System for utilizing an incentive point system based on disc and user identification

• US 7,228,342 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2001
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Chatani, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; David Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, LIANG CHE A
• Application Number:
  US09/894,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20020116206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,168 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/219, 709/224, 709/225, 709/229, 709/232, 709/217, 709/223, 705/26, 705/36, 713/201
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A system and method for awarding incentive points utilizing unique disc identification to provide access to disc storage media includes a disc storage medium with a permanently recorded disc identification, a user console with a set identification, a network, and a host server managing a user database and a disc database. Upon purchase of software stored on a disc storage medium, the unique disc identification and user identification are transmitted over the network from the user console to the host server. Permission to access the programs residing on the disc storage medium by the user console is obtained from the host server. The host server manages a point system. Points are awarded and recorded in point accounts stored in the databases.

Claims

1. A system for assigning reward points, comprising:

a user console coupled to a network, wherein the user console is configured to transmit a set identification over the network, the set identification uniquely identifying a user of the console;

a disc storage medium including a permanently recorded disc identification unique to and identifying the disc storage medium, the disc storage medium being readable by the user console, wherein the user console is further configured to transmit the disc identification over the network; and

a host server coupled to the network, wherein the host server is configured to;

receive the disc identification;

receive the set identification;

authorize the user of the user console as identified by the set identification to execute software residing on the disc storage medium; and

assign points to a point account associated with the disc identification, wherein the points assigned to the point account are a reward for the disc storage medium having been shared with other users.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user database accessible by the host server, the user database including a user table, the user table comprising:

user identification information; and

a point account, wherein the point account is associated with the user identification.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the host server is further configured to:

compare the received disc identification with disc identification information stored in the user table and associated with the user identification information; and

compare the received disc identification with disc identification information stored in other user tables and associated with other user identifications.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the host server is further configured to:

assign points to the point account in the user table and associated with the user identification; and

transmit point information including total reward point information to the user console, if the received disc identification matches any of the disc identification information stored in the user table and associated with the user identification.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the host server is further configured to:

assign points to a point account in the other user table and associated with the other user identification; and

transmit point information including total reward point information to the user console, if the received disc identification matches any of the disc identification information stored in the other user tables and associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table indicates owner consent.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the host server further assigns points to the point account in the user table associated with the user identification.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the host server is further configured to:

assign points to the point account in the user table associated with the set identification that uniquely identifies the user of the user console; and

transmit point information including total reward point information to the user console, if the received disc identification does not match any of the disc identification information stored in any user table.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the host server records the received disc identification to the user table associated with the set identification that uniquely identifies the user or the user console.

9. The system of claim 3, further comprising a disc database accessible by the host server, the disc database including a disc table, the disc table comprising:

owner consent data, the owner consent data including access permission data for other users; and

a sub-account associated with the disc identification, the sub-account including point data associated with the disc identification.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the host server is further configured to:

assign points to the sub-account in the disc table and associated with the disc identification; and

transmit point information including total reward point information to the user console, if the received disc identification matches any of the disc identification information stored in the user table associated with the user identification.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the host server is further configured to:

assign points to the sub-account in the disc table and associated with the disc identification; and

transmit point information including total reward point information to the user console, if the received disc identification matches any of the disc identification information stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table indicates owner consent.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the host server further assigns points to the point account in the user table associated with the user identification.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the host server is further configured to

transmit point information including total reward point information to the user console, if the received disc identification does not match any disc identification information stored in any user table.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the host server records the received disc identification to the disc table.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the host server assigns points to the sub-account in the disc table and associated with the received disc identification.

16. The system of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of publisher servers accessible by the host server, the publisher servers being configured to manage a plurality of publisher databases, wherein each of the publisher databases includes sub-accounts managed by one of the publisher servers.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the host server is further configured to

transmit point information including total reward point information to the user console, if the received disc identification matches any of the disc identification information stored in the user table and associated with the user identification, and

the publisher server of the publisher database associated with the received disc identification assigns points to the sub-account of the publisher database associated with the received disc identification.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the host server is further configured to

transmit point information to the user console indicating that points have been rewarded, if the received disc identification matches any of the disc identification information stored in the other user tables and associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table indicates owner consent, and

the publisher server of the publisher database associated with the received disc identification assigns points to the sub-account of the publisher database associated with the received disc identification.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the host server assigns points to a point account in the user table and associated with the user identification.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the host server is further configured to

transmit point information including total reward point information to the user console, if the received disc identification does not match any of the disc identification information stored in any user table.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the publisher server of the publisher database associated with the disc storage medium identified by the received disc identification records the received disc identification to the publisher database associated with the disc storage medium identified by the received disc identification.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the publisher server of the publisher database associated with the received disc identification assigns points to the sub-account of the publisher database associated with the received disc identification.