Method and apparatus for the payment of internet content

Abstract

A payment system for accessing Internet content is located within an Internet service providers network. The system includes an access controller () and a payment authority (). When an end-user makes a request for a URL, the access controller terminates the request and determines whether the requested URL is one for which a charge for accessing the content referenced by that URL is required. That determination is made by comparing the requested URL with a set of rules that are supplied by all the content providers for which the service provider supports payment. If no match is found, the request is forwarded to the content provider. If a rule is found that matches the requested URL, the end-user is identified and the request is forwarded to the payment authority where a payment policy associated with the matched rule is applied. If the end-user fulfills the requirements of this payment policy, then access to the content is granted. The end-user may fulfill the requirements of the payment policy, for example, through a current subscription to a content provider's site, through an auto-payment agreement in which all charges of less than an agreed upon amount are automatically accepted, or by specifically accepting and agreeing to pay an indicated charge for accessing the requested content. In accepting any such payment arrangement, the end-user's account with the service provider is debited for the appropriate charge and the content provider's account is credited for the end-user's access.