Instantaneous internet charging
First Claim
1. A method for providing information related to metered usage of an electronic or digital service consumed by a user, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving data relating to the metered usage of the consumed service;
rating the metered usage based on the received data;
generating information based on the rated metered usage; and
providing the information via a communication link to a destination location within a close time proximity to the actual consumption of the service.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a method and system for providing and displaying on a computer device information related to charges incurred for the consumption of Internet services. Using such a system, a consumer of services is notified of the charges and usage information within seconds of the actual consumption of services, thereby permitting the consumer to budget for services and control their consumption of services accordingly. Preferably, the charge and usage information includes ongoing updates on the basis of the smallest incremental unit consumed, to provide the consumer with a running total of the amount of services used at any one point in time; the charges incurred for such usage; the charges for proposed actions so that the consumer can determine an action'"'"'s cost in advance; and predictions regarding future usage and expenditures based on the consumer'"'"'s utilization history.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A method for providing information related to metered usage of an electronic or digital service consumed by a user, the method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving data relating to the metered usage of the consumed service;
rating the metered usage based on the received data;
generating information based on the rated metered usage; and
providing the information via a communication link to a destination location within a close time proximity to the actual consumption of the service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for providing timely information related to usage of an Internet service, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing measured units of Internet service to one or more users;
tallying the measured units of Internet service provided to one or more users as the measured units of Internet service are consumed by one or more users;
assessing a rate per measured unit of Internet service consumed by one or more users as the measured units are tallied;
calculating a price associated with the consumed measured units of Internet service by multiplying the tally of measured units of Internet service with the assessed rate; and
forwarding, within a close time proximity to the consumption of the measured units of Internet service by one or more users, information via a communication link to a designated location, where the information includes at least one of the tally of the measured unit of Internet service, the assessed rated, and the calculated price. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification