A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING E-COMMERCE ACCESS TO AN INTERNET WEBSITE

Abstract: A webcard (160) associated with a specific website (150), or group of websites, on the Internet (130) is purchased at various retail point-of-sale locations for facilitating various e-commerce transactions referred to as e-commerce access. E-commerce access includes, but is not limited to, entry into the website (150), purchase of goods or services from the website (150), search access to various databases (420) associated with the website (150), delivery of datastreams from the website (150), etc. Customers may purchase webcards (160) from the retail point-of-sale locations in a familiar, traditional transaction using various payment mechanisms including cash, credit card, checks, etc. The webcard (160), in turn, allows them to subsequently purchase goods, services, information, etc., from the website (150) on the Internet (130). The webcard (160) also provides a practical mechanism for handling small purchases (e.g., less than DOLLAR 1.00, or some other small amount) over the Internet (130) that other payment mechanisms are either unwilling or unable to handle.

Description: A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING E-COMMERCE ACCESS TO AN INTERNET WEBSITE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a system and method for accessing a website, and more particularly to a novel system and method for paying for access, information, services and/or goods from the website. Discussion of the Related Art During the last several years, the Internet has revolutionalized the American way of life. In addition to providing virtually instant access to information, the Internet has dramatically changed the way in which business is conducted. Business as it is conducted on the Internet is referred to as electronic commerce, or e-commerce. With e-commerce, businesses can bring their goods and service offerings directly into the homes and offices of consumers through an Internet portal. Businesses maintain electronic "storefronts" as websites. One form of website includes a series of web pages which include various information about the business, and its products and/or services, akin to an electronic catalog. Consumers may browse through the website to gain information about the business and its products or services in which the consumer may be interested. Another form of website includes a series of web pages which include the business 's product itself, in the form of information or entertainment. For example, the business may be providing access to an electronic newspaper or magazine, may be providing access to search a particular database, or may be providing access to games, video, electronic greeting cards, screen savers, animations, photographs, recordings, advice, or other similar forms of media or entertainment. The operation and management of websites is generally well known. However, commerce conducted over the Internet is in a state of flux, particularly with respect to payment for goods, services, and/or information. Typically, payment for goods and services is made in a traditional form including checks, money orders, etc. In this form, the consumer would mail his payment to the business and upon receiving payment, the business would ship or deliver the goods or provide the services to the consumer. A drawback to this form of payment is that the consumer must wait several days until the business receives and clears the payment before the business will ship the goods or provide the services to the consumer. Another form of payment includes an account form of payment. In this form, the business would ship the goods or provide the services to the consumer and then bill the consumer on some periodic basis (e.g., weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly, per order, etc.). In this form, the business might bill the consumer in advance of service, or after services have been provided. A drawback to this form of payment is that the business must maintain a billing department for processing the bills and payments, and handle issues of collection. Yet another form of payment, and arguably one of the most popular, includes a credit card (VISA™, MASTERCARD™, AMERICAN EXPRESS™, etc.). In this form, the consumer provides his credit card number to the business at the same time he orders the goods, services, and/or information. The business interacts with the issuer of the credit card to obtain payment and provides the goods, services, and/or information virtually immediately to the consumer. One major drawback to this form of payment is that while consumers will use their credit cards in retail stores and often times over the telephone for mail order, at the present, consumers are extremely reluctant to use their credit cards for purchases over the Internet for various reasons. These reasons include issues of security, confidentiality, privacy, and general novelty associated with the Internet. Furthermore, the use of credit cards may be cost prohibitive for small purchases (e.g., $1.00) or the issuer may require a minimum purchase amount (e.g. $10.00). Debit cards (e.g., checking cards, ATM cards, etc.) have similar problems associated with their use over the Internet. Still other forms of payment such as electronic cash, electronic checks, or other such forms of "Internet currency" are too cumbersome, have limited distribution, and arouse the same concerns among consumers as using their credit cards. Other problems exists with paying for goods, services, and/or information over the Internet, some of which are discussed in further detail below. A need exists for an improved system and method for providing e-commerce access to an Internet website. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention is directed toward an improved system and method for providing e-commerce access to an Internet website. In particular, the present invention provides a novel form of payment for gaining e-commerce access to an Internet website in the form of a webcard. A webcard represents a prepaid account associated with a particular website or group of websites accessible over the Internet. The webcard may be purchased from a department store, specialty store, convenience store, a kiosk, vending machine, a catalog or other similar retail point-of-sale location including a website, or offered as a promotional item. In this way, a consumer purchases the webcard in a traditional manner from a retail point-of-sale location by means with which he is comfortable using cash, check, money order, credit card, or any other form of payment. With the webcard, paying for e-commerce access to a website assumes the form of a more traditional, functional transaction. According to the present invention, the webcard includes a diminishing debit value having various units depending upon the website to which it provides e-commerce access. These units include: a cash value (e.g., $100 worth of goods); a unit value associated with the website (e.g., 10 searches in a particular database); a subscription value (e.g., 8 weeks of a daily newspaper); a time value (e.g., 100 minutes of video or game time); and other units whereby goods, services, and/or information can be sold. As the website is accessed, the diminishing debit value is decremented until its value is depleted. Once the value of the webcard is depleted, the consumer merely purchases another webcard at the retail point-of- sale location for additional e-commerce access to the website or adds additional e-commerce value to an existing webcard. The webcard solves the problems of traditional methods of payment for e-commerce access in several ways. First, as discussed, the consumer is able to purchase e-commerce access in a traditional manner from a retail point-of-sale location. Second, businesses are able to provide e-commerce access to consumers through prepaid accounts without worrying about billing or collection issues. Third, losses associated with security issues such as fraud or electronic theft are limited to the diminishing debit value associated with each card. In other words, neither the consumer or the business is exposed to a loss of more than the diminishing debit value. Fourth, the webcard provides a practical way of paying for small purchases of goods and/or services over the Internet. In other words, the webcard provides increased granularity for e-commerce transactions than was previously available. Fifth, because the webcard is purchased at retail point-of-sale locations, the webcard is available to that portion of the market not able to obtain credit cards or establish accounts, such as teenagers or those with poor or unestablished credit. Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the process particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention that together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: FIG. 1 illustrates an Internet environment in which the present invention operates; FIG. 2 illustrates a webcard according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 illustrates various retail point-of-sale locations where webcards can be purchased according to various embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 4 illustrates a website according to one embodiment of the present invention in further detail; FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operations performed by a client according to one embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a website according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 illustrates an Internet environment 100 in which the present invention is utilized. Internet environment 100 includes a consumer 110 (more typically referred to as client 110), a remote terminal 120 with which client 110 interfaces with Internet environment, the Internet 130 which operatively couples remote terminal 120 to a server 140 on which a website 150 is operated. The operation of the Internet 130 in terms of clients 110, servers 140, and websites 150 is generally well known and hence is not discussed in detail herein. According to the present invention, client 110 obtains e-commerce access to website 150 or group of websites 150 using a webcard 160. E-commerce access to website 150 as described herein refers to purchasing anything through Internet environment 100 including, but is not limited to, physical goods, services, information, electronic media, or any other tangible or intangible item that may have value and that may be purchased through Internet environment 100. E-commerce access may be required in order to simply enter the website or may be required when delivery of goods, services, or information is requested. Several examples may illustrate this aspect of the present invention. With respect to a website 150 that offers clothing for sale, e-commerce access to website 150 represents the ability to purchase one or more items of clothing. With respect to a website 150 that offers a daily electronic newspaper, e-commerce access to website 150 represents the ability to read the newspaper on a paper-by-paper basis or as a subscription over a period of weeks. With respect to a website 150 that offers video games, e-commerce access to website 150 represents the ability to play one or more video games for a given amount of time, for a given number of plays, or unlimited number of plays within a particular subscription period. With respect to a website that offers an interface to a database, e-commerce access to website 150 represents the ability to submit a search to the database. In each of these examples, e-commerce access to website 150 refers to a particular level of access to the website for which payment can be expressed and extracted. The above examples are intended to be illustrative of the present invention as opposed to limiting it in any manner. Figure 2 illustrates webcard 160 for obtaining e-commerce access to website 150 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Webcard 160 includes a substrate 210 on which is affixed the following elements: a webcard identifier 220, an account and or security number 230, and optionally, an expiration date 240 and a company graphic or logo 250. These elements may be affixed in any manner on substrate 210 including embossing, printing, screening, adhering, or other equivalent forms of attaching the elements onto or forming the elements into substrate 210. In an alternate embodiment, webcard 160 may include an electronic device (not shown) in addition to or in lieu of the elements affixed to substrate 210. The electronic device may include a magnetic strip, a transponder, a microchip or other similar device for recording and storing electronic information that includes similar information to that described as being affixed onto substrate 210. Each of the elements on substrate 210 is now described. Webcard identifier 110 identifies a website 150 with which webcard 160 is associated. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, webcard identifier 110 corresponds to a URL address at which website 150 (or a home page associated with website 150) is located on the Internet. Other identifiers can be used that suitably associates webcard 160 with website 150. Account or security number 230 ("account number 230") represents an account with which webcard 160 is associated for purposes of monitoring payment for e-commerce access. In one aspect of the present invention, account number 230 identifies a particular entry in a database used to track a diniinishing debit value associated with webcard 160. Account number 230 is used with website 150 to provide payment to website 150 for e-commerce access as appropriate. As e-commerce access is provided to client 110, the diminishing debit value associated with webcard 160 is decremented accordingly. In an additional aspect of the invention, account number 230 is a security code that uniquely identifies webcard 160 with a particular amount of e-commerce access to website 150. In effect, this aspect of the invention operates as a password for e-commerce access to website 150. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, account number 230 may comprise an account number as described above as well as a separate security code or personal-identification-number ("PIN"). This security code or PIN may be predetermined and affixed to substrate 210, may be assigned by website 150 and communicated securely to client 110 after an initial login procedure, may be assigned to client 110 at the retail point-of-sale location, or selected by client 110 and commumcated to website 150 in any suitably secure manner. In one embodiment of the present invention, account number 230 is masked from public view prior to being sold at the retail point-of-sale location. Suitable means for masking account number 230 (or portion thereof) includes an opaque, sealed wrapper, a scratch-off field, an opaque removable adhesive strip, or other such means for preventing viewing of account number 230 while webcard 160 is displayed for sale. Optional element company graphic or logo 250 may be included on webcard 160. In one aspect, company graphic or logo 250 may simply identify webcard 160 with a company and its associated website 150. In another aspect, company graphic or logo 250 may comprise a collectible graphic such as that used with various trading cards (e.g., sports cards, gaming cards, specialty cards, etc.), or a collectible artwork, autograph or other collectible item. Some webcards 160, for example an electronic "smart" webcard 160, may include audio, video, or animation as part of company graphic or logo 250. Optional expiration date 240 may be included on webcard 160. In one embodiment of the present invention, expiration date 240 may represent a date at which webcard 160 becomes useless regardless of the diminishing debit value. This avoids a problem associated with payment mechanisms where accounts become stale or inactive. In another embodiment of the present invention, expiration date 240 corresponds to the diminishing debit value and represents a date at which, for example, a subscription to website 150 expires. Expiration date 240 may also be used as a security code in a manner similar to further authenticate typical credit cards. An optional production control number 260 may be included on webcard 160. In addition to providing manufacturing aspects associated with quality control, production control number 260 may also be used to authenticate webcard 160 in a manner similar to that discussed above with respect to the security code. As discussed above, the diminishing debit value associated with webcard 160 represents the amount of e-commerce access client 110 to which client 110 is entitled from website 150. At the time of purchase, webcard 160 has a predetermined diminishing debit value or face value as it is referred to herein. The face value of webcard 160 may be fixed or variable. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, webcard 160 may have a fixed initial face value of, for example, $100, 10 hours, or 25 searches, depending on the e- commerce access provided by website 150. In other embodiments of the present invention, webcard 160 may have a variable initial face value permitting client 110 to select an amount of e-commerce access to website 150. In these embodiments, retail point-of-sale locations 300 would be required to communicate the face value of webcard 160 to website 150 as would be apparent. In still other embodiments of the present invention, webcard 160 may be purchased in various "denominations," e.g. $10, $20, $50, $100, etc., for varying amounts of e-commerce access to website 150. Although not illustrated in Figure 2, in some embodiments of the present invention, the face value may be affixed onto substrate 210. In other embodiments of the present invention, the face value may be associated with a particular color of substrate 210 in a manner similar to poker chips. For example, blue webcards 160 may have a face value of $100 dollars while red webcards may have a face value of $50, and white webcards may have a face value of $10. In still other embodiments, no indicia of face value is affixed onto substrate 210. Figure 3 illustrates various retail point-of-sale locations 300 from which client 110 may purchase webcard 160. As shown in Figure 3, retail point-of-sale locations include, but are not limited to, a convenience store 310, a kiosk 320, a retail store 330, a newsstand 340, a catalog 360, direct mail 370, and direct TV 380. These retail point-of-sale locations 300 thus mentioned are not intended to be exclusive but rather illustrative of the various locations at which webcards may be sold to client 110 in a traditional transactional manner using cash, check, credit card, debit card, money order, etc., to obtain webcard 160. Each of these retail point-of-sale locations 300 represents a location where client 110 is familiar and comfortable with making purchases. These retail point-of-sale locations 300 are now discussed. Convenience store 310 and retail store 330 represent point-of-sale locations where clients 110 purchase other physical goods (e.g., milk, bread, toilet paper, gas, clothing, electronics, etc.) in addition to webcard 160. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, convenience store 310 and retail store 330 would sell webcards 160 associated with websites offering similar, identical, or related goods and services to those offered in the point- of-sale location. In fact, retail store 330 might offer webcards 160 for sale for e-commerce access to its own website 150. Newsstand 340 represents a point-of-sale location where clients 110 purchase information in the forms of newspapers, magazines, books, etc. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, newsstand 340 would sell webcards 160 associated with websites offering electronic versions of newspapers, magazines and/or books. Kiosk 320 represents a point-of-sale location where clients 110 might purchase webcards 160 for various entertainment websites 150 (e.g., video games, movies, etc.), or webcards 160 for various informational websites 150 (e.g., maps or directions, stock quotes, etc.). According to one embodiment of the present invention, kiosk 320 itself represents a point-of-sale location for webcard 160 as well as a remote teiminal 120 where client 110 can, if he so desired, obtain e-commerce access to website 150, or a group of websites 150. In another embodiment of the present invention, kiosk 320 may present a survey to a client 110 requesting various information associated with client 110. After the client 110 completes the survey, kiosk 320 may provide client 110 with a complimentary webcard 160 based on the client's responses to the survey or based on the website 150 sponsoring the survey. Catalog 360, direct mail 370 and direct TV 380 represent various point-of-sale locations 300 where clients 110 might purchase webcards 160 for various specialty websites 150 selling goods targeted for specific audiences. Another retail point-of-sale location 300 might include webcards 160 as a promotion 350 associated with website 150. While client 110 may not have technically purchased webcard 160 from a point-of-sale location 300, client 110 may have received promotion 350 as a distribution through a point-of-sale location (e.g., inside a cereal box, inside a pack of trading cards, etc.) or as a result of client's presence at a point-of-sale location (e.g., a trade show, a collectors show, etc.). Figure 4 illustrates website 150 according to one embodiment of the present invention in further detail. Website 150 includes a series of webpages 410 that include or illustrate goods, services and/or information to which client 110 desires e-commerce access. This aspect of the present invention is well known and further description is not included. In addition to webpages 410, website 150 includes a webcard database 420 to monitoring access to website 150. This aspect of the present invention is now described. Webcard database 420 includes one or more webcard entries 430 each corresponding to a unique webcard 160. Each webcard entry 430 includes an account field 440 and a diminishing debit value ("DDV") field 460. Each webcard entry 430 may also include a separate security field 450 as well. Other fields such as expiration date, webcard issuer, webcard holder, etc., may also be included in webcard entry 430. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a webcard entry 430 is created in webcard database 420 for each webcard 160 issued for particular website 150. The elements of webcard entry 430 are now described in further detail. Account field 440 in webcard entry 430 corresponds to account number 230 on webcard 160. DDV field 460 corresponds to the diminishing debit value associated with webcard 160. Security field 450 corresponds to a security code or PIN provided to or selected by client 110 as discussed above. Other fields may be used as would be appropriate to manage and monitor use of webcard 160 with website 150 including a field associated with production control number 260. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, account field 440 is used to identify valid account numbers 230 associated with issued webcards 160. When a client 110 requests e-commerce access to website 150, website 150 checks in webcard database 420 for webcard entry 430 corresponding to account number 230 provided by client 110 for bis webcard 160. In particular, website 150 locates webcard entry 430 that includes account field 440 that corresponds to account number 230. In doing so, website 150 attempts to authenticate webcard 160 and the right of client 110 to obtain e-commerce access to website 150. In one embodiment of the present invention, in an attempt to further authenticate webcard 160, website 150 might prompt client 110 for a security code or PIN provided to client or for an expiration date 240 or production control number 260 included on webcard 160. If client 110 provides a code that corresponds to security field 450, website 150 may be assured that webcard 160 is authentic. Various well known authentication schemes and protocols are available and could be used as would be apparent. Such schemes may include graphic variances. After authenticating webcard 160, in one embodiment of the present invention, website 150 checks DDV field 460 to determine whether an associated webcard 160 has any remaining e-commerce value. For example, website 150 may check DDV field 460 for a nonzero value thereby indicating that webcard 160 still has value remaining. Alternately, website 150 may check DDV field 460 for a date associated with a subscription period. A subscription period may be fixed, or variable as in the case of a subscription starting from a date of first use. If the present date is within the tolling subscription period, webcard 160 has value remaining. Other mechanisms for determining whether webcard 160 has value remaining are available depending upon the units of value measured as would be apparent. After determining whether webcard 160 has remaining e-commerce value (i.e., a nonzero diminishing debit value in a preferred embodiment of the present invention), in one embodiment of the present invention, website 150 may check to determine whether webcard 160 has sufficient e-commerce value to perform the transaction requested by client 110. For example, if client 110 attempts to purchase $50 worth of clothing, website 150 must determine whether client's webcard 160 has $50 worth of e-commerce access. If so, website 150 provides e-commerce access to website 150 by accepting the transaction. If not, website 150 refuses e-commerce access to website 150 by denying the transaction. After providing e-commerce access to client 110, website 150 decrements the dimmishing debit value associated with webcard 160 and updates this in webcard database 420 as corresponding DDV field 460. In some embodiments of the present invention, website 150 explicitly decrements the diininishing debit value associated with webcard 160. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, website 150 deducts the cost of the e- commerce access for a particular transaction from the dimimshing debit value as in the case of a clothing purchase. In some embodiments of the present invention, website 150 decrements the dimimshing debit value associated with webcard 160 periodically as units of time pass as would be appropriate depending on the particular type of e-commerce access associated with webcard 160 (e.g., e-commerce access measured as units of time). In other embodiments of the present invention, website 150 decrements the dimmishing debit value associated with webcard 160 as pages or bytes of information are transferred to client 110. In other embodiments of the present invention, website 150 implicitly decrements the (hmmishing debit value associated with webcard 160. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, e-commerce access is provided as a subscription for a particular period of time. The dimimshing debit value represents the expiration date of the subscription. Thus, technically, website 150 does not decrement the dimimshing debit value explicitly; rather the decrementing is performed implicitly because as each day passes the days remaining in the subscription are reduced. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the functions of website 150 thus described with respect to webcard database 420 are performed by a third party (not shown) rather than website 150. In this embodiment, website 150 would pass information including account number 230, value of the desired e-commerce access, and/or any other additional information to the third party for the third party to authenticate webcard 160, determine whether an associated diminishing debit value is sufficient for the desired e-commerce access, and/or perform the various accounting and record keeping tasks associated with the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a manufacturer/issuer of webcards 160 would perform or provide access to the functions of this third party. The operations performed by client 110 (i.e., a consumer) according to the present invention are now described with reference to Figure 5. In a step 510, client 110 purchases a webcard 160 from a familiar, traditional retail point-of-sale location 300. As discussed above, client 110 may purchase webcard from convenience store 310, kiosk 320, retail store 330, newsstand 340, catalog 360, direct mail 370, direct TV 380, or other similar retail location where client 110 can purchase goods and services in a traditional manner. In one embodiment of the present invention, this step contemplates client 110 receiving webcard 160 as a promotion 350. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, this step involves client 110 purchasing webcard 160 from a website 150. In a step 520, client 110 requests e-commerce access to website 150 associated with webcard 160 via remote terminal 120 and the Internet 130, where website 150 resides on server (or server cluster) 140. In particular, client 110 makes a request to website 150 that requires payment by client 110 before access is granted (e.g., before goods will be sold, before a search to a database is performed, before entry beyond the homepage of the website is granted, etc.). In a step 530, client 110 sends an account number associated with webcard 160 to website 150 via the Internet 130 to obtain the requested e-commerce access to website 150. This step may be performed prior to, after, or in conjunction with step 520. The present invention requires that client 110 demonstrate to website 150 that he has a valid webcard 160 prior to being granted e-commerce access to website 150. Step 530 may also include steps associated with sending a security code, PIN, expiration date 240, or other information as discussed above in order for website 150 to authenticate and verify webcard 160 as valid. If client 110 demonstrates that he holds a valid webcard 160 with sufficient diminishing debit value for the desired e-commerce access, in a step 540, client 110 receives e-commerce access from website 150. The operation of website 150 according to the present invention is now described with reference to Figure 6. As described below, these operations are performed by website 150. However, in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, many of these operations may be performed by a third party as discussed above. In a step 610, website 150 provides a web page to client 110 via the Internet 130. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this web page, sometimes referred to as a home page for the website 150, is the web page addressed by the URL provided on webcard 160. As would be apparent, website 150 may have several home pages targeting several different clients 110. For example, website 150 may have a unique home page exclusively for clients 110 with webcards 160 and other home pages for clients 110 using other forms of payment. In any case, the operation and implementation of web pages is well known and not discussed in further detail herein. In a step 620, website 150 receives a request from client 110 for e-commerce access to website 150. Using the examples discussed above, this request for e-commerce access may be a request from client 110 to purchase goods, perform a search, enter a website, etc. In a step 630, website 150 determines whether e-commerce access is to be granted to client 110 based on webcard 160. This step may involve providing client 110 with one or more payments selections from which to chose. For example, website 150 may accept several forms of payment including a credit card, a debit card, an account, an electronic transfer of funds, check, money order, etc., with appropriate procedures in place to handle each form of payment as would be apparent. According to the present invention, website 150 also accepts payment in the form of webcard 160. In one embodiment of the present invention, website 150 only accepts payment in the form of webcard 160. In this embodiment of the present invention, step 630 may be performed implicitly. In one embodiment of the present invention, step 630 may provide separate web pages and/or URL addresses for clients using webcards 160. In one embodiment of the present invention, website 150 operates on preferred servers 140 (i.e., faster processors, higher bandwith connections, additional features and/or products, "red carpet" services, special discounts, etc.) for clients 110 that use webcards 160. After website 150 determines that client 110 is using webcard 160, in a step 640, website 150 receives account number 230 associated with webcard 160 from client 110. Website 150 may receive account number 230 in response to a prompt for client 110 to enter account number 230 or in conjunction with step 630 as client 110 selecting webcard 160 as his form of payment. Other forms of receiving account number 230 from client 110 are contemplated according to various well known Internet protocols including a third party receiving account number 230. In a step 650, once website 150 has received account number 230 associated with webcard 160, website 150 authenticates webcard 160. Generally, website 150 searches webcard database 420 for webcard entry 430 corresponding to account number 230. If account number 230 corresponds to webcard entry 430, website 150, in one embodiment of the present invention, may prompt client 110 for a security code, PIN, expiration data, production control number, etc., in an attempt to further authenticate webcard 160 as a valid webcard. In a step 660, website 150 determines whether a diminishing debit value associated with webcardlόO is sufficient for the e-commerce access requested by client 110. In one embodiment of the present invention, website 150 performs this step by comparing DDV 460 in webcard entry 430 corresponding to account number 230 to the value of the requested e- commerce access. If DDV 460 exceeds or is equal to the value of the requested e-commerce access, website 150 determines that the diminishing debit value associated with webcard 160 is sufficient. Otherwise, the diminishing debit value is insufficient for the requested e- commerce access. In one embodiment of the present invention, step 660 is performed in conjunction with step 650. In other words, in this embodiment of the present invention, authentication includes determining whether the dimimshing debit value is sufficient for the requested e-commerce access. In a step 670, website 150 decrements the diminishing debit value associated with webcard 160 based on the requested e-commerce access. In effect, website 150 deducts the costs of the e-commerce access from the value of the webcard account. As discussed above, this step may be performed explicitly, as in the case of purchasing goods, or implicitly, as in the case of a subscription. In one embodiment of the present invention, website 150 updates DDV 460 in webcard entry 430 associated with webcard 160 to reflect the change in the diminishing debit value as a result of the requested e-commerce access. As would be apparent, decrementing the diminishing debit value to zero or incrementing an amount of e- commerce used to the face value are equivalent mechamsms for performing a similar function of accounting albeit from opposite ends. In various embodiments of the present invention, step 670 may be performed iteratively as units of time pass, as searches are provided, as bytes are downloaded, or by any other means by which payment is assessed to client 110 for the e-commerce access provided. In a step 680, website 150 provides the requested e-commerce access to client 110. As discussed above, in one embodiment of the present invention, many of the steps thus described as being performed by website 150 may be performed by a third party. These steps include those associated with the various webcard authentication and/or accounting aspects of the present invention. In particular, any of steps 640, 650, 660, and 670, as well as others, may be performed by the third party with appropriate communication occurring between website 150 and the third party as would be apparent. While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A method for receiving e-commerce access to a website accessible via the Internet, the method comprising the steps of: purchasing a webcard at a retail point-of-sale location, said webcard associated with the website and including an account number; requesting e-commerce access to the website via the Internet, receiving a prompt via the Internet from the website to enter said account number associated with said webcard; and sending said account number associated with said webcard to the website via the Internet, thereby receiving e-commerce access to the website. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of purchasing comprises the step of purchasing said webcard from a convenience store. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of purchasing comprises the step of purchasing said webcard from a newsstand. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of purchasing comprises the step of receiving said webcard as a promotional item. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of purchasing comprises the step of purchasing said webcard from a kiosk. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of purchasing a webcard comprises the step of purchasing said webcard from a retail store associated with the website. 7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of requesting e-commerce access comprises the step of requesting the purchase of goods from the website. 8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of requesting e-commerce access comprises the step of requesting entry into the website. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of requesting e-commerce access comprises the step of requesting a search from the website. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of requesting e-commerce access comprises the step of requesting delivery of a data stream from the website. 11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of selecting a form of payment for said e-commerce access, said form of payment including at least one of a webcard, a credit card, a debit card, an account, an electronic transfer, a check, and cash. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending said account number comprises the step of sending a security code associated with said webcard to the website. 13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of sending said account number comprises the steps of: sending said account number associated with said webcard to the website; and sending a security code associated with said webcard to the website. 14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of sending said account number comprises the steps of: sending said account number associated with said webcard to the website; and sending a personal identification number (PIN) associated with said webcard to the website. 15. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of requesting e-commerce access comprises the step of requesting e-commerce access to the website from said kiosk, wherein said kiosk is operatively coupled to the Internet. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of receiving e-commerce access to the website from said kiosk. 17. A webcard for facilitating e-commerce access to a website via the Internet, the webcard comprising: a card substrate; an identifier affixed on said card substrate that identifies the website associated with the webcard; a face value associated with the webcard that provides a predetermined amount of e- commerce access to the website; an account number affixed on said card substrate and uniquely associated with the webcard that when received by the website permits the website to authenticate the webcard up unto said face value; and a dirnimshing debit value associated with the webcard that monitors an amount of e- commerce access to the website provided; wherein the webcard is purchased from a retail point-of-sale location. 18. The webcard of claim 17, wherein said identifier is a URL address. 19. The webcard of claim 17, wherein said face value is a fixed amount of e-commerce access. 20. The webcard of claim 17, wherein said face value is a variable amount of e-commerce access. 21. The webcard of claim 17, wherein said webcard is purchased from a convenience store. 22. The webcard of claim 17, wherein said webcard is purchased from a retail store. 23. The webcard of claim 22, wherein said webcard is purchased a retail store associated with the website. 24. The webcard of claim 17, wherein said webcard is purchased from a newsstand. 25. The webcard of claim 17, wherein said webcard is purchased from a kiosk. 26. The webcard of claim 17, wherein said account number comprises an security code. 27. The webcard of claim 17, wherein said account number comprises an account number and a security code. 28. The webcard of claim 17, further comprising a security code associated with the webcard. 29. The webcard of claim 17, wherein said security code is a personal identification number. 30. A method for providing e-commerce access to a website to a client via the Internet, the method comprising the steps of: providing a web page from a server on which the website resides to a remote terminal operated by the client, said remote terminal operatively coupled to said server via the Internet; receiving a request from the client, said request sent from said remote terminal to said server via the Internet; determining whether said request from the client represents a request for e-commerce access to the website; if said request is a request for e-commerce access, providing the client with a payment selection including a webcard payment, said webcard payment associated with a webcard, said webcard pre-purchased from a retail point-of- sale location, said webcard specifically associated with the website, said webcard having an initial face value; determining if the client selected said webcard payment; receiving an account number from the client, said account number uniquely associated with said webcard; authenticating said webcard based on at least said account number; if said webcard is authentic, accessing a webcard database associated with said webcard using at least said account number; retrieving account information associated with said webcard, said account information including a dimimshing debit value; determining whether said diminishing debit value is sufficient for said requested e-commerce access; decrementing said diminishing debit value included in said account information in accordance with said requested e-commerce access; storing said decremented diminishing debit value for said webcard in said webcard database; and providing said requested e-commerce access to the client. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein said step of authenticating said webcard is performed by a third party. 32. The method of claim 31 , wherein said step of accessing a webcard database is performed by said third party. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein said step of decrementing said diminishing debit value is performed by said third party. 34. The method of claim 30, wherein said step of decrementing said diminishing debit value comprises the step of explicitly decrementing said dimimshing debit value. 35. The method of claim 30, wherein said step of decrementing said diminishing debit value comprises the step of implicitly decrementing said dimimshing debit value. 36. The method of claim 30, wherein said step of receiving an account number from the client comprises the steps of: receiving an account number from the client; and receiving a security code from the client. 37. The method of claim 36, wherein said step of receiving a security code from the client comprises the step of receiving a security code from the client, said security code including at least one of a personal identification number, a security code associated with said webcard, an expiration date associated with said webcard, and a production control number associated with said webcard. 38. The method of claim 30, wherein said step of providing the client with a payment selection includes the step of providing the client with a payment selection including at least two of a webcard payment, a credit card payment, an account payment, a check payment, an electronic transfer of funds payment, and a money order payment. 39. The method of claim 30, wherein said step of receiving a request from the client comprises the step of receiving a request for e-commerce access from the client, said e- commerce access including one of a request for entry into the website, a purchase of goods from the website, a search of a database associated with the website, and a request for a delivery of a datastream from the website.

Inventors: BOYLE JAMES JOSEPH, BOYLE, JAMES, JOSEPH
Applicants: BOYLE JAMES JOSEPH, BOYLE, JAMES, JOSEPH
Application year: 1999
Main classification: G06F17
IPC codes: G06Q20, G06Q30, G06Q50