Data communications
OwnerPhilip Charles Leveridgeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gateway server provides access to third party content servers whilst managing a user database and billing functions. On receipt of a request for premium content, which is to be charged for, a third party server informs the gateway server with a price code associated with the content. The gateway server converts the price code into a price to be charged, and confirms the order with the third party server after a credit limit check and receipt of a confirmation form from the user.
Claims28
A method of controlling user requests in a server system communicating with a user and a third party via a data communications system, said method comprising:
- receiving a digital request for goods from said user via said data communications system;
- passing on said request to said third party via said data communications system;
- receiving a digital code relating to said goods from said third party via said data communications system;
- setting in said server system a price value to be charged to said user for said goods in dependence on said code;
- determining whether said goods are to be provided by said third party on the basis of said price value;
- and
- arranging said goods to be provided by said third party if the result of said determination is positive.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said determining step comprises transmitting said price value to said user and requesting a confirmation response from said user.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said price value is derived from said code by a selected charging scheme.
A method according to any preceding claim, comprising performing authentication of said user before said passing on step.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said goods comprise electronic goods.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said data communications system is an Internet-based system.
A method of providing goods to users communicating via a data communications system, said method comprising:
- receiving at a first server system via said data communications system a digital request for goods from a second server system controlling requests originating from a user;
- transmitting a digital code relating to said goods to said second server system via said data communications system;
- and
- providing said goods if a confirmation of said request is received from said second server system via said data communications system,
- wherein said digital code refers to a price value, to be set by said second server system, to be charged to said user via said goods.
A method of charging content provided by third parties in a data communications system, said method comprising:
- receiving a digital code relating to content which is offered to a user by a third party;
- selecting one of a plurality of different charging schemes;
- and
- generating a price value to be charged for said content on the basis of said code in accordance with said selected charging scheme.
A method of providing content to users in a data communications system, said method comprising:
- receiving a digital request for content from a user;
- transmitting said request to a third party;
- receiving data comprising first content from said third party, said first content comprising a code for selecting second content to be presented to a user;
- transmitting said received data to said user;
- receiving a request for said second content from said user;
- and
- transmitting said second content to said user.
A server system arranged to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 29.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.