EMBEDDED PURCHASING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20140229331A1
• Filed: 02/04/2014
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FORA.tv, Inc.
• Original Assignee: FORA.tv, Inc.
• Inventors: McIntosh, Michael, Claghorn, Allan
• Application Number:
  US14/172,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20140229331A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

An online retailer may post content to a third-party web site to offer content items for sale. A user may view or preview the posted content items, and may select an item to purchase. Payment for the item may be initiated independently of any interaction of the user with a web site hosted by the online retailer. An account with the online retailer may automatically be created and credited with the purchase; alternatively, the purchase can be credited to a previously established account. The payment may be processed via an online payment processor independent of the online retailer and the third party. The item may be a digital streaming video or any other suitable type of content item. After the payment is processed, the user'"'"'s computer may be authorized to permit playback through the third-party web site or on a web site hosted by the online retailer.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for making purchases, the method comprising:

at a third-party web site, posting content from an online retailer, wherein the content indicates that at least a first item is available for purchase;

displaying, at a display device, the content for a user viewing the third-party web site;

receiving, at an input device, a user selection of the first item from the content, wherein the user selection indicates that the user desires to purchase the first item; and

in response to receipt of the user selection;

initiating payment from the user for the first item, independently of interaction of the user with any web site hosted by the online retailer;

determining whether an account associated with the user exists within an online retailer database; and

responsive to a determination that no account associated with the user exists within the online retailer database;

automatically creating a first account in an online retailer database operated by the online retailer;

automatically generating online retailer login credentials that provide the user with access to the first account; and

responsive to receipt of confirmation of payment from the user for the first item, storing an indication in the first account that the user has purchased the first item.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that an account associated with the user exists within the online retailer database, storing an indication in the existing account that the user has purchased the first item.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein posting the content at the third-party web site comprises embedding the content in third-party content of the third-party web site, and wherein displaying the content for the user comprises displaying the content embedded in the third-party content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first item comprises a first digital media segment, wherein the method further comprises:

responsive to receipt of confirmation of payment from the user for the first item, playing the first digital media segment.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying the content for the user comprises playing a preview of the first digital media segment.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the preview comprises a subset of the first digital media segment.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the preview comprises content descriptive of the first digital media segment.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein displaying the content for the user further comprises, while playing the preview, displaying a purchase option that can be selected with the input device to provide the user selection.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the first digital media segment comprises a digital video, wherein posting the content at the third party web site comprises embedding a video player in the third-party web site, wherein playing the first digital media segment comprises playing the digital video with the video player.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

assessing at least one of video playback capability and payment processing capability of at least one of the third-party web site and a content viewing application used by the user; and

customizing the content based on the assessment.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

assessing a degree to which a content viewing application used by the user is compatible with the content; and

customizing the content based on the assessment.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising, in response to receipt of confirmation of payment, making the first digital media segment available to the user on a web site hosted by the online retailer.

13. The method of claim 4, further comprising, in response to receipt of confirmation of payment, making the first digital media segment available to the user on an application installed on a computing device controlled by the user.

14. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

in response to receipt of confirmation of payment, providing an authorization on a computing device controlled by the user; and

prior to playing the first digital media segment, validating the authorization.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the authorization comprises copying a token to the computing device, wherein validating the authorization comprises validating the token.

16. The method of claim 4, wherein the first item further comprises a second digital media segment such that the first item defines a compilation comprising at least the first digital media segment and the second digital media segment.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to initiation of payment from the user for the first item, processing the payment independently of interaction of the user with a retailer web site operated by the online retailer and connected to the online retailer database; and

in response to processing of the payment, crediting the user, in the online retailer database, with purchase of the first item.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein processing the payment comprises processing the payment via an online payment processor independent of the retailer web site and the third-party web site.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein processing the payment comprises:

obtaining payment login credentials for the user; and

recording the payment in a payment database connected to the online payment processor.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising transmitting an e-mail to the user, wherein the e-mail contains the retailer login credentials.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a request from the user to merge the first account with a second account associated with the user in the online retailer database; and

in response to receipt of the request, crediting the second account with purchase of the first item.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the content further indicates that a second item is available for purchase.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein initiation of payment for the first item occurs independently of navigation away from the third-party web site.

24. A computer program product for making purchases, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, configured to cause at least one processor to perform the steps of;

at a third-party web site, posting content from an online retailer, wherein the content indicates that at least a first item is available for purchase;

causing a display device to display the content for a user viewing the third-party web site;

causing an input device to be receptive to a user selection of the first item from the content, wherein the user selection indicates that the user desires to purchase the first item; and

in response to receipt of the user selection;

initiating payment from the user for the first item, independently of interaction of the user with any web site hosted by the online retailer;

determining whether an account associated with the user exists within an online retailer database; and

responsive to a determination that no account associated with the user exists within the online retailer database;

automatically creating a first account in an online retailer database operated by the online retailer;

automatically generating online retailer login credentials that provide the user with access to the first account; and

responsive to receipt of confirmation of payment from the user for the first item, storing an indication in the first account that the user has purchased the first item.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the computer program product is further configured to cause the at least one processor to perform the step of:

responsive to a determination that an account associated with the user exists within the online retailer database, storing an indication in the existing account that the user has purchased the first item.

26. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the computer program code configured to cause the at least one processor to post the content at the third-party web site comprises computer program code configured to cause the at least one processor to embed the content in third-party content of the third-party web site, and wherein the computer program code configured to cause the at least one processor to display the content for the user comprises computer program code configured to cause the at least one processor to display the content embedded in the third-party content.

27. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the first item comprises a first digital media segment, and wherein the computer program code is further configured to cause the at least one processor to perform the step of:

responsive to receipt of confirmation of payment from the user for the first item, playing the first digital media segment.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the computer program code configured to cause the at least one processor to display the content for the user comprises computer program code configured to cause the at least one processor to play a preview of the first digital media segment.

29. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the first digital media segment comprises a digital video, wherein the computer program code configured to cause the at least one processor to post the content at the third party web site comprises computer program code configured to cause the at least one processor to embed a video player in the third-party web site, and wherein the computer program code configured to cause the at least one processor to play the first digital media segment comprises computer program code configured to cause the at least one processor to play the digital video with the video player.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the computer program code is further configured to cause the at least one processor to perform the step of:

in response to receipt of confirmation of payment, making the first digital media segment available to the user on a web site hosted by the online retailer.

31. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the computer program code is further configured to cause the at least one processor to perform the steps of:

in response to receipt of confirmation of payment, providing an authorization on a computing device controlled by the user; and

prior to playing the first digital media segment, validating the authorization.

32. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the computer program code is further configured to cause the at least one processor to perform the steps of:

in response to initiation of payment from the user for the first item, processing the payment independently of interaction of the user with a retailer web site operated by the online retailer and connected to the online retailer database; and

in response to processing of the payment, crediting the user, in the online retailer database, with purchase of the first item.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the computer program code configured to cause the at least one processor to process the payment comprises computer program code configured to cause an online payment processor to process the payment, wherein the online payment processor is independent of the retailer web site and the third-party web site.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the computer program code is further configured to cause the at least one processor to perform the steps of:

receiving a request from the user to merge the first account with a second account associated with the user in the online retailer database; and

in response to receipt of the request, crediting the second account with purchase of the first item.

35. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the computer program code configured to cause the at least one processor to initiate payment for the first item is configured to cause the at least one processor to initiate payment of the first item independently of navigation away from the third-party web site.

36. A system for making purchases, the system comprising:

a processor configured to, at a third-party web site, post content from an online retailer, wherein the content indicates that at least a first item is available for purchase;

a display device, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to display the content for a user viewing the third-party web site; and

an input device, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to receive a user selection of the first item from the content, wherein the user selection indicates that the user desires to purchase the first item;

wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to receipt of the user selection;

initiate payment from the user for the first item, independently of interaction of the user with any web site hosted by the online retailer;

determine whether an account associated with the user exists within an online retailer database; and

responsive to a determination that no account associated with the user exists within the online retailer database;

automatically create a first account in an online retailer database operated by the online retailer;

automatically generate online retailer login credentials that provide the user with access to the first account; and

responsive to receipt of confirmation of payment from the user for the first item, store an indication in the first account that the user has purchased the first item.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the processor is further configured to, responsive to a determination that an account associated with the user exists within the online retailer database, store an indication in the existing account that the user has purchased the first item.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the processor is further configured to post the content at the third-party web site by embedding the content in third-party content of the third-party web site;

and wherein the display device is further configured to display the content for the user by displaying the content embedded in the third-party content.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the first item comprises a first digital media segment, wherein the processor is further configured to, responsive to receipt of confirmation of payment from the user for the first item, play the first digital media segment.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the display device is further configured to display the content for the user by playing a preview of the first digital media segment.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein:

the first digital media segment comprises a digital video;

wherein the processor is further configured to post the content at the third party web site by embedding a video player in the third-party web site;

and wherein the display device is further configured to play the first digital media segment by playing the digital video with the video player.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to receipt of confirmation of payment, make the first digital media segment available to the user on a web site hosted by the online retailer.

43. The system of claim 39, wherein the processor is further configured to:

in response to receipt of confirmation of payment, provide an authorization on a computing device controlled by the user; and

prior to playing the first digital media segment, validate the authorization.

44. The system of claim 36, wherein the processor is further configured to:

in response to initiation of payment from the user for the first item, process the payment independently of interaction of the user with a retailer web site operated by the online retailer and connected to the online retailer database; and

in response to processing of the payment, credit the user, in the online retailer database, with purchase of the first item.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the processor is further configured to process the payment via an online payment processor independent of the retailer web site and the third-party web site.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the input device is further configured to receive a request from the user to merge the first account with a second account associated with the user in the online retailer database;

and wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to receipt of the request, credit the second account with purchase of the first item.

47. The system of claim 36, wherein the processor is further configured to initiate payment for the first item independently of navigation away from the third-party web site.