System, method and computer program product for allowing a carrier to act as a credit-approval entity for e-commerce transactions

• US 20010054024A1
• Filed: 06/11/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Amdocs Development Limited (Amdocs Ltd.), Amdocs Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Amdocs Development Limited (Amdocs Ltd.), Amdocs Ltd.
• Inventors: Schweitzer, Limor
• Application Number:
  US09/879,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20010054024A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 : Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/52 : for operator independent billing system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/53 : using mediation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 : for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 : Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 : Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 : Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0172 : Mediation, i.e. device or program to reformat CDRS from one or more switches in order to adapt to one or more billing programs formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 : Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 : WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 : Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 : Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 : Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are provided for paying for a transaction over the Internet. Initially, information is received utilizing a network. Such information includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a user and an amount of payment due. An account is then identified using at least a portion of the information, i.e. the IP address. Thereafter, payment is administered for the payment due by billing against the account. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention may be carried out by a network service provider who provides the user with access to the network.

Claims

1. A method for paying for a transaction over the Internet, comprising:

(a) receiving information utilizing a network, wherein the information includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a user and an amount of payment due;

(b) identifying an account using at least a portion of the information; and

(c) administering payment for the payment due by billing against the account.

2. The method as recited in

claim 1

, wherein a site sends the information in response to the user carrying out a transaction using the site.

3. The method as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the information further includes port numbers.

4. The method as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the steps are carried out by a network service provider.

5. The method as recited in

claim 2

, and further comprising the steps of identifying user data based on the received information, and sending the user data to the site.

6. The method as recited in

claim 5

, wherein the user data includes shipping information.

7. The method as recited in

claim 5

, and further comprising the step of requesting permission from the user prior to sending the user data to the site.

8. The method as recited in

claim 1

, and further comprising the step of limiting the administration of payment based on a rule.

9. The method as recited in

claim 2

, and further comprising the step of collecting a fee from the site.

10. The method as recited in

claim 9

, wherein the fee is a percentage of the payment due.

11. The method as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the account is a debit account.

12. The method as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the steps are carried out by a financial institution offering credit with credit cards in conjunction with a network service provider.

13. A computer program product for paying for a transaction over the Internet, comprising:

(a) computer code for receiving information utilizing a network, wherein the information includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a user and an amount of payment due;

(b) computer code for identifying an account using at least a portion of the information; and

(c) computer code for administering payment for the payment due by billing against the account.

14. The computer program product as recited in

claim 13

, wherein a site sends the information in response to the user carrying out a transaction using the site.

15. The computer program product as recited in

claim 13

, wherein the information further includes port numbers.

16. The computer program product as recited in

claim 13

, wherein the computer code is executed by a network service provider.

17. The computer program product as recited in

claim 14

, and further comprising computer code for identifying user data based on the received information, and sending the user data to the site.

18. The computer program product as recited in

claim 17

, wherein the user data includes shipping information.

19. The computer program product as recited in

claim 17

, and further comprising computer code for requesting permission from the user prior to sending the user data to the site.

20. The computer program product as recited in

claim 13

, and further comprising computer code for limiting the administration of payment based on a rule.

21. The computer program product as recited in

claim 14

, and further comprising computer code for collecting a fee from the site.

22. The computer program product as recited in

claim 21

, wherein the fee is a percentage of the payment due.

23. The computer program product as recited in

claim 13

, wherein the account is a debit account.

24. The computer program product as recited in

claim 13

, wherein the computer code is executed by a financial institution offering credit with credit cards in conjunction with a network service provider.

25. A system for paying for a transaction over the Internet, comprising:

(a) logic for receiving information utilizing a network, wherein the information includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a user and an amount of payment due;

(b) logic for identifying an account using at least a portion of the information; and

(c) logic for administering payment for the payment due by billing against the account.

26. A method for paying for a transaction over the Internet, comprising:

(a) providing a link to a site on a network where a business transaction is occurring;

(b) receiving information from the site at a third party location during the transaction, wherein the information includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a user and an amount of payment due;

(c) identifying an account using at least a portion of the information;

(d) identifying whether any rules are associated with the account;

(e) conditionally administering payment for the payment due by billing against the account in accordance with any identified rules;

(f) identifying shipping information based on the received information;

(g) sending the shipping information to the site; and

(h) receiving compensation from the site.