Subscribing to content
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computing device-implemented method comprising:
- maintaining with a computing device an electronic account for a subscriber of a content subscription service, the electronic account indicating a current balance of scrip associated with a subscription of the subscriber,enabling with the computing device the subscriber to use an amount of scrip belonging to the balance to acquire items of content from a source of content, each item of content having an associated value in units of scrip, the associated value in scrip not expressly set to a monetary value,reducing with the computing device the balance by the amount of scrip used to acquire the items of content, andupdating with the computing device the balance by adding an amount of scrip corresponding to a purchase of scrip received from the subscriber, the updating based on an exchange rate of scrip to negotiable currency, the exchange rate varying based on at least one of a current time or date or an identity of the subscriber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes (a) receiving periodic subscription fees from subscribers of a content subscription service, (b) updating an electronically maintained account of the subscriber to reflect an additional amount of scrip corresponding to each subscription fee, and (c) enabling the subscriber to obtain items of content in amounts and at times determined arbitrarily by the subscriber in exchange for amounts of scrip in the subscriber'"'"'s account.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A computing device-implemented method comprising:
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maintaining with a computing device an electronic account for a subscriber of a content subscription service, the electronic account indicating a current balance of scrip associated with a subscription of the subscriber, enabling with the computing device the subscriber to use an amount of scrip belonging to the balance to acquire items of content from a source of content, each item of content having an associated value in units of scrip, the associated value in scrip not expressly set to a monetary value, reducing with the computing device the balance by the amount of scrip used to acquire the items of content, and updating with the computing device the balance by adding an amount of scrip corresponding to a purchase of scrip received from the subscriber, the updating based on an exchange rate of scrip to negotiable currency, the exchange rate varying based on at least one of a current time or date or an identity of the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A computing device-implemented method comprising:
at a server, maintaining a content subscription service enabling acquisition of items of content by a subscriber by; maintaining information about the items of content available to a subscriber; maintaining a balance of scrip associated with a subscription of a subscriber; updating the balance by a purchase of scrip received from the subscriber, the updating based on an exchange rate of scrip to negotiable currency, the exchange rate varying based on at least one of a current time or date or an identity of the subscriber; and enabling the subscriber access to the server to use an amount of scrip belonging to the balance to acquire the items of content, each item of content having an associated value in units of scrip, the associated value in scrip not expressly set to a monetary value. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A computing device-implemented system comprising:
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a subscription database containing an account for a subscriber of a content subscription service, the account indicating a current balance of scrip associated with a subscription of the subscriber; and a subscription server to; enable the subscriber to use an amount of scrip belonging to the balance to acquire items of content from a source of content, each item of content having an associated value in units of scrip, the associated value in scrip not expressly set to a monetary value, reduce the balance by the amount of scrip used to acquire the items of content, and update the balance by adding an amount of scrip corresponding to a purchase of scrip received from the subscriber, the updating based on an exchange rate of scrip to negotiable currency, the exchange rate varying based on at least one of a current time or date or an identity of the subscriber.
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48. A computing device-implemented system comprising:
a server maintaining a content subscription service enabling acquisition of items of content by a subscriber, the server configured to; maintain information about the items of content available to a subscriber; maintain a balance of scrip associated with a subscription of a subscriber; update the balance by a purchase of scrip received from the subscriber, the updating based on an exchange rate of scrip to negotiable currency, the exchange rate varying based on at least one of a current time or date or an identity of the subscriber; and enable the subscriber access to the server to use an amount of scrip belonging to the balance to acquire the items of content, each item of content having an associated value in units of scrip, the associated value in scrip not expressly set to a monetary value.
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49. A computing device-implemented method comprising:
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maintaining with a computing device an electronic account for a subscriber of a commercial service, the electronic account indicating a current balance of scrip associated with an account of the subscriber, enabling with the computing device the subscriber to use an amount of scrip belonging to the balance to acquire digital goods from a provider of goods, each digital good having an associated value in units of scrip, the associated value in scrip not expressly set to a monetary value, reducing with the computing device the balance by the amount of the digital goods, and updating with the computing device the balance by adding an amount of scrip corresponding to a purchase of scrip received from the subscriber, the updating based on an exchange rate of scrip to negotiable currency, the exchange rate varying based on at least one of a current time or date or an identity of the subscriber.
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50. A computing device-implemented system comprising:
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a subscription database containing an account for a subscriber of a commercial service, the account indicating a current balance of scrip associated with the account; and a subscription server to; enable the subscriber to use an amount of scrip belonging to the balance to acquire digital goods from a provider of goods, each digital good having an associated value in units of scrip, the associated value in scrip not expressly set to a monetary value, reduce the balance by the amount of scrip used to acquire the digital goods, and update the balance by adding an amount of scrip corresponding to a purchase of scrip received from the subscriber, the updating based on an exchange rate of scrip to negotiable currency, the exchange rate varying based on at least one of a current time or date or an identity of the subscriber.
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Specification