Online digital video signal transfer apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A method for rental of digital video signals within an online environment comprising one or more client computers and at least one network video server computer connected by a communications link to the one or more client computers, the method comprising:
- providing access to an online catalog stored within a memory of a network server computer, the online catalog including information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network server computer;
receiving a request from a client computer for rental of a digital video signal selected from the online catalog for a specified period of time, the request including electronic payment based on the selected digital video signal and the specified period of time; and
transmitting the digital video signal to the client computer via a communications link, such that the digital video signal is viewable by a user of the client computer during the specified period of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention overcomes the problems in the existing art described above by providing an online digital video signal transfer apparatus and method. Rental of the digital video signals occurs within an online environment including one or more client computers and at least one network server connected by a communications link to the one or more client computers. The method includes providing access to an online catalog stored within a memory of a network video server computer. The online catalog includes information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network server computer. Requests are then received from client computers for rental of digital video signals selected from the online catalog for a specified period of time. The requests include electronic payment based on the selected digital video signal and the specified period of time. Once electronic payment is provided, the digital video signal is transmitted to the client computer via communications link. Once transmitted, the digital video signal is viewable by a user of the client computer during the specified period of time. Advantages of the invention include the ability to rent motion pictures without having to provide additional monies for purchase of the motion pictures. In addition, the present invention provides an interface that simulates the actual rental of motion pictures within a video rental store. Moreover, during the specified period of rental, the user is allowed to view the motion picture as many times as desired, thereby simulating the actual rental of video cassettes or DVDs of feature length motion pictures.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for rental of digital video signals within an online environment comprising one or more client computers and at least one network video server computer connected by a communications link to the one or more client computers, the method comprising:
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providing access to an online catalog stored within a memory of a network server computer, the online catalog including information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network server computer;
receiving a request from a client computer for rental of a digital video signal selected from the online catalog for a specified period of time, the request including electronic payment based on the selected digital video signal and the specified period of time; and
transmitting the digital video signal to the client computer via a communications link, such that the digital video signal is viewable by a user of the client computer during the specified period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An online video signal transfer system for rental of digital video signals within an online environment comprising a plurality of client computers and at least one network server computer connected by a communications link to the plurality of client computers, the apparatus comprising:
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a network server computer including an online catalog stored within a memory of the network server computer, the online catalog including information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network server computer;
a plurality of users, each user associated with a particular computer client computer, each client computer configured to allow a user to request a digital video signal from the online catalog for rental of the digital video signal for a specified period of time, the request including electronic payment based on the selected digital video signal and the specified period of time; and
an online procedure for having a capability to receive the request and transmit the digital video signal to the client computer via a communications link, such that the digital video signal is viewable by the user of the client computer during the specified period of time. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer readable storage medium that directs a computer to function in a specified manner, comprising:
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an online catalog stored within a memory of a network server computer, the online catalog including information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network server computer;
a plurality of users, each user associated with a particular computer client computer, each client computer configured to allow a user to request a digital video signal from the online catalog via a communications link for rental of the digital video signal for a specified period of time, the request including electronic payment based on the selected digital video signal and the specified period of time; and
an online procedure for having a capability to receive the request and transmit the digital video signal to the client computer via the communications link, such that the digital video signal is viewable by the user of the client computer during the specified period of time. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification