Electronic book having electronic commerce features of recommending products and providing samples

• US 8,429,028 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adrea LLC (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Adrea LLC (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hendricks, John S., Asmussen, Michael L., McCoskey, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Amee A
• Application Number:
  US12/971,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20110153464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/26.1, 705/27.1, 705/26.7
• US Class Current: 705/26.7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2351 involving encryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4353 involving decryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

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 viewer, comprising:

receiving an electronic book for display on the electronic book viewer;

providing an identification of a recommended product or service associated with the electronic book on the electronic book viewer while the electronic book is displayed, wherein the association with the electronic book is based on one of a genre of the electronic book, an author of the electronic book, and a subject matter of the electronic book;

receiving, via the electronic book viewer, a request for a sample concerning the product or service;

retrieving the sample from a database;

displaying the sample on the electronic book viewer;

receiving an offer to purchase the product or service;

determining whether the offer is acceptable; and

if the offer is determined to be acceptable, purchasing the product or service.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing an index of samples cross-referenced with the corresponding products and services.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is located in a library unit that is different and separate from the electronic book viewer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is accessed locally via a network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the sample includes a video clip, an audio clip, a portion of an electronic book, an image, a slide show, or an animation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample is played by a speaker when the sample is an audio clip.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the offer is acceptable comprises one selected from a group consisting of determining whether the offer is within a range of acceptable prices, determining whether the user is entitled to a particular price, and determining whether a discount is available for the selected product or service.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an indication that the offer is not acceptable when the offer for the purchase of the selected product or service is determined to be unacceptable; and

providing an opportunity to receive another offer for the selected product or service.

9. An apparatus for providing electronic commerce using a portable electronic book viewer, comprising:

a display module configured to display an electronic book on the electronic book viewer, and to display a sample concerning a product or service;

a presentation module configured to provide an identification of a recommended product or service associated with the electronic book on the electronic book viewer while the electronic book is displayed, wherein the association with the electronic book is based on one of a genre of the electronic book, an author of the electronic book, and a subject matter of the electronic book;

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

an execution module configured to perform a transaction to execute the purchase request; and

an access module configured to retrieve the sample from the database.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the access module is further configured to access an index of samples cross-referenced with the corresponding products and services.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the database is located in a library unit that is different and separate from the electronic book viewer.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the database is accessed locally via a network.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the display module is further configured to display the sample in a product sample section within the displayed electronic book.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sample is played by a speaker when the sample is an audio clip.

15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to execute a method for providing electronic commerce using an electronic book viewer, the control logic comprising:

a first computer readable module for receiving an electronic book for display on the electronic book viewer;

a second computer readable module for providing an identification of a recommended product or service associated with the electronic book on the electronic book viewer while the electronic book is displayed, wherein the association with the electronic book is based on one of a genre of the electronic book, an author of the electronic book, and a subject matter of the electronic book;

a third computer readable module for receiving the user'"'"'s selection of the product or service through a task bar of the electronic book viewer;

a fourth computer readable module for receiving a request for a sample concerning a product or service;

a fifth computer readable module for retrieving the sample from a database;

a sixth computer readable module for displaying the sample on the electronic book viewer;

a seventh computer readable module for receiving an offer to purchase the selected product or service;

an eighth computer readable module for determining whether the offer is acceptable; and

a ninth computer readable module for purchasing the selected product or service if the offer is determined to be acceptable.