Computer services and methods for collecting payments from and providing content to web users
First Claim
1. A computer system that provides a network-based payment service, the computer system comprising:
- an electronic data repository that stores account data associated with each of the following;
(a) a plurality of users that are registered to make payments via the payment service, (b) a content provider that is registered to use the payment service to collect payments from the registered users for accessing content provided by the content provider, and (c) a web site operator that hosts, on a web site, a payment link that is selectable by the registered users to pay for and access the content provided by the content provider; and
a server system coupled to the electronic data repository, the server system operated by a payment service provider that is separate from the content provider and the web site operator, the server system being separate from the web site, and being responsive to selection by a registered user of the payment link on said web site by charging the registered user a fee for accessing the content and by redirecting a web browser of the registered user to the content;
wherein the payment link points to the server system such that selection of the payment link by a user causes a browser of the user to send a request message to the server system, and wherein the server system divides the fee between at least the web site operator and the content provider, such that the web site operator and the content provider each receive a portion of the fee;
wherein the server system includes a web-based payment link generation tool that generates and outputs link coding for adding payment links to web sites that are external to the server system, said payment links including information used by the server system to process payment transactions initiated by users from said external web sites.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network-based payment service provides functionality for site operators to add payment links or objects to their sites. When a user selects such a link or object, the payment service may charge a fee to an account of the user, and may redirect a browser of the user to content associated with the link. In some use cases, the payment service may also cause all or a portion of the fee to be divided between multiple entities or site operators; for example, a portion may be paid to an entity responsible for hosting or publishing the payment link or object, and another portion may be paid to an entity that hosts or provides the associated content.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A computer system that provides a network-based payment service, the computer system comprising:
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an electronic data repository that stores account data associated with each of the following;
(a) a plurality of users that are registered to make payments via the payment service, (b) a content provider that is registered to use the payment service to collect payments from the registered users for accessing content provided by the content provider, and (c) a web site operator that hosts, on a web site, a payment link that is selectable by the registered users to pay for and access the content provided by the content provider; anda server system coupled to the electronic data repository, the server system operated by a payment service provider that is separate from the content provider and the web site operator, the server system being separate from the web site, and being responsive to selection by a registered user of the payment link on said web site by charging the registered user a fee for accessing the content and by redirecting a web browser of the registered user to the content; wherein the payment link points to the server system such that selection of the payment link by a user causes a browser of the user to send a request message to the server system, and wherein the server system divides the fee between at least the web site operator and the content provider, such that the web site operator and the content provider each receive a portion of the fee; wherein the server system includes a web-based payment link generation tool that generates and outputs link coding for adding payment links to web sites that are external to the server system, said payment links including information used by the server system to process payment transactions initiated by users from said external web sites. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-implemented method for providing user access to content and for allocating user payments for accessing such content, the method provided in association with a link hosted by a first web site of a first entity, said link being selectable by users during browsing of the first web site to pay for and access content, the method comprising:
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detecting selection of said link by a user, and in response to said selection;
(a) charging the user a fee associated with accessing the content, and (b) redirecting a web browser of the user to a web page that includes or provides access to the content, said web page associated with a second entity, and being part of a second web site that is separate from the first web site; anddividing the fee between at least the first entity and the second entity, such that the first and second entities each receive a portion of the fee; wherein the method is performed by a networked computer system that implements a payment service, said networked computer system being separate from the first web site and the second web site; wherein the link points to the networked computer system, such that selection of the link by the user causes a browser of the user to send a message to the networked computer system, and the link comprises link coding generated by a link generation tool hosted by the networked computer system, said link coding comprising information used by the networked computer system to process payment transactions initiated via said payment link. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A computer-implemented method for providing fee-based access to content, the method comprising:
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generating and outputting link coding for adding a user-selectable payment object to a content provider site operated by a content provider entity, said link coding including information for executing payment transactions initiated via the payment object; serving the user-selectable payment object to a browser for display on a first web page of the content provider site, said payment object being selectable by a user to access a content page of the content provider site, said content page being separate from the first web page; receiving a request message generated by said browser in response to user selection of said payment object on the first web page, said request message accompanied by a cookie that corresponds to the user; responding to the request message by (1) charging a fee to a user account corresponding to said cookie, and (2) redirecting the browser to the content page, such that the user is both charged for accessing, and provided access to, the content page in response to selection of the payment object; and crediting at least a portion of the fee to an account of the content provider; wherein said serving, receiving, responding and crediting steps are performed by a service provider site that is separate from the content provider site, said service provider site operated by a service provider entity that is separate from, and which collects payments for, the content provider entity. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A service provider site, comprising:
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a server system programmed to; generate link coding that is adapted to be added to at least a first web page of a content provider site of a content provider entity to add a user-selectable payment object thereto, said link coding comprising information for conducting a payment transaction; serve the user-selectable payment object to a browser for display on the first web page of the content provider site, said payment object being selectable by a user to access a content page of the content provider site, said content page being separate from the first web page; receive a request message generated by said browser in response to user selection of said payment object on the first web page, said request message accompanied by a cookie that corresponds to the user; respond to the request message by (1) charging a fee to a user account corresponding to said cookie, and (2) redirecting the browser to the content page, such that the user is both charged for accessing, and provided access to, the content page in response to selection of the payment object; and credit at least a portion of the fee to an account of the content provider; wherein the service provider site is separate from the content provider site, and is operated by a service provider entity that is separate from, and which collects payments for, the content provider entity. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification