September – Patent 3

• EU-Patent on software (algorithm)
• Application to the European Patent Office on 17/5/1996 by Walker Digital, LLC (USA)
• Granted on 26/4/2006
• Date of priority: 24/5/1995 (valid no more than until 24/5/2015)
• Patent attorney: Lorenz-Seidler-Gossel
• Patent specification provided by FFII/Gauss
• Patent specification provided by EPO/espacenet

Patented idea: To make the web content accessible only on the basis of an access code which one can receive exclusively by using a chargeable telephone number.

Main claims(claims 1 and 15): A service provider offers online services through a data network (for ex. internet) which are blocked at first. The PC of the client receives the access code ("access information") by means of a chargeable telephone number ("billing network") from a relevant server ("PC for access management"). (claim 1 is about a "billing and entry system", claim 15 about a "method").

Further claims: About 42 patent claims cover each individual stage and special case separately:

• PC of the client sends the access code, including access time and costs, to the server.
• Downloading of the necessary client software from the Internet.
• The provider operates a web site.
• The client effectively receives the paid online services.
• The relevant server effectively supplies the access code.
• Special case: Utilisation of 900 numbers for the billing network.
• Special case: The PC of the client has a telephone connection (Modem, ISDN-card, etc.).
• The PC of the client dials a 900 number.
• The PC of the client is connected again as soon as it receives the access code.
• Utilisation of a second telephone connection for internet access ("data network").
• Contact of the access server through the billing network.
• Disconnection of the chargeable telephone connection as soon as the online service is over.
• Billing according to data volumes.
• Billing according to time.
• The access server generates the access code.
• The access server reads the access code from the data bank.
• The access server sends the access code to the provider.
• The access server sends the access code to the client.
• Decoding on the access server.
• Access limitation by the user himself.
• Special cases: The user specifies a maximum time period or a maximum amount which he is ready to pay or he disconnects the chargeable telephone connection.
• Exchange of billing signals through the billing network.
• Special case: allocation of billing signals to the client.
• Billing through the telephone invoice.
• The access server is connected both with the billing network and with the data network.
• Special case: electronic money.

Description: The patent specifications describe that one can call online services by dialing 900 numbers and that this method offers advantages as against the billing by means of a credit card or through an internet provider.

Everyday life parallel: A client buys a new bathtub from the do-it-yourself-market. As he cannot transport it by himself ("billing network"), he takes home only a sales receipt ("access code"). Next day a truck ("data network") delivers the bathtub. The driver verifies the receipt ("access management PC") and gives over the paid goods.

Examples for patent infringement: Wikipedia considers the patented method a typical utilisation example of 900 numbers.

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