Sales of collections excluding those already purchased

• US 20050120053A1
• Filed: 11/17/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kaleidescape Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kaleidescape Incorporated
• Inventors: Watson, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,572,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system capable of allowing users to complete collections of objects without unwanted duplication thereof. The system automatically, and in response to user direction, determines if objects are available that would complete a user'"'"'s collection. The system can automatically purchase and obtain delivery of objects identified as being needed to complete a collection. The system allows a user to statically define and derive the parameters of a desired collection of objects and can create, and suggest to the user, collections of which the user already has a portion. The system includes functionality that provides user-definable collections.

Claims

1. A method including steps of

maintaining a first database and a second database, said first database logically related to a user and said second database logically related to a vendor, each database including a list of one or more items;

defining a set of characteristics for each said item, said characteristics indicative of intrinsic and extrinsic features of said items;

grouping logically into collections those items in said first database and said second database based on said defining;

identifying in said first database, for each collection in said second database where at least one item of said second database collection is present in said first database collection, items in said second database collection that would complete said first database collection with the addition of said items to said first database collection; and

purchasing items for said first database based of said identifying.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein said defining a set of characteristics is provided by a combination of a vendor and a user.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein said intrinsic features include a combination of:

1) aspect ratio,

     2) cast and crew,

     3) media stream lengths,

     4) MPAA rating,

     5) audio encoding, and

     6) extra footage.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein said extrinsic features include a combination of:

1) price,

     2) availability,

     3) user preferences, and

     4) vendor preferences.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein said grouping is based on an intrinsic feature.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein said grouping is based on an extrinsic feature.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein said grouping is based on a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic features.

8. A method including steps of

maintaining a first database and a second database, said first database logically related to a user and said second database logically related to a vendor, each database including a list of one or more items;

defining one or more collection models, each said collection model including a set of features indicative of a class of preferred items;

identifying, using a collection model, at least one item in said second database not present in said first database; and

purchasing items for said first database based of said identifying.

9. A method of claim 8, wherein said defining is predefined by a system provider.

10. A method of claim 8, including steps of

defining one or more features to be used in a collection model;

selecting from a set of features a subset of features to be grouped into a collection model;

storing one or more collection models in said first database.

11. A method including steps of

maintaining a first database and a second database, said first database logically related to a user and said second database logically related to a vendor, each database including a list of one or more items;

associating a set of features to each said item in said first database;

analyzing said first database, based on said features, to identify logical relationships between said items, said analyzing including aggregate information.

generating at least one collection model based on said analyzing;

executing said collection model on said second database wherein a list of items are identified as matching the features of said collection model; and

identifying to a user said list, wherein any item on said list already owned by said user is excluded.

12. A method of claim 11, wherein said features include:

1) aspect ratio,

     2) cast and crew,

     3) media stream lengths,

     4) MPAA rating, 5) audio encoding, 6) extra footage, 7) price, 8) availability, 9) user preferences, and lo) vendor preferences.

13. A method of claim 11, wherein a user selects an item on said list to purchase.

14. A method of claim 11, wherein an item on said list is purchased automatically based on criteria specified by said user.

15. A method of claim 11, wherein a user defines at least one threshold value for said aggregate information;

said list excluding those items not exceeding said threshold value.

16. A method of claim 11, wherein promotional materials are made available to said user based on said list.

17. A method of claim 11, including steps of

identifying at least one item on said list available at said second database as being sold as part of a bundle of items, wherein a purchase of said bundle would assist in completing a collection while duplicating at least one existing item in said first database;

calculating the difference between buying individual items to complete a collection versus buying said bundle; and

purchasing one or more items based on said calculating.

18. A method, including steps of

defining a collection having a set of included rights at a selected time;

comparing a set of rights associated with a user substantially at that selected time;

receiving information associated with that collection from that user; and

initiating a commercial transaction, whose completion would have the effect of causing that set of rights to include substantially all the included rights in that collection, with only such duplication of any of those included rights as explicitly requested by that user.

19. A method as in claim 18, including steps of

from time to time, re-performing those steps of (1) comparing, and (2) initiating;

whereby at least one such set of rights associated with that user is maintained substantially current.

20. A method as in claim 18, including steps of

receiving information from that user associated with a degree of duplication for at least some of those included rights;

wherein completion of that commercial transaction would have the effect of causing that set of rights to include substantially all the included rights in that collection, with only such duplication of any of those included rights as included in that degree of duplication.

21. A method as in claim 18, wherein that collection is defined at least in part in response to a vendor of those included rights.

22. A method as in claim 18, wherein that collection is defined at least in part in response to an objective feature of each of those included rights.

23. A method as in claim 18, wherein those included rights are defined at least in part in response to a set of goods or services.

24. A method as in claim 18, wherein those included rights are defined at least in part in response to a set of media streams.

25. A method as in claim 18, including steps of

determining, in response to those steps of comparing, a first possible commercial transaction and a second possible commercial transaction, each having the effect of causing that set of rights to include substantially all the included rights in that collection, with only such duplication of any of those included rights as explicitly requested by that user;

and

comparing that first possible commercial transaction with that second possible commercial transaction;

wherein those steps of initiating a commercial transaction are responsive to those steps of comparing that first possible commercial transaction with that second possible commercial transaction.

26. A method as in claim 25, wherein a result of those steps of comparing that first possible commercial transaction with that second possible commercial transaction includes a selection of a fastest such commercial transaction.

27. A method as in claim 25, wherein a result of those steps of comparing that first possible commercial transaction with that second possible commercial transaction includes a selection of a least expensive such commercial transaction.

28. A method as in claim 18, wherein those included rights are defined at least in part in response to that set of rights already associated with that user.

29. A method as in claim 28, including steps of

performing a clustering operation on at least some of that set of rights associated with that user;

and

defining at least one collection in response to that clustering operation.

30. A method as in claim 28, including steps of

performing a clustering operation on at least some of that set of rights associated with that user;

defining at least one collection in response to that clustering operation; and

presenting an indicator of that at least one collection for selection or deselection.

31. A method as in claim 18, wherein

those steps of comparing are responsive to a set of distinct versions possible to be associated with individual elements of that collection;

and

that commercial transaction is responsive to a selected one of those versions.

32. A method as in claim 31, including steps of

presenting at least some of those distinct versions at a user interface;

and

receiving information at least in part responsive to those steps of presenting, that information being indicative of a selection or de-selection of at least some of those distinct versions.

33. A method as in claim 31, wherein that selected one of those distinct versions is at least in part responsive to a cost comparison.

34. A method as in claim 31, wherein that selected one of those distinct versions is at least in part responsive to a relative commercial transaction speed.

35. A method as in claim 31, wherein that selected one of those distinct versions is at least in part responsive to a user preference.

36. A method as in claim 18, wherein

those steps of comparing are responsive to a set of distinct types of rights possible to be associated with individual elements of that collection;

and

that commercial transaction is responsive to a selected one of those distinct types of rights.

37. A method as in claim 36, including steps of

presenting at least some of those distinct types of rights at a user interface;

and

receiving information at least in part responsive to those steps of presenting, that information being indicative of a selection or de-selection of at least some of those distinct types of rights.

38. A method as in claim 36, wherein that selected one of those distinct types of rights is at least in part responsive to a cost comparison.

39. A method as in claim 36, wherein that selected one of those distinct types of rights is at least in part responsive to a relative commercial transaction speed.

40. A method as in claim 36, wherein that selected one of those distinct types of rights is at least in part responsive to a user preference.

41. Apparatus including

means for maintaining a first database and a second database, said first database logically related to a user and said second database logically related to a vendor, each database including a list of one or more items;

means for defining a set of characteristics for each said item, said characteristics indicative of intrinsic and extrinsic features of said items;

means for grouping logically into collections those items in said first database and said second database based on said defining;

means for identifying in said first database, for each collection in said second database where at least one item of said second database collection is present in said first database collection, items in said second database collection that would complete said first database collection with the addition of said items to said first database collection; and

means for purchasing items for said first database based of said identifying.

42. Apparatus as in claim 41, wherein said means for defining a set of characteristics is provided by a combination of a vendor and a user.

43. Apparatus as in claim 41, wherein said intrinsic features include a combination of:

1) aspect ratio,

     2) cast and crew,

     3) media stream lengths,

     4) MPAA rating,

     5) audio encoding, and

     6) extra footage.

44. Apparatus as in claim 41, wherein said extrinsic features include a combination of:

1) price,

     2) availability,

     3) user preferences, and

     4) vendor preferences.

45. Apparatus as in claim 41, wherein said means for grouping is based on an intrinsic feature.

46. Apparatus as in claim 41, wherein said means for grouping is based on an extrinsic feature.

47. Apparatus as in claim 41, wherein said means for grouping is based on a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic features.

48. Apparatus including

means for maintaining a first database and a second database, said first database logically related to a user and said second database logically related to a vendor, each database including a list of one or more items;

means for defining one or more collection models, each said collection model including a set of features indicative of a class of preferred items;

means for identifying, using a collection model, at least one item in said second database not present in said first database; and

means for purchasing items for said first database based of said identifying.

49. Apparatus as in claim 48, wherein said means for defining is predefined by a system provider.

50. Apparatus as in claim 48, including

means for defining one or more features to be used in a collection model;

means for selecting from a set of features a subset of features to be grouped into a collection model; and

means for storing one or more collection models in said first database.

51. Apparatus including

means for maintaining a first database and a second database, said first database logically related to a user and said second database logically related to a vendor, each database including a list of one or more items;

means for associating a set of features to each said item in said first database;

means for analyzing said first database, based on said features, to identify logical relationships between said items, said means for analyzing including aggregate information.

means for generating at least one collection model in response to said steps of analyzing;

means for executing said collection model on said second database wherein a list of items are identified as matching the features of said collection model; and

means for identifying to a user said list, wherein any item on said list already owned by said user is excluded.

52. Apparatus as in claim 51, wherein said features include:

1) aspect ratio,

     2) cast and crew,

     3) media stream lengths,

     4) MPAA rating,

     5) audio encoding,

     6) extra footage,

     7) price,

     8) availability,

     9) user preferences, and

     10) vendor preferences.

53. Apparatus as in claim 51, including means for selecting an item on said list to purchase.

54. Apparatus as in claim 51, including means for automatically purchasing an item on said list in response to criteria specified by said user.

55. Apparatus as in claim 51, including means for defining at least one threshold value for said aggregate information;

said list excluding those items not exceeding said threshold value.

56. Apparatus as in claim 51, including means for providing promotional materials to said user in response to said list.

57. Apparatus of claim 51, including

means for identifying at least one item on said list available at said second database as being sold as part of a bundle of items, wherein a purchase of said bundle would assist in completing a collection while duplicating at least one existing item in said first database;

means for calculating the difference between buying individual items to complete a collection versus buying said bundle; and

means for purchasing one or more items based on said calculating.

58. Apparatus including

means for defining a collection having a set of included rights at a selected time;

means for comparing a set of rights associated with a user substantially at that selected time;

means for receiving information associated with that collection from that user; and

means for initiating a commercial transaction, whose completion would have the effect of causing that set of rights to include substantially all the included rights in that collection, with only such duplication of any of those included rights as explicitly requested by that user.

59. Apparatus as in claim 58, including

means for receiving information from that user associated with a degree of duplication for at least some of those included rights;

wherein completion of that commercial transaction would have the effect of causing that set of rights to include substantially all the included rights in that collection, with only such duplication of any of those included rights as included in that degree of duplication.

60. Apparatus as in claim 58, wherein that collection is defined at least in part in response to a vendor of those included rights.

61. Apparatus as in claim 58, wherein that collection is defined at least in part in response to an objective feature of each of those included rights.

62. Apparatus as in claim 58, wherein those included rights are defined at least in part in response to a set of goods or services.

63. Apparatus as in claim 58, wherein those included rights are defined at least in part in response to a set of media streams.

64. Apparatus as in claim 58, including

means for determining, in response to those means for comparing, a first possible commercial transaction and a second possible commercial transaction, each having the effect of causing that set of rights to include substantially all the included rights in that collection, with only such duplication of any of those included rights as explicitly requested by that user;

and

means for comparing that first possible commercial transaction with that second possible commercial transaction;

wherein those means for initiating a commercial transaction are responsive to those means for comparing that first possible commercial transaction with that second possible commercial transaction.

65. Apparatus as in claim 64, wherein an output of those means for comparing that first possible commercial transaction with that second possible commercial transaction includes a selection of a fastest such commercial transaction.

66. Apparatus as in claim 64, wherein an output of those means for comparing that first possible commercial transaction with that second possible commercial transaction includes a selection of a least expensive such commercial transaction.

67. Apparatus as in claim 58, including means for defining those included rights at least in part in response to that set of rights already associated with that user.

68. Apparatus as in claim 67, including

means for performing a clustering operation on at least some of that set of rights associated with that user;

and

means for defining at least one collection in response to that clustering operation.

69. Apparatus as in claim 67, including

means for performing a clustering operation on at least some of that set of rights associated with that user;

means for defining at least one collection in response to that clustering operation; and

means for presenting an indicator of that at least one collection for selection or de-selection.

70. Apparatus as in claim 58, wherein

those means for comparing are responsive to a set of distinct versions possible to be associated with individual elements of that collection;

and

that commercial transaction is responsive to a selected one of those versions.

71. Apparatus as in claim 70, including

means for presenting at least some of those distinct versions at a user interface;

and

means for receiving information at least in part responsive to those means for presenting, that information being indicative of a selection or de-selection of at least some of those distinct versions.

72. Apparatus as in claim 70, wherein that selected one of those distinct versions is at least in part responsive to a cost comparison.

73. Apparatus as in claim 70, wherein that selected one of those distinct versions is at least in part responsive to a relative commercial transaction speed.

74. Apparatus as in claim 70, wherein that selected one of those distinct versions is at least in part responsive to a user preference.

75. Apparatus as in claim 58, wherein

those means for comparing are responsive to a set of distinct types of rights possible to be associated with individual elements of that collection;

and

that commercial transaction is responsive to a selected one of those distinct types of rights.

76. Apparatus as in claim 75, including

means for presenting at least some of those distinct types of rights at a user interface;

and

means for receiving information at least in part responsive to those means for presenting, that information being indicative of a selection or de-selection of at least some of those distinct types of rights.

77. Apparatus as in claim 75, wherein that selected one of those distinct types of rights is at least in part responsive to a cost comparison.

78. Apparatus as in claim 75, wherein that selected one of those distinct types of rights is at least in part responsive to a relative commercial transaction speed.

79. Apparatus as in claim 75, wherein that selected one of those distinct types of rights is at least in part responsive to a user preference.