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| United States Patent | 6240401 |
| Link to this page | http://www.wikipatents.com/6240401.html |
| Inventor(s) | Oren; Joseph Eugene (Glen Allen, VA);
Schumann; Robert W. (Oakton, VA);
Walko; Lisa S. (Glen Allen, VA);
McQueen; Kevin S. (Richmond, VA) |
| Abstract | A system and method for tracking and processing transactions for such
purposes as creating billing record and detecting possible fraudulent
activities. The system and method relates to processing transactions
associated with viewing movies, e.g. a video content distributed digitally
on a digital video disc (DVD) in an scrambled format, where the video
content is only viewable in conjunction with the use of a specially
designed and enabled player. This method of distributing and billing movie
content provides an alternative to current methods such as viewing via
video tapes, open format DVDs, pay-per-view, or cable service. The system
and method permits a user to establish, via a single authorization,
multiple access to a service during a period of time, where each event of
access is not individually billed. The system and method does not create a
billable charge for a user authorization if the user does not actually
access the service. Furthermore, the system and method requires a user to
initiate a new authorization after the original authorization has expired,
in order to re-access the service. Additionally, the system and method
provides one or a plurality of devices local to the user, electronically
linked to a remote host, in order to create, store and transmit records of
authorization and access to a remote central processor in a secure manner. |
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Title Information  |
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Drawing from US Patent 6240401 |
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System and method for movie transaction processing |
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| Publication Date |
May 29, 2001 |
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Title Information  |
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References  |
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U.S. References |
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| | Reference | Relevancy | Comments | Reference | Relevancy | Comments | 6112181 Shear
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Jul,1996 |      Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes] | | 5357276 Banker 725/102 Oct,1994 |      Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes] | | 4893248 Pitts 705/400 Jan,1990 |      Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes] | | 4712238 Gilhousen 380/232 Dec,1987 |      Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes] | | 4710955 Kauffman 380/233 Dec,1987 |      Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes] | | 4361851 Asip 725/14 Nov,1982 |      Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes] | | | | | |
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Market Review  |
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Technical Review  |
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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A computer-implemented method for processing transactions, including
authorization transactions and access transactions for service, comprising
the steps of:
creating and storing authorization transactions and access transactions on
a user device, each of said authorization transactions and said access
transactions having corresponding timestamp information and duration
information;
transmitting records of said authorization transactions and said access
transactions from said user device to a remote host processing device;
analyzing said authorization transactions and said access transactions at
said host processing device to match a specific authorization transaction
with a specific access transaction based on said timestamp information and
duration information; and
creating a billing record based at said host processing device on said
matched authorization transactions and access transactions.
2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of detecting
indicia of fraud based on the results of the step of analyzing said
authorization transactions and said access transactions.
3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said indicia includes numerous
access transactions during a predetermined short time duration on said
user device or simultaneous access for the same service on multiple said
user devices.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said host processing device
maintains a database of said authorization transactions and said access
transactions, and further comprising the step of updating said database
based on the results of the step of analyzing authorization transactions
and access transactions.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting said
records to said host processing device occurs periodically.
6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of securing
said records of authorization transactions and access transactions.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said step of securing is
performed prior to and during the step of transmitting said records of
authorization transactions and access transactions.
8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of providing
multiple access transactions to a service over a prescribed time interval
under a single authorization transaction.
9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising the step of creating
a single billing event for said multiple access transactions.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said access transactions may
occur anytime during the time span of said authorization transaction.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of analyzing and
creating are performed for a plurality of said user devices.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting
records comprises transmitting said records in any chronological order.
13. A system for processing transactions, including authorization
transactions and access transactions comprising:
a user device having an interface and an associated service access device
which services only the associated user device, said associated service
access device being contained within said user device;
a remote transaction processing system for receiving and processing
transactions from the user device and for generating transactions and
billing records; wherein
the user device and remote transaction processing system are electronically
linked, and
the remote transaction processing system comprises a journal receiver, a
journal distributor, a disc database update processor, a security
processor, and interfaces to a fraud detection subsystem and to a billing
records subsystem.
14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the service access device
comprises a digital video disc player subsystem.
15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the user device further
comprises memory for storing authorization transactions and access
transactions.
16. The system according to claim 13, wherein
the user device further comprises a data input for inputting authorization
requests and access requests.
17. The system according to claim 13, wherein the user device comprises a
user device security processor for securing records of authorization
transactions and access transactions.
18. A system for processing transactions, including authorization
transactions and access transactions comprising:
a user device having an interface and an associated service access device
which services only the associated user device, said associated service
access device being contained within said user device;
a remote transaction processing system for receiving and processing
transactions from the user device and for generating transactions and
billing records; wherein
the user device and remote transaction processing system are electronically
linked, and
the remote transaction processing system comprises a disc database update
processor for matching authorization transactions and access transactions
based on timestamp information and duration information and for creating
billing records based on the matched transactions.
19. A plurality of memory devices for storing computer-readable
instructions and for processing transactions, comprising:
instructions for creating and storing authorization transactions and access
transactions on a user device, each of said authorization transactions and
said access transactions having corresponding timestamp information and
duration information;
instructions for transmitting the authorization transactions and the access
transactions from a user device to a remote host processing device;
instructions for analyzing the authorization transactions and the access
transactions on the host processing device to match a specific
authorization transaction with a specific access transaction based on said
timestamp information and duration information; and
instructions for creating a billing record on the host processing device
based on the matched authorization transactions and access transactions.
20. The memory devices according to claim 19 further comprising
instructions for detecting indicia of fraud based on the results of the
step of analyzing authorization transactions and access transactions.
21. The memory devices according to claim 20, wherein said indicia includes
numerous access transactions during a predetermined short time duration on
said user device or simultaneous access for the same service on multiple
said user devices.
22. The memory devices according to claim 19 further comprising
instructions for updating a database based on the results of the step of
analyzing authorization transactions and access transactions.
23. The memory devices according to claim 19 further comprising
instructions for periodically transmitting transactions.
24. The memory devices according to claim 19 further comprising
instructions for securing said records of authorization transactions and
access transactions.
25. The memory devices according to claim 24, wherein said instructions for
securing is performed prior to and during the step of transmitting said
records of authorization transactions and access transactions.
26. The memory devices according to claim 19 further comprising
instructions for providing multiple access transactions to a service over
a prescribed time interval under a single authorization transaction.
27. The memory devices according to claim 26 further comprising
instructions for creating a single billing event for said multiple access
transactions.
28. The memory devices according to claim 19, wherein said instructions for
access transactions may occur anytime during the time span of said
authorization transaction.
29. The memory devices according to claim 19, wherein said instructions for
wherein said instruction of analyzing and creating are performed for a
plurality of said user devices.
30. The memory devices according to claim 19, wherein said instructions for
transmitting records comprises transmitting said records in any
chronological order. |
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Claims  |
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Description  |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a system and method for
processing transactions. More particularly, the invention relates to a
system and method for tracking a transaction history for such purposes as
creating a billing record and detecting possible fraudulent activities.
Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a system and
method for processing transactions associated with viewing movies, e.g.
video content distributed digitally on a digital video disc (DVD) in an
scrambled format, where the video content is only viewable in conjunction
with the use of a specially designed and enabled player. This method of
distributing and billing movie content provides an alternative to current
methods such as viewing via video tapes, open format DVDs, pay-per-view,
or cable service.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For the purposes of tracking transactions and determining billing, there
are two conventional types of on-line services, each relying on an
associated protocol or algorithm. In one type of service, a service
provider such as an Internet service provider (ISP), charges a user a fee
for the right to use the service for a limited period of time. The user
may log onto the service as many times as she would like within a
specified time period (e.g. one month), without being charged for each
individual access. However, the ISP user is charged whether or not the
service is used. In a variation of that system, a user may be charged for
each access as a separate billing event.
There are also conventional tracking systems for tracking reserved access,
such as, for example, a hotel room or a rental car. A customer may make a
reservation with the service provider. If the customer makes but does not
show up for a reservation, and has not guaranteed the reservation with
pre-payment, the hotel or car rental company simply drops the reservation
and the customer is not charged. Such systems typically allow the customer
to reserve and to later access the room or car for specific dates, and
also permits the customer to extend the time period of that access,
without making another reservation. In a variation of that system, where
the customer guarantees the reservation, the customer is charged for the
reserved access, regardless of whether the room or car is actually used.
While such systems are adequate for tracking and billing certain types of
services, there exists a need for an alternative system and method for
tracking transactions and determining charges which permits a user to
establish, via a single authorization, multiple access to a service during
a period of time, where each event of access is not individually billed.
There exists a need for a system and method which does not create a
billable charge for a user authorization if the user does not actually
access the service. Furthermore, there is a need for a system and method,
which requires a user to initiate a new authorization after the original
authorization has expired, in order to create a chain of authorization and
access events. Additionally, there exists a need for a system and method
that provides a plurality of devices local to the user, in order to
create, store and transmit records of authorization and access to a remote
central processor in a secure manner.
The following terms as used herein have the associated meanings as
described below.
An authorization transaction is a record generated when a user authorizes a
charge for an access right.
An access transaction is a record generated when the user exercises the
right of access granted by the authorization transaction.
A matching transaction is an event that occurs when an access transaction
matches an authorization transaction, which is only when they are from the
same customer, for the same service, and the starting time for the access
falls within the duration of the authorization. A user is charged when a
matching transaction occurs.
A validated authorization is an authorization transaction with at least one
matching access transaction.
A Billable Content Unit (BCU) provides access to the service, e.g., a BCU
may be in the form of a digital video disc.
A Set Top Box (STB) is a device that has the capability to play a video
content and to also keep a journal of billable and nonbillable activities
and to transmit the journal to a central database host and transaction
processor.
A journal is a log of the activities of a particular STB. It contains
digital tickets (as defined below) and play records (as defined below).
A digital ticket ("ticket") is a journal entry recording a user
authorization, i.e. a user agreeing to be billed for the access rights to
a BCU for a stated time interval. Every digital ticket contains a unique
serial number, a start time, a duration, the account number of the STB
that created it, and the serial number of the accessed BCU. A digital
ticket represents an authorization transaction.
A play is a journal entry recording that the user accessed a BCU during the
duration of a digital ticket. A play contains a start time, a duration,
the serial number of the digital ticket that allowed the play, the account
number of the STB that created it, and the serial number of the accessed
BCU. A play represents an access transaction.
SUMMARY
It is an object of this invention to provide a system and method for
tracking transactions and determining charges.
It is another object of this invention to provide a system and method
wherein a user of a service can obtain multiple access to a service over a
prescribed time interval, by establishing a single authorization.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a system and method
wherein multiple access transactions can be charged as a single billable
event.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a system and
method wherein a service user is charged only if the service authorized is
actually accessed or used.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a system and method
where a customer may access a service at any time, subject only to a prior
authorization to be charged for that access.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a system and
method where a plurality of devices local to the customer can create,
store, and transmit records of authorization and access to a remote
central processor in a secure manner.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a system and method
where the remote central processor does not require the plurality of
devices local to the customer to transmit the records of authorization and
access in the order of their creation, or in any other order.
In general, in one aspect, the invention features a computer-implemented
method for processing transactions, including authorization transactions
and access transactions for service, comprising the steps of creating and
storing on a user device authorization transactions and access
transactions having timestamp information and duration information;
transmitting records of said authorization transactions and said access
transactions from said user device to a remote host processing device;
analyzing said authorization transactions and said access transactions to
match a specific authorization transaction with a specific access
transaction based on said timestamp information and duration information;
and creating a billing record based on said matched authorization
transactions and access transactions.
Certain implementations of the present invention may include one or more of
the following features. The method of the invention further comprises the
step of detecting indicia of fraud based on the results of the step of
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