Method and system to enable, to organize, to facilitate, and to transact communications for a fee or cost utilizing a network such as the internet

• US 20020107697A1
• Filed: 02/05/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jensen, John Michael
• Original Assignee: Jensen, John Michael
• Inventors: Jensen, John Michael
• Application Number:
  US09/776,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20020107697A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for enabling, organizing, and facilitating the transmission of communication for a fee or cost over a network such as the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for using a computer to enable or to facilitate communication between 2 or more parties in which a party pays a fee, bears a cost, or provides consideration which benefits in part the receiving party, comprising:

i. utilizing a network presence;

ii. inputting into the computer search terms or information, including by the use of clicks on hypertext links, to search for or to locate an address, account, location, or reference identification associated with a specific party to receive the communication;

iii. inputting into the computer information that creates, formats, forwards, edits, modifies, addresses, or directs a communication or transmission;

iv. inputting into the computer a payment identifier, account information, security code, or other information to enable a party to pay for, to assume a cost or obligation, to charge or otherwise to bill, to account, to debit, to access benefits, to license, or otherwise to transfer benefits or consideration that in whole or in part benefit a receiver party;

v. segregating, transmitting, storing, holding, distributing, or passing through transmissions or communications directed to an account, address, or location associated with a specific receiver, account, or address;

vi. compensating party who receives communications or participates in the method.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the step of utilizing a network presence, comprises:

i. establishing a network presence on one or more networks, computers, or devices;

ii. and further comprising;

establishing unique addresses, accounts, mailboxes, pass-through means, or other identifiers or repositories for parties to receive communications or transmissions;

and providing a network accessible searchable database or information display or interface to enable a party to browse, to search for, to locate, or to find an address, account, location, or reference identification associated with a specific party to receive the communication;

and providing additional information, pages references, links, or other data about or concerning the receiver party or its associations.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the step of inputting into the computer search terms or information to search for or to locate the address, account, location, or reference identification associated with a specific party to receive the communication, comprises:

i. establishing unique addresses, accounts, mailboxes, pass-through means, or other identifiers or repositories for parties to receive, store, or access communications or transmissions;

ii. verifying, checking, or authenticating that the specific parties to receive the communication are authentically associated with the commonly known party most often or commonly associated in the public'"'"'s mind with the name or association of the name given as a party intending to receive communication;

iii. Providing a means to search, find, locate, identify, and access addresses, accounts, locations, or reference identifications associated with a specific party to receive the communication or transmission;

iv. Providing additional information about the receiver party or its associations.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the step of inputting into the computer search terms or information to search for or to locate the address, account, location, or reference identification associated with a specific party to receive the communication, comprises:

i. establishing addresses, accounts, locations, reference identifications, identifiers, channels, codes, e-mail addresses, web site addresses or pages, storage accounts, or other repositories, pass-through accounts, addresses, sites, or means for parties to receive or to store communication or transmission;

ii. organizing the addresses, accounts, locations, reference identifications, identifiers, channels, codes, e-mail addresses, web site addresses or pages, storage accounts, or other repositories, pass-through accounts, addresses, sites or means so that they can be searched and located by the name or association of the parties to receive the communication or transmission;

iii. providing a means to search, find, locate, identify, and access addresses, accounts, locations, or reference identifications associated with an account or address associated with a specific party to receive the communication or transmission.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the step of inputting into the computer information that creates, formats, forwards, edits, modifies, addresses, or directs a communication or transmission, comprises:

i. Providing services or means to enable parties to input information such as text, audio, or graphics or to create, to format, or to direct communications, e-mail, or transmissions.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the step of inputting into the computer a payment identifier, account information, security code, or other information to enable parties to pay for, to assume a cost or obligation, to charge or otherwise to bill, to account, to debit, to access benefits, to license, or otherwise to transfer benefits or consideration comprises:

i. Establishing terms, conditions, and legal agreements between the parties;

ii. Inputting or enabling parties to input into the computer information to accept or to form a legally binding contract or agreement between the parties;

iii. providing services or means to enable one or more parties to pay for, to assume a cost or obligation, to charge or otherwise to bill, to account, to debit, to access benefits, to license, to provide consideration, or otherwise to compensate or benefit one or more other parties;

iv. providing services or means to process payment, to transact financial transfers, to authenticate or authorize transactions, to charge a party a fee or cost, to receive payment and consideration, to segregate consideration received, to account for consideration received, or otherwise to enable a party to provide or to transfer consideration.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the step of segregating, transmitting, storing, holding, distributing, or passing through transmissions or communications directed to an account, address, or location associated with a specific party, receiver, account, or address comprises:

i. Segregating, storing, holding, or directing transmissions or communications directed to a specific receiver party in or to an account, location or address associated with a specific receiver party;

ii. transmitting, passing through, or distributing communication to Receiver parties or to an account or address or location associated with receiver party on or corresponding to a receiver party'"'"'s request or agreement to access or receive communication.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the step of compensating party who receives communications or participates in the method comprises:

i. Receiving, authorizing, and segregating financial and beneficial transfers;

ii. accounting for fees, revenues, costs, and other items;

iii. transmitting, storing, holding, or distributing communication to receiver parties or to an account or address or location associated with receiver;

iv. enabling parties that have received communication to access the communication by enabling the parties to download, read, view, or otherwise access the communication;

v. compensating or paying parties that have received communication or participated for his or her or their reception, participation, or per agreement.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the party is referred or delivered directly to a page, address, account, or location associated with a receiver party such that the party does not have to input or to search for or locate the page, address, account, or location associated with a receiver party.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the party does not have to input or enter any information or data relating to the address, account, or content of the communication because the communication is pre-existing or automatically directed, forwarded, transmitted, or otherwise addressed or sent to the address or account corresponding to the specific receiver party.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the party does not have to enter any payment identifier, account information, security code, or other information to enable the party to access an existing account, to transfer payment, or to provide consideration because the party'"'"'s computer or other device, for example by use of cookies or other means, automatically provides this or other information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the party does not have to pay fees, or bear a cost because a third party provides consideration or compensation that benefits the receiver party.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiver party is compensated with consideration other than money.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiver party may set the terms, price, and conditions of the agreement or communication.

9. A method and system for enabling or facilitating communication in which a Merchant Intermediary enables or facilitates one party to pay a fee, bear a cost, or provide consideration that in whole or in part benefits the party that receives the communication for the right or opportunity to transmit or to direct a communication to the receiver party, comprising:

i. establishing an interface, site, identifier, or network presence on one or more networks or devices;

ii. establishing addresses, accounts, identifiers, channels, codes, e-mail addresses, web site addresses, storage accounts, or other repositories, pass-through accounts, addresses, sites, or means;

iii. establishing one or more unique sites, accounts, or addresses for unique receiver parties in which the Merchant Intermediary may hold, segregate, or pass through information or transmissions directed to a specific Receiver, account, or address;

iv. establishing a means for a party to locate the address or account of a specific receiver party;

v. providing services or means to allow parties to create, to format, or to direct communications or transmissions to specified receiver parties;

vi. providing services or means to allow parties to pay for, to assume a cost or obligation, to charge or otherwise to bill, to account, to access benefits, to debit, to license, or otherwise to compensate or benefit the Merchant Intermediary or the Receiver;

vii. providing services or means to receive fees, to segregate benefits received, to charge parties a fee or cost or otherwise processes financial transactions or transfers associated with a party'"'"'s acquiring the right or the opportunity to transmit or to direct communication to an address or account associated with a specific Receiver party;

viii. receiving, authorizing and accounting for fees, revenues, costs, and other items;

ix. transmitting, storing, holding, or distributing communication to Receiver parties or to accounts, addresses, or locations associated with Receiver parties;

x. compensating or paying Receiver parties for his or her or their participation.

16. The system and method of claim 9 where the communication is stored on the email server, host computer, or other device of the Merchant Intermediary and not transmitted immediately to another computer.