Acquisition of an item based on a catalog presentation of items

• US 9,672,533 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lattyak, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Pond, Rob
• Application Number:
  US11/537,518
• Time in Patent Office: 3,903 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26, 705 27, 705 14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• 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

Abstract

An electronic service provides an electronic catalog to a user. The electronic catalog can include a plurality of descriptions of items. The electronic catalog can also include a plurality of prompts which allow the user to acquire the items described in the electronic catalog. The items in the electronic catalog can be determined by static and/or dynamic considerations.

Claims

1. A computerized method, comprising:

storing information associated with a user account, the information including at least payment information and an authorization to acquire digital items using an expedited process via a network;

providing a first digital item to a user device;

determining that a first threshold amount of the first digital item has been accessed using the user device;

providing, based at least in part on the determining that the first threshold amount of the first digital item has been accessed using the user device, a first message to the user device, the first message including a sample of a second digital item that is a different digital item than the first digital item, the sample of the second digital item including a presentation of a first prompt to enable the user device to receive a remaining portion of the second digital item via the network;

detecting actuation of the first prompt;

providing the remaining portion of the second digital item;

determining that a second threshold amount of the first digital item has been accessed using the user device;

providing, based at least in part on the determining that the second threshold amount of the first digital item has been accessed using the user device, a second message to the user device, the second message including at least some content that is different than the first message, the second message including a presentation of a second prompt to enable the user device to receive additional content that is associated with the second message via the network;

detecting actuation of the second prompt; and

providing the additional content that is associated with the second message.

2. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the first digital item comprises providing:

a) textual content;

or

b) image content;

or

c) video content;

or

d) audio content;

or

e) code-bearing content;

or

f) hypertext protocol content;

or

g) any combination of content (a) through (f).

3. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting that the user device has accessed the first digital item; and

transmitting the sample to the user device.

4. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the first threshold amount or the second threshold amount has been accessed includes receiving a triggering event that indicates that the user device is nearing completion of the first digital item.

5. The computerized method of claim 4, wherein the triggering event is based on at least one of an amount of time that has elapsed since the providing of the first digital item or a detection of a location accessed by the user device within the first digital item.

6. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising providing a link with the first message, wherein the link enables the user device to selectively receive the sample of the second digital item.

7. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the remaining portion of the second digital item comprises providing, based at least in part on the expedited process, the remaining portion of the second digital item without receiving further input from the user device.

8. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein providing the second message comprises providing a different sample of the second digital item.

9. The computerized method of claim 8, wherein the different sample of the second digital item comprises more detail about the second digital item than the sample of the second digital item.

10. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein providing the second message comprises providing a third digital item that is different than the first digital item and the second digital item.

11. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the additional content comprises providing, based at least in part on the expedited process, the additional content without receiving further input from the user device.

12. A computerized method, comprising:

storing, by a server, information associated with a user account, the information including at least payment information and an authorization to acquire digital items using an expedited process via a network;

providing, from the server, a first digital item to a client device, the first digital item being content that is part of a series of content;

receiving, from the client device, a first indication that a first threshold amount of the first digital item has been accessed using the client device;

providing, from the server to the client device, a first message based at least in part on the receiving the first indication, wherein the first message includes a sample of a second digital item that is a different digital item than the first digital item, the sample of the second digital item including a prompt configured to enable the client device to receive a remaining portion of the second digital item from the server via the network;

detecting actuation of the prompt;

providing, to the client device, the remaining portion of the second digital item that is associated with the sample of the second digital item;

receiving, from the client device, a second indication that a second threshold amount of the first digital item has been accessed using the client device; and

providing, from the server to the client device, a second message in response to receiving the second indication, wherein the second message includes at least some content that is different than the first message.

13. The computerized method of claim 12, wherein the providing of the remaining portion of the second digital item comprises providing the remaining portion of the second digital item while refraining from re-providing the sample of the second digital item.

14. The computerized method of claim 12, wherein providing the first digital item comprises providing a first electronic book to the client device, and wherein the second digital item is a second electronic book that follows the first electronic book in the series of content.

15. The computerized method of claim 14, wherein the series of content is defined by one or more of:

a common author;

a common publisher;

or

a story line that continues from the first digital item to the second digital item.

16. The computerized method of claim 12, wherein the providing second message comprises providing a different sample of the second digital item.

17. The computerized method of claim 16, wherein the different sample of the second digital item comprises more detail about the second digital item than the sample of the second digital item.

18. The computerized method of claim 12, wherein providing the second message comprises providing a third digital item that is different than the first digital item and the second digital item.

19. The computerized method of claim 12, wherein the providing of the remaining portion of the second digital item comprises providing, based at least in part on the expedited process, the remaining portion of the second digital item without receiving further input from the client device.

20. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed on one or more processors, performs acts comprising:

storing information associated with a user account, the information including at least payment information and an authorization to acquire digital items using an expedited process via a network;

providing a first digital item to a user device, the first digital item being content that is part of a series of digital items;

providing, based at least in part on a determination that a first threshold amount of the first digital item has been accessed using the user device, a first message to the user device, the first message including a sample of a second digital item that is a different digital item than the first digital item and is part of the series of digital items, the sample of the second digital item including a presentation of a prompt to enable the user device to receive, from a server, a remaining portion of the second digital item via the network, wherein the series of digital items is a series of books and the first digital item is a first electronic book and the second digital item is a second electronic book that follows the first electronic book in the series of books;

receiving an actuation of the prompt associated with the second digital item;

providing, based at least in part on the actuation of the prompt, the remaining portion of the second digital item associated with the second digital item; and

providing, based at least in part on a determination that a second threshold amount of the first digital item has been accessed using the user device, a second message to the user device, the second message including at least some content that is different than the first message.

21. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 20, wherein providing the second message comprises providing a different sample of the second digital item.

22. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 21, wherein the different sample of the second digital item comprises more detail about the second digital item than the sample of the second digital item.

23. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 20, wherein providing the second message comprises providing a third digital item that is different than the first digital item and the second digital item.

24. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 20, wherein the providing of the remaining portion of the second digital item comprises providing, based at least in part on the expedited process, the remaining portion of the second digital item without receiving further input from the user device.