Method and apparatus for renting electronic media content without requiring returns or physical inventory
First Claim
1. A method for renting electronic media content to customers without requiring returns or physical inventory, the method comprising:
- Allowing a customer to select desired media from a Media Kiosk, which is located in a publicly accessible place and accesses a database of media;
Transferring the selected media to the customer'"'"'s portable non-volatile storage device called the Media Transport Device;
Allowing the customer to play, view, or interact with the media on his or her Media Transport Device by using his or her personal Media Player.
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for renting electronic media content, such as movies, without requiring returns or physical inventory. The media content is stored electronically in a database that is accessed by one or more Media Kiosk computer systems, which provide a user interface and multiple input/output devices for interacting with users, and are located in malls or other public places. Customers can select and download media content from the Media Kiosks onto their Media Transport Devices, which are portable non-volatile storage devices. The customers can play, view, or interact with the media content on their Media Players, which are computer systems with multiple input/output devices suitable for allowing users to play, view, or interact with the media.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method for renting electronic media content to customers without requiring returns or physical inventory, the method comprising:
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Allowing a customer to select desired media from a Media Kiosk, which is located in a publicly accessible place and accesses a database of media; Transferring the selected media to the customer'"'"'s portable non-volatile storage device called the Media Transport Device; Allowing the customer to play, view, or interact with the media on his or her Media Transport Device by using his or her personal Media Player. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer-implemented apparatus for renting electronic media content to customers without requiring returns or physical inventory, the apparatus comprising:
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A computer system called a Media Kiosk that is connected to the Internet and to a database of media content over the Internet, and that includes a user interface by which the user can select desired media content, and input and output devices for communicating with the user to allow the user to select desired media and to transfer that media to a portable non-volatile storage device called a Media Transport Device; A portable non-volatile storage device called the Media Transport Device; A computer system called a Media Player that includes a user interface by which the user can play, view, or interact with media from his or her Media Transport Device, and input and output devices for playing, viewing, or interacting with the media. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification