SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATION, REGISTRATION AND MOBILE PHONE BILLING OF A NETWORK-ENABLED APPLICATION WITH ONE-TIME OPT-IN

• US 20080287095A1
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SMS AC Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SMS AC Incorporated
• Inventors: Pousti, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/959,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20080287095A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method of providing a service to a customer comprises receiving a request by a customer for an item of content, providing to the customer an option to subscribe to a service for a limited time, if the customer opts to subscribe, then providing the service for the limited time, and if the customer does not opt to subscribe, then not providing the service for the limited time.

Claims

1. A method of providing a service to a customer, comprising:

a. Receiving an authorization from the customer to bill an account associated with the customer;

b. Receiving a request by a customer for content;

c. Providing to the customer an option to subscribe to a service related to the content for a limited time;

d. If the customer opts to subscribe, then providing the service for the limited time;

e. If the customer does not opt to subscribe, then not providing the service for the limited time; and

f. Automatically billing the customer when the customer opts to subscribe based on the authorization.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the customer an option to subscribe to some or all of a plurality of services, the plurality of services including the service to which the customer opted to subscribe, and if the customer opts to subscribe to one or more of the plurality of services, but not all, then providing the customer the option to subscribe to the un-chosen services at a later time.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the customer an option to subscribe to some or all of a plurality of services, the plurality of services including the service to which the customer opted to subscribe, wherein the customer does not have to opt to subscribe to any of a plurality of services when the customer opts to subscribe to a service the first time.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the customer can add other services of the plurality of services, and wherein the customer will be automatically billed for the other services based on the authorization.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the authorization includes a monthly billing fee.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is audio content, video content, a web log(BLOG), a web based game, a web based application, or text content.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the content is a song.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the option to subscribe to a service related to the content for a limited time is free of charge to the customer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the limited time is 30 days.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of checking if the customer is a verified customer.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of verifying the customer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein providing an option to subscribe to a service related to the content for a limited time includes showing the customer a splash screen with the service offered thereon.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding the customer to a list of subscribers.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of checking if the customer is a registered customer.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing an option to subscribe to a service related to the content for a limited time includes previewing the item of content and interrupting the preview to provide the option.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising playing back the item of content from its beginning if the customer opts to subscribe.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising playing back the item of content from the point of interruption if the customer opts to subscribe.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein verifying the customer further comprises delivering a code to a mobile handset used by the customer to access the content and requesting the customer to input the code into a form on a web page.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising billing the customer on a monthly basis.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of checking if the customer is a verified customer and if the customer is a registered customer, and if the customer is a registered customer but not verified, then providing an option to subscribe to a service related to the content for a limited time if the customer has money or credit in their account.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, during the free trial, and during a preview of a chosen item of content, interrupting the item of content after a predetermined period of time and displaying a screen asking if the customer wishes to continue watching or listening to the chosen item of content, and if the customer indicates that they so wish, then automatically billing the customer for the chosen item of content.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the billing is accomplished as part of a subscription service.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of displaying a timer indicating a time remaining for a preview of a chosen item of content to play.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the billing step occurs a predetermined period of time after the timer counts down to zero.

25. A computer program, residing on a computer readable medium, for carrying out the instructions of claim 1.