WO2001086517A2

WO2001086517A2 - Systems, computer program products, billing server systems and method for variable billing of internet charges depending on chosen internet offers

Info

Publication number: WO2001086517A2
Application number: PCT/EP2001/005071
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Philipp Neumann; Micha Ostermann; Matthias Siedler
Original assignee: Comhouse Ag
Priority date: 2000-05-04
Filing date: 2001-05-04
Publication date: 2001-11-15
Also published as: AU6740601A; WO2001086517A3; EP1328884A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for variable billing of Internet charges depending on chosen Internet offers, comprising at least one user host (1) and a billing server system (2). The user host (2) is equipped with an auxiliary billing program that monitors rates-relevant queries to be launched by the user host (1) regarding Internet offers and which disconnects an existing link (A) of the user host (1) to an access server to the Internet (5) if rates-relevant information is detected and sets up a new link (T) to the billing server system (2) if said link to the billing server system (2) had not already been set up, whereupon the query from the billing server system (2) reaches the provider server that furnishes the chosen Internet offer. The billing server system (2) is designed in such a way that it keeps records of charges-relevant data of queries. The user host (1) and the billing server system (2) are designed in such a way that a change in rates is enabled without disconnecting the existing links (T) on the basis of the records pertaining to rates-relevant data. The invention also relates to a corresponding computer program product, to a billing server system and to a method for variable billing.

Description

SYSTEMS, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS, CLASSIFICATION SERVER SYSTEMS

AND METHOD FOR VARIABLE CLASSIFICATION OF INTERNET FEES IN

DEPENDENCY ON SELECTED INTERNET OFFERS

The invention relates to systems, computer program products, tariff server systems and methods for the variable tariffing of Internet charges depending on the selected Internet offers.

Various methods are known for electronic commerce and the provision of services on the Internet. In addition to paying payment by invoice, direct debit or cash on delivery, payment by credit card is the most common. For small transactions, i.e. amounts of e.g. Penny fractions of up to DM 50 (so-called micropayment) are these procedures. less suitable because they are relatively complicated and are unprofitable due to the relatively high transaction costs. Credit-based methods, which use, for example, the so-called "money card" or digital vouchers, are generally suitable for micropayment because of their lower transaction costs. It is disadvantageous, however, that participation in such procedures requires the establishment of a credit, which represents an entry hurdle for many customers. Examples of credit-based methods are known from US Pat. No. 5,864,610 and WO 99/22507.

There is a need for a simple and inexpensive micropayment system, particularly among service providers who put information on the Internet and need remuneration because of the effort involved. Without compensation from the user who uses the services, such providers can try to finance themselves through advertising (eg in the form of on-screen advertising banners). However, advertising financing has limits; in addition, the insertion of advertising is in many cases disruptive or even incompatible with the content offered; The other possibility already mentioned at the beginning of a billing of the services used by the However, the payment method mentioned is not very profitable for the mostly small payment amounts here and also requires authentication of the user, which prevents normal "Internet surfers" from querying such services and thus has an inhibiting effect on the dissemination of such services.

Since the most frequent access to the Internet is via a dial-up connection from a telephone carrier to an access provider, it has already been proposed that billing of Internet services used be carried out via the billing of the telephone carrier (ie the telephone bill). For this purpose, the respective provider sends a message about the remuneration to be collected to the telephone carrier or an intermediary billing service after each use of its services. Such solutions are known for example from DE 197 42 858 AI, WO 99/08242, WO99 / 30293 and WO99 / 62036. In US Pat. No. 5,956,391 it is proposed that a fixed access provider, which provides access to the Internet and an area network, continuously monitors the traffic between the user and the area network and merges user data and services used in the area network in a database enable billing of these services via the telephone bill. Here, too, the access provider receives request-specific information from the respective service providers about the services used or about the goods purchased.

Another solution is offered by the company "in medias res" under the name "NET900" (see http://www.in-medias-res.com/products.htm). With this solution, the user has to install a plug-in in his browser. If he then accesses a fee-based internet service, the previous dial-up connection is disconnected and a new connection is established using a special fee-based number, similar to the 0190 number used in Germany. As soon as the user wants to leave the chargeable service again, the connection is ended via the specially tariffed number and the original connection is re-established. The cost of using the specially tariffed number is deducted from the normal telephone bill. expects. The websites provided by the providers must be specially prepared for use under the NET900 service, and this requires a modification of the links leading to tariff-relevant offers (ie the URLs, (URL = Uniform Resource Locator)).

Another proposal is finally known from US Pat. No. 5,970,477. Here, a monitoring program module is installed on the user's computer, which monitors the requests sent by the user to the Internet using their URL and, in the case of a request to a specific (tariff-relevant) Internet site, determines the duration of the connection to this site and then displays this information sends a billing server that does the billing. According to this proposal, it is also possible not only to bill for the use of paid internet offers, but, on the contrary, also to assume the costs of internet access during access to a specific internet offer by the respective provider.

The inventors of the present invention have recognized that these known payment methods, although they are advantageous compared to the prior art, are not yet to be regarded as optimal with regard to the idea of making access to web sites attractive. With regard to some aspects of the invention, it is also not optimal for them to partially involve the providers, e.g. in the form of sending connection information or modifying the Internet offerings, since the ongoing connection re-establishment that is sometimes carried out can be disruptive or there are security concerns due to possible misuse.

According to a first aspect, the invention provides a system for the variable tariffing of Internet charges depending on selected Internet offers, which comprises at least one user host and a tariff server system, the user host being equipped with a tariffing aid program which queries for Internet offers to be sent out by the user host monitored for tariff relevance and in the case of tariff relevance an existing one Disconnects the user host's dial-up connection to an access server to the Internet and establishes a new dial-up connection to the tariff server system if the dial-up connection has not already existed to the tariff server system, after which the request from the tariff server system reaches the provider server concerned, the tariff server system being set up in such a way that it contains tariff-relevant data the request is logged, and the user host and the tariff server system are set up in such a way that a tariff change is possible without separating the existing dial-up connection due to the logging of the tariff-relevant data (claim 1). "Tariff-relevant" offers are generic terms meaning both paid offers as well as offers that can be called up with a partial or full reimbursement of the connection fees.

For "exotic" operating systems, the creation of a tariffing assistance program, which separates the existing dial-up connection according to claim 1 and establishes a new tariffing server, can be relatively complex. Furthermore, in the case of a fixed connection to the Internet (for example via a LAN or a dedicated line), the solution based on deselection and selection according to claim 1 may not be technically feasible or - because of the additional connection costs - not economically sensible. In particular for these cases, the invention provides, according to a second aspect, a system for the variable tariffing of Internet fees depending on selected Internet offers, which comprises at least one user host and a tariff server system, the user host being equipped with a tariffing aid program which queries for Internet offers to be sent out by the user host monitored for tariff relevance and, in the case of tariff relevance via the Internet, a redirection of the request via the tariff server system is initiated, the tariff server system being set up in such a way that the request arrives from it to the relevant provider server, the tariff server system logging tariff-relevant data of the request (claim 2) , Advantageous refinements are specified in the dependent claims.

According to claim 3, the two aspects mentioned advantageously form no mutually exclusive alternatives; rather, they are combined in a system which has both at least one user host with deselection / selection according to claim 1 and at least one further user host with Internet redirection of the requests according to claim 2, the (only) tariff server system cooperating with both types of user hosts.

In order to also include user hosts with operating systems or browsers for which no such redirection software is yet available, a user host can also be integrated into the system, from which all requests for Internet offers, that is, non-tariff-relevant requests via the Tariff server system are managed. Although this has the disadvantage that the tariff server system - unlike the redirection solution according to claim 2 - is exposed to high traffic, but this can be accepted for the advantage of integrating such hosts.

According to claim 5, the system is set up so that the logged data of the request are merged with the connection data supplied by the dial-up carrier for billing. The latter is, for example, a so-called caller detail record (CDR), which usually contains the telephone number (connection identifier) of the caller (A number), the telephone number of the called party (B number) and the start and end times of the physical connection , The combination with the logged data can consist in that the physical connection is divided into several successive logical connections with possibly different tariffs. The merge can advantageously include a synchronization of the physical start and end times with the corresponding times logged by the billing server. In order to obtain access to a fee-based Internet offer, a user traditionally has to authenticate himself so that the access costs can be allocated and calculated for him. For this purpose, the user conventionally has to be registered once by specifying extensive personal data, whereby he receives a user name and a password. Later accesses are then usually possible with a somewhat less complex registration, which only requires the entry of this access data. Such a procedure is more likely to prevent surfers from using such Internet offers. According to claim 6, however, the user does not have to provide such login data when making a request for such an access-protected Internet offer; rather, the tariff server system is set up in such a way that it supplements this request with tariff server system-related access data (for example a master name and a master password of the tariff server). If access to the tariff server system takes place via a dial-up connection according to claim 1, the user is authenticated by his connection identifier, so that in this operating mode from the user's point of view any registration procedure for fee-based Internet offers can be omitted. If, on the other hand, the tariff server is accessed via the Internet according to claim 2 or 4, authentication of the user with the tariff server system is generally required (for example by logging in with a user name and password). However, a single registration with the tariff server can apply to an entire session in which a large number of different access-protected Internet offers can be queried, which would conventionally require a large number of registration procedures.

Claim 7 reveals that the tariffing of the tariffing server system is preferably carried out on the basis of the observation of the inquiries that pass through, that the provider server does not transmit any request-related tariffing data to the tariffing server system, and that the internet offers provided by the provider server preferably do not require any adjustment or modification in order to to be able to be integrated into the classification of the present system. Under "request-related tariff ten "are not understood to mean general tariffing data (such as the cost per minute or request), but rather specific tariffing data (such as the cost of a special request) for each individual request. The provider does not need to make any technical or organizational modifications to his fee-based Internet offers He can therefore provide one and the same fee-based Internet offerings both for direct use by customers who do not work with the present tariffing system and for indirect use via the tariff server system. Equipping an Internet offer with a normal access block is not considered a "modification" viewed, since an internet offer is of course also equipped with such an access block when it is subject to a charge and the costs are to be claimed by the users with conventional individual bills.

According to claim 8, the "tariff-relevant offers" include both chargeable offers as well as offers with partial or complete reimbursement of costs, in particular the connection costs. The latter is an important measure for the wider enforcement of electronic commerce, as this enables the customer (the user) to study the offer of an "electronic" department store free of charge and without time pressure, just as he can do this with a "physical department store". From a technical point of view, reimbursement of costs is possible for all types of access mentioned. To avoid misuse, however, a reimbursement of costs should not go beyond the connection costs actually incurred. However, these are only known with certainty when the tariff server is accessed via a dial-up connection, but not when they are accessed via the Internet, so that reimbursement of costs will probably only be made in practice if the dial-up connection is used.

According to claim 9, the system is set up so that in the event of a change in the range of tariff-relevant offers recorded by the system, in particular in the case of a new entry, the user host automatically displays this change on its user interface. This measure can have a great marketing effect. be tied, in that all users of the Timeweb system are made aware of a new entry or a tariff change, for example by a "pop-up" that opens automatically on the user interface.

According to claim 10, the system is set up so that it logically divides a physical dial-up connection into several virtual dial-up connections for billing.

According to a third aspect, the invention (claim 1 1) is directed to a system for the variable tariffing of Internet fees, which comprises at least one user host and a tariff server system. Inquiries from the user host for tariff-relevant Internet offers are processed via the tariff server system. The system is set up so that the classification is carried out depending on events that occur during the useful life of the website. Other features of the aforementioned aspects - such as the possibility of a separation-free transition between differently rated websites - are advantageous in the context of the third aspect, but only on an optional basis (claim 14).

The third aspect is preferably designed such that the tariff server system monitors the requests from the user host for the occurrence of a tariff-relevant event (claim 12). The tariff server system advantageously recognizes the occurrence of a tariff-relevant event on the basis of at least one trigger object in the traffic between the user host and the tariff server system, the trigger object in particular being a URL - predetermined for the respective website (claim 13).

For example, the third aspect allows a user to be "rewarded" for a particular action (event) by granting them a discount, a discount, or even a refund of the fee when performing the action, which is also retroactive to a period prior to the execution of the action Action can extend. Such an act can, for example, an order or a purchase confirmation, a complete completion of interview pages, an entry in a directory of participants or interested parties or a discussion forum, a complete flipping through of a long document or a download of a file by the user, etc. Such actions are generally associated with the fact that the user sends one or more HTTP requests to the provider server which contain a suitable trigger object. This can be, for example, a special URI or URL (eg: www.shop.de/einkaufsbestaetigung.html) or a parameter of the request. The tariff server, via which the user's HTTP requests run, recognizes such trigger objects (previously agreed with the provider) and then changes the tariff in a manner agreed with the provider.

From a technical point of view, it is easiest to define and describe a system of the present type as an overall system, in accordance with patent claims 1-14 and the above explanation. In terms of patent law, however, problems can arise in enforcing patent protection, since due to the delocalization nature of the Internet, individual parts of the overall system may possibly be outsourced to patent-free foreign countries and, in addition, part of the overall system, namely the user host, will occasionally be located in the private sector , For this reason, the attached set of claims contains two groups of subordinate patent claims in addition to the already explained, directed to the overall system, one of which is directed to a computer program product for execution with an Internet browser on a user host and the other to a tariffing server system is. The structure of the overall system claims explained above, ie in particular the different access options to the tariff server system according to claims 1-4 and partly also the event-dependent tariff classification according to claim 1 1 are also reflected in these two subordinate claim groups. There are therefore three groups of factual claims. These are followed by three corresponding groups of procedural claims, i.e. a first group which is directed to the overall process, a second group which is directed to the process carried out at the user host. tet, and a third group which is directed to the method carried out in the tariff server system. In order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above explanations regarding claims 1-14 with regard to these subject matters.

Regarding the patent claims directed to a computer program product, however, it should be mentioned that the "computer program product" is to be understood as a computer program or computer program module which can be stored (e.g. on a magnetic storage medium or in a volatile or non-volatile semiconductor memory) Computers) or by signals sent over a network e.g. the internet being shipped is embodied. The computer program need not be in an immediately executable form; rather, it can also be in a form prepared for installation on the user host, where it can of course be packed, encrypted, broken up into packets for possible transmission over a network and provided with transmission-related headers, etc.

Regarding claim 18, it should be noted that an operating mode in which all inquiries are directed to the tariff server system does not require a special program, since this operating mode can be achieved by manually entering the tariff server as a proxy in the browser of the user host. This input can be set up automatically with the help of the classification aid program.

According to claim 19, in the case of configurations with a plurality of operating modes, the tariffing aid program of the computer program product can automatically recognize in which operating mode it should operate. The detection is based on the network settings of the user host.

According to claim 20, the monitoring of the internet traffic of the user host carried out with the aid of a browser is carried out by the tariffing aid program registering itself as a proxy in the browser or - in the case of operating systems or browsers that only allow the operating mode with redirection of all inquiries via the tariff server - entered by the user as a proxy. As a result of being entered as a proxy, all inquiries to be sent out on the Internet are first directed to the tariff assistance program. Instead of being entered as a proxy, the tariffing program can also scan the TCP / IP traffic of the user host and change the destination addresses of the TCP / IP packets so that they are redirected to the tariffing server system.

According to claim 21, the tariff assistance program is set up in such a way that it stores a list of tariff-relevant Internet offers and monitors the requests sent by the user host based on this stored list. An "Internet offer" is preferably understood to mean a group of Internet objects of the same tariff from one provider. Such a group can also contain objects from different servers. In order to recognize a request for a tariff-relevant offer, the stored list does not require any identification of the URLs, which indicates that it is a tariff-relevant offer. The Internet offerings or objects are preferably HTTP documents (i.e. web pages, e.g. in a presentation language such as HTML or XML), or video, music or other documents transmitted in a streaming process. If several HTTP documents belong to one offer, so that they form a group, it is advantageous if the respective groups - and not the individual Internet offers of the groups - appear in the list. There is no need to change the list if there is a change within a group (e.g. an HTTP document is added or deleted). The group is defined by a URL. All documents that can be referenced via a URL that begins with the group URL are considered part of the group.

Basically, the user can find a tariff-relevant offer by free "surfing" and send a corresponding request - which is recognized by the tariff assistance program. The embodiment according to claim 22 also allows "quick access" by the list of tariff-relevant Internet offers can be displayed on a user interface of the user host and the user can select an entry from this list, whereupon a request for the corresponding Internet offer is sent.

New providers with tariff-relevant offers can be added continuously and others can be eliminated. In accordance with claim 23, the tariffing assistance program automatically updates the list of tariff-relevant Internet offers automatically by corresponding inquiries to the tariffing server. Although this is not necessary for the main functions of the tariffing aid program (namely monitoring of requests and switching or redirection in the case of a tariff-relevant request), the tariffing aid program can also advantageously inform the user about the respective tariffs. The tariff assistance program also advantageously updates such information linked to the Internet offers. As part of this update, a notice is advantageously given on the user interface if there has been a change in the range of offers worth knowing for the user, for example a new entry by a provider (claim 24).

The invention will now be explained in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments and the attached drawing. The drawing shows:

1 shows an overview of the areas of application of an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an illustration of the method in a chargeable

web site;

3 shows a matrix of an exemplary access control for a subsidized Internet offer;

4 shows an illustration of the user interface for quick access to a tariff-relevant website;

Fig. 5 is an illustration of FIG. 4, but in the event that the

Users make a request to the tariff-relevant website while surfing freely; 6 shows a schematic illustration of the access possibilities to the tariffing server in different operating modes;

7 is an illustration of operating mode 1;

8 is an illustration of operating mode 2;

9 illustrates operation mode 3;

10 is an illustration of the billing taking place in operating mode 1;

Fig. 1 1 shows the operation of the tariff assistance program in

Operating mode 2;

12 shows a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of an event-dependent variable tariffing.

The embodiment of the invention described below is referred to, inter alia, as "TimeWeb". In the following, the "Internet offers" are HTTP documents (web pages), the web pages of a server as a whole being referred to as a "website". The term "customer" or "surfer" is sometimes used instead of "user". The pricing utility is also referred to as a "client" or "plug-in". By "the Internet" is meant today's global Internet with the TCP / IP protocol suite.

TimeWeb is a technology that creates new structures within the complex Internet structure to enable variable billing between providers and customers. In particular, it is about a time-dependent distribution of Internet access costs between customers and individual providers.

TimeWeb hooks into the Internet infrastructure at several points and thus forms an overlaid structure. TimeWeb allows:

transparent embedding into the Internet structure of users and providers; intercepting web page views by the user host; in operating mode 1 (it is the mode of claim 1, which will be explained in more detail below): Select a transparent new in one Internet access to the TimeWeb server, whereby the tariff can be changed during the connection time, making a new selection unnecessary when changing tariffs. If the tariff changes - for example because the user wants to switch to another offer - the dial-up connection to the Timeweb server system remains. If the user wants to switch to a non-tariff-relevant website, he can either maintain the existing dial-up connection to the Timeweb server system, or alternatively, terminate it and establish a new dial-up connection to the original access provider; a redirection and "manipulation" of requests for websites on the part of the user, which gives the user simplified and anonymized access to the websites and avoids technical effort with regard to adapting websites on the provider side.

Fig. 1 illustrates the areas of application of the Timeweb system. Conventionally, the user pays his normal access costs, which can be composed, for example, of the time-dependent costs for a local telephone connection and the time-dependent costs of an Internet service provider. Billing models are also widespread, in which these two cost factors are combined in a single time-dependent tariff. The providers traditionally receive no share of the access costs, so the conventional Internet is cost-neutral for them.

With the Timeweb system, the user can claim content according to FIG. 1, while remaining anonymous. For this he pays more than the normal access costs, whereby the provider receives a substantial part of the additional payment (a smaller part is received by the Timeweb system for his service).

Another application of the Timeweb system according to FIG. 1 is that the user is made attractive when querying web offers by paying less than the normal or even no access costs needs, i.e. the provider assumes part of the access costs or the entire access costs.

Technically, this is done in operating mode 1 via a variable tariffing of the dial-up connection whereby - as already mentioned - the tariff can change in the course of the continuously existing dial-up connection. Billing takes place via the user's telephone carrier bill. With the Timeweb solution, the collection effort is reduced to a minimum. The provider receives e.g. a monthly collective invoice or credit. The Timeweb system does not cause any technical effort for the provider, because its complete range remains unchanged. Internet surfers can still use normal Internet access, i.e. use the provider's website without using the Timeweb system. The Timeweb system only needs information from the provider about the websites to be included (URLs) and the respective tariff. The system allows flexible cost sharing between provider and user. The provider can choose from "free of charge for the user" to any time remuneration and / or a one-time dial-up fee.

All websites that generate indirect income from visiting Internet users (for example, by displaying advertisements) or have a general interest in "page visits" can advantageously use the cost-reduced or - exempt variant of Timeweb for their marketing. The provider subsidizes the visitors to its website, provided that they visit the website via the Timeweb pricing server system. As soon as the user leaves the provider's offer, the subsidy ends. Reduced or exempt offers can be of particular interest in the following cases: advertising-financed internet offers; Websites to initiate relationships with potential investors; electronic commerce; and intranet systems. In the case of intranet systems, for example, a company's sales force can have its intranet "activated" via the Timeweb system. The sales representatives pay normal access costs when surfing the Internet, but access to their company's intranet area is free of charge. 2, a user surfs the Internet with a user host 1 (step S1). A resident rating utility (Windows plug-in) installed on user host 1 monitors all website requests from host 1's web browser and compares them with a list of registered web offers. In the event of a match, the Windows plug-in in operating mode 1 closes the existing dial-up connection, insofar as this leads to a non-Timeweb Internet provider, and establishes a new dial-up connection to the Timeweb tariff server system 2. In the tariff server system 2, a proxy monitors each individual call to a website, in a similar way to the Windows plug-in. Depending on whether an access-protected website has been called up, the Timeweb server allows the selected URL with its proxy function, or it makes changes to the URL. In this way, the user host 1 can access access-protected websites with his request, without the user having to know the password for these pages and without his identity being disclosed to the provider. A so-called "watchdog" in the Timeweb server system 2 asynchronously checks whether an access restriction occurs during a visit to a website (this can be the case, for example, if the access duration is limited) or a so-called timeout occurs (this is the case, for example, if a User is inactive on a cost-relevant page for more than a certain period of time (about three minutes). Then the access is interrupted or, in the case of subsidized access, the subsidization is ended.

The entire Internet traffic of user 1 via the Timeweb server system 2 is logged. At defined intervals, for example at the end of each month, billing data records are generated from the customer's logged activities. Since the customer can use several different tariff rates via the same dial-up connection, several virtual connections are generated for billing from a physical connection. The corresponding billing data records (CDRs) are transmitted to the telephone carrier in step S2. In one embodiment (not shown in FIG. 2), the telephone carrier sends billing to the Timeweb server system 2 before step S2. Data records about the physical connections, which represent a kind of synchronization frame for the accounting data records to be generated by the Timeweb server system 2. The telephone carrier then ensures in step S3 that the fees incurred are collected via the telephone bill which the user pays in step S4. In step S5, the telephone carrier forwards the remuneration to the Timeweb system, which in step S6 carries out reimbursement to the providers. In the case of web offers that are subsidized or free of charge, the payment of the user in step S4 can become lower or be omitted entirely and the direction of the remuneration in step S6 will reverse. The direction of payment may also reverse in step S5, depending on the extent of the subsidy.

This solution allows seamless integration with the provider. This does not have to do anything technically or in terms of content on his web system. It also allows seamless integration with the user. This can namely continue to surf via his previous Internet access (e.g. T-Online). The Timeweb system only becomes active if it requests a cost-relevant registered website, provided it operates in operating modes 1 or 2 (explained in more detail below).

In order to make the costs for the providers calculable in the case of subsidized Internet offers, the Timeweb system optionally has access control, which is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 3. The access control can introduce one or more of the following restrictions: subsidize a maximum of a predetermined amount of euro per unit of time (eg day or month); allow a maximum of a predetermined number of different users per unit of time; allow a maximum of a predetermined number of users in total; allow a maximum of a predetermined number of accesses per unit of time or in total. For example (as shown in FIG. 3), a provider wants to allow 10,000 free entries per month as part of a marketing campaign. The campaign must not cost more than 20,000 euros per month. It runs until the total budget of 70,000 euros has been used up. Accordingly, a monthly access counter, a monthly counter and a total counter for the website in question run in the Timeweb server system. As soon as one of the counters exceeds the respective predetermined limit, subsidized access to the website is no longer possible. A wide variety of marketing activities can be defined using such a matrix.

Access control can also be user-related. For example, in an electronic bookstore, every user can get twenty free minutes a month to search for books. In the context of customer loyalty systems, for example, users who have generated a minimum monthly turnover in an electronic department store can browse and order free of charge in a special online catalog.

For websites with password access, the provider assigns a master user name and a master password to the Timeweb server system 2. The Timeweb server system introduces all users into the provider system under this master account, without the individual user having to know the access data.

A website can have a uniform tariff, but several websites or web areas with different tariffs are also possible in one website. This is e.g. interesting for promotions in which users are to be drawn to certain areas of a website or for cases in which only individual pages of a website are financed by advertising (e.g. through banner advertising).

The Windows plug-in is offered for download on a website of the Timeweb server system 2. There is also the possibility that the providers also offer it for download on their tariff-relevant websites, but this requires a corresponding (minor) modification of the provider websites. As explained in more detail below, the plugin offers quick access to all registered cost-relevant websites. It monitors all requests for websites and, depending on the requested website, deselects / selects or redirects to the Timeweb server system. It informs the user about changes in tariffs for cost-relevant web offers and about newly added cost-relevant web offers.

Fig. 4 illustrates the user interface of the user host 1 in the aforementioned quick access. A "right click" on the Timeweb symbol on a Windows toolbar opens a menu list of the registered, cost-relevant web offers. In the case of a large number of web offers, this can be divided into thematically arranged submenus and, in addition, display new or specially advertised websites in a particularly prominent manner. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the user selects a subsidized web offer from the list. An image then appears, informing him of the choice of a free offer and asking whether he actually wants to visit the selected website. In other embodiments (not shown), this request does not apply to cost-subsidized websites; however, it should usually be required for paid websites. If the user answers the question in the affirmative, he is taken to the selected website.

If, while surfing freely, the user directs a request for a registered, cost-relevant website, as illustrated in FIG. 5, then without the menu list shown in FIG. 4 being shown, he immediately receives the request mentioned in FIG. 4 as to whether he has the wants to visit the selected website.

While the user is online on the Internet, the plugin updates itself in the background. The user is made aware of new providers by an automatically appearing dialog box.

The Timeweb technology is explained in more detail below. A website consists of Internet content (websites) that are offered at a specific tariff become. The tariff is usually an amount of money that is proportional to the duration of the use of a web offer (i.e. the period between the first request for a URL belonging to the offer and the first subsequent request for a URL not belonging to the offer or a time-out). Alternatively or additionally, a fixed (time-independent) amount can be used for each use of the offer or an object of the offer. The amount of money can be negative (paid offer) or positive (subsidized offer) for the user. The tariff of the offer can be specified depending on the day of the week and the time of day. For each time of day, initial costs (one-off selection costs, if the selection was made at the specified time of day), cycle (i.e. the frequency of billing) and fee per cycle. Each Timeweb offer can include several Internet areas, which are defined by the protocol port), destination address and access path (for example: port: 80, IP = 1 .2.3.4., Path = / member /). In operation mode 1, every offer can be reached via one or more direct dial-in numbers. Furthermore, it can be defined for each offer which ports (and therefore applications) are activated for the user.

The Timeweb system can operate in three different operating modes, which are shown together in FIG. 6. The choice of operating mode depends on whether a Timeweb client is already available for the operating system and the browser of the user host and whether the user host is available via. has the technical components of a dial-up access (e.g. via an analog modem or an ISDN interface) or is connected to the Internet via a dedicated line, a dial-up line with a dedicated line character (fiat rate) or a fixed network connection.

The Timeweb client is a program module running on the local user host that monitors Internet traffic at runtime. The client can operate in two of the above operating modes, namely 1 and 2. In operating mode 1, the Timeweb client monitors the HTTP traffic for registered tariff-relevant offers and, in the event of such a request, offers tariff switching via a dialog box on the user interface of user host 1. In the event of a positive response from the user, the client disconnects an existing dial-up connection to another access provider and establishes a new dial-up connection via a dial-up access device 4 of the Timeweb server system 2. Operating mode 2 is selected if the user has a line that is not subject to any time or volume-dependent remuneration (for example a "leased line" or a "dial-in fiat rate"). As in the first operating mode, the Timeweb client monitors the HTTP traffic for requests for tariff-relevant offers. Unlike in operating mode 1, it does not interfere with the connection of the user host 1 to the Internet 5. In the event of a request for a tariff-relevant offer, the Timeweb client redirects the request to the server 6 of the Timeweb server system 2 by using the IP address of the Timeweb server as the destination IP address. The Timeweb client switches back from this redirection mode in a transparent mode via a control signal or a timeout determined by the Timeweb client.

The Timeweb client knows all web offers accessible via the Timeweb system. The client keeps the information about the available web offers and web areas in an internal database on the user host 1. During ongoing monitoring, each requested website is considered part of a registered tariff-relevant offer if the URL selected by the user matches the URL defined by the provider in the initial characters. If, for example, a provider specifies the URL "http: // 1 .2.3.4 / member", a URL chosen by the user "http: // 1 .2.3.4 / member / index. Html" is used as that of Providers given URL matched - and thus viewed as a tariff-relevant website. The client now changes to the Timeweb server system 2 in a manner corresponding to the respective operating mode. It should be noted that HTTP documents of an offer may have references to other Internet objects that are not part of the offer (eg links to include graphics, banner advertising, etc.). Of course, the appearance of a URL of such referencing should not lead to a tariff change. Such non-tariff-relevant URLs are also saved with the Timeweb client and are not included in the above URL monitoring. The classification of the URLs into tariff change-relevant and non-tariff change relevant takes place in the Timeweb server system for each new or changed HTTP document of an offer, manually and / or with the help of a suitable document analysis program.

The operating mode 3 consists in the timeweb server 6 being permanently entered as a proxy in the browser of the user host 1. If this is done manually by the user, no Timeweb client is required. However, it is also possible for the Timeweb client to ensure that the Timeweb server 6 is entered as a proxy.

The Timeweb server 6 is the heart of the Timeweb system. He checks the URL for every user request and takes over communication about a possible tariff change with the user, depending on the operating mode. The server also changes the URL of user requests, if necessary, and logs all user requests in a central log. This serves as the basis for creating the billing data required for invoicing.

The following table provides an overview of the different operating modes:

"-" = "not available"

The following explanations: As already mentioned, a Timeweb client is not required in operating mode 3 and is therefore not entered in the table. In operating modes 2 and 3, manual registration with the Timeweb server is usually necessary, at least for chargeable offers, because - unlike in operating mode 1 - the user cannot be authenticated via the dial-up connection. After all, operating modes 2 and 3 are hardly suitable for free and subsidized offers for business reasons, since it is due to the i.a. unknown access costs could result in abuse. From a technical point of view, it is also possible to offer subsidized offers in operating modes 2 and 3.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the user 1 in the operating mode 1 has dial-up access to the Internet with time and / or volume-dependent tariffing. The requests of the user arrive via the dial-up access to the Timeweb server system 2, which also works as a transparent proxy (ie as a proxy that is not entered as such in the browser of the user host 1). An access router 7, which is part of the dialing access device 4, forwards each request to the Tinrieweb server 6, which analyzes the HTTP requests and examines them for tariff relevance. A so-called radius server of the Timeweb server system 2 shows the user host 1 during the establishment of a dial-up connection to an IP address and communicates it to him. User host 1 uses this dynamically assigned IP address as the IP origin address. The Timeweb server 6 forwards the requests from the user host 1 to the Internet 5, as a result of which they reach the provider server with the IP destination address. The provider server sends the requested document back to the IP origin address, that is to say the Timeweb server 2, which forwards it to the user host 1 via the dial-up connection.

The Timeweb client works in operating mode 1 in the dialin stage. If the client finds a registered tariff-relevant offer, then, after a positive answer to the query, he disconnects the previous dial-up connection A and sets up a new dial-up connection T via the Timeweb access device 4, if such has not already existed. The Timeweb system can have several different access numbers available for access. It is possible that the user can only access certain offers when accessing a certain number. This is particularly advantageous for the intranet solutions mentioned, in which e.g. a sales representative should have free access to his company's intranet. With a special access number it can be achieved that he only gets access to the intranet via the Timeweb system. If the user host 1 leaves the offer, the client offers to switch the connection back to the original dial-up access or to remain in the Timeweb access. The user can use several Internet offers at different tariffs over a continuously maintained physical connection without having to make a new selection.

Operating mode 2, shown in more detail in FIG. 8, supports flat rate dial-up connections, lans and leased lines. The Timeweb client monitors the web offers requested by the user. Here it behaves like a "changeover switch". When the user requests a "normal" website, the Timeweb client behaves transparently. The request therefore comes directly to the provider server 3 in question, and the requested document returns from there directly to the user host 1. However, the Timeweb client finds a request after a registered tariff-relevant offer, then it redirects the traffic to the Timeweb server 6. The request then reaches the Timeweb server 6 via the Internet 5, which causes a Timeweb web server 7 to first send a tariff change query to the user host 1 via the Internet 5. If the user answers this question in the affirmative, the Timeweb server 6 forwards the request via the Internet 5 to the provider server 3 by acting as a proxy, as already explained above. The provider server 3 sends the requested Internet object to the Timeweb server 6 acting as a proxy, which forwards it to the user host 1. In other embodiments (not shown), when the request is forwarded to the provider server 3, the timeweb server 6 causes the provider server 3 to send the requested internet object directly back to the user host 1 - that is, not via the timeweb server 6.

The operating mode 3 shown in more detail in FIG. 9 is a compatible mode which supports Internet access with flat rate, LAN and leased lines and is suitable for exotic browsers and operating systems since it does not require a suitable timeweb client. The connection to the Timeweb server 6 is made by entering the Timeweb server as a proxy on the browser of the user host 1. The Timeweb server 6 examines all URLs and lets the user confirm any tariff changes via the browser. As in operating mode 2, the user must be able to register, since user identification via the .CLl (telephone connection identifier) is not possible here. The Timeweb server 6 behaves as in operating mode 2, with the only difference that here all the traffic of the user host 1 runs via the Timeweb server 6.

Since the Internet protocol HTTP (in the currently valid version) is a state-of-the-art protocol, the user can visit several offers at the same time during "normal surfing" (via several browser windows) or from one offer to the next. In all three operating modes, the Timeweb system allows this behavior until the user selects a registered tariff-relevant web offer (if the traffic in this state runs through the Timeweb system at all). From this point on, the Timeweb system enforces one defined logical user session with a defined start time. Every attempt to access websites from another provider immediately leads to a query to the user as to whether he wants to end the user session. The session is also ended when the user is inactive. The Timeweb server 6 recognizes this by the fact that the user has not received an active request for a certain time.

Each user request is logged in the Timeweb server 2 and temporarily stored in a database for processing by a Timeweb billing server.

Each log entry contains the following information:

Time stamp (date and time exact to the second); unique identification number of the offer; requested Internet resource URL (usually a website); clear user identification;

IP address of the user.

For users who have used tariff-relevant offers in operating modes 2 and 3, invoicing is handled using traditional debt collection procedures. The billing is shown in more detail in FIG. 10 for user activities in operating mode 1. First, the Timeweb server system 2 receives a CDR for each physical connection from the telephone company 9, via which the user dialed into the Timeweb server system 2. This uses the Timeweb server system 2 as a template for creating one or more virtual CDRs, which it returns to the telephone company 9 mentioned. This processes the virtual CDRs and forwards them to the telephone company 10 of the user. For this process, an accounting server 11 of the Timeweb server system 2 creates invoice data on the basis of the log created by the Timweb server 6. It runs through the log chronologically and determines the times of the Entry into an offer and withdrawal from an offer. The virtual CDRs are generated based on the pricing of the respective offer.

The billing server 11 uses two data sources for processing the billing data in the operating mode 1, namely on the one hand the connection data provided by the telephone company 9 and on the other hand the log of the Timeweb server 6. These are provided by the telephone company 9 CDR data records include the CLI (Caller Line Identification), the time of the connection start and the time of the connection end.

The accounting server 1 1 reads the log created by the Timeweb server 6 in chronological order. As explained, he generates one or more virtual CDRs from the CDRs of the telephone company 9 and the Timeweb data. The times of the physical connection start and connection end specified in the original CDR data record form, as it were, an absolute time frame in which the timeweb data are fitted as a relative time window. It is therefore a synchronization procedure which avoids errors due to possible deviations of the time clock of the telephone company 9 from that of the timeweb server 6. An example of this procedure is given in the following table. It should be emphasized here that between tariff 1 and the. of which different tariff 2 the dial-up connection is not deselected:

In operating modes 2 and 3, the use of Internet offers is determined in the same way as in operating mode 1. Since no physical CDRs are available here, the synchronization explained above is omitted. The billing also does not take place via forwarding of virtual CDRs to the telephone company, but directly with the user. Since there is no connection identifier, it is necessary in these operating modes that the user has registered and can only call up the offers once he has authenticated himself against the Timeweb system.

The Timeweb system enables the user to access password-protected web offers without having knowledge of the access data and without the provider knowing which user is accessing the offer. The Timeweb server 6 checks - as explained above - every URL. If a URL is called up that is provided with access protection by the provider, the Timeweb server 6 supplements this query with a master user name and a master password. For example, the request

<prot>: // <ip> / <path>? <query> changed from the Timeweb server 6 to the following query:

<prot>: // <usr>: <pwd> @ <ip> / <path>? <query>.

Here mean: prot = protocol (e.g. http), usr = master username, pwd = master password, ip = IP address or domain name of the provider server.

These access data (master user name and master password) are communicated to the Timeweb server 6 by the provider. The provider can offer his website parallel to the operation of a closed user group with individual billing in the Timeweb collection procedure, without having to make changes to the website.

The Timeweb client is a C + - (- Windows program which can be downloaded from the Timeweb server 6. When installed on the user host 1, it automatically recognizes the operating mode based on the network settings of the computer 1 A main function is the monitoring of the web pages queried by user host 1, as already explained above.

In operating mode 1, the user generally initially surfs the Internet via a third-party Internet provider via modem or ISDN, ie not via Timeweb access. If the user requests a fee-relevant website, the Timeweb client (unlike in operating mode 2, where it is the Timeweb server) offers a dialog box to switch to the desired offer and thus the desired tariff. In the case of a positive user confirmation, the client - as already explained - disconnects the dial-up connection to the external Internet provider and establishes a new connection to the Timeweb access device 4, unless such a connection already exists. The timeweb server 6 functions as a transparent proxy via the dial-in technique, ie it receives all pages requested by the user without the timeweb client explicitly forwarding them to the timeweb server 6. If the user requests a website that is not part of the cost-relevant offer, a switch back takes place after a confirmed query. The user can also continue surfing via Timeweb access. If a timeout is detected, the client brings up a dialog box with a warning message and ends the internet connection in order not to generate unnecessary costs for the user. In operating mode 2, the client is entered under address 127.0.0.1 and port 8080 as a local proxy in the browser of user host 2. In this mode, the user is permanently connected to the Internet (eg via a dedicated line). The Timeweb client only monitors HTTP traffic, but does not set up or close a dial-up connection.

11, the client starts in a transparent mode P21. In this mode, he forwards any URL that he cannot associate with a registered Timeweb offer without redirection to the target server, i.e. to the provider server specified in the URL or a proxy that may be preset.

If the client recognizes a first URL from the registered Timeweb offer, it immediately changes to a status P22 in which it forwards these and all further HTTP requests - regardless of whether they belong to the same offer or not - to the Timeweb server 6 ,

In operating modes 2 and 3, the user must be logged on to the Timeweb system once. The registration, as well as all inquiries whether a tariff change should take place, are made by the Timeweb server (and not by the client, as in operating mode 1). The Timeweb server communicates with the user who logs on by first sending special login and tariff change pages back to the user instead of the website requested by the user, and requesting the desired website and returning it to the user only after registration and confirmation of the tariff change , As mentioned, when the user wants to use a website of a Timeweb offer (ie a registered cost-relevant offer) for the first time during a session, the Timeweb server 6 requires a registration. If the user does not yet have any login data, he can register with the Timeweb system via a registration website and receives a user ID and password. After entering the user ID and password, he receives a tariff change page. This describes the service offered, including the cost of the service. If the user confirms this page, he will be redirected to the selected website of the provider, unless there is a portal page for this offer that must first be visited. If the user finally requests a website that is not part of the registered offer, then the Timeweb server 6 asks the user via an interposed website whether the previous offer should be left. If the user confirms this, the Timeweb client switches back to transparent mode P21.

A reset URL has the following form, for example:

http: // <TimeWebDomain> / service / client / logoff .asp? redir = <desired URL>

If the url part

http: // <TimeWebDomain> / service / client / logoff. asp

appears, this is the sign for the Timeweb client to switch back to transparent mode P21. Does the Timeweb client determine a timeout because the user e.g. has closed his browser or has not accessed any pages for a long time, then a switch back to status P21 also takes place.

Since the database with tariff-relevant providers and tariffs is constantly changing, the Timeweb client needs a method to update this information. to correctly recognize the offers and to display the correct information / prices.

The Timeweb client updates the database of all Timeweb offers on the Internet. For this purpose, he calls up an invisible, non-public text file from the Timeweb server system 2.

The text file available at the specified URL contains a list of all offers available via Timeweb in the following form, with the time of the last change to the offer.

http: // <TimeWebDomain> /service/client/angebote/list.txt

Offer no. Timestamp of the last change

1 20000718152421

2 20000612122421

3 20000712122421 etc.

Every Timeweb offer has a unique number. Every change to an offer in the central database on server side 2 is logged and the time of the change in this offer is recorded with a time stamp. The timestamp has the format <yyyymmddhhmmss>. The Timeweb client compares this with its own list of available offers.

Since the user PC could have a different time setting, the time base is fetched from a service page:

http: // <TimeWebDomain> / service / timestamp. asp

This page provides a text file with the current Timeweb server time. All offers that no longer appear in the new list are deleted, all offers that have a more recent time stamp or were not in the previous list are updated or retransmitted.

The images and graphics for the individual offers are provided in an Internet directory:

http: // <TimeWebDomain> / service / client / offers / <offer number> /icon.bmp

http: // <TimeWebDomain> / service / client / offers / <offer number> /offer.ini,

including the associated URL's, tariffing and description texts. The frequency of the update can be set on the client module.

Offer.ini is structured as follows in the format of the Windows profile files.

[Desc] name = ricardo slogan = The largest auction house on the Internet

[urlsl allowed = http://www.ricardo.de/ allowed = http: // web1 .ricardo.de / allowed = http://web2.ricardo.de/ disallowed = http://www.ricardo.de/ member / staff

[tariff] mo = 1 -4.3.2 etc.

A corresponding procedure is carried out to upgrade the Timeweb client.

The Timeweb client fetches a list of all current program components for the operating system of the respective user host 2 via web access from the Timeweb server system 2. New or updated program components are then loaded directly over the Internet and made available after a restart.

Different program areas are provided for each operating system.

The latest version is in the directory:

http: // <TimeWebDomain> / service / client / os / <osname> /list.txt

The following are possible as <osnames> (not complete)

win31, win95, win98, winnt351, winnt.40, winn2000 maxos7 linux beos etc.

Example:

http: // <TimeWebDomain> /service/client/os/win98/list.txt

Program version

/client.exe 1 .2.3 8/15/2000 3:24:21 PM

/abc.d 1 1 2.1 2.3 1 6.08.2000 1 5:24:21 /data/x.bin 1 .2.4.18.07.2000 12:23:34

The path information is relative information to the program directory. The version number is divided into version. Release. Build.

A difference in the build version (with the same version and release number) does not require a substantial change and can, but does not have to be used. Here the Timeweb client makes the suggestion to upgrade to the new version.

A difference in the release number must be updated in any case. The Timeweb client points out that otherwise the functionality cannot be guaranteed. If there is a difference in the version number, it must be updated in any case.

The described embodiment of the Timeweb system thus has the following remarkable properties:

there is no need to change the provider servers or the Internet offerings; Several different tariffs can be billed via the same physical telephone connection; With the help of the Timeweb client, it is already recognized on the user's computer whether a tariff-relevant website is selected, for which no special identification of the URLs in question is required; Password-protected web offers can be accessed by Timeweb users without knowing the access data and without disclosing their personal data to the provider.

In all of the exemplary embodiments described - apart from one-off agreements on tariffs to be made with the provider - no notification is required from the provider to the tariff server with regard to the services or the fees to be charged to the user etc. Rather, the classification is done solely by monitoring the requests (requests) that the user sends to the provider via the classification server.

12 uses a simplified flow diagram to illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the method of event-dependent variable tariffing. In the present exemplary embodiment, this method is implemented as an addition to the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 11, so that reference is made to the above statements. The figure and the following description are therefore limited to an illustration of the additional method steps.

In step T1, the tariff server continuously monitors the user's HTTP requests for the occurrence of a trigger object that represents a tariff-relevant event, e.g. a specific URI or URL. What is considered a trigger object generally depends. depending on the provider website selected. A trigger object is usually expected in the header of an HTTP request. In principle, however, trigger objects can also be contained in the body of a request, for example in the form of a specific string in the body of an HTTP post request, provided that the data in this body are not sent in encrypted form. For a website that has just been requested, the trigger object is the URL "www.shop.de/einkaufsbestaetigung.html" in an HTTP request. If the tariff server finds this trigger object in step T2, it causes in step T3 that the tariff e.g. is reduced for the entire virtual CDR belonging to this website visit. If, on the other hand, no trigger object occurs, the tariff server continues to carry out the website-dependent variable tariff (described above and therefore not shown here).

Even in the event-dependent variable tariffing according to the exemplary embodiment described - apart from one-off agreements to be made with the provider about tariffs and their event-dependency - there is no communication from the provider to the tariff server regarding the user services taken or the fees to be charged to the user, etc.; The classification is in turn carried out solely by monitoring the requests that the user sends to the provider via the classification server.

Claims

claims

1 . System for variable tariffing of Internet charges depending on selected Internet offers, comprising at least one user host and a tariff server system, the user host being equipped with a tariffing aid program which monitors requests for Internet offers to be sent out by the user host for tariff relevance and, in the case of tariff relevance, a dial-up connection of the user host which has existed to date disconnects from an access server to the Internet and establishes a new dial-up connection to the tariff server system if the dial-up connection has not already existed to the tariff server system, after which the request from the tariff server system reaches the provider server providing the selected Internet offer, the tariff server system being set up in such a way that it contains tariff-relevant data the request is logged, and wherein the user host and the tariff server system are set up so that a tariff change without separation the existing dial-up connection is made possible by logging the tariff-relevant data.

2.System for the variable tariffing of Internet fees depending on selected Internet offers, comprising at least one user host and a tariff server system, the user host being equipped with a tariffing aid program which monitors requests for Internet offers to be sent by the user host for tariff relevance and, in the case of tariff relevance, via the Internet Redirects the request via the tariff server system, the tariff server system being set up so that the query from it to the provider server providing the selected Internet offer arrives, the tariff server system logs tariff-relevant data of the request.

A system according to claims 1 and 2, comprising at least one user host according to claim 1 and at least one user host according to claim 2.

System according to one of Claims 1 to 3, which has at least one further user host which routes all inquiries for Internet offers, that is to say also non-tariff-relevant inquiries, via the tariff server system.

System according to one of Claims 1, 3 and 4, which is set up in such a way that, for billing, the logged data of the request are combined with connection data supplied by the dial-up connection carrier.

System according to one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the tariff server system is set up in such a way that, in the event of a request to an access-protected tariff-relevant Internet offer, this request is supplemented by tariff server system-related access data.

System according to one of Claims 1 to 6, which is set up in such a way that the tariffing server system carries out the tariffing on the basis of an observation of the inquiries which are in progress, without the provider server transmitting request-related tariffing data to the tariffing server system and without any adjustment or modification to the Internet offers provided by the provider server is required for tariffing by the tariff server system.

8. System according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the tariff-relevant offers include both chargeable offers and offers with partial or complete reimbursement of the connection costs.

9. System according to one of claims 1 to 8, which is set up so that in the event of a change in the range of tariff-relevant offers recorded by the system, in particular in the case of a new entry of a tariff-relevant offer, the user host automatically displays this change on its user interface.

10. System according to one of claims 1, 3 to 9, which is set up so that it logically divides a physical dial-up connection into several virtual dial-up connections for billing.

1 1. System for variable tariffing of Internet charges, comprising at least one user host and a tariff server system, wherein requests from the user host for tariff-relevant Internet offers run via the tariff server system, the system being set up in such a way that the tariffing is carried out depending on events that occur during the period of use of the Internet offer occur.

12. The system of claim 1 1, wherein the tariff server system monitors the requests of the user host for the occurrence of a tariff-relevant event.

13. The system of claim 1 1 or 12, wherein the tariff server system detects the occurrence of a tariff-relevant event based on at least one trigger object in the traffic between the user host and the tariff server system, which is in particular a predetermined URL.

14. System according to one of claims 1 1 to 13, with one or more features of claims 1 to 9.

15. Computer program product for execution with an Internet browser on a user host as part of a system for variable tariffing of Internet fees depending on the selected Internet offer, the computer program product comprising a tariffing aid program which monitors requests for Internet offers to be sent out by the user host for tariff relevance, and in the case of tariff relevance disconnects an existing dial-up connection of the user host and establishes a new dial-up connection to a tariff server system of the system for variable tariffing, if the dial-up connection has not already existed to the tariff server system, the tariffing aid program not separating the dial-up connection established to the tariff server system if a request for another Internet offer with a different tariff is to be sent, unless the user explicitly gives a command for such a separation.

16. Computer program product for execution with an Internet browser on a user host as part of a system for the variable tariffing of Internet fees depending on the selected Internet offer, the computer program product comprising a tariffing aid program which monitors requests for Internet offers to be sent out by the user host for tariff relevance, and in the case of tariff relevance via the Internet, a redirection of the request via a tariff server system is initiated.

17. Computer program product for running with an Internet browser on a user host as part of a system for variable tariffing of Internet charges depending on the Internet offer selected, which comprises a tariffing aid program which can operate in at least two operating modes, namely in the mode of the computer program -Product measured according to claim 151 and in that of the computer program product according to claim 162.

18. Computer program product according to claim 16 or 17, in which the tariffing assistance program can also operate in an operating mode in which it routes all inquiries for Internet offers, including inquiries for non-tariff-relevant offers, via the tariff server system.

19. Computer program product according to claim 17 or 18, in which the tariffing aid program recognizes on the basis of network settings of the user host in which operating mode it should operate.

20. Computer program product according to one of claims 16 to 19, in which the tariffing aid program monitors the Internet traffic of the user host carried out with the aid of a browser, by registering itself as a proxy in the browser or by the user entering it as a proxy, or by providing the Scans TCP / IP traffic.

21. Computer program product according to one of Claims 15 to 20, in which the tariffing aid program is set up to store a list of tariff-relevant Internet offers and to monitor the requests to be sent by the user host on the basis of this stored list, so that it is used for the detection of a tariff-relevant Internet offer No need to modify the URLs of this website to indicate this.

22. Computer program product according to claim 21, in which the tariffing aid program is designed such that the list of tariff-relevant Internet offers can be displayed on a user interface of the user host and, by selecting an entry in the list, the user sends a request for the corresponding Internet offer.

23. Computer program product according to one of claims 21 or 22, in which the tariffing aid program automatically updates the list of tariff-relevant Internet offers, including any information associated therewith, continuously by corresponding inquiries to the tariffing server system.

24. Computer program product according to claim 23, in which the tariffing assistance program is set up in such a way that it indicates this change on the user interface in the event of a change in the circle of stored tariff-relevant offers, in particular in the case of a new entry of a tariff-relevant offer.

25. tariffing server system for the variable tariffing of Internet charges in dependence on Internet offers, which are chosen by a user host, comprising a tariffing server system and a device for access of a dial-up connection from the user host, wherein the tariffing server system is set up in such a way that, when requests for Internet offers are sent to the forwards the provider server concerned and checks it for tariff relevance and logs tariff-relevant data of the inquiries without the tariff server system receiving request-related tariff data from the provider server, whereby a tariff change within an internet offer or due to a change to another internet offer is possible while maintaining the existing dial-up connection.

26.Classification server system for the variable tariffing of Internet fees depending on the selected Internet offers, which is set up in such a way that it forwards inquiries for Internet offers addressed to it from the Internet to the relevant provider server and checks them for tariff relevance and logs tariff-relevant data of the requests without this tariffing server system request related tariff data gets transmitted from Anbie ^¬ terserver.

27. Tariffing server system for variable tariffing of internet fees depending on selected internet offers which combines the features of the server system according to claim 25 and those of the server system according to claim 26.

28. Classification server system according to one of claims 25 to 27, which is set up in such a way that, for billing, the logged data of the request are combined with connection data supplied by the dial-up connection carrier.

29. Tariff server system according to one of claims 25 to 28, which is set up in such a way that, in the event of a request to an access-protected tariff-relevant Internet offer, this request is supplemented by tariff server system-related access data.

30. Tariffing server system according to one of claims 25 to 29, which is set up so that the tariffing of the tariffing server system is carried out on the basis of an observation of the inquiries running through, without the provider server transmitting request-related tariffing data to the tariffing server system and without an adjustment to the Internet offers provided by the provider server or modification for tariffing by the tariff server system is required.

31 Tariff server system according to one of claims 25 to 30, which is set up so that the tariff-relevant offers include both chargeable offers and offers with partial or complete reimbursement of the connection costs.

32. tariff server system according to one of claims 25, 27 to 31, which is set up so that it logically divides a physical dial-up connection into several virtual dial-up connections for billing.

33. Tariffing server system for the variable tariffing of internet fees of internet offers, which are chosen by a user host, whereby requests of the user host for tariff-relevant internet offers run over the tariffing server system, whereby the tariffing server system is set up in such a way that the tariffing is carried out depending on events which take place during the The service life of the website may occur.

34. Tariff server system according to claim 33, which monitors the requests of the user host for the occurrence of a tariff-relevant event.

35. System according to claim 33 or 34, which detects the occurrence of a tariff-relevant event on the basis of at least one trigger object in the traffic between the user host and the tariff server system, which is in particular a predetermined URL.

36. System according to one of claims 33 to 34, with one or more features of claims 25 to 32.

37. A method for variable tariffing of Internet charges depending on selected Internet offers, comprising at least one user host and a tariff server system, a tariffing aid program of the user host monitoring requests for Internet offers to be sent out from the user host for tariff relevance and, in the case of tariff relevance, a previously existing dial-up connection of the user host disconnects an access server from the Internet and establishes a new dial-up connection to the tariff server system if the dial-up connection has not already existed to the tariff server system, after which the request from the tariff server system reaches the provider server providing the selected Internet offer, the tariff server system logs tariff-relevant data of the request, and does not disconnect the existing dial-up connection in the event of a tariff change, unless such a separation is expressly desired on the part of the user.

38. A method for variable tariffing of Internet fees depending on selected Internet offers, comprising at least one user host and a tariff server system, wherein a tariff assistance program of the user host monitors requests for Internet offers to be sent by the user host for tariff relevance and, in the case of tariff relevance, a redirection of the request via the Internet Tariffing server system causes the request then to go from the tariffing server system to the provider server providing the selected Internet offer, the tariffing server system loging tariff-relevant data of the request.

39. The method according to claims 37 and 38, wherein at least one user host operates according to claim 37 and at least one user host operates according to claim 38, and the tariff server system, depending on which of the user hosts an inquiry comes from, operates according to claims 37 and 38, respectively.

40. The method as claimed in one of claims 37 to 39, in which at least one further user host routes all inquiries for Internet offers, that is to say also non-tariff-relevant inquiries, via the tariff server system.

41. Method according to one of claims 37, 39 and 40, wherein for the logged data from ^¬ calculation of the request with Wählverbindungs- supplied by the carrier connection data are merged.

42. Method according to one of claims 37 to 41, in which the tariff server system supplements this request with tariff server system-related access data in the event of a request to an access-protected tariff-relevant Internet offer.

43. The method according to any one of claims 37 to 42, in which the tariffing of the tariffing server system is carried out on the basis of an observation of the inquiries which are going through, without the provider server transmitting request-related tariffing data to the tariffing server system and without any adaptation or modification for the internet offers provided by the provider server Classification by the tariff server system is required.

44. The method as claimed in one of claims 37 to 43, in which the tariff-relevant offers include both chargeable offers and offers with partial or complete reimbursement of the connection costs.

45. Method according to one of claims 37 to 44, in which, in the event of a change in the range of tariff-relevant offers recorded by the system, in particular in the case of a new entry of a tariff-relevant offer, the user host automatically displays this change on its user interface.

46. Method according to one of claims 37, 38 to 45, in which a physical dial-up connection is logically divided into a plurality of virtual dial-up connections for billing.

47. A method for the variable tariffing of Internet charges for Internet offers, comprising at least one user host and a tariff server system, wherein requests from the user host for tariff-relevant Internet offers run via the tariff server system, the tariff depending on the occurrence of events that occur during the useful life of the website.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the tariff server system monitors the requests of the user host for the occurrence of a tariff-relevant event.

49. The method of claim 47 or 48, wherein the tariff server system recognizes the occurrence of a tariff-relevant event based on at least one trigger object in the traffic between the user host and the tariff server system, which is in particular a predetermined URL.

50. The method according to any one of claims 47 to 49, with one or more features of claims 37 to 46.

51. Procedure for running with an Internet browser on a user host as part of a system for variable tariffing of Internet fees depending on the selected Internet offer, in which a tariffing aid program monitors requests for Internet offers to be sent from the user host for tariff relevance, and in the case of tariff relevance an existing dial-up connection to the Internet of the user host disconnects and establishes a new dial-up connection to a tariff server system of the system for variable tariffing if the dial-up connection has not already existed to the tariff server system, the tariffing aid program not separating the dial-up connection established to the tariff server system when a request for another Internet offer with a different tariff is to be sent, unless the user expressly gives a command for such a separation.

52. Procedure for execution with an Internet browser on a user host as part of a system for variable tariffing of Internet fees Dependency on the selected Internet offer, in which a tariff support program monitors requests for Internet offers to be sent out from the user host for tariff relevance, and in the case of tariff relevance via the Internet causes a redirection of the request via a tariff server system.

53. The method according to claim 51 or 52, in which the tariffing assistance program can also operate in an operating mode in which it routes all requests for Internet offers, including requests for offers not relevant to tariffs, via the tariff server system.

54. Method according to claim 51 or 52, in which the tariffing aid program recognizes on the basis of network settings of the user host in which operating mode it should operate.

55. The method as claimed in one of claims 52 to 54, in which the tariffing aid program monitors the Internet traffic of the user host carried out with the aid of a browser, by registering itself as a proxy in the browser or by the user entering it as a proxy, or by using the TCP / IP traffic scans.

56. The method as claimed in one of claims 51 to 55, in which the tariffing aid program stores a list of tariff-relevant Internet offers and monitors the requests to be sent by the user host on the basis of this stored list, so that it does not modify the indicative of a tariff-relevant Internet offer URLs of this website are required.

57. The method according to claim 52, in which the tariffing aid program displays the list of tariff-relevant Internet offers on a user interface of the user host and by selecting an entry in the list the user is sent a request for the corresponding Internet offer.

58. Method according to one of claims 56 or 57, in which the tariffing assistance program automatically updates the list of tariff-relevant Internet offers, including any information associated therewith, continuously by means of corresponding inquiries to the tariffing server system.

59. The method of claim 58, in which the tariff assistance program indicates a change in the circle of stored tariff-relevant offers, in particular in the case of a new entry of a tariff-relevant offer, on its user interface to this change.

60.Procedures for the variable tariffing of Internet fees depending on the selected Internet offers, which are selected by a user host, in which a tariff server system for requests for Internet offers, which it receives via a dial-up connection from a user host, forwards them to the relevant provider server and checks for tariff relevance and logs tariff-relevant data of the inquiries without the tariff server system receiving request-related tariff data from the provider server, the existing dial-up connection being maintained when the tariff changes within an Internet offer or due to a change to another Internet offer, unless the user wishes to separate them.

61. A method for the variable tariffing of Internet fees depending on the selected Internet offers, in which a tariff server system forwards requests for Internet offers that it receives from the Internet from a user host to a relevant provider server and checks for tariff relevance and tariff-relevant data of the requests logs without the tariff server system receiving request-related tariff data from the provider server.

62. The method of claim 60 and 61, wherein the tariff server system handles requests from a dial-up connection according to claim 48 and handles requests from the Internet according to claim 49.

63. The method of claim 60 or 62, wherein the tariff server system for billing merges the logged data of the request with connection data supplied by the dial-up connection carrier.

64. The method according to any one of claims 60 to 63, in which it is set up that the tariff server system supplements this request with tariff server system-related access data in the event of a request to an access-protected tariff-relevant Internet offer.

65.Method according to one of claims 60 to 64, in which the tariffing system is carried out by the tariff server system based on an observation of the inquiries being made, without the provider server transmitting request-related tariffing data to the tariff server system and without any adaptation or modification for the internet offers provided by the provider server Classification by the tariff server system is required.

66. The method as claimed in one of claims 60 to 65, in which the tariff-relevant offers include both chargeable offers and offers with partial or complete reimbursement of the connection costs.

67. Method according to one of claims 60, 62 to 66, in which the tariff server system for billing logically divides a physical dial-up connection into a plurality of virtual dial-up connections.

68. A method for the variable tariffing of Internet charges for Internet offers, in which requests from a user host for tariff-relevant Internet offers run via a tariff server system, the tariffing being carried out as a function of events that occur during the useful life of the Internet offer.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the tariff server system monitors the requests of the user host for the occurrence of a tariff-relevant event.

70. The method according to claim 68 or 69, in which the tariff server system recognizes the occurrence of a tariff-relevant event on the basis of at least one trigger object in the traffic between the user host and the tariff server system, which is in particular a predetermined URL.

71. Method according to one of claims 68 to 70, with one or more features of claims 60 to 67.