Method and apparatus for ordering goods, services and content over an internetwork
US8011574B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 10, 2010 |
| Grant date | Sep 6, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 10, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2215/7813
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A billing system that allows a consumer to order products from computers connected to the Internet, wherein the consumer is automatically billed for the ordered good or service by its telephone service provider. When a consumer orders a product over the Internet, a plug-in component of the consumer's computer establishes an Internet connection to a billing server. A billing server component transfers an encrypted version of the product to the plug-in component. The plug-in component then disconnects from the Internet and establishes a point-to-point (PPP) connection with the billing server. During the PPP connection, the billing server component transfers an access key assigned to the order to the plug-in component so that the plug-in component may decrypt the product. The consumer is charged a unit rate or “drop-charge” for the product by the telephone service provider when the PPP connection is established using a premium telephone number assigned and administered by the telephone service provider.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.