Method of controlling electronic commerce queue

• US 8,433,622 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Media Queue LLC
• Original Assignee: Media Queue LLC
• Inventors: Gross, John N.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEVINE, ADAM L
• Application Number:
  US10/856,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20040243480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,259 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 272
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4661 Deriving a combined profile for a plurality of end-users of the same client, e.g. for family members within a home user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed

Abstract

A network based distribution system and method for distributing/temporarily renting playable media items, such as movies in a digital format. The distribution system includes a number of components that interoperate to improve a subscriber'"'"'s experience, including an intelligent queue monitor which works on his/her behalf to ensure that an adequate and interesting list of tides is made available to the subscriber based on selection logic which can be specified by the user.

Claims

1. A method of distributing playable media items, the playable media items corresponding to machine readable media readable by a subscriber machine player, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) setting up a first subscriber selection queue for a first subscriber with a computing system, said first subscriber selection queue consisting of a list of one or more playable media items to be delivered to the first subscriber;

wherein said first subscriber selection queue is set up at least in part in response to playable media item selection directions provided by the first subscriber including a subscriber selected order for playable media items on said list;

(b) setting up delivery rules for the first subscriber selection queue with the computing system, which delivery rules include an automated randomized delivery option selectable and controllable by the first subscriber;

(c) shipping said playable media items in tangible media form to the first subscriber in a random sequence in response to said randomized delivery option being selected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a priority right for a limited number of the list of one or more playable media items is granted with the computing system in exchange for the first subscriber selecting said randomized delivery option, said priority right corresponding to a right for said first subscriber to receive such limited number of one or more playable media items before one or more second subscribers, such that said first subscriber can receive such limited number of one or more playable media items even under conditions in which said one or more second subscribers have selected said limited number of one more playable media items for inclusion in their respective subscriber queues prior to said first subscriber.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein when said subscriber selection queue includes a list of N ordered items ranked in priority by the subscriber, said randomized delivery option causes one of M top ranked items to be sent to the subscriber where N>

M>

2.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said playable media items are digital versatile disks delivered by mail.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to said randomized delivery option being selected further including steps of:

determining with the computing system a demand associated with each playable media item in a set of playable media items within a set of subscribers;

determining with the computing system a priority of receipt for each playable media item for said set of subscribers;

identifying with the computing system a first playable media item which has a lowest demand in a set of top ranked playable media items identified within said first subscriber selection queue for a first subscriber taken from said set of subscribers, and replacing a priority for receipt for said first subscriber for said first playable media item with that of another subscriber taken from said set of subscribers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of said playable media items are automatically selected and placed into said subscriber selection queue on behalf of the subscriber by a recommender system.

7. The method of claim 1, further including a step:

providing a routine at the subscriber'"'"'s computing system and executing within a browser for monitoring said subscriber selection queue.