Timer-based fee-charging system for internet

• US 5,956,697 A
• Filed: 08/22/1996
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Scientific Pty Ltd. (Wellfully Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Scientific Pty Ltd. (Wellfully Ltd.)
• Inventors: Usui, Tatsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Peeso, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US08/701,493
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 705/32, 705/18, 705/44, 345/326, 345/335, 395/200.33, 395/200.47, 395/200.49
• US Class Current: 705/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/10 Tax strategies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A timer-based fee-charging system for Internet services eliminates the inconveniences of contracting which are necessary with Internet providers as well as payments of usage fees and subscription rights, etc., and allows instant access to Internet connection services through an easy access and payment method. Such a system consists of: a terminal server to provide Internet access to clients; an authentication server to confirm whether or not a client is gaining access based on specific information input by the client; an extended authentication database, linked to the authentication server, which controls authentication data comprising specific information of, and the access status rate that indicates a predetermined available time range for access for, each client; a fee-charging server, linked with the extended authentication database, which constantly renews the access status rate by calculating access charges according to the amount of access time each client uses.

Claims

1. A timer-based fee-charging system for Internet services comprising:

a terminal server to provide Internet access to clients;

an authentication server to confirm whether or not a client is gaining access based on specific information input by the client upon instruction from said terminal server;

an extended authentication database, linked to the authentication server, which controls authentication data comprising specific information of, and the access status rate that indicates a predetermined available time range for access for, each client;

a fee-charging server, linked with the extended authentication database, which constantly renews the access status rate by calculating access charges according to the amount of access time each client used;

the timer-based fee-charging system features the capability to provide Internet access services to a client until the access status rate of the client controlled by the extended authentication database falls below 0,

featuring an http server linked with the extended authentication server, operates a program that enables a client who accesses the server freely to add up the access status rate into a total when the client owns several information units.

2. The timer-based fee-charging system for Internet services, as claimed in claim 1, featuring the extended authentication database that constitutes one recording unit of the authentication database of the authentication server as numerous distinguishable authentication data.

3. The timer-based fee-charging system for Internet services, as claimed in claim 2, featuring distinction of numerous authentication data through registration of template log-in names that, for each lot of authentication data, combine a set number and a group number-random digit numbers within the group employing characters or signs that describe serial numerals.

4. The timer-based fee-charging system for Internet services, as claimed in claim 1, featuring authentication data made up of fixed-length records of the same length.

5. The timer-based fee-charging system for Internet services, as claimed in claim 1, featuring an authentication server that confirms access status to the Internet according to whether authentication data based on, or corresponding to, the specific data input by a client is abstracted from the extended authentication database, and that notifies the result thereof to the terminal server.

6. The timer-based fee-charging system for Internet services, as claimed in claim 1, featuring a fee-charging server that controls the access status rate by calculating the access charge after confirming access time by contacting the terminal server to inquire about the access status of each client in specified time intervals, and that notifies the terminal server of whether or not access may be allowed to continue.

7. The timer-based fee-charging system for Internet services, as claimed in claim 1, featuring a fee-charging server that controls the access status rate by calculating the access charge after confirming access time with notices sent from the terminal server in specified time intervals, and that notifies the terminal server of whether or not access may be allowed to continue.

8. The timer-based fee-charging system for Internet services, as claimed in claim 1, featuring management of the information input by a client for Internet access by printing such input information on a card for each authentication data, and enabling access after the information is input through a keyboard.

9. The timer-based fee-charging system for Internet services, as claimed in claim 1, featuring management of the information input by a client for Internet access by recording such input information on a card for each authentication data with magnetic signals, and enabling access after the card is read by the recorder connected to a personal computer.

10. A timer-based fee, fee-charging system for Internet services comprising:

a terminal server to provide Internet access to clients;

an authentication server to confirm whether or not a client is gaining access based on specific information input by the client upon instruction from the terminal server;

an extended authentication database, linked to the authentication server, which controls authentication data comprising specific information of, and the access status rate that indicates a predetermined available time range for access for, each client;

a fee-charging server, linked with the extended authentication database, which constantly renews the access status rate by calculating access charges according to the amount of access time each client used;

the timer-based fee-charging system features the capabilities to provide Internet access services to a client until the access status rate of the client controlled by the extended authentication database falls below 0,

featuring an http server linked with the extended authentication server, operates a program that enables the collection of charges for fee-charged services on the Internet on the basis of the access status rate in the authentication data of the client.

11. The timer-based fee charging system for Internet services as claimed in claim 10, featuring the extended authentication database that constitutes one recording unit of the authentication database of the authentication server as numerous distinguishable authentication data.

12. The timer-based fee charging system for Internet services as claimed in claim 11, featuring distinction of numerous authentication data through registration of template log-in names that, for each lot of authentication data, combine a set number and a group number-random digit numbers within the group employing characters and signs that describe serial numerals.

13. The timer-based fee charging system for Internet services as claimed in claim 10, featuring management of the information input by a client for Internet access by recording such input information on a card for each authentication data with magnetic signals, and enabling access after the card is read by the recorder connected to a personal computer.

14. The timer-based fee-charging system for Internet services, as claimed in claim 10, featuring authentication data made up of fixed-length records of the same length.

15. The timer-based fee-charging system for Internet services, as claimed in claim 10 , featuring authentication server that confirms access status to the Internet according to whether authentication data based on, or corresponding to, the specific data input by a client is abstracted from the extended authentication database, and that notifies the result thereof to the terminal server.

16. The timer-based fee-charging system for Internet services, as claimed in claim 10, featuring a fee-charging server that controls the access status rate by calculating the access charge after confirming access time by contacting the terminal server to inquire about the access status of each client in specified time intervals, and that notifies the said terminal server of whether or not access may be allowed to continue.

17. The timer-based fee-charging system for Internet services, as claimed in claim 10, featuring a fee-charging server that control the access status rate by calculating the access charge after confirming access time with notices sent from the terminal server in specified time intervals, and that notifies the said terminal server of whether or not access may be allowed to continue.

18. The timer-based fee-charging system for Internet services, as claimed in claim 10, featuring management of the information input by a client for Internet access by printing such input information on a card for each authentication data, and enabling access after the said information is input through a keyboard.