Abstract: A sending device transmits a message to a receiving device. After receiving the message, the receiving device transmits a delivery confirmation to a third party notification service. The delivery confirmation includes an ID corresponding to the receiving device, an ID corresponding to the sending device, the time of transmission, the time of reception, the format of the message and/or a message ID. This delivery confirmation is subsequently stored by the notification service. The sending device then sends a delivery inquiry to the notification service. The delivery inquiry includes information that allows the notification service to identify a stored delivery confirmation. If a message corresponding to the delivery inquiry is identified, the notification service responds to the sending device affirming that the message was successfully delivered. The notification service may also respond with multiple delivery confirmations that meet the criteria of the delivery inquiry.

Abstract: A method of billing (charging) for providing access to information over a computer network, with the billing based on the time a consumer elects to access the information, distinguished primarily by including a third party, called here a bank, to mediate between the consumer and the information vendor in such a way as to relieve the vendor of any involvement in billing the consumer, but leaving the vendor responsible for the quality of the information provided to the consumer. In the method, when a consumer visits a vendor network address and decides to purchase access to information from the vendor, the consumer will exercise a link that will put the consumer in contact with the bank, and so initiate billing, and the bank will then direct the consumer to the location at the vendor (a server operated by the vendor) where the information can be accessed.