Telephonic Payment Processing Method for Online Services

• US 20080107248A1
• Filed: 11/02/2007
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Persony, Inc. (Avaya Incorporated)
• Inventors: Levitin, Herbert Samuel, Chen, Shenchang Eric
• Granted Patent: US 9,785,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/93.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/10 Usage protection of distributed data files
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/12 Usage or charge determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/123 involving third party for collecting or distributing payments, e.g. clearinghouse
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06

Abstract

According to an embodiment, access to an online resource is enabled by associating a telephony number with a network resource that is made available at a network location, where network resource is protected so as to be inaccessible without access being provided for users individually. A particular user may be detected in initiating a telephony session using the number. Access to the network resource may be activated or authorized for the particular user in response to detecting the user initiating the telephony session.

Claims

1. A method for enabling access to an online service, the method comprising:

associating a telephony number with a network resource that is made available at a network location, wherein the network resource is protected so as to be inaccessible without access being provided for users individually;

detecting that a particular user initiates a telephony session using the number;

activating access to the network resource for the particular user in response to detecting the user initiating the telephony session.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting, from data provided during the telephony session, a network resource or a particular user for which access to the network resource is to be activated.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the detected data corresponds to a code associated with the network resource that is displayed for the particular user during the terminal session.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the detected data corresponds to a personal identifier associated with the user that is entered by the user during the telephony session.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising accruing a cost to the user for activating access to the network session based at least in part on a duration of the telephony session.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising accruing a cost to the user for activating access to the network session based at least in part on the telephone number called by the user and the code entered by the user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the telephony number and the code on a terminal that also provides access to the network resource.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a combination of the telephony number and the code is specific to one or more of (i) the network resource, (ii) the terminal, or (iii) the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling access of the network resource includes enabling access for a duration that is based on the duration of the telephony session.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting that the telephony session is terminated; and

programmatically disabling access of the network resource to the terminal in response to detecting that the telephony session is terminated.

11. A system for enabling access to an online resource, the system comprising:

one or more modules that are configured to;

detect or receive, from an incoming call that uses a telephony number, an identifier of a given user, wherein the telephony number is pre-assigned to the online content;

determine an identifier of a terminal session of the given user using the identifier;

activate access to the online resource for a terminal session of the given user, wherein a duration of the activation is based at least in part on at least one of a compensatory value or a duration of the incoming call.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more modules display, or communicate data for display, corresponding to the telephony number.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more modules determine the identifier of the terminal session by identifying a code specified by the user when the call is made.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the identifier is communicated from to the service provider to enable the service provider to identify the terminal session that is to have access to the online resource.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more modules include a call handler and an activation component, wherein the call handler is configured to receive the incoming call over a telephony network, and wherein at least one of the call handler or activation component determines the identifier based in part from a code entered by the user during the telephony session, wherein the code is provided to the user at a network location for receiving access to the online resource.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more modules are configured to detect termination of the incoming call, and wherein the duration of the activation is terminated automatically following termination of the incoming call.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more modules accrue a cost to the user for activation of the network session based at least in part on the duration of the telephony session.

18. A method for generating compensatory value for providing access to an online resource, the method comprising:

assigning a telephony number to the online resource, wherein the online resource is provided at a network site, and wherein the online resource is inaccessible only when access to the online resource is activated for a particular user;

determining an identifier for a terminal session of the particular user when the particular user places a call using the telephony number;

activating access to the online resource for a duration that is based at least in part on a duration of the call placed by the particular user;

performing one or more of (i) accruing compensatory value from the particular user placing the call, or (ii) playing a commercial message to the particular user during the call.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein accruing compensatory value from the particular user includes is based in part on accruing for the call as a long distance charge.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

detecting that the telephony session is terminated; and

programmatically disabling activation of the network resource in response to detecting that the telephony session is terminated.