Multimedia message system with revenue allocation
First Claim
1. A multimedia message system for transmitting an electronic message from a sender to a receiver, said message system comprising:
- a sender service provider allowing said sender access to said message system;
a receiver service provider allowing said receiver access to said message system;
a clearinghouse, in communication to said sender service provider and said receiver service provider;
a message stamp, issued by said clearinghouse to said sender service provider and processed by said clearinghouse, said stamp containing information including revenue allocation data and identification information identifying said clearinghouse and said sender service provider, wherein said message stamp is associated with said message to be transmitted by said clearinghouse, resulting in a stamped message to be transmitted to said receiver service provider, said stamped message is sent from said sender service provider to said receiver service provider, said clearinghouse disassociates said stamp, said identification information contained in said stamp issued to said sender service provider by said clearinghouse is then modified by said sender service provider to also contain information identifying said receiver service provider, the modified stamp is returned to said sender service provider where said modified identification information is processed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The Multimedia Message System of the present invention provides revenue allocation between disparate sender-receiver service providers on a per message basis for a sender, connected to a telecommunications network of one service provider, sending a message to a receiver, connected to a telecommunications network of another service provider. Each message has a "message stamp" associated with it which allows for distribution of revenue associated with that individual message among service providers involved for transmission of that message. A Clearinghouse is utilized to issue the message stamps and process revenue allocation for each service provider according to the message stamps. The stamp is added to each message by the clearinghouse to provide for revenue allocation between the originating (sender) and destination (receiver) service providers. Removal or canceling of the stamp is performed by the destination unit that may additionally route the message to a mailbox (e.g., service node) or further destination service providers. The stamp revenue is shared by the message sender service provider, the stamp issuer, and message receiver service provider, the collector of the used/canceled stamp. The canceled stamp may be exchanged or redeemed between the service providers via their respective clearinghouses, for currency or additional stamps according to a predetermined revenue sharing arrangement between participating service providers.
38 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A multimedia message system for transmitting an electronic message from a sender to a receiver, said message system comprising:
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a sender service provider allowing said sender access to said message system; a receiver service provider allowing said receiver access to said message system; a clearinghouse, in communication to said sender service provider and said receiver service provider; a message stamp, issued by said clearinghouse to said sender service provider and processed by said clearinghouse, said stamp containing information including revenue allocation data and identification information identifying said clearinghouse and said sender service provider, wherein said message stamp is associated with said message to be transmitted by said clearinghouse, resulting in a stamped message to be transmitted to said receiver service provider, said stamped message is sent from said sender service provider to said receiver service provider, said clearinghouse disassociates said stamp, said identification information contained in said stamp issued to said sender service provider by said clearinghouse is then modified by said sender service provider to also contain information identifying said receiver service provider, the modified stamp is returned to said sender service provider where said modified identification information is processed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A clearinghouse for a multimedia message system for transmitting a message comprising:
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issuing means for issuing a message stamp containing information regarding said message; means for associating said message stamp to said message; processing means for retrieving information from said issued stamp and canceling said stamp; and means for routing said message received from a sender to a receiver. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for transmitting an electronic message from a sender to a receiver in a multimedia message system comprising the steps of:
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allowing said sender access to said message system via a sender service provider; allowing said receiver access to said message system via a receiver service provider; issuing a message stamp by a clearinghouse, said stamp containing information including revenue allocation data and information identifying said clearinghouse and said sender service provider; modifying the contents of said stamp to include identifying information identifying said receiving service provider; and processing said modified message stamp. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification