Parallel data network billing and collection system

Apparatus for tolling a user's access to digital data at a data site by signaling an access management computer to authorize said user's access to said digital data, said apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving, at a billing site that comprises a shared revenue communications line, a user's request for access to said digital data, said request for access being associated with a billing account for charging said user, said request for access including a code corresponding to said digital data;
• means for routing to said access management computer a signal indicating the receipt of said code corresponding to said user request for access to said digital data;
• means for receiving from said access management computer a signal that said user has received access to said digital data;
• and
• means for posting an access charge to said billing account based upon said user's access to said digital data.

A method for a user to access stored digital information at a data site, comprising the steps of:

• communicating from said user to a billing system a first access code authorizing said billing system to charge a billing account for access to said stored digital information at said data site;
• receiving by said user from said billing system a second access code permitting said user to access said stored digital information at said data site;
• connecting by said user to said data site;
• and
• providing from said user to said data site said second access code whereby to gain access to said stored digital information.

A user computer for a user to access stored digital information at a remote data site while said user access to said remote data site is tolled by a billing system, comprising:

• means for communicating from said user to said billing system a first access code authorizing said billing system o charge a billing account for access to said stored digital information;
• means for receiving by said user from said billing system a second access code permitting said user to access said stored digital information at said data site;
• means for connecting by said user to said data site;
• and
• means for providing from said user to said data site said second access code whereby to gain access to said stored digital information.

A method for utilizing a billing site to toll a user's access to a data site through an access management computer, comprising the steps of:

• establishing a communications link between said user and said billing site, said communications link associated with a billing, account for charging said user,
• establishing a communications link between said billing site and said access management computer;
• sending from said billing site to said access management computer a signal indicating that said communications link between said user and said billing site is active, whereby to authorize said user access to said data site;
• receiving at said billing site from said access management computer a signal that said user has received access to said data site;
• and
• posting via said billing site an access charge to said billing account based upon said user's access to said data site.

Apparatus for tolling a user's access to a data site by signaling an access management computer to authorize said user's access to said data site, said apparatus comprising:

• means for establishing a communications link with a user;
• means for receiving via said communications link a user's request for access to said data site, said request for access being associated with a billing account for charging said user,
• means for routing to said access management computer a signal indicating that said communications link with said user is active, whereby to authorize said user access to said data site;
• means for receiving from said access management computer a signal that said user has received access to said data site;
• and
• means for posting an access charge to said billing account based upon said user's access to said data site.

A method comprising:

• receiving a request by a user for access to content,
• the request for access being associated with a financial account of the user,
• the request for access including a code,
• the request being received via a shared-revenue communications line;
• transmitting, to an access management computer, a signal indicating that a billing site has received the code included in the request;
• receiving, from the access management computer, a signal indicating that the user is authorized to access the content;
• and
• posting, via the billing site, an access charge to said financial account based upon the authorization of the user to access the content.

A computer readable medium storing instructions configured for directing a processor to:

• receive a request by a user for access to content,
• the request for access being associated with a financial account of the user,
• the request for access including a code,
• the request being received via a shared-revenue communications line;
• transmit, to an access management computer, a signal indicating that a billing site has received the code included in the request;
• receive, from the access management computer, a signal indicating that the user is authorized to access the content;
• and
• post, via the billing site, an access charge to said financial account based upon the authorization of the user to access the content.