Electronic commerce method and system for offering discounts for access to a computer network

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for providing discounted access to a computer network. The present invention takes advantage of the unique position of a service provider between a business on a computer network and an end user. The service provider compiles informative profiles of its end users in a customer database. Limited access to this customer database is then used to attract businesses. The business provides information about the end users it is interested to the service provider. The true identities of the service provider's end users is kept private from the business. The business prepares an advertisement which the service provider will send to its end users. The service provider then makes the end users aware of the business via an e-mail with short text describing that offer and a hypertext link. As a service, the service provider will only provide the true identity and information of an end user to a business when authorized. In exchange for authorizing the release of their true identity and information, the service provider compensates the end user through discounted (or free) access charges on access path to a network such as the Internet.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.