Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for a user to access digital data provided by an on-line server over a data network, and for allowing a billing system separate from the on-line server to charge the user for access to the digital data. According to one embodiment, the user sends an access request over the billing system to an access management computer, the access request being associated with a predetermined shared-revenue telephone number. The user initiates an on-line connection to the on-line server over the data network to access the digital data, and provides an access message to the access management computer via the billing system. The user receives the digital data from the on-line server over the data network in response to the on-line server receiving the access message from the access management computer.

Description:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/859,162, filed on May 20, 1997, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,414 on Apr. 7, 1998, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/449,208, filed May 24, 1995, abandoned, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates generally to billing for on-line services made available to a user on a computer or data network, and more particularly, to a billing and collection system and method in which access to such services on the computer or data network and billing therefor is linked to a telephone connection associated with a billing network that manages and bills for access to information over the data network. 
     One of the key problems with on-line services (the “Internet”) as it relates to commerce is the difficulty of Internet information service providers (“on-line service providers”) to charge users per-minute, incremental or flat fees for usage. One way these fees are charged for access to various on-line service providers is by simply billing the user&#39;s on-line service account when such an account exists. 
     Another way by which information providers can collect payment is by having the user establish an account with the on-line service providers on a billing or credit card charge basis. This approach can be cumbersome, time consuming and risky from a security standpoint. Moreover, for on-line service provider access where relatively low costs are incurred, the collateral costs associated with small incremental billing make this approach uneconomical. Unfortunately, transferring credit card numbers via the Internet carries the risk of theft from unscrupulous computer hackers and thieves, and digital money or encryption metering concepts are still a long way from practical implementation. 
     Although encryption systems will eventually facilitate the common use of credit card numbers for transmission through cyberspace for decryption at the on-line service provider, some users will never feel completely comfortable providing their credit card numbers in this manner, even if the communications are ostensibly made secure. Moreover, some users may not be able to obtain a credit card or have one available with a sufficient amount of credit. Furthermore, credit card companies may assess or require a minimum charge in order to process the billing. 
     In summary, there exists a problem that casual short-term or single usage visits to a on-line service provider on a computer network cannot be charged for access on a per-minute or fractional basis in an economical manner for both the on-line service provider and the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above-described disadvantages in present billing practices for services obtained over the Internet, it is an object of the invention to provide a billing and collection system in which information is communicated to a user through a data network or first channel of communication, and billing is implemented through a billing network or second channel of communication. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a billing and collection system whereby a user on the Internet can gain access to an on-line service provider and incur costs associated with such access through the use of a telephone-line communicating through a billing network. 
     It is an additional object of the invention to provide de-coupled time definite billing for on-line services provided over a data network, where the billing is implemented through the use of a telephone line associated with a billing network. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a billing and collection system by which access to on-line services over the Internet and billing therefor is implemented through a 900-type shared revenue based toll fee number over the billing network for which revenues based on the toll fee are shared by the telephone company or billing agent associated with the billing network and the service provider, bureau and/or any agent thereof. 
     It is still another object of the invention to provide a billing and collection system by which a telephone company collects payment for the 900 calls and pays the on-line service providers a percentage of all revenues. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for billing and collection for services on the Internet in accordance with the above objects. 
     In accordance with the above objects and additional objects that will become apparent hereinafter, the present invention provides for billing and collection in a computer system, where, in one embodiment, the system comprises a data network including at least one on-line service provider for on-line access by a user over a first telephone line with a user computer through the data network, a billing network including a second telephone line at the user&#39;s residence or business from which access is desired, and an access management computer. 
     The access management computer enables a user to obtain access to the on-line service provider by communicating a unique access message to the user and the on-line service provider. The access management computer may be associated with the billing network, an independent service bureau which handles shared billing between the billing network and the data network, or it may be directly associated with the on-line service provider. The access management computer includes or is associated with a database, in which are stored access messages for the various on-line service providers. Alternatively, the access management computer may generate a particular access message. The access message may be valid for a single on-line service provider or a plurality of on-line service providers, and for a single session or for a plurality of sessions. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, when a user reaches the “home page” of a on-line service provider, it displays a telephone number for the user to call to obtain the access message. The home page may also display a message that the cost for using this on-line service provider is xx¢ per minute or xx¢ per minute after the first x minutes or the like, or some fixed charge. In an alternative embodiment, the instructions for the user and related phone information reside in a directory, either stored in memory on the user computer or in some external medium. 
     When the user desires access to a on-line service provider, he or she dials the 900# which routes the call through the billing network to the access management computer. The access management computer provides the access message to the user over the voice network and at the same time provides the on-line service provider with instructions to allow the user who enters that access message into the user computer to gain access to the on-line service provider for as long as the second telephone line is left open, or for some predetermined amount of time after the 900 call is terminated. When the user enters the access message into the user computer, the on-line service provider reads the access message and if the access message entered by the user matches the access message provided by the access management computer, the user is given access to the on-line service provider. When the user desires to leave the on-line service provider, the user simply terminates the connection on the second telephone line. This signals the access management computer to terminate access to the on-line service provider for the particular access message associated with this session. This arrangement separates the channels of communication between the voice network and the data network. The user is simply billed for access to the on-line service provider by the telephone company (or billing collection agent) associated with the billing network for the toll fee calls in the usual course of telephone charges for telephone calls made on the second telephone line. The revenues based on the toll fee are shared between the telephone company (or billing collection agent) and the service provider, and any service bureau or agent thereof. The billing and collection agent may be an on-line service such as America On-Line, Prodigy and the like. Thus, the on-line service becomes a billing and collection agent for the on-line service provider and the telephone company. 
     In yet another embodiment of the invention, the system utilizes the 900# billing network as a on-line service provider gateway. The system operates similarly to the embodiment described above, but does not require that the communications be separated between the data network and the voice network. The user computer can access the voice network and data network directly through a single telephone connection. In this connection, the user computer operates in the same manner to provide access to a particular on-line service provider by enabling the same with an access message. The billing network provides for billing the user for as long as the access computer keeps the on-line service provider open for that access message, or for some predetermined amount of time. The user may then be billed a single aggregate charge for the on-line service provider or on-line service providers accessed. In an alternative single communication channel embodiment, the access message may be authenticatable whereby it is generated by the user computer using known encryption protocols and is communicated to the on-line service provider through the data network whereupon it is read and authenticated (decrypted) by the on-line service provider for access. In this regard, the authenticatable access message may contain user specified limitations as to desired access time and maximum cost to be incurred for any session. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, credit is obtained from the billing network and charged to the user through the phone company as described above with respect to the other embodiments. This credit is downloaded to the user computer and communicated to the on-line service provider over the data network. The system operates in the following manner. First, the user computer dials the 900# and connects to the access management computer. This may be done either on a single telephone line which serves to connect to both the billing network and the data network, or through a second telephone line which independently communicates the user computer with the billing network for the sole purpose of obtaining credit. The user is prompted through appropriate software to enter the amount of credit requested for on-line service provider access. The user enters the amount into the user computer, and the access management computer generates an authenticatable value token message which is based upon the amount of credit requested, an identification message of the particular on-line service requested, and possibly the 900# or the user&#39;s own telephone number or some other personal identification code. The value token message is transmitted to the user computer and stored in memory. The user then connects to the on-line service provider which has its own computer which reads and authenticates the value token message. The authentication may take the form of encryption and decryption. The user is then provided access to the on-line service provider to the extent of available credit embodied in the value token message. The value token message may be obtained in fractional amounts if desired. In this regard, the value token message may represent a series of fractional amounts of credit (e.g., pennies, dimes or quarters) which are used by the on-line service provider to gain access for corresponding limited amounts of time. Thus, the on-line service provider would intermittently read and authenticate the value token message and allow the user continued access to the extent of any remaining credit. When all credit is exhausted, access for the user is terminated until the user goes back to the billing network and repeats the procedure. The user is billed and revenues are shared with the on-line service provider as described above with respect to the other embodiments. 
     Alternatively, the billing provider may be disposed on the Internet itself in the form of a dedicated billing site. The billing site serves as a gateway to all of the networked on-line service providers and regulates all billing for and access thereto. The billing site has an access management computer associated therewith which facilitates access to the on-line service providers and communicates with a billing system. The billing system bills access charges to the user&#39;s on-line service account. When a user desires to obtain access to an on-line service provider, he or she is prompted by the billing site to enter a message ID associated with the user&#39;s on-line billing account. The billing site then provides an anonymous access message to the particular on-line service provider to which access is requested. The on-line service provider may have its own computer which records the amount of time access is made available for any given session. Similarly, the access management computer at the billing site may do the same to serve as a redundant audit trail. The access management computer continuously monitors the connection. When the user desires to terminate access to the on-line service provider, the access management computer sends a termination message to the on-line service provider to terminate user access. The process may be repeated if the user desires access to another on-line service provider. The billing site accumulates bills for all on-line service provider sessions, and then bills the user through the billing system in a conventional manner. Since the charges for various on-line service providers may vary, the billing site can bill the user a single aggregate charge for all on-line service providers accessed during any given period of time, even if the individual charges differ among all of the on-line service providers. 
     In any of the above-described embodiments, the on-line service provider may download software in lieu of information to the user computer. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic of the billing and collection system in accordance with a first principal embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 2-1 thru  2 - 4  are flow charts of the billing and collection process in the first principal embodiment; and 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic of the access message database; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic of the billing and collection system in a second principal embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic of the billing and collection system in a third principal embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 6-1 and  6 - 2  are flow charts of the billing and collection process in the third principal embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic of the billing and collection system in a fourth principal embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the billing and collection process in the fourth principal embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the several views of the drawings, there are depicted several embodiments of a parallel billing and collection system in accordance with the present invention. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, there is depicted a block diagram of a first principal embodiment of the system generally referred to by the reference numeral  10 . System  10  includes an access management computer  12 , which communicates via a suitable connection  14  with a telephone network  16 . The telephone network  16  is connected to a data network  18  (the “Internet”), and includes or is connected to a billing network  19 . In this regard, the telephone network  16  may be comprised of a plurality of individual networks, where the Internet  18  and billing network  19  communicate with the user through different telephone companies. The Internet is made up of a plurality of on-line service providers  27 . The operation of on-line services is well known and need not be described here in detail. The telephone network  16  is accessed by a user computer  22  through typical hardware such as a modem  24  over a first telephone line  26 . Only one user computer  22  is shown for the purpose of illustration, but the Internet  18  is accessible to a large numbers of individual users. Each user requires a telephone  28  which communicates with the telephone network  16  and the billing network  19  over a second telephone line  30  which is separate and apart from the first telephone line  26  and allows calls to be placed to the access management computer  12  to facilitate access to the on-line service providers  27  as described below. The combination of the user computer  22  and telephone  28  may be collectively referred to as the user site  21 . Here again, only one telephone  28  is depicted for the sake of clarity. Of course, it is anticipated that the user computer  22  itself could dial the billing network  19  over the second telephone line  30 , if the user computer  22  is set up to accommodate parallel lines of communication. Another embodiment where the user computer  22  communicates through a single line of communication is discussed below and illustrated in FIG.  4 . 
     Referring again to FIG.  1 . the system  10  utilizes a first channel of communication to communicate information through the Internet  18  and a second channel of communication, the billing network  19 , to facilitate billing for the information service provided. The billing network  19  includes a 900#-type shared revenue toll fee or premium charge network  32  which automatically charges a prescribed toll fee or charge to the calling party each time a call is made through the toll fee network. Such toll fee numbers are typically used to provide specific information or services for a given caller, e.g., stock prices, weather, travel information, and the like. For the purposes of the present invention, the use of the term “900#”, identified by the reference numeral  35 , is not limited to the use of a “900” toll fee network, but may encompass any toll fee or premium charge network that automatically charges a prescribed toll fee which is shared between the on-line service provider  27  (and any service bureau or agent associated therewith) and the telephone company (and any billing agent) each time the toll fee network  32  is accessed. Since some users may wish to have access from a business where 900 calls are blocked, charges may be incurred in connection with, for example, an 800 line as long as the user knows what the charges are for. The prescribed toll fee may be assessed on a per-minute basis, on a combination of fee levels for different amounts of time (i.e., xx¢ per minute or xx¢ per minute after the first x minutes or the like), or a flat fee charge. A toll fee log  33  keeps track of the numbers  35  called. This information is input to a billing system  34 , so that the company that manages the billing network can periodically bill the callers who use the 900#. 
     As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the user first logs-on to the Internet  18  in the customary manner on the user computer  22  over the first telephone line  26 . The user selects a on-line service provider  27  containing an information service that he or she wishes to browse. In one embodiment of the invention, the home page  29  of the on-line service provider  27  displays instructions for the user to follow to access the on-line service provider  27 . These require that the user call a 900#  35  for which they will be charged, e.g., xx¢ per minute, some flat fee or combination thereof. The user then calls the 900#  35  on telephone  28 , which call is communicated over the second telephone line  30  and through the billing network of the telephone network  16  to the access management computer  12 . 
     The term “access management computer” is used in a general sense. The access management computer  12  may actually comprise a plurality of computers that are coupled together through an appropriate network, e.g., a local area network (LAN). The access management computer  12  also communicates through the telephone network  16  with the Internet  18  (and thus the on-line service providers  27 ). When the user calls the 900#  35 , the call is routed to the access management computer  12 . The user transmits an on-line service identification message  29  through the telephone  28  and the second telephone line  30 , which causes the access management computer  12  to provide a unique access message  39  for the service being accessed. The access message  39  is either generated by the access management computer  12  or retrieved from a database  40 . The user is prompted on the home page  29  of the on-line service provider  27  to enter the access message  39  into the user computer  22 . The access management computer  12  uses the access message  39  to enable access to the on-line service provider, by transmitting the access message  39  to the Internet  18  to make the on-line service provider  27  available for browsing by the specific user who enters the same access message  39  into the user computer  22 . In one embodiment, the user receives information from the on-line service provider  27  for as long as desired, and the costs associated therewith are incurred through the toll fee log  33  and billed to the user via the billing system  34  in accordance with conventional practice. The toll fee log  33  computes the fee as a function of the length of time of the 900 telephone call. The user terminates access to the on-line service provider by simply hanging up the telephone  28 . The access management computer  12  knows which call has been terminated by checking the corresponding access message  39  for the particular on-line service provider  27  being accessed. Thus, when the call is ended, the access management computer  12  generates a termination message  43  and communicates the same to the on-line service  18 , where it is processed to end access to the on-line service provider  27 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the user need not keep the second telephone line  30  open. After the user places a 900 call as described above, the access management computer  12  similarly generates or retrieves an access message  41  for the on-line service provider  27  to enable the information requested to be downloaded over the Internet and through the first telephone line  26  to the user computer  22 , or to allow limited access to the on-line service provider  27  for some predetermined amount of time. The usage charge for the information at the on-line service provider is incurred in connection with the 900 call on some established fee basis (fixed, variable or the like). Here again, the cost for obtaining the information from the on-line service becomes linked to the user&#39;s phone bill. In this regard, it is also anticipated that software, in addition to or in lieu of information, could be downloaded to the user computer  22  in the same fashion. 
     The main advantage provided by these embodiments of the present invention is the separation through parallel communication channels of the flow of money from the flow of information through the computer network, enabling small billing charges for access to the on-line service providers  27  to be collected by a billing network or service bureau which then shares a percentage of the collected revenues with the on-line service providers  27 . Another advantage realized by billing for services on the Internet  18  in this fashion, is the elimination of the risk of an unauthorized party obtaining access to a user&#39;s credit card number or information regarding the form of payment. The user is simply billed for the 900 call(s) in his or her monthly telephone statement. The information transaction is made easier and less time consuming, and overall billing costs are reduced. 
     In accordance with the foregoing description, the present invention contemplates a method for billing and collection in a system for enabling shared revenues between an on-line service provider  27  over a data network  18  and a separate billing network  19  by billing a customer for a separate telephone connection over a second telephone line  30  through the billing network  19  where the telephone connection on the second telephone line  30  regulates access to the on-line service provider  27  over the data network  18  on the first telephone line  26  comprising: a data network  18  including at least one user on-line service provider  27  presenting at least one service for on-line access by a user over a first telephone line  26  with a user computer  22  through the data network  18 ; a billing network  19  accessible through the second telephone line  30 ; and an access management computer  12  for controlling access to the on-line service provider  27  by at least one of generating, and retrieving from a database  40 , an access message  39  in response to a telephone connection over the second telephone line  30 , comprising the steps of: 
     (a) connecting the user computer  22  to the data network  18  over the first telephone line  26  to reach an on-line service provider  27 ; 
     (b) calling a 900-type shared revenue telephone number  35  over the second telephone line  30  through the billing network  19  to establish a telephone connection to the access management computer  12 ; 
     (c) at least one of generating and retrieving from a database  40 , an access message  39  with the access management computer  12  and communicating the access message  39  to at least one of the user and the on-line service provider  27 ; 
     (d) enabling access to the on-line service provider  27  for the user on the user computer  22  upon receipt of the access message  39  by said on-line service provider from the access management computer  12 ; 
     (e) communicating information (or software) from the on-line service provider  27  to the user computer  22 ; and 
     (f) generating a billing charge for the telephone connection on the second telephone line  30 , billing the user in connection with the toll fee for the 900 call and sharing revenues between the telephone company (or its billing agent) and the on-line service provider  27  (and any service bureau or agent associated therewith). 
     In one embodiment, the telephone connection on the second telephone line  30  is terminated when the user wishes to leave the on-line service provider  27  to cause the access management computer  12  to terminate access to the on-line service provider  27 . Alternatively, the method involves terminating the 900 call immediately after obtaining the access message  39 , which access message  39  enables access to the on-line service provider  27  for some predetermined amount of time, either for communicating certain information, or for downloading software to the user computer  22 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, there is depicted a second principal embodiment  10 ′ of the invention where the data network and billing network function essentially as a single entity. The billing network  19  thus serves as a on-line service provider gateway. In this regard, the user computer  22  communicates over a single telephone line  26  with the telephone network and obtains access to the Internet  18  by dialing the 900#  35 . When access to a specific on-line service provider is desired, the access management computer generates or retrieves an access message  39  as described above. This access message  39  is communicated to the on-line service provider  27  to enable access to the on-line service provider  27  for the user. The access management computer  12  also sends the access message  39  to the billing network  19  to enable a billing charge to be made in connection with opening the on-line service provider  27  for the user. Here again, the billing network  19  can generate a fixed charge for the particular session, or can generate a per-minute or incremental charge based upon the amount of time that the user spends browsing the on-line service provider. When the user desires to end a session, he or she leaves the on-line service provider  27  by following instructions associated with the on-line service provider  27 , causing the on-line service provider  27  to either send a termination message  41  to the access management computer  12  and the billing network  19 , or if the access management computer  12  continuously monitors access to that particular on-line service provider  27  for that particular access message  39 , the access management computer  12  will signal the billing network  19  that billing for that session is to be completed. The user is billed for access to the on-line service provider as described with respect to the first principal embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the user may be billed for all time on the 900 line, plus the costs of access to any of the on-line service providers  27 . Since different on-line service providers may charge different amounts for access, such charges could be itemized on the user&#39;s bill for calls made to the billing network. In an alternative single communication channel embodiment, the access message  39  may be authenticatable whereby it is generated by the user computer using known encryption protocols and is communicated to the on-line service provider  27  through the data network  18  whereupon it is read and authenticated (decrypted) by the on-line service provider  27  for access. In this regard, the authenticatable access message may contain user specified limitations as to desired access time and maximum cost to be incurred for any session. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is depicted a third principal embodiment of the invention in which credit is obtained from the billing network and charged to the user through the phone company as described above with respect to the other embodiments. This credit is downloaded to the user computer  22  and communicated to the on-line service provider  27  over the data network  18 . The system operates in the following manner. First, the user computer  22  dials the 900#  35  and connects to the access management computer  12 . This may be done either on a single telephone line  26  which serves to connect to both the billing network  19  and the data network  18 , or through a second telephone line  30  which independently to communicates the user computer  22  with the billing network for the sole purpose of obtaining credit. The user is prompted through appropriate software to enter the amount of credit requested for on-line service provider access. The user enters the amount into the user computer  22 , and the access management computer  12  generates an authenticatable value token message  60  which is based upon the amount of credit requested, an identification message  62  of the particular on-line service requested, and possibly the 900# or the user&#39;s own telephone number or some other personal identification code. The value token message is transmitted to the user computer  22  and stored in memory. The user then connects to the on-line service provider  27  which has its own computer  52  which reads and authenticates the value token message  60 . The authentication may take the form of encryption and decryption. The user is then provided access to the on-line service provider to the extent of available credit embodied in the value token message  60 . The value token message  60  may be obtained in fractional amounts if desired. In this regard, the value token message  60  may represent a series of fractional amounts of credit (e.g., pennies, dimes or quarters) which are used by the on-line service provider to gain access for corresponding limited amounts of time. Thus, the on-line service provider  27  would intermittently read and authenticate the value token message  60  and allow the user continued access to the extent of any remaining credit. When all credit is exhausted, access for the user is terminated until the user goes back to the billing network  19  and repeats the procedure. The user is billed through the billing system  34  and revenues are shared with the on-line service provider  27  as described above with respect to the other embodiments. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, in a fourth principal embodiment of the invention, the user computer  22  communicates through the telephone network  16  with an access billing site (“billsite”)  45  which regulates all billing for and access to the information service on-line service providers  27 . The billing site  45  has an access management computer  12  associated therewith which facilitates access to the on-line service providers  27  and communicates with a billing system  34 . The billing system  34  bills access charges to the user&#39;s on-line service account  50 . When a user desires to obtain access to an on-line service provider  27 , he or she is prompted by the billsite  45  to enter a message ID  49  associated with the user&#39;s on-line billing account  50 . The billsite then provides an anonymous access message  52  to the particular on-line service provider  27  to which access is requested. The on-line service provider  27  may have its own computer  52  which records the amount of time access is made available for any given session. Similarly, the access management computer  12  at the billsite  45  may do the same to serve as a redundant audit trail. The access management computer associated with the billsite  45  continuously monitors the connection. When the user desires to terminate access to the on-line service provider  27 , the access management computer  12  sends a termination message  56  to the on-line service provider  27  to terminate user access. The process may be repeated if the user desires access to another on-line service provider  27 . The billsite  45  accumulates bills for all on-line service provider sessions, and then bills the user through the billing system  34  in a conventional manner. Since the charges for various on-line service providers  27  may vary, the billsite  45  can bill the user a single aggregate charge for all on-line service providers accessed during any given period of time, even if the individual charges differ among all of the on-line service providers. 
     The present invention has been shown and described in what are considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is anticipated, however, that departures can be made therefrom and that obvious modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art.