Communications services, methods and systems

• US 20020198847A1
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Anoto Group AB
• Original Assignee: Anoto Group AB
• Inventors: Fahraeus, Christer
• Application Number:
  US10/101,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20020198847A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method and system includes sharing revenue between a plurality of parties providing a technology service in which an end user uses a position indicia reading stylus to collect position information from a product having position identifying indicia thereon and a network infrastructure communicates a signal representing, or derived from, position information collected from said stylus to a network node that performs a technological service based on the signal. An agreement is formed between the parties regarding a percentage of revenue that each party should receive. The service is provided via the network infrastructure to end users for a fee. The fee is collected from the end users, and a portion of the fee is distributed to each party based on the percentage of revenue allocated to each party in the agreement.

Claims

1. A method of sharing revenue between a plurality of parties providing a service in which an end user uses a position indicia reading stylus to collect position information from a product having position identifying indicia thereon and a network infrastructure communicates a signal representing, or derived from, position information collected from said stylus to a network node that performs a service based on said signal, the method comprising:

forming an agreement between the parties regarding a percentage of revenue that each party should receive;

providing the service via the network infrastructure to end users for a fee;

collecting the fee from the end users; and

distributing a portion of the fee to each party based on the percentage of revenue allocated to each party in the agreement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parties comprise

a network operator for operating the network infrastructure;

a technological service provider connected to the network infrastructure and performing a look-up service based on position information received from said stylus;

a service provider connected to the network and in communication with the technological service provider via the network for providing the service to the user; and

a manufacturer for producing the stylus and/or the product needed for the user to initiate the service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

the step of forming the agreement comprises

a concept owner forming agreements with the parties, the concept owner being the owner of intellectual property rights in the service, product, and/or stylus.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting predetermined percentages of revenue for at least one party of the plurality of parties.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of collecting the fee from the end users includes

the service provider collecting a transaction-based fee and/or flat fee from the end user.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of distributing the portion of the fee to each party includes a clearing house for receiving the portion of fee from the service provider and allocating the received portion of the fee to the service provider and technological service provider.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of forming an agreement includes forming an first agreement for core services and a second agreement for open service,

core services are services developed by the technology service provider, and

open services are services developed by a party other than the technology service provider.

4. The method of claim 4, wherein

the concept owner forms a first agreement with a first party for providing a first service in exchange for a license of intellectual property rights and a first percentage of the revenue, and

the first party forms a second agreement between the first party and a second party for providing a second service to the end user via the network infrastructure in exchange for a license of intellectual property rights and a second percentage of the revenue.

9. A system of sharing revenue between a plurality of parties providing a service in which an end user uses a position indicia reading stylus to collect position information from a product having position identifying indicia thereon and a network infrastructure communicates a signal representing, or derived from, position information collected from said stylus to a network node that performs a service based on said signal, the system comprising:

means for establishing predetermined percentages of revenue allocated to each party in the plurality of parties;

means for charging a fee to each user for the provided service;

means for collecting the fee from each user to generate revenue; and

means for distributing the collected revenue so that each party in the plurality of parties receives a portion of the revenue equal to the predetermined allocated percentage.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the parties in the plurality of parties comprises:

a network operator providing a network infrastructure;

a technological service provider connected to the network infrastructure and performing a look-up service based on position information received from said stylus;

a service provider connected to the network and in communication with the technological service provider via the network infrastructure for providing the service to the user; and

a manufacturer for producing the devices needed for the user to initiate the service.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said means for charging a fee to each user for the provided service includes a payment provider controlled by the service provider.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said means for distributing the collected revenue includes a clearinghouse for distributing the collected revenue as controlled by the technological service provider.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said means for charging a fee to each user for the provided service includes a payment provider controlled by the service provider, and

the service provider retains a first portion of the collected fees equal to the predetermined percentage of the revenue allocated to the service provider and provides the clearing house with a first number of services provided by the service provider and the remaining second portion of the revenue.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the clearing house receives the first number of transactions and second portion of the revenue from the service provider, receives a second number of technological services provided by the technological service provider, and distributes the second portion of the revenue to the technological service provider, manufacturer and network operator according to the predetermined allocated percentage of revenue for each party.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein predetermined percentages include a first percentage for core services and a second percentage for open services,

core services are services developed by the technology service provider, and

open services are services developed by a party other than the technology service provider.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for establishing predetermined percentages of revenue allocated to each party in the plurality of parties includes an agreement between the technological service provider and at least one other party of the plurality of parties.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for establishing predetermined percentages of revenue allocated to each party in the plurality of parties includes a first agreement between the technological service provider and the service provider and a second agreement between the service provider and at least one party of the plurality of parties other than the technological service provider.

18. An apparatus for calculating an allocation of revenue to a plurality of parties providing a service in which an end user uses a position indicia reading stylus to collect position information from a product having position identifying indicia thereon and a network infrastructure communicates a signal representing, or derived from, position information collected from said stylus to a network node that performs a service based on said signal, the apparatus comprising:

a database for tracking revenue information related to said service; and

a processor for calculating revenue to be allocated to each party of the plurality of parties as a function of said revenue information, and a percentage of revenue allocated to each party of the plurality of parties.