Charging for telecommunications download services
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for prepayment of a content, comprising the steps of:
- generating one or more authentication keys;
providing an authentication key validity database for verifying the validity of any of the one or more generated authentication keys;
delivering at least one of the one or more authentication keys to a user;
informing the user of the availability of a plurality of different contents for downloading;
receiving from the user over a first communications link an indication of a desired content and a request for the desired content;
receiving from the user the at least one authentication key to indicate prepayment for the requested content;
verifying the validity of the at least one authentication key by means of the validity database;
providing the requested content to the user over a second communications link; and
invalidating the at least one authentication key in the validity database in response to the providing of the requested content to the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system and computer program product for prepayment of a service includes informing the user of the availability of a plurality of different services. An indication and request of a desired service is received from the user over a first communications link. The requested service is provided to the user over a second communications link. To indicate prepayment for the service requested an authentication key is received from the user. The validity of the authentication key received is verified and the service is provided if the authentication key is valid.
77 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for prepayment of a content, comprising the steps of:
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generating one or more authentication keys;
providing an authentication key validity database for verifying the validity of any of the one or more generated authentication keys;
delivering at least one of the one or more authentication keys to a user;
informing the user of the availability of a plurality of different contents for downloading;
receiving from the user over a first communications link an indication of a desired content and a request for the desired content;
receiving from the user the at least one authentication key to indicate prepayment for the requested content;
verifying the validity of the at least one authentication key by means of the validity database;
providing the requested content to the user over a second communications link; and
invalidating the at least one authentication key in the validity database in response to the providing of the requested content to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for prepayment of a content, comprising:
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means for generating one or more authentication keys;
an authentication key validity database for verifying the validity of any of the one or more generated authentication keys;
means for delivering at least one of the one or more authentication keys to a user;
means for informing the user of the availability of a plurality of different contents for downloading;
means for receiving from the user over a first communications link an indication of a desired content and a request for the desired content; and
means for receiving from the user the at least one authentication key to indicate prepayment for the requested content;
means for verifying the validity of the at least one authentication key by means of the validity database;
means for providing the requested content to the user over a second communications link; and
means for invalidating the at least one authentication key in the validity database in response to the providing of the requested content to the user.
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12. A computer program product for prepayment of a content, comprising:
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computer readable program means for generating one or more authentication keys;
computer readable program means for providing an authentication key validity database for verifying the validity of any of the one or more generated authentication keys;
computer readable program means for causing a computer to provide at least one of the one or more authentication keys to a user;
computer readable program means for causing a computer to inform the user of the availability of a plurality of different contents for downloading;
computer readable program means for causing a computer to receive from the user over a first a first communications link an indication of a desired content and a request for the desired content; and
computer readable program means for receiving from the user the at least one authentication key to indicate prepayment for the requested content;
computer readable program means for verifying the validity of the at least one authentication key by means of the validity database;
computer readable program means for causing a computer to provide the requested content to the user over a second communications link; and
computer readable program means for invalidating the at least one authentication key in the validity database in response to the providing of the requested content to the user.
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Specification