Patent ID: 11962592
Assignee: TIVO CORPORATION
Field: Digital communication (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  G | IPC G  H

Claim 8:
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured for at least one of: (1) an identification process, (2) an additional charges process, (3) a differential billing process, or (4) an activating process,
wherein (1) the identification process includes:
receiving information from a third party provider identifying the third party provider and/or a third party service;
requesting the subscriber's access provider credentials;
transmitting to the subscriber a request for the subscriber's access provider credentials;
receiving the subscriber's access provider credentials;
authenticating the subscriber;
transmitting the authenticated subscriber's access provider credentials to a database for comparing the authenticated subscriber's access provider credentials with stored subscriber credentials;
transmitting an option for the subscriber to request a subscription to the third party service; and
receiving subscriber input requesting the subscription to the third party service;

wherein (2) the additional charges process includes:
determining whether the requested third party service will incur additional charges;
determining whether the third party provider is subsidizing a cost of the access to the third party service; and
informing the third party access provider whether the third party access provider will be subsidizing the cost of the access to the third party service;

wherein (3) the differential billing process includes:
determining a cost or a cost differential and presenting a bill to the subscriber based on the cost or the cost differential to the subscriber;
transmitting the bill based on the cost or the cost differential to the subscriber;
receiving from the subscriber an acceptance of the bill based on the cost or the cost differential;
sending a subsidy bill to the third party access provider;
confirming whether the third party access provider will accept the subsidy bill; and
creating and/or updating billing records for the subscriber and/or the third party access provider; and

wherein (4) the activating process includes:
validating the third party service;
activating the third party service;
enabling billing for the third party service;
sending a bill for the activated third party service to the subscriber; and
sending a subsidy bill for the activated third party service to the third party access provider.