Method and system for providing online services and software through scratchcards

• US 8,775,270 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2009
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edwin Tan
• Original Assignee: Sky Castle Global Limited
• Inventors: Tan, Edwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Amee A
• Application Number:
  US12/992,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20110173089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,876 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.41, 705/26.7, 705/75, 705/26.44
• US Class Current: 705/26.44
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/29 characterised by micropayments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/349 Rechargeable cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0619 Neutral agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services

Abstract

A method and system provides online software and services via prepaid scratchcards. Users may pay for online software and services with prepaid scratchcards. For example, online services may include accounting, legal, and auditing services. For example, online software may include productivity and business software. For example, online services and software may be provided on a subscription basis. Use of scratchcards may improve availability of software and services to more users, protect user security, and facilitate gifting between users.

Claims

1. A method for providing an online service over a network, comprising:

providing a scratchcard to a user, the scratchcard comprising a concealed information area containing a scratchcard identifier and a computer-readable medium containing at least one user-completable form in an encrypted state;

receiving, by a server, a request from the user to utilize the online service, the scratchcard identifier, and at least one of the user-completable forms, the form at least partially completed;

authenticating, by the server, the scratchcard identifier against a list of valid identifiers;

decreasing a prepaid balance associated with the scratchcard identifier;

after authentication, providing, by the server, at least a portion of the at least one at least partially completed form to a service provider; and

providing the online service, wherein the online service includes two-way interaction between the user and service provider over the network, the interaction being based on the at least one at least partially completed form.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the online service is at least one of:

accounting service, legal service, and audit service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the prepaid balance is deducted after aggregating multiple micro payments.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the online service is accessed from a user mobile device and provided in a location-dependent manner.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving indication that the user has provided valuable consideration; and

increasing the prepaid balance associated with the scratchcard identifier.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

offering the user a related online service or product.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a preparatory questionnaire to the user for completion before providing the online service.

8. A system for providing an online software over a network, comprising:

a scratchcard including a scratchcard identifier in a concealed information area and a computer-readable medium containing at least one user-completable form in an encrypted state;

a network interface in communication with a user over a network; and

a server, the server configured to;

receive a request to utilize the online software, the scratchcard identifier, and at least one of the user-completable forms, the form at least partially completed;

authenticate the scratchcard identifier against a list of valid identifiers;

decrease a prepaid balance associated with the scratchcard identifier;

after authentication, provide at least a portion of the at least one at least partially completed form to a service provider, and

provide the online software, wherein the online software executes at the server and interacts with the user over the network, the interaction being based on the at least one at least partially completed form.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the online software is at least one of:

a word processor, a spreadsheet, and a presentation application.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the prepaid balance is deducted after aggregating multiple micro payments.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the online software is accessed from a user mobile device and provided in a location-dependent manner.

12. The system of claim 8, the server further configured to, receive indication that the user has provided valuable consideration;

and

increase the prepaid balance associated with the scratchcard identifier.

13. The system of claim 12, the server further configured to, offer the user a related online software or product.

14. The system of claim 8, the server further configured to, transmit a local client for execution by a user terminal, the local client configured to communicate with the server.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for providing an online service over a network, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a user to utilize the online service, a scratchcard identifier from a scratchcard with a concealed information area containing the scratchcard identifier, and at least one at least partially completed form of one or more user-completable forms from the scratchcard comprising a computer-readable medium containing the one or more user-completable forms in an encrypted state;

authenticating the scratchcard identifier against a list of valid identifiers;

decreasing a prepaid balance associated with the scratchcard identifier;

after authentication, providing at least a portion of the at least one at least partially completed form to a service provider, and

providing the online service, wherein the online service includes two-way interaction between the user and service provider over the network, the interaction being based on the at least one at least partially completed form.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the online service is at least one of:

accounting service, legal service, and audit service.

17. The medium of claim 15, wherein the prepaid balance is deducted after aggregating multiple micro payments.

18. The medium of claim 15, wherein the online service is accessed from a user mobile device and provided in a location-dependent manner.

19. The medium of claim 15, the method further comprising:

receiving indication that the user has provided valuable consideration;

increasing the prepaid balance associated with the scratchcard identifier; and

offering the user a related online service or product.

20. The medium of claim 15, the method further comprising:

transmitting a preparatory questionnaire to the user for completion before providing the online service.