Bandwidth-preserving method of charging for pay-per-access information on a network

US6157917A · kind A · utility

Inventor

• Timothy P. Barber · Boise, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 11, 1997
• Grant date: Dec 5, 2000
• Expiry date: Jul 11, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L69/329
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method for charging a payer for access, over a network, to a payee's information; in particular, a method for this pay-per-access over the Internet. The method uses an acquirer to intercept requests for information, process accounting information based on the payer having a signed, encrypted persistent dynamic data object available to the acquirer for inspection and modification. After using the persistent dynamic data object, similar in some respects to a so-called cookie, to collect payment for a page of pay-per-link information, the acquirer redirects the payer to the information at the payee's web site. The cookie-like object is issued to the payer by an issuer, which can be distinct from the acquirer. The cookie-like object can be used until its value is spent or until its lifetime elapses. Thus, a payer has a limited amount to spend without having to obtain authorization for each purchase, yet a payee does not risk a payer's double spending. Ultimately, the acquirer sends accounting records to the various issuers; each issuer settles with its various payers and, through the acquirers, also pays the payees.