Patent ID: 8239280
Filing Date: 2012-08-07
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: assigning by a computer system a first initial purchasing power value to a user, wherein the first initial purchasing power value is assigned to the user based at least in part on a first sales rule established by a first content provider of a plurality of content providers, wherein the first initial purchasing power value is reduced to generate a first current purchasing power value after the user accesses content provided by the first content provider; assigning by the computer system a second initial purchasing power value to the user, wherein the second initial purchasing power value is based at least in part on a second sales rule established by a second content provider different from the first content provider, wherein the second initial purchasing power value is reduced to generate a second current purchasing power value after the user accesses content provided by the second content provider; receiving an access validation request to determine whether to allow a user access to first content provided by the first content provider; determining by the computer system whether the first current purchasing power value is greater than a predetermined threshold value necessary to access the first content; if the first current purchasing power value is determined to be greater than the predetermined threshold value necessary to access the first content, then approving the user to access the first content; and if the first current purchasing power value is determined to be less than the predetermined threshold value necessary to access the first content then determining whether the user has provided, prior to the access validation request, at least partial payment toward different content previously accessed from the first content provider, wherein if the user has provided the at least partial payment then increasing the first current purchasing power value, otherwise refraining from increasing the first current purchasing power value.