WO2001086525A1

WO2001086525A1 - Electronic billing system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2001086525A1
Application number: PCT/IL2000/000257
Authority: WO
Inventors: Elad Barkan
Original assignee: Elad Barkan
Priority date: 2000-05-05
Filing date: 2000-05-05
Publication date: 2001-11-15
Also published as: AU4310800A

Abstract

An electronic billing system comprising means for connecting to a billing computer to receive files including bills in electronic format for printing; information extraction means for extracting bills-related information from the received files; controller means for generating electronic bills; and output channel means for sending electronic bills to a customer.

Description

Electronic Billing System and Method

Technical Field

This invention concerns systems and methods for billing using electronic means. The invention relates in particular to converting existing paper bills-generating systems to electronic, Internet-based systems.

Background Art

Billing systems now in use involve paper documents being sent to customers, to demand payment for various sen/ices, like the telephone, electricity, credit card expenses, the local phone operator, international phone companies, cellular phones, etc.

People receive bills to pay, by mail, on a regular basis.

There is a major cost involved in sending those bills.

Each month, a huge amount of letters with paper bills are sent to customers worldwide.

This system requires a lot of work on the part of the billing party. There is also the expense related to letters sending and the workload on the postal services.

Moreover, many trees are cut to produce the paper which is used for the printing process. The customer has to pay manually the bills, an inconvenient task.

New technology, like the Internet, allows advanced ways of sending those bills in electronic form.

At present, few companies offer this sen/ice. One prior art method relies on sending the regular mail to the company, where it is digitally scanned and put on the net. Another prior art method relies on changes in the computer billing system that sends the mail.

Those two approaches create undesired additional expenses either for the user or the company.

If one considers using novel means for electronic generation of bills, there are various problems related to such a solution. For example, it may be difficult to convert a paper billing system into an electronic one. The task may be especially difficult and expensive for firms that serve a large population. Thus, the firms that most need an improved solution may find it the most difficult to convert to that novel system.

Moreover, a firm has to convince the customer to accept electronic bills.

If the customer does not cooperate, it may be difficult to introduce the system.

A firm may be required to maintain a dual billing system, that includes both electronic and paper-based bills. Such a system may be cumbersome and difficult to operate.

Duplicate billing or other problems may arise.

Customer billing is an essential activity in many an organization, since this is the activity that actually brings cash in. Any disruption in the billing activity may have disastrous consequences. A firm can hardly tolerate software bugs that may generate during changes in large computer systems.

Thus, many firms may refrain from converting from paper billing to electronic billing out of fear of disrupting the regular operation of the billing activity, or of causing customer dissatisfaction in such a sensitive area.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide for a system and method of billing customers, with means for overcoming the abovedetailed deficiencies.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for performing electronic billings in a distributed digital communications environment, especially suitable for large networks and the Internet. Thus, bills are electronically generated and sent to customers. The customer can pay the bills electronically, using an easy and fast method.

The novel system and method allows for easy conversion from paper billing to electronic billing.

Large billing systems can be gradually converted to electronic billing, without disrupting normal operations and without incurring prohibitively large expenses. This object is achieved by a dual media billing system as disclosed in claim 1.

According to the present invention, the paper billing computer system is left "as is" . An additional computer processes the printing files to extract the billing information therein. The information is used to generate electronic bills, all without changing the original billing computer.

As customers gradually agree to electronic billing, the additional computer sends them only electronic bills. Bills sent to the paper bills printer are intercepted "on the fly" and erased, to prevent unnecessary paper bills from being sent to the customer.

The whole process is transparent to the original system, thus avoiding unnecessary expenses and possible bugs that may be expected when changing a large computer system.

Moreover, the conversion to electronic billing is made gradually, possibly over an extended time period. Both methods, electronic and paper billing, can coexist in the same system as customers ponder the issue and gradually convert to electronic billing. Thus, a minimal customer resistance to change is to be expected. Keeping the customers satisfied is undoubtedly an important issue in any organization.

A system for converting to electronic issuing of bills may comprise an electronic billing computer, which is connected between the original, existing billing computer and he existing paper bills printer. The electronic billing computer includes information extraction means for extracting bills-related information from the files generated for printing.

Thus, the new computer can process information relating to customers and bills, without any change being required in the original bills-generating computer. A benefit of this novel approach is that electronic billing can be introduced without disrupting the operation of the existing billing system.

The electronic billing computer may further include means for connecting to the Internet, a payment support unit, a messages database, a certificates database and a controller for performing the signal processing and for coordinating the operation of the various parts of the system.

Further objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth hereinafter.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a dual media billing system.

Fig. 2 details another embodiment of a dual media billing system.

Fig. 3 details the electronic billing communications center.

Fig. 4 details the dual media billing computer. Modes for Carrying out the Invention

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to Fig. 1 , a dual media billing system includes a billing computer 11 , whose output is the output channel 12 for bills printing instructions, which in one embodiment may comprise the following digital files:

1. Content of the bills: bill amount, billing information, payment date and other optional details

2. Address files, containing the full addresses of the recipients, usually in the same order as the abovedetailed bill contents file.

3. Graphical back ground file, containing the background of the bill.

It may include a background and/or a specific form, various explanations and/or sender's name and address.

In prior art paper-based billing systems, the sending party may produce several such digital files, to be used in a printing machines or printing house.

Throughout the present disclosure, it should be understood that the various conversion systems and methods as illustrated may be either implemented at the bills sending entity, at the printing house or as an independent service provider.

Alternately, a distributed system with parts thereof at both the bills sending entity and the printing house may be implemented.

The system includes a paper bills printing unit 13, which generates a plurality of paper bills 14 and sends them by mail to customers 2. Thus, a plurality of customers 2 are the recipient of bills.

The system detailed above, comprising the computer 1 1 and the paper bills printing unit 13, is just the billing system used in prior art. The novel addition is the electronic billing center 3. The electronic billing center 3 generates electronic bills and sends them to customers 2 using electronic means like the Internet or other electronic channels.

Moreover, billing center 3 receives just the printing information in channel 12. Thus, no changes are necessary in existing bill printing systems.

The actual nature of the connection to channel 12 depends on the operation of that channel. For example, where channel 12 comprises a physical channel like an electrical or fiber-optic cable, the center 3 is connected to that cable using a tap therein. Where channel 12 comprises a storage media being sent to a printer, for example using diskettes or CD-ROMS, center 3 includes means for reading the same storage media.

In any case, center 3 reads the usual information prepared and issued by the computer 11. No changes are needed in the billing computer 1 1 itself or in other parts of existing billing systems.

The electronic communication channels 391 , for sending electronic bills to customers, may also be used for other communication tasks with the user. These tasks may include an exchange of information regarding bills or payments, for example. Preferably, bidirectional links are used to support this information exchange. Where only bills are to be sent to customers, unidirectional links may be used.

The billing reporting channel 392, is used to report to the bills issuer the status of electronic billing - for example to give an indication of the customers who agreed to join the electronic payment system, customers who actually paid their bills electronically, etc.

A payment transactions channel 393 is used to conclude payments. It may include, for example, a link with a credit cards center. The link may be used to approve payments on-line, in real time (optional).

Method 1 for converting to electronic billing

A method for converting from paper billing to electronic billing may be implemented, in conjunction with the system illustrated in Fig. 1 for example, to include the following steps:

501. In a paper bills printing system comprising a billing computer connected through a communication channel to a paper bills printer, connecting an electronic billing center to the communication channel so that bills-related information is also transferred to the electronic billing center.

The abovedetailed connection is performed without disrupting the regular operation of an existing system, that is the printing of paper bills. 502. automatic extraction of billing information from the printing data available on the communication channel. The information in the communication channel may be adapted for printing, not for electronic processing.

Therefore, character recognition performance may be necessary. The information thus extracted may include customer identification and specific bill-related information. The bill-related information may include, for example, the billing amount, billing period, services consumption details to allow the customer to verify the bill.

If the printing service serves a plurality of billing entities, then an identification of the billing entity may be necessary as well. Thus, for example, the electronic bill may indicate that the bill issuer is the telephone company, a newspaper subscription, a municipality, etc.

503. preparation of electronic bills. An electronic bill is a digital document that may include the billing information, the customer details and optionally the bill issuer identification.

Additional information may include a certificate usable for authentication of the bill issuer.

The electronic bill may also include information for helping the user to convert from paper billing to electronic billing. For example, each user may be assigned a unique string or number, to be presented by the customer when he/she desires to pay the bill. That unique number allows the system to handle the customer fast and efficiently.

Means for allowing electronic payment may be included as well. These may include an Internet address to be used by customer to effect payment.

504. sending the electronic bills to customers. The Internet may be used to send the electronic bills.

If the Internet addresses is not known, it may be provided by the customer. This is part of the customer's subscription to electronic billing, as detailed elsewhere in the present disclosure.

505. preparing a database of customers and a database of bills sent. The database may be subsequently be used to support payments, as well as the conversion from paper bills to electronic bills.

506. using the electronic billing center to prepare paper bills printing files only for customers who wish to continue to receive paper bills. Transferring to the paper bills printer only files generated in the electronic billing center.

Thus, customers will be gradually converted to electronic billing.

507. (Optional) when a customer responds to the electronic bill, he/she is guided through a procedure wherein the customer may pay electronically the bill. Bills may be paid using credit cards, for example.

Customers may connect to an Internet site dedicated to paying bills.

508. after a customer has paid his/her bill, a report to that effect may be issued. Thus, electronic payments may replace the payment with the paper bills.

End of method. The above method allows for the gradual replacement of paper bills with electronic bills. There is no need to change the original billing computer. Users receiving the paper bills and the electronic bills may decide how to pay for the services charged for, that is using the paper bill or the electronic bill.

Fig. 2 details another embodiment of a dual media billing system, including a billing computer 11 , whose output is the output channel 12 for bills printing instructions. The billing instructions may comprise: bill amount, billing information, payment date and other optional details recipient's address bill background , that may include a background and/or a specific form, various explanations and/or sender's name and address.

The customer 2 is the recipient of bills.

The system further includes a dual media billing computer 4, used to decide which method of billing to use with each individual customer.

The printing data channel 41 is used for printing paper bills, whereas the electronic data channel 42 is used for generating and sending electronic bills. The paper bills printing unit 13 generates a plurality of paper bills 14 and sends them by mail to customers 2.

The electronic billing communications center 3, generates electronic bills and sends them to customers 2. It uses the electronic communication channels 391 , for sending electronic bills to customers. Various electronic means, like the Internet, may be used.

A billing reporting channel 392 is used to report to the bills issuer the status of bills payments. The payment transactions channel 393 may be used, for example, with a credit cards center.

Method 2 for converting to electronic billing

A method for converting from paper billing to electronic billing may be implemented, in conjunction with the system illustrated in Fig. 2 for example, to include the following steps:

521. In a paper bills printing system comprising a billing computer connected through a communication channel to a paper bills printer, connecting a dual media billing computer between the billing computer and the printer.

Thus, bills-related information is transferred to the dual media computer.

522. in the dual medial computer, automatic extraction of billing information from the printing data available on the communication channel. The information in the communication channel may be adapted for printing, not for electronic processing.

If the printing service serves a plurality of billing entities, then an identification of the billing entity may be necessary as well. Thus, for example, the electronic bill may indicate that the bill issuer is the telephone company, a newspaper subscription, a municipality, etc. The system will check where to sent each bill. The address may be included in a database, that also indicates electronic billing and/or paper billing for each customer and each bill issuer.

523. modification of the file for paper bills printing, to also include information related to converting a user to electronic billing.

The computer maintains a database of customers and assigns a unique number or string to each customer.

Preferably a very long string is generated, so that a would-be intruder or hacker may find it very difficult to penetrate or disrupt the system.

The unique number or a string related thereof may be printed on the bill to help customers to convert to electronic billing. The billing information, in a format suitable for printing, is then transferred to the paper bills printer. Thus, the abovedetailed connections are performed without disrupting the regular operation of an existing system, that is the printing of paper bills.

524. bills-related information, in electronic form, is transferred from the dual media computer to the electronic billing center.

525. preparation of electronic bills in the electronic billing center. An electronic bill is a digital document that may include the billing information, the customer details and optionally the bill issuer identification. Additional information may include a certificate usable for authentication of the bill issuer.

526. sending the electronic bills to customers. The Internet may be used to send the electronic bills. The Internet addresses for each customer may be provided by the customer, when he/she agrees to electronic billing.

In another embodiment of Step 526, customers who desire to convert to electronic billing may contact the electronic billing center. The customer presents the unique number allocated to him, to allow his identification in the system. This is the number that has been printed on the paper bill for customer identification.

The customer also gives his Internet address and/or other information required for sending him electronic bills in the future.

The customer software, that has been provided by the billing center, may be used to communicate with the center, to help the customer send the required information and to present the electronic bills to customer.

527. preparing a database of customers and a database of bills sent. The database may be subsequently used to support payments, as well as the conversion from paper bills to electronic bills. The database may indicate the customers who converted to electronic billing.

528. activating the dual media billing computer to generate, for each customer, either paper bills, electronic bills or both, as the customer desires.

Thus, although the initial billing computer continues to prepare the bills as usual, the customers are converted gradually to electronic billing: At the beginning of the process, all the customers will receive paper bills as usual, with optional electronic notifications (bills). As customers gradually convert to electronic billing, the dual media computer will cease to send their bills to the paper bills printer, so that only electronic bills will be sent. In the final stage, all or the majority of the customers will use electronic billing.

In any case, since both paper bills and electronic bills are generated in the same dual media computer, duplicate billing or other errors may be avoided.

In another embodiment, the software may prevent duplicate billing.

529. (Optional) if a customer responds to the electronic bill, he/she is guided through a procedure wherein the customer may pay electronically the bill. Bills may be paid using credit cards, for example.

Customers may connect to an Internet site dedicated to paying bills.

530. (Optional) if a customer who received a paper bill desires to convert to electronic billing, he/she connects to the bills generating computer, for example to an Internet site. Using the unique number generated in step 525, the customer is identified. The computer there recognizes the customer and relates him with the bills information already stored there. The customer provides his E-mail address for subsequent electronic billing. Alternately, a special-purpose Internet address may be used, as detailed below.

The customer may be guided through a procedure for paying electronically the bill. Bills may be paid using credit cards, for example. Customers may connect to an Internet site dedicated to paying bills.

531. after a customer has paid his/her bill, a report to that effect may be issued. Thus, electronic payments may replace the payment with the paper bills. End of method.

Thus, a gradual process may be implemented, for sending both paper bills and electronic bills, while customers are gradually converted to electronic billing. The process is automatic, to achieve a low cost conversion, while preventing bugs and other unexpected problems.

Moreover, a minimal effort is required on the part of the recipient (customer), since the system guides the customer and provides the necessary information for an easy conversion from paper billing to electronic billing.

In another embodiment of the invention, when the customer connects to the billing center, he downloads a special-purpose software package that is used for converting to electronic billing.

A special-purpose Internet account, or E-mail address, are established for billing purposes only. Thus, when the customer accesses this address, he will not be bothered with junk mail. Only relevant bills will be received there. The E-mail address may be provided by the bills-generating center, possibly at their Internet site. Bills from various suppliers may be sent to that address, as agreed with the customer.

The customer is given the option, whether to create that special purpose address or not. The customer indicates, for example by pushing a button on the menu presented to him, whether to use a special-purpose address or his existing E-mail address for electronic billing.

The software package received by the customer may also be used to receive bills. The bills are then automatically presented to the user.

Fig. 3 details the electronic billing communications center, that is the electronic billing center 3 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. It generates electronic bills and sends them to customers using electronic means, like the Internet.

The center includes an input channel 12 for bills printing instructions, see Fig. 1 . An information extraction unit 33 is used for extracting billing information from printing files . It receives files in format for printing (for printing service or apparatus).

Note: unit 33 is optional, to be used if no unit 4 is present.

If unit 4 is used (see Fig. 2), then the input channel is channel 42 rather than channel 12 as illustrated.

In this case, the information extraction unit 33 may not be necessary, as this function may be implemented in unit 4. Channel 42 may bring the actual billing information, as was decoded in unit 4. The controller 32 processes the billing information, to generate the electronic bills in the required format, to be sent to customers over the electronic communication channels 391. Channels 391 for sending electronic bills to customers, may also be used for other communications with the user, regarding bills or payments, for example, bidirectional links. Preferably, communications with users is performed through an Internet site 31.

The Internet site 31 may implemented as part of the electronic billing communications center (a systems server for example), or may be an independent unit connected to that center.

The controller 32 may use information in messages database 34 to compose the electronic bills which are sent to customers. The controller 32 may also use a certificates database 35 to achieve secure communications with customers.

A reporting unit 37 may be used to report to the bills issuer the status of electronic billing- an indication of the customers who agreed to join the electronic payment system, customers who actually paid their bills electronically, etc.

Reporting unit 37 may be implemented with a printer that prints reports regarding customer billing. Otherwise, magnetic media output may be used, a communication channel, optical media, a computer display to present billing information in real time, and/or other reporting means. The reporting may use a billing reporting channel 392. Optionally, the center may also include a payment support unit 36, for the performance of payment on-line. A link 393 with credit cards center or another financial services center may be used for verifying credit cards and for receiving transactions approval in real time

Fig. 4 details the dual media billing computer It includes a channel 12 for bills printing instructions, from the billing computer (not shown). The information is transferred to the information extraction unit 43, for extracting billing information from printing files. Unit 43 receives files in format for printing (for printing service or apparatus).

A user status database 44, details what billing method to use with each user: paper bills only, electronic bills only or both types of bills.

A message routing unit 45, transfers bills-related information either to a channel 41 , to paper bills printer, and/or to channel 42, to electronic billing center.

A controller 46, controls the operation of the above parts of the computer messages database 47, stores bills sent to customers as well as other bills-related information. This information may include, for example, the customer's response, actual payment details, etc.

Various methods which may be implemented using the abovedetailed systems are detailed below.

A simple conversion method comprises a combination of sender method and recipient method, as detailed below. Sender Method 3

The method comprises the steps of:

541. The sending party creates the digital files as usual.

542. The files are used as an input of a special, dual mode additional computer.

543. The special computer decides which entries (messages) are to be sent by electronic mail, which by paper mail, which on both and which on none. This is done using a special, dedicated database.

The computer creates two sets of files, one set (Paper set) that is in similar format as the input file, designed for the paper mail, and a second set (The Internet set) for the mail that is to be sent on the net.

Step 543 is further detailed elsewhere in the present disclosure.

544. The paper set is given as input for the printing process.

The Internet set is given as an input for a special computer(s) that are designed to send the mail. Step 544 is further detailed elsewhere in the present disclosure. End of method.

For the recipient, there are several possible actions. Method 4 refers to a recipient who desires to convert from paper billing to electronic billing. Method 5 refers to a recipient who has already converted to electronic billing, and now desires to receive a bill and pay it. No details are given for a customer who wishes to continue receiving paper bills. He/she will continue to receive paper bills as usual, in the traditional way.

Recipient Method 4

The following method describes how a recipient of paper bills may convert to receiving electronic bills.

The method comprises the steps of:

561 : (A possible one-time step for all types of senders) The recipient sees the Internet address on the mail and access it. The Internet address would be further discussed later. He would be instructed through a client application (software) installation process. This process would preferably result in the creation of an electronic address for the recipient, the Digital Address (DA).

The DA is similar to a regular E-mail, however there are differences in its operation to achieve improved performance. Whereas in regular E-mail the mail is always accepted and preserved, the novel E-mail will only accept legitimate electronic bills messages. Thus, junk mail is prevented from entering the billing E-mail address.

562. The recipient would be prompted by the client software to enter the UID (would be further discussed later) that appears on his paper mail. He will also be prompted to the way he wished to receive his mail. The rest of the process assumes that he has chosen to receive it also by electronic means.

563. (This step might be done by the client software itself):

The client software would send that UID to a server, which will determine where this UID has originated, and reply that to the client software.

564. The client software will send the UID, the DA, and the receive option (electronic/paper) to the originating server.

565. The UID originating server, would check the validity of the UID. If it is valid, it would update the database with the client's data. And inform the client software that the request was accepted. After this step the originating server would have enough data, so that next time, the message could be sent directly to that client's DA.

End of method.

Notes:

It would be clear that there is a tradeoff in operations. That means that the process can be implemented with some parts done by different parties, and this is only one example of carrying out the invention.

For example, it is possible in step 564, that the server, rather than the user, would send the UID, DA and the receiver option to the originating server.

Moreover, it is possible that the whole process would be carried out on a server, without a specific client software, but using a standard web browser.

Recipient Method 5

The following method describes how a recipient who has already converted to electronic billing, and now desires to receive a bill and pay it. The method comprises the steps of:

581. The client application would check the DA account. If there are incoming messages, it would continue, otherwise it would check again at a later time.

582. The client application would fetch the message from the server.

583. The client is notified of incoming message.

584. The client can view the message, and if it's a bill he would be given option to pay the bill using various paying methods. Possible methods are: Credit card, a form of digital cash, etc.

End of method.

Notes:

It should be understood that this is only one example of carrying out the invention. There are various ways to carry out the invention.

For example, it is possible to exchange steps 582 and 583. Also, it's possible that the whole process to be done where the user is using his browser, looks into the mail server on-line.

Additional option might include sending another Email to the user when a message arrives, or to send all those messages to the users' Email, after the user has set up such an on-line account in step 561. The user may choose not to create a new address, but rather to use an existing one. Thus, a regular E-mail address may be used in lieu of the DA account.

The recipient can later change the option for a specific mail type. For each sender the recipient has a different UID, so he can later decide that he wants to receive the mail by paper again, or any other option which he chooses.

Details of step 453 in Sender Method 3

Database structure - a typical entry in the database may contain some or all of the following fields:

1. Recipient full postal address. (Key)

2. Unique Identifying String. - UID (Key)

3. Receive option - should the mail be sent electronically/or on paper.

4. digital address- DA. (some kind of Email, for example)

5. digital identification - ID.

6. recipient digital certificate.

7. message authorization permit.

8. (optional - last sent message(s))

The database should be capable of search according to one of the keys - Recipient full postal address or the UID.

Step 543 may comprise the following sub-steps:

543.1. The complete postal address of the recipient is copied from the message.

543.2. A database is searched with this address as the key. If the address was not found in the database, an initialization process is executed:

A random UID is chosen for that user.

The UID functionality is that it implies who created it, and is long enough to ensure that the UID is unique, and that by choosing a random string, the probability of getting a UID that was already created by someone is for all practical purposes zero. Several ways of choosing a UID will be discusses later.

A future database entry is created for the user. It is the file set for future reference. It contains its full postal address and the UID. The receive option is initialized to show that the user wished to receive his mail by paper. (Because the user has not indicated otherwise). The other fields are initialized to be empty

543.2.a. Now the address is found in the database:

The receive option is checked.

If the message is to be sent by regular post, before adding it to the file set of the paper set, we might like to do some changes to the message itself.

In a preferred embodiment the UID is added to the message, for example in the upper left corner. It is also possible to add a line stating something like : "To receive your mail through the net, Please contact: http://www.mailbynet.com".

Where the "http://www.mailbynet.com" is an Internet address that its functionality will be described later.

This address can be the same for all different types of senders.

Thus, a customer may use the same address for billing with all the bills senders.

If the message is to be sent in electronic form, it would be added to the Internet set, with the digital address - the DA as stated in the database.

In both ways, it is possible to save the last few messages in the database for future use or reference.

End of step 543.

Details of step 454 in Sender Method 3

Each message in the paper file may be sent in a conventional manner.

For each message in the Internet set:

544.1. Prepare the graphic, and optionally html representation of the message, using the files in the set. 544.2 The message can be sent in standard Email protocols to the DA. End of step 544.

Method 6 for choosing the UID

Several ways for choosing the UID are presently detailed.

601. In order to achieve the functionality of the UID, preferably the UID string should be long enough.

Otherwise, that is if the UID is short, there is a high probability that by choosing a random string, we would arrive at a string which is already an existing UID.

In order to know who created the UID, it is possible that the UID would contain a preamble that could be used as an index to the creator.

For example, "0001..." could mean creator "A" and

"0002..." mean creator "B", and so forth.

Since the rest of the UID is long enough, and chosen randomly, it could be considered unique, even between different creators.

602. Another possible way, is to write the recipient address and creator, and apply a digital signature of the creator. Again, it should be long enough.

The result could be treated as the UID.

It's easy to see that it meets the demands from a UID: It's unique, and by choosing a random sequence the probability of it being a signature is practically zero.

603. The UID should be long enough, to prevent or at least impede an attack on the system by guessing the UID. Such an attack by a hacker may be used to maliciously take hold of a user's mail and possibly misuse the information to harm the user.

604. The Internet address:

The Internet address is an address on the Internet. It could be an http address of a general site, that helps users receive their mail electronically.

The site would enable the users to download and install a client application.

The site or other server might also "help" the client software in certain tasks, such as determining the source of a certain UID.

Mail Security Issues

It might be argued that someone might "steal" another party's mails. Thus, by a one-time act of stealing a letter, the hacker may gain access to an UID and may subsequently misuse it.

The same danger exists, however, with paper mail and bills. A possible remedy consists in continuing to send paper bills for a certain period of time, concurrent to sending bills electronically. A warning could be added to the paper mail that the recipient has asked to receive his mails by electronic means, and after a certain date it would be received exclusively by electronic means. In that way, if mail has been stolen, the user would know about it and could act.

Further security benefit of this invention is to use encryption and authorization schemes, which will be detailed, to ensure that the user would receive only mail that he chooses to receive (and would not receive any "junk mail"). It can be also used to ensure the authenticity of received mail (so it has not been altered in the way). It can also be used to ensure the privacy of the recipient, since the mail can be totally encrypted and no one would be able to read it except for the intended recipient.

Further benefits might be a client application that would arrange incoming bills in folders, and might help a customer to save in his expenses. For example, a phone subscriber might use an application that checks his calls, and recommend a different subscriber program at his service provider. It might also be used by the client to prompt him for unpaid bills, or to automatically pay bills at the last possible date.

There are many further advantages for clients to receive their mail by electronic form, which will become obvious for those skilled in the art. Complex secure sender Method 7

A way to achieve a high level of security will now be detailed, by way of example. Some of the steps might be omitted, or may be implemented in a different way.

The secure method is mostly transparent to the client, that is the client actions are similar to the abovedetailed sender Method 3, however improved security will be achieved.

The sending process remains the same as that illustrated in Method 3, with the exception of steps 543 and 544, which are changed as detailed below:

A. Step 543.2. a. is implemented, with the modification that to the message is attached not only the recipient DA, but also the Recipient ID, the recipient Digital Certificate, and authorization permit.

B. step 544.1. is implemented, while the message can be encrypted with the recipient's public key, and signed by the sending server. The sending server's operating permit, authorization permit and certificate can be included with the message, to make the checking process easy and fast, without the need to fetch further data.

C. The ID is preferably a globally unique identifiers, which is binded with a cryptographic public key in the digital certificate. This certificate can also include the way to identify a digital signature made by this ID.

The digital certificate is usually signed by a third party. The methods of doing this are detailed in prior art.

D. The authorization permit, is a digital document, that states the ID of the recipient, the ID of the originating server

(The server which is sending the mail), and a part which states that the sender is allowed to send mail to the recipient. This authorization can be with limitations, such as expiration date, only on certain days of the week. Also it might be required, as a matter of policy, for that authorization permit to be updated on a regular basis. This permit is digitally signed by the recipient.

E. When a "sending server" is initialized, it is given its ID, and a digital certificate for the server.

It is possible to include an additional permit to the server, "operating permit" which states that this is a legitimate server, and is allowed to send mail. This might be used as means of the global mail service provider to block unwanted parties of using the system.

Since unauthorized parties would not have this permit, which is required in the sending process, such parties may be prevented from interfering with the normal operation of the system.

Also, in this permit (or in the certificate), or yet another additional permit, it's possible to include authentication information that authenticates the server and sender, so the client would know exactly who sent the mail. The UID preamble that is used by this server can also be included in the permit. (Or one of the certificates for that matter). For simplicity reasons we shall assume that there is only one permit.

It would also be noted at this point, that the infrastructure that is deployed as a consequence can be used later in electronic commerce applications. End of Method 7.

Complex secure recipient Method 8

The following method is complementary to Method 7, that is a secure version of the abovedetailed Method 4.

A possible embodiment is detailed by way of example.

Some of the steps might be omitted, or may be implemented in a different way:

621. step 561 , modified as follows:

It's possible that with the application, a root public key or certificate would be included for the system.

In that step it's possible to allocate an ID for the client, and the client can create a pair of public/private keys, and receive a certificate that binds them.

He can also get a certificate, that states his digital signature at this point. For the simplicity of the description, we shall assume that both signature and encryption keys are included in the users' certificate. The server that holds the users mail is notified at this step of the users' certificate, and binds it with his DA.

It can create a permit to be used by a user to access his account.

The server can now verify whether mail that arrived to the users' DA is approved by the user or not. A method to implement this will be detailed later.

622. step 561. No change. The users is prompted for the UID and preferred receive mail options.

623. step 563, modified as follows:

The communications to the server can be encrypted since the user has a public key & certificate, and the server has his root public key, known to the user. The reply by the sender can include the "sending server" operating permit. The client software can use the ID from the permit to receive that sender's Digital certificate.

624. step 564, modified as follows:

Since the client application holds the digital certificate of the sending server from step 562, the current step can be encrypted & signed as well for security.

Also, in this step the client application will also create an authorization permit for that server, to be used in future messages sent to the client.

The client attaches his ID, Digital Certificate and the authorization permit that was just created to the UID and his receive options, and send the request (signed and encrypted) to the "sending server".

625. step 565, modified as follows: The "sending server" does basically the same operations as before. However when updating the database, the authorization permit the ID and the Digital Certificate are also saved.

If the needs arises, any party can request from another party an updated certificate or authorization permit. Updated certificates are usually available from a known server. Authorization permits are available from the authorizing party, if he still want to continue authorizing.

The scheme of operation is not necessarily an online scheme. It's possible that, for example, the "sending server" needs an updated authorization permit for a specific client. He can send the client software a special message requesting for that authorization. The client application can, whenever it wants to check for new mail, and find this request on the server, and then decide if it want to grant the permission or not, depending on the users' previous decision. (It may also specifically ask the user, but that would probably be avoided in order not to bother the user with this unneeded task).

The user can stop a source of messages, by not renewing its authorization. That will cause the messages server not to forward regular messages to the user, as the user would not hold a valid permit anymore. In another implementation, an invalid permit will be automatically disregarded by the user's client software. End of method.

Complex secure recipient Method 9

The following method is a secure version of the abovedetailed digital recipient Method 5.

The basic blocks remain the same.

The difference is that when receiving a message a decryption would be needed, and the signature is checked. Also, in stages 583 and 584, the client will be notified if and only if the message was from an authorized server (by the system) and that server had been authorized by the client. In another implementation, the message would be checked for authorization by server which holds the messages.

In this case it's possible to maintain the privacy of the recipient, meaning that the server that holds the messages would not know who sent the message to the user, but would be able to check if that sender was authorized. That can be achieved by removing the ID of the "sending server" from the permit, and including a public key instead.

Therefore, the server can make sure that a certain message was signed by a specific public key, and make sure that that public key had authorization from the user to send messages to him, by checking the permit which includes only the public key. Protecting from junk mail Method 10

A user may be protected from junk mail, a definitely undesirable activity with the intense global marketing wars wages by a multitude of commercial entities.

The server can check that each message was signed by a specific public key, and may verify that that public key had authorization from the user to send messages to him, by checking the permit which includes only the public key.

This could save bandwidth wasted on junk mail, that the client won't have to fetch anymore. A similar method can be used to check for the correctness or existence of the operating permit.

The whole abovedetailed process can be done while saving the information in a server rather than on the local user's PC. Thus faster operation can be achieved.

To protect the user privacy, it is possible that the user's private key, with the users' information be stored on the server, however it can be encrypted by a symmetrical cryptographic scheme key, like DES. The key would be only known to the user.

The application can be a Java-based application, wherein the user would have to type a user ID and the above- mentioned password to gain access to his information. Of course, this is only an example, and there can be numerous ways to implement this method, in part or in full.

A further mechanism can be added, this is the read receipt, to be sent back to the sending server.

It can be a policy that if a user didn't read his mail (a receipt was not received) for a certain time period the message would be resent, or sent as a regular paper mail.

A registered mail mechanism can also be added, as known in the art. This mechanism enables the recipient approval of receiving a message, before he reads it and knows who the sender is.

The infrastructure that is created when implementing the invention, can be used to make "formal" digital address for people. As a person can receive a special "postal code" that would relate to his account.

Government or other authorities may have overriding capabilities, to be able to send mail to a customer without his authorization to receive it. This may include, for example, official mail from the government, state police, from courts of law, etc.

These mail items can have a general authorization from a specific authority, or could be deemed to have such authorization according to their ID or public key. End of method.

Claims

ClaimsWhat is claimed is:

1. An electronic billing system comprising:

A. means for connecting to a billing computer to receive files including bills in electronic format for printing;

B. information extraction means for extracting bills-related information from the received files;

C. controller means for generating electronic bills; and

D. output channel means for sending electronic bills to a customer.

2. The electronic billing system according to claim 1 , further including payment support means for the performance of payment on-line.

3. The electronic billing system according to claim 1 , further including an Internet site to connect to users.

4. The electronic billing system according to claim 1 , further including a messages database for storing messages exchanged with users.

5. The electronic billing system according to claim 1 , further including a certificates database for storing digital certificates.

6. The electronic billing system according to claim 1 , further including an output channel for transmitting files for printing to printer means.

7. In a paper bills printing system comprising a billing computer connected through a communication channel to a paper bills printer, a method for converting to electronic billing comprising the steps of:

A. connecting an electronic billing center to the communication channel so that bills-related information is also transferred to the electronic billing center;

B. automatic extraction of billing information from the printing data available on the communication channel;

C. preparation of electronic bills for customers who already agreed to electronic billing, wherein each bill comprises billing information and customer details;

D. sending the electronic bills to customers; and

E. using the electronic billing center to prepare paper bills printing files only for customers who wish to continue to receive paper bills, and transferring to the paper bills printer only files generated in the electronic billing center.

8. The method for converting to electronic billing according to claim 7, wherein in step E the computer provides, for each user who is not registered to receive electronic bills, a long number to identify that user, and wherein the long number is added to the bill in the printing files for that user, so that the printed bill will include the long number.

9. The method for converting to electronic billing according to claim 8, wherein the computer maintains a database of bills and user identifying numbers and wherein the known identifying number is added for users having a number associated therewith, and a new long number is generated for users who are not already associated with such an identifying number.

10. The method for converting to electronic billing according to claim 7, wherein in step B a character recognition method is performed on the printing data to extract the billing information therefrom.

1 1. The method for converting to electronic billing according to claim 7, wherein the bill-related information includes a billing amount, billing period and/or services consumption details.

12. The method for converting to electronic billing according to claim 7, wherein the bill-related information includes an identification of the billing entity.

13. The method for converting to electronic billing according to claim 7, wherein the bill-related information includes a certificate usable for authentication of the bill issuer.

14. The method for converting to electronic billing according to claim 7, wherein in step D the electronic bills are sent to customers using the Internet.

15. The method for converting to electronic billing according to claim 7, further including the step, after step D, of preparing and maintaining a database of customers and a database of bills sent.

16. A method for converting to electronic billing comprising the steps of:

A. attaching a long identifying number to paper bills sent to customers;

B. when a customer responds and identifies himself with the identifying number, establishing an electronic mail address for sending electronic bills in the future.

17. The method for converting to electronic billing according to claim 16, wherein the electronic mail address is provided by the user.

18. The method for converting to electronic billing according to claim 16, wherein the electronic mail address is provided by the billing system.