Payment-based systems for internet music

• US 20010034705A1
• Filed: 03/05/2001
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Stager, Reed R.
• Application Number:
  US09/800,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20010034705A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0034 using watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00005 relating to image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00037 Detecting, i.e. determining the occurrence of a predetermined state H04N1/00031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00962 Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32229 with selective or adaptive application of the additional information, e.g. in selected regions of the image H04N1/32213 takes precedence

Abstract

One of the impediments to success of fee-based music downloads on the internet has been the fee. Not the amount, but the logistics. Credit cards have high transaction costs, making them unsuitable for purchases of, e.g., less than five dollars. Perhaps more importantly, much of the target audience for downloadable music is teenagers, who don'"'"'t have credit cards. To redress this problem, digital tokens can be used to pay for downloaded music (or other content, such as videos, on-line games, etc.). These tokens can be exchanged by email and can be acquired in a number of teen-friendly manners, including by pre-arranged periodic disbursement (e.g., from a bank, arranged by a parent as a form of monthly allowance), given away as part of product promotions, exchanged between friends, etc.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

issuing a periodic allowance to a juvenile, said allowance comprising an allotment of digital money tokens; and

charging a parent of said juvenile for said allowance.

2. The method of

claim 1

that further includes spending at least some of said digital money tokens as compensation for music delivered to the juvenile over an electronic network.

3. The method of

claim 1

wherein each of the digital money tokens comprises a pseudorandom number.