Credit card operated computer on-line service communication system
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of providing a communication between a remote site computer and a content provider using a central server and displaying advertising at the remote site, comprising the steps of:
- initiating a log-on session at the remote site computer;
collecting user identification information from a user at the remote site computer;
communicating the user identification information from the remote site computer to the central server;
retrieving user configuration information from the central server to the remote site computer, based on the user identification information;
the central server communicating with said content provider based on the user identification information and the user configuration information;
terminating the log-on session; and
displaying session charge information and said advertising on said remote site computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer network communication system collects messages from multiple electronic sources comprising network service providers and presents them to a system user in a common format that is selectable by the user. The system receives charge account information from the user and thereby recoups costs associated with providing the computer network communication access. Charge account and associated identification information for a user are stored at a central control site, along with a user'"'"'s preferred display settings. The central control site is connected to an interconnected computer network and to multiple remote sites comprising computer terminals that communicate with the central control site over the computer network. The remote user sites also are capable of direct communication with network service providers independently of the central control site over conventional telephone line connections.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of providing a communication between a remote site computer and a content provider using a central server and displaying advertising at the remote site, comprising the steps of:
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initiating a log-on session at the remote site computer; collecting user identification information from a user at the remote site computer; communicating the user identification information from the remote site computer to the central server; retrieving user configuration information from the central server to the remote site computer, based on the user identification information; the central server communicating with said content provider based on the user identification information and the user configuration information; terminating the log-on session; and displaying session charge information and said advertising on said remote site computer. - 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 method of operating a server computer of a network, to which are connected a plurality of computer terminals, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first set of user information at the control computer from a first user at one of the computer terminals sufficient to identify a user account to be debited for billing purposes; verifying the first set of user information for authorization and beginning a network log-on session by the first user; retrieving a second set of user information from a storage device in communication with the server computer, the second set of user information including user account information for the first user; establishing communication between the first user computer and one or more network service providers in accordance with information selected from a group including the first set of user information and the second set of user information; providing user account information to each respective network service provider; receiving data from the network service providers for presentation to the first user; ending the network log-on session; and transmitting user configuration information from the first user computer to the server computer and displaying session charge information at the first computer.
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19. A method of operating a server computer of a network, to which are connected a plurality of computer terminals, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first set of user information at the control computer from a first user at one of the computer terminals sufficient to identify a user account to be debited for billing purposes; verifying the first set of user information for authorization and beginning a network log-on session by the first user; retrieving a second set of user information from a storage device in communication with the server computer, the second set of user information including user account information for the first user; establishing communication between the first user computer and one or more network service providers in accordance with information selected from a group including the first set of user information and the second set of user information; providing user account information to each respective network service provider; receiving data from the network service providers for presentation to the first user; ending the network log-on session; and transmitting user configuration information from the first user computer to the server computer and displaying session charge information at the first computer; wherein said method provides communication between said remote site computer and a plurality of content providers using the central server, wherein; the step of retrieving user information includes retrieving user information pertaining to each of said content providers; and the step of the central server communicating comprises the central server communicating with each of said content providers based on user identification information pertaining to the respective content provider. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus providing communication between a remote site computer and a content provider using a central server, the apparatus comprising:
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means for communicating user identification information from the remote site computer to the central server and beginning a log-on session; means for retrieving user configuration information from the central server, based on the user identification information; means for the central server to communicate with said content provider based on the user identification information and the user configuration information; means for terminating the log-on session; and means for displaying the advertising and session charge information on said remote site computer. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification