Billing system for services provided via instant communications
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for controlling usage of a service providing system, the method comprising:
- receiving indication that a first party, via an instant communications client communicating to the service providing system in a first communications session, is requesting that the service providing system perform a service;
responsive to the indication, determining a usage charge to be assessed for the performing the service;
determining whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge pertaining to the performing the service; and
conditionally causing the service providing system to perform the service responsive to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods and program products are disclosed for determining billable usage of a communications system wherein services are provided via instant communications. In some embodiments, the present invention provides for authorizing the fulfillment of service requests based upon information pertaining to a billable account.
254 Citations
74 Claims
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1. A method for controlling usage of a service providing system, the method comprising:
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receiving indication that a first party, via an instant communications client communicating to the service providing system in a first communications session, is requesting that the service providing system perform a service;
responsive to the indication, determining a usage charge to be assessed for the performing the service;
determining whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge pertaining to the performing the service; and
conditionally causing the service providing system to perform the service responsive to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of assessing charges for usage of a service providing system, the method comprising:
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receiving indication that a first party, via an instant communications client communicating to the service providing system in a first communications session, is requesting that the service providing system perform a service; and
responsive to the indication, determining a usage charge to be assessed for the performing the service. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of controlling usage of a service providing system, comprising:
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receiving indication that a first party is attempting to access the service providing system using an instant communications client;
determining a usage charge to be assessed for the first party accessing the communications service;
determining whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge pertaining to the first party accessing the service providing system; and
causing the service providing system to conditionally allow access by the first party responsive to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method of assessing charges for usage of a service providing system, the method comprising:
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receiving indication that a first party is accessing the service providing system using an instant communications client; and
responsive to the indication, determining a usage charge to be assessed for the accessing the communications service. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A system for controlling usage of a service providing system, the system comprising:
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means for receiving indication that a first party, via an instant communications client communicating to the service providing system in a first communications session, is requesting that the service providing system perform a service;
means for determining, responsive to the indication, a usage charge to be assessed for the performing the service;
means for determining whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge pertaining to the performing the service; and
means for conditionally causing the service providing system to perform the service responsive to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A system for assessing charges for usage of a service providing system, the system comprising:
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means for receiving indication that a first party, via an instant communications client communicating to the service providing system in a first communications session, is requesting that the service providing system perform a service; and
means for determining, responsive to the indication, a usage charge to be assessed for the performing the service. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A system for controlling usage of a service providing system, comprising:
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means for receiving indication that a first party is attempting to access the service providing system using an instant communications client;
means for determining a usage charge to be assessed for the first party accessing the communications service;
means for determining whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge pertaining to the first party accessing the service providing system; and
means for causing the service providing system to conditionally allow access by the first party responsive to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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47. A system for assessing charges for usage of a service providing system, the system comprising:
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means for receiving indication that a first party is accessing the service providing system using an instant communications client; and
means for determining, responsive to the indication, a usage charge to be assessed for the accessing the communications service. - View Dependent Claims (48)
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49. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, implement a method for controlling usage of a service providing system, the method comprising:
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receiving indication that a first party, via an instant communications client communicating to the service providing system in a first communications session, is requesting that the service providing system perform a service;
responsive to the indication, determining a usage charge to be assessed for the performing the service;
determining whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge pertaining to the performing the service; and
conditionally causing the service providing system to perform the service responsive to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, implement a method of assessing charges for usage of a service providing system, the method comprising:
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receiving indication that a first party, via an instant communications client communicating to the service providing system in a first communications session, is requesting that the service providing system perform a service; and
responsive to the indication, determining a usage charge to be assessed for the performing the service. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, implement a method of controlling usage of a service providing system, comprising:
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receiving indication that a first party is attempting to access the service providing system using an instant communications client;
determining a usage charge to be assessed for the first party accessing the communications service;
determining whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge pertaining to the first party accessing the service providing system; and
causing the service providing system to conditionally allow access by the first party responsive to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge. - View Dependent Claims (70)
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71. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, implement a method of assessing charges for usage of a service providing system, the method comprising:
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receiving indication that a first party is accessing the service providing system using an instant communications client; and
responsive to the indication, determining a usage charge to be assessed for the accessing the communications service. - View Dependent Claims (72)
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73. A method for assessing charges for usage of a service providing system, the method comprising:
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receiving indication that a first party is accessing the service providing system using an instant communications client;
receiving first information pertaining to an identity of the first party;
receiving second information pertaining to an identity of a messaging service by which the first party is accessing the service providing system;
responsive at least to a combination of the first information and the second information, identifying an account to which charges are to be applied; and
performing at least one of applying the charges to the account and determining whether the account will bear the charges. - View Dependent Claims (74)
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Specification