Message delivery system billing method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method for transmitting content data over a computer network comprising the steps of:
- providing a first interface to a publisher to define content data objects;
providing a second interface to a user of a client computer to select content data objects from the publisher;
providing a third interface to the publisher and the user of the client computer to select payment terms and conditions for the transmission of content data objects from the publisher to the user;
providing a switching network to transmit content data objects from the publisher to the user upon request from the user; and
managing a billing process for causing transfer of payment from the user to the publisher in exchange for transmission of requested content data objects.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An on-line product delivery and billing system for aggregating product content delivery and payment for a network of customers and content providers is described. A content provider dynamically creates product content from one or more suppliers. The content provider sets pricing levels for the product content and aggregates billing information for the one or more suppliers and provides the content and payment information to the customer. The customer is billed for product delivery based upon predefined customer parameters and usage. The customer is presented one bill for all publishers'"'"' content accessed over the network. Upon payment the content provider provides payment to the suppliers in accordance with pre-established terms and conditions. Alternatively, the customer pays the suppliers directly, using the network as a delivery, metering, and billing platform. The product content is modified for transmission to specific customer client devices.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for transmitting content data over a computer network comprising the steps of:
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providing a first interface to a publisher to define content data objects;
providing a second interface to a user of a client computer to select content data objects from the publisher;
providing a third interface to the publisher and the user of the client computer to select payment terms and conditions for the transmission of content data objects from the publisher to the user;
providing a switching network to transmit content data objects from the publisher to the user upon request from the user; and
managing a billing process for causing transfer of payment from the user to the publisher in exchange for transmission of requested content data objects. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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16. A method of delivering on-line content data to one or more client computers from a server computer over bi-directional communications network, comprising:
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receiving a customer order for a product;
compiling the product from component objects provided by one or more content provider computers;
determining a plurality of customer identification and use parameters;
determining a client computing device operated by the customer to access the product;
aggregating the product price based on the price of the component objects from the one or more content provider server computers;
delivering the product to the customer in accordance with requirements of the client computing device and the customer identification and use parameters; and
billing a single payment amount based on the product cost to the customer.
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27. A server computer coupled to one or more content provider computers, each operated by a publisher, and coupled to one or more client computers, each operated by a user, the server computer comprising:
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first interface provided to each publisher to define content data objects;
a second interface provided to each user to select content data objects from a publisher;
a third interface provided to each publisher and each user to select payment terms and conditions for the transmission of content data objects from a publisher to a user;
a fourth interface to a switching network for transmission of content data objects from a publisher to a user upon request from the user; and
a billing process for causing transfer of payment from a user to a publisher in exchange for transmission of requested content data objects.
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Specification