Electronic Book having electronic commerce features

• US 7,509,270 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1999
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Discovery Patent Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Discovery Communications, Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: McCoskey, John S., Hendricks, John S., Asmussen, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah; Amee A
• Application Number:
  US09/441,892
• Time in Patent Office: 3,415 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/14
• US Class Current: 705/26.9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A viewer for displaying an electronic book and providing for electronic commerce. In conjunction with viewing an electronic book, a user can view information about products and services, view an on-line electronic catalog, and receive samples of products available for purchase. By entering a purchase request, the user can purchase products or services. In the case of a digital product, the user can download the purchased product directly into the viewer. The viewer also records statistics concerning purchase and information requests in order to recommend related products or services, or for directing particular types of advertisements to the user.

Claims

1. A method for providing electronic commerce using an electronic book, comprising:

displaying an electronic book;

presenting associated with the electronic book an identification of a product or service;

receiving a user'"'"'s selection of the product or service;

receiving a request to purchase the selected product or service; and

performing a transaction to execute the purchase request;

generating a table for the product or service for each user to record statistical information concerning purchases and requests for information concerning particular products and services, wherein the statistical information is used for selecting particular advertisements for display to the user;

providing an electronic catalog identifying products and services to be accessed by the user, wherein the electronic catalog includes a default catalog and a customer catalog, the customer catalog being determined based upon identification of products and services previously purchased or for which information was requested; and

displaying the default catalog to the user when there is no record of identification of products and services;

wherein the performing step includes allowing the user to submit an offered price and determining whether to accept the offered price based upon at least one of the following criteria;

an amount of the offered price, any available rebates relating to the selected product or service, any available discounts relating to the selected product or service, or a range of acceptable prices for the selected product or service.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step includes displaying the electronic book on a viewer.

3. The method of claim 1, further including:

receiving a request from the user for information concerning a particular product or service; and

displaying information concerning the particular product or service in response to the request.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing step includes electronically obtaining payment for the product or service.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the performing step includes using a digital coupon as at least part of the payment required for the execution of the purchase request.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing step includes establishing an electronic communication with a web site for executing the purchase request.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the establishing step includes launching a browser program to establish the electronic communication.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the presenting step includes displaying an icon identifying the product or service; and

the receiving step includes receiving selection of the icon by the user.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the presenting step includes displaying information relating to the product or service.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the presenting step includes displaying an advertisement relating to the product or service.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the presenting step includes selecting and displaying an advertisement based upon information related to the user.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the presenting step includes selecting and displaying an advertisement based upon particular criteria.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the presenting step includes displaying multimedia information relating to the product or service.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the presenting step includes displaying an identification of a digital product; and

the performing step includes downloading the digital product into a memory associated with the viewer.

15. The method of claim 1, further including recording statistical information relating to the purchase request.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the recording step includes recording statistical information concerning purchases of the product or service.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the recording step includes recording statistical information concerning purchases of products or services by the user.

18. The method of claim 15, further including presenting an identification of other products or services based upon the statistical information.

19. The method of claim 1, further including:

receiving from the user a request for display of information-concerning a particular product or service;

displaying information relating to the particular product or service in response to the request; and

displaying information relating to products or services associated with the particular product or service.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing step includes encrypting the transaction for secure execution of the purchase request.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the encrypting step includes using a digital signature for the secure execution of the purchase request.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the displaying step includes displaying a hypertext link identifying the product or service; and

the receiving step includes receiving selection of the hypertext link.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing step includes:

presenting an electronic order form on a viewer; and

receiving a completed version of the electronic order form for the execution of the purchase request.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing step includes:

generating and presenting on a viewer a completed electronic order form based upon information stored in the viewer identifying the user and payment information; and

receiving a submission of the completed order form.

25. The method of claim 1, further including providing a sample of the product using the viewer.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the providing step includes presenting a video clip, an audio clip, a portion of an electronic book, an image, a slide show, or an animation.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step includes displaying an electronic catalog that includes an identification of the product or service.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step includes:

displaying an electronic catalog as the electronic book; and

displaying an interactive electronic catalog within the electronic book.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the displaying step includes displaying the electronic catalog as an inset image within the displayed electronic book.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the displaying step includes displaying the electronic catalog as an overlayed image within the displayed electronic book.

31. The method of claim 1, further including generating and presenting a customized electronic catalog, including the identification of the product or service and an identification of other products or services, based upon information related to the user.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an available sample associated with the product or service upon a request from the user before the user requests a purchase of the product or service.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing step includes:

receiving from the user an offered price for the product or service;

determining whether to accept the offered price;

selectively transmitting an indication of an acceptance of the offered price based upon the determining; and

receiving from the user one or more new offered prices if the offered price is not accepted upon the determining.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the default catalog is generated from a sample of products and services based upon empirical evidence to determine most popular products and services.

35. A method for providing electronic commerce using an electronic book, comprising:

displaying an electronic book;

presenting associated with the electronic book an identification of a product or service;

receiving a user'"'"'s selection of the product or service;

receiving a request to purchase the selected product or service;

performing a transaction to execute the purchase request;

generating a table for the product or service for each user to record statistical information concerning purchases and requests for information concerning particular products and services, wherein the statistical information is used for selecting particular advertisements for display to the user;

providing an electronic catalog identifying products and services to be accessed by the user, wherein the electronic catalog includes a default catalog and a customer catalog, the customer catalog being determined based upon identification of products and services previously purchased or for which information was requested; and

displaying the default catalog to the user when there is no record of identification of products and services.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the determining includes determining whether to accept the offered price based upon at least one of the following criteria:

an amount of the offered price, any available rebates relating to the selected product or service, any available discounts relating to the selected product or service, or a range of acceptable prices for the selected product or service.

37. The method of claim 35, further including:

receiving a request from the user for information concerning a particular product or service; and

displaying information concerning the particular product or service in response to the request.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the performing includes electronically obtaining payment for the product or service.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising providing an available sample associated with the product or service upon a request from the user before the user requests a purchase of the product or service.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the performing step includes:

receiving from the user an offered price for the product or service;

determining whether to accept the offered price;

selectively transmitting an indication of an acceptance of the offered price based upon the determining; and

receiving from the user one or more new offered prices if the offered price is not accepted upon the determining.

41. A method for providing electronic commerce using an electronic book, comprising:

displaying an electronic book;

presenting associated with the electronic book an identification of a product or service, wherein the identification of a product or service is displayed as one of an inset image within the displayed electronic book, an overlayed image on the displayed electronic book, or in place of the displayed electronic book;

receiving a user'"'"'s selection of the product or service;

receiving a request to purchase the selected product or service;

performing a transaction to execute the purchase request;

generating a table for the product or service for each user to record statistical information concerning purchases and requests for information concerning particular products and services, wherein the statistical information is used for selecting particular advertisements for display to the user;

providing an electronic catalog identifying products and services to be accessed by the user, wherein the electronic catalog includes a default catalog and a customer catalog, the customer catalog is determined based upon identification of products and services previously purchased or for which information was requested, and

displaying the default catalog to the user when there is no record of identification of products and services.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising providing an available sample associated with the product or service upon a request from the user before the user requests a purchase of the product or service.

43. An apparatus for providing electronic commerce using an electronic book, comprising:

a display module for displaying an electronic book;

a presentation module for presenting associated with the electronic book an identification of a product or service, wherein the identification of a product or service is displayed as one of an inset image within the displayed electronic book, an overlayed image on the displayed electronic book, or in place of the displayed electronic book;

a receive module for receiving a user'"'"'s selection of the product or service and a request to purchase the selected product or service; and

an execution module for performing a transaction to execute the purchase request, wherein the execution module is configured

to generate a table for the selected product or service for each user to record statistical information concerning purchases and requests for information concerning particular products and services, the statistical information is used for selecting particular advertisements for display to the user; and

to provide an electronic catalog identifying products and services to be accessed by the user, wherein the electronic catalog includes a default catalog and a customer catalog, the customer catalog being determined based upon identification of products and services previously purchased or for which information was requested;

wherein the display module displays the default catalog to the user when there is no record of identification of products and services.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the display module includes a module for displaying the electronic book on a viewer.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, further including:

a module for receiving a request from the user for information concerning a particular product or service; and

a module for displaying information concerning the particular product or service in response to the request.

46. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the execution module includes a module for electronically obtaining payment for the product or service.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the execution module includes a module for using a digital coupon as at least part of the payment required for the execution of the purchase request.

48. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the execution module includes a module for establishing an electronic communication with a web site for executing the purchase request.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the execution module includes a module for launching a browser program to establish the electronic communication.

50. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein:

the presentation module includes a module for displaying an icon identifying the product or service; and

the receive module includes a module for receiving selection of the icon by the user.

51. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the presentation module includes a module for displaying information relating to the product or service.

52. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the presentation module includes a module for displaying an advertisement relating to the product or service.

53. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the presentation module includes a module for selecting and displaying an advertisement based upon information related to the user.

54. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the presentation module includes a module for selecting and displaying an advertisement based upon particular criteria.

55. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the presentation module includes a module for displaying multimedia information relating to the product or service.

56. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein:

the presentation module includes a module for displaying an identification of a digital product; and

the execution module includes a module for downloading the digital product into a memory associated with the viewer.

57. The apparatus of claim 43, further including a recording module for recording statistical information relating to the purchase request.

58. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the recording module includes a module for recording statistical information concerning purchases of the product or service.

59. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the recording module includes a module for recording statistical information concerning purchases of products or services by the user.

60. The apparatus of claim 57, further including a module for presenting an identification of other products or services based upon the statistical information.

61. The apparatus of claim 43, further including:

a module for receiving from the user a request for display of information concerning a particular product or service;

a module for displaying information relating to the particular product or service in response to the request; and

a module for displaying information relating to products or services associated with the particular product or service.

62. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the execution module includes:

a module for receiving from the user an offered price for the product or service;

a determination module for determining whether to accept the offered price; and

a transmission module for selectively transmitting an indication of an acceptance of the offered price based upon the determining.

63. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein the determination module includes a module for determining whether to accept the offered price based upon at least one of the following criteria:

an amount of the offered price, any available rebates relating to the selected product or service, any available discounts relating to the selected product or service, or a range of acceptable prices for the selected product or service.

64. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the execution module includes an encryption module for encrypting the transaction for secure execution of the purchase request.

65. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the encryption module includes a module for using a digital signature for the secure execution of the purchase request.

66. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein:

the display module includes a module for displaying a hypertext link identifying the product or service; and

the receive module includes a module for receiving selection of the hypertext link.

67. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the execution module includes:

a module for presenting an electronic order form on the viewer; and

a module for receiving a completed version of the electronic order form for the execution of the purchase request.

68. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the execution module includes:

a module for generating and presenting on a viewer a completed electronic order form based upon stored information identifying the user and payment information; and

a module for receiving a submission of the completed order form.

69. The apparatus of claim 43, further including a sample module for presenting a sample of the product using a viewer.

70. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein the sample module includes a module for presenting a video clip, an audio clip, a portion of an electronic book, an image, a slide show, or an animation.

71. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the display module includes a module for displaying an electronic catalog that includes an identification of the product or service.

72. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the display module includes:

a module for displaying an electronic catalog as the electronic book; and

a module for displaying an interactive electronic catalog within the electronic book.

73. The apparatus of claim 71 wherein the display module includes a module for displaying the electronic catalog as an inset image within the displayed electronic book.

74. The apparatus of claim 71 wherein the display module includes a module for displaying the electronic catalog as an overlayed image within the displayed electronic book.

75. The apparatus of claim 43, further including a module for generating and presenting a customized electronic catalog, including the identification of the product or service and an identification of other products or services, based upon information related to the user.

76. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the presentation module further displays an available sample associated with the selective product or service upon a request from the user before the user requests to purchase the selected product or service.

77. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the default catalog is generated from a sample of products and services based upon empirical evidence to determine most popular products and services.

78. An apparatus for providing electronic commerce using an electronic book, comprising:

a display module for displaying an electronic book;

a presentation module for presenting associated with the electronic book an identification of a product or service;

a receive module for receiving a user'"'"'s selection of the product or service and a request to purchase the selected product or service; and

an execution module for performing a transaction to execute the purchase request, wherein the execution module includes;

a module for receiving from the user an offered price for the product or service;

a determination module for determining whether to accept the offered price; and

a transmission module for selectively transmitting an indication of an acceptance of the offered price based upon the determining,

wherein the module for receiving from the user the offered price is configured to receive one or more new offered prices when the transmission module-transmits an indication that the offered price is not acceptable,

wherein the execution module further generates a table for the selected product or service for each user to record statistical information concerning purchases and

to generate a table for the selected product or service for each user to record statistical information concerning purchases and requests for information concerning particular products and services, the statistical information is used for selecting particular advertisements for display to the user and

to provide an electronic catalog identifying products and services to be accessed by the user, wherein the electronic catalog includes a default catalog and a customer catalog, the customer catalog is determined based upon identification of products and services previously purchased or for which information was requested,

wherein the display module displays the default catalog to the user when there is no record of identification of products and services.

79. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein the determination module includes a module for determining whether to accept the offered price based upon at least one of the following criteria:

an amount of the offered price, any available rebates relating to the selected product or service, any available discounts relating to the selected product or service, or a range of acceptable prices for the selected product or service.

80. The apparatus of claim 78, further including:

a module for receiving a request from the user for information concerning a particular product or service; and

a module for displaying information concerning the particular product or service in response to the request.

81. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein the execution module includes a module for electronically obtaining payment for the product or service.

82. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein the presentation module further displays an available sample associated with the selective product or service upon a request from the user before the user requests to purchase the selected product or service.