Automated billing and distribution platform for application providers
First Claim
1. A method for integrating a network-enabled application with a platform having a plurality of users and a plurality of communication channels with a respective plurality of wireless network carriers, the method comprising:
- a request receipt step of receiving, at the platform, a request from a third-party provider to integrate a network-enabled application with the platform;
a registration data receipt step of receiving, at the platform, a set of registration data corresponding to the network-enabled application from the third-party provider, the set of registration data including a link to an application location for accessing the network-enabled application;
a pricing structure data receipt step of receiving, at the platform, a set of pricing structure data corresponding to the network-enabled application from the third-party provider;
a database update step of updating a system database in the platform to include the set of registration data corresponding to the network-enabled application and to include the pricing structure data corresponding to the network-enabled application; and
an enablement step of enabling the network-enabled application to be accessible to the plurality of users via a networked interface operated by the platform.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Integrating a network-enabled application with a platform having a plurality of users and a plurality of communication channels with a respective plurality of wireless network carriers, including receiving a request from a third-party provider to integrate a network-enabled application with the platform, receiving a set of registration data corresponding to the network-enabled application from the third-party provider, the set of registration data including a link to an application location for accessing the network-enabled application, receiving a set of pricing structure data corresponding to the network-enabled application from the third-party provider, updating a system database in the platform to include the set of registration data and the pricing structure data corresponding to the network-enabled application, and enabling the network-enabled application to be accessible to the plurality of users via a networked interface operated by the platform.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A method for integrating a network-enabled application with a platform having a plurality of users and a plurality of communication channels with a respective plurality of wireless network carriers, the method comprising:
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a request receipt step of receiving, at the platform, a request from a third-party provider to integrate a network-enabled application with the platform;
a registration data receipt step of receiving, at the platform, a set of registration data corresponding to the network-enabled application from the third-party provider, the set of registration data including a link to an application location for accessing the network-enabled application;
a pricing structure data receipt step of receiving, at the platform, a set of pricing structure data corresponding to the network-enabled application from the third-party provider;
a database update step of updating a system database in the platform to include the set of registration data corresponding to the network-enabled application and to include the pricing structure data corresponding to the network-enabled application; and
an enablement step of enabling the network-enabled application to be accessible to the plurality of users via a networked interface operated by the platform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for billing a user for the use of a network-enabled application that is integrated with a platform having a plurality of users and a plurality of communication channels with a respective plurality of wireless network carriers, the method comprising:
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a billing event detection step of detecting, in the platform, a billing event generated by the network-enabled application, the billing event containing an identification code corresponding to the user;
a billing validation step of validating, in the platform, the billing event generated by the network-enabled application by determining if the billing event is in accordance with a predetermined pricing structure corresponding to the network-enabled application;
a billing message step of sending, in the case that the billing event is determined to be valid in the billing validation step, a billing message from the platform to an external billing mechanism, the billing message containing a billing amount which the external billing mechanism is to bill the user; and
a billing event discard step of discarding, in the case that the billing event is determined to be invalid in the billing validation step, the billing event from the platform. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A platform for supporting a network-enabled application, comprising:
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a plurality of communication channels to a respective plurality of wireless network carriers, each of the wireless network carriers having a plurality of users;
at least one processor;
at least one interface having access to the internet; and
at least one computer readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for integrating the network-enabled application with the platform, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by the one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform;
a request receipt step of receiving, at the platform, a request from a third-party provider to integrate the network-enabled application with the platform;
a registration data receipt step of receiving, at the platform, a set of registration data corresponding to the network-enabled application from the third-party provider, the set of registration data including a link to an application location for accessing the network-enabled application;
a pricing structure data receipt step of receiving, at the platform, a set of pricing structure data corresponding to the network-enabled application from the third-party provider;
a database update step of updating a system database in the platform to include the set of registration data corresponding to the network-enabled application and to include the pricing structure data corresponding to the network-enabled application; and
an enablement step of enabling the network-enabled application to be accessible to the plurality of users via a networked interface operated by the platform. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A platform for supporting a network-enabled application and for billing a user for the use of the network-enabled application, comprising:
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a plurality of communication channels to a respective plurality of wireless network carriers, each of the wireless network carriers having a plurality of users;
at least one processor;
at least one interface having access to the internet; and
at least one computer readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for integrating the network-enabled application with the platform and billing a user for the use of the network-enabled application, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by the one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform;
a billing event detection step of detecting, in the platform, a billing event generated by the network-enabled application, the billing event containing an identification code corresponding to the user;
a billing validation step of validating, in the platform, the billing event generated by the network-enabled application by determining if the billing event is in accordance with a predetermined pricing structure corresponding to the network-enabled application;
a billing message step of sending, in the case that the billing event is determined to be valid in the billing validation step, a billing message from the platform to an external billing mechanism, the billing message containing a billing amount which the external billing mechanism bills to the user; and
a billing event discard step of discarding, in the case that the billing event is determined to be invalid in the billing validation step, the billing event from the platform. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification