Apparatus for viewing content contained therein on a nearby display screen with payment module for charging an account for viewing the content

• US 8,666,308 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2012
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Slotznick, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US13/563,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20120297404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 455/2.01, 455/3.05, 455419-420, 455/526.1, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/566, 455405-408, 348/14.02, 348/14.05, 348/734, 725/62, 725109-112, 725/133, 725/141, 725/153, 725 1- 2
• US Class Current: 455/3.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/215 by non-intrusive coupling means, e.g. acoustic couplers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for viewing content. The apparatus includes a portable device and a payment module. The portable device enables viewing of content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the portable device. The portable device includes a button and a transmitter. The button initiates wireless communication between the portable device and a payment module. The transmitter electronically wirelessly communicates a signal from the portable device to the payment module upon selection of the button. The signal includes customer identity information that identifies an account that can be charged for viewing the content. The payment module receives the signal, allows the display screen to be used for viewing the content, and charges the account for viewing the content.

Claims

1. An apparatus for viewing content comprising:

(a) a portable device to enable viewing of content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the portable device, the portable device including;

(i) a button which initiates wireless communication between the portable device and a payment module, and

(ii) a transmitter that electronically wirelessly communicates a signal from the portable device to the payment module upon selection of the button, wherein the signal includes customer identity information that identifies an account that can be charged for viewing the content; and

(b) a payment module that;

(i) receives the signal,

(ii) allows the display screen to be used for viewing the content, and

(iii) charges the account for viewing the content.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portable device is a telephone, and the customer identity information is the telephone number of the portable telephone device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the content is a pay per view movie that is displayed on the nearby display after the payment module charges the account.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the content is a web page that is displayed on the nearby display after the payment module charges the account.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portable device is a cell phone.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitter wirelessly communicates the content from the portable device to the nearby display, and the content is displayed on the nearby display after the payment module charges the account.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitter wirelessly communicates an electronic address of the content from the portable device to the nearby display, and a web page associated with the electronic address of the content is displayed on the nearby display after the payment module charges the account.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portable device does not have a subscriber relationship with the payment module.

9. A system for viewing content comprising:

(a) a portable device to enable viewing of content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the portable device, the portable device including;

(i) a button which initiates wireless communication between the portable device and a payment module, and

(ii) a transmitter that electronically wirelessly communicates a signal from the portable device to the payment module upon selection of the button, wherein the signal includes customer identity information that identifies an account that can be charged for viewing the content;

(b) a payment module that;

(i) receives the signal,

(ii) allows the display screen to be used for viewing the content, and

(iii) charges the account for viewing the content; and

(c) the nearby display screen.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the portable device is a telephone, and the customer identity information is the telephone number of the portable telephone device.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the content is a pay per view movie that is displayed on the nearby display after the payment module charges the account.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the content is a web page that is displayed on the nearby display after the payment module charges the account.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the portable device is a cell phone.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the transmitter wirelessly communicates the content from the portable device to the nearby display, and the content is displayed on the nearby display after the payment module charges the account.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the transmitter wirelessly communicates an electronic address of the content from the portable device to the nearby display, and a web page associated with the electronic address of the content is displayed on the nearby display after the payment module charges the account.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the portable device does not have a subscriber relationship with the payment module.