Patent ID: 8364550
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A payment system whereby electronic data is purchased by a recipient from a supplier thereof, wherein the electronic data purchased is transmitted to the recipient and wherein payment is made in advance of downloading of the electronic data on the basis of a particular payment entitling the recipient to any one of a predetermined period of time online and a predetermined quantity of downloaded electronic data, wherein the system comprises: a processor, configured to function as a payment controller that terminates a downloading session when said predetermined period of time online has expired or said quantity of electronic data has been received, wherein the payment controller is associated with communication means selected from a computer, a cellular telephone, a land line telephone and a call centre and that is enabled to communicate with a source of funding selected from an online source in the form of a financial institution, and an offline source selected from a smartcard and an electronic wallet, in each instance having a memory serving to retain credit value that is arranged to be decremented as may be required, wherein the source of funding is associated with the particular recipient and stores electronic value to the credit of the particular recipient, and an allocated funds register associated with the source of funding, wherein an initial quantum of value contained in the source of funding is credited to the allocated funds register, and the payment controller monitors a balance remaining in the allocated funds register during the downloading of electronic data and online connectivity and, in response to a predetermined low value balance being reached in the allocated funds register, automatically causes a further predetermined quantum of available value contained in the source of funding to be credited to the allocated funds register to increase the balance therein to thereby prevent it from reaching zero and causing an interruption in downloading to allow downloading to continue and online connectivity to continue uninterrupted, and wherein the crediting of quantums of value to the allocated funds register is repeatable as may be permitted by prescribed constraints, in which one of the prescribed constraints is an overall maximum accumulated credit value of the allocated funds register that is selected by the recipient.