Purchasing using a physical object

• US 7,533,059 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Gattis, Jeffrey Alton, Silverstein, Dana Lu
• Primary Examiner(s): Felten; Daniel S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rankins; William E
• Application Number:
  US11/686,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 726/9, 705/26, 705/27, 705/65, 705/76, 340/572.1, 340/568.5, 340/5.32, 340/5.6, 379/114.03, 455/406
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

Using a user interface to allow payment for physical or virtual goods to be made through a physical object. A method may be practiced in a computing system including a user interface. The method includes detecting a payment physical object, and payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object. User input is received. The user input includes at least one of physically dragging a physical object to the detected physical object, or graphically dragging the physical or a virtual object to the detected payment physical object by dragging a graphical representation of the physical or the virtual object to the detected payment physical object. Payment for the physical or virtual object is facilitated using the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object.

Claims

1. In a computing system including a user interface, a method of using the user interface to allow payment for physical or virtual goods to be made through a physical object, the method comprising:

detecting a payment physical object physically being placed on a portion of an interactive surface, detecting payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object;

receiving user input at the interactive surface, the user input comprising at least one of physically dragging a physical object to the detected payment physical object physically on the portion of the interactive surface, graphically dragging a graphical representation of the physical object to the detected payment physical object, the detected payment physical object being physically on the portion of the interactive surface, or graphically dragging a graphical representation of a virtual object to the detected payment physical object physically on the portion of the interactive surface; and

as a result of the user input at the interactive surface, including at least one of physically dragging the physical object to the detected payment physical objects, the detected payment physical object being physically on the portion of the interactive surface, graphically dragging a graphical representation of the physical object to the detected payment physical object physically on the portion of the interactive surface, or graphically dragging a graphical representation of a virtual object to the detected payment physical object, the detected payment physical object being physically on the portion of the interactive surface, facilitating payment for the physical or virtual object using the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to detecting the payment physical object, displaying one or more graphical representations of recommended objects for purchase.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting information about objects purchased using the detected payment physical object to a fulfillment location such that purchased objects may be obtained by a user of the detected payment physical object at the fulfillment location.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting information about objects purchased using the detected payment physical object to a fulfillment location such that purchased objects may be obtained by a user of the detected payment physical object by downloading the purchased objects from the fulfillment location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving user input at the interactive surface comprises graphically dragging a graphical representation of the virtual object to the detected payment physical object, the detected payment physical object being physically on the portion of the interactive surface, the method further comprising applying the purchased virtual objects, to the detected payment physical object.

6. In a computing system including a user interface, a method of using the user interface to allow payment for physical or virtual goods to be made through a physical object, the method comprising:

receiving user input, the user input comprising graphically dragging a graphical representation of a physical object or a graphical representation of a virtual object to a payment area on an interactive surface by dragging a graphical representation of the physical or the virtual object to the payment area;

detecting a payment physical object with payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object being physically placed on the interactive surface in the payment area of the interactive surface;

detecting the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object; and

as a result of detecting the payment physical object with payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object being physically placed on the interactive surface in the payment area of the interactive surface, facilitating payment for the physical or virtual object using the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object comprise a monetary amount that can be spent.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object comprise an association with a billing system for providing a bill for objects purchased using the detected payment physical object.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the bill is a monthly bill.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the bill is a cumulative bill.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting information about objects purchased using the payment physical object to a fulfillment location such that purchased objects may be obtained by a user of the payment physical object at the fulfillment location.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting information about objects purchased using the payment physical object to a fulfillment location such that purchased objects may be obtained by a user of the payment physical object by downloading the purchased objects from the fulfillment location.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising associating purchased physical or virtual objects with the payment physical object.

14. In a computing system including a user interface, a computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the following:

detecting a payment physical object physically on an interactive surface, wherein the payment physical object comprises a souvenir obtained at a tourist location;

detecting payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object;

receiving user input at the interactive surface for purchasing at least one of a physical object or a virtual object, the user input comprising at least one of physically dragging the physical object to the detected payment physical objects, the detected payment physical object being physically on the interactive surface, graphically dragging a representation of the physical object to the detected payment physical object physically on the interactive surface, or graphically dragging a graphical representation of a virtual object to the detected payment physical object, the detected payment physical object being physically on the interactive surface; and

as a result of receiving user input at the interactive surface for purchasing at least one of the physical object or the virtual object, including at least one of physically dragging the physical object to the detected payment physical object, the detected payment physical object being physically on the interactive surface, graphically dragging a representation of the physical object to the detected payment physical object physically on the interactive surface, or graphically dragging a graphical representation of a virtual object to the detected payment physical object, the detected payment physical object being physically on the interactive surface, facilitating payment for the physical or virtual object using the payment capabilities associated with the payment physical object; and

transmitting information about the physical object or virtual object to a fulfillment location at an exit of the tourist location where the physical object or virtual object can be retrieved at the conclusion of activities at the tourist location.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the computer readable medium is a physical computer readable medium.