Patent ID: 7707112

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of managing an account for an online service provider, the online service provider providing the service to its subscribers on a basis of a periodic fixed fee system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving billing information for a new subscriber to an online service from a service provider, the new subscriber subscribing to the online service on the basis of a periodic fixed fee system, the periodic fixed fee being applied for a same time period to a group of its subscribers; charging by a computing device a full payment of the periodic fixed fee for a first billing cycle to the new subscriber irrespective of starting date of the subscription; applying by said computing device a prorated amount out of a received full payment of the periodic fixed fee to the first billing cycle, the prorated amount being established based upon remaining days of the first billing cycle from the starting date of the subscription; applying by said computing device a remaining amount of the received full payment of the periodic fixed fee to a second billing cycle as a credit, the remaining amount being the received full payment deducted by the prorated amount, wherein the first billing cycle and the second billing cycle have a same calendar period; sending outstanding balance information for the second billing cycle on a subscriber's account to the subscriber; upon detection of payment acknowledgement error information for said second billing cycle, allowing said new subscriber to use the service without stopping during a period to which said credit applies; and upon receipt of unsubscription request from the new subscriber before a starting date of the second billing cycle, charging said credit for services used by said new subscriber for the first billing cycle.