DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] With reference initially to FIG. 1, an Internet access system of the present invention is denoted generally by reference numeral 10. The Internet access system 10 of the present invention has an Internet access station, denoted by reference numeral 12, which serves a variety of functions, as described in detail below. In particular, Internet access station 12 is preferably a site on a global communications network at which an Internet access account is established and maintained, at which Internet access validation procedures are conducted and at which various billing activities are processed. The Internet access system 10 further includes an electronic terminal 14. Electronic terminal 14 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as a personal computer having a processor 16, a display 18, a keypad input 20, and a mouse 22. It will be understood and appreciated that the electronic terminal 14 may include other desired components, such as microphone input, speakers, a scanner, a web camera, etc. Additionally, it should be understood and appreciated that the electronic terminal 14, rather than being a conventional personal computer, may be any type of electronic terminal for accessing the Internet. For example, the electronic terminal 14 may be a portable or laptop computer, or a mobile or wireless Internet equipped communications device, such as a cellular telephone.

[0020] Internet access system 10 further includes an Internet service provider, denoted generally by reference numeral 24. Internet service providers are well known. In particular, Internet service provider 24 is a site, at an address, on a global communications network. In particular, Internet service provider 24 is a site which serves as a portal through which users of electronic terminals may access the Internet. As illustrated, a communications network is provided for establishing communications links between electronic terminal 14, access station 12, and Internet service provider 24. The communications network may be any conventional type of network, such as a telephony network, or a data network, may be a broadband (or not) network, etc. or any combination thereof. Access to the network, through the various components of the present invention, may be made in a conventional manner through interface components, such as a modem or transceiver.

[0021] With additional reference to FIGS. 2a-2c, the system 10 and its method of operation will be described in detail.

[0022] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, and as indicated at step 26 in FIG. 2a, an Internet access software application is provided to electronic terminal 14 in any conventional manner. For example, a user of electronic terminal 14 may download the necessary application software from access station 12 or Internet service provider 24. Alternatively, the application software may be provided on a transferable medium, such as a CD, with which the electronic terminal 14 communicates. Thus, as will be understood and appreciated, the application software may be stored on either a portable, transferable medium, or may be stored on a hard drive memory within the electronic terminal 14. Alternatively, the Internet access application software of the present invention may be provided in an open system arrangement, in which the Internet access software of the invention is provided at the access station 12, such that electronic terminal 14 communicates with the application software via the communications network, although the application software is not physically stored at the electronic terminal 14.

[0023] As indicated at reference numeral 28, a user of electronic terminal 14 initiates the Internet application software of the present invention in any conventional manner, such as by utilizing computer mouse 22 to click on an icon associated with the software displayed on display screen 18. Upon initiation of the application software at step 28, electronic terminal 14 displays at display 18 a display screen, such as that illustrated in FIG. 3a. In particular, the display screen provides the user of electronic terminal 14 with several options. For example, the display screen may provide an area for accessing the Internet from a home location as indicated by area 32 on the display screen, or for accessing the Internet from a remote, travel location, as indicated by area 34 on the display screen. The present invention may also provide to the user the option to access a “first time ?” interface, whereupon the user will be taken to a page providing various comments and instructions relating to first time use. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3b, if the user clicks on an area associated with “first time” use, the application may provide an individual with detailed instructions regarding the various choices available to the user. Additional information, such as indications that the user will be charged to his or her local phone bill on a per-time basis for Internet access, along with prompts requiring user entry to indicate whether or not the user wishes to continue may be included.

[0024] Additionally, the application prompts the user to input various information, such as the telephone number from which dialing is taking place, whether call waiting is a feature (so that it may be disabled, if necessary), and other dialing information (e.g., 9 or 8 access, area code information, etc.). Alternatively, some or all of the input information may be captured automatically, such as with a caller-id feature, etc. Additionally, all gathered data is stored in memory by the application for retrieval upon subsequent uses.

[0025] In short, regardless of where the information is provided (e.g., on the opening page, or after accessing one or more pages associated with a “help” feature, or a “first time” feature) when the user initially utilizes system 10, and particularly the software application thereof, the user is prompted to proceed via the “home location” area 32. As indicated at step 38 of FIG. 2, when the user selects Internet access from the home location, processing advances to step 42 for initiating a communications link with access station 12. Alternatively, as will be described in greater detail below, when the user desires to access the Internet from a non-home location, such as is the case when a user has a portable or laptop computer, and, for instance, is traveling and is thus attempting to access the Internet through a telephone line other than the user's home telephone line, the processing advances to step 40, wherein the user is prompted to enter additionally required information. In such an instance, for example, the user may be prompted to input additional information, such as the type of communications line relied upon at the remote location (e.g., pay phone, air phone, hotel, work, someone else's home, etc.). Additionally, information pertaining to the telephone number from which access is being desired may also be required, such as specific dialing instructions necessary from dialing at a remote location (e.g., the requirement to dial a “8” prior to dialing from a hotel, etc.). In either event, electronic terminal 14 may initiate a communications link by dialing a telephone number of the access station (e.g., a toll free or non-toll free number, including but not limited to a 1-800 or 1-900 number), or by otherwise linking with a server associated with an electronic address of the access station.

[0026] Once the electronic terminal 14 establishes a communications link with the access station 12, the access station 12, utilizing a processor and software, executes a number of processing steps and makes a number of determinations. In particular, upon the initial time the electronic terminal 14 links with the access station, the access station performs a number of validation functions in an effort to establish an account associated with the electronic terminal 14. As will become apparent from the detailed discussion below, upon subsequent links with access station 12, various validation features are performed, but the account need not be reestablished.

[0027] In particular, once a communications link is established between the electronic terminal 14 and the access station 12, an autocratic number identification (ANI) process occurs, in which the access station 12 determines the telephone number from which the electronic terminal 14 is communicating. As indicated at step 44 of FIG. 2, access station 12 determines whether the telephone number from which the electronic terminal 14 is dialing has been captured. As indicated at step 46, in the event the telephone number has not been captured, the access station 12 transmits a message back to the electronic terminal 14 prompting the user to action such as call customer service. Alternatively, once the telephone number from which electronic terminal 14 is dialing has been captured and stored at the access station 12, the access station 12 determines whether an account has already been established with respect to the captured telephone number. As will be described below, in the process of initially establishing an account, the access station initially establishes the captured telephone number as a billing telephone number to which charges associated with Internet access time will be billed. As additionally described below, the access station also assigns a user identification and password to the billing telephone number, thereby establishing the account. Accordingly, at step 48, where it is determined whether an account has already been established with respect to the captured telephone number, the processor at access station 12 searches an associated database which stores account information to determine whether the captured telephone number has been assigned to an associated billing telephone number and/or whether the telephone number has an associated user identification and/or password.

[0028] In the event an account has not already been established with respect to the captured telephone number, such as is the case when electronic terminal 14 is initially utilized to access the Internet via the system 10 of the present invention, processing advances to step 50. At step 50, the access station 12 determines whether the captured telephone number (e.g., “ANI”) is in a particular network that is not affiliated with the access station. In other words, there may be various communications networks with which billing arrangements have not been established, and a determination is made at step 50 whether the captured telephone number is within a predetermined network. In particular, as illustrated, the determination is made whether the captured telephone number is within “OFFNET”, which is intended to identify an off network (e.g., one with which a billing arrangement has not been established). It will be understood and appreciated that the determination made may be whether the captured telephone number is within a non-acceptable network or, alternatively, by making a determination whether the captured telephone number is within an acceptable network. As illustrated, in the event the captured telephone number is in a non-acceptable network, such as the case when the captured telephone number is in “OFFNET”, processing advances to step 52, wherein the access station 12 sends a message back to the electronic terminal 14 indicating that the telephone number from which access is desired is not valid. Alternatively, when it is determined that the captured telephone number is not within “OFFNET”, and therefore may be acceptable, processing advances to step 54, where access station 12 determines the captured telephone number is within a CLEC (competitive local exchange carrier) network database), thus preventing the billing of Internet access charges directly to a telephone bill.

[0029] As illustrated, if the captured telephone number is within the CLEC database, processing advances to step 52, and under such circumstances, a message is transmitted from access station 12 to electronic terminal 14 indicating that the telephone number from which Internet access is desired is not valid. However, if the captured telephone number is not within the CLEC database, as determined at step 54, processing advances to step 56, where access station 12 determines whether the captured telephone number has an unacceptable associated credit risk. In this regard, a data base of telephone numbers associated with certains credit risk standards is maintained, such that the. captured telephone number is checked against those telephone numbers accumulated in the data base, in an effort to determine whether the captured telephone number is associated with an unacceptable or questionable credit risk. As illustrated, if it is indeed determined that the captured telephone number is associated with an unacceptable or questionable credit risk, processing advances to step 58, wherein the access station transmits a message to the electronic terminal 14 indicating that the telephone number from which access is desired is potentially non-billable, and may further requests user action such as a user to telephone the access station 12. However, in the event customer service 12 determines at step 56 that the captured telephone number is not associated with an undesirable or questionable credit risk (e.g., not in a “BADANI” database as illustrated), processing advances to step 60.

[0030] At step 60, access station 12 determines whether the captured telephone number is a valid telephone number. In other words, access station 12 checks the telephone number against a line information database (LIDB) in making a validity decision with respect to the captured telephone number. As indicated, in the event a LIDB check results in a determination that the captured telephone number is not valid, processing advances to step 62, and access station 12 sends the electronic terminal 14 a message that the telephone number from which access is desired is not valid, and prompts the user to consider take action such as a call to customer service.

[0031] When, however, it is determined at step 60, as a result of the LIDB check, that the captured telephone number is indeed a valid telephone number, processing then advances to step 64, where access station 12 considers the captured telephone number to be a billable telephone number (BTN) (e.g., the number to which Internet access charges will be billed), and access station 12 automatically assigns a user identification and password to the billing telephone number to thereby establish an account with respect to the captured telephone number from which electronic terminal 14 is attempting to access the Internet. Access station 12 then stores the BTN, and associated user ID and password in a database. As indicated at step 66, access station 12 also then sends at that time or at scheduled intervals, via a direct communications link with Internet service provider 24, the account information that has been established with respect to electronic terminal 14. In particular, access station 12 sends to ISP 24 at least the user identification and password associated with the established account. As will become apparent from the following discussion, the Internet service provider 24 will subsequently use the retrieved account information to validate an attempt by the electronic terminal 14 to access the Internet via the ISP 24.

[0032] Additionally, once an account has been established at step 64, the processing advances to step 68, where the access station 12 retrieves a table of identifiers (e.g., telephone numbers or server addresses, associated with Internet service provider 24). In other words, the retrieved table includes, for example, modem dialing information associated with Internet service provider 24.

[0033] Processing then advances to step 70 at which the access station 12 transmits the established account information, such as the billable telephone number (BTN), user identification, password, and at least one telephone number or address associated with the ISP 24, and retrieved from the dialing table, for the purpose of permitting the electronic terminal 14 to establish a communications link with ISP 24. In particular, and in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the identifier or identifiers (e.g., the telephone number or numbers retrieved from the ISP dialing table), are preferably determined based upon a location of the telephone number from which access is being allowed or from the location of the billable telephone number and, additionally, in the case where multiple identifiers are retrieved, they are preferably prioritized in accordance with selected criteria. In particular, local telephone numbers are given priority.

[0034] At step 70 once the access station 12 has returned the billable telephone number, user ID, password, and one or more identifiers (e.g., telephone numbers or addresses) of the ISP 24 to the electronic terminal 14, processing advances to step 74. At step 74, the user is presented with information and billing disclosures (which may be retrieved from the electronic terminal 14, but which are preferably transmitted from access station 12). As indicated at 76, the user is prompted to accept or not accept the proposed billing agreement. An example of a display screen associated with step 76 is ilustrated in FIG. 3c. In this regard, and in accordance with an aspect of the invention, the information provided by the billing disclosure indicates that the user will be charged to his or her home telephone number (e.g., the telephone number from which electronic terminal 14 access accesses station 12), and the user is given rate information, (such as monetary charges per minute). For example, the stated charges may be a number of cents (USA) per minute. Alternatively, the charges could be per second, per six second increments, or in other increments. A s indicated at step 78, if the user elects to deny the billing proposal, processing advances to step 78 and the communications link with the access station 12 is terminated. Alternatively, when the user, at step 76, accepts the billing proposal, processing advances to step 80 and then to step 82, where the communications link between the electronic terminal 14 and access station 12 is terminated, and the electronic terminal 14 initiates a communications link with ISP 24 by dialing ISP 24, respectively. As indicated at step 86, once a communications link has been established between electronic terminal 14 and the ISP 24, the processor at ISP 24 makes a determination of whether the electronic terminal 14 desiring to access ISP 24 is valid. In particular, the electronic terminal 14 sends, via the communications link with ISP 24, the account information that the electronic terminal 14 previously received from access station 12. In particular, electronic terminal 14 transmits data indicative of at least the user identification and password, and the billable telephone number may also be transmitted. A processor at the ISP 24 retrieves the account information data and compares it with the data previously transmitted from access station 12 to determine whether the electronic terminal 14 is associated with a “valid” account. When the ISP 24 is unable to read the account information transmitted by electronic terminal 14, or in the situation where the received account information is not found in the data base of accounts deemed to be valid, log onto the ISP 24 is denied. However, as indicated at step 88, once the account associated with electronic terminal 14 is properly validated, ISP 24 opens a welcome screen or home page, from which the user can browse the Internet or access one or more selected features presented to the user in a conventional fashion.

[0035] Additionally, ISP 24 monitors a time associated with a communications link between electronic terminal 14 and ISP 24. In this regard, while the time monitored may encompass the entirety of the time associated with a communications link, preferably ISP 24 begins monitoring time only after log on validation procedures have been conducted and the user of electronic terminal 14 is actually logged in to ISP 24. While charges for Internet access time preferably begin after log in, any other communications charges may begin at the establishment of the communications link. It should be understood that the access time may alternatively be monitored from a time associated with access to particular content (e.g., news, video, etc.) or that different or increased rates may apply to the access or downloading of selected content.

[0036] Preferably, as indicated at step 90, ISP 24 periodically sends information to access. station 12 regarding the amount of time electronic terminal 14 accesses ISP 24. It will be understood and appreciated that this on-line time information, transmitted from ISP 24 to access station 12, is preferably transmitted directly from ISP 24 to access station 12, and not via electronic terminal 14. Additionally, it will be understood and appreciated that the on-line time information may be transmitted from ISP 24 to access station 12 at any preferable interval (such as hourly, daily, etc.). Additionally, the intervals may be varied such that the information is not transmitted at the same time each day.

[0037] Returning now to step 48 of FIG. 2, when it is determined that the identifier (e.g., telephone number or server address) is already associated with an established account, processing advances to step 92 at which access station 12 makes a determination whether a previous LIDB check (e.g., that check made at step 60) has been made within a predetermined time frame. For example, as illustrated, the access station 12 queries whether a LIDB response related to the BTN is present. As indicated, if a LIDB response is present in the database, processing advances directly to step 68, and the ISP modem dialing table is retrieved, and processing continues in the manner illustrated and previously described. Alternatively, however, when a determination is made at step 92 that a LIDB response is not present in database, processing advances to step 50, and the illustrated and previously described tree following step 50 is executed. In other words, the step or steps associated with steps 50, 54, 56 and/or 60 are processed, thereby providing a validation procedure.

[0038] With reference now to FIG. 4, an example of an invoice sent to the user of electronic terminal 14 is illustrated. In particular, the access station 12, upon receipt of on-line time associated with electronic terminal 14, stores data indicative of the on-line time in the established account corresponding to electronic terminal 14. Accordingly, stored in the account associated with electronic terminal 14 is, for each access event, a date of the access event, a time of day of the access event, the time associated with the access event, and accumulative charge associated with the access event. Additionally, other information associated with the place and telephone number called to achieve the access, rate information, etc., may also be stored in the account in conjunction with each access event. Then, at the end of a selected billing cycle, such as a one month billing cycle, data is retrieved and placed on an invoice along with other charges associated with the billable telephone number, such as long distance charges, taxes, etc. Alternatively, the information retrieved from the Internet access account associated with electronic terminal 14 may be transmitted to another billing entity, for consolidation on a printed or electronic invoice.

[0039] From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention is a highly useful system for accessing the Internet via an electronic terminal, where charges associated with Internet access time are billed directly to a bill associated with the electronic terminal, or the telephone line from which the terminal accesses the Internet. Additionally, the system 10 is useful for approving access only to those electronic terminals 14 or individuals which have predetermined criteria. In other words, access station 12 is useful for preventing access where statistical information indicates that the terminal from which access is desired may be associated with an undesirable credit risk or, alternatively, where the terminal from which access is desired is within a particular network such that billing will be cumbersome or possible, or where the telephone line associated with the electronic terminal is otherwise not a valid line.

[0040] Additionally, as will be understood and appreciated, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a multitude of electronic terminals 14 are utilized to access the Internet via system 10. In other words, proprietors of access station 12 will have relationships with a wide variety of carriers associated with the communications network, such that a wide variety of individuals may utilize an electronic terminal for accessing the ISP via the access station 12, and thereafter be billed on a per time basis, for the Internet access, preferably on an invoice directly associated with a particular carrier or telephone line.

[0041] From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

[0042] It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

[0043] Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.