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System and method for trusted self-billing and payment for utilities including audit, verification, reconciliation and dispute resolution

  • US 7,415,431 B2
  • Filed: 02/22/2001
  • Issued: 08/19/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of validating service bills, comprising the steps of:

  • monitoring service usage of a service user with a service entity by a first monitoring subsystem under the control of the user;

    determining using the first monitoring subsystem at least one user-generated fee value representing an amount due to the service entity for service usage of the user over a predetermined billing period;

    monitoring service usage of the user by a second monitoring subsystem under the control of the service entity, the first and second monitoring subsystems being distinct from one another;

    determining using the second monitoring subsystem at least one service-generated fee value representing the amount due to the service entity for the service usage of the user over the predetermined billing period;

    comparing the user and service-generated fee values;

    determining that the user and service-generated fee values are within a predetermined threshold amount; and

    ,based upon said determination, validating the amount due determined from a predetermined one of the user and service-generated fee values.

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