METHOD OF MANAGING TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN A USER AND ONE OR MORE SERVICE PROVIDERS

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, computer program products, and a by computer readable medium, to manage transactions between a user and one or more participants via a network, where the participants offer some kind of service to the user. The services can be independent of the network, and services which are offered from different participants can be quite different from each other. The user's utilization of respective service is compiled/put together by a reporting unit.

Description: Method of managing transactions between a user and one or more service providers TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method to manage transactions between a user and one or more participants via a network, where the participants offer some kind of service to the user. The present invention also relates to two different computer program products by which a method according to the invention can be executed/applied, and a by computer readable medium on which computer program code according to any of the computer program products is stored. PRIOR ART It is since before known to offer services or articles/goods where payment can be made via a network, such as the global network Internet. Different participants on this market offer different payment solutions for their services. Some services are paid via the network, and others are invoiced and paid separately quite independent of the network. It is also known that services which are offered independent of a network can be paid via the network. It shall also be mentioned that two different kinds of payments are known, explicit payments and implicit payments . An explicit payment is made in connection with purchase of an article or service, such as a book, or wash of a car. Information about the price of the article or the service is available and the buyer can on basis of this information easily take in the cost of the purchase. An implicit payment is made in connection with purchase of a service or article which is sold in portions or per time unit. Often small sums are paid per occasion as the service is used. Such payments are usually called micropayments . For instance electrical power is usually paid with a small amount per consumed energy unit, such as kWh. At one and the same place of consumption/use, such as in a home or at a working place, a plurality of different services can be utilized and also a plurality of different payment systems can be used to pay for the utilization of these services. Patent publication WO 98/24208 shows a method and a system by which a user of a computer network can be offered data communication at a specified service level, where parameters such as bandwidth, access time, jitter etc are evaluated. The system manages the user's subscription and debiting of the service. Patent publication US 5 680 390 shows a telecommunication network where different functions and services which are offered from the telecommunication operator can be managed. The system includes functions for administration, maintenance and debiting. Patent publication GB 2 307 130 shows a telecommunication system where the user can be allocated different bandwidths according to need and accessibility. The system includes functions for calculation of costs for use of different bandwidths . DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Technical problems Considering the prior art as it has been described above, and on basis of a method, computer program products and a medium readable by a computer as above, it is a technical problem to offer a management of transactions between a user and participants which offer from each other quite different and network independent services via a common network. It is a problem to coordinate the payment for the utilization of services from different participants. It is also a problem to manage implicit payments in one for the user simple and well-arranged way. It is a problem for a user to have a control of the consumption/use of a service which is paid implicitly. It is also a technical problem for the participants to manage implicit payments, and then especially micropayments . The solution With the intention to offer a solution for one or more of the above presented problems the present invention is based on a method to manage transactions between a user and one or more participants via a network, where the participants offer some kind of service to the user. It should be understood that by the concept transaction is in this description referred to exchange of information in connection with utilization of and payment for a service, and that by the concept service is in this description referred to both articles and services. The present invention indicates especially that the offered services can be independent of the network, and that services which are offered from different participants can be quite different from each other. By independence of the network is meant that the service in itself is not depending on the communication network which is used for the transactions. It, however, should be understood that the service can be network dependent. With the intention to coordinate the payments for the utilization of services from different participants, the present invention indicates that the user's utilization of respective service is compiled by a reporting unit. The reporting unit reports to both the user and respective participant the extent/degree of utilization or consumption/use of a service. In this way the user will have a control of how high the consumption/use of the service is, and the participant can charge the user according to this report. In order to further simplify the management of payment to a plurality of different participants, the invention indicates that the payment for a service can be made via a third party, to whom the reporting unit reports the utilization of the service. This gives the possibility for the user to get a common bill/invoice for a plurality of different services from the third party. It should also be realized that the user has a possibility to, in agreement with respective participant, choose if payment shall be made directly to a participant, or if it shall be made via a third party. With the intention to offer one for both the user and the participant good management of implicit payments, then also micropayments, the present invention indicates that the report can be made running during the utilization of a service . In order to offer the user a better control of services which are paid implicitly, the present invention indicates that a controlling unit can approve whether a participant can supply/provide a service and get payment for it or not . According to this embodiment, the user can indicate a wanted limit for highest consumption of a service, and the controlling unit then can approve further delivery of a service with regard to previous utilization of the service and the limit for use/consumption of the service. The controlling unit also can warn the user when the limit for use/consumption is drawing near, or has been reached, and the user can if he/she so wants change the limit if required/necessary. The present invention is especially well adapted to its purpose in connection with transactions over the global network Internet. Advantages The advantages which above all can be associated with a method, computer program products or a by a computer readable medium according to the present invention are that in this way a user in a simple way can manage the payment to a plurality of different participants which offer between themselves different services. The user can have a continuous control of implicit payments and himself/herself set limits to how high consumption that shall be allowed of services with implicit payment. Further, participants are offered an aid at compilation of basic data for billing, and in certain embodiments also with billing. Brief description of figures A method and computer program products and a medium which can be read by computer, showing the with the present invention associated characteristics, shall, for the purpose of exemplifying, now be described in detail with reference to enclosed drawing, where; Figure 1 shows schematically and very simplified an embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to figure 1 thus is illustrated a method to manage transactions between a user 1 and one or more participants 21, 22, 23, 2n via a network 3 where the participants 21, 22, 23, 2n offer some kind of service to the user 1. The present invention indicates especially that the offered services can be independent of the network 3, and that services which are offered from different participants 21, 22, 23, 2n can be quite different from each other. Services which can be offered according to the present invention are, for instance, telephone subscriptions, subscription to electrical power, listening to or purchase of music, the use of games, pay-TV, or others that can be derived from different participants to the user 1 via a network 3. It, however, shall be realized that the service is not necessarily dependent on this network. Music can, for instance, be delivered via a network as well as via post in form of a CD. Electrical power, for instance, is normally delivered in one from the network 3 separated network 4. Irrespective of how the service is delivered, transactions between the participant 21, 22, 23, 2n and the user 1 thus can be made according to the present invention. The present invention indicates that the user' s 1 utilization of respective service is compiled/put together by a reporting unit 11. In appropriate cases, such as at power-consumption or utilization of a telephone subscription, the utilization of the service can be measured by one to the service related measuring unit 41. In these cases the reporting unit 11 can collect and compile the utilization of the service from the measuring unit 41 belonging to respective service. The reporting unit 11 reports to both the user 1 and respective participant 21, 22, 23, 2n the degree of utilization or the consumption of a service. In this way the user 1 will have a control of how high the consumption of the service is, and the participant 21, 22, 23, 2n can charge the user 1 according to this report. It is, according to the present invention, also possible to let the payment for a service be made via a third party 5, to which the reporting unit 11 reports the utilization of the service. This provides the user 1 with the possibility to get a common bill/invoice for a plurality of different services from the third party 5. This third party can, for instance, be a payment institution, a bank, a network operator which offer the used network, or a participant who himself/herself offers services according to the present invention. Preferably the third party 5 is a party who both the user and the participants trust in connection with the management of these transactions . It should also be understood that the user 1 has a possibility to, in agreement with respective participant 21, 22, 23, 2n, choose if payment shall be made directly to a participant or if it shall be made via a third party 5. The present invention can be used at transactions regarding different kinds of services. The invention, however, is of specific advantage in connection with services which are paid implicitly, but it should be realized that also explicit payments can be made according to the present invention. In connection with services which are paid implicitly the present invention indicates that the reporting can be made running during the utilization of a service. By running is meant a report with, for instance, a time interval which is relevant to respective service. It also can relate to a report according to predetermined interval of consumption. If the service, for instance, consist of the utilization of a game via the network 3, the reporting can be made according to specified time interval, such as once a second. If the service instead consist of the delivery of electrical power, 4, reporting can be made per used amount of power, such as for each kWh. According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a controlling unit 12 can approve whether a participant 21, 22, 23, 2n can provide a service and get payment for it or not. According to this embodiment the user 1 can indicate a wanted limit for highest consumption of a service, and the controlling unit 12 then can approve delivery of a service with regard to earlier utilization of the service and the limit for use/consumption of the service. Thus the participant can not provide more of a service to a user than the user wants . The controlling unit 12 also can warn the user 1 when the limit of consumption is drawing near or has been reached. The user 1 can, if that is wanted, change the limit when necessary, and for instance continue watching a film even if an earlier set limit for pay-TV has been reached. In this way the user 1 can be saved the trouble of having consumed more of a service than what was intended, which easily is done in connection with services which are paid implicitly. The present invention is especially suited to its purpose in connection with transactions over the global network Internet. Figure 1 also intends to illustrate that the reporting 11 and controlling 12 units are located at the user's 1 place of consumption/use 13, such as in the home or at the working room/office, and that the reporting and controlling units constitute a part of the interface 14 between the consumption place 13 and the network 3. The present invention also relates to a first and a second computer program product, where the first computer program product Al includes a first computer program code which, when it is executed by a computer unit 15, will make this computer unit execute the functions of a reporting unit 11 according to the method according to the invention, and where the second computer program product A2 includes a second computer program code which, when it is executed by a computer unit 15, will make this computer unit execute the functions of a controlling unit 12 according to the method according to the invention. Further, the present invention includes a by computer readable medium, on which the computer program code according to the first and/or second computer program product Al,A2 is stored. The invention is of course not limited to the above as example shown embodiments but may be subject to modifications within the frame of the idea of invention illustrated in the following patent claims.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. Method to manage transactions between a user and one or more participants via a network, where said participants offer some kind of service to said user, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that said services can be independent of said network, that services which are offered from different participants can be quite different from each other, and that said user's utilization of respective service is compiled/put together by a reporting unit . 2. Method as claimed in patent claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that said reporting unit reports to said user and respective participant the degree of utilization or consumption of a service. 3. Method as claimed in patent claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that said participant charges said user according to said report. 4. Method as claimed in patent claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that the payment for a service is made via a third party, to which said reporting unit reports the utilization of said service, and that said user will have a common bill/invoice for a plurality of different services from said third party. 5. Method as claimed in patent claim 3 and 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that said user in agreement with respective participant, can select if payment shall be made directly to a participant or if it shall be made via said third party. 6. Method as claimed in patent claim 3, 4, or 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that said service is paid implicitly, and that said reporting is done running during utilization of said service. 7. Method as claimed in patent claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that a controlling unit approves whether a participant can provide a service and be paid for it, that said user can indicate a wanted limit for highest consumption/use of a service, and that said controlling unit approves further provision/delivery of a service with regard to earlier utilization of the service and said limit for use/consumption of the service. 8. Method as claimed in patent claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that said controlling unit warns said user when said limit for consumption is drawing near or has been reached, and that said user can change said limit when necessary. 9. Method as claimed in any of the previous patent claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that said network consists of the global network Internet. 10. Method as claimed in any of the previous patent claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that said reporting and controlling units are located at said user's place of consumption, such as in the home or at the office/working place, and that said reporting and controlling units constitute a part of the interface between said place of consumption and said network. 11. A first computer program product, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that said first computer program product includes a first computer program code which, when it is executed by a computer unit, will make said computer unit execute the functions of a reporting unit according to any of the patent claims 1 to 10. 12. A second computer program product, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that said second computer program product includes a second computer program code which, when it is executed by a computer unit, will make said computer unit execute the functions of a controlling unit according to any of the patent claims 1 to 10. 13. A by computer readable medium, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that on said, by computer readable, medium a computer program code according to any of the patent claims 11 and 12 is stored.

Inventors: ALEXANDER CRISTOPHER, ALM KARNA, ERIKSSON LARS, HEDENSTROEM MARIA, HOROWITZ BRUCE, LINDBERG EVA, MAGNUSSON NILS-GOERAN, MODIG URBAN, STERNBERG CAMILLA, ALEXANDER, CRISTOPHER, ALM, KARNA, ERIKSSON, LARS, HEDENSTROEM, MARIA, HOROWITZ, BRUCE, LINDBERG, EVA, MAGNUSSON, NILS-GOERAN, MODIG, URBAN, STERNBERG, CAMILLA
Applicants: TELIA AB, TELIA AB (PUBL)
Application year: 2001
Main classification: H04M15
IPC codes: G06Q20, G06Q30, G07F7, H04M15