Performing horological functions in commercial transactions using time cells
First Claim
1. A method for performing a commercial transaction using a data processing system, the method comprising:
- reading a first time cell provided in or on an article of manufacture by an electronic apparatus;
reading a second time cell provided in or on the article of manufacture by the electronic apparatus, wherein each of the first time cell and the second time cell is an electrical device having an insulating medium and an electrostatic charge storage element that is programmed by giving the electrostatic charge storage element a desired electrical potential, and wherein the electronic device discharges electrostatic charge from the electrostatic charge storage element through the insulating medium at a determined rate of discharge; and
in response to a determination of a state of the first time cell and the second time cell by the electronic apparatus, denying or enabling, by the data processing system, use of the article of manufacture in a commercial transaction based on the determined state of the first time cell and the second time cell, wherein the first time cell and the second time cell have different associated expiration periods by one of charging the electrostatic charge storage elements of the first time cell and second time cell with different electrical potentials, or different rates of discharge of the first time cell and second time cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Mechanisms for controlling a commercial transaction are presented. An article of manufacture has a time cell that is read by an electronic apparatus. In response to a determination of a state of the time cell by the electronic apparatus, usage of the article of manufacture in a commercial transaction is enabled or denied based on the determined state of the time cell. The expiration period of a time cell controls the time period during which the commercial transaction is enabled or is denied to be performed; an unexpired time cell may both enable or deny performance of a commercial transaction, and an expired time cell may also both enable or deny performance of a commercial transaction. The time cell may be used to restrict the usage period of a coupon, a promotional offer, a pre-paid service, or some other commercial transaction that involves an article of manufacture.
43 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for performing a commercial transaction using a data processing system, the method comprising:
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reading a first time cell provided in or on an article of manufacture by an electronic apparatus; reading a second time cell provided in or on the article of manufacture by the electronic apparatus, wherein each of the first time cell and the second time cell is an electrical device having an insulating medium and an electrostatic charge storage element that is programmed by giving the electrostatic charge storage element a desired electrical potential, and wherein the electronic device discharges electrostatic charge from the electrostatic charge storage element through the insulating medium at a determined rate of discharge; and in response to a determination of a state of the first time cell and the second time cell by the electronic apparatus, denying or enabling, by the data processing system, use of the article of manufacture in a commercial transaction based on the determined state of the first time cell and the second time cell, wherein the first time cell and the second time cell have different associated expiration periods by one of charging the electrostatic charge storage elements of the first time cell and second time cell with different electrical potentials, or different rates of discharge of the first time cell and second time cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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12. A computer program product comprising a storage medium for use in a data processing system for performing a commercial transaction, the computer program product comprising computer readable instructions recorded on the storage medium which, when executed by the data processing system, cause the data processing system to:
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read a first time cell provided in or on an article of manufacture by an electronic apparatus; read a second time cell provided in or on the article of manufacture by the electronic apparatus, wherein each of the first time cell and the second time cell is an electrical device having an insulating medium and an electrostatic charge storage element that is programmed by giving the electrostatic charge storage element a desired electrical potential, and wherein the electronic device discharges electrostatic charge from the electrostatic charge storage element through the insulating medium at a determined rate of discharge; and deny or enable, in response to a determination of a state of the first time cell and the second time cell by the electronic apparatus, use of the article of manufacture in a commercial transaction based on the determined state of the first time cell and the second time cell, wherein the first time cell and the second time cell have different associated expiration periods by one of charging the electrostatic charge storage elements of the first time cell and second time cell with different electrical potentials, or different rates of discharge of the first time cell and second time cell. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for supporting a commercial transaction, the apparatus comprising:
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time detection unit; and a data processing system coupled to the time detection unit, wherein; the time detection unit is configured to read a first time cell provided in or on an article of manufacture by an electronic apparatus; the time detection unit is further configured to read a second time cell provided in or on the article of manufacture by the electronic apparatus, wherein each of the first time cell and the second time cell is an electrical device having an insulating medium and an electrostatic charge storage element that is programmed by giving the electrostatic charge storage element a desired electrical potential, and wherein the electronic device discharges electrostatic charge from the electrostatic charge storage element through the insulating medium at a determined rate of discharge; and the data processing system is configured to deny or enable, in response to a determination of a state of the first time cell and the second time cell by the electronic apparatus, use of the article of manufacture in a commercial transaction based on the determined state of the first time cell and the second time cell, wherein the first time cell and the second time cell have different associated expiration periods by one of charging the electrostatic charge storage elements of the first time cell and second time cell with different electrical potentials, or different rates of discharge of the first time cell and second time cell. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification