Method and system for mobile billing and content delivery

• US 20070287413A1
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pixipay, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pixipay, Inc.
• Inventors: Kleitsch, Andrew H., Upthegrove, Jeffrey J.
• Application Number:
  US11/449,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20070287413A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications

Abstract

A method of billing is provided for mobile content purchased by a customer, the method comprising the step of generating a text message with a notification relating to a purchase by a customer of mobile content. The text message includes a web link linking the text message to a receipt with information relating to the purchase of the mobile content.

Claims

1. A method of billing for mobile content purchased by a customer, the method comprising the step of generating a text message with a notification relating to a purchase by a customer of mobile content, the text message including a web link linking the text message to a receipt with information relating to the purchase of the mobile content.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the receipt includes a web link linking the receipt to the mobile content.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of forwarding the text message to a mobile device of the customer and charging a credit card of the customer after the customer has successfully received the receipt.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of forwarding the text message to a mobile device of the customer and authenticating the customer'"'"'s right to view the mobile content.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of authenticating the customer'"'"'s right to view the mobile content a second time.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the text message is one of a WAP push, an SMS and an SMTP text message.

7. A method of billing for mobile content, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving payment information from a customer for the purchase of mobile content;

processing the customer payment information;

authenticating automatically the customer'"'"'s right to view the mobile content prior to the customer'"'"'s receipt of the mobile content.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of sending a text message to a mobile device of the customer as a notification of the purchase of the mobile content after the step of processing, the text message including a web link linking the message to a receipt relating to the purchase of the mobile content, the receipt including a web link linking the receipt to the mobile content.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of generating a receipt relating to the purchase, the receipt including a receipt ID.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of authenticating includes the steps of:

searching for an ID, stored in a database, assigned to the purchase that matches the receipt ID; and

sending the mobile content to the customer'"'"'s mobile device for viewing if a match is found.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of authenticating automatically the customer'"'"'s right to view the mobile at least a second time.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of authenticating automatically the customer'"'"'s right to view the mobile content at least a second time comprises the steps of:

installing a cookie within a browser on the customer'"'"'s mobile device, the cookie including information relating the mobile content purchased and the date in which the cookie shall expire;

sending the mobile content to the customer'"'"'s mobile device for viewing if the identity of the mobile content sent matches the identity of the content purchased in the cookie; and

removing the cookie from the browser following the expiration date.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of authenticating automatically the customer'"'"'s right to view the mobile content at least a second time comprises the step of using an ID that identifies the customer to validate the customer'"'"'s right to view the mobile content in the event the cookie does not exist in the browser.

14. A method of supplying mobile content to a mobile device of a customer, the steps of the method comprising:

receiving customer payment information for the purchase of mobile content; and

transmitting a text message to the customer'"'"'s mobile device as a notification of approval of the purchase, the message including a web link linking the message to a receipt relating to the purchase, the web link in the message thereby enabling the customer to view the receipt through the customer'"'"'s mobile device,

the receipt including a receipt ID relating to the purchase and a web link linking the receipt to the purchased mobile content, the web link in the receipt thereby enabling the customer to view the purchased mobile content through the customer'"'"'s mobile device.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of searching for an ID stored in a database and assigned following approval of the customer payment information that matches the receipt ID, and sending the mobile content to the customer'"'"'s mobile if a match is found.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of installing a cookie in a browser of the customer'"'"'s mobile device, the cookie having information that identifies the mobile content purchased and the date upon which the cookie will be deleted.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of sending the mobile content to the customer'"'"'s mobile device if the identity of the mobile content sent matches the identity of the mobile content in the cookie.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of using an ID that identifies the customer to validate the customer'"'"'s right to view the mobile content in the event the cookie does not exist in the browser.

19. A method for supplying mobile content to a mobile device of a customer, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving customer credit card information to purchase the right to view the mobile content through the customer'"'"'s mobile device;

transmitting a text message to a customer'"'"'s mobile device, the message including a web link linking the message to a receipt relating to the purchase, the link thereby enabling the customer to view a receipt through the customer'"'"'s mobile device, the receipt including a web link linking the receipt to the mobile content, the web link thereby enabling the customer to view the mobile content through the customer'"'"'s mobile device; and

charging the customer'"'"'s credit card for the right to view the mobile content only when the customer has successfully viewed the receipt on the customer'"'"'s mobile device.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the credit card information is received via a web site.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the credit card information is received via a phone.

22. A billing system for mobile content purchased by a customer, the system comprising:

a server forwarding a text message to a mobile device of the customer, the text message including a notification approving a purchase by the customer of mobile content.

23. The billing system of claim 22 wherein the server generates a receipt relating to the purchase, the receipt including a web link linking the receipt to the mobile content purchased.