Integrated internet facilitated billing, data processing and communication system

• US 6,374,229 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1999
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BNP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: BillingNetwork, Inc. (BillingNetwork Patent, Inc.)
• Inventors: Krumholz, Richard A., Lowrey, Susan
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JAKETIC, BRYAN J
• Application Number:
  US09/421,902
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/27, 705/34, 709/219
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

A database server and a Citrix®-type direct access server electronically interconnected between said database server and a plurality of subscribers, each of which gain secure access into a server via a modem and an internet service provider (ISP). Thin client access provides for electronic transfer of billing and data entry to each direct access subscriber upon request. Browser based subscribers use forms processing to transfer data into the database server which utilizes an appropriate application software therein to produce billing invoices and statements to clients and customers of each corresponding subscriber. Thin client access also provides real time electronic viewing and query access regarding data and billings stored in the database server by each corresponding direct access subscriber. A home page of a website of the system provides access via an ISP to the database server by a plurality of browser-based subscribers. The home page provides secure access by each browser-based subscriber to each of a plurality of subscriber areas within the system. The database server includes open database compliant software (ODBC) for seamless integration with other software applications. Data entered on the forms is then sent electronically to be entered into said database server to produce billing invoices and statements from applications software to clients and customers of each corresponding browser-based subscriber.

Claims

1. An integrated internet facilitated billing, data processing, and communication system comprising:

a database server and a home page of a website which provides access via an internet service provider (ISP) to said database server by a plurality of browser-based subscribers each of which have electronic access to said home page via a modem and the ISP;

said home page providing only secure access by each browser-based subscriber to one of a plurality of subscriber areas within said system;

means for providing electronic transfer of substantially only billing and data entry forms to the browser-based subscriber upon request, data entered on said forms, when electronically returned to a corresponding said subscriber area, then entered into said database server, said database server then, utilizing an appropriate application software thereon, producing billing invoices and statements to clients and customers for each corresponding browser-based subscriber;

means for providing real time electronic viewing and query access of data and billings stored in said database server by each corresponding browser-based subscriber;

a PC type computer electronically connected to said database server for controlling said forms as required and responding to queries entered by each browser-based subscriber.

2. An integrated internet facilitated billing, data processing, and communication system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

means for subjecting all data transfer into said database server from browser-based subscribers and said PC-type computer to business logic and rules restrictions within said system.

3. An integrated internet facilitated billing, data processing, and communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said database server includes open database compliant software (ODBC) for seamless integration with other software applications.

4. An integrated internet facilitated billing, data processing, and communication system as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

a direct access server electronically interconnected between said database server, data transfer therebetween subject to a business logic and rules restriction, and a plurality of direct access subscribers each of which gain secure access via thin client technology into said direct access server and applications contained on a database server via a modem and ISP;

said thin client access providing electronic transfer of billing and data entry to each subscriber secure data set and from the database server to each direct access subscriber upon request;

said thin client access also providing real time electronic viewing and query access regarding data and billings stored in said database server by each corresponding direct access subscriber;

a PC type computer electronically connected to said database server for responding to queries entered by each direct access subscriber.

5. An integrated internet facilitated billing, data processing, and communication system as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

a home page of a website which provides thin client access via an internet service provider (ISP) to said database server by a plurality of subscribers each of which have electronic access to said home page via a modem and the ISP;

said home page providing only secure access by each direct access subscriber to one of a plurality of subscriber areas within said system;

said database server including an open database compliant software for seamless integration with other software applications.

6. An integrated internet facilitated billing, data processing, and communication system comprising:

a database server and a direct access server electronically interconnected between said database server and a plurality of direct access subscribers each of which gain secure thin client access into said direct access server via a modem and an internet service provider (ISP);

said thin client access providing electronic transfer of billing and information to each direct access subscriber upon request, then entered into said database server, said database server then, utilizing an appropriate application software thereon, producing billing invoices and statements to clients and customers of each corresponding direct access subscriber;

said thin client access also providing real time electronic viewing and query access regarding data and billings stored in said database server by each corresponding direct access subscriber;

a home page of a website which provides access via an internet service provider (ISP) to said database server by a plurality of subscribers each of which have electronic access to said home page via a modem and an ISP;

said home page providing secure access by each subscriber to one of a plurality of subscriber areas within said system;

said database server including open database compliant software (ODBC) for seamless integration with other software applications;

said ODBC also providing electronic transfer of substantially only billing and data upon request, data entered on said forms, when electronically returned to a corresponding said subscriber area, then entered into said database server, said database server then, utilizing an appropriate application software thereon, producing billing invoices and statements to clients and customers of each corresponding subscriber;

said ODBC also providing real time electronic viewing and query access regarding data and billings stored in said database server by each corresponding browser-based subscriber;

a PC type computer electronically connected to said database server for producing said forms as required and responding to queries entered by each direct access and browser-based subscriber.

7. An internet based computer system for billing, data processing and communication for and between subscribers and said system, one type of subscriber being of the browser-based type and another type of subscriber being of the direct access type, said system comprising:

database server means responsive to remote terminal commands from the browser-based subscriber requesting query and data input forms of a software application stored on said database server means, said input forms transmitted via an internet service provider (ISP) to a terminal screen of a terminal of the browser-based subscriber;

said database server means also responsive to receiving completed query and data input forms via an ISP from the browser-based subscriber by processing the completed data input forms on the software application and providing an output either back to the browser-based subscriber or to a client or customer of the browser-based subscriber, or both, in the form of a billing invoice or statement;

direct access server means operably connected to said database server via thin client technology means and responsive to remote terminal commands from the direct access subscriber via an ISP, query and or data entry entered directly into a particular software application stored on said database server means as facilitated by ISP transfer of only a screen picture of the software application to the direct access subscriber and providing another output either back to the direct access subscriber or to a customer or client of the direct access subscriber, or both, in the form of a billing invoice or statement.