Method and apparatus for intermediation between service providers and services users
First Claim
1. Intermediation apparatus to interconnect at least one service provider and at least one user provided with at least one communications terminal, said intermediation apparatus comprising:
- intelligent connection management means for;
selecting a non-Internet channel of an operator, which channel is used by a terminal of the user; and
selecting an outgoing protocol and an outgoing communications channel by referring to databases;
protocol conversion means controlled by the management means so as to interconnect a service provider using a channel that implements a first communications protocol and a user using the non-Internet channel that implements a second communications protocol; and
an invoicing unit which performs overall and automated invoicing for each user and periodic distribution of payments collected from the user to the various service providers and to the various operators of the non-Internet channels.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An intermediation apparatus is designed to interconnect at least one service provider and at least one user by using a non-Internet channel. The apparatus includes an intelligent connection management unit for recognizing an incoming protocol and for selecting an outgoing protocol and an outgoing communications channel by referring to databases. A protocol conversion unit controlled by the management unit interconnects a service provider using a channel that implements a first communications protocol and a user using the non-Internet channel that implements a second communications protocol. The non-Internet channel is advantageously a wireless communications channel.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. Intermediation apparatus to interconnect at least one service provider and at least one user provided with at least one communications terminal, said intermediation apparatus comprising:
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intelligent connection management means for; selecting a non-Internet channel of an operator, which channel is used by a terminal of the user; and selecting an outgoing protocol and an outgoing communications channel by referring to databases; protocol conversion means controlled by the management means so as to interconnect a service provider using a channel that implements a first communications protocol and a user using the non-Internet channel that implements a second communications protocol; and an invoicing unit which performs overall and automated invoicing for each user and periodic distribution of payments collected from the user to the various service providers and to the various operators of the non-Internet channels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16)
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14. A method for enabling a user to access a service provided by a service provider by means of intermediation apparatus, said method comprising the following steps:
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detecting a connection request from a user for connection using a second protocol over a non-Internet communications channel; checking the identity of the user; requesting a service offered by a service provider; identifying a channel implementing a first protocol and to be used to reach the service provider requested by the user; checking the identity of the service provider; setting up a communication with the service provider; creating a communications link with conversion between first and second protocols so as to interconnect the validly identified user and the validly identified service provider; recording the service data that is necessary for invoicing; performing overall and automated invoicing for each user; and periodically distributing collected payments to the various service providers and to the various operators of the non-Internet channels.
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15. A method for distributing services to at least one user from a service provider by means of intermediation apparatus, said method comprising the following steps:
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detecting a connection request from a service provider for connection using a first protocol; checking the identity of the service provider; searching for at least one user to be reached; identifying a non-Internet channel to be used to reach each user specified by the service provider; checking the identity of each user specified; setting up a communication with each user specified; creating a communications link with conversion between first and second protocols for connecting the service provider with each specified and validly identified user; recording service data necessary for invoicing; performing overall and automated invoicing for each user; and periodically distributing collected payments to the various service providers and to the various operators of the non-Internet channels.
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Specification