System for variable billing of Internet charges depending on Internet offers chosen in which a user connects to a user host in the normal manner but is switched to a billing server system for determination of a rate if necessary

摘要

A user host has an auxiliary billing program that monitors rates- relevant queries launched by the host concerning Internet offers and which disconnects an existing link if rates relevant information is detected and sets up another link to the billing server system if such a link has not already been established. Then the billing server query reaches the provider that supplied the chosen Internet offer. The billing server is configured to keep records of charging relevant data. Billing server and user host are configured such that a rate change can be made without disconnecting existing links, based on records pertaining to rates relevant data. The invention also relates to a corresponding computer product, a billing server system and a method for variable billing.