Charging of network access and services

• US 20030229595A1
• Filed: 06/05/2002
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Suomela, Riku, Lahteenmaki, Mia, Rasanen, Eero, Mononen, Risto
• Application Number:
  US10/161,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20030229595A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/63
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/42 Confirmation, e.g. check or permission by the legal debtor of payment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/42 Dynamic individual rates per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/805 Bidding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0112 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7414 : QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 : Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7457 : Biding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

A technique for charging of network access and/or services includes sending a request for least one of network access or services from the user to a network other than the user'"'"'s home network. A payment request is sent from the network to the user in response to the user'"'"'s request for the least one of network access and/or services, and a payment information is sent from the user in response to the network'"'"'s sent payment request. A receipt of a payment is then sent to the user and/or the network in response to the sent user'"'"'s payment information and a payment confirmation may then be sent from the user to the network in response to the third party wallet'"'"'s receipt of the payment. The network provides the requested at least one of the network access and/or service to the user upon receiving the payment confirmation of the corresponding at least one of the network access and/or service.

Claims

1. A method of charging a user for network access and/or services, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting a user of a wireless terminal to a network provided by a local network operator;

requesting at least one of a network access or a service by the user of the wireless terminal; and

providing from the local network operator a payment request to the user of the wireless terminal, the payment request including a selection of available alternatives for network access and/or services with corresponding charging information, and a selection of available payment methods for the network access and/or services with corresponding payment method information enabling the user of the wireless terminal to effect a payment;

sending payment information in response to the user of the wireless terminal making selections based on the payment request, the payment information including at least one selected alternative from the available alternatives for network access and/or services, and personal payment information of the user of the wireless terminal for effecting a payment corresponding to the at least one selected alternative from the available alternatives for network access and/or services; and

providing to the user of the wireless terminal in response to a receipt confirming the effected payment the corresponding at least one selected network access and/or service.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of sending a receipt confirming the effected payment to the user of the wireless terminal in response to the effected payment prior to providing to the user of the wireless terminal the at least one selected network access and/or service.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of providing by the local network operator an additional payment request to the user of the wireless terminal upon the network having completed providing the at least one selected network access and/or service.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of sending a selection confirmation message to the user of the wireless terminal confirming the user made selections for network access and/or service in response to the sent payment information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the selection confirmation message comprises information relating to the user made selections for payment method.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein in the payment information is conveyed to a payment service provider.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the receipt of confirming the effected payment is sent from the payment service provider.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising the step of sending a receipt confirming the effected payment to the user of the wireless terminal in response to the effected payment prior to providing to the user of the wireless terminal the at least one selected network access and/or service.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the payment service provider is a third party wallet.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal payment information comprises electronic money.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the user of the wireless terminal is provided with information of a selection of available alternatives for network access and/or bargaining for services prior the user sending a communication request for at least one of network access or service.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a wireless short range radio network and the wireless terminal of the user communicates with the short range radio network.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless short range radio network conforms the principles of one of the Bluetooth technology, the IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN standard and the HyperLAN standard.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of requesting for at least one of a network access or a service by the user of the wireless terminal contains a request for a network connection having at least one specified characteristic.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one specified characteristic comprises one or more of bit rate, quality of service, and time delay.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the corresponding charging information of the available alternatives for network access and/or services included in the payment request provided by the local network operator comprises a cost per unit time information of the available alternatives for network access and/or services.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment method information included in the payment request provided by the local network operator comprises an account number of the local network operator.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal payment information of the user of the wireless terminal included in the sent payment information comprises:

an account number of the local network operator;

an account number of the user of the wireless terminal; and

an amount of money to be transferred from the account number of the user of the wireless terminal to the account number of the local network operator.

19. A system comprising:

a wireless terminal; and

a network coupled to the wireless terminal by a local network operator; and

wherein

a user of a wireless terminal is connected to a network provided by a local network operator;

at least one of a network access or a service is requested by a user of the wireless terminal;

a payment request is provided from the local network operator to the user of the wireless terminal, the payment request including a selection available alternatives for network access and/or services with corresponding charging information, and a selection of available payment methods for the network access and/or services with corresponding payment method information enabling the user of the wireless terminal to effect a payment;

payment information is provided in response to the user of the wireless terminal making selections based on the payment request, the payment information including at least one selected alternative from the available alternatives for network access and/or services, and personal payment information of the user of the wireless terminal for effecting a payment corresponding to the at least one selected alternative from the available alternatives for network access and/or services; and

the user of the wireless terminal in response to a receipt confirming the effected payment is provided the corresponding at least one selected network access and/or service.

20. A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein a receipt confirming the effected payment is sent to the user of the wireless terminal in response to the effected payment prior to providing to the user of the wireless terminal the at least one selected network access and/or service.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the local network operator provides an additional payment request to the user of the wireless terminal upon the network having completed providing the at least one selected network access and/or service.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein:

a selection confirmation message is sent to the user of the wireless terminal confirming the user made selections for network access and/or service in response to the sent payment information.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the selection confirmation on message further comprises information relating to the user made selections for payment method.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the system comprises a payment service provide and payment information is conveyed to the payment service provider.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the receipt of confirming the effected payment is sent from the payment service provider.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein a receipt confirming the effected payment is sent to the user of the wireless terminal in response to the effected payment prior to providing to the user of the wireless terminal the at least one selected network access and/or service.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the payment service provider is a third party wallet.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the personal payment information comprises electronic money.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein the user of the wireless terminal is provided with information of a selection of available alternatives for network access and/or bargaining services prior to the user sending a communication request for at least one of a network access or service.

30. The system of claim 19, wherein the network comprises a wireless short range radio network and the wireless terminal of the user communicates with the short range radio network.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the wireless short range radio network conforms the principles of one of the Bluetooth technology, the IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN standard and the HyperLAN standard.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the requesting for at least one of a network access or a service by the user of the wireless terminal contains a request for a network connection having at least one specified characteristic.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises one or more of bit rate, quality of service, and time delay.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the corresponding charging information of the available alternatives for network access and/or services included in the payment request provided by the local network operator comprises a cost per unit time information of the available alternatives for network access and/or services.

35. The system of claim 19, wherein the payment method information included in the payment request provided by the local network operator comprises an account number of the local network operator.

36. The system of claim 19, wherein the personal payment information of the user of the wireless terminal included in the sent payment information comprises:

an account number of the local network operator;

an account number of the user of the wireless terminal; and

an amount of money to be transferred from the account number of the user of the wireless terminal to the account number of the local network operator.

40. The method of claim 31, comprising the step of sending a selection confirmation message to the user of the wireless terminal confirming the user made selections for network access and/or service in response to the sent payment information.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the selection confirmation message further comprises information relating to the user made selections for payment method.

37. In a system comprising a wireless terminal and a network coupled to the wireless terminal by a local network operation, a method of operation of the wireless terminal comprising:

connecting a user of the wireless terminal to the network;

requesting at least one of a network access or a service by the user of the wireless terminal;

providing from the local network operator to the user of the wireless terminal a payment request including a selection of available alternatives for network access and/or services with corresponding charging information, and a selection of available payment methods for the network access and/or services with corresponding payment method information enabling the user of the wireless terminal to effect a payment; and

wherein the system sends payment information in response to the user of the wireless terminal making selections based on the payment request, the payment information including at least one selected alternative from the available alternatives for network access and/or services, and personal payment information of the user of the wireless terminal for effecting a payment corresponding to the at least one selected alternative from the available alternatives for network access and/or services; and

providing to the user of the wireless terminal in response to a receipt confirming the effected payment the corresponding at least one selected network access and/or service.

38. The method of claim 37, comprising the step of sending a receipt confirming the effected payment to the user of the wireless terminal in response to the effected payment prior to providing to the user of the wireless terminal the at least one selected network access and/or service.

39. The method of claim 37, comprising the step of providing by the local network operator an additional payment request to the user of the wireless terminal upon the network having completed providing the at least one selected network access and/or service.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein in the payment information is conveyed to a payment service provider.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the receipt of confirming the effected payment is sent from the payment service provider.

44. The method of claim 43, comprising the step of sending a receipt confirming the effected payment to the user of the wireless terminal in response to the effected payment prior to providing to the user of the wireless terminal the at least one selected network access and/or service.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the payment service provider is a third party wallet.

46. The method of claim 37, wherein the personal payment information comprises electronic money.

47. The method of claim 37, wherein the user of the wireless terminal is provided with information of a selection of available alternatives for network access and/or bargaining for services prior the user sending a communication request for at least one of network access or service.

48. The method of claim 37, wherein the network comprises a wireless short range radio network and the wireless terminal of the user communicates with the short range radio network.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the wireless short range radio network conforms to one of the Bluetooth technology, the IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN standard and the HyperLAN standard.

50. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of requesting for at least one of the network access or a service by the user of the wireless terminal contains a request for a network connection having at least one specified characteristic.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises one or more of bit rate, quality of service, and time delay.

52. The method of claim 37, wherein the corresponding charging information of the available alternatives for network access and/or services included in the payment request provided by the local network operator comprises a cost per unit time information of the available alternatives for network access and/or services.

53. The method of claim 37, wherein the payment method information included in the payment request provided by the local network operator comprises an account number of the local network operator.

54. The method of claim 37, wherein the personal payment information of the user of the wireless terminal included in the sent payment information comprises:

an account number of the local network operator;

an account number of the user of the wireless terminal; and

an amount of money to be transferred from the account number of the user of the wireless terminal to the account number of the local network operator.

55. A system comprising:

at least one terminal, each terminal receiving processed content;

at least one content provider, each content provider providing content; and

at least one processor, each processor, being coupled to the at least one content provider and to the at least one terminal, and processing the content with a profile of the at least one terminal, the profile controlling the processing of the content provided by the at least one content provider to provide the processed content received by the at least one terminal.

56. A system in accordance with claim 55 comprising:

local wireless service provider, coupled to the at least one processor and the at least one terminal, which transmits the processed content to the at least one terminal; and

wherein

the at least one processor, in response to the profile of the at least one terminal, reduces a quantity of data contained in the content provided from the at least one content provider to provide the processed content received by the at least one terminal from the local wireless service provider.

57. A system in accordance with claim 56 wherein:

the profile specifies a compression level of the processed content provided by the at least one processor.

58. A system in accordance with claim 56 wherein:

the profile specifies a maximum charge for receiving the processed content by the at least one terminal.

59. A system in accordance with claim 58 wherein:

the profile specifies a minimum charge for receiving the processed content by the at least one terminal.

60. A system in accordance with claim 56 wherein:

the profile specifies a maximum size of images in the processed content to be received by the at least one terminal; and

the at least one processor processes images within the content received from the at least one content provider to conform images in the content to be within the maximum size of images which may be displayed by a display of the at least one terminal.

61. A system in accordance with claim 56 wherein:

the profile specifies that the processed content contains only text.

62. A system in accordance with claim 55 comprising:

a billing module, associated with the at least one processor, which charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

63. A system in accordance with claim 56 comprising:

a billing module, associated with the at least one processor, which charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

64. A system in accordance with claim 57 comprising:

a billing module, associated with the at least one processor, which charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

65. A system in accordance with claim 58 comprising:

a billing module, associated with the at least one processor, which charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

66. A system in accordance with claim 59 comprising:

a billing module, associated with the at least one processor, which charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

67. A system in accordance with claim 60 comprising:

a billing module, associated with the at least one processor, which charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

68. A system in accordance with claim 61 comprising:

a billing module, associated with the at least one processor, which charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

69. A system in accordance with claim 55 wherein:

the at least one terminal is a client of the at least one content provider with each content provider comprising a server and the at least one processor being a proxy of the at least one content provider.

70. A method of providing processed content to at least one terminal comprising:

providing at least one content provider which provides processed content;

coupling at least one processor to the at least one content provider and to the at least one terminal; and

the at least one processor processes the content provided by the at least one content provider to produce the processed content which is received by the at least one terminal in accordance with a profile of the at least one terminal, the profile controlling the processing of the content provided by the at least one content provider to provide the processed content received by the at least one terminal.

71. A method in accordance with claim 70 comprising:

a local wireless service provider, coupled to the at least one processor and the at least one terminal, which transmits the processed content to the at least one terminal; and

wherein

the at least one processor, in response to the profile of the at least one terminal, reduces a quantity of data contained in the content provided from the at least one content provider to provide the processed content received by the at least one terminal.

72. A method in accordance with claim 71 wherein:

the profile specifies a compression level of the processed content provided by the at least one processor.

73. A method in accordance with claim 71 wherein:

the profile specifies a maximum charge for receiving the processed content by the at least one terminal.

74. A method in accordance with claim 73 wherein:

the profile specifies a minimum charge for receiving the processed content by the at least one terminal.

75. A method in accordance with claim 71 wherein:

the profile specifies a maximum size of images in the processed content to be received by the at least one terminal; and

the at least one processor processes images within the content received from the at least one content provider to conform images in the content to be within the maximum size of images which may be displayed by a display of the at least one terminal.

76. A method in accordance with claim 71 wherein:

the profile specifies that the processed content contains only text.

77. A method in accordance with claim 70 comprising:

providing a billing module associated with the at least one processor; and

the billing module charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal, the charge being a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

78. A method in accordance with claim 71 comprising:

providing a billing module associated with the at least one processor; and

the billing module charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal, the charge being a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

79. A method in accordance with claim 72 comprising:

providing a billing module associated with the at least one processor; and

the billing module charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal, the charge being a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

80. A method in accordance with claim 73 comprising:

providing a billing module associated with the at least one processor; and

the billing module charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal, the charge being a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

81. A method in accordance with claim 74 comprising:

providing a billing module associated with the at least one processor; and

the billing module charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal, the charge being a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

82. A method in accordance with claim 75 comprising:

providing a billing module associated with the at least one processor; and

the billing module charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal, the charge being a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

83. A method in accordance with claim 76 comprising:

providing a billing module associated with the at least one processor; and

the billing module charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal, the charge being a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

84. In a system including at least one terminal, each terminal receiving processed content and at least one content provider, each content provider providing content, a content proxy comprising:

at least one processor, each processor being coupled to the at least one content provider and to the at least one terminal, and processing the content provided by the at least one content provider to produce the processed content which is received by the at least one terminal in accordance with a profile of the at least one terminal, the profile controlling the processing of the content provided by the at least one content provider to provide the processed content received by the at least one terminal.

85. A content proxy in accordance with claim 84 wherein:

a local wireless service provider, coupled to the at least one processor and the at least one terminal, which transmits the processed content to the at least one terminal; and

wherein

the at least one processor, in response to the profile of the at least one terminal, reduces a quantity of data contained in the content provided from the at least one content provider to provide the processed content received by the at least one terminal from the local wireless service provider.

86. A content proxy in accordance with claim 85 wherein:

the profile specifies a compression level of the processed content provided by the at least one processor.

87. A content proxy in accordance with claim 85 wherein:

the profile specifies a maximum charge for receiving the processed content by the at least one terminal.

88. A content proxy in accordance with claim 87 wherein:

the profile specifies a minimum charge for receiving the processed content by the at least one terminal.

89. A content proxy in accordance with claim 85 wherein:

the profile specifies a maximum size of images in the processed content to be received by the at least one terminal; and

the at least one processor processes images within the content received from the at least one content provider to conform images in the content to be within the maximum size of images which may be displayed by a display of the at least one terminal.

90. A content proxy in accordance with claim 85 wherein:

the profile specifies that the processed content contains only text.

91. A content proxy in accordance with claim 85 comprising:

a billing module, associated with the at least one processor, which charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

92. A content proxy in accordance with claim 86 comprising:

a billing module, associated with the at least one processor, which charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

93. A content proxy in accordance with claim 86 comprising:

a billing module, associated with the at least one processor, which charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

94. A content proxy in accordance with claim 87 comprising:

a billing module, associated with the at least one processor, which charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

95. A content proxy in accordance with claim 88 comprising:

a billing module, associated with the at least one processor, which charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

96. A content proxy in accordance with claim 89 comprising:

a billing module, associated with the at least one processor, which charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.

97. A content proxy in accordance with claim 90 comprising:

a billing module, associated with the at least one processor, which charges for the reception of the processed content by the at least one terminal a fraction of a difference between a charge that the at least one terminal would have been charged by the local wireless service provider if the content provided by the at least one content provider was transmitted to the at least one terminal without processing less a charge charged by the local wireless service provider for transmitting the processed content to the at least one terminal.