Subscribing to content

• US 20060265341A1
• Filed: 05/18/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ACK Ventures Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: ACK Ventures Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Kargman, Harry B., Strickon, Joshua A., Ng, Peter S., Hill, Clayton D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,542,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/402
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method includes (a) receiving periodic subscription fees from subscribers of a content subscription service, (b) updating an electronically maintained account of the subscriber to reflect an additional amount of scrip corresponding to each subscription fee, and (c) enabling the subscriber to obtain items of content in amounts and at times determined arbitrarily by the subscriber in exchange for amounts of scrip in the subscriber'"'"'s account.

Claims

1. A method comprising

receiving periodic subscription fees from subscribers of a content subscription service,

updating an electronically maintained account of the subscriber to reflect an additional amount of scrip corresponding to each subscription fee, and

enabling the subscriber to obtain items of content in amounts and at times determined arbitrarily by the subscriber in exchange for amounts of scrip in the subscriber'"'"'s account.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the subscription fees are expressed in terms of money.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the amounts of scrip corresponding to subscription fees differs based on the timing of the subscription fees or the identity of the subscribers or both.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the items of content comprise digital content, media, or applications or combinations of them.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the amount of scrip in a subscriber'"'"'s account not used in exchange for items of content remains undiminished as long as the subscriber remains in good standing.

6. The method of claim 1 also including

extinguishing at least part of the scrip in the subscriber'"'"'s account in connection with a termination of the subscriber'"'"'s subscription.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the value of scrip exchanged for items of content is equal to or lower than the monetary value that would be required to buy the items of content.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the value of scrip exchanged for items of content differs based on the identity or type of content.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the value of scrip exchanged for items of content differs based on the time when the exchange occurs.

10. The method of claim 1 also including enabling the subscriber to add scrip to the account by paying an additional fee.

11. The method of claim 10 in which the additional fee is paid one time.

12. The method of claim 10 in which the additional fee is in the form of an increase in the periodic subscription fees.

13. The method of claim 1 also including enabling a subscriber to supplement scrip with money in an exchange for items of content.

14. The method of claim 4 in which the items of content comprise wall paper images or ring tones.