Micro-payment system architecture

Abstract

A micro-payment system has buyers, sellers, and a broker. The buyers establish accounts with the broker and provide payment information allowing the broker to invoice the buyers. The sellers establish accounts with the brokers and specify terms for accessing items, including electronic content, available from the sellers. The sellers also provide payment information that allows the broker to credit the sellers for sales of the items. The broker aggregates the buyers' micro-payment purchases and invoices the buyers. The broker also aggregates the sellers' micro-payment sales and credits the sellers.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 establishing an account for a seller with a broker, the seller selling electronic content that can be purchased by buyers, the seller including a content database storing electronic content offered by the seller;   storing in a storage system of the broker and separate from the content database of the seller, a copy of the electronic content offered by the seller;   receiving a search query from a buyer;   searching for electronic content responsive to the search query; and   presenting the buyer with a description of the electronic content responsive to the search query.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein presenting the buyer with a description comprises:
 presenting the buyer with descriptions of free electronic content and premium electronic content that are responsive to the search query.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein presenting the buyer with a description comprises:
 providing the buyer with a reputation score indicating a relative quality of the premium electronic content.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to the buyer purchasing the electronic content, providing the purchased electronic content from the storage system to the buyer.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the buyer makes multiple purchases of electronic content from the broker and further comprising:
 aggregating multiple purchases of electronic content from the broker made by the buyer within a billing cycle; and   invoicing the buyer for an amount of the multiple purchases made within the billing cycle.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing a rule describing terms of access to the electronic content;   allowing the buyer to purchase the electronic content; and   providing the buyer with the purchased electronic content responsive to the terms of access described by the rule.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein presenting the buyer with a description of the electronic content comprises:
 providing the user with an excerpt of the electronic content.   
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having executable computer program logic embodied therein, the computer program logic executable to perform steps comprising:
 establishing an account for a seller with a broker, the seller selling electronic content that can be purchased by buyers, the seller including a content database storing electronic content offered by the seller;   storing in a storage system of the broker and separate from the content database of the seller, a copy of the electronic content offered by the seller;   receiving a search query from a buyer;   searching for electronic content responsive to the search query; and   presenting the buyer with a description of the electronic content responsive to the search query.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein presenting the buyer with a description comprises:
 presenting the buyer with descriptions of free electronic content and premium electronic content that are responsive to the search query.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein presenting the buyer with a description comprises:
 providing the buyer with a reputation score indicating a relative quality of the premium electronic content.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , the computer program logic executable to perform steps further comprising:
 responsive to the buyer purchasing the electronic content, providing the purchased electronic content from the storage system to the buyer.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the buyer makes multiple purchases of electronic content from the broker and further comprising:
 aggregating multiple purchases of electronic content from the broker made by the buyer within a billing cycle; and   invoicing the buyer for an amount of the multiple purchases made within the billing cycle.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , the computer program logic executable to perform steps further comprising:
 storing a rule describing terms of access to the electronic content;   allowing the buyer to purchase the electronic content; and   providing the buyer with the purchased electronic content responsive to the terms of access described by the rule.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein presenting the buyer with a description of the electronic content comprises:
 providing the user with an excerpt of the electronic content.   
     
     
         15 . A computer system comprising:
 a computer processor for executing computer program logic; and   a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having executable computer program logic embodied therein, the computer program logic executable by the processor to perform steps comprising:
 establishing an account for a seller with a broker, the seller selling electronic content that can be purchased by buyers, the seller including a content database storing electronic content offered by the seller; 
 storing in a storage system of the broker and separate from the content database of the seller, a copy of the electronic content offered by the seller; 
 receiving a search query from a buyer; 
 searching for electronic content responsive to the search query; and 
 presenting the buyer with a description of the electronic content responsive to the search query. 
   
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein presenting the buyer with a description comprises:
 presenting the buyer with descriptions of free electronic content and premium electronic content that are responsive to the search query.   
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein presenting the buyer with a description comprises:
 providing the buyer with a reputation score indicating a relative quality of the premium electronic content.   
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 15 , the computer program logic executable to perform steps further comprising:
 responsive to the buyer purchasing the electronic content, providing the purchased electronic content from the storage system to the buyer.   
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 18 , wherein the buyer makes multiple purchases of electronic content from the broker and further comprising:
 aggregating multiple purchases of electronic content from the broker made by the buyer within a billing cycle; and   invoicing the buyer for an amount of the multiple purchases made within the billing cycle.   
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 15 , the computer program logic executable to perform steps further comprising:
 storing a rule describing terms of access to the electronic content;   allowing the buyer to purchase the electronic content; and   providing the buyer with the purchased electronic content responsive to the terms of access described by the rule.