Apparatus and methods for inventory, sale, and delivery of digitally transferable goods

• US 8,571,949 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2012
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Boesjes, Eimar M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Akiba
• Application Number:
  US13/425,319
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 705/7.11, 705/28, 705/26.1
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

A system comprises: (a) storage and distribution means; (b) inventory upload means; (c) product information download means; (d) order upload means; and (e) delivery download means. A method comprises: (a) digitally transferring the goods and pertinent product information from a provider of the goods to a storage and distribution means; (b) storing the goods, pertinent product information, order information, sales information, or marketing information on the storage and distribution means; (c) digitally transferring product information to a shopper; (d) digitally transferring order information from a buyer of goods to the storage and distribution means; and (e) digitally transferring the goods to the buyer. The storage and distribution means may be provided with a network connection for access by providers, shoppers, and buyers.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a transaction that includes a transfer of digitally transferable goods from a provider to a shopper through a globally accessible computer network, comprising:

providing, by one or more servers and in the globally accessible computer network, a storage and distribution region for storage of an inventory of digitally transferable goods, the storage and distribution region including multiple provider areas assigned to corresponding multiple remotely located providers for storage of digitally transferable goods uploaded by the multiple remotely located providers;

establishing, by the one or more servers, common administrative control of uploading of the digitally transferable goods from any of the multiple remotely located providers to the corresponding assigned provider areas;

establishing, by the one or more servers and in response to a request by any of the multiple remotely located providers and in operative association with the common administrative control, a digitally transferable goods transfer communication link within the globally accessible computer network, the goods transfer communication link providing a pathway by which the multiple remotely located providers can upload a set of digitally transferable goods to and store the set of digitally transferable goods in the corresponding assigned provider areas of the storage and distribution region;

establishing, by the one or more servers and within the globally accessible computer network, a network connection to the storage and distribution system in response to a request by a shopper for product information about a member item of the set of digitally transferable goods uploaded by one or more of the multiple remotely located providers;

causing, by the one or more servers and in response to a purchase order made by the shopper, a transfer of an ordered member item of the set of digitally transferable goods by downloading to the shopper the ordered member item by way of the globally accessible computer network from the storage and distribution region; and

providing, by the one or more servers and for a remotely located provider whose member item was ordered and transferred, an accounting record of the transfer of the ordered member item, wherein the set of digitally transferable goods comprises a set of media files.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of media files includes at least one of a set of image files, a set of audio files, a set of video files, or a set of text-based files.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising establishing via the globally accessible computer network a provider session during which the multiple remotely located providers, in cooperation with the common administrative control, self-manage the inventory of digitally transferable goods by accessing the corresponding assigned provider area of the storage and distribution region to modify the stored set of digitally transferable goods.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the multiple remotely located providers modify the stored set of digitally transferable goods by entering the corresponding assigned provider area and uploading new digitally transferable goods.

6. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the multiple remotely located providers modify the stored set of digitally transferable goods by entering the corresponding assigned area to remove selected digitally transferable goods.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the common administrative control of uploading digitally transferable goods includes validating each of the multiple remotely located providers to restrict access to the corresponding assigned provider area, and for each of the multiple remotely located providers, the validating including:

establishing a provider account and assigning to one of the multiple remotely located providers corresponding provider account identification data or a provider password;

collecting from the one remotely located provider an electronic mail (e-mail) address, financial information, or identification information;

verifying the financial information or the identification information; and

transmitting, to the e-mail address collected from the one remotely located provider, the provider account identification data or the provider password.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein product marketing information or product sales information pertaining to one of the multiple remotely located providers is stored in the storage and distribution region, and further comprising establishing via the globally accessible computer network a provider session during which the one remotely located provider, in cooperation with the common administrative control, accesses the product marketing information or the product sales information pertaining to the set of digitally transferable goods of the one remotely located provider.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the product information about the member item of the set of digitally transferable goods is stored on the globally accessible computer network in a searchable database of product information of the set of digitally transferable goods uploaded by the multiple remotely located providers; and

the request by the shopper for the product information about the member item enables the shopper to search the searchable database for the product information.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the shopper has an electronic mail (e-mail) address and the purchase order includes shopper financial information, and further comprising in response to the purchase order made by the shopper:

verifying the shopper financial information;

generating purchase order identification data or a purchase order password; and

confirming the purchase order by transferring the purchase order identification data or the purchase order password to the e-mail address of the shopper and requesting shopper confirmation of receipt of the purchase order identification data or the purchase order password.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

logging the shopper e-mail address, the shopper financial information, or a date/time/network address corresponding to the purchase order made by the shopper; and

storing as sales information the purchase order information data, the e-mail address of the shopper, the date/time/network address, or the shopper financial information.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the transfer of the ordered member item by downloading the ordered member item to the shopper comprises:

establishing an order storage area in the storage and distribution region for storing the ordered member item and from which the ordered member item may be downloaded to the shopper;

transferring purchase order identification data or a purchase order password to an electronic mail (e-mail) address of the shopper, the purchase order identification data or the purchase order password being generated in response to the purchase order made by the shopper;

requesting confirmation by the shopper of receipt of the purchase order identification data or the purchase order password; and

placing the ordered member item in the order storage area.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising receiving, from the shopper, a submission of the purchase order identification data or the purchase order password to cause a transfer of the ordered member item.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising receiving, from the shopper, a submission of the purchase order identification data or the purchase order password to enable a return of the ordered member item.

2. A system for conducting a transaction that includes a transfer of digitally transferable goods from a provider to a shopper through a globally accessible computer network, comprising:

a storage and distribution region provided in the globally accessible computer network for storage of an inventory of digitally transferable goods, the storage and distribution region including multiple provider areas assigned to corresponding multiple remotely located providers, for storage of digitally transferable goods uploaded by the multiple remotely located providers;

an administrative control sub-system for establishing common administrative control of uploading of the digitally transferable goods from any of the multiple remotely located providers to the corresponding assigned provider areas;

a digitally transferable goods transfer communication link, established within the globally accessible computer network in response to a request by any of the multiple remotely located providers and in operative association with the administrative control sub-system, the goods transfer communication link providing a pathway by which the multiple remotely located providers can upload a set of digitally transferable goods to and store the set of digitally transferable goods in the corresponding assigned provider areas of the storage and distribution region;

a network connection to the storage and distribution system established within the globally accessible computer network in response to a request by a shopper for product information about a member item of the set of digitally transferable goods uploaded by one or more of the multiple remotely located providers;

a digitally transferable goods download communication link, established within the globally accessible computer network in response to a purchase order made by the shopper, for transferring an ordered member item of the set of digitally transferable goods to the shopper from the storage and distribution region; and

an accounting sub-system for providing for a remotely located provider whose member item was ordered and transferred an accounting record of the transfer of the ordered member item,

wherein the set of digitally transferable goods comprises a set of media files.

15. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the administrative control sub-system is programmed to enable one of the multiple remotely located providers to establish, through the globally accessible computer network, a provider session during which the one remotely located provider self-manages the inventory of the one remotely located provider by accessing the corresponding assigned provider area of the storage and distribution region to modify the stored set of digitally transferable goods.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the administrative control sub-system is programmed to enable the one remotely located provider to modify the stored set of digitally transferable goods by entering the corresponding assigned provider area and uploading new digitally transferable goods.

17. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the administrative control sub-system is programmed to enable the one remotely located provider to modify the stored set of digitally transferable goods by entering the corresponding assigned area to remove selected digitally transferable goods.

18. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the administrative control sub-system includes a provider validation sub-system for validating each of the multiple remotely located providers to restrict access to the corresponding assigned provider areas, the provider validation sub-system being programmed for:

establishing, for each of the multiple remotely located providers, a provider account and assigning to one of the multiple remotely located providers corresponding provider account identification data or a provider password;

collecting from the one remote located provider an electronic mail (e-mail) address, financial information, or identification information;

verifying the financial information or the identification information; and

transmitting, to the e-mail address collected from the one remotely located provider, the provider account identification data or the provider password.

19. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein product marketing information and product sales information pertaining to one of the remotely located providers is stored in the storage and distribution region, and the administrative control sub-system is programmed to enable the one remotely located provider to access, during a provider session established through the globally accessible computer network and in cooperation with the common administrative control sub-system, the product marketing information or the product sales information pertaining to the set of digitally transferable goods of the one remotely located provider.

20. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein:

the product information about the member item of the set of digitally transferable goods is stored on the globally accessible computer network in a searchable database of product information of the set of digitally transferable goods uploaded by the multiple remotely located providers; and

the administrative sub-system is programmed to enable, in response to the request by the shopper for product information about the member item, the shopper to search the searchable database for the product information.

21. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the administrative control sub-system includes a purchase order sub-system for receiving the purchase order, the purchase order including a shopper electronic mail (e-mail) address or shopper financial information, and the purchase order sub-system being programmed for, in response to the purchase order made by the shopper:

verifying the shopper financial information;

generating purchase order identification data or a purchase order password; and

confirming the purchase order by transferring the purchase order identification data or the purchase order password to the e-mail address of the shopper and requesting shopper confirmation of receipt of the purchase order identification data or the purchase order password.

22. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein the purchase order sub-system is further programmed for:

logging the shopper e-mail address, the shopper financial information, or a date/time/network address corresponding to the purchase order made by the shopper; and

storing as sales information the purchase order information data, the e-mail address of the shopper, the date/time/network address, or the shopper financial information.

23. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein:

the storage and distribution region includes an order storage area, established in response to the purchase order, for storing the ordered member item and wherein the ordered member item is to be downloaded to the shopper; and

the administrative control sub-system is programmed for generating purchase order identification data or a purchase order password in response to the purchase order, transferring the purchase order identification data or the purchase order password to an electronic mail (e-mail) address of the shopper, requesting confirmation by the shopper of receipt of the purchase order identification data or the purchase order password, and placing the ordered member item in the order storage area.

24. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the administrative control sub-system is further programmed for receiving from the shopper the purchase order identification data or the purchase order password to cause a transfer of the ordered member item.

25. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the administrative control sub-system is further programmed for receiving from the shopper the purchase order identification data or the purchase order password to enable a return of the ordered member item.

26. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the set of media files includes at least one of a set of image files, a set of audio files, a set of video files, or a set of text-based files.

27. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

providing, in a globally accessible computer network, a storage and distribution region for storage of an inventory of digitally transferable goods, the storage and distribution region including multiple provider areas assigned to corresponding multiple remotely located providers for storage of digitally transferable goods uploaded by the multiple remotely located providers;

establishing common administrative control of uploading of the digitally transferable goods from any of the multiple remotely located providers to the corresponding assigned provider areas; and

in response to determining that one of the multiple remotely located providers has uploaded a portion of the digitally transferable goods, authorizing both the one remotely located provider and a service provider to interact with the portion of the digitally transferable goods.

28. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 27, wherein the operations further comprise:

establishing, in response to a request by any of the multiple remotely located providers and in operative association with the common administrative control, a digitally transferable goods transfer communication link within the globally accessible computer network, the goods transfer communication link providing a pathway by which the multiple remotely located providers can upload a set of digitally transferable goods to and store the set of digitally transferable goods in the corresponding assigned provider areas of the storage and distribution region;

establishing, within the globally accessible computer network, a network connection to the storage and distribution system in response to a request by a shopper for product information about a member item of the set of digitally transferable goods uploaded by one or more of the multiple remotely located providers;

causing, in response to a purchase order made by the shopper, a transfer of an ordered member item of the set of digitally transferable goods by downloading to the shopper the ordered member item by way of the globally accessible computer network from the storage and distribution region; and

providing, for a remotely located provider whose member item was ordered and transferred, an accounting record of the transfer of the ordered member item.

29. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 27, wherein both the one remotely located provider and the service provider are authorized to add, modify, delete, or facilitate a purchase of the portion of the digitally transferable goods.