Method of billing a purchase made over a computer network

• US 7,555,458 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1999
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fraud Control Systems com Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fraud Control System.com
• Inventors: Felger, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Kazimi; Hani
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAMPEN, KELLY SCAGGS
• Application Number:
  US09/432,811
• Time in Patent Office: 3,526 Days
• Field of Search: 705/40, 705/39, 705/35, 705/44, 705/26, 705/16, 705/18, 705/30, 705/38, 705/36.R
• US Class Current: 705/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4016 involving fraud or risk level assessment in transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/403 Solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4037 Remote solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0637 Approvals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6027 Fraud preventions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 : Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 : Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 : Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 : Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 : Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 : Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A method of effecting a sale over a computer network in which it is determined whether a user passes fraud control before effecting a sale over a computer network. Information associated with a method of payment, such as credit card information, debit card information, checking account information, a telephone service account, a cable television account, a utility service account, or an Internet service provider account, is requested from the user after the user passes the fraud control. Information associated with the method of payment is received from the user in real time. Method-of-payment information is communicated to a payment authorization database, which can be located locally or remotely. The method-of-payment information includes the received information associated with the method of payment. Payment authorization information associated with the method of payment is received from the payment authorization database. A sale transaction is completed when the payment authorization information is affirmative. Sale charge information associated with the sale effected over the computer network is transmitted to the payment authorization database when the sale transaction is complete. The sale charge information includes information for charging the method of payment an amount representing a charge for the sale.

Claims

1. A method for controlling access to a service over a computer network, comprising:

receiving a request over the computer network from a user to establish a communication between the user and the service;

receiving information over the computer network, the information being associated with the user;

accessing a database;

comparing the received information associated with the user with information stored in the database;

requesting billing information associated with the user when the received information associated with the user passes the comparison with the information stored in the database;

issuing an approval signal to enable establishment of the communication if the user passes the comparison, and a cost for the communication is determined to not exceed a predetermined credit limit for the user;

issuing a temporary block signal to temporarily block establishment of the communication if the user passes the comparison, but the cost for the communication is determined to exceed the predetermined credit limit for the user; and

establishing the communication between the user and the service over the computer network after the requested billing information associated with the user is received.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

billing a cost associated with the communication after completion of the communication.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

issuing a block signal to block establishment of the communication if the comparing indicates that the user has negative information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein issuing a block signal comprises permanently blocking establishment of the communication.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein issuing a block signal comprises issuing a limited block that prevents establishment of the communication until predetermined criteria has been satisfied.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein issuing a block signal comprises temporarily blocking establishment of the communication.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein establishment of the communication is temporarily blocked if the user can not be identified.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a transaction limit of the user if the user passes the comparison; and

issuing an approval signal to establish the communication if a cost for the communication does not exceed the determined transaction limit.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the database further includes an indication of whether the user previously disputed a service-based transaction.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the communication comprises establishing the communication between the user and a value-added service.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the requested service is performed by a service bureau.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the service bureau comprises an entertainment establishment.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the entertainment establishment comprises a psychic reading.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the entertainment establishment comprises adult entertainment.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the entertainment establishment comprises gambling.

16. A method for controlling access to a service over a computer network, comprising:

receiving a request over the computer network from a user to establish a communication between the user and the service;

receiving information over the computer network, the information being associated with the user;

accessing a database;

comparing the received information associated with the user with information stored in the database;

requesting information associated with a credit account if the received information associated with the user passes the comparison with the information stored in the database;

issuing an approval signal to enable establishment of the communication if the user passes the comparison, and a cost for the communication is determined to not exceed a predetermined credit limit for the user;

issuing a temporary block signal to temporarily block establishment of the communication if the user passes the comparison, but the cost for the communication is determined to exceed the predetermined credit limit for the user; and

establishing the communication between the user and the service over the computer network after the requested information associated with a credit account is received.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

billing a cost associated with the communication after completion of the communication.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

issuing a block signal to block establishment of the communication if the comparing indicates that the user has negative information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein issuing a block signal comprises permanently blocking establishment of the communication.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein issuing a block signal comprises issuing a limited block that prevents establishment of the communication until predetermined criteria has been satisfied.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein issuing a block signal comprises temporarily blocking establishment of the communication.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein establishment of the communication is temporarily blocked if the user can not be identified.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining a transaction limit of the user if the user passes the comparison; and

issuing an approval signal to establish the communication if a cost for the communication does not exceed the determined transaction limit.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the database further includes an indication of whether the user previously disputed a service-based transaction.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein establishing the communication comprises establishing the communication between the user and a value-added service.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the requested service is performed by a service bureau.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the service bureau comprises an entertainment establishment.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the entertainment establishment comprises a psychic reading.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the entertainment establishment comprises adult entertainment.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the entertainment establishment comprises gambling.