System and method for the distribution of software products

• US 20040181459A1
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: RealNetworks, Inc.
• Inventors: Wright, Andrew C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/00 Speech recognition G10L17/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for selling software products over a network. The system includes a server computer with access to software products. The system is configured to allow a user to purchase a subscription for the periodic acquisition of selected software products. In one embodiment, as part of the subscription, the user pays an amount during selected billing intervals. In return, the system issues to the user a number of credits for downloading at no additional charge at least one of the software products during a credit interval, which may be equal in length to the billing interval. In one embodiment, the system debits a number of credits in response to fulfilling a user'"'"'s purchase request. The system may be also configured to deduct credits that are not used within selected credit intervals.

Claims

1. A method of selling software games, the method comprising:

selling a subscription, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at selected billing intervals in a subscription period;

allocating a credit for the purchase of one of a plurality of software games during a credit interval, wherein the subscription period comprises a plurality of credit intervals;

receiving a purchase request for one of the software games during a credit interval; and

debiting the allocated credit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the duration of the credit interval is a month.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising forwarding the software game to a client computer over a communications network.

4. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising:

receiving a purchase request for a second one of the software games; and

selling the second software game for a predetermined discount.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchase request is received via a network and the method additionally comprises transmitting the software game to a client computer via the network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the length of the billing interval is the same as the length of the credit interval.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the duration of the credit intervals is a month.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising forwarding the software game to a client computer via a communications network.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the purchase request is received via a network and the method additionally comprises transmitting the software games to a client computer via the network.

7. A method of selling software games, the method comprising:

selling a subscription, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount during a plurality of billing intervals in a subscription period;

allocating a credit for the purchase of one of a plurality of software games during a plurality of credit intervals in the subscription period; and

debiting the credit for the purchase of one of the software games if the user has not purchased any of the software games before the expiration of at least one of the credit intervals.

11. A client computer, comprising:

a memory; and

a module, residing in the memory, the module configured for purchasing a subscription via a network from a server, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at selected billing intervals, the subscription allocating an expirable credit for the purchase of a computer executable game code during a credit interval, the module transmitting a purchase request to a server computer for purchase of the computer executable code during the credit interval, and the module receiving the computer executable code from the server computer.

12. The client computer of claim 11, wherein the client computer includes a communications card for transmitting the purchase request via the network.

13. The client computer of claim 11, wherein the communications card is a dial-up modem.

14. A server computer, comprising:

a memory; and

a module, residing in the memory, the module configured for selling a subscription via a network, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at selected intervals in a subscription period, the subscription allocating an expirable credit for the purchase of a software game during each of the intervals, the module receiving a purchase request from a client computer for purchase of at least one of the software games during at least one of the selected intervals, and the module transmitting the software game to the client computer.

15. The server computer of claim 14, wherein the client computer includes a communications card for transmitting the purchase request via the network.

16. The server computer of claim 14, wherein the communications card is a dial-up modem.

17. A program storage device storing instructions that when executed performs the method comprising:

selling a subscription, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at a plurality of billing intervals in a subscription period;

allocating at least one credit for the purchase of one of a plurality of software games during a credit interval;

receiving a purchase request for a selected one of the software games; and

debiting an allocated credit corresponding to the purchase request.

18. The program storage device of claim 17, wherein allocating at least one credit comprises determining the number of credits to be allocated based at least in part on the predetermined amounts the user pays.

19. The program storage device of claim 17, further comprising instructions for forwarding the software game to a computing device via a communications network.

20. The program storage device of claim 17, additionally comprising instructions for transmitting the selected software game to a client computer via a communications card.

21. The program storage device, of claim 17, wherein the credit is expirable.

22. A program storage device storing instructions that when executed performs the method comprising:

purchasing a subscription, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at a plurality of billing intervals in a subscription period, the subscription providing a credit for the purchase of one of a plurality of software games during each of the intervals; and

purchasing one of the software games using the credit.

23. The program storage device, of claim 22, wherein the credit is expirable.

24. The program storage device of claim 22, wherein the duration of the billing interval is one month.

25. The program storage device of claim 24, further comprising instructions for forwarding the purchased software game to a client computer via a communications network.

26. A method comprising:

purchasing a subscription, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at selected intervals in a subscription period, the subscription providing one or more credits for the purchase of one of a plurality of software games during each of the intervals; and

purchasing one of the software games using at least one of the credits.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the each of the intervals is a month.

28. The program storage device of claim 26, further comprising receiving the software game at a client computer via a communications network.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the provided credit expires if it is not used at the end of the interval in which it was provided.

30. A system for selling software games, the system comprising:

means for selling a subscription, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at selected intervals in a subscription period;

means for allocating a credit for the purchase of one of a plurality of software games during each of the intervals;

means for receiving a purchase request for one of the software games; and

means for debiting the allocated credit.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the each of the intervals is a month.

32. The system of claim 30, further comprising means for forwarding the software game to a client computer via a communications network.

33. The system of claim 30, additionally comprising:

means for receiving a purchase request for a second one of the software games; and

means for selling the second software game for a predetermined discount.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the purchase request is received via a network and the method additionally comprises transmitting the software game to the user via the network.

35. A system for selling software games, the system comprising:

means for selling a subscription, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at selected intervals in a subscription period;

means for allocating a credit for the purchase of one of a plurality of software games during each of the intervals; and

means for debiting the credit for the purchase of a selected one of the software games if the user has not purchased any of the software games before the expiration of the interval.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the each of the intervals is a month.

37. The system of claim 35, further comprising means for forwarding a purchased software game to a client computer via a communications network.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein the purchase request is received via a network and the method additionally comprises transmitting the software game to the user via the network.

39. A server computer configured for distributing, over a computer network, software games on a subscription basis, the server computer comprising:

a module, residing in a memory of the computer server, the module configured for;

selling a subscription via a computer network;

wherein the subscription requires a user to pay a predetermined amount at selected intervals in a subscription period; and

wherein the subscription allocates, during each of the intervals, an expirable credit that the user may use to purchase of a software game;

wherein the credit expires if the user does not use the credit to purchase a software game during the credit period;

receiving a purchase request from a client computer for purchase of at least one of the software games, wherein the user pays for the software game with an unexpired credit;

transmitting the software game to the client computer; and

debiting a credit from a credit account of the user.

40. The server of claim 39, wherein the each of the intervals is a month.

41. The server of claim 39, wherein the module is transmits the software game to the client computer over a communications network.

42. A method of selling digital content, the method comprising:

selling a subscription, the subscription requiring a user to pay a predetermined amount at selected billing intervals in a subscription period;

allocating a credit for the purchase of one of a plurality of digital content products during a credit interval, wherein the subscription period comprises a plurality of credit intervals;

receiving a purchase request for one of the digital content products during a credit interval; and

debiting the allocated credit.

43. The method of claim 42, additionally comprising:

receiving a purchase request for a second one of the digital content products; and

selling the second digital content product for a predetermined discount.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the purchase request is received via a network and the method additionally comprises transmitting the digital content product to a client computer via the network.