Method and apparatus that accounts for usage of digital applications

US5825883A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Interval Systems, Inc. · US

Inventors

• William C. Archibald · Austin, US
• Terence Spielman · Austin, US
• Jason Spielman · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 31, 1995
• Grant date: Oct 20, 1998
• Expiry date: Oct 31, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F2221/2135
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus that accounts for utilization of digital applications on an as used basis is accomplished by compensating a publisher for each use of its digital application instead of a lump sum purchase price. This is done by embedding a tariff file within the digital application where a digital application may be a software application, a video file, a text file, and/or an image file. The embedded tariff file, which includes a digital application identification code and a publisher identification code, is used by a meter module to generate accounting information. The accounting message is routed to a collection agency which, in turn, generates debiting information for the user and crediting information for the publishers of the digital application.