Method of billing a purchase made over a computer network

Abstract

A method of effecting a sale over a computer network in which it is determined whether a user passes fraud control before effecting a sale over a computer network. Information associated with a method of payment, such as credit card information, debit card information, checking account information, a telephone service account, a cable television account, a utility service account, or an Internet service provider account, is requested from the user after the user passes the fraud control. Information associated with the method of payment is received from the user in real time. Method-of-payment information is communicated to a payment authorization database, which can be located locally or remotely. The method-of-payment information includes the received information associated with the method of payment. Payment authorization information associated with the method of payment is received from the payment authorization database. A sale transaction is completed when the payment authorization information is affirmative. Sale charge information associated with the sale effected over the computer network is transmitted to the payment authorization database when the sale transaction is complete. The sale charge information includes information for charging the method of payment an amount representing a charge for the sale.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a communication session request from a user computer over the Internet, the communication session request including Internet address information associated with a user that has been forwarded with the communication session request, the Internet address information related to an Internet address from where the communication session request was requested;   receiving a unique identification from the user computer over the Internet, wherein the unique identification information is stored in a cookie on the user computer;   comparing, by at least one computer, the unique identification and the Internet address information to stored information associated with the user;   generating a result of the comparison; and   allowing the communication session request to proceed when the unique identification and the Internet address information compare favorably to the stored information associated with the user.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the communication session is a transaction request. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the communication session is a multimedia session, a data only session, or a combination of audio, video and data. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the communication session is for purchasing a good or service. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising forwarding credit card account information or debit card account information for authorization. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the unique identification comprises information relating to one or more of a computer-network address, terminal equipment identification information, a telephone number, a physical address, a driver's license number, a social security number, a relative's surname, a PIN, a password, a digital certificate, a credit card number, a debit card number, banking information, a voiceprint, a fingerprint, a portrait image and identification information. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising:
 accessing a database; and   comparing the unique identification with information stored in the database, and allowing the communication session based on a further result of comparing the received unique identification with information stored in the database.   
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein:
 the database is a positive database,   comparing the unique identification with information stored in the database comprises verifying an identity of the user in the positive database, and   the allowing of the communication session is further based on the identity of the user being verified in the positive database.   
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein allowing communication further comprises initiating a purchase request. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein when the identity of the user has been verified in the positive database, the method further comprises limiting an amount of the purchase request based on at least one of: the unique identification a frequency of purchase requests for the user during a predetermined period of time, an amount of money spent by the user during a predetermined period of time, a time of day, a geographical location for the user, credit account information associated with the user, a billing address and personal information relating to the user. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein when the amount of the purchase request is limited based on credit account information associated with the user, the credit account information comprises information relating to credit card information, debit card information, checking account information, electronic funds transfer information, a telephone number, a cable television account, a utility service account, an Internet service provider account, a credit card expiration date, an address of the user, a zip code of the user, a billing address of the user, a date of birth of the user, a driver's license number of the user, a social security number of the user, a personal identification number of the user, a password, a digital certificate associated with the user, a maiden name of the user's mother, or electronic wallet information. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein when the amount of the purchase request is limited based on personal information relating to the user, the personal information of the user comprises at least a portion of a driver's license number, a social security number, a mother's maiden name, a password, a digital certificate, a personal identification number, a cookie associated with the user, a fingerprint of the user, a thumbprint of the user, a voice print of the user, or a portrait of the user. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the database is a negative database, and further comprising comparing the unique identification with information stored in the database further comprises blocking a purchase request when the identity of the user has been verified in the negative database by comparing the received unique identification with information stored in the negative database. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein the unique identification comprises information relating to one or more of a computer-network address, terminal equipment identification information, a telephone number, a physical address, a driver's license number, a social security number, a relative's surname, a personal identification number (PIN), a password, a digital certificate, a credit account, a credit card number, a debit card number, banking information, a voiceprint, a fingerprint, a portrait image and identification information. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the negative database comprises information relating to computer-network address information, user unique identification information, or information based on payment history. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 46 , wherein the information based on payment history comprises information relating to a delinquent payment of a credit account charge, an insufficient payment of a credit account charge, a refusal of payment relating to a disputed charge from a previous purchase of a product, a refusal of payment relating to a disputed charge from a previous purchase of a service, information relating to credit with other types of computer-network ordering/payment systems or negative information that may cause non-acceptance of a credit card. 
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 46 , wherein the computer-network address information comprises information relating to one or more of a computer-network address from where the purchase request was requested, a terminal equipment identification from which the purchase request was requested, a location from which a computer-network address cannot be forwarded, a location from which unique identification information for the user cannot be forwarded, a telephone number, a physical address, a driver's license number, a social security number, a relative's surname, a personal identification number (PIN), a password, a digital certificate, a credit account, a credit card number, a debit card number, banking information, a voiceprint, a fingerprint, a portrait image and identification information. 
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 48 , wherein the unique identification comprises a computer-network address for the user, and comparing the unique identification with information stored in the database further comprises determining whether the Internet address for the user is matched in the negative database. 
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein the negative database comprises a shared database, a locally located database, or a database located at a remote site. 
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the database is a negative database comprising computer-address information, user unique identification information, or information based on payment history; and
 wherein comparing the unique identification with information stored in the database further comprises allowing a purchase request when it is determined that the unique identification is not matched in the negative database.   
     
     
         52 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a transaction request from a user computer over the Internet, the transaction request including Internet address information associated with a user that has been forwarded with the transaction request, the Internet address information related to an Internet address from where the transaction request was requested;   receiving a unique identification from the user computer over the Internet, the unique identification information stored in a cookie on the user computer;   comparing, by at least one computer, the unique identification and the Internet address information to stored information associated with the user;   generating a result of the comparison; and   allowing the transaction request to proceed when the unique identification and the Internet address information compare favorably to the stored information associated with the user.   
     
     
         53 . The method according to  claim 52 , further comprising:
 accessing a database; and   comparing the unique identification with information stored in the database, and allowing a transaction based on a further result of comparing the received unique identification with information stored in the database.   
     
     
         54 . The method according to  claim 53 , wherein:
 the database is a positive database,   comparing the unique identification with information stored in the database comprises verifying an identity of the user in the positive database, and   the allowing of the purchase request is further based on the identity of the user being verified in the positive database.   
     
     
         55 . The method according to  claim 54 , wherein allowing communication further comprises initiating a purchase request. 
     
     
         56 . The method according to  claim 54 , wherein when the identity of the user has been verified in the positive database, the method further comprises limiting an amount of the purchase request based on at least one of: the unique identification a frequency of purchase requests for the user during a predetermined period of time, an amount of money spent by the user during a predetermined period of time, a time of day, a geographical location for the user, credit account information associated with the user, a billing address and personal information relating to the user. 
     
     
         57 . The method according to  claim 54 , wherein the database is a negative database, and further comprising comparing the unique identification with information stored in the database further comprises blocking a purchase request when the identity of the user has been verified in the negative database by comparing the received unique identification with information stored in the negative database. 
     
     
         58 . The method according to  claim 57 , wherein the unique identification comprises information relating to one or more of a computer-network address, terminal equipment identification information, a telephone number, a physical address, a driver's license number, a social security number, a relative's surname, a personal identification number (PIN), a password, a digital certificate, a credit account, a credit card number, a debit card number, banking information, a voiceprint, a fingerprint, a portrait image and identification information. 
     
     
         59 . The method according to  claim 57 , wherein the negative database comprises information relating to computer-network address information, user unique identification information, or information based on payment history. 
     
     
         60 . A system comprising:
 one or more server computers, the one or more server computers:
 receiving a transaction request from a user computer over the Internet, the transaction request including Internet address information associated with a user that has been forwarded with the transaction request, the Internet address information related to an Internet address from where the transaction request was requested; 
 receiving a unique identification from the user computer over the Internet, the unique identification information stored in a cookie on the user computer; 
 comparing, by at least one computer in the one or more server computers, the unique identification and the Internet address information to stored information associated with the user; 
 generating a result of the comparison; and 
 allowing the transaction request to proceed when the unique identification and the Internet address information compare favorably to the stored information associated with the user. 
   
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 60 , further comprising accessing a positive or a negative database; and
 comparing the unique identification with information stored in the database, and either allowing or blocking a transaction based on a further result of comparing the received unique identification with information stored in the database.