Method, apparatus and system for marketing, delivering, and collecting payment for information
View Patent ↗A method, apparatus and system for marketing, delivering, and collecting payment for information is described. In one embodiment, the invention is a method of providing electronic mail for payment. The invention includes sending an electronic mail message including provided information and a price to a customer, the provided information having an inaccessible portion of information. The invention further includes transferring a payment from the customer, and rendering the inaccessible portion of information accessible to the customer.
1. A method implemented in an email application program, the method comprising:
the email application program receiving an electronic mail message sent to a customer, the electronic mail message including an inaccessible portion of information and a price to access the inaccessible portion of information;
the email application program displaying a list of received messages, with each message displayed in the list showing a field for a subject of a corresponding message in the list and a separate field for a price to access an inaccessible portion of the corresponding message in the list;
the email application program receiving a request to access the inaccessible portion of information in the electronic mail message;
in response to receiving the request, the email application program communicating with a central database to charge a pre-established user account pre-associated with the customer, according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information; and
the email application program displaying the inaccessible portion of information to the customer, in response to completion of charging the pre-established user account of the customer according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
charging a surcharge for sending the electronic mail message.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
maintaining status information corresponding to sending, receiving and rendering of each of the electronic mail messages of the customer.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
responsive to receiving from the customer a refusal of payment for the electronic mail message, discarding the electronic mail message to prevent the electronic mail message from being listed in the email application program; and maintaining status information corresponding to the discarding and further corresponding to the refusal of payment.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
transferring an initial request for information from the customer to a service provider;
wherein the electronic mail message is in response to the initial request from the customer.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
distributing advertising of the service provider's services via the email application program.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
transferring a request for specific information from the service provider to the customer; and
transferring the specific information from the customer to the service provider.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an authorization to debit the account held by the customer.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving digital cash from the customer.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the charging the user account includes receiving authorization to charge a credit card of the customer and charging the credit card.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving virtual points from the customer.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the charging the user account includes receiving authorization to charge a virtual credit card of the customer and charging the virtual credit card.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the charging the user account includes charging a digital wallet of the customer.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
charging a surcharge for rendering the inaccessible portion accessible; and
transferring to a service provider a portion of a payment charged according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
charging a surcharge for receiving a payment charged according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information; and
transferring a portion of the payment to a service provider.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the electronic mail message includes an accessible portion of information; and
the method further comprises displaying the accessible portion of information to the customer in the email application program without requiring a payment from the customer.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
maintaining account balances for a service provider and the customer and adjusting the account balances to reflect a payment charged according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the email application program presenting a user interface to compose an electronic message from the customer, the user interface including a field to specify a recipient, a field to specify an inaccessible portion of the composed electronic message, and a field to specify a price payable to the customer to render the inaccessible portion of the composed electronic message accessible to the recipient.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pre-established user account is associated with an address of the customer for electronic email messages.
20. A system to implement an email application program, the system comprising:
a first logic block of the email application program to receive an electronic mail message sent to a customer, the electronic mail message including an inaccessible portion of information and a price to access the inaccessible portion of information, and to display a list of received messages, with each message displayed in the list showing a field for a subject of a corresponding message in the list and a separate field for a price to access an inaccessible portion of the corresponding message in the list;
a second logic block of the email application program coupled to the first logic block to communicate with a central database to charge a pre-established user account pre-associated with the customer, according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information, in response to the email application program receiving a request to access the inaccessible portion of information; and
a third logic block of the email application program display the inaccessible portion of information to the customer, in response to completion of charging the pre-established user account of the customer according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
21. The system of claim 20 , further comprising:
a fourth logic block coupled to the first, second and third logic blocks and configured to maintain status information corresponding to each of the electronic mail messages of the customer; and
wherein the second logic block is further configured to transfer to a service provider a portion of a payment charged according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
22. The system of claim 21 , wherein:
the second logic block is further configured to receive from the customer a refusal of payment for the electronic mail message; and
the third logic block is further configured to discard the electronic mail message from the email application program.
23. The system of claim 22 , wherein:
the first logic block is further configured to distribute advertising of the service provider's services, transfer an initial request for information from the customer to the service provider, transfer a request for specific information from the service provider to the customer, and transfer the specific information from the customer to the service provider.
24. The system of claim 22 , wherein:
the second logic block is configured to receive a payment from the customer via: digital cash, credit card, virtual credit card, virtual points, digital wallet, an account held by the customer.
25. The system of claim 20 , wherein:
the electronic mail message includes an accessible portion of information displayed in the email application program without a need for payment.
26. An apparatus to implement an email application program, the apparatus comprising:
means for the email application program receiving an electronic mail message sent to a customer, the electronic mail message including an inaccessible portion of information and a price to access the inaccessible portion of information;
means for the email application program displaying a list of received messages, with each message displayed in the list showing a field for a subject of a corresponding message in the list and a separate field for a price to access an inaccessible portion of the corresponding message in the list;
means for the email application program receiving a request to access the inaccessible portion of information in the electronic mail message;
means for the email application program communicating with a central database, in response to receiving the request, to charge a pre-established user account pre-associated with the customer, according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information; and
means for the email application program displaying the inaccessible portion of information to the customer, in response to completion of charging the pre-established user account of the customer according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 , further comprising:
means for charging a surcharge in response to the means for charging the pre-established user account pre-associated with the email application program.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 , further comprising:
means for maintaining status information corresponding to rendering of each of the electronic mail messages of the customer.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 , further comprising:
means for receiving from the customer a refusal of payment for the electronic mail message; and
means for discarding the electronic mail message in response to the refusal of payment.
30. The apparatus of claim 29 , further comprising:
means for transferring an initial request for information from the customer to a service provider;
wherein the electronic mail message is in response to the initial request for information from the customer.
31. The apparatus of claim 30 , further comprising:
means for distributing advertising of the service provider's services via the email application program displaying the electronic mail messages of the customer.
32. The apparatus of claim 31 , further comprising:
means for transferring a request for specific information from the service provider to the customer; and
means for transferring the specific information from the customer to the service provider.
33. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein:
the means for charging the user account comprises means for receiving an authorization to debit an account held by the customer.
34. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein:
the means for charging the user account comprises means for transferring digital cash from the customer.
35. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein:
the means for charging the user account comprises means for receiving authorization to charge a credit card of the customer and means for charging the credit card.
36. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein:
the means for charging the user account comprises means for transferring virtual points from the customer.
37. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein:
the means for charging the user account comprises means for receiving authorization to charge a virtual credit card of the customer and means for charging the virtual credit card.
38. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein:
the means for charging the user account comprises means for receiving authorization to charge a digital wallet of the customer and means for charging the digital wallet.
39. The apparatus of claim 26 , further comprising:
means for charging a surcharge for rendering the inaccessible portion of information accessible; and
means for transferring to a service provider a portion of a payment charged according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
40. The apparatus of claim 26 , further comprising:
means for charging a surcharge for receiving a payment charged according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information; and
means for transferring a portion of the payment to a service provider.
41. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein:
the electronic mail message includes an accessible portion of information displayed via the email application program without a payment from the customer.
42. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein:
the means for charging the user account comprises means for maintaining account balances for a service provider and the customer and means for adjusting the account balances to reflect a payment charged according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
43. A machine-readable medium embodying instructions, the instructions causing the processor to perform a method implemented in an email application program, the method comprising:
the email application program receiving an electronic mail message sent to a customer, the electronic mail message including an inaccessible portion of information and a price to access the inaccessible portion of information;
the email application program displaying a list of received messages, with each message displayed in the list showing a field for a subject of a corresponding message in the list and a separate field for a price to access an inaccessible portion of the corresponding message in the list;
the email application program receiving a request to access the inaccessible portion of information in the electronic mail message;
in response to receiving the request, the email application program communicating with a central database to charge a pre-established user account pre-associated with the customer, according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information; and
the email application program displaying the inaccessible portion of information to the customer, in response to completion of charging the pre-established user account of the customer according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
44. The machine-readable medium of claim 43 , the method further comprising:
charging a surcharge for sending the electronic mail message.
45. The machine-readable medium of claim 44 , the method further comprising:
maintaining status information corresponding to rendering of each of the electronic mail messages of the customer.
46. The machine-readable medium of claim 45 , the method further comprising:
receiving from the customer a refusal of a payment for the electronic mail message; and
discarding the electronic mail message in response to the refusal of the payment.
47. The machine-readable medium of claim 46 , the method further comprising:
transferring an initial request for information from the customer to a service provider.
48. The machine-readable medium of claim 47 , the method further comprising:
distributing advertising of the service provider's services.
49. The machine-readable medium of claim 48 , the method further comprising:
transferring a request for specific information from the service provider to the customer; and
transferring the specific information from the customer to the service provider.
50. The machine-readable medium of claim 43 , wherein:
charging the user account includes receiving an authorization to debit an account held by the customer.
51. The machine-readable medium of claim 43 , wherein:
charging the user account includes transferring digital cash from the customer.
52. The machine-readable medium of claim 43 , wherein:
charging the user account includes receiving authorization to charge a credit card of the customer and charging the credit card.
53. The machine-readable medium of claim 43 , wherein:
charging the user account includes transferring virtual points from the customer.
54. The machine-readable medium of claim 43 , wherein:
charging the user account includes receiving authorization to charge a virtual credit card of the customer and charging the virtual credit card.
55. The machine-readable medium of claim 43 , wherein:
charging the user account includes receiving authorization to charge a digital wallet of the customer and charging the digital wallet.
56. The machine-readable medium of claim 43 , the method further comprising:
charging a surcharge for rendering the inaccessible portion accessible; and
transferring to a service provider a portion of a payment charged according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
57. The machine-readable medium of claim 43 , the method further comprising:
charging a surcharge for receiving a payment charged according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information; and
transferring a portion of the payment to a service provider.
58. The machine-readable medium of claim 43 , wherein:
the electronic mail message includes an accessible portion of information displayed to the customer by the email application program without a request for payment.
59. The machine-readable medium of claim 43 , wherein:
charging the user account comprises maintaining account balances for a service provider and the customer and adjusting the account balances to reflect a payment charged according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
60. A system, comprising:
a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor;
a network connection coupled to the processor;
wherein the processor is configured to operate an email application program which:
receives an electronic mail message sent to a customer, the electronic mail message including an inaccessible portion of information and a price to access the inaccessible portion of information;
displays a list of received messages, with each message displayed in the list showing a field for a subject of a corresponding message in the list and a separate field for a price to access an inaccessible portion of the corresponding message in the list;
receives a request to access the inaccessible portion of information in the electronic mail message;
in response to the request, communicates with a central database to charge a pre-established user account pre-associated with the customer, according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information; and
displays the inaccessible portion of information to the customer, in response to completion of charging the pre-established user account of the customer according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
61. The system of claim 60 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
charge a surcharge for sending the electronic mail message.
62. The system of claim 61 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
maintain status information corresponding to rendering of each of the electronic mail messages of the customer.
63. The system of claim 62 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive from the customer a refusal of payment for the electronic mail message; and
discard the electronic mail message in response to the refusal of payment.
64. The system of claim 63 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
transfer an initial request for information from the customer to a service provider.
65. The system of claim 64 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
distribute advertising of the service provider's services.
66. The system of claim 65 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
transfer a request for specific information from the service provider to the customer; and
transfer the specific information from the customer to the service provider.
67. The system of claim 66 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive an authorization to debit an account held by the customer according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
68. The system of claim 60 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
transfer digital cash from the customer according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
69. The system of claim 60 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive authorization to charge a credit card of the customer and charge the credit card according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
70. The system of claim 60 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
transfer virtual points from the customer according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
71. The system of claim 60 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive authorization to charge a virtual credit card of the customer and charge the virtual credit card according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
72. The system of claim 60 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive authorization to charge a digital wallet of the customer and charge the digital wallet according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
73. The system of claim 60 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
charge a surcharge for rendering the inaccessible portion accessible; and
transfer to a service provider a portion of a payment charged according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information.
74. The system of claim 60 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
charge a surcharge for receiving a payment charged according to the price to access the inaccessible portion of information; and
transfer a portion of the payment to a service provider.
75. The system of claim 60 , wherein:
the electronic mail message includes an accessible portion of information displayed to the customer in the email application program without a need for a payment from the customer.
76. The system of claim 60 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
maintain account balances for a service provider and the customer and adjust the account balances to reflect a payment charged according to the price.