MICRO-PAYMENT SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

• US 20130006812A1
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Thomas A., Piscitello, John Dominick, Crespo, Arturo E., Perrochon, Louis Vincent, Ling, Benjamin Chan-Bin, Harik, Georges
• Application Number:
  US13/610,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20130006812A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/29 characterised by micropayments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0619 Neutral agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof

Abstract

A micro-payment system has buyers, sellers, and a broker. The buyers establish accounts with the broker and provide payment information allowing the broker to invoice the buyers. The sellers establish accounts with the brokers and specify terms for accessing items, including electronic content, available from the sellers. The sellers also provide payment information that allows the broker to credit the sellers for sales of the items. The broker aggregates the buyers'"'"' micro-payment purchases and invoices the buyers. The broker also aggregates the sellers'"'"' micro-payment sales and credits the sellers.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

establishing an account for a seller with a broker, the seller selling electronic content that can be purchased by buyers, the seller including a content database storing electronic content offered by the seller;

storing in a storage system of the broker and separate from the content database of the seller, a copy of the electronic content offered by the seller;

receiving a search query from a buyer;

searching for electronic content responsive to the search query; and

presenting the buyer with a description of the electronic content responsive to the search query.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the buyer with a description comprises:

presenting the buyer with descriptions of free electronic content and premium electronic content that are responsive to the search query.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein presenting the buyer with a description comprises:

providing the buyer with a reputation score indicating a relative quality of the premium electronic content.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the buyer purchasing the electronic content, providing the purchased electronic content from the storage system to the buyer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the buyer makes multiple purchases of electronic content from the broker and further comprising:

aggregating multiple purchases of electronic content from the broker made by the buyer within a billing cycle; and

invoicing the buyer for an amount of the multiple purchases made within the billing cycle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a rule describing terms of access to the electronic content;

allowing the buyer to purchase the electronic content; and

providing the buyer with the purchased electronic content responsive to the terms of access described by the rule.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the buyer with a description of the electronic content comprises:

providing the user with an excerpt of the electronic content.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having executable computer program logic embodied therein, the computer program logic executable to perform steps comprising:

establishing an account for a seller with a broker, the seller selling electronic content that can be purchased by buyers, the seller including a content database storing electronic content offered by the seller;

storing in a storage system of the broker and separate from the content database of the seller, a copy of the electronic content offered by the seller;

receiving a search query from a buyer;

searching for electronic content responsive to the search query; and

presenting the buyer with a description of the electronic content responsive to the search query.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein presenting the buyer with a description comprises:

presenting the buyer with descriptions of free electronic content and premium electronic content that are responsive to the search query.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein presenting the buyer with a description comprises:

providing the buyer with a reputation score indicating a relative quality of the premium electronic content.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, the computer program logic executable to perform steps further comprising:

responsive to the buyer purchasing the electronic content, providing the purchased electronic content from the storage system to the buyer.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the buyer makes multiple purchases of electronic content from the broker and further comprising:

aggregating multiple purchases of electronic content from the broker made by the buyer within a billing cycle; and

invoicing the buyer for an amount of the multiple purchases made within the billing cycle.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, the computer program logic executable to perform steps further comprising:

storing a rule describing terms of access to the electronic content;

allowing the buyer to purchase the electronic content; and

providing the buyer with the purchased electronic content responsive to the terms of access described by the rule.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein presenting the buyer with a description of the electronic content comprises:

providing the user with an excerpt of the electronic content.

15. A computer system comprising:

a computer processor for executing computer program logic; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having executable computer program logic embodied therein, the computer program logic executable by the processor to perform steps comprising;

establishing an account for a seller with a broker, the seller selling electronic content that can be purchased by buyers, the seller including a content database storing electronic content offered by the seller;

storing in a storage system of the broker and separate from the content database of the seller, a copy of the electronic content offered by the seller;

receiving a search query from a buyer;

searching for electronic content responsive to the search query; and

presenting the buyer with a description of the electronic content responsive to the search query.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein presenting the buyer with a description comprises:

presenting the buyer with descriptions of free electronic content and premium electronic content that are responsive to the search query.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein presenting the buyer with a description comprises:

providing the buyer with a reputation score indicating a relative quality of the premium electronic content.

18. The computer system of claim 15, the computer program logic executable to perform steps further comprising:

responsive to the buyer purchasing the electronic content, providing the purchased electronic content from the storage system to the buyer.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the buyer makes multiple purchases of electronic content from the broker and further comprising:

aggregating multiple purchases of electronic content from the broker made by the buyer within a billing cycle; and

invoicing the buyer for an amount of the multiple purchases made within the billing cycle.

20. The computer system of claim 15, the computer program logic executable to perform steps further comprising:

storing a rule describing terms of access to the electronic content;

allowing the buyer to purchase the electronic content; and

providing the buyer with the purchased electronic content responsive to the terms of access described by the rule.