METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A PAYMENT INCENTIVE FOR DISTRIBUTING DIGITAL FILES OVER A NETWORK
First Claim
1. A method for distributing digital content files over a computer network, the method comprising the steps:
- a) receiving, by a server of a file agent, at least one digital content file from a computing device of a content provider;
b) selecting at least first and second user download threshold levels;
c) selecting at least first and second user distribution percentages and associating the at least first user distribution percentage to the at least first user download threshold level and the at least second user distribution percentage to the at least second user download threshold level;
d) presenting the at least one digital content file for purchase on a website of the server;
e) downloading the at least one digital content file to at least one end user for a fixed transaction amount;
f) distributing a first distribution amount of the fixed transaction amount to the content provider;
g) distributing a second distribution amount of the fixed transaction amount to the file agent of the server;
h) determining the number of times the at least one digital content file has been purchased and downloaded; and
iteratively repeating steps e), f), g) and h) wherein;
when the determined number of times the at least one digital content file has been downloaded reaches the at least first user download threshold level, distributing a third distribution amount, based on the at least first user distribution percentage, to each of the at least one end user that downloaded the at least one digital content file within the at least first user download threshold level; and
when the determined number of times the at least one digital content file has been downloaded reaches the at least second user download threshold level, distributing a fourth distribution amount, based on the at least second user distribution percentage, to each of the at least one end user that downloaded the at least one digital content file within the at least first user download threshold level and the at least second user download threshold level.
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Abstract
A method and system for providing a payment incentive for distributing digital files over a network are provided. The method and system allow a publisher, distributor(s), and/or users to receive a payment incentive for downloading digital files on the Internet. The present disclosure creates a method and system where every party along the distribution chain will have an incentive for further distribution of the digital content file. The method includes the steps receiving by a server of a file agent at least one digital content file from a content provider; presenting the at least one digital content file for purchase; downloading the at least one digital content file to at least one user for a transaction amount; distributing a first distribution amount of the transaction amount to the content provider; and distributing a second distribution amount of the transaction amount to the at least one user.
55 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for distributing digital content files over a computer network, the method comprising the steps:
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a) receiving, by a server of a file agent, at least one digital content file from a computing device of a content provider; b) selecting at least first and second user download threshold levels; c) selecting at least first and second user distribution percentages and associating the at least first user distribution percentage to the at least first user download threshold level and the at least second user distribution percentage to the at least second user download threshold level; d) presenting the at least one digital content file for purchase on a website of the server; e) downloading the at least one digital content file to at least one end user for a fixed transaction amount; f) distributing a first distribution amount of the fixed transaction amount to the content provider; g) distributing a second distribution amount of the fixed transaction amount to the file agent of the server; h) determining the number of times the at least one digital content file has been purchased and downloaded; and iteratively repeating steps e), f), g) and h) wherein; when the determined number of times the at least one digital content file has been downloaded reaches the at least first user download threshold level, distributing a third distribution amount, based on the at least first user distribution percentage, to each of the at least one end user that downloaded the at least one digital content file within the at least first user download threshold level; and when the determined number of times the at least one digital content file has been downloaded reaches the at least second user download threshold level, distributing a fourth distribution amount, based on the at least second user distribution percentage, to each of the at least one end user that downloaded the at least one digital content file within the at least first user download threshold level and the at least second user download threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A server for distributing digital content files over a network comprising:
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a communication device for receiving at least one digital content file from a computing device of a content provider; and a processor which selects at least first and second user download threshold levels, selects at least first and second user distribution percentages and associates the at least first user distribution percentage to the at least first user download threshold level and the at least second user distribution percentage to the at least second user download threshold level and presents the at least one digital content file for purchase on a website of the server, upon a purchase of the at least one digital content file, the processor downloads the at least one digital content file to at least one end user for a fixed transaction amount, distributes a first distribution amount of the fixed transaction amount to the content provider, distributes a second distribution amount of the fixed transaction amount to the file agent of the server, and determines the number of times the at least one digital content file has been purchased and downloaded; wherein when the determined number of times the at least one digital content file has been downloaded reaches the at least first user download threshold level, the processor distributes a third distribution amount, based on the at least first user distribution percentage, to each of the at least one end user that downloaded the at least one digital content file within the at least first user download threshold level, and when the determined number of times the at least one digital content file has been downloaded reaches the at least second user download threshold level, the processor distributes a fourth distribution amount, based on the at least second user distribution percentage, to each of the at least one end user that downloaded the at least one digital content file within the at least first user download threshold level and the at least second user download threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for distributing digital content files over the Internet, the method comprising the steps:
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providing a web site for distributing digital content files hosted by at least one server in communication with the network; a) receiving, by a server of a file agent, at least one digital content file from a computing device of a content provider; b) selecting a plurality of user download threshold levels; c) selecting a plurality of user distribution percentages and associating each of the user distribution percentages to each of user download threshold levels; d) presenting the at least one digital content file for purchase on the website of the server; e) downloading the at least one digital content file to at least one end user for a fixed transaction amount; f) distributing a first distribution amount of the fixed transaction amount to the content provider; g) distributing a second distribution amount of the fixed transaction amount to the file agent of the server; h) determining the number of times the at least one digital content file has been purchased and downloaded; and iteratively repeating steps e), f), g) and h) wherein; when the determined number of times the at least one digital content file has been downloaded reaches at least one user download threshold level, distributing a third distribution amount, based on the user distribution percentage associated to a current user download threshold level, to each of the at least one end user that downloaded the at least one digital content file within the current user download threshold level and distributing a fourth distribution amount to each at least one end user of a previous user download threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method for distributing digital content files over a computer network, the method comprising the steps:
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receiving, by a server of a file agent, at least one digital content file from a computing device of a content provider; selecting at least first and second user download threshold levels; selecting at least first and second user distribution percentages and associating the at least first user distribution percentage to the at least first user download threshold level and the at least second user distribution percentage to the at least second user download threshold level; presenting the at least one digital content file for purchase on a website of the server; downloading the at least one digital content file to at least one end user for a fixed transaction amount; distributing a first distribution amount of the fixed transaction amount to the content provider; distributing a second distribution amount of the fixed transaction amount to the file agent of the server; determining the number of times the at least one digital content file has been purchased and downloaded; and distributing a third distribution amount, based on the at least first user distribution percentage and the at least first user download threshold level, to each of the at least one end user that downloaded the at least one digital content file.
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22. A method for distributing digital content files over a network, the method comprising the steps:
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receiving by a server of a file agent at least one digital content file from a computing device of a content provider; presenting the at least one digital content file for purchase; downloading the at least one digital content file to a computing device of at least one end user for a transaction amount; distributing a first distribution amount of the transaction amount to the content provider; and distributing a second distribution amount of the transaction amount to the at least one end user, wherein the second distribution amount is based on a number of times the at least one digital file is downloaded by previous end users.
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23. A server for distributing digital content files over a network comprising:
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a communication device for receiving at least one digital content file from a computing device of a content provider; and a processor for presenting the at least one digital content file for purchase, downloading the at least one digital content file via the communication device to at least one end user for a transaction amount, distributing a first distribution amount of the transaction amount to the content provider, and distributing a second distribution amount of the transaction amount to the at least one end user, wherein the second distribution amount is based on a number of times the at least one digital file is downloaded by previous end users.
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Specification