Methods and systems for logging into automated content vending systems for content delivery to portable devices
First Claim
1. A system for automated retailing and distribution of digitally-encoded content, the system comprising:
- a control program running above an operating system and a hardware platform including at least one processor, memory, and at least one mass-storage device;
a display for displaying user interfaces, under control of the control program, to facilitate retailing of digitally-encoded content to users;
at least one user input means to allow users to respond to displayed user interfaces;
a reader that reads digitally-encoded information from a user'"'"'s identification-information-containing card or other information-containing object during user log-in;
at least one electronic port for connection of a portable device to the system to facilitate transfer of digitally-encoded content from the system to the portable device; and
a wireless-device communications means for discovering and communicating with nearby wireless devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One system embodiment of the present invention is a kiosk for retailing and distributing digitally-encoded content that features a card reader, such as a magnetic-stripe-card swipe reader or a smart-card reader, that allows a user to quickly and easily log into the kiosk using a credit card, retailer-provided identification card, or other card containing electronically readable information that identifies the user to the kiosk. Method embodiments of the present invention include methods for quickly and easily identifying a user and interconnecting with a user'"'"'s portable device in order to prepare to provide any of a variety of personalized content-delivery services to the customer.
24 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for automated retailing and distribution of digitally-encoded content, the system comprising:
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a control program running above an operating system and a hardware platform including at least one processor, memory, and at least one mass-storage device;
a display for displaying user interfaces, under control of the control program, to facilitate retailing of digitally-encoded content to users;
at least one user input means to allow users to respond to displayed user interfaces;
a reader that reads digitally-encoded information from a user'"'"'s identification-information-containing card or other information-containing object during user log-in;
at least one electronic port for connection of a portable device to the system to facilitate transfer of digitally-encoded content from the system to the portable device; and
a wireless-device communications means for discovering and communicating with nearby wireless devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for logging a user into an automated retailing and distribution system that retails and distributes of digitally-encoded content and that includes a reader, the method comprising:
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receiving user-identification information read by the reader from a user'"'"'s card or other information-containing object;
accessing a customer data base to associate the user-identification information with a customer account; and
obtaining information from the customer account for facilitating validation of the user and for providing content-purchase and content-distribution services to the user. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification