WO2007129089A1

WO2007129089A1 - Server system and method for facilitating a transaction

Info

Publication number: WO2007129089A1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/001686
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher Thamothirampillai
Original assignee: Ads Free Global Limited
Priority date: 2006-05-09
Filing date: 2007-05-04
Publication date: 2007-11-15
Also published as: GB2437986A8; GB2437986A; GB0609172D0

Abstract

A server system and a method are provided for facilitating a transaction, the server system comprising a server (5) accessible over the Internet (7) from terminals (8), (11). Product data is input at a terminal (8), (11) by a vendor, transmitted to the server (5) and stored in storage means (6). The product data can be accessed at the terminal (8), (11) by prospective purchasers who can submit a request to the server (5) that their identification data, which is stored in the storage means (6), is transmitted to a terminal (8), (11) associated with the vendor.

Description

SERVER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING A TRANSACTION

This invention relates to a server system for and a method of facilitating a transaction between a vendor and a prospective purchaser in relation to a product or service offered by the vendor. It also relates to a server system for and a method of registering a user for a service, in particular a web-based advertising service, comprising a user authentication process utilising a handheld mobile communications device, such as a cellular mobile phone. The method of registering a user for a service is intended to reduce the incidence of fraud in certain types of online transaction and to enable online advertisers to pay via a mobile phone account according to the actual enquiries they receive (pay-per-mobile-lead).

Prior art exists, relating to Internet based authentication processes, pay-per-click technologies, cellular telecommunications and short message service (SMS) technologies, relevant to this invention.

Google (RTM) Adwords, and other pay-per-click advertising services, enable advertisers to place online advertisements for no cost, and to pay only for the enquires generated by their advertising, according to a predetermined pay-per-click rate. Advertisers are able to set a budget for each advertisement so that when the budget is reached, the advertisement is automatically withdrawn either temporarily or permanently. Whilst there are some similarities between pay-per-click and this invention, the two methods are different in a number of aspects.

Existing Internet based transaction services put individuals in touch with one another for the purpose of buying, selling and swapping goods and services. A known weakness of these transaction services is that it is relatively easy for users to set up multiple accounts, which make these services prone to fraudulent abuse.

Existing online services which employ a mechanism for helping to prevent users from opening multiple online accounts, comprise authentication processes that often require the user to be in possession of a valid credit card. A large number of Internet users do not have a credit card. This is particularly true of younger people. Such people are therefore excluded from opening such online accounts and from using such online transaction services.

A further known weakness of existing transaction services of this type is that when an individual is interested in the product or service being offered or sort by the advertiser, the individual can register an interest by entering various details such as contact details and the nature of the enquiry, which are subsequently forwarded to the advertiser. However, this enquiry process can require multiple character entry and hence can be time consuming, such that potential purchasers may be put-off from making such an enquiry.

Existing online advertising services allow a user to set a predetermined advertising budget to pay a set amount per initial enquiry up until that budget is reached. By initial enquiry it is meant that the advertiser is charged each time a prospective purchaser clicks on a link which allows the prospective purchaser to view further details about a product or service being offered. Such links normally provide only headline information about the product or service being offered and are not intended to provide sufficient information to enable the prospective purchaser to make an informed decision about the potential purchase. However, these online advertising services do not generally allow advertisers to pay only for the number of subsequent enquiries they receive, i.e., enquiries made after further details of the product or service are displayed to the potential purchaser, and do not enable the vendor to set a limit on the subsequent number of enquiries they receive. This means that advertisers pay for initial enquiries, which are less likely to generate business than subsequent enquiries based on a more informed decision. Also, advertisers can receive more enquiries than they need, and often continue to receive enquiries after their product has been sold. This can be inconvenient for advertisers, and wastes the time of prospective purchasers responding to advertisements after the goods or services have already been sold. The present invention provides a server system for and a method of facilitating a transaction between a vendor and a prospective purchaser in relation to a product or service offered by the vendor where the vendor only pays for enquiries based on detailed product data and where the potential purchaser's contact details are automatically forwarded to the vendor when such an enquiry is made. The invention further restricts users to one online account per unique communications device, and requires the user to be in possession of a communications device, such as a mobile phone, connected to a telecommunications network at the time of registration. Restricting users to one online account per mobile phone account helps to prevent users from opening multiple accounts, and helps to ensure that the identity of the user is genuine, because in most cases the user only has ongoing access to their own mobile phone, registered in their own name.

The present invention can enable users not in possession of a credit card or debit card to pay for online advertising services through reverse billing technologies, where a charge is made to their mobile phone account on each occasion that an enquiry is generated by their advertisement.

The present invention can enable users to specify a maximum number of enquiries they wish to receive per advertisement placed, thereby enabling them to control their advertising expenditure, and to reduce the incidence of inconvenience caused to prospective buyers who happen to respond to an advertisement after the goods have already been sold.

The present invention may be used, for example, by an online business as a user authentication process, or as part of a more complex user authentication process. An online business which puts prospective buyers in contact with sellers may use this invention to restrict all buyers and sellers to just one account with the online business per mobile phone in their possession.

The present invention may also be used by an online business to help authenticate user accounts where users are not in possession of a credit card. The present invention may also be used by an online business which puts prospective buyers in contact with sellers to enable sellers to place online advertisements through the online business for free, and to pay only for the enquiries they receive, according to an agreed fee per enquiry, charged through reverse billing SMS to their mobile phone account, and to set an upper limit on the number of enquiries they wish to receive. This upper limit may be set from a single enquiry to unlimited enquiries.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a server system for facilitating a transaction between a vendor and a prospective purchaser in relation to a product or service offered by the vendor, the server system comprising: network interface means for communicating with a first terminal associated with the vendor and a second terminal associated with the prospective purchaser; storage means; and processing means, wherein the network interface means, storage means and processing means are operable to: receive identification data associated with the prospective purchaser; store the identification data; receive product data from the first terminal, the product data defining characteristics of the product or service; receive a request for the product data from the second terminal; transmit the product data to the second terminal in response to the request; receive from the second terminal a further request to transmit the identification data to the first terminal; and retrieve the identification data from the storage means and to transmit the identification data to the first terminal or to a third terminal associated with the vendor in response to the further request.

Transmitting the identification data to the first terminal or to the third terminal in response to the further request from the second terminal eliminates the need for the prospective purchaser to enter further contact details at the second terminal, which takes advantage of the fact that the prospective purchaser's contact details are stored in the storage means. This increases the processing efficiency of the server system by eliminating the need for a prospective purchaser to enter further details in order to be put in contact with the vendor and encourages the matching of vendors and prospective purchasers by removing this superfluous step. Preferably the server system is further operable to transmit web page data to the second terminal, the web page data including a hyperlink that, when activated, causes the second terminal to transmit the request to transmit the identification data. After the prospective purchaser has viewed the product data he can request that his identification data is transmitted to the vendor by clicking on a hyperlink that appears on a page showing the product data. As the identification data is stored in the server system it can be retrieved and transmitted to the vendor in response to the further request received from the second terminal.

Preferably the identification data associated with the prospective purchaser includes one or more of a telephone number, an email address and a postal address.

Preferably the server system is further operable to transmit the identification data to the first terminal or to the third terminal in the form of at least one of an e-mail and a short message service (SMS) transmission. The identification data can be sent to the terminal where the product data was entered or to a further terminal associated with the vendor, for example to a telecommunications device associated with the vendor.

Preferably the server system is operable to communicate with the first and second terminals via the Internet. The server system may be operable to communicate with the third terminal via the Internet or the server system may be operable to communicate with the third terminal via a telephone network.

Preferably the server system is operable to bill the vendor when the identification data is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal.

Preferably the server system is operable to send a billing instruction to an operator of a telecommunications device associated with the vendor when the identification data is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal.

Preferably the telecommunications device is a mobile telecommunications device. Preferably the billing instruction comprises a reverse billing SMS message. Currently reverse billing SMS is available for mobile telecommunications devices and the invention includes reverse billing SMS for non-mobile telecommunications devices, should this technology become available in the future.

Preferably the server system is further operable to store further identification data relating to a second prospective purchaser, and wherein the server system is operable to process the further identification data and further requests for identification data relating to the second prospective purchaser.

Preferably the server system is further operable to store further identification data relating to further prospective purchasers, and wherein the server system is operable to process the further identification data and further requests for identification data relating to one or more of the further prospective purchasers. The server system can store and process identification data relating to one or more prospective purchasers.

Preferably the server system is further operable to limit the number of times that identification data is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal. The vendor can set the number of times identification data is to be received in relation to each set of product data input at the second terminal.

Preferably the server system is further operable to limit the number of times identification data of a prospective purchaser is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal.

Preferably identification data of a prospective purchaser is transmitted only once to the first terminal or to the third terminal. The vendor is only billed once when a prospective purchaser requests his identification data to be transmitted to the vendor in relation to a set of product data, irrespective of the number of times the prospective purchaser requests his identification data to be transmitted to the vendor. This means that the vendor is not billed multiple times if multiple enquiries are submitted by one prospective purchaser in relation to a single set of product data. Also, if the vendor has set a limit to the number of enquiries to be received for the product or service being offered, after which the product data will be withdrawn, the prospective purchaser is prevented from making multiple enquiries so that the product data is made inaccessible, which would have meant that other prospective purchasers cannot view the product data.

Preferably the server system is further operable to limit the number of times that identification data is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal in relation to a plurality of sets of product data received from the first terminal or from a further terminal associated with the vendor. If the vendor is offering a plurality of products or services then a limit can be set for the number of times that identification data is transmitted to the first terminal or the third terminal across all products or services offered by the vendor.

Preferably the server system is further operable to make the product data inaccessible to the prospective purchasers when the number of times identification data is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal is equal to a predetermined number within a predetermined timeframe. If a set of product data is generating little or nil interest from prospective purchasers within a period of time then the server system can automatically withdraw the product data from view, thereby improving the efficiency of the server system.

Preferably the predetermined number of times is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum number.

Preferably the product data relates to a product or service offered by the vendor or a product or service advertised by a third party on behalf of the vendor. Alternatively the product data relates to a product or service sought by the purchaser or a product or service advertised by a third party on behalf of the purchaser. The invention relates equally to a product or service being offered ("sales") as it does to a product or service being sought ("wanted") and is equally applicable to a swapping service. Hence the terms vendor and prospective purchaser are generally interchangeable throughout this specification. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of facilitating a transaction between a vendor and a prospective purchaser in relation to a product or service offered by the vendor, the method comprising the steps of: receiving identification data associated with the prospective purchaser; storing the identification data; receiving product data from a first terminal associated with the vendor, the product data defining characteristics of the product or service; receiving a request for the product data from a second terminal associated with the prospective purchaser; processing the request for the product data, to transmit the product data to the second terminal in response to the request; receiving from the second terminal a request to transmit the identification data to the first terminal; and processing the request to transmit the identification data, to retrieve the identification data from the storage means and to transmit the identification data to the first terminal or to a third terminal associated with the vendor in response to the request.

Preferably the step of receiving a request to transmit the identification data follows the step of processing the request for the product data. As the step of receiving a request to transmit the identification data directly follows the step of processing the request for the product data, the present invention has an advantage over existing transaction services, which require the prospective purchaser to enter further data before the identification data is transmitted to the vendor.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of facilitating a transaction between a vendor and a prospective purchaser in relation to a product or service offered by the vendor, the method comprising: obtaining and storing the prospective purchaser's contact details; receiving an advertisement from the vendor for the product or service; receiving a request from the prospective purchaser to view the advertisement; displaying the advertisement to the prospective purchaser in response to his request; receiving a further request from the prospective purchaser to pass on his contact details to the vendor; retrieving the prospective purchaser's contact details; and sending the prospective purchaser's contact details to the vendor, to allow the transaction to be completed. Preferably the method further comprises initial steps of the vendor and prospective purchaser registering by providing personal data comprising contact data.

Preferably the contact data comprises one or more telephone number.

Preferably the number of prospective purchasers or vendors is limited for the or each telephone number provided.

Preferably the number of prospective purchasers or vendors is limited for the or each telephone number of a mobile telecommunications device provided.

Preferably only one prospective purchaser or vendor is registered for each telephone number of a mobile telecommunications device provided.

Preferably the requests from the prospective purchaser are received via the Internet.

Preferably the prospective purchaser views the advert at a terminal.

Preferably the further request from the prospective purchaser to pass on his contact details to the vendor directly follows displaying the advertisement to the prospective purchaser in response to his request.

Preferably the prospective purchaser sends the request to pass on his contact details by clicking on a hyperlink displayed at the terminal.

Preferably the prospective purchaser's contact details include one or more of a telephone number, an email address and a postal address.

Preferably the prospective purchaser's contact details are sent to the vendor by one or both of an e-mail and a short message service (SMS) message. Preferably the vendor is billed when the prospective purchaser's contact details are sent to the vendor.

Preferably the vendor is billed by sending a billing instruction to an operator of a telecommunications device registered to the vendor when identification data is sent to vendor.

Preferably the telecommunications device is a mobile telecommunications device.

Preferably the billing instruction comprises a reverse billing SMS message.

Preferably the method further comprises obtaining and storing contact details of a second prospective purchaser, and wherein the method further comprises processing the further contact details and further requests for the second prospective purchaser's contact details.

Preferably the method further comprises obtaining and storing further contact details relating to further prospective purchasers, and wherein the method further comprises processing the further contact details and further requests for contact details relating to one or more of the further prospective purchasers.

Preferably the vendor sets a maximum number of times the prospective purchasers' contact details are sent to the vendor.

Preferably the method further comprises limiting the number of times contact details of a prospective purchaser are transmitted to the vendor.

Preferably the contact details of a prospective purchaser are transmitted only once to the vendor. Preferably the vendor posts a plurality of adverts and sets a maximum number of times prospective purchasers' contact details are sent to the vendor in response to the adverts.

Preferably the advert is made inaccessible to the prospective purchasers when prospective purchasers' contact details are sent to the vendor a predetermined number of times within a predetermined timeframe.

Preferably the advert relates to a product or service offered by the vendor or a product or service advertised by a third party on behalf of the vendor.

Preferably the advert relates to a product or service sought by the prospective purchaser or a product or service advertised by a third party on behalf of a prospective purchaser seeking the product or service.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a server system for registering a user for a service, comprising: means for receiving identification data associated with the registering user, the identification data comprising a telephone number of a telecommunications device associated with the registering user; means for checking for the registration of the telephone number by registered users of the service; means for sending authentication data to the telephone number of the telecommunications device available to the registering user; means for receiving the authentication data from the registering user of the service; means for validating that the authentication data corresponds to the authentication data sent to the registering user; and means for recording the registering user as a registered user of the service if the authenticating data is validated.

Preferably the telecommunications device is a mobile telecommunications device. Preferably the authentication data is sent to the telecommunications device of the registering user as a short message service (SMS) message.

Preferably the authentication data is sent by the registering user by one or both of SMS message or by entering the authentication data at a webpage.

Preferably the service is an advertising service.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of registering a user for a service, comprising: receiving identification data associated with the registering user, the identification data comprising a telephone number of a telecommunications device available to the registering user; checking for the registration of the telephone number by registered users of the service; sending authentication data to the telephone number of the telecommunications device associated with the registering user; receiving the authentication data from the registering user of the service; validating that the authentication data corresponds to the authentication data sent to the registering user; and recording the registering user as a registered user of the service if the authenticating data is validated.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a server system for facilitating a transaction between a vendor and a prospective purchaser in relation to a product or service offered by the vendor, the server system comprising: means for receiving identification data associated with the prospective purchaser; means for storing the identification data; means for receiving product data from a first terminal associated with the vendor, the product data defining characteristics of the product or service; means for receiving a request for the product data from a second terminal associated with the prospective purchaser; means for processing the request for the product data, operable to transmit the product data to the second terminal in response to the request; means for receiving from the second terminal a request to transmit the identification data to the first terminal; and means for processing the request to transmit the identification data, operable to retrieve the identification data from the storage means and to transmit the identification data to the vendor in response to the request. According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a carrier medium carrying computer readable code for controlling a computer to carry out any of the methods described above.

The invention may include handheld mobile communications devices other than cellular mobile communications devices, and may also include reverse billing technologies other than SMS reverse billing technologies.

The present invention can be implemented in any convenient form, for example using dedicated hardware, or a mixture of dedicated hardware and software. The present invention may be implemented as computer software implemented by one or more networked processing apparatuses. The network can comprise any conventional terrestrial or wireless communications network, such as the Internet. The processing apparatuses can comprise any suitably programmed apparatuses such as a general purpose computer, personal digital assistant, mobile telephone (such as a WAP or 3G- compliant phone) and so on. Since the present invention can be implemented as software, each and every aspect of the present invention thus encompasses computer software implementable on a programmable device. The computer software can be provided to the programmable device using any conventional carrier medium. The carrier medium can comprise a transient carrier medium such as an electrical, optical, microwave, acoustic or radio frequency signal carrying the computer code. An example of such a transient medium is a TCP/IP signal carrying computer code over an IP network, such as the Internet. The carrier medium can also comprise a storage medium for storing processor readable code such as a floppy disk, hard disk, CD ROM, magnetic tape device or solid state memory device.

It will be appreciated that each method aspect defined or described herein can be used, where appropriate, in any combination with other method and apparatus aspect(s) defined or described herein, and vice versa.

The following describes the invention by means of a preferred embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Figure l is a schematic view of a server system embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is process flow diagram showing the steps taken to place an advertisement;

Figure 3 is a process flow diagram showing the steps taken to open an account allowing the registering user to use the server system of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a process flow diagram showing the steps taken to place a "wanted" advertisement;

Figure 5 is a process flow diagram showing the steps taken to place a "swap" advertisement;

Figure 6 is a process flow diagram showing the steps taken to register an Internet user as a level zero account holder;

Figure 7 is a process flow diagram showing the steps required to upgrade an existing account to a "level two" account; and

Figure 8 is a process flow diagram showing the steps required when an account holder requests that his contact details are transmitted to an advertiser.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a server system 1 embodying the invention. A server 5 is accessed over the Internet 7 or other network from a terminal 11 associated with an Internet user, who is a vendor of a product or service or a prospective purchaser seeking a product or service. The server system 1 includes a gateway server 9 which is accessible by the server 5, a telecommunications network 4 accessible by the gateway server 9, a telecommunications network operator's public interface 3, account holder's telecommunications device 2, and other terminal accessible by account holders 8. Product data defining characteristics of a product or service offered by the vendor or sought by the prospective purchaser is received by the server 5 from the terminal 11 and stored in the storage means 6. A user may view advertisements by accessing the server 5, but the user is required to open an account through the server 5 before the user can place advertisements or respond to advertisements.

Figure 3 is a process flow diagram showing the steps required to register an Internet user as a user of the server system. A user access and user authentication method are provided for accessing the facilities of the server system 1. The server system 1 provides three levels of user access to various facilities of the server system 1. The three levels are level zero, level one, and level two. Level zero provides Internet users with registered membership and access to a facility for creating a user profile. The process for registering as a level zero user is shown in Figure 6. On gaining level zero access, Internet users become account holders.

Level one access enables account holders to respond to product data input by other account holders at a terminal 11 as an advertisement . Level two access enables account holders to respond to advertisements placed by other account holders, and also to place advertisements on the server system 1.

As shown in Figure 3, to register for the service users are required to enter a telephone number, for example the telephone number of a mobile telecommunications device, at a terminal 8, 11 into an online registration form. On entering a mobile telephone number into the online registration form, the telephone number is sent from the terminal 11 to the server 5. The server 5 compares the telephone number against a database of account holders' telephone numbers stored in the storage means 6. In the event that a match is found in the database, then the server 5 declines registration of a new account. In a preferred embodiment the telephone number of a mobile telecommunications device is provided by a registering user and this number is compared against telephone numbers of mobile telecommunications devices provided by users already registered to use the server system 1. In the event that no match is found in the database, then to complete the opening of a level zero account, the registering user is required to enter a unique user name and password into an online form. The user name and password are stored in the storage means 6 against the user's mobile phone number in addition to other personal details. Once an account holder has logged off from the server 5, the account holder may regain access to their account through entering the correct user name and password stored against their account in the storage means 6 into a login screen accessible over the Internet 7.

Account holders registered to use the server system 1 with level zero access are required to upgrade their access to level one or level two in order to respond to advertisements placed by means of the server 5 by other registered account holders. Account holders registered on the system with level zero or level one access are required to upgrade their access through a process to level two before they are able to place advertisements on the web site.

To upgrade an account from level zero access to either level one access or level two access, account holders should be in possession of a telecommunications device 2, such as a mobile phone, connected to a telecommunications network, such as a cellular telecommunications network 4.

The process for upgrading level zero access to level one access involves sending a text message to the account holder's phone 2. This text message includes a code (a personal identification number (PIN)) and an instruction to the account holder to enter this code into a form generated by the server 5 and made accessible to the account holder 8, for example by means of a web page. Alternatively the code may be sent by SMS message to a telephone number associated with the server 5. In the event that the account holder enters the code incorrectly, then the upgrade to level one is declined and the account holder is unable to respond to advertisements. In the event that the account holder enters the code correctly then the account is upgraded to level one and the server system 1 allows the upgraded account holder to respond to advertisements

The process for upgrading either level zero access or level one access to level two access is shown in Figure 7 and involves the generation of a text message, originating from the server 5 via the SMS gateway 9 and the telephone network 4 to the telephone 2 of the upgrading account holder. This process is initiated by the upgrading user's online request. The telephone 2 is not limited to a mobile telephone but may be any SMS receiving device. The text message instructs the upgrading account holder to send a message, including a keyword, to a destination, for example a short code telephone number, so as to authorise reverse billing SMS charges to a telephone account, for example a mobile telephone account, against enquiries received by the server 5 from third parties in response to advertisements submitted by the account holder. The short code telephone number is registered to the operator of the gateway server 9 and terminates on the gateway system. When the upgrading account holder texts the keyword to the short code telephone number, the text message is first received by the mobile telephone operator's system 3 to which the user's mobile telephone 2 is connected. The short code telephone number identifies the gateway system 9 to the mobile telephone operator's system 3. On receipt, the mobile telephone operator's system 3 communicates with the gateway system 9, forwarding the text message to the gateway system 9. The keyword identifies the system 5 to the gateway system 9. On receipt of the text message, the gateway system 9 communicates with the server 5, updating the storage means 6 with the details of the mobile telephone operator 3, creating a link in the storage means 6 between the user's mobile telephone number and the identity of the mobile telephone operator 3. Alternatively, the destination for receiving the keyword to authorise reverse SMS payments may be a web page provided by the server 5, and the identity of the telephone operator can be determined by other known methods.

A prospective purchaser responds to an advert submitted by a level two user acting as a vendor by activating a hyperlink included in web page data transmitted to the prospective purchaser in response to an initial enquiry made by the prospective purchaser. For example, the prospective purchaser may initiate a search by entering a search term into a web page, following which the server 5 returns a list of vendors' adverts matching the search term entered. The prospective purchaser then chooses one of the adverts to view more detailed product data about the product or service being offered by the vendor, the web page including the hyperlink to request that identification data associated with the prospective purchaser is transmitted to the vendor. The identification data is provided by the prospective purchaser when registering for level zero or level one access and includes one or more of a telephone number, an email address and a postal address. When a registered account holder of the server system 1 with either level one or level two access requests that their identification data is sent to a terminal associated with the vendor in response to an advertisement placed by an account holder with level two access acting as a vendor, the server 5 looks up a table of tariffs or a rate card held in the storage means 6 and determines the advertising tariff to be applied, for example according to the value or type of goods or services advertised. The server 5 then sends a message, for example an http message, to the gateway server 9.

The message contains the mobile telephone number of the advertiser and the identity of the mobile telephone operator 3 to which the account holder's mobile telephone number is registered, and contains an instruction to generate a reverse billing SMS message of the determined tariff to be sent to that advertiser. The gateway server 9 is connected to the SMS servers of the mobile telephone companies operating within a territory. On receiving an http message from the system 5, the gateway server 9 generates a new http message, including the determined tariff and instruction to generate a reverse billing SMS message to be sent to the advertiser, and sends that message to the SMS server of the identified mobile telephone operator. The SMS server of the identified mobile telephone operator receives this http message and acts upon the instruction and tariff contained within it, generating a reverse billing SMS message of the specified tariff and sending this to the advertiser, and debiting the full amount of the tariff from the advertiser's mobile telephone account, and crediting the account of the organisation operating the server 5, with the agreed commissions payable for generating a reverse billing SMS message of that particular tariff.

The server system 1 allows level two account holders to submit product data to the server 5 as an advertisement. A level two account holder is not charged for submitting an advertisement, and is only charged when a prospective purchaser requests that his identification data, including his contact details, are transmitted to the vendor. For each advertisement that the level two account holder creates, the server 5 can set a minimum number of enquiries which the advertisement must generate within a specific time period. The level two account holder sets the maximum number of enquiries they wish to receive for each advertisement. This can be set from a single enquiry to unlimited enquiries. The product data is made accessible over the Internet to the general public. The server system 1 applies a reverse billing SMS charge to the mobile phone account of the level two account holder for each enquiry generated by the level two account holder's advertisement.

On each occasion that an enquiry triggers a reverse billing SMS message to a level two account holder's mobile phone account, the server 5 first determines the mobile telephone number to which the SMS reverse billing message must be sent, and identifies the network 3 on which that mobile telephone number is operating, and determines the value of the reverse billing SMS charge according to the table of tariffs or rate card stored in the database 6, the charge for example depending on the value of goods offered for sale in the advertisement.

In some national territories, cellular network operators 3 each provide a range of reverse billing tariffs. In some national territories, a standard range of reverse billing tariffs is common to all cellular network operators 3 operating within a national territory. The table of tariffs stored in the database 6 is comprised of such a standard range of reverse billing tariffs common to all cellular network operators 3 operating within a national territory. Multiple tariff tables may be required by the server system 1 for multiple territories.

The server 5 selects the relevant tariff table for a territory and selects a tariff from that table, for example, according to the value of goods offered for sale in the advertisement, and stores the selected reverse billing tariff rate in the database 6 against the specific advertisement, and applies that tariff rate to each enquiry generated by the advertisement in that territory.

Once an SMS text message has been successfully generated and sent out to a level two account holder in response to an enquiry, the server 5 generates a confirmation web page which is displayed to the enquirer, visually presenting the level two account holder's details.

For the purposes of the following example it is assumed that one such advertisement is placed by a level two account holder and that this advertisement is labelled "Advertisement A", and that enquiries are generated in the same territory as that of the level two account holder placing Advertisement A.

If no account holders respond to Advertisement A within the time period set by the server system 1 , or if a number of account holders respond to Advertisement A within the time period set by the server system 1 , each generating an enquiry, but if this number of enquiries does not equal the minimum number of enquiries required within the time period set by the server system 5, then the server system 5 removes Advertisement A from public access, but continues to display Advertisement A to the advertising account holder through the advertising account holder's personal account screen, and informs the advertising account holder that Advertisement A is no longer publicly available. In this event, the advertising account holder is given an opportunity to edit Advertisement A. Once the advertising account holder has edited Advertisement A then the server 5 allows the advertising account holder to take an action, such as clicking a button or a link, to cause Advertisement A to be displayed once again for general public Internet access.

Returning to the original placement of Advertisement A, if a number of account holders respond to Advertisement A within the time period set by the server system 5, each generating an enquiry, and if this number of enquiries equals the maximum number of enquiries set by the advertising account holder on placing Advertisement A, then the server 5 automatically removes Advertisement A from public access, but continues to display Advertisement A to the advertising account holder through the advertising account holder's personal account screen, and informs the advertising account holder that Advertisement A is no longer being displayed publicly. In this event, the advertising account holder is given the option of resetting the maximum number of enquiries to a higher number, thereby causing the server system 1 to allow access to Advertisement A by general public Internet access.

Returning to the original placement of Advertisement A, if a number of account holders with either level one or level two access respond to Advertisement A, each response to Advertisement A generates an enquiry, and if this number of enquiries equals or exceeds the minimum number of enquiries required by the server 5, but does not equal the maximum number of enquiries set by the advertising account holder, then the server 5 continues to provide access to the advertisement for general public Internet user access.

A method is provided as shown in Figure 3, whereby general public Internet users may view advertisements submitted by account holders to the server 5, but where the general public Internet users are required to open an account at the web site 5 before they can respond to those advertisements. When a new user attempts to respond to an advertisement, the server 5 presents the user with an online screen which informs the user that level one or level two registration is necessary before the user can respond to the advertisement. The server 5 also presents the user with an online form which enables the user to enter personal details, including the user's mobile phone number, and apply for level one or level two account access.

Figure 4 is a process flow diagram showing the steps taken to place a "wanted" advertisement, where only the respondent is charged. Wanted advertisements are defined as advertisements placed by level two account holders where the intention of the advertisement is to generate enquiries from other account holders and internet users who may wish to supply goods or services to the advertiser, as specified in the advertisement or as suggested by the category label under which the advertisement is displayed on the web site.

As shown in Figure 4, level one and level two account holders may submit advertisements onto the web site for goods and services they would like to buy. These types of advertisements are referred to in the drawings as "Wanted" advertisements. General Internet users are able to view wanted advertisements but are required to open a level one account, as described above, before they can place wanted advertisements, or a level two account to respond to wanted advertisements. Level zero account holders are required by the system to upgrade to a level one account before they can place wanted advertisements or upgrade to a level two account before they can respond to wanted advertisements. Level two account holders may respond to wanted advertisements by logging into their account, by entering the correct user name and password stored against their account in the database 6. On each occasion that a level two account holder responds to a wanted advertisement, a reverse billing SMS charge is generated by the server 5 against the responding level two account holder's mobile phone account, and the server 5 removes the wanted advertisement from public display, giving the level two user an opportunity to contact the vendor to complete the sale. The level one account holder responsible for placing the wanted advertisement is required by the server 5 to login to their account and to take an action such as clicking a button or a link to cause the wanted advertisement to be made available once again for general public access, for example if the sale has not been completed.

Figure 5 is a process flow diagram showing the steps taken to place a "swap" advertisement. Level two account holders can place "swap" advertisements, where both the advertiser and the respondent are charged when the respondent responds to the advertiser by requesting that identification data is sent from one party to the other party. Swap advertisements are defined as advertisements placed by level two account holders where the intention of the advertisement is to generate enquiries from other account holders and Internet users who may wish to swap goods or services with the advertiser, as described in the advertisement or as suggested by the category label under which the advertisement is displayed on the web site.

As shown in Figure 5, level two account holders may place advertisements for goods or services they would like to swap. These types of advertisements are referred to in the drawings as "Swap" advertisements. General Internet users are able to view swap advertisements but are required to open a level two account as described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2, before they can respond to a swap advertisement. Level zero and level one account holders are required to upgrade to level two accounts before they can place or respond to swap advertisements. Level two account holders may respond to swap advertisements by logging in to their account by means of the web site provided by the server 5, through entering the correct user name and password stored against their account in the database 6. When a level two account holder responds to a swap advertisement, a reverse billing SMS charge is generated by the server 5 against that individual's mobile phone account, and a second reverse billing SMS charge is generated by the server 5 against the mobile phone account of the level two account holder who placed the swap advertisement, and the server 5 also makes the swap advertisement inaccessible to the public, and sends an email to the advertising account holder to inform the advertising account holder that the swap advertisement has been made inaccessible to the public. The level two advertising account holder who placed the swap advertisement is required by the server 5 to log in to their account by means of the web site and to take an action such as clicking a button or a link to cause the swap advertisement to be displayed once again for general public access, for example if the swap is not concluded.

Various modifications will be apparent to those in the art and it is desired to include all such modifications as fall within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A server system for facilitating a transaction between a vendor and a prospective purchaser in relation to a product or service offered by the vendor, the server system comprising: network interface means for communicating with a first terminal associated with the vendor and a second terminal associated with the prospective purchaser; storage means; and processing means, wherein the network interface means, storage means and processing means are operable to: receive identification data associated with the prospective purchaser; store the identification data; receive product data from the first terminal, the product data defining characteristics of the product or service; receive a request for the product data from the second terminal; transmit the product data to the second terminal in response to the request; receive from the second terminal a further request to transmit the identification data to the first terminal; and retrieve the identification data from the storage means and to transmit the identification data to the first terminal or to a third terminal associated with the vendor in response to the further request.

2. A server system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the server system is further operable to transmit web page data to the second terminal, the web page data including a hyperlink that, when activated, causes the second terminal to transmit the request to transmit the identification data.

3. A server system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the identification data associated with the prospective purchaser includes one or more of a telephone number, an email address and a postal address.

4. A server system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the server system is further operable to transmit the identification data to the first terminal or to the third terminal in the form of at least one of an e-mail and a short message service (SMS) transmission.

5. A server system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the server system is operable to communicate with the first and second terminals via the Internet.

6. A server system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further operable to bill the vendor when the identification data is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal.

7. A server system as claimed in claim 6, further operable to send a billing instruction to an operator of a telecommunications device associated with the vendor when the identification data is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal.

8. A server system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the telecommunications device is a mobile telecommunications device.

9. A server system as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the billing instruction comprises a reverse billing SMS message.

10. A server system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further operable to store further identification data relating to a second prospective purchaser, and wherein the server system is operable to process the further identification data and further requests for identification data relating to the second prospective purchaser.

11. A server system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further operable to store further identification data relating to further prospective purchasers, and wherein the server system is operable to process the further identification data and further requests for identification data relating to one or more of the further prospective purchasers.

12. A server system as claimed in claim 10 or 11, further operable to limit the number of times that identification data is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal.

13. A server system as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, further operable to limit the number of times identification data of a prospective purchase is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal.

14. A server system as claimed in claim 13, wherein identification data of a prospective purchaser is transmitted only once to the first terminal or to the third terminal.

15. A server system as claimed in claim 10 or 11, further operable to limit the number of times that identification data is transmitted to the first terminal or the third terminal in relation to a plurality of sets of product data received from the first terminal or from a further terminal associated with the vendor.

16. A server system as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, further operable to make the product data inaccessible to the prospective purchasers when the number of times identification data is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal is equal to a predetermined number within a predetermined timeframe.

17. A server system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the predetermined number of times is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum number.

18. A server system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the product data relates to a product or service offered by the vendor or a product or service advertised by a third party on behalf of the vendor.

19. A server system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the product data relates to a product or service sought by the purchaser or a product or service advertised by a third party on behalf of the purchaser.

20. A method of facilitating a transaction between a vendor and a prospective purchaser in relation to a product or service offered by the vendor, the method comprising the steps of: receiving identification data associated with the prospective purchaser; storing the identification data; receiving product data from a first terminal associated with the vendor, the product data defining characteristics of the product or service; receiving a request for the product data from a second terminal associated with the prospective purchaser; processing the request for the product data, to transmit the product data to the second terminal in response to the request; receiving from the second terminal a request to transmit the identification data to the first terminal; and processing the request to transmit the identification data, to retrieve the identification data from the storage means and to transmit the identification data to the first terminal or to a third terminal associated with the vendor in response to the request.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the step of receiving a request to transmit the identification data follows the step of processing the request for the product data.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20 or 21, further comprising transmitting web page data to the second terminal, the web page data including a hyperlink that, when activated, causes the second terminal to transmit the request to transmit the identification data.

23. A method as claimed in claim 20, 21 or 22, wherein the identification data includes one or more of a telephone number, an email address and a postal address.

24. A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein the identification data is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal in the form of at least one of an e-mail and a short message service (SMS) transmission.

25. A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 24, further comprising communicating with the first and second terminals via the Internet.

26. A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 25, further comprising billing the vendor when the identification data relating to the prospective purchaser is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26, further comprising sending a billing instruction to an operator of a telecommunications device associated with the vendor.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the telecommunications device is a mobile telecommunications device.

29. A method as claimed in claims 27 or 28, wherein the billing instruction comprises a reverse billing SMS message.

30. A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 29, further comprising storing further identification data relating to a second prospective purchaser, and wherein the method further comprises processing the further identification data and further requests for identification data relating to the second prospective purchaser.

31. A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 30, further comprising storing further identification data relating to further prospective purchasers, and wherein the method further comprises processing the further identification data and further requests for identification data relating to one or more of the further prospective purchaser.

32. A method as claimed in claim 30 or 31, further comprising limiting the number of times that identification data is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal.

33. A method as claims in claim 32, further comprising limiting the number of times identification data of a prospective purchaser is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal.

34. A method as claims in claim 33, wherein identification data of a prospective purchaser is transmitted only once to the first terminal or to the third terminal.

35. A method as claimed in claim 30 or 31, further comprising limiting the number of times that identification data is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal in relation to a plurality of sets of product data received from the first terminal or from a further terminal associated with the vendor.

36. A method as claimed in any one of claims 30 to 34, wherein the product data is made inaccessible to the prospective purchasers when the number of times identification data is transmitted to the first terminal or to the third terminal is equal to a predetermined number within a predetermined timeframe.

37. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the predetermined number of times is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum number.

38. A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 37, wherein the product data relates to a product or service offered by the vendor or a product or service advertised by the a third party on behalf of a the vendor.

39. A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 37, wherein the product data relates to a product or service sought by the prospective purchaser or a product or service advertised by a third party on behalf of the prospective purchaser.

40. A method of facilitating a transaction between a vendor and a prospective purchaser in relation to a product or service offered by the vendor, the method comprising: obtaining and storing the prospective purchaser's contact details; receiving an advertisement from the vendor for the product or service; receiving a request from the prospective purchaser to view the advertisement; displaying the advertisement to the prospective purchaser in response to his request; receiving a further request from the prospective purchaser to pass on his contact details to the vendor; retrieving the prospective purchaser's contact details; and sending the prospective purchaser's contact details to the vendor, to allow the transaction to be completed.

41. A method as claimed in claim 40, further comprising initial steps of the vendor and prospective purchaser registering by providing personal data comprising contact data.

42. A method as claimed in claim 41, wherein the contact data comprises one or more telephone number.

43. A method as claimed in claim 42, wherein the number of prospective purchasers or vendors is limited for the or each telephone number provided.

44. A method as claimed in claim 43, wherein the number of prospective purchasers or vendors is limited for the or each telephone number of a mobile telecommunications device provided.

45. A method a claimed in claim 44, wherein only one prospective purchaser or vendor is registered for each telephone number of a mobile telecommunications device provided.

46. A method as claimed in any one of claims 40 to 45, wherein the requests from the prospective purchaser are received via the Internet.

47. A method as claimed in any one of claims 40 to 46, wherein the prospective purchaser views the advert at a terminal.

48. A method as claimed in claim 47, wherein the further request from the prospective purchaser to pass on his contact details to the vendor directly follows displaying the advertisement to the prospective purchaser in response to his request.

49. A method as claimed in claim 48, wherein the prospective purchaser sends the request to pass on his contact details by clicking on a hyperlink displayed at the terminal.

50. A method as claimed in any one of claims 40 to 49, wherein the prospective purchaser's contact details include one or more of a telephone number, an email address and a postal address.

51. A method as claimed in any one of claims 40 to 50, wherein the prospective purchaser's contact details are sent to the vendor by one or both of an e-mail and a short message service (SMS) message.

52. A method as claimed in any one of claims 40 to 51, wherein the vendor is billed when the prospective purchaser's contact details are sent to the vendor.

53. A method as claimed in claim 52, wherein the vendor is billed by sending a billing instruction to an operator of a telecommunications device registered to the vendor when identification data is sent to vendor.

54. A method as claimed in claim 53, wherein the telecommunications device is a mobile telecommunications device.

55. A method as claimed in claim 52 or 53, wherein the billing instruction comprises a reverse billing SMS message.

56. A method as claimed in any one of claims 40 to 55, further comprising obtaining and storing contact details of a second prospective purchaser, and wherein the method further comprises processing the further contact details and further requests for the second prospective purchaser's contact details.

57. A method as claimed in any one of claims 40 to 56, further comprising obtaining and storing further contact details relating to further prospective purchasers, and wherein the method further comprises processing the further contact details and further requests for contact details relating to one or more of the further prospective purchaser.

58. A method as claimed in claim 56 or 57, wherein the vendor sets a maximum number of times the prospective purchasers' contact details are sent to the vendor.

59. A method as claims in any one of claims 56 to 58, further comprising limiting the number of times contact details of a prospective purchaser are transmitted to the vendor.

60. A method as claims in claim 59, wherein contact details of a prospective purchaser are transmitted only once to the vendor.

61. A method as claimed in claim 56 or 57, wherein the vendor posts a plurality of adverts and sets a maximum number of times prospective purchasers' contact details are sent to the vendor in response to the adverts.

62. A method as claimed in any one of claims 56 to 61, wherein the advert is made inaccessible to the prospective purchasers when prospective purchasers' contact details are sent to the vendor a predetermined number of times within a predetermined timeframe.

63. A method as claimed in claim 62, wherein the predetermined number of times is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum number.

64. A method as claimed in any one of claims 40 to 63, wherein the advert relates to a product or service offered by the vendor or a product or service advertised by a third party on behalf of the vendor.

65. A method as claimed in any one of claims 40 to 63, wherein the advert relates to a product or service sought by the prospective purchaser or a product or service advertised by a third party on behalf of a prospective purchaser seeking the product or service.

66. A server system for registering a user for a service, comprising: means for receiving identification data associated with the registering user, the identification data comprising a telephone number of a telecommunications device associated with the registering user; means for checking for the registration of the telephone number by registered users of the service; means for sending authentication data to the telephone number of the telecommunications device available to the registering user; means for receiving the authentication data from the registering user of the service; means for validating that the authentication data corresponds to the authentication data sent to the registering user; and means for recording the registering user as a registered user of the service if the authenticating data is validated.

67. A server system as claimed in claim 66, wherein the telecommunications device is a mobile telecommunications device.

68. A server system as claimed in claim 66 or 67, wherein the authentication data is sent to the telecommunications device of the registering user as a short message service (SMS) message.

69. A server system as claimed in any one of claims 66 to 68, wherein the authentication data is sent by the registering user by one or both of SMS message or by entering the authentication data at a webpage.

70. A server system as claimed in any one of claims 66 to 69, wherein the service is an advertising service.

71. A method of registering a user for a service, comprising: receiving identification data associated with the registering user, the identification data comprising a telephone number of a telecommunications device available to the registering user; checking for the registration of the telephone number by registered users of the service; sending authentication data to the telephone number of the telecommunications device associated with the registering user; receiving the authentication data from the registering user of the service; validating that the authentication data corresponds to the authentication data sent to the registering user; and recording the registering user as a registered user of the service if the authenticating data is validated.

72. A method as claimed in claim 71, wherein the telecommunications device is a mobile telecommunications device.

73. A method as claimed in claim 71 or 72, wherein the authentication data is sent to the telecommunications device of the registering user as a short message service (SMS) message.

74. A method as claimed in claim 71, 72 or 73, wherein the authentication data is sent by the registering user by one or both of SMS message or by entering the authentication data at a webpage.

75. A method as claimed in any one of claims 71 to 74, wherein the service is an advertising service.

76. A server system for facilitating a transaction between a vendor and a prospective purchaser in relation to a product or service offered by the vendor, the server system comprising: means for receiving identification data associated with the prospective purchaser; means for storing the identification data; means for receiving product data from a first terminal associated with the vendor, the product data defining characteristics of the product or service; means for receiving a request for the product data from a second terminal associated with the prospective purchaser; means for processing the request for the product data, operable to transmit the product data to the second terminal in response to the request; means for receiving from the second terminal a request to transmit the identification data to the first terminal; and means for processing the request to transmit the identification data, operable to retrieve the identification data from the storage means and to transmit the identification data to the vendor in response to the request.

77. A user account structure for an online advertising service, the user account structure comprising three levels of registration, wherein: a first level of registration allows first level users to register personal identification information; a second level of registration additionally allows second level users to respond to an advert offering a product or service; and a third level of registration further additionally third level users to place an advert offering a product or service.

78. A user account structure as claimed in claim 77, wherein a second level user can place adverts seeking a product or service to be provided by third level user.

79. A user account structure as claimed in claim 77 or 78, wherein a third level user can place an advert to swap a product or service with a product or service offered by another third level user.

80. A user account structure as claimed in any one of claims 77 to 79, wherein all registered and non-registered users can view an advert placed on the online advertising service.

81. A carrier medium carrying computer readable code for controlling a computer to carry out the method of any one of claims 20 to 65 or 71 to 75.