Computer-implemented method and system for managing accounting and billing of transactions over public media such as the internet

• US 7,177,837 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Fox
• Original Assignee: Pascal Pegaz-Paquet, Stephane Touboul
• Inventors: PEGAZ-PAQUET, PASCAL, Touboul, Stephane
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, JAGDISH
• Application Number:
  US10/713,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20040143523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 705/40, 705/35, 709/223, 709/225
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0607 Regulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof

Abstract

A system and method for managing accounting and billing e-commerce (including m-commerce) transactions. The user may connect to the e-commerce network by placing a call from a land line or sending a text message. The user may then purchase goods and/or services after meeting required user qualifications, such as minimum age or credit rating. The user qualifications may be established within the framework of a gateway that assigns a unique identifier or personal identification number (PIN) for e-commerce network access once the qualifications are met. The user qualifications may also be established within the framework of a remote access server (RAS) that is accessed by a user through a downloadable automatic dialer having code containing a unique identifier relating to a merchant, product or service. The user is invoiced for the product or service according to the telephone from which the call originated.

Claims

1. A system for restricting access to an e-commerce network, comprising:

a gateway device configured to provide access to the e-commerce network subsequent to verification of a required user qualification, wherein the required user qualification is a minimum credit rating for a user;

a qualification verification device operably coupled to the gateway device, the qualification verification device being configured to verify the required user qualification in response to a user qualification input signal, wherein the user qualification input signal includes a unique user identifier.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the user qualification input signal includes at least part of a social security number, and wherein the verification device retrieves a qualification information signal from a social security database memory.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the verification device is further configured to retrieve a qualification information signal from a third party database memory that contains credit rating information.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the credit rating information is used to extend credit to a user for goods or services purchased.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the gateway device includes an interactive voice response server configured to interact with a user over an established connection between the user and the gateway device, and wherein the interactive voice response server is further configured to request a user input signal of the user unique identifier and to recognize the user unique identifier;

and wherein the gateway device is a voice over internet protocol gateway.

6. The system as recited in 5, wherein the gateway device is further configured to provide a unique gateway identification code signal which, when input by the user, provides access to the e-commerce network.

7. A system for qualifying a user to access an e-commerce network, the system being operably coupled to the e-commerce network, the system comprising:

a remote terminal being configured to receive a request, the remote terminal further having a unique user identifier retrieval device configured to retrieve a first unique user identifier signal from at least one database memory; and

a qualification verification device operably coupled to the remote terminal, the qualification verification device being configured to verify a required user qualification in response to a user qualification input signal, wherein the required user qualification is a minimum credit rating for a user, and the user qualification input signal includes a second unique user identifier.

8. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein the user qualification input signal includes at least part of a social security number, and wherein the verification device retrieves information from a social security database memory.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the verification device is further configured to retrieve information from a third party database memory that contains credit rating information.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the credit rating information is used to extend credit to a user for goods or services purchased.

11. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the qualification verification device is in communication with the gateway device, and the gateway device includes an interactive voice response server configured to interact with a user over the established connection, and wherein the interactive voice response server is further configured to request a user input signal of the first unique user identifier and to recognize the first unique user identifier;

and wherein the gateway device is a voice over internet protocol gateway.

12. The system as recited in 11, wherein the gateway device is configured to provide a unique gateway identification code signal which, when input by the user, provides access to the e-commerce network.