PURCHASING USING A PHYSICAL OBJECT

• US 20080228636A1
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Silverstein, Dana Lu, Gattis, Jeffrey Alton
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

Using a user interface to allow payment for physical or virtual goods to be made through a physical object. A method may be practiced in a computing system including a user interface. The method includes detecting a payment physical object, and payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object. User input is received. The user input includes at least one of physically dragging a physical object to the detected physical object, or graphically dragging the physical or a virtual object to the detected payment physical object by dragging a graphical representation of the physical or the virtual object to the detected payment physical object. Payment for the physical or virtual object is facilitated using the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object.

Claims

1. In a computing system including a user interface, a method of using the user interface to allow payment for physical or virtual goods to be made through a physical object, the method comprising:

detecting a payment physical object, and payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object;

receiving user input, the user input comprising graphically dragging a physical or a virtual object to the detected payment physical object by dragging a graphical representation of the physical or the virtual object to the detected payment physical object; and

facilitating payment for the physical or virtual object using the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object comprise a monetary amount that can be spent.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object comprise points that can be deducted.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object comprise an association with a billing system for providing a bill for objects purchased using the detected payment physical object.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the bill is a monthly bill.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the bill is a cumulative bill.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to detecting the payment physical object, displaying one or more graphical representations of recommended objects for purchase.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting information about objects purchased using the detected payment physical object to a fulfillment location such that purchased objects may be obtained by a user of the detected payment physical object at the fulfillment location.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting information about objects purchased using the detected payment physical object to a fulfillment location such that purchased objects may be obtained by a user of the detected payment physical object by downloading the purchased objects from the fulfillment location.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating purchased physical or virtual objects with the detected payment physical object.

11. In a computing system including a user interface, a method of using the user interface to allow payment for physical or virtual goods to be made through a physical object, the method comprising:

receiving user input, the user input comprising graphically dragging a physical or a virtual object to the payment area by dragging a graphical representation of the physical or the virtual object to the payment area;

detecting a payment physical object with payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object;

detecting the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object; and

facilitating payment for the physical or virtual object using the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object comprise a monetary amount that can be spent.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object comprise an association with a billing system for providing a bill for objects purchased using the detected payment physical object.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the bill is a monthly bill.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the bill is a cumulative bill.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting information about objects purchased using the payment physical object to a fulfillment location such that purchased objects may be obtained by a user of the payment physical object at the fulfillment location.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting information about objects purchased using the payment physical object to a fulfillment location such that purchased objects may be obtained by a user of the payment physical object by downloading the purchased objects from the fulfillment location.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising associating purchased physical or virtual objects with the payment physical object.

19. In a computing system including a user interface, a computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the following:

detecting a payment physical object, and payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object;

receiving user input, the user input comprising at least one of physically dragging a physical object to the detected payment physical object, or graphically dragging the physical or a virtual object to the detected payment physical object by dragging a graphical representation of the physical or the virtual object to the detected payment physical object; and

facilitating payment for the physical or virtual object using the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the computer readable medium is a physical computer readable medium.