Content-based billing

• US 20020129088A1
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Excalibur IP, LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhou, Pei-Yuan, Rohelec, Philippe Le, Padala, Sailendra K., Semel, Ivry
• Granted Patent: US 9,331,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1435 volume-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2871 Implementation details of single intermediate entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 : Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 : Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 : Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

A method and apparatus for content-based billing is provided. Techniques are provided for intercepting, modifying, and retransmitting a request between various entities engaged in content-based billing in the context of the World Wide Web. Various techniques such as HTTP proxy servers, wireless protocol gateways, routers, and level 41 switches may be used for intercepting the request. The request maybe modified based on numerous factors such as profile information, levels of service, and requested content. The entities that engage in content-based billing include but are not limited to users (including mobile users), content providers, access providers (including HTTP proxy servers).

Claims

1. A method for communicating electronic information comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

intercepting a message that has been sent from a first participant to a second participant prior to said message arriving at said second participant;

wherein said first participant is one of a service requestor and a service provider and the second participant is the other of the service requestor and the service provider; and

determining the identity of the first participant based on information in said message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of intercepting a message is performed by a device coupled between a plurality of clients and a plurality of servers;

the method further comprising the step of identifying which services are being provided to said clients by said servers based on the content of messages that pass through said device; and

billing said clients for said services based on which services are being provided to said clients by said servers.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the device is controlled by a first party, and the services are provided by a set of second parties; and

the first party performs the step of billing on behalf of the set of second parties.

4. The method for claim 1 further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

determining whether said message has billing implications;

if said message has billing implications, then generating a log; and

using said log to charge said a particular participant for a service indicated in the message, wherein said particular participant is one of said first participant and said second participant.

5. The method for claim 4 wherein the log includes a service requestor identification.

6. The method for claim 4 wherein the log includes information to indicate how much the particular participant is to pay for the service.

7. The method for claim 4 further comprising the computer-implemented step of sending a plurality of logs, including said log, to an aggregation engine that places access information contained in said plurality of logs into the format required by a billing system.

8. The method for claim 4 further comprises:

determining that the particular participant must pre-pay for the service;

determining whether the particular participant has sufficient funds to pay for the service; and

determining how to handle said message based on whether said particular participant has sufficient funds to pay for the service.

9. The method for claim 4 further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

inspecting a provider profile associated with the service provider; and

determining that the service requestor must pre-pay for the service based on the provider profile.

10. The method for claim 4 further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

inspecting a requestor profile associated with the service requestor; and

determining that the service requestor must pre-pay for the service based on the requestor profile.

11. The method for claim 4 further wherein the message is a response from the service provider and includes a price at which the service provider is willing to provide the service.

12. The method for claim 4 wherein the service involves providing content from the service provider.

13. The method for claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining a service class for said first participant based on the identity of the first participant; and

determining where to direct said message to based on said service class.

14. The method for claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

determining a service class for said first participant based on the identity of the first participant; and

wherein the service that the service requester is provided is determined by said service class.

15. The method for claim 4 further comprising the step of updating a profile based on the service that is requested.

16. The method for claim 4 further comprising the step of decrementing an account balance when the service requestor accesses the service.

17. The method for claim 4 further comprising the step of determining from the message the service that is requested by the service requestor.

18. The method for claim 1 further comprising the computer-implemented step of:

locating a profile based on the identity of the first participant.

19. The method for claim 18 further comprising the computer-implemented step of:

storing billing data associated with the service requestor in the profile.

20. The method for claim 18 further comprising the computer-implemented step of:

determining a price that the service requestor will pay for a service from the profile.

21. The method for claim 18 further comprising the computer-implemented step of:

billing the service requestor if the profile indicates that the service requestor is to be billed.

22. The method for claim 18 wherein the step of locating the profile further comprises the computer-implemented step of:

extracting a participant ID from the message; and

locating the profile based on a participant ID.

23. The method for claim 18 further comprising maintaining an account balance in the profile.

24. The method for claim 18 further comprising decrementing the account balance when the service requestor accesses a service wherein the service was specified in the message and wherein the service requires a fee.

25. The method for claim 18 further comprising updating the profile to award the service requestor a prize for having requested said service.

26. The method for claim 18 further comprising the computer-implemented steps of. extracting a number from the profile;

wherein the number indicates the number of times the service requester has requested a service;

incrementing the number;

storing the number back into the profile; and

determining whether to bill the service requestor for the service based on the number.

27. The method for claim 1 further comprising the computer-implemented step of:

determining whether the service requestor is allowed access to a service based on information in a profile.

28. The method for claim 27 further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

if the service requestor is not allowed access to the service, then

sending the service requestor a second message indicating that the service requestor is not allowed access to the service.

29. The method for claim 1 further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

if the service requestor requires pre-authorization for a service sending the service requester a payment authorization message; and

if the service requester authorizes payment for the service, then retransmitting the message to the service provider to obtain the service for the service requester.

30. The method for claim 29 further comprising inspecting a profile to determine whether the service requestor requires pre-authorization for the service.

31. The method for claim 1 further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

determining whether the service requestor has funds to pay for a service based on an authorization source.

32. The method for claim 31 further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

if the service requestor has the funds, then

causing the finds to be decremented from a requester account associated with the service requestor; and

retransmitting the message to the service provider to obtain the service for the service requester.

33. The method for claim 31 wherein the authorization source is a profile.

34. The method for claim 31 wherein the authorization source is a billing system.

35. The method for claim 31 wherein the authorization source is a billing scheme of an access provider.

36. The method for claim 1 further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

determining whether the service provider is an authorized partner; and

if the service provider is an authorized partner, then

retransmitting the message to the service provider to obtain a service.

37. The method for claim 36 wherein the step of determining whether the service provider is an approved partner further comprises the computer-implemented steps of:

determining whether the service involves a fee by inspecting a provider profile;

if the service does involve a fee, then

establishing a secure connection with the provider; and

authenticating the service provider by using an authentication mechanism.

39. The computer-readable medium for claim 38 further comprising instructions for:

determining whether said message has billing implications;

if said message has billing implications, then generating a log; and

using said log to charge said a particular participant for a service indicated in the message, wherein said particular participant is one of said first participant and said second participant.

40. The computer-readable medium for claim 39 wherein the log includes a service requestor identification.

41. The computer-readable medium for claim 39 wherein the log includes information to indicate how much the particular participant is to pay for the service.

42. The computer-readable medium for claim 39 further comprising instructions for sending a plurality of logs, including said log, to an aggregation engine that places access information contained in said plurality of logs into the format required by a billing system.

43. The computer-readable medium for claim 39 further comprises instructions for:

determining that the particular participant must pre-pay for the service;

determining whether the particular participant has sufficient funds to pay for the service; and

determining how to handle said message based on whether said particular participant has sufficient funds to pay for the service.

44. The computer-readable medium for claim 39 further comprising instructions for:

inspecting a provider profile associated with the service provider; and

determining that the service requester must pre-pay for the service based on the provider profile.

45. The computer-readable medium for claim 39 further comprising instructions for:

inspecting a requestor profile associated with the service requester; and

determining that the service requester must pre-pay for the service based on the requestor profile.

46. The computer-readable medium for claim 39 wherein the message is a response from the service provider and includes a price at which the service provider is willing to provide the service.

47. The computer-readable medium for claim 39 wherein the service involves providing content from the service provider.

48. The computer-readable medium for claim 38 further comprising instructions for:

determining a service class for said first participant based on the identity of the first participant; and

determining where to direct said message to based on said service class.

49. The computer-readable medium for claim 39 further comprising instructions for:

determining a service class for said first participant based on the identity of the first participant; and

wherein the service that the service requestor is provided is determined by said service class.

50. The computer-readable medium for claim 39 further comprising instructions for updating a profile based on the service that is requested.

51. The computer-readable medium for claim 39 further comprising instructions for decrementing an account balance when the service requester accesses the service.

52. The computer-readable medium for claim 39 further comprising instructions for determining from the message the service that is requested by the service requester.

53. The computer-readable medium for claim 38 further comprising instructions for:

locating a profile based on the identity of the first participant.

54. The computer-readable medium for claim 53 further comprising instructions for:

storing billing data associated with the service requestor in the profile.

55. The computer-readable medium for claim 53 further comprising instructions for:

determining a price that the service requestor will pay for a service from the profile.

56. The computer-readable medium for claim 53 further comprising instructions for:

billing the service requestor if the profile indicates that the service requestor is to be billed.

57. The computer-readable medium for claim 53 wherein instructions for locating the profile further comprises instructions for:

extracting a participant ID from the message; and

locating the profile based on a participant ID.

58. The computer-readable medium for claim 53 further comprising instructions for maintaining an account balance in the profile.

59. The computer-readable medium for claim 53 further comprising instructions for decrementing the account balance when the service requestor accesses a service wherein the service was specified in the message and wherein the service requires a fee.

60. The computer-readable medium for claim 53 further comprising instructions for updating the profile to award the service requestor a prize for having requested said service.

61. The computer-readable medium for claim 53 further comprising instructions for.

extracting a number from the profile;

wherein the number indicates the number of times the service requester has requested a service;

incrementing the number;

storing the number back into the profile; and

determining whether to bill the service requestor for the service based on the number.

62. The computer-readable medium for claim 38 further comprising instructions for:

determining whether the service requester is allowed access to a service based on information in a profile.

63. The computer-readable medium for claim 62 further comprising instructions for:

if the service requestor is not allowed access to the service, then

sending the service requestor a second message indicating that the service requestor is not allowed access to the service.

64. The computer-readable medium for claim 38 further comprising instructions for:

if the service requestor requires pre-authorization for a service sending the service requestor a payment authorization message; and

if the service requestor authorizes payment for the service, then

retransmitting the message to the service provider to obtain the service for the service requester.

65. The computer-readable medium for claim 64 further comprising instructions for inspecting a profile to determine whether the service requestor requires preauthorization for the service.

66. The computer-readable medium for claim 38 further comprising instructions for:

determining whether the service requestor has funds to pay for a service based on an authorization source.

67. The computer-readable medium for claim 66 further comprising instructions for:

if the service requestor has the funds, then

causing the funds to be decremented from a requestor account associated with the service requestor; and

retransmitting the message to the service provider to obtain the service for the service requestor.

68. The computer-readable medium for claim 66 wherein the authorization source is a profile.

69. The computer-readable medium for claim 66 wherein the authorization source is a billing system.

70. The computer-readable medium for claim 66 wherein the authorization source is a billing scheme of an access provider.

71. The computer-readable medium for claim 38 further comprising instructions for:

determining whether the service provider is an authorized partner; and

if the service provider is an authorized partner, then retransmitting the message to the service provider to obtain a service.

72. The computer-readable medium for claim 71 wherein instructions for determining whether the service provider is an approved partner further comprise instructions for:

determining whether the service involves a fee by inspecting a provider profile;

if the service does involve a fee, then

establishing a secure connection with the provider; and

authenticating the service provider by using an authentication mechanism.

38. A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for communicating electronic information, the instructions comprising instructions for performing the steps of:

intercepting a message sent from a first participant to a second participant prior to said message arriving at said second participant;

wherein said first participant is one of a service requestor and a service provider and the second participant is the other of the service requester and the service provider; and

determining the identity of the first participant based on information in said message.