Patent ID: 7925554

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for tracking use of network-accessible services by end users of applications in a configurable manner, the method comprising: receiving an indication of use of a first service by an executing copy of one of multiple applications on behalf of an end user who is using the executing application copy, wherein the first service has an associated predefined usage model for use in determining usage fees for the first service, and wherein each of the multiple applications has a distinct configured usage model for use in determining distinct fees for end users for use of the first service via the application; determining the application whose executing copy used the first service and the end user who is using that executing copy, the determining of the application and of the end user being performed by one or more programmed computing systems; determining a first fee to be paid by the determined end user based on the use of the first service via the determined application, the first fee being based at least in part on the configured usage model for the determined application, the determining of the first fee being performed by the one or more programmed computing systems; determining a second fee to be paid to a provider of the first service based on the use of the first service via the determined application, the second fee being based at least in part on the associated usage model for the first service, the determining of the second fee being performed by the one or more programmed computing systems; providing an indication of the second fee; and determining a third fee to be paid to a provider of the determined application, the third fee being based at least in part on a difference between the first and second fees, the determining of the third fee being performed by the one or more programmed computing systems.