Interactive and information data services telephone billing system
First Claim
1. A method of billing for charges for information and/or interactive services provided to a user by a provider on a first point-to-point connection between the user and the provider at least in part over a data network, the user being associated with a telephone number on a switched telephone network separate from the data network, the method comprising the steps of:
- initiating, by the user, on a second separate connection over the switched telephone network, a billing telephone call directed to a provider'"'"'s telephone number, the provider'"'"'s telephone number being the type of telephone number in which the charge to a caller for a telephone call to that telephone number is determined by a called party, the charge for the billing telephone call to the provider'"'"'s telephone number representing the cost for the user to obtain the information and/or interactive services provided by the provider on the first connection;
associating the billing telephone call on the switched telephone network with the first point-to-point connection between the user and the provider at least in part over the data network; and
billing a telephone account associated with the telephone number associated with the user for the cost of the billing telephone call.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Billing for information and/or interactive services provided to a user over the Internet by an information service provider (ISP) is arranged by the user by placing a billing telephone call to a 900 telephone number associated with the ISP for such billing purposes. The cost to the user for the 900 number billing telephone call, which is determined by the ISP, represents the charge for receiving the information and/or interactive services from the ISP, and is billed to the user'"'"'s telephone number account. The ISP'"'"'s 900 number account is credited by the telephone company for the call and thus for the information and/or interactive services provided.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of billing for charges for information and/or interactive services provided to a user by a provider on a first point-to-point connection between the user and the provider at least in part over a data network, the user being associated with a telephone number on a switched telephone network separate from the data network, the method comprising the steps of:
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initiating, by the user, on a second separate connection over the switched telephone network, a billing telephone call directed to a provider'"'"'s telephone number, the provider'"'"'s telephone number being the type of telephone number in which the charge to a caller for a telephone call to that telephone number is determined by a called party, the charge for the billing telephone call to the provider'"'"'s telephone number representing the cost for the user to obtain the information and/or interactive services provided by the provider on the first connection; associating the billing telephone call on the switched telephone network with the first point-to-point connection between the user and the provider at least in part over the data network; and billing a telephone account associated with the telephone number associated with the user for the cost of the billing telephone call. - 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 system for billing for charges for information and/or interactive services provided to a user by a provider on a first point-to-point connection at least in part over a data network between the user and the provider, the user being associated with a telephone number on a switched telephone network separate from the data network, the system comprising:
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means for initiating, by the user, on a second separate connection over the switched telephone network, a billing telephone call directed to a provider'"'"'s telephone number, the providers telephone number being the type of telephone number in which the charge to a caller for a telephone call to that telephone number is determined by a called party, the charge for the billing telephone call to the provider'"'"'s telephone number representing the cost for the user to obtain the information and/or interactive services provided by the provider on the first connection; means for associating the billing telephone call on the switched telephone network with the first point-to-point connection between the user and the provider; and means for billing for the cost of the billing telephone call. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification