Method and system for billing on the internet

• US 6,343,284 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1998
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Norihiro, Suguri, Toshihiko, Yoshimoto, Masuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jeanty, Romain
• Application Number:
  US09/206,134
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 705/40, 705/44, 705/39, 705/53, 705/52, 705/65, 705/67, 705/72, 235/379, 235/380, 379/114, 379/144, 902/1, 902/26, 713/183, 713/184, 713/185
• US Class Current: 705/67
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/027 involving a payment switch or gateway
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0855 involving a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• 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 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4037 Remote solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02

Abstract

The present invention discloses an Internet billing method which can reject invalid orders with reliability, and which can be used without a credit card. In the present invention, a terminal makes a request of a content server for a chargeable service by using a prepaid information medium which has predetermined information necessary for transactions. After the request, the content server makes a request of a prepaid information management server for authentication to check whether the prepaid information medium is authorized to be used for the chargeable service, and for billing for the prepaid information medium. Then, the prepaid information management server authenticates the prepaid information medium and performs the billing for the prepaid information medium on the basis of usage of the chargeable service. If the authentication and the billing succeed, the content server provides the chargeable service to the terminal.

Claims

1. An Internet billing method which makes billing on the Internet possible, said method comprising the steps of:

making a request, by a terminal, of a content server for a chargeable service by using a prepaid information medium which has predetermined information necessary for transactions;

making a request, by said content server, of a prepaid information management server for authentication to check whether said prepaid information medium is authorized to be used for said chargeable service, and for billing for said prepaid information medium;

sending, by said terminal, to said prepaid information management server, an ID stored in said prepaid information medium upon receipt of a request from said prepaid information management server;

sending information for authentication to said terminal by said prepaid information management server;

performing a predetermined operation for a concatenated value of said information and a password which is read from said prepaid information medium by said terminal;

sending a result of the operation to said prepaid information management server;

performing, by said prepaid information management server, the same operation as performed in said terminal of the concatenated value of said information and said password of said prepaid information medium, which password is stored in a database, and authenticating said prepaid information medium by verifying a result of the operation against the result sent from said terminal;

performing, by said prepaid information management server, the billing for the prepaid information medium on the basis of usage of the chargeable service; and

providing said terminal, by said content server, with said chargeable service.

2. The Internet billing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a password included in said predetermined information is input to said terminal by a user instead of from said prepaid information medium.

3. An Internet billing method which makes billing on the Internet possible, said method comprising the steps of:

making a request, by a terminal, of a content server for a service menu by using a prepaid information medium which has predetermined information necessary for transactions;

sending the service menu to said terminal by said content server;

making a request, by said terminal, of said content server for a chargeable service upon selecting needed service by a user;

making a request, by said content server, of a prepaid information management server for authentication to check whether said prepaid information medium is authorized to be used for said chargeable service, and for billing for said prepaid information medium;

sending, by said terminal, to said prepaid information management server, an ID stored in said prepaid information medium upon receipt of a request from said prepaid information management server;

sending information for authentication to said terminal by said prepaid information management server;

performing a predetermined operation for a concatenated value of said information and a password by said terminal;

sending a result of the operation to said prepaid information management server;

performing, by said prepaid information management server, the same operation as performed in said terminal of the concatenated value of said information for authentication and said password of said prepaid information medium, which password is stored in a database, and authenticating said prepaid information medium by verifying a result of the operation against the result sent from said terminal;

searching the database for a balance of the prepaid information medium having said ID, and performing billing with reference to the balance, by the prepaid information management server;

notifying said terminal of information including the balance of said prepaid information medium by said prepaid information management server if both authentication and billing succeed; and

providing, by said content server, said chargeable service to said terminal.

4. The Internet billing method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said password is input to said terminal by a user instead of from said prepaid information medium.

5. A method, in an Internet billing system which makes billing on the Internet possible, in which system at least one terminal, at least one content server and at least one prepaid information management server are connected to a network, for controlling said terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

accessing said content server on the basis of address information stored in a prepaid information medium which has predetermined information necessary for transactions, and making a request for a service menu;

making a request of said content server for a chargeable service;

sending, upon receipt of a request from said prepaid information management server, an ID stored in said prepaid information medium to said prepaid information management server;

receiving information for authentication from said prepaid information management server, reading out a password stored in said prepaid information medium, performing a predetermined operation for a concatenated value of said information for authentication and the password, and sending a result of the operation to said prepaid information management server;

writing information including a balance of said prepaid information medium to said prepaid information medium on the basis of notification from said prepaid information management server; and

wherein said prepaid information management server performs the same operation as performed in said terminal of the concatenated value of said information for authentication and said password, which password is stored in a database, and authenticating said prepaid information medium by verifying a result of the operation against the result sent from said terminal.

6. A method, in an Internet billing system which makes billing on the Internet possible, in which system at least one terminal, at least one content server and at least one prepaid information management server are connected to a network, for controlling said content server, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for a service menu from said terminal on the basis of address information stored in a prepaid information medium which has predetermined information necessary for transactions, and sending the service menu to said terminal;

receiving a request for a chargeable service from said terminal;

making a request of said prepaid information management server for authentication of the prepaid information medium by sending a message which includes an address of said terminal to said prepaid information management server, and for billing for said prepaid information medium by sending a number of points necessary for the chargeable service;

providing said chargeable service to said terminal if both the authentication and billing succeed;

wherein, after the step of making a request of said prepaid information management server for authentication, said prepaid information management server makes a request of said terminal to send an ID stored in said prepaid information medium;

said terminal sending said ID to said prepaid information management server;

said prepaid information management server sending information for authentication to said terminal;

said terminal performing a predetermined operation for a concatenated value of said information for authentication and a password which is read from said prepaid information medium, and

sending a result of the operation to said prepaid information management server; and

said prepaid information management server performing the same operation as performed in said terminal of the concatenated value of said information for authentication and said password, which password is stored in a database, and authenticating said prepaid information medium by verifying a result of the operation against the result sent from said terminal.

7. A method, in an Internet billing system which makes billing on the Internet possible, in which system at least one terminal, at least one content server and at least one prepaid information management server are connected to a network, for controlling said prepaid information management server, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for authentication of a prepaid information medium, used at said terminal, which the prepaid information medium has predetermined information necessary for transactions, and for billing for said prepaid information medium;

making a request for an ID stored in said prepaid information medium, and receiving the ID;

sending information for authentication to said terminal, wherein said terminal performs a predetermined operation for a concatenated value of said information for authentication and a password and sends a result of the operation to said prepaid information management server;

receiving the result of the operation performed by said terminal;

performing the same operation as performed in said terminal by referring to a database which stores prepaid information, and authenticating said prepaid information medium by verifying a result of the operation against the result sent from said terminal;

decrementing a balance of said prepaid information medium by necessary points if the authentication succeeds; and

notifying said terminal of information which includes the decremented balance of said prepaid information medium.

8. An Internet billing system which makes billing on the Internet possible, said Internet billing system comprising at least one terminal, at least one content server and at least one prepaid information management server which are connected to a network,

wherein said terminal comprises:

means for making a request of said content server for a chargeable service by using a prepaid information medium;

wherein said content server comprises;

means for making a request of said prepaid information management server for authentication to check whether said prepaid information medium is authorized to be used for said chargeable service;

means for making a request of said prepaid information management server for billing for said prepaid information medium; and

means for providing said chargeable service to said terminal; and

wherein said prepaid information management server comprises;

means for authenticating said prepaid information medium; and

means for performing the billing for said prepaid information medium on the basis of usage of said chargeable service;

wherein, when authenticating said prepaid information medium, said prepaid information management server makes a request of said terminal to send an ID stored in said prepaid information medium;

said terminal sending said ID to said prepaid information management server;

said prepaid information management server sending information for authentication to said terminal;

said terminal performing a predetermined operation for a concatenated value of said information for authentication and a password which is read from said prepaid information medium, and sending a result of the operation to said prepaid information management server; and

said prepaid information management server performing the same operation as performed in said terminal of the concatenating value of said information for authentication and said password, which password is stored in a database, and authenticating said prepaid information medium by verifying a result of the operation against the result sent from said terminal.

9. An Internet billing system which makes billing on the Internet possible, said Internet billing system comprising at least one terminal, at least one content server and at least one prepaid information management server which are connected to a network,

wherein said terminal comprises:

means for making a request of said content server for a chargeable service by using a prepaid information medium which has predetermined information necessary for transactions;

means for sending an ID stored in said prepaid information medium upon receipt of a request from said prepaid information management server;

means for reading out a password stored in said prepaid information medium on the basis of information for authentication received from said prepaid information management server, performing a predetermined operation and sending a result of the operation to said prepaid information management server; and

means for writing information including a balance of said prepaid information medium to said prepaid information medium on the basis of notification from said prepaid information management server;

wherein said content server comprises;

means for making a request of said prepaid information management server for authentication to check whether said prepaid information medium is authorized to be used for said chargeable service;

means for making a request of said prepaid information management server for billing for said prepaid information medium; and

means for providing said chargeable service to said terminal if both authentication and billing succeed; and

wherein said prepaid information management server comprises;

means for authenticating said prepaid information medium at said terminal upon receipt of a request for authentication from said content server;

means for performing the billing on the basis of usage of said chargeable service; and

means for notifying said terminal of information including a balance of said prepaid information medium.

10. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer-readable code means embodied therein for causing, in an Internet billing system which makes billing on the Internet possible, in which system at least one terminal, at least one content server and at least one prepaid information management server are connected to a network, a computer to control said terminal, the computer readable code means comprising:

computer-readable program code means for accessing said content server on the basis of address information stored in a prepaid information medium which has predetermined information necessary for transactions, and making a request for a service menu;

computer-readable program code means for making a request of said content server for a chargeable service;

computer-readable program code means for sending, upon receipt of a request from said prepaid information management server, an ID stored in said prepaid information medium to said prepaid information management server;

computer-readable program code means for receiving information for authentication from said prepaid information management server, reading out a password stored in said prepaid information medium, performing a predetermined operation for a concatenated value of said information for authentication and the password, and sending a result of the operation to said prepaid information management server;

computer-readable program code means for writing information including a balance of said prepaid information medium to said prepaid information medium on the basis of notification from said prepaid information management server; and

wherein said prepaid information management server performs the same operation as performed in said terminal of the concatenating value of said information for authentication and said password, which password is stored in a database, and authenticating said prepaid information medium by verifying a result of the operation against the result sent from said terminal.

11. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer-readable code means embodied therein for causing, in an Internet billing system which makes billing on the Internet possible, in which system at least one terminal, at least one content server and at least one prepaid information management server are connected to a network, a computer to control said content server, the computer readable code means comprising:

computer-readable program code means for receiving a request for a service menu sent from said terminal on the basis of address information stored in a prepaid information medium which has predetermined information necessary for transactions, and sending the service menu to said terminal;

computer-readable program code means for receiving a request for a chargeable service from said terminal;

computer-readable program code means for making a request of said prepaid information management server for authentication of the prepaid information medium by sending a message which includes an address of said terminal to said prepaid information management server;

computer-readable program code means for billing for said prepaid information medium by sending a point number necessary for said chargeable service; and

computer-readable program code means for providing said terminal with said chargeable service if both authentication and billing succeed;

wherein, after making a request of said prepaid information management server for authentication by said content server, said prepaid information management server makes a request of said terminal to send an ID stored in said prepaid information medium;

said terminal sending said ID to said prepaid information management server;

said prepaid information management server sending information for authentication to said terminal;

said terminal performing a predetermined operation for a concatenated value of said information for authentication and a password which is read from said prepaid information medium, and sending a result of the operation to said prepaid information management server; and

said prepaid information management server performing the same operation as performed in said terminal of the concatenating value of said information for authentication and said password, which password is stored in a database, and authenticating said prepaid information medium by verifying a result of the operation against the result sent from said terminal.

12. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer-readable code means embodied therein for causing, in an Internet billing system which makes billing on the Internet possible, in which system at least one terminal, at least one content server and at least one prepaid information management server are connected to a network, a computer to control said prepaid information management server, the computer readable code means comprising:

computer-readable program code means for receiving a request for authentication of a prepaid information medium, used at said terminal, which prepaid information medium has predetermined information necessary for transactions, and for billing for said prepaid information medium;

computer-readable program code means for making a request for an ID stored in said prepaid information medium, and receiving the ID;

computer-readable program code means for sending information for authentication to said terminal, wherein said terminal performs a predetermined operation for a concatenated value of said information for authentication and a password and sends a result of the operation to said prepaid information management server;

computer-readable program code means for receiving the result of the operation performed by said terminal;

computer-readable program code means for performing the same operation as performed in said terminal by referring to a database which stores prepaid information, and authenticating said prepaid information medium by verifying a result of the operation against the result sent from said terminal;

computer-readable program code means for decrementing a balance of said prepaid information medium by necessary points if the authentication succeeds; and

computer-readable program code means for notifying said terminal of information which includes the decremented balance of said prepaid information medium.

13. An IC card, in an Internet billing system which makes billing on the Internet possible, in which system at least one terminal, at least one content server and at least one prepaid information management server are connected to a network, comprising:

means for connecting to said terminal;

means for reading predetermined information stored in said IC card, which includes a password, necessary for transactions;

means for retrieving information on authentication of said IC card from said prepaid information management server; and

means for performing a predetermined operation on the password and the retrieved information, sending a result of the operation to said prepaid information management server;

means for writing information including a balance of said IC card to said IC card on the basis of notification from said prepaid information management server; and

wherein said prepaid information management server performs the same operation as performed in said IC card for providing a concatenating value of said information for authentication and said password, which password is stored in a database, and authenticating said IC card by verifying a result of the operation against the result sent from said terminal.