Systems and methods for selling content over a network
First Claim
1. A server infrastructure comprising one or more servers configured to interface with a plurality of content providers to couple to a content access client over a network implemented by a network operator, the network comprising infrastructure to provide a service to a plurality of consumer devices, the server infrastructure to interface with a plurality of distinct content providers each having a separate collection of content, the server infrastructure to implement a sequence comprising:
- providing, to a consumer device connected to the network operator, a content access client, independent from the network operator, configured to receive a selection of content directly available from a selected content provider of said plurality of content providers and configured to enable the network operator to charge the consumer for access to the content, said content access client located between and connected to said network operator and said plurality of content providers;
receiving, via the network, content selection information indicating selected content from the collection of content of the selected content provider, wherein the content selection information is received from the content access client on the consumer device;
retrieving the selected content from the selected content provider, according to the received content selection information;
supplying the selected content to the network for transmission to the consumer device, without the selected content provider directly charging a consumer-user of the consumer device;
receiving payment from the network operator for content transmitted to the consumer device; and
sending a portion of the received payment to the selected content provider.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method to generate revenue from supplied content is provided. Content is provided to a consumer via a network by providing a content service that allows the consumer to select and retrieve content as a package together with a clearing of the selectable content to an operator used by the consumer to select and retrieve the content via the network. Any content selected by the consumer is supplied directly to the consumer via the operator. The operator is charged for the supplied content.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A server infrastructure comprising one or more servers configured to interface with a plurality of content providers to couple to a content access client over a network implemented by a network operator, the network comprising infrastructure to provide a service to a plurality of consumer devices, the server infrastructure to interface with a plurality of distinct content providers each having a separate collection of content, the server infrastructure to implement a sequence comprising:
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providing, to a consumer device connected to the network operator, a content access client, independent from the network operator, configured to receive a selection of content directly available from a selected content provider of said plurality of content providers and configured to enable the network operator to charge the consumer for access to the content, said content access client located between and connected to said network operator and said plurality of content providers; receiving, via the network, content selection information indicating selected content from the collection of content of the selected content provider, wherein the content selection information is received from the content access client on the consumer device; retrieving the selected content from the selected content provider, according to the received content selection information; supplying the selected content to the network for transmission to the consumer device, without the selected content provider directly charging a consumer-user of the consumer device; receiving payment from the network operator for content transmitted to the consumer device; and sending a portion of the received payment to the selected content provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for providing content, comprising:
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a communications network managed by a network operator and comprising infrastructure to provide a service to a plurality of consumer devices; and a content service comprising one or more servers configured to couple to the network and to interface with a plurality of content providers, the content service to supply, to the network, content of one or more content providers, the content service configured to; provide, to a consumer device connected to the network operator, a content access client, independent from the network operator, configured to receive a selection of content directly available from a selected content provider of said plurality of content providers and configured to enable the network operator to charge the consumer for access to the content, said content access client located between and connected to said network operator and said plurality of content providers; receive, via the network, content selection information indicating selected content from a collection of the selected content providers, wherein the content selection information is received from a content access client of a consumer device; retrieve the selected content from the selected content providers, according to the received content selection information; supply the selected content to the network for transmission to the consumer device, without the selected content providers directly charging a consumer-user of the consumer device; receive payment from the network operator for content transmitted to the consumer device; and send a portion of the received payment to the selected content providers. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification