DATA COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20020178070A1
• Filed: 01/29/1999
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Inventors: LEVERIDGE, PHILIP CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US09/230,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20020178070A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• 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 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A gateway server provides access to third party content servers whilst managing a user database and billing functions.

On receipt of a request for premium content, which is to be charged for, a third party server informs the gateway server with a price code associated with the content. The gateway server converts the price code into a price to be charged, and confirms the order with the third party server after a credit limit check and receipt of a confirmation form from the user.

Claims

1. A method of controlling user requests in a server system communicating with a user and a third party via a data communications system, said method comprising:

receiving a digital request for goods from said user via said data communications system;

passing on said request to said third party via said data communications system;

receiving a digital code relating to said goods from said third party via said data communications system;

setting in said server system a price value to be charged to said user for said goods in dependence on said code;

determining whether said goods are to be provided by said third party on the basis of said price value; and

arranging said goods to be provided by said third party if the result of said determination is positive.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising receiving a further digital request and setting a different price value to be charged to a user on receipt of the same digital code.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said price value is derived from said code by said server system with reference to a pricing database.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said determining step comprises referring to an acceptance criterion set for said user.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said acceptance criterion is a monetary limit.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said determining step comprises transmitting said price value to said user and requesting a confirmation response from said user.

7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said price value is derived from said code by a selected charging scheme.

8. A method according to claim 7, comprising selecting said charging scheme in dependence on the user.

9. A method according to claim 7 or 8, comprising selecting said charging scheme in dependence on a time value.

10. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising performing authentication of said user before said passing on step.

11. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said goods comprise electronic goods.

12. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said data communications system is an Internet-based system.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said code is transmitted from said third party in an HTTP message.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said different charging schemes are selected between so as to alter the price which would be charged to the same user with time.

17. A method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein said different charging schemes are selected between in dependence on the user.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said determining step comprises requesting a confirmation response from said user.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein said confirmation request comprises said price value to be charged.

28. A server system arranged to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 29.

14. A method of providing goods to users communicating via a data communications system, said method comprising:

receiving at a first server system via said data communications system a digital request for goods from a second server system controlling requests originating from a user;

transmitting a digital code relating to said goods to said second server system via said data communications system; and

providing said goods if a confirmation of said request is received from said second server system via said data communications system,

wherein said digital code refers to a price value, to be set by said second server system, to be charged to said user via said goods.

15. A method of charging content provided by third parties in a data communications system, said method comprising:

receiving a digital code relating to content which is offered to a user by a third party;

selecting one of a plurality of different charging schemes; and

generating a price value to be charged for said content on the basis of said code in accordance with said selected charging scheme.

18. A method according to any of claims 15 to 17, further comprising determining whether said price value to be charged is acceptable before said content is provided to said user.

21. A method of providing content to users in a data communications system, said method comprising:

receiving a digital request for content from a user;

transmitting said request to a third party;

receiving data comprising first content from said third party, said first content comprising a code for selecting second content to be presented to a user;

transmitting said received data to said user;

receiving a request for said second content from said user; and

transmitting said second content to said user.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said secondary content includes a price to be charged for goods offered by said third party.

23. A method according to claim 21 or 22, wherein said secondary content comprises an image file.

24. A method according to claim 21, 22 or 23, wherein said request for said second content comprises said code.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein said request for said second content comprises a Uniform Resource Locator.

26. A method according to any of claims 21 to 25, wherein said second content is selected for transmission on the basis of said code and a further parameter.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein said further parameter relates to the identity of the user.