Method and apparatus for ordering goods, services and content over an internetwork
First Claim
1. A computer-readable medium having a plug-in component containing program code for ordering a product over an internetwork formed by a plurality of computers and servers connected together, the internetwork including a billing server that processes orders for the product, wherein the plug-in component places an order for the product by:
- (a) establishing an internetwork communication link with the billing server that processes orders for the product;
(b) obtaining from the billing server a transaction identifier that identifies the order for the product, and a premium telephone number for establishing a premium telephone number communication link with the billing server;
(c) disconnecting the internetwork communication link with the billing server;
(d) after disconnecting the internetwork communication link with the billing server, using the premium telephone number to;
(1) establish a premium telephone number communication link with the billing server; and
(2) identify a telephone communication billing entity to which the order for the product is to be billed;
(e) transferring the order for the product to the billing server for processing; and
(f) obtaining access information suitable for use in claiming the ordered product from the billing server via the premium telephone number communication link.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A billing system that allows a consumer to order products from computers connected to the Internet, wherein the consumer is automatically billed for the ordered product by its telephone service provider. When a product is ordered over the Internet, a plug-in component of the consumer'"'"'s computer establishes an Internet connection to a billing server. A billing server component transfers an encrypted version of the product to the plug-in component. The plug-in component then disconnects from the Internet and establishes a point-to-point (PPP) connection with the billing server. During the PPP connection, the billing server component transfers an access key assigned to the order to the plug-in component so that the plug-in component may decrypt the product. The consumer is charged a unit rate or “drop-charge” for the product by the telephone service provider using a premium telephone number assigned and administered by the telephone service provider.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-readable medium having a plug-in component containing program code for ordering a product over an internetwork formed by a plurality of computers and servers connected together, the internetwork including a billing server that processes orders for the product, wherein the plug-in component places an order for the product by:
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(a) establishing an internetwork communication link with the billing server that processes orders for the product; (b) obtaining from the billing server a transaction identifier that identifies the order for the product, and a premium telephone number for establishing a premium telephone number communication link with the billing server; (c) disconnecting the internetwork communication link with the billing server; (d) after disconnecting the internetwork communication link with the billing server, using the premium telephone number to; (1) establish a premium telephone number communication link with the billing server; and (2) identify a telephone communication billing entity to which the order for the product is to be billed; (e) transferring the order for the product to the billing server for processing; and (f) obtaining access information suitable for use in claiming the ordered product from the billing server via the premium telephone number communication link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification