Approach for renting items to customers

• US 7,024,381 B1
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Inventors: Hunt, Neil Duncan, Hastings, W. Reed, Randolph, Marc B.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US10/438,727
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 709/206, 709/212, 709/219, 709/222, 725/60, 725/104, 381/77, 381/81, 381/86
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions

Abstract

According to a computer-implemented approach for renting items to customers, customers specify what items to rent using item selection criteria separate from deciding when to receive the specified items. According to the approach, customers provide item selection criteria to a provider provides the items indicated by the item selection criteria to customer over a delivery channel. The provider may be either centralized or distributed depending upon the requirements of a particular application. A “Max Out” approach allows up to a specified number of items to be rented simultaneously to customers. A “Max Turns” approach allows up to a specified number of item exchanges to occur during a specified period of time. The “Max Out” and “Max Turns” approaches may be used together or separately with a variety of subscription methodologies.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for renting movies to customers, the method comprising:

providing electronic digital information that causes one or more attributes of movies to be displayed;

establishing, in electronic digital form, from electronic digital information received over the Internet, a movie rental queue associated with a customer comprising an ordered list indicating two or more movies for renting to the customer;

causing to be delivered to the customer up to a specified number of movies based upon the order of the list;

in response to one or more delivery criteria being satisfied, selecting another movie based upon the order of the list and causing the selected movie to be delivered to the customer; and

in response to other electronic digital information received from the customer over the Internet, electronically updating the movie rental queue.

2. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein updating the movie rental queue comprises changing the order of the two or more movies for renting to the customer.

3. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein updating the movie rental queue comprises indicating an additional movie in the ordered list.

4. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein updating the movie rental queue comprises removing an indication of one or more of the movies from the ordered list.

5. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the two or more movies for renting to the customer are selected by the customer.

6. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining the order of the two or more movies based upon one or more preferences of the customer.

7. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the delivery of the selected movie comprises delivery by mail.

8. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the delivery of the selected movie comprises delivery by mail on one or more optical media.

9. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the delivery criteria comprises receipt of the movie by mail.

10. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein a number of movies delivered to the customer and not yet returned does not exceed the specified number.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the other electronic digital information indicates one or more delivery criteria being satisfied.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the other electronic digital information comprises one or more selection criteria.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the movies comprise any of motion pictures, television series, documentaries, cartoons, music videos, video recordings of concert performances, instructional programs, and educational programs.

14. A computer-implemented method for renting movies to customers, the method comprising:

providing electronic digital information that causes one or more attributes of movies to be displayed;

establishing, in electronic digital form, from electronic digital information received over the Internet, a movie rental queue associated with a customer comprising an ordered list indicating two or more movies for renting to the customer;

causing to be delivered to the customer up to a specified number of movies based upon the order of the list, wherein the customer is not required to return the movies within a specified time associated with delivery;

in response to one or more delivery criteria being satisfied, selecting another movie based upon the order of the list and causing the selected movie to be delivered to the customer; and

in response to other electronic digital information received from the customer over the Internet, electronically updating the movie rental queue.

15. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 14, wherein updating the movie rental queue comprises changing the order of the two or more movies for renting to the customer.

16. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 14, wherein updating the movie rental queue comprises indicating an additional movie in the ordered list.

17. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 14, wherein updating the movie rental queue comprises removing an indication of one or more of the movies from the ordered list.

18. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 14, wherein the two or more movies for renting to the customer are selected by the customer.

19. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 14, further comprising determining the order of the two or more movies based upon one or more preferences of the customer.

20. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 14, wherein the delivery of the selected movie comprises delivery by mail.

21. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 14, wherein the delivery of the selected movie comprises delivery by mail on one or more optical media.

22. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 14, wherein the delivery criteria comprises receipt of the movie by mail.

23. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 14, wherein a number of movies delivered to the customer and not yet returned does not exceed the specified number.

24. A computer-implemented method for renting movies to customers, the method comprising:

providing electronic digital information that causes one or more attributes of movies to be displayed;

establishing, in electronic digital form, from electronic digital information received over the Internet, a movie rental queue associated with a customer comprising an ordered list indicating two or more movies for renting to the customer;

causing to be delivered to the customer up to a specified number of movies based upon the order of the list, wherein the customer is not charged a fee for retaining one or more movies beyond a specified time associated with delivery;

in response to one or more delivery criteria being satisfied, selecting another movie based upon the order of the list and causing the selected movie to be delivered to the customer; and

in response to other electronic digital information received from the customer over the Internet, electronically updating the movie rental queue.

25. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 24, wherein updating the movie rental queue comprises changing the order of the two or more movies for renting to the customer.

26. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 24, wherein updating the movie rental queue comprises indicating an additional movie in the ordered list.

27. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 24, wherein updating the movie rental queue comprises removing an indication of one or more of the movies from the ordered list.

28. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 24, wherein the two or more movies for renting to the customer are selected by the customer.

29. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 24, further comprising determining the order of the two or more movies based upon one or more preferences of the customer.

30. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 24, wherein the delivery of the selected movie comprises delivery by mail.

31. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 24, wherein the delivery of the selected movie comprises delivery by mail on one or more optical media.

32. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 24, wherein the delivery criteria comprises receipt of the movie by mail.

33. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 24, wherein a number of movies delivered to the customer and not yet returned does not exceed the specified number.

34. A computer-implemented method for renting movies to customers, the method comprising:

establishing over the Internet a rental agreement with a customer that provides for charging the customer a periodic fee;

providing electronic digital information that causes one or more attributes of movies to be displayed;

establishing, in electronic digital form, from electronic digital information received over the Internet, a movie rental queue associated with a customer comprising an ordered list indicating two or more movies for renting to the customer;

causing to be delivered to the customer up to a specified number of movies based upon the order of the list;

in response to one or more delivery criteria being satisfied, if the customer is current on the periodic fee, selecting another movie based upon the order of the list and causing the selected movie to be delivered to the customer; and

in response to other electronic digital information received from the customer over the Internet, electronically updating the movie rental queue.

35. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 34, wherein updating the movie rental queue comprises changing the order of the two or more movies for renting to the customer.

36. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 34, wherein updating the movie rental queue comprises indicating an additional movie in the ordered list.

37. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 34, wherein updating the movie rental queue comprises removing an indication of one or more of the movies from the ordered list.

38. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 34, wherein the two or more movies for renting to the customer are selected by the customer.

39. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 34, further comprising determining the order of the two or more movies indicated by the movie rental queue based upon preferences of the customer.

40. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 34, wherein the delivery of the selected movie comprises delivery by mail.

41. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 34, wherein the delivery of the selected movie comprises delivery by mail on one or more optical media.

42. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 34, wherein the receipt of the movie previously delivered to the customer comprises receipt by mail.

43. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 34, wherein a number of movies delivered to the customer and not yet returned does not exceed the specified number.

44. A computer system for renting movies to customers, comprising:

a computer that is coupled to a digital telecommunications network by a digital telecommunications link;

an electronic digital memory in the computer;

one or more sequences of computer program instructions stored in the electronic digital memory which, when executed, cause the computer to perform the steps of;

providing electronic digital information that causes one or more attributes of movies to be displayed;

establishing, in electronic digital form, from electronic digital information received over the Internet, a movie rental queue associated with a customer comprising an ordered list indicating two or more movies for renting to the customer;

causing to be delivered to the customer up to a specified number of movies based upon the order of the list;

in response to one or more delivery criteria being satisfied, selecting another movie based upon the order of the list and causing the selected movie to be delivered to the customer; and

in response to other electronic digital information received from the customer over the Internet, electronically updating the movie rental queue.

45. A computer system as recited in claim 44, wherein the other electronic digital information specifies changing the order of the two or more movies for renting to the customer.

46. A computer system as recited in claim 44, wherein the other electronic digital information specifies an additional movie to add to the ordered list.

47. A computer system as recited in claim 44, wherein the other electronic digital information specifies removing an indication of one or more of the movies from the ordered list.

48. A computer system as recited in claim 44, wherein the delivery of the selected movie comprises delivery by mail.

49. A computer system as recited in claim 44, wherein the delivery of the selected movie comprises delivery by mail on one or more optical media.

50. A computer system as recited in claim 44, wherein the delivery criteria comprise receipt by mail.

51. A computer system as recited in claim 44, wherein a number of movies delivered to the customer and not yet returned does not exceed the specified number.