System and method for the distribution of software products

• US 9,892,391 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2015
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Wright, Andrew C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fadok, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US14/808,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20150332235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• 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 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/00 Speech recognition G10L17/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for selling software products over a network. The system includes a server computer with access to software products. The system is configured to allow a user to purchase a subscription for the periodic acquisition of selected software products. In one embodiment, as part of the subscription, the user pays an amount during selected billing intervals. In return, the system issues to the user a number of credits for downloading at no additional charge at least one of the software products during a credit interval, which may be equal in length to the billing interval. In one embodiment, the system debits a number of credits in response to fulfilling a user'"'"'s purchase request. The system may be also configured to deduct credits that are not used within selected credit intervals.

Claims

1. A server capable of communicating with at least one client computer via at least one network that includes an Internet network, the server comprising:

a processor to execute program code that when executed by the processor results in the server being capable of providing, via the at least one network, services to the at least one client computer, the services being capable of being requested via a user interface that is to be presented to a user of the at least one client computer by the at least one client computer in operation of the at least one client computer, the services being capable of being associated, at least in part, with a user subscription, the user subscription being associated with;

subscription payment to be provided at a selectable subscription time;

during a certain time, permitting free download of at least one selected game;

capability to access relatively reduced price purchase of at least one particular game, the relatively reduced price purchase being relative to relatively higher price purchase of the at least one particular game that is available for a non-subscriber;

the services including;

capability to search for at least one certain game that satisfies at least one user selectable criterion and is available for purchase and download via the server;

capability to request the download of the at least one certain game;

wherein;

the at least one client computer comprises client software to be executed by the at least one client computer, the client software, when executed by the at least one client computer, resulting in the at least one client computer being capable of downloading purchased, subscription-related client application-related instructions via the at least one network;

after an upgraded version of the purchased client application-related instructions becomes available, the at least one client computer is capable, when the at least one client computer is in the operation, of receiving an automatic download of the upgraded version of the purchased client application-related instructions from the server;

the user interface is capable of presenting, when the at least one client computer is in the operation, at least one user selectable area, at least one other user selectable area, and at least one further user selectable area, the at least one user selectable area being to request the relatively reduced price purchase, the at least one other user selectable area being to permit browsing of different game categories available for download, and the at least one further user selectable area being to request the download of the at least one certain game;

after a user associated with the at least one client computer becomes associated with another client computer, the purchased client application-related instructions are to be permitted by the server to be downloaded again to the another client computer via the at least one network;

the user interface is also capable of presenting, when the at least one client computer is in the operation, user selectable icons and user selectable menu items associated, at least in part, with game software products;

the user selectable icons include top game icons, new game icons, featured game icons, online purchase-related icons, and game demonstration-related icons;

the user selectable menu items include at least one top free game-related menu item, at least one game-related channel menu item, and at least one online community-related menu item;

the server is to maintain a subscription database that includes billing information provided to the server from the at least one client computer, and the server is to update the subscription database to reflect purchase of the purchased client application-related instructions by the user of the at least one client computer.

2. The server of claim 1, wherein:

the free download is offered for only a predetermined time.

3. The server of claim 1, wherein:

the services are capable of being associated, at least in part, with a trial subscription.

4. The server of claim 1, wherein:

the client computer comprises a handheld computer.

5. The server of claim 4, wherein:

the client computer comprises a touch screen to receive user input in response to user prompts.

6. The server of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one network comprises local area network.

8. The program storage of claim 1, wherein:

the free download is offered for only a predetermined time.

9. The program storage of claim 1, wherein:

the services are capable of being associated, at least in part, with a trial subscription.

10. The program storage of claim 1, wherein:

the client computer comprises a handheld computer.

11. The program storage of claim 4, wherein:

the client computer comprises a touch screen to receive user input in response to user prompts.

12. The program storage of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one network comprises local area network.

7. Non-transitory program storage storing program instructions for use by a server that is capable in operation of communicating with at least one client computer via at least one network that includes an Internet network, the program instructions when executed by the server resulting in the server performing operations comprising:

providing, via the at least one network, services to the at least one client computer, the services being capable of being requested via a user interface that is to be presented to a user of the at least one client computer by the at least one client computer in operation of the at least one client computer, the services being capable of being associated, at least in part, with a user subscription, the user subscription being associated with;

subscription payment to be provided at a selectable subscription time;

during a certain time, permitting free download of at least one selected game;

capability to access relatively reduced price purchase of at least one particular game, the relatively reduced price purchase being relative to relatively higher price purchase of the at least one particular game that is available for a non-subscriber;

the services including;

capability to search for at least one certain game that satisfies at least one user selectable criterion and is available for purchase and download via the server;

capability to request the download of the at least one certain game;

wherein;

the at least one client computer comprises client software to be executed by the at least one client computer, the client software, when executed by the at least one client computer, resulting in the at least one client computer being capable of downloading purchased, subscription-related client application-related instructions via the at least one network;

after an upgraded version of the purchased client application-related instructions becomes available, the at least one client computer is capable, when the at least one client computer is in the operation, of receiving an automatic download of the upgraded version of the purchased client application-related instructions from the server;

the user interface is capable of presenting, when the at least one client computer is in the operation, at least one user selectable area, at least one other user selectable area, and at least one further user selectable area, the at least one user selectable area being to request the relatively reduced price purchase, the at least one other user selectable area being to permit browsing of different game categories available for download, and the at least one further user selectable area being to request the download of the at least one certain game;

after a user associated with the at least one client computer becomes associated with another client computer, the purchased client application-related instructions are to be permitted by the server to be downloaded again to the another client computer via the at least one network;

the user interface is also capable of presenting, when the at least one client computer is in the operation, user selectable icons and user selectable menu items associated, at least in part, with game software products;

the user selectable icons include top game icons, new game icons, featured game icons, online purchase-related icons, and game demonstration-related icons;

the user selectable menu items include at least one top free game-related menu item, at least one game-related channel menu item, and at least one online community-related menu item;

the server is to maintain a subscription database that includes billing information provided to the server from the at least one client computer, and the server is to update the subscription database to reflect purchase of the purchased client application-related instructions by the user of the at least one client computer.