Network-based method and system for transmitting digital data to a client computer and charging only for data that is used by the client computer user

• US 7,076,467 B1
• Filed: 08/04/2000
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Chatani, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdi, Kambiz
• Application Number:
  US09/632,861
• Time in Patent Office: 2,167 Days
• Field of Search: 705/56, 705 50- 52, 380227-230
• US Class Current: 705/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1078 Logging; Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A flexible product distribution and payment system for computer network based electronic commerce is disclosed. Primary content data is made available to customers through a detachable local storage medium, such as a DVD or CD-ROM disc, or over a network connection. The primary content is capable of being accessed and played back through a computer or game console at the customer site. The primary content distribution may comprise a superset of content that is intended to be used by the customer. The customer is allowed to view and access the encoded primary content, and is charged only for the primary content that is used. Content that is encoded on the medium but that is not used by the customer remains on the medium but is not charged. A content database and customer database maintained at the primary customer site maintain records of products ordered and used by the customer, as well as identification and use patterns associated with the user. Authentication and use trigger data associated with the distributed content alert the primary content server computer when customer use has occurred and when a charge to the customer is appropriate.

Claims

1. A system for providing access to primary media content in digital form, comprising:

a server network comprising a download management server, a customer database storing user information, and a primary content database storing primary media content;

a client console connectable for establishing a communications link through a bi-directional communications network to said download management server, the client console storing user specific information;

a detachable storage media installable in said client console, said detachable storage media having a media identifier, wherein the media identifier is combined with the user specific information to define a user identifier that is uploaded to said download management server to enable access only to a specified content in said primary media content database, said specified content and said user information is downloaded to said client console, the specified content being associated with billing trigger data to enable monitoring of when specific portions of the specified content is accessed for use at said client console, the monitoring being configured to generate a record of used content, the record of used content being communicated back to the management server to record a revenue bearing event in the customer database;

whereby said specified content is associated with an authentication code for authenticating access to the download management server and said specified content may comprise a portion of an overall set of primary contents stored in said contents database, and whereby said authentication code authenticates access to the download management server for providing access to said specified content.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said user identifier comprises an alphanumeric media ID identifying said detachable storage media, said alphanumeric media ID defining a level of access available when accessing the primary media content database.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said specified content comprises a portion of an overall set of primary contents stored in said contents database, and wherein said media ID serves to limit access to particular ones of the overall set of primary contents of the specified content.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein each portion of the specified content is associated with respective billing trigger data, the billing trigger data tracks usage to generate a usage history of the primary media content in the customer database.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said detachable storage media includes a program for providing network access and a code which causes execution of a program stored in said media console for providing network access.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said client console further comprises a local fixed storage device disposed internally or externally of said client console, wherein said specified content is downloaded only to said fixed storage device.

7. A method for delivery of primary media content in digital form through a bi-directional communications network, comprising the steps of:

establishing a communications link between a client console and a download management server through said bi-directional communications network, said client console having a detachable storage media detachably installed therein;

transmitting user identifier including a media ID of the detachable storage media and user information along with a request for a specified content of the primary media content to said download management server over the established communications link, in order to retrieve said specified content from a contents database, the specified content being a subset of data stored in contents database, the subset being specified by examining the media ID;

downloading to said client console from said download management server said specified content, said specified content being provided with associated billing trigger data;

recording usage of the specified content at the client console using the associated billing trigger data;

transferring the recorded usage of the specified content back to the download management server; and

charging only for portion of the specified content used at the client console,

wherein said media ID identifies said detachable storage media, further comprising the step of receiving said media ID and an authentication code from said client console at said download management server, wherein one of said authentication code or said media ID serves to limit access to particular portions of said primary media content.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the billing trigger data assists in compiling usage information of the specified content in a customer database.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said step of downloading to said client console from said download management server comprises storing said specified content on a local fixed storage device disposed internally or externally of said client console.

10. A method for obtaining media content at a client computer, comprising:

communicating a request from the client computer to a content provider for a specified content, the request including a media ID of a detachable media and user information, the media ID and the user information defining a user identifier, the specified content being a subset of data stored by the content provider, the subset being defined by the media ID;

downloading the specified content to the client computer, the specified content being associated with billing triggering data, the billing triggering data being configured to assist in tracking when portions of the specified content is used at the client computer; and

returning information regarding the tracked usage of the portions of the specified content to the content provider;

wherein said specified content is associated with an authentication code for authenticating access to said content provider and said subset of data being a portion of an overall set of primary contents stored by the content provider, and wherein said authentication code authenticates access to the content provider which is responsible for providing access to said specified content.

11. A method for obtaining media content at a client computer as recited in claim 10, wherein the tracked usage is associated with the user information to enable billing for the usage of the portions of the specified content.

12. A method for obtaining media content at a client computer as recited in claim 10, wherein the specified content is downloaded to the client computer, but billing for the downloaded specified content is not triggered until usage of at least a portion of the specified content at the client computer.

13. Computer readable media having program instructions for enabling the obtaining of media content at a client computer, the computer readable media comprising:

program instructions for communicating a request from the client computer to a content provider for a specified content, the request including a media ID of a detachable media and user information, the media ID and the user information defining a user identifier, the specified content being a subset of data stored by the content provider, the subset being defined by the media ID, wherein one of an authentication code or said media ID serves to limit access to the subset of data stored by the content provider;

program instructions for triggering downloading of the specified content to the client computer, the specified content being associated with billing triggering data, the billing triggering data being configured to assist in tracking when portions of the specified content is used at the client computer; and

program instructions for sending information regarding the tracked usage of the portions of the specified content to the content provider.

14. Computer readable media having program instructions for enabling the obtaining of media content at a client computer as recited in claim 13, wherein the tracked usage is associated with the user information to enable billing for the usage of the portions of the specified content.

15. Computer readable media having program instructions for enabling the obtaining of media content at a client computer as recited in claim 13, wherein the specified content is downloaded to the client computer, but billing for the downloaded specified content is not triggered until usage of at least a portion of the specified content at the client computer.

16. Computer readable media having program instructions for enabling the obtaining of media content at a client computer as recited in claim 15, wherein the computer readable media is packaged media.

17. Computer readable media having program instructions for enabling the obtaining of media content at a client computer as recited in claim 16, wherein the packaged media is a compact disc.