receive by mail an Internet access software suitable for utilizing the Internet access.
- the user is prompted for various personal information which may be stored in a database in association with the card/pin numbers.
- the Auric method and the '075 patent provide relatively anonymous ways of accessing the Internet. It should be noted that, in general, Internet access is anonymous since there is no information regarding the user on the Internet. However, an Internet address of the user must be provided in order for Internet access to work. Additionally, text files may be generated at the user's computer by remote Internet sites, in order to track personalizations of Internet access. These text files are called "cookies" and, although they may be blocked, proper operation of many Internet sites requires that cookies be allowed to be written.
- One object of some preferred embodiments of the invention is to provide a method of accessing the Internet.
- the method allows a user to have geographic freedom in accessing the Internet.
- the method allows the user to access the Internet anonymously.
- Another object of some preferred embodiments of the invention is to provide methods and apparatus for billing for Internet access, preferably using prepaid amounts.
- a pre-paid Internet access card comprises a number and a password, which may be printed on a credit-card size card.
- the card has associated with it a sum of money and/or Internet access time.
- a user may modify the password associated with a card number.
- a user may identify himself as a particular user, not coinciding with the card number, but preferably associated therewith.
- card is used herein as a convenience, in many embodiments, a card will not be in existence, only an account.
- the information associated with the card may be used to modify and or limit the access of the card user to the Internet, for example, the user may be blocked from accessing pornographic sites or sites which promote gambling. Alternatively or additionally, the card user may be limited to accessing certain promotional sites. Alternatively or additionally, a card user may be blocked and/or obstructed from accessing sites in which payment for services using the pre-paid card is not possible. Alternatively or additionally, the card user may be forced to use certain services, for example a WWW address finder which adds advertisements. Alternatively or additionally, the information may be used to personalize Internet access and or advertisements.
- Such limitations on the card usage may be created before card is purchased, for example by a distributor or even after the card is purchased, for example by a parent. Such limitations may be applied, for example by calling in to a service center or via the Internet, when logged on using the card. Some of these limitations may be fixed. Others may be reversible using a password, for example a password supplied when applying the limitations.
- a credit balance of a prepaid card may be used to send money to a bank account and or for Internet telephony and/or for other types of electronic commerce.
- Another aspect of some preferred embodiments of the invention relates to reducing and/or controlling spending in a pre-paid Internet card.
- a service is not provided and/or if the quality of the service is not sufficient, part or all of the costs involved may be refunded.
- a discount on access to the Internet and/or to certain sites may be provided, this discount may be provided on request.
- the identification of the request may be included in an advertisement, so that readers of the advertisement may know to request the discount.
- a discount may be provided responsive to a user providing personal information and/or responsive to the personal information.
- additional "bonus" credit may be assigned to a card and/or a different rate may be used, responsive to a user agreeing to view advertising, visiting of certain sites accepting other promotions, using certain services and/or responding to questionnaires.
- varying the cost of Internet access responsive to a supplied quality of service can be especially important in pre-paid cards, where the user can be anonymous and the service provider is limited in the ways by which he can compensate a user for reduced quality. Additionally, the user is limited in the control he has over card expenditures. Quality-related costs are one way of the user controlling the life of the pre-paid account.
- a methodology is provided for an interaction between the card user and the Internet, possibly simplifying or eliminating the exchange of moneys, of bill generation, payment tracking and/or of risk taking by either of user or the service provider of an incompatible partner.
- quality of service responsive billing may be applied to other methods of billing for Internet access and/or services, besides pre-paid methods.
- a user can control spending from his card, preferably interactively.
- a user can trade off a connection rate, a connection speed, a quality of graphics to transmit, number, type and/or complexity of advertisements and promotions and/or the types of sites which may be accessed with a rate and/or a charge schedule.
- an indication may be displayed to a user prior to his spending credit, for example by indicating costs for a site and/or for a service.
- a user can OK any or all deduction from the card. Possibly, only costs above a certain amount, or of a certain type, are presented to a user for approval. In some cases, the service may be provided and if the user disapproves of the cost, some or all the sum refunded.
- Some services may require payment only for a first use (in an Internet session) and/or a reduced amount at subsequent uses.
- some services which require payment may be paid by a card provider instead of by a user.
- an electronic persona especially useful for a user which uses pre-paid Internet access.
- Such an electronic persona preferably includes one or more of identifying information, an e-mail account, storage space and configuration files to be used by certain software tools.
- a user when a user connects to an Internet from any location, using any computer and/or any service provider, such a user may simply and quickly set up his computer to operate in a manner convenient to him. For example, automatically setting up e- mail retrieval and configuration of personalization of word processors.
- a virtual or electronic personality includes both a static part ("persona”) and a dynamic part (“mood”).
- a mood and a persona may have a similar structure: preferences, weights and other aspects as described below.
- a persona is used to define a steady state personality which varies slowly, if at all.
- a mood is preferably used to emulate an instantaneous condition.
- the persona is defined as a structure and the mood defines changes in the structure, especially functional changes. For example, a "meticulous" persona which always desires complete downloads of images, may be modified by a "rush” mood, so that instantaneously it does not require complete downloads.
- a mood may be provided as well or even instead of the persona, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the invention.
- the identifying information of the electronic persona may not be the same as the true identifying information of the user, thus providing the user with an ability to anonymously access the Internet.
- electronic persona are provided in conjunction with Internet-access "telephone" booths and/or connection centers, for example at conferences.
- a booth preferably includes a general purpose computer having Internet access and including a plurality of software titles.
- the booths may contain only a computer, without Internet access.
- the information downloaded from the Internet in association with an electronic persona may include information for speaker- dependent voice control.
- an electronic persona may operate differently and/or provide different access limitations responsive to an identification of a computer from which the persona logs on.
- a WWW site is automatically constructed for a user, responsive to a persona.
- the site modifies its content and/or presentation responsive to an instantaneous mood and/or persona of the user.
- An aspect of some preferred embodiments of the invention relates to using a URL address field of a browser for entering commands.
- These commands may be entered instead of a standard URL, in addition to a standard URL (preferably as a postfix, but possibly as a prefix) or in addition to a non-standard URL or an indication of a URL which a user desires to view.
- a rigorous command language may be preferred, in some preferred embodiments of the invention a free form or even a natural language command interface is provided.
- These commands may be executed on the local computer, on a remote computer or on a combination of both computers.
- the results of the action may be presented as a "result" WWW page on the graphical display area of the browser. This page may be generated remotely or locally.
- the commands may affect local data and/or remote data.
- the parsing, textual analysis and or execution of the commends is affected by the virtual personality of the user, for example, the meaning of a word depending on the mood.
- the commands may refer to WWW pages or other Internet objects currently or previously accessed by the browser.
- the commands may refer to objects being manipulated by other software on the current or remote computers.
- One example of a command is "copy the current word file to my diskette and to Robert's computer".
- a command may be implicit. For example, a form may be filled in based on what a user enters in the URL line.
- a user enters an email address, causing an e-mail program (or a suitable WWW page) comes up with the address of the recipient filled in.
- a user enters a telephone number, a form appears for sending a text message to the telephone, with the address already filled in.
- a user will modify the data with a command, for example, "send a text message to 054-540540" or "text 054-540540".
- the command may be recognized as such in many ways, for example as described in the PCT applications incorporated herein.
- the browser is modified, possibly using a plug-in or a patch, to include code which first checks the entered text to see if it is a URL and if not, parses it as a command.
- An aspect of some preferred embodiments of the invention relates to prepayment of advertisement costs.
- an advertiser especially a small advertiser, can purchase a certain number of exposures or other advertising units. This purchase may be anonymous and/or may allow the advertiser to select between a large variety of advertising service providers. As the advertising units are used up, the account is decremented.
- the advertiser can control where and or how the advertisements are placed and/or their contents, the controlling preferably being done via the Internet.
- Another aspect of some preferred embodiments of the invention relates to freedom of selection of an ISP.
- the connection when a user connects up, the connection utilizes an anonymous card number and not a user identification.
- the actual connection to the Internet may utilize any local service provider.
- a card provider leases a certain number of "Internet connections" from local service providers and provides connection to the Internet, utilizing the modems and/or communication services of the local providers. This enables the card provider to purchase the "Internet connections" at a reduced rate.
- Another aspect of some preferred embodiments of the invention relates to situations when the access time associated with a pre-paid card is used up. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection is not terminated when the access time is up.
- a time remaining indicator may be display, preferably constantly to a user. Such an indicator may be created, for example, using a resident program, by modifying a WWW browser, by modifying a socket driver and/or by modifying WWW pages viewed by the user. Additionally or alternatively, a special "vital statistics" page may be available for the user. Additionally or alternatively, a warning may be displayed, for example as a banner, when the pre-paid access time is running down.
- an empty pre-paid card may still be used to access the Internet, at reduced quality and/or limited to a site where additional access time may be purchased.
- a card may be recharged, either by one of the access bonuses described above or by purchasing more time, for example using another prepaid card, an on-line bank account and/or by credit card.
- the user when a user uses a new pre-paid card instead of an old one, the user can associate the same electronic persona(s) associated with the old card, with the new card.
- the transition between cards can be seamless.
- a method of configuring a computer comprising: connecting to an Internet, using an arbitrary computer; downloading from the Internet a persona; and automatically updating the arbitrary computer using the persona, to be configured per a user's desire.
- automatically updating comprises automatically updating an e-mail address in an e-mail program on the arbitrary computer.
- a method of Internet access comprising: connecting to an Internet, wherein said access is charged to a pre-paid account; purchasing a service on the Internet, using the pre-paid account for payment; and receiving a refund, to said pre-paid account, for the purchase if the service quality is not satisfactory.
- said service comprises a search and wherein said receiving a refund comprises automatically determining that the search failed.
- a method of maintaining pre-paid account comprising: providing a first pre-paid account, associated with a pre-paid Internet access card; providing a second pre-paid card; and transferring at least a part of a balance between the first and second cards.
- a method of Internet access comprising: detecting a connection request; automatically selecting an ISP (Internet service provider) for the connection; and performing the connection using the automatically selected ISP.
- ISP Internet service provider
- a method of Internet connection comprising: dialing up an Internet access number, to start a session; selecting an ISP after said dialing; indicating said selected ISP during said session; and connecting to the Internet, using said ISP.
- the method comprises automatically presenting to a user a selection of suitable ISPs.
- said session is not an Internet session.
- a method of Internet service purchasing comprising: connecting to an Internet using a pre-paid account to pay for Internet access; while connected to the Internet, ordering a service from a service provider; and settling a bill for said service using said pre-paid account.
- said Internet connection is mediated by a pre-paid server and wherein said pre-paid server transfers funds to settle said bill.
- a method of pre-paid Internet access comprising: purchasing a pre-paid account; accessing an Internet using said prepaid account, which access deducts from a balance of said account; and performing one or more activities while connected to said Internet, which activities increase said balance.
- said activities comprise accessing a particular site.
- said activities comprise replying to a questionnaire.
- a method of Internet billing comprising: connecting to an Internet via a cost server; accessing a plurality of sites via said cost server, without manually entering a password; and being debited at a different rate for each accessed site.
- said Internet is accessed using a pre-paid Internet account.
- a method of Internet access comprising: connecting to an Internet using a pre-paid access account; performing various activities while connected to said Internet, some of which activities generate deductions form said account; viewing and authorizing at least one of said deductions, prior to its being made.
- a method of Internet access comprising: connecting to an Internet using a pre-paid access card; and controlling access cost by selecting a connection configuration for the connection, wherein said connection configuration comprises at least one tradeoff between service and cost.
- a method of pre-paid Internet access comprising: accessing an Internet using a prepaid account, which access deducts from a balance of said account; and performing one or more activities while connected to said Internet, which activities incidentally modify said balance additionally to said accessing, which activities are other than a requesting by an accessor of said account to transfer funds to said account from another account.
- said one or more activities increase said balance.
- said one or more activities comprise accessing a particular site.
- said one or more activities comprise replying to a questionnaire.
- said one or more activities comprise providing personal identifying information.
- said one or more activities comprise requesting a service and wherein said balance is increased responsive to said service not being performed in a satisfactory manner.
- the method comprises automatically determining, using a computer, if said service is performed satisfactory.
- said service comprises a search and wherein satisfactory service comprises receiving suitable search results.
- said one or more activities comprise viewing an advertisement.
- said one or more activities decrease said balance.
- said one or more activities comprise purchasing a physical item on the Internet.
- said one or more activities comprise purchasing a service on the Internet.
- said one or more activities comprise downloading software.
- said one or more activities comprise posting an advertisement.
- said one or more activities comprise retrieving information from an information providing service.
- an accsessor of said Internet using said account is queried for conformation before at least one of said activities cause a charge deduction.
- said Internet connection is mediated by a pre-paid server and wherein said pre-paid server transfers funds to pay for at least one of said one or more activities.
- said one or more activities include activities which increase said balance and activities which decrease said balance and wherein said increasing activities and said decreasing activities cancel each other out, at least in part.
- said balance is constrained to remain positive.
- said balance is allowed to become negative.
- a deduction responsive to said access is dependent on a quality of service of said connection.
- said quality of service comprises a bandwidth.
- said quality of service comprises an response time.
- said quality of service comprises an image quality.
- said quality of service comprises an measure of advertising included in said Internet access.
- said quality of service comprises a predefined quality of service.
- said quality of service comprises an actual quality of service.
- said access to said Internet is anonymous.
- a user name is associated with said account after said account is used for a first time.
- an e-mail address is associated with said account.
- the method comprises presenting a balance of said account to said user, while said user performs said one or more activities.
- the method comprises limiting access to said Internet responsive to limitation information associated with said account.
- said information is associated with said account after said account is first used.
- said account has a virtual personality associated therewith.
- said accessing is modified responsive to said virtual personality.
- apparatus comprising: a computer; and a storage media having software stored thereon, wherein said software supports said accessing and said modifying said account as described above.
- a method of maintaining pre-paid account comprising: providing a first pre-paid Internet access account associated with personalized information; providing a second pre-paid card; and transferring at least a part of a balance between the account and the card.
- a method of Internet access comprising: detecting a connection request, by a connection server; automatically selecting, by the connection server, an ISP (Internet Service Provider), from a plurality of available providers, for the connection; and performing the connection using the automatically selected ISP.
- ISP Internet Service Provider
- said connection server is implemented on a computer used to connect to the Internet.
- said connection server is implemented on a computer other than one used to connect to the Internet.
- a method of Internet connection comprising: dialing up an Internet access number, to start a session; selecting an ISP (Internet Service Provider) after said dialing; indicating said selected ISP during said session; and connecting to the Internet after said indicating, using said selected ISP.
- the method comprises automatically presenting, by a connection server, to a user a selection of suitable ISPs, for said selecting.
- said session is not an Internet session.
- a method of Internet billing comprising: connecting to an Internet via a cost server; accessing a plurality of Internet sites via said cost server, using an Internet interaction protocol, which access does not require additional actions beyond selecting a URL (Uniform resource locator); and generating a debit, which debit accumulates charges at a different rate for each accessed site.
- said Internet is accessed using a pre-paid Internet account, which account is debited using said debit.
- the method comprises presenting an indication responsive to said debit to said user during said access.
- said cost-server is connected to via the Internet.
- a method of pre-paid access comprising: providing a pre-paid account; connecting to an Internet, debiting said account for said connection at a debit rate; and modifying said rate responsive to a quality of service for said connection.
- said quality of service is requested by a user of said account.
- said quality of service is determined based on parameters of the actual connection.
- a method of configuring a computer comprising: connecting to an Internet, using an arbitrary computer; downloading from the Internet a virtual personality; and automatically updating the arbitrary computer using the virtual personality, to be configured as indicated by said personality.
- automatically updating comprises automatically updating a source e-mail address in an e-mail program on the arbitrary computer.
- automatically updating comprises configuring production software program on said computer responsive to said download.
- said production software comprises a word processor.
- a method of placing an advertisement using a pre-paid advertising account comprising: slotting advertisements in available advertising slots in an Internet; charging said slotting to said pre-paid account; and controlling, by a user, an actual presentation of said advertising responsive to a realtime status of said account.
- said user chooses said slots.
- said controlling comprises modifying a targeting of said advertisements.
- said controlling comprises modifying an exposure rate of said advertisements.
- software for WWW site construction comprising: a user input unit for receiving requests from a user; a personality receiving unit for receiving a virtual personality associated with said user; a selection display unit for selecting options to said user, which selections are displayed responsive to said received virtual personality, and which user input is used to select from said selections; and a site constructor which generates a portion of said site responsive to selections by a user.
- a method of WWW site maintenance comprising: determining a current virtual personality of a user associated with a particular WWW site; and modifying a presentation of said site responsive to said determined virtual personality.
- said modifying comprises modifying display files.
- said modifying comprises modifying a behavior of active components associated with said site.
- said modifying comprises replacing display files.
- a method of commanding a computer to perform an action comprising: providing an Internet browser comprising at least an address entering portion and a page display portion; entering at least an indication of a command, which command does not meet standard URL definitions, into said address portion; and executing said command, which command is other than a command to retrieve or connect to a URL.
- said indication comprises an explicit command.
- said indication comprises an implicit command.
- said command modifies a file on a computer used for said browser.
- said command modifies a file on a computer remote form the said browser.
- a method of manipulating a pre-paid card comprising: receiving an anonymous pre-paid account; associating a personal information with said account; and interacting with an Internet using said account, which interaction is modified by said personal information.
- said personal information comprises a user identification.
- said personal information comprises at least one limitation on said card.
- said at least one limitation comprises a limitation on cost expenditure using said account.
- said at least one limitation comprises a limitation on accessing certain sites.
- said personal information comprises a virtual personality.
- said interaction modifies a balance of said account.
- said personal information comprises a storage location on a computer connected to said Internet.
- said interaction comprises accessing the Internet.
- said pre-paid account is limited to purchasing information.
- said pre-paid account is limited to purchasing advertising.
- a method of calculating a pre-paid account balance comprising: deducting from said account responsive to activities charged to said account, which activities include an interaction with an Internet; determining a quality of said activity; and adding to said account responsive to said determined quality, if said quality is deemed unsatisfactory.
- a method of doing business comprising: producing a plurality of pre-paid cards for interacting with the Internet; and selling said cards to individual customers.
- said cards are associated with accounts for accessing the Internet.
- said cards are associated with accounts for purchasing advertisements.
- said cards are associated with accounts for purchasing information.
- a configurable computer comprising: a computer having production software stored in association therewith; software loaded on said computer, which software configures said production software to match a user, responsive to personalization information provided by said user; usage tracking software for charging for the use of said computer; and a data port from providing said personalization information by said user.
- said data port comprises an Internet connection.
- said data port comprises a connection to a portable computer.
- Fig. 1 illustrates a configuration of a pre-paid Internet connection service, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 2A is a flowchart of a process for connecting to an Internet using a pre-paid connection service, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 2B is a flowchart of an alternative process for connecting to an Internet using a prepaid connection service, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 3 illustrates a configuration for providing an electronic persona to an arbitrary connection, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 4 is a flowchart of a process for providing an electronic persona, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
- Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a process for ISP-independent Internet connection, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
- Fig. 1 illustrates a configuration of a pre-paid Internet connection service 10, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
- a pre-paid server 16 which manages the act of connecting user 12 to Internet 14 and also, preferably, acts related to billing the user for the Internet access.
- the connection may pass through pre-paid server 16.
- the set-up connection may be direct between user 12 and Internet 14.
- a pre-paid connection is useful when a user is on the go and needs to connect from a remote location. In some cases, such a user will have a laptop, but no local ISP access number. In other cases, such a user will not have a laptop either. Additionally, a pre-paid connection is useful if the financier of user 12 desires some measure of control on the amount and/or type of Internet access. In one example, a parent will desire to limit the amount of access time for a child. By providing the child with a pre-paid Internet access card, the parent can limit the amount of money spent on access and the amount of money spent on purchasing services and or products on the Internet.
- pre-paid server 16 may be used to limit the access of the child to certain sites. It should be noted that this control is possible with a minimum amount of effort by the parent and a greater feeling of freedom by the child.
- a worker may be provided with an Internet access card, for work- related Internet access. Such a card may be limited to accessing the workplace. Additionally, such a card provides a small amount of spending cash, for such a worker to use, if necessary.
- a card may be limited to work with certain services.
- a card may be constrained to work with a certain WWW address finder, for example as described in Israeli application number 123,129, filed on 30 January 1998, now PCT application PCT/TL99/00055, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
- the address finder described in the above application allows a user to enter information associated with an address in a free-form format and/or substantially any language. The described WWW page is then directly displayed to the user.
- the card may be used to charge the user for the use of the address finder.
- the card may simply allow the user to access such services.
- a pre-paid access card may be provided as a promotion.
- accessing the Internet with such a card will force a user to view a certain WWW site, answer questions and/or view advertising material, before he can use the Internet access for other uses.
- a work place may use such features to force a worker to view company and/or private news.
- a promotion card may be restricted to a certain WWW site, however, some of the pre-paid amount may be available for sampling services offered by the site.
- pre-paid server 16 purchases of services and/or products from an online product provider 18 is meditated by pre-paid server 16.
- provider 18 bills the pre-paid server directly and the pre-paid card is debited by the amount (possibly including a surcharge).
- the user is not required to enter and special billing information, beyond ordering the product.
- product provider 18 obtains any required information directly from pre-paid server 16 and/or by reading the required information (e.g. a cookie) from user computer 12.
- pre-paid server 16 handles access and/or billing issues, allowing a user freedom from remembering account details and passwords.
- a user may be required to actively present the pre-paid card identification number to product provider 18.
- a electronic bank account and/or credit account may be associated with the pre-paid card and be charged for the purchase.
- product provider 18 may be a part of-, integrated with- and/or associated with- pre-paid server 16, for example if the product provider is an information server, for example one which provides Internet address finding services.
- the pre-paid account may be used for the purchase of information, especially agate information, such as stock quotes and weather.
- all or some of the prepared account (e.g., a sub-account) may be dedicated to a particular type, class or grouping of information.
- a user may pre-purchase 100 stock-quote updates.
- the pre-paid account is not anonymous. Rather, it may be used by a financier (e.g., a parent, a company) to track how a user is pending the account.
- a financier e.g., a parent, a company
- any amount pre-paid with the card may be used for purposes other than Internet access.
- the card may be used to transfer funds to a second card or an electronic bank account.
- a user can split a balance of one card between several cards.
- the Internet access card may be combined with a long distance calling card.
- the prepaid Internet access card may be used for paying for Internet telephony.
- the card is provided as a promotion, for example, by a business, an Internet service provider (ISP) and/or a long-distance telephone company.
- ISP Internet service provider
- a card may be purchased, for example at a neighborhood grocery.
- the card itself is usually only a conveyance medium.
- the codes associated with a card may be purchased and/or provided by an electronic media, such as a diskette and/or by e-mail.
- the current balance may be downloaded to the card at the end of any session and/or during such a session.
- a pre-paid card may be a one time card. Once the access time is used up, the card can be disposed of. Alternatively or additionally, the card may have an access account associated therewith, which account can be replenished. In one example the card is replenished by credit card transfer, for example by fax, e-mail or by calling a 1-800 number. Alternatively or additionally, the card is automatically replenished and a bill is mailed and/or e-mailed to a user. Alternatively or additionally, the card is replenished by calling a "900" number and being billed by the telephone company. Alternatively or additionally, the card is replenished from another pre-paid card, possibly of a different type, such as a long distance calling card. Alternatively or additionally, the card may be replenished using an electronic banking account. Alternatively or additionally, the card may be replenished by an ISP. Alternatively or additionally, as described below, a card may be replenished by the user performing certain activities.
- the balance in a pre-paid card is maintained as a plurality of discrete amount elements, each of which may be used or not.
- a ID and/or a digital signature may be associated with each of the amount elements, so that it is possible to trace their use and/or guarantee that they are not reused and/or replicated.
- the amount elements are all the same size. Alternatively or additionally, several sizes are provided, for example 5c, 10c, 25c, 1$, 5$, 50$ and 100$.
- a plurality of amount elements are used to pay for the product.
- the number of elements is minimized, by appropriately selecting the amount denominations.
- small amounts may be easily paid, for example by using a small denomination.
- the payment may be transfeoed immediately to product provider 18.
- the payment is transferred when several small payments accumulate.
- a user may convert elements of one denomination to elements of another denomination.
- the card comprises a storage media
- the IDs of the elements are preferably stored on the card.
- the payment is initiated by pre-paid server 16, so that there is less of a danger that product provider 18 is attempting to illegally acquire payment.
- the payment requires a connection using the card by the user, so that there is less of a danger that the user is attempting to illegally use the card. Even if a user has illegally obtained the card information, the user is required to connect using the card (preferably not an instantaneous process), possibly requiring a new telephone connection, so thievery is more difficult.
- the amount of money associated with a pre-paid card is preferably small, so that even if the card is stolen, the damage is minimal.
- product provider 18 returns an indication that the payment was sufficient.
- Pre-paid server 16 preferably debits the pre-paid card immediately. If the amount debited was larger than required or if the payment amount is not known exactly in advance, pre-paid server 16 preferably refunds the pre-paid card after the complete amount is known.
- the card balance is maintained as Intemet access time.
- the card balance may be linked to one or more currencies, for example, US $, Japanese yen, German DM or other currencies.
- portions of the card balance may be each linked to a different currency, for example, one third of the card being linked to access time, one half to US $ and the balance to German DM. Transferring between the linking currencies is preferably charged for by the pre-paid server.
- an order of utilization for each card portion is indicated by the user and/or automatically assigned by pre-paid server 16, for example based on size (e.g. largest first).
- the portion to be used is selected based on the transaction, for example, based on a currency preferred by product provider 18.
- a positive interest may be automatically provided for any unused balance.
- positive interest may require an special request by a user, for example in response to a request freeze the card for a minimum period of time.
- the interest may be provided only on an part of the balance which is above the starting balance, for example that accrued using bonus activities (described below).
- a negative interest may be applied. Interest is preferably applied using a temporally sliding scale, for example, beginning decrementing the card balance only if three months have passed since the card was purchased and or refilled.
- pre-paid server 16 includes a clearinghouse for converting and transferring funds between the various types of Internet and non-Intemet electronic money, and especially between pre-paid cards.
- a pre-paid card is used for gambling.
- a person purchases a pre-paid card, possibly one which is dedicated to a gambling site or a consortium of gambling sites. When the person loses money, the money is removed from the card account. When the person wins, the winnings are preferably added to the card account. Alternatively or additionally, winnings may be transferred to an electronic or regular bank account or a check may be printed and mailed, preferably at a user's stipulation. Thus, a user may maintain anonymity while gambling and/or limit his losses to an acceptable, predetermined amount. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a user can recharge the pre-paid card, if the gambling losses use up the card balance.
- transfer of funds to (or from) a card may be performed at the end of a gambling session.
- the funds, especially losses, are transferred in real-time.
- the fund transfer is preferably handled by the pre-paid server, which may also broker the gambling site.
- a gambling game may include a zero-sum type game where one player's losses form another player's winnings.
- the relevant funds are transferred directly from the pre-paid card of the loser to the pre-paid card of the winner.
- some of the winnings are directly transferred to the gambling site owner.
- payment to the site owner is made at entry to the game.
- the bet funds are transferred to a bet holding account and then transferred to the winners.
- gambling winnings are taxable.
- the prepaid server and/or the gambling site owner deduct a tax portion of any winnings and transfer them to a tax authority.
- a user may maintain his anonymity while still complying with a requirement to pay taxes.
- the pre-paid server may provide an indication to the tax authorities of the gambler's identity, preferably without the gambling site owners knowledge.
- different portions of the balance of the pre- paid card account or possibly a different type of electronic payment means, such as an electronic banking account or a credit card may be associated with different tax designations, for example, a gambling winnings portion, a stock winnings portion and a capital gains winnings portion. These portions may remain in the card balance, for example in case they are offset by losses. However, a user may remain aware of which portion of his account is owed as taxes. Alternatively or additionally, a user may be unable to withdraw these sums, expect for legally allowed uses, such as to offset winnings and losses.
- a designation of the tax status and/or other information may be associated with the money, for example, gambling winnings receive one designation and money to refill up the account receive a second designation.
- the information may comprises a source of the money.
- the user is prompted to indicate which money type to use.
- a default money type is used.
- the pre-paid provider tracks what uses the money was put to, for example, which services were bought and/or which products were received.
- the expenditure tracking is integrated with receipt and/or use tracking, for example to determine that a service paid for was actually received and/or the amount that the service was used. Some of this information may be automatically available from the service provider, for example as part of the sales transaction. Alternatively or additionally, this information may be entered by a user, for example using a dedicated program and/or a dedicated WWW page.
- the information may be available by tracking which services a user uses and/or other information available by tracking the users surfing and/or computer usage habits.
- a user can track his expenditure patterns and/or glean various statistics.
- a user may define limitations on certain expenditure patterns, for example, large sums or maximal sums per service. When a user reaches such a limitation, the user may be alerted, allowed to bypass the alert and or informed that the transaction cannot proceed.
- this book-keeping information may be downloaded to a personal book- keeping program. Alternatively or additionally, the book-keeping information is maintained as part of the persona.
- a cuoent state of a pre-paid Internet account is displayed to a user.
- a display may include a balance of an online banking account associated with the card and or other information associated with the card and/or usage statistics.
- the relevant information is especially available in the embodiments where all interaction with the Internet is through pre-paid server 16.
- a display is provided as a separate WWW page.
- the display is shown as part of a screen saver.
- the display is overlaid on a displayed WWW page.
- the information is displayed in a banner.
- the information is displayed instead of an advertisement.
- the information is accessed by a Java applet, which may be downloaded when the connection is initiated.
- the information is accessed by a browser (generally modified) and possibly displayed in a separate window.
- the information is accessed by a resident program.
- the information is accessed by a modified TCP/IP stack.
- the information may be displayed continuously .
- the information is displayed periodically.
- the information is displayed by request.
- a special indication/warning is displayed to the user, for example using a banner or in a separate window.
- an account is decremented as it is used until it reaches near zero, when cooective action is required.
- the account is decremented at the beginning and/or end of each session and/or special transaction (e.g., purchase).
- special transaction e.g., purchase.
- a single account may include more than one sub-account, so that separate tracking of the sums in each sub account and/or provision for transfeoed amounts between sub- accounts, may be desirable.
- reducing the quality comprises reducing connection speed, graphics quality, increasing number of advertisements, reducing response time and/or eliminating features and/or services such as bonuses, encryption of the connection and/or of selected data, automatic notification of e-mail and/or other messaging services.
- not all sites are accessed at a same rate. Any of the following methods (or other methods as well) may be practiced, separately and or in combination.
- different rate schedules may apply to different sites and/or services, for example: flat rate, rate per use, rate per number of page accesses, rate per download count, rate per download bandwidth, rate per new page accessed, rate per time, rate per bandwidth and/or data rate and or rate schedules changing as a function of the number of access times and/or access periodicy and or access latency.
- different site may have different rates.
- different users may have different rates and or rate schedules.
- specific sites may allow the accrual of bonus points, usually for promotion purposes.
- bonus points may also be accrued in response to viewing advertisements, answering questionnaires, filling questionnaires, responding to polls and/or surveys, receiving, reading and or responding to e- mail announcements, providing personal information and/or other activities by the user.
- the number of bonus points depends on characteristics of responding, for example, response time to read and/or answer, length of answer, trustfulness of answer (by comparing questionnaires and/or responses to similar questions within a same questionnaire) and/or meaning completeness of answer (for example by checking that answers are English words and not gibberish and/or by feedback from a survey reviewer).
- such promotions, questionnaires and/or surveys may be limited in time, in number of respondents, in reaching a desired statistical significance of replies and/or by other time or content limits.
- a persona which does not respond before the time is up does not receive any bonus point or only a minimum number thereof.
- the user is prompted to perform such bonus activities, for example in an advertisement.
- the user must request these activities, for example using a code and/or WWW address indicated in an advertisement and/or promotional material.
- such bonus points may be accrued as access time.
- these bonus points have a limited utility, for example, towards using specific services and/or receiving gift products.
- the bonus points may also be used to provide feedback to promoters.
- the bonus points may be used towards increased functionality, for example, increased storage space, fewer advertisements, interest on pre-paid card balance, priority in receiving special offers, MailPush, Internet address finding services and/or other increases in quality and/or quantity of service for a same prepaid card.
- a user may receive a bonus points and/or a refund if a provided service did perform in a satisfactory manner.
- a refund may also include bonus points and/or a compensation for bad service.
- a refund may sometimes be for less than the whole amount.
- the user requests the refund.
- the eligibility to a refund is detected automatically.
- an automatic program in prepaid server 16 tracks automatic refunds in order to detect un-equitable use of the refund mechanism.
- a refund may be provided if a download is cut off in the middle.
- a refund may be provided if a search engine failed and/or if a user failed to find what he was looking for.
- the refund may be provided as a second pre-paid card and/or mailed to the user at an address of his choosing.
- the mailing includes promotional material.
- rates may depend on the time of day. Alternatively or additionally, the rates may depend on available transmission bandwidth. Alternatively or additionally, the rates may depend on a difficulty of connecting to a site and or on its popularity and or on promotion rates and or subsidies paid, for example, by the site owner. Alternatively or additionally, the above parameters may be determined on an instantaneous basis. Alternatively or additionally, they are determined on an average basis. Alternatively or additionally, they are pre-determined.
- the rate schedule depends on a user agreeing to view advertisements.
- the rate may depend on the size of advertisement, e.g. a banner, shown or agreed to be viewed by a user. Size may be measured as absolute size. Alternatively or additionally, size is measured relative to a user's screen size and/or window size.
- advertisement e.g. a banner
- Size may be measured as absolute size.
- size is measured relative to a user's screen size and/or window size.
- Such user related information is preferably provided by the user's browser and or by a resident program associated with the pre-paid service.
- the advertisements are personalized by the pre-paid server 16 to the particular user.
- the information required to personalize the advertisement is maintained in confidence by pre-paid server 16.
- each connection to a site may utilize a different user identification, so that the user's access remains secret.
- a user may maintain several electronic persona which are cycled by the pre-paid server and/or by the user's computer, so that it is more difficult to follow his surfing habits.
- a positive pre-paid account can be provided, in which account (or sub-account) the cost accrued by a user are accumulated to be offset by activities of the user. If the user does not off-set all of the accrued costs cooective action may be taken, for example, the account may be closed, the user may be sent a bill and/or the user may be directed to a site (or sites) where he can practice cost- deducting activities.
- the limit of the card may be the same for all cards, may be fixed when the card is created or may vary between cards and/or for a same card over time.
- the card limit may depend, for example on the promotion type, on the card user's habits (especially of paying back promptly, or to detect if a single user is using or abusing several such cards) and/or on the number of transactions processed through the card.
- the card may be purchased at a cost cooesponding to the limit. Alternatively, a lower cost may be required, possibly the card being provided for free.
- Such a scheme has, in some embodiments of the invention, the advantage that it may be anonymous.
- the user can be targeted based on an identification of the user (possibly based on what the user allows to be stored on the card) and or other card related information, such as where the user received the card.
- a user accrues costs for accessing the Internet and purchasing agate information and then "pays" for the accrued costs by viewing targeted advertisements and/or filling out questionnaires.
- the rate schedule may depend on a user requesting and/or receiving premium (e.g., high speed, high quality) service.
- premium e.g., high speed, high quality
- each WWW site may include a rate schedule.
- a central (or distributed) repository may include rate schedules and/or acceptable payment methods.
- a WWW site will not allow connection and/or will allow only a reduced quality and/or time connection and/or will include more advertisements if the stated rates are not paid.
- the pre-paid server and/or a user's computer may communicate billing information to a WWW server which provides the WWW site.
- the WWW server conducts any required financial transactions directly with the pre-paid server and/or electronic money providers.
- the required financial transactional ability is embedded in the user's browser.
- a user can tradeoff one or more of the above rate setting mechanisms against quality of service and/or other desires.
- a user can limit his spending.
- a user may set other spending limits, for example, limits on rates, per site cost, per hour spending, per product cost and/or limits on advertisement rate and/or content and/or combinations of the above. If any of these limits are exceeded and/or about to be exceeded, the connection to the WWW site may be terminated. Alternatively or additionally, the user is notified and further instructions are requested.
- the limits and/or imminent exceeding of them may be indicated to user's computer, especially a browser, to pre-paid server 16, to product provider 18, to a server of a WWW site and/or to electronic payment means, for example an electronic bank.
- some or all outlays of money, access time and/or bonus points may require confirmation of peonission from the user. Alternatively or additionally, only if such outlays exceed certain, preferably user predefined, limits.
- pre-paid server 16 provides a WWW page at which rates and/or possible tradeoffs are listed.
- the server provides an interactive WWW page at which a user may set such tradeoffs.
- a special purpose software may be provided to the user. Preferably, such software updates itself from the Internet with the latest offerings.
- a user may select tradeoff options and/or listen to rates using a telephone and/or an IVR (interactive Voice Response) system.
- a user can select and or change a trade-off or other cost affecting parameters substantially in real time.
- one or more controls and/or displays are added to the browser (by a local software) and/or to a WWW page
- pre-paid server 16 e.g., by pre-paid server 16, as a button, banner or advertisement
- controls and/or displays a user can determine a cuoent status of trade-offs and/or change them.
- Figs. 2A and 2B are flowcharts illustrating two methods of connecting to the Internet using a pre-paid Internet card.
- the connection process includes the following steps:
- Fig. 2A is a flowchart of a process for connecting to an Internet using a pre-paid connection service, in accordance with a prefeoed embodiment of the invention.
- an access number is dialed (20).
- the established connection is NOT a data connection, or at least not a TCP/IP connection.
- Codes associated with the pre-paid card are preferably entered (22) and a data connection is established (24). Additional user information may be entered at this point and an Internet connection is then established (26).
- pre-paid server 16 has enough information to establish an Internet connection without any additional user intervention.
- the codes are entered using DTMF dialing.
- at least some of the codes may be entered using voice entry.
- Fig. 2A is a flowchart of an alternative process for connecting to an Internet using a prepaid connection service, in accordance with another prefeoed embodiment of the invention.
- An ISP is dialed (30).
- a user preferably enters access codes (34) and then an Internet connection is established (36). If a direct data connection, for example a LAN, is available, it may be possible to skip steps 30 and 32. Alternatively or additionally, to entering codes at before Internet connection. In a prefeoed embodiment of the invention, such codes may be required only after a user has viewed a promotion and/or after a short "free" connect time, which may be mandated by the pre-paid card.
- the entire connection process from the dial- up until an Internet connection is established is performed by the user's computer without a need for user intervention.
- the user enters the required access codes into the computer, prior to (or during) the connection process.
- a user may enter several access code sets, cooesponding to several pre-paid cards, so the user's computer can switch from one to the next when access time is used up and/or to bypass access limitations.
- a user may provide and/or receive a single code which incorporates all the remaining time.
- when such a code is suggested by a user to pre-paid server 16 or when the code is transfeoed to the user by pre-paid server 16, the code is encrypted.
- the user may be limited to access sites at which the user can "recharge” the card.
- the user is prompted to see if he wants to store information that become associated with a card, for example an electronic persona, described next.
- a user can attempt to accumulate sufficient bonus points using the above described bonus techniques.
- a user is allowed to go into debit, at least a small amount.
- some of his "possessions" may be frozen.
- a user cannot transfer a persona if the pre-paid card is in debit.
- a user cannot access a personal storage area or e-mail.
- a user can receive e-mail but cannot send it, or vice versa.
- the pre-paid server may be allowed to provide identifying information to interested third parties, such as advertisers.
- Fig. 3 illustrates a configuration 40 for providing an electronic persona to an arbitrary
- Internet connection in accordance with a prefeoed embodiment of the invention.
- One advantage of connecting to the Internet using a pre-paid card is the possibility of anonymity. Conversely, in many cases a user will desire to maintain his "identity" even if connecting from different locations.
- the user when a user connects to the Internet using a pre-paid card, the user can utilize an electronic persona.
- One aspect of this persona is that it may be used to mask the true identity of the user.
- Another aspect of this persona is that a user may maintain the persona across ISPs, computers, connection sessions and/or connection location.
- user computer 12 obtains an electronic persona from a persona source 42.
- persona source 42 includes a database comprising a plurality of downloadable persona's.
- persona source 42 is part of pre-paid server 16, especially if all access to the Internet is through pre-paid server 16. Alternatively, the two are separate entities. However, it should be appreciated that there is generally a cooelation between connecting to an Internet and obtaining an electronic persona.
- an electronic persona includes some or more of the following items of information and/or associations:
- Storage space may be used to permanently store files and/or other items of interest.
- a user downloads the files to a local computer on works on the local files, possibly uploading them after the fact. However, if there are security issues, a user may prefer to maintain the files only at the remote location.
- Configuration files An important aspect of working on the road is using production programs, such as word processors. Typically, a user will personalize and/or configure such production programs.
- configuration files are stored in association with the persona so that a user can quickly and preferably painlessly configure a computer to work, at least for some programs, in a manner similar to a computer to which he is used to.
- the configuration files include information for user-dependent voice recognition. Such voice recognition may be performed on the local computer and or on a computer from the Internet.
- configuration includes setting up networking parameters so that accessing files on a remote computer is simpler (than manually setting up the mappings) or even transparent to the user.
- Cookies One aspect of personalization is achieved at this date by cookies (text files) which are stored on a user's computer. These cookies are thus one type of configuration file. In addition, the cookies are used by content providers and advertisers to identify individual's computers and/or individual surfing habits. Thus, they comprise identifying information.
- (j) Voice and/or fax mailbox A user can receive voice messages and or fax messages to a mailbox. When connected up, the user will generally desire to download and or print the messages.
- One important type of connection is to a workplace. In order to prevent anybody form accessing files at the workplace, a user is required to provide some type of access codes, which are associated with permissions. Additionally, such permissions may comprises desired limitations on spending and/or permission to view certain sites and/or types of sites.
- Networking definitions which are especially important if the user connects to an existing network, such as the one at his workplace.
- setup program(s) (m) Setup program(s).
- setup programs can preferably be used to automatically update any required information on such an arbitrary computer. In some cases, it may be more efficient to store setup instructions in association with the user, with the actual program itself being shared among users.
- setup programs may include drivers for certain devices which a user may find he is able to attach to the arbitrary computer.
- a persona may include multiple instances of each of the above items, for example, a persona may include both a work e-mail address and a personal e-mail address. In another example, a persona may be hierarchically defined.
- a user may select the parent persona and then switch between sub-personas which share various characteristics, for example an identification or an e-mail.
- a hierarchical definition is useful when a user maintains multiple persona, having significantly overlapping definitions. By allowing one persona to inherit characteristics from another persona, creation and/or maintenance of persona may be made easier.
- An additional exemplary use of hierarchical personae is to provide a company "meta-persona" on which meta-persona the individual persona of workers can be based. Possibly, the worker's personae can be slaves of the company persona, in that they continuously change responsive to the company persona (including mood).
- a user is provided with a persona construction and/or maintenance program.
- Such a program is preferably able to download a cuoent persona, allow a user to make changes and then upload it again.
- a user may modify persona at a WWW site provided by pre-paid server 16.
- an electronic persona may be used to send faxes.
- an electronic persona may be used to print to a remote printer, providing that the persona has the required permissions.
- a plurality of available printers may be associated with the pre-paid server, so that a user can print to a geographically near printer and receive the printed pages and/or other types of output, by courier.
- a complete or a partial electronic persona may be used when accessing the Internet from an arbitrary computer.
- Such computers are available, for example at friends, at associates, in hotels, from rental agencies and or at conferences.
- an Internet pay-booth may be provided.
- a person rents the usage of a computer and/or an Internet connection for a short time.
- an electronic persona as described herein is used to properly configure the computer.
- a pre-paid Internet card is used to connect to the Internet, as described herein.
- a user can download production software, such as a word processor, to the arbitrary computer.
- the downloaded software is a network version which does not require much download time.
- This software may be downloaded from the workplace or from a software provider.
- the electronic persona includes a license and or a network license for the software.
- the computer-booth may include a plurality of selectively installable computer software packages, for example using a CD juke box.
- various standard software packages may be pre-installed. Possibly, at least some of the rental charge is paid responsive to the use of the software.
- the persona and/or other identifying information is erased from the booth computer, possibly being uploaded to the persona server or the user's workplace first.
- access to the electronic persona and/or information stored therewith is restricted.
- the information may be accessed by entering a password.
- the password is a voice-lock.
- the information associated with an electronic persona is kept secret and/or write protected from the persona user. Thus, when the persona user, for example a child, accesses the Internet, he will be forced to access the Internet through the persona and will not be able to overstep and desired limitations.
- a pre-paid card when a user changes his pre-paid card (for example if the card runs out) the electronic persona is carried from one card to the next.
- the electronic persona is carried from one card to the next.
- the association may be made when the card is purchased, for example by loading the card with the electronic persona.
- a pre-paid card may include only an access code.
- the user identification given is that of the electronic persona.
- the pre- paid card number is used only as a password. Thus, more than one password may simultaneously be available for a single user ID.
- a plurality of Ids may be associated with a single pre-paid card.
- they may be associated with a set of pre-paid cards, to which additional pre-paid cards may be preferably added to replenish used amounts.
- multiple simultaneous accesses from a plurality of locations using a single card ID and/or a single persona are not allowed.
- such simultaneous accesses may be allowed, possibly requiring a surcharge and/or a user's OK.
- changes in the persona require an OK from the user (the one which requested the change and/or the other user using the persona).
- copies of the persona are created if a change in the persona is desired while the persona is being used by another access point.
- Fig. 4 is a flowchart of a process for providing an electronic persona on a computer, in accordance with a prefeoed embodiment of the invention.
- the persona is provided after the user connects to the Internet (50).
- the electronic persona is downloaded from persona source 42, which may be incorporated in a prepaid server 16.
- the user's computer needs to be updated (54).
- the user and electronic persona are then ready to go (56).
- the persona of the user may be replaced and or updated.
- a persona being downloaded from a remote location by Internet it may be downloaded by dial-up connection, for example before an Internet connection is completed.
- the persona may be stored on a diskette or other removable computer readable media.
- the persona may be stored in a memory portion of the pre-paid card itself.
- the persona and/or other information required to setup the computer may be stored using other portable means, for example on a portable computer, such as a palm computer.
- step 52 (and possibly 54) may precede step 50 and/or occur in parallel.
- Updating the user's computer may include one or more of the following:
- E-mail settings are changed in an e-mail program.
- a user indicates the type of e-mail program he is using.
- the install portion of the persona identifies the program automatically, for example by searching for files on the user's computer.
- Settings for an Internet browser are also set, for example including a proxy server address and/or other user preferences. In some cases, these settings may be achieved by modifying configuration fires. In other case, these settings may require changes in a system registry. In still other cases, these changes may require patching installed programs.
- the persona when the user is finished working, the persona is updated with the changes which occuoed while the user was working. Alternatively or additionally, the persona is continuously being updated.
- a cookie or other remotely accessible file is stored on the computer to track changes in the persona, so that a future complete download of a persona may be avoided.
- a configuration management is used to limit bandwidth when uploading changes in the persona to persona source 42.
- the persona is used to coordinate information push.
- One type of information push is advertising, which may be dependent on the above described parameters.
- advertisements may depend on the card ID number, the card source (i.e., shoe advertisements if the card was received by a shoe seller) and/or the amount of access time remaining on the card and/or a pattern of card usage, for example if the user surfs in binges or at a constant rate and/or variations in the card balance.
- the persona attributes may be used for information push, where the information is desired by the user, for example, for announcing news or stock quotes to the user, based on the persona.
- the persona is used to affect the interaction of a user with non-Inte et software.
- the suggestion of spelling cooections or suggestion or a replacement word from a thesaurus can be dependent on the "mood" of a user. This mood may be determined based on interactions of the use with software on the computer or based on interactions with the Internet.
- a virtual personality may be used to assist in generating an Internet presence, such as a WWW site.
- the virtual personality can automatically (partially or completely) constmct, criticize, self index (in data indexes), request listing in suitable sites (for example a Napoleonic site in a site containing lists of historically oriented sites), and/or create key-words for a site.
- Various automation level may be applied.
- a WWW site is constructed from scratch base don the personality, for example to mioor the personality and/or include sites most often visited by the persona.
- a user may suggest what type of information should be displayed in the site, what type of organization the site should follow and/or other guidelines for the site.
- these guidelines are selected from a set of available guidelines.
- the guidelines are provided by the user.
- a user can construct the site manually.
- the construction software preferably presents a limited and/or sorted selection, filtered responsive to the personality.
- a software will critic a constructed site, with regard to its compliance with a certain mood or personality.
- a software can generate index terms or suggest, request listing or even list the site in suitable sites, portals or indexes.
- a WWW site one constructed as described herein or one constructed otherwise, is modified responsive to a user's instantaneous mood and/or persona, for example to match the mood. Alternatively, such matching may be performed on a periodic basis, such as once a day, or in response to special events, such as a user's request.
- a single site can be represented by a plurality of sites, each cooesponding to a different virtual personality, so that when accessing the site, a suitable version of the site may be accessed based on the desires of the accessor.
- a site can include active components to match an accessor. These active components may be implemented as part of the server hosting the site, for example as scripts. Alternatively or additionally, these components may be implemented as part of the site itself, for example by Java applets. In a prefeoed embodiment of the invention, the decision which of these components to include and or their configuration, is decided when constructing the site, preferably using a personality-responsive construction software as described above. Alternatively or additionally, a user may modify a site after it is constructed.
- a site can modify its personality responsive to the actions of a plurality of accessors.
- the site may be come gloomier.
- such automatic adaptation of a WW site may be extended to data display, for example, more often requested data being shifted to locations where it is more easily accessible.
- mood changing of the site may be used to reject web surfers and/or to target a specific audience.
- targeting may be, for example automatic, based on a pre-programmed rules and/or on requested patterns of access.
- manual modification may be practiced.
- one type of pre-paid server 16 in accordance with a prefeoed embodiment of the invention is a pre-paid advertising broker.
- a pre-paid account a user who desires to advertise purchases an amount of advertising, possibly maintained as a count of advertising units, and uses that account to advertise on the Internet. Altematively or additionally, such an account is used for e-mail and telephone advertising.
- the user does not need to contact any particular advertiser. Rather, once he purchases the account, he can spread his advertising between any advertisement service that accepts the account. Thus, it is practical to place even a small number of advertisements at a particular advertisement provider. Alternatively or additionally, anonymity is maintained.
- a user can control the content and or spread of the advertising, independently.
- pre-paid server 16 provide an Internet site which is accessed by user computer 12.
- a user can reduce the number of exposures in a WWW site from which enough hits have been received. Possibly, this adjustment of advertisement placement is performed by an automatic program, possibly rule based which runs at the user, the pre-paid server or at a different computer.
- a user can vet which at exact sites and/or user profile the advertisements are presented. Possibly, the user can perform this vetting responsive to statistics of site accessing. These statistics can also be real-time statistics, which are determined on the fly, rather than after a delay such as days or weeks.
- pre-paid advertising is the ability to start and end the campaign in real-time and/or change its geographical and/or demographic targeting, for example once enough hits have been received or responsive to an external event, such as a weather change. Also, better control over outlay of money can be achieved, for example automatically presenting more successful advertisements over less successful ones, without waiting for after-the-fact statistics. Alternatively or additionally, a user can match advertisement placement statistics to purchasing statistics, to better fine tune the advertising campaign. This and other types flexibility may be difficult to achieve at a particular advertising provider. However, if the advertising is controlled by the user, he can run any desired program to control it. In some cases, vetting of the content of the advertising may be required by the prepaid server or by the advertisement placers. However, In a prefeoed embodiment of the invention, at least some of the slots available for advertisement placement do not require vetting, so that a user does not require any prior disclosure of his advertisements and/or can modify them in real time.
- pre-paid server 16 will provide a service of automatically generating a distribution of the advertisements between available slots, for example, in a random manner or to match a particular sales program of the user.
- the advertising units are exposures - i.e., one unit for each time the advertisement is presented.
- other advertisement units may be used, and an exchange rate may be defined between the units and/or separate sub-accounts managed for different types of units.
- a unit is a hit, i.e., a selection of the advertisement by the user, possibly a hit is defined even by a user's mouse lingering over the advertisement, or by another indication that a user's attention is captured by the advertisement, such as a long viewing time of a page which is normally skimmed by or the filling out of a questionnaire by the user.
- Other types of units include purchase started at the advertisement, which may be charged as units or as a percentage of the sale.
- fractional units may be desirable, for example to assign different weights to different sizes, location, dynamics, context matching and/or demographic targeting of advertisements.
- advertising may be implemented by listing a site in a search index and/or by modifying the probability of that site being listed first on a list of search results. Possibly, in such advertising the unit is the duration of time for which the listing is maintained alternatively or additionally to the number of times the site was listed as a search result, viewed and/or as a function of the proximity of the listing to the beginning of the list of search results.
- bonus activities may be used to supply advertisement credit.
- a person who views ten advertisements may be credited with a single advertisement of his choice, for example to advertise his WWW site.
- the advertisement viewing of an entire company may be accumulated towards credit for the company advertising.
- a WWW site Another type of Internet service which is amenable to pre-payment is the provision of a WWW site.
- a user is charged based on the time that his WWW site is available, based on the number of hits to the WWW site, based on the source of the hits and/or based on the frequency of the hits.
- standard-type charges may also apply, for example, bandwidth and memory requirement based charges.
- a user's WWW site may include advertisements, which, when viewed and/or activated generate a revenue for the user. In a prefeoed embodiment of the invention, this revenue is entered into the pre-paid account.
- this revenue is used by the site provider to directly offset the charges for of maintaining the site.
- Another type of Internet service is amenable to pre-payment is e-mail.
- a user is charged for maintaining an e-mail address and/or per incoming or outgoing e-mail.
- a mechanism is provided for the user to screen undesirable e-mail messages so that he does not pay for them.
- a user may be credited into a pre-paid account for viewing advertising e-mail, possibly, the viewing is tracked by internal mechanisms of the e-mails program. Alternatively or additionally, the viewing is tracked by a reply e-mail that the user is required to send, possibly including answers to questions posed in the e-mail.
- Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a process for ISP independent Internet connection, in accordance with a prefeoed embodiment of the invention.
- a user dialed up an access number, in order to initiate an Internet connection.
- the user dials an "800" or a "900" number.
- a local access number may not be available or a user might not have it written down.
- a call-back configuration is contemplated for one embodiment of the invention, where the pre-paid server calls up the user computer, a non-local telephone connection may still be required.
- a user is connected using a local ISP, without being required to register.
- the prepaid provider is billed by the local ISP.
- the connection utilizes an electronic persona, possibly one which is automatically adapted to an ISP, prefeoed proxy servers and/or geographical locality, so that the identity of the ISP is transparent to the user.
- the ISP is utilized only as a port to the Internet and is not required to provide other services, such as an e-mail account.
- the connection process starts when a dial request is detected by the pre-paid server (60). This may be in response to a local call and or a long distance call. Then, a suitable ISP and/or connection line is selected (62). In a prefeoed embodiment of the invention, a pre-paid server may buy and/or lease connection time, bandwidth and or users from local ISPs and/or rent them ad-hoc. Alternatively or additionally, a new userid may be created for each such connection request. Pre-paid server 16 then handles the connection of user 12 to the Internet, utilizing the selected connection (64), preferably a dial-up connection, but possibly a different type of connection, such as a LAN connection or a cable modem connection. Optionally, a suitable electronic persona is downloaded to user 12 (66).
- steps 60-66 may be performed by the prepaid server without the user being required to enter any information.
- the process is semi automatic, for example with the user being informed of a telephone number to call and or access codes to use.
- pre-paid server 16 purchase several connection userids from the local ISP, the next free userid is assigned to the next connection request.
- steps 62-66 are delayed until the users connects to the Internet and/or otherwise proves his identity to pre-paid server 16, for example by dialing an access code and/or PIN number.
- the above service may be provided by a user's own local ISP.
- the user When the user is at a remote location, he connects using the above protocol to a local ISP (or a local access number for a regional or global ISP), with the user's own ISP taking the part of the pre-paid server.
- the local ISP charges the user's ISP for any time and/or other services provided.
- an ISP is used as a charge account provider
- the user's ISP carries the tab.
- the local ISP may perform this service, possibly for a fee.
- the local ISP will insert advertisements and/or display a WWW page to the user, in order to entice him and/or offset costs.
- advertisements may be blocked and or may be provided by the user's own ISP.
- step 62 may include manual intervention.
- a user may select which ISP use for connection before substantially any connection to the Internet.
- the pre-paid server suggests a limited number of ISPs for the user to choose between.
- the selection is made using an IVR system.
- the user dials a number selecting which ISP to select.
- a user provides a set of rules by which to choose an ISP and the user may select which set of rules the server is to use.
- a user dials up a different access number and/or a different "extension" number, depending on the desired ISP.
- pre-paid server 16 suggest to a user which ISP to select.
- Such suggestion and/or ranking of available ISPs may be dependent on the considerations mentioned above for automatic selection. Alternatively or additionally, the selection may depend on the persona, card ID and/or work habits.
- a first ISP may be prefeoed if only accessing local sites and another ISP may provide better (if more expensive) service if accessing over-seas sites.
- the two ISPs are presented, with an indication of this difference.
- the type of access performed by the persona may be used to suggest one ISP over the other.
- a list of relevant ISPs may be presented.
- the presentation includes rates, speed and or quality of service, special promotions and or other information about the ISPs which can aid a user in selecting between the ISPs, at least for the instant connection.
- the presentation may include advertisement materials.
- any of the above indications may be presented using a text-to speech emulator.
- a user may connect to the Internet using any provided ISP, receive a list of possible ISPs, disconnect and then reconnect with the selected ISP.
- the user may select the ISP to connect to while on the Internet, so that when he dials he is automatically connected to the previously selected ISP.
- an Internet connection server for example a phone number with an IVR, may be used to provide a user with a selection of ISPs to use.
- a data connection may be provided, at least for selecting the ISP.
- the connection uses a 1-800 number.
- the connection uses a 1-900 number.
- the present invention has generally been described above as using a pre-paid Internet card.
- a long distance telephone company may provide the "pre- paid" service for example using a pre-paid telephone card.
- the pre-paid card is used to pay both for the Internet access and for the telephone connection costs.
- the connection costs depend on the distance (or telephone rates) between the connection location and the ISP which is used. Thus, a user is only required to remember one set of code numbers. This embodiment may be usef lly provided for example in the embodiment of Fig. 2A.
- the telephone company preferably reimburses the ISP used.
- a credit card may be used.
- a virtual pre-paid card is created which includes only a small amount of access time/electronic money. When this small amount is used up a user may recharge it at will. However, there is no danger that a user's credit card number will be stolen, since it need never be provided on the Internet.
- the virtual card may be transparent to the user, since it may be embedded in an electronic persona.
- a user is provided a pre-paid card free of charge or at a nominal charge.
- Internet access may then include a larger than common number and/or type of advertisements and/or promotions.
- the user may be continuously required to fill questionnaires and respond to other requests.
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Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (5)
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US09/744,102 US20050203835A1 (en) | 1998-01-30 | 1999-07-20 | Internet billing |
AU49269/99A AU4926999A (en) | 1998-07-20 | 1999-07-20 | Internet billing |
EP99933101A EP1112544A4 (en) | 1998-07-20 | 1999-07-20 | Internet billing |
AU51907/99A AU5190799A (en) | 1999-07-20 | 1999-08-05 | User interface method |
PCT/IL1999/000433 WO2001006393A1 (en) | 1998-10-08 | 1999-08-05 | User interface method |
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IL125432A IL125432A (en) | 1998-01-30 | 1998-07-20 | Personalized internet interaction |
IL125432 | 1998-07-20 | ||
US10347398P | 1998-10-08 | 1998-10-08 | |
US60/103,473 | 1998-10-08 |
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WO2000005684A3 WO2000005684A3 (en) | 2000-05-04 |
WO2000005684A8 WO2000005684A8 (en) | 2001-03-15 |
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PCT/IL1999/000399 WO2000005684A2 (en) | 1998-01-30 | 1999-07-20 | Internet billing |
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EP (1) | EP1112544A4 (en) |
AU (1) | AU4926999A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000005684A2 (en) |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU4926999A (en) | 2000-02-14 |
EP1112544A4 (en) | 2007-05-02 |
EP1112544A2 (en) | 2001-07-04 |
WO2000005684A8 (en) | 2001-03-15 |
WO2000005684A3 (en) | 2000-05-04 |
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