VIDEO RENTAL E-COMMERCE SOLUTION
First Claim
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1. A system for providing a network service for applications used by service providers, the system comprising:
- a central computer having a central application capable of communicating with at least two rental applications over a public network; and
at least two service provider computers;
a network that connects the central computer with the at least two server provider computers;
a repository database residing at the central computer for storing customer information that spans more than one of the service providers, wherein the rental applications may query the repository database through the central application, thereby making the customer information accessible to each of the rental applications, wherein the repository database is operable to receive customer information from each of the rental applications, wherein the customer information comprises one or more of a customer wish list, customer rental history, and customer evaluations, wherein the central computer is operable to analyze the customer information in the repository database to uncover patterns and relationships relating to the customers'"'"' rental activities and histories, wherein, in response to a user accessing the repository database, the central computer is operable to display a list of movie titles to the user based on the analyzed customer information and to display a combination of indicators adjacent to each movie title on the list that allow the user to take action with respect to a particular movie title, wherein a click on an indicator initiates a corresponding action, and wherein the user is enabled to take the action on a same movie title page that displays the list of movie titles without having to navigate to a separate movie title page in order to take the action.
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Abstract
A system for providing a business-to-business network service for applications used by service providers is disclosed. The system include provides a central application capable of communicating with at least two applications over a public network, such as the Internet, and provides a repository database for storing customer information that spans more than one of the service providers. The system further allows the applications to query the repository database through the central application, thereby making the customer information accessible to each of the applications.
17 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for providing a network service for applications used by service providers, the system comprising:
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a central computer having a central application capable of communicating with at least two rental applications over a public network; and at least two service provider computers; a network that connects the central computer with the at least two server provider computers; a repository database residing at the central computer for storing customer information that spans more than one of the service providers, wherein the rental applications may query the repository database through the central application, thereby making the customer information accessible to each of the rental applications, wherein the repository database is operable to receive customer information from each of the rental applications, wherein the customer information comprises one or more of a customer wish list, customer rental history, and customer evaluations, wherein the central computer is operable to analyze the customer information in the repository database to uncover patterns and relationships relating to the customers'"'"' rental activities and histories, wherein, in response to a user accessing the repository database, the central computer is operable to display a list of movie titles to the user based on the analyzed customer information and to display a combination of indicators adjacent to each movie title on the list that allow the user to take action with respect to a particular movie title, wherein a click on an indicator initiates a corresponding action, and wherein the user is enabled to take the action on a same movie title page that displays the list of movie titles without having to navigate to a separate movie title page in order to take the action. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-readable medium containing executable program instructions for providing a business-to-business network service for rental applications used by service providers, the program instructions for:
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providing a central application capable of communicating with at least two rental applications over a public network; receiving customer information from each of the rental applications, and wherein the customer information comprises one or more of a customer wish list, customer rental history, and customer evaluations; providing a repository database for storing customer information that spans more than one of the service providers; analyzing the customer information in the repository database to uncover patterns and relationships relating to the customers'"'"' rental activities and histories; allowing the rental applications to query the repository database through the central application, thereby making the customer information accessible to each of the rental applications; and in response to a user accessing the repository database; displaying a list of movie titles to the user based on the analyzed customer information; and displaying a combination of indicators adjacent to each movie title on the list that allow the user to take action with respect to a particular movie title, wherein a click on an indicator initiates a corresponding action, and wherein the user is enabled to take the action on a same movie title page that displays the list of movie titles without having to navigate to a separate movie title page in order to take the action. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification