Internet media commerce system

• US 20010044744A1
• Filed: 03/12/2001
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Application Number:
  US09/804,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044744A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0213 Consumer transaction fees
• 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 1/00973 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

A long pseudo-random binary number, such as 128 bits, is used to represent a small increment of money (e.g., a penny, a nickel, a dime, a quarter, etc.). The long length and random character of the number essentially makes each number unique. These numbers are issued by banks or other institutions in exchange for other forms of money (e.g., cash, check, credit card, or other electronic money). The bank tracks the numbers it has issued. A consumer can transmit one or more of these numbers to a vendor to pay for goods or services. The vendor relays the numbers to a server computer (e.g., at the issuing institution, as may be indicated by a bit string appended to each binary number) to determine whether such numbers have been validly issued. If the server confirms they are valid, it informs the vendor, who then completes the transaction. The vendor'"'"'s account is credited by the institution accordingly. The server marks these numbers as spent, so that if these same numbers are later presented to the server, they will not be honored as valid numbers. The long lengths of the bit strings makes hacking impractical. The system can be arranged to provide anonymity since there is no need to identify the customer in order for the merchant to redeem the tokens.

Claims

1. In a method of providing media from a repository to a consumer over the internet, an improvement comprising:

permitting the consumer to specify whether the media is to include commercials or not;

charging the consumer a first fee for providing the media with commercials; and

charging the consumer a second fee higher than the first fee for providing the media without the commercials.

2. The method of

claim 1

in which the media is video that was earlier broadcast and is archived for internet distribution.