Abstract: A method and apparatus for playing a word game with two players, wherein a programmed processor allows: a. a first player to select a secret word of a predetermined length by choosing a word from among the words in a predetermined dictionary, the secret word to be guessed by the second player within a predetermined number of guesses; b. the second player to make a guess of the secret word; c. the first player to indicate to the second player the letters in the guessed word that are in the secret word; d. to repeat steps b. and c. until the secret word is guessed or the predetermined number of guesses have been made; and e. wherein the first player is a human, and the second player is a computer.

Abstract: A communication method and apparatus wherein there is wireless communication with at least two mobile communication devices each having a network address and wherein location-related data is received for the at least two mobile communication devices. A database of profiles of users is maintained including social media information and/or advertising information identifying at least one second user and the second user's network address with whom a first user desires to communicate when the first and second users are at a common location. A contact with the first user, or with the second user, or with both, is initiated automatically by a third party when the location-related data indicates that the first and second users are sufficiently close, the purpose of the contact or contacts being to effect a direct communication between the network address of the first user and the network address of the second user.

Abstract: A communication method and apparatus wherein there is wireless communication with at least two mobile communication devices each having a network address and wherein location-related data is received for the at least two mobile communication devices. A database of profiles of users is maintained including social media information and/or advertising information identifying at least one second user and the second user's network address with whom a first user desires to communicate when the first and second users are at a common location. A contact with the first user, or with the second user, or with both, is initiated automatically by a third party when the location-related data indicates that the first and second users are sufficiently close, the purpose of the contact or contacts being to effect a direct communication between the network address of the first user and the network address of the second user.

Abstract: A method of searching for information on a computer information network comprises providing a searchbase comprising a plurality of descriptive packets, wherein each packet is associated with one of a plurality of information sources published on a computer information network and includes a query language and template usable therewith, a sending protocol usable therewith and a receiving protocol usable therewith. A search request is received over the computer information network from a user for retrieving information from the plurality of information sources in accordance with given search criteria. The search request is transformed into an inquiry capable of searching the searchbase and the searchbase is searched with the inquiry to identify any of the plurality of information sources which potentially meet the given search criteria.

Abstract: The present disclosure may include, for example, a method for facilitating establishment of a remitting agreement between equipment used by a vendor and equipment used by a provider, enabling, by way of the equipment used by the provider, the equipment used by the vendor to communicate with equipment used by a customer permitting the customer to purchase a product or service of the vendor, and initiating between the equipment used by the provider and the equipment used by the vendor a remittance from an account associated with the vendor of a portion of a transaction amount associated with a purchase transaction made by the equipment used by the customer. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure may include, for example, a method for facilitating establishment of a remitting agreement between equipment used by a vendor and equipment used by a provider, enabling, by way of the equipment used by the provider, the equipment used by the vendor to communicate with equipment used by a customer permitting the customer to purchase a product or service of the vendor, and initiating between the equipment used by the provider and the equipment used by the vendor a remittance from an account associated with the vendor of a portion of a transaction amount associated with a purchase transaction made by the equipment used by the customer. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure may include, for example, a method for facilitating establishment of a remitting agreement between equipment used by a vendor and equipment used by a provider, enabling, by way of the equipment used by the provider, the equipment used by the vendor to communicate with equipment used by a customer permitting the customer to purchase a product or service of the vendor, and initiating between the equipment used by the provider and the equipment used by the vendor a remittance from an account associated with the vendor of a portion of a transaction amount associated with a purchase transaction made by the equipment used by the customer. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure may include, for example, a method for facilitating establishment of a remitting agreement between equipment used by a vendor and equipment used by a provider, enabling, by way of the equipment used by the provider, the equipment used by the vendor to communicate with equipment used by a customer permitting the customer to purchase a product or service of the vendor, and initiating between the equipment used by the provider and the equipment used by the vendor a remittance from an account associated with the vendor of a portion of a transaction amount associated with a purchase transaction made by the equipment used by the customer. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Equipment of a provider performs operations including facilitating establishment of first communications between the equipment of the provider and equipment of a purchasing customer to establish a billing arrangement, facilitating establishment of second communications with equipment of a selling vendor to establish a remitting arrangement, enabling the equipment of the purchasing customer to communicate with the equipment of the selling vendor by way of the equipment of the provider, obtaining transactional information relating to a purchase transaction initiated by the equipment purchasing customer, where the purchase transaction results in a billing account of the purchasing customer being charged a first fee, and initiating a remittance of a second fee with the equipment of the selling vendor Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, identifying a consumer account managed by a service provider to which purchases are chargeable, the identification of the account based on transactional information, enabling customer equipment to request a purchase of an electronically-purchasable item of a vendor via network equipment of the service provider, wherein the vendor is a party other than the service provider, charging the consumer account a fee for a purchase initiated by the customer equipment, and remitting a portion of the fee to an account of the vendor. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure may include, for example, a method for establishing a remitting arrangement between a provider and a vendor to create between the provider and the vendor an electronic process for remitting a portion of a transaction amount billed to at least one billing account of at least one customer associated with the provider for products or services purchased by the at least one customer from the vendor. The method can further include enabling, by way of equipment of the provider, equipment of the at least one customer to communicate with equipment of the vendor, and receiving at the equipment of the provider transactional information indicating that the at least one customer initiated an order for a product or service from the vendor for a transactional amount. The method can also include initiating with equipment of the provider the remittance of the portion of the transaction amount by way of the account of the vendor according to the remitting arrangement.

Abstract: Equipment of a provider performs operations including facilitating establishment of first communications between the equipment of the provider and equipment of a purchasing customer to establish a billing arrangement, facilitating establishment of second communications with equipment of a selling vendor to establish a remitting arrangement, enabling the equipment of the purchasing customer to communicate with the equipment of the selling vendor by way of the equipment of the provider, obtaining transactional information relating to a purchase transaction initiated by the equipment purchasing customer, where the purchase transaction results in a billing account of the purchasing customer being charged a first fee, and initiating a remittance of a second fee with the equipment of the selling vendor Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Equipment of a provider may be operable to establish a billing arrangement with a purchasing customer to charge a billing account associated with the purchasing customer a first amount, establish a remitting arrangement with a selling vendor to remit between the selling vendor and the provider a second amount by way of an account associated with the selling vendor, establish communications with equipment of the purchasing customer, enable the equipment of the purchasing customer to communicate with equipment of the selling vendor, obtain transactional information relating to a purchase transaction initiated by the purchasing customer, which results in the billing account of the purchasing customer being charged the first amount, and initiate between the selling vendor and the provider a remittance of the second amount by way of the account associated with the selling vendor. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, identifying a consumer account managed by a service provider to which purchases are chargeable, the identification of the account based on transactional information, enabling customer equipment to request a purchase of an electronically-purchasable item of a vendor via network equipment of the service provider, wherein the vendor is a party other than the service provider, charging the consumer account a fee for a purchase initiated by the customer equipment, and remitting a portion of the fee to an account of the vendor. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, identifying a consumer account managed by a service provider to which purchases are chargeable, the identification of the account based on transactional information, enabling customer equipment to request a purchase of an electronically-purchasable item of a vendor via network equipment of the service provider, wherein the vendor is a party other than the service provider, charging the consumer account a fee for a purchase initiated by the customer equipment, and remitting a portion of the fee to an account of the vendor. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An Internet billing method comprises establishing an agreement between an Internet access provider and a customer, and an agreement between the Internet access provider and a vendor, wherein the Internet access provider agrees with the customer and the vendor to bill the customer and remit to the vendor for products and services purchased over the Internet by the customer from the vendor. The provider creates access to the Internet for the customer. When the customer orders a product or service over the Internet from a vendor, transactional information transmitted between the customer and the vendor is also transmitted to the provider. The provider then bills the transaction amount to the customer and remits a portion of the transaction amount to the vendor, keeping the differential as a fee for providing the service. As a result of this method, there is no need for any customer account numbers or vendor account numbers to be transmitted over the Internet, thereby maintaining the security of that information.

Abstract: The present disclosure may include, for example, a method for establishing a remitting arrangement between a provider and a vendor to create between the provider and the vendor an electronic process for remitting a portion of a transaction amount billed to at least one billing account of at least one customer associated with the provider for products or services purchased by the at least one customer from the vendor. The method can further include enabling, by way of equipment of the provider, equipment of the at least one customer to communicate with equipment of the vendor, and receiving at the equipment of the provider transactional information indicating that the at least one customer initiated an order for a product or service from the vendor for a transactional amount. The method can also include initiating with equipment of the provider the remittance of the portion of the transaction amount by way of the account of the vendor according to the remitting arrangement.

Abstract: Equipment of a provider may be operable to establish a billing arrangement with a purchasing customer to charge a billing account associated with the purchasing customer a first amount, establish a remitting arrangement with a selling vendor to remit between the selling vendor and the provider a second amount by way of an account associated with the selling vendor, establish communications with equipment of the purchasing customer, enable the equipment of the purchasing customer to communicate with equipment of the selling vendor, obtain transactional information relating to a purchase transaction initiated by the purchasing customer, which results in the billing account of the purchasing customer being charged the first amount, and initiate between the selling vendor and the provider a remittance of the second amount by way of the account associated with the selling vendor. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, equipment operable to establish a communication session over the Internet between equipment of a vendor and equipment of a customer enabled by a communications link of equipment of a third party, receive during the communication session a communication indicating that the customer initiated an order for a product or service from the vendor, submit to the equipment of the third party transactional information relating to the purchase transaction without submitting a billing request to the equipment of the third party, and receive a portion of the transaction amount in accordance with a remitting arrangement without submitting the billing request to the equipment of the third party. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, identifying a consumer account managed by a service provider to which purchases are chargeable, the identification of the account based on transactional information, enabling customer equipment to request a purchase of an electronically-purchasable item of a vendor via network equipment of the service provider, wherein the vendor is a party other than the service provider, charging the consumer account a fee for a purchase initiated by the customer equipment, and remitting a portion of the fee to an account of the vendor. Other embodiments are disclosed.