Apparatus and method for utilizing an incentive point system based on disc and user identification

• US 20020116206A1
• Filed: 06/28/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Chatani, Masayuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,228,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A system and method for awarding incentive points utilizing unique disc identification to provide access to disc storage media includes a disc storage medium with a permanently recorded disc identification, a user console with a set identification, a network, and a host server managing a user database and a disc database. Upon purchase of software stored on a disc storage medium, the unique disc identification and user identification are transmitted over the network from the user console to the host server. Permission to access the programs residing on the disc storage medium by the user console is obtained from the host server. The host server manages a point system. Points are awarded and recorded in point accounts stored in the databases.

Claims

1. A system for use in a network, comprising:

a user console;

a disc storage medium including a permanently recorded disc identification, the disc storage medium being readable by the user console, wherein the user console is operable to transmit the disc identification over the network; and

a host server in the network, the host server being configured to receive the disc identification and configured to assign points to a point account associated with the disc identification.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user console includes a set identification that uniquely identifies the user console.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user console includes a user identification that identifies a user of the user console.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a user database accessible by the host server, the user database including a user table associated with the user identification, the user table including the point account, the point account being further associated with the user identification.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising a user database accessible by the host server, the user database including a user table associated with the set identification, the user table including the point account, the point account being further associated with the set identification.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the user console transmits the disc identification and the user identification to the host server for authorization to execute software residing on the disc storage medium.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the user console transmits the disc identification and the set identification to the host server for authorization to execute software residing on the disc storage medium.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the host server compares the disc identification to a plurality of disc identifications stored in the user table associated with the user identification, and compares the disc identification with a plurality of disc identifications stored in other user tables associated with other user identifications.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the user table associated with the user identification, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal that authorizes execution of software stored on the disc storage medium, assigns points to the point account of user table associated with the disc identification and the user identification, and transmits point information to the user console.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table indicates owner consent, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal that authorizes execution of software stored on the disc storage medium, assigns points to the point account of the other user table associated with the disc identification and the other user identification, and transmits point information to the user console.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the host server assigns points to a point account of the user table associated with the user identification.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table does not indicate owner consent, the host server transmits an access refusal signal to the user console whereby the user console cannot execute software residing on the disc storage medium.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein if the disc identification does not match any disc identifications stored in any user table, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal to execute software residing on the disc storage medium, assigns points to the point account of user table associated with the user identification, and transmits point information to the user console.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the host server records the disc identification to the user table associated with the user identification.

15. The system of claim 8, further comprising a disc database accessible by the host server, the disc database including a disc table that includes owner consent data and a sub-account associated with the disc identification, the sub-account including point data associated with the disc identification and the owner consent data including access permission data for other users.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the user table associated with the user identification, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal that authorizes execution of software stored on the disc storage medium, assigns points to the sub-account of disc table associated with the disc identification, and transmits point information to the user console.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table indicates owner consent, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal that authorizes execution of software stored on the disc storage medium, assigns points to the sub-account of the disc table associated with the disc identification, and transmits point information to the user console.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the host server assigns points to a point account of the user table associated with the user identification.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table does not indicate owner consent, the host server transmits an access refusal signal to the user console whereby the user console cannot execute software residing on the disc storage medium.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein if the disc identification does not match any disc identifications stored in any user table, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal to execute software residing on the disc storage medium and transmits point information to the user console.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the host server records the disc identification to the disc table.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the host server assigns points to the sub-account of the disc table associated with the disc identification.

23. The system of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of publisher servers accessible by the host server, the publisher servers being configured to manage a plurality of publisher databases, wherein each of the publisher databases includes sub-accounts managed by one of the publisher servers.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the user table associated with the user identification, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal that authorizes execution of software stored on the disc storage medium and transmits point information to the user console, and the publisher server of the publisher database associated with the disc identification assigns points to the sub-account of the publisher database associated with the disc identification.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table indicates owner consent, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal that authorizes execution of software stored on the disc storage medium and transmits point information to the user console, and the publisher server of the publisher database associated with the disc identification assigns points to the sub-account of the publisher database associated with the disc identification.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the host server assigns points to a point account of the user table associated with the user identification.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table does not indicate owner consent, the host server transmits an access refusal signal to the user console whereby the user console cannot execute software residing on the disc storage medium.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein if the disc identification does not match any disc identifications stored in any user table, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal to execute software residing on the disc storage medium and transmits point information to the user console.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the publisher server of the publisher database associated with the disc storage medium identified by the disc identification records, the disc identification to the publisher database associated with the disc storage medium identified by the disc identification.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the publisher server of the publisher database associated with the disc identification assigns points to the sub-account of the publisher database associated with the disc identification.

31. A method for awarding points to users, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a disc identification stored on a disc storage medium to a host server;

transmitting a user identification to the host server; and

comparing the transmitted disc identification to stored disc identifications.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein points are added to a user table associated with the user identification if the transmitted disc identification matches a disc identification stored in the user table associated with the user identification.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein points are added to an other user table associated with an other user identification if the transmitted disc identification matches a disc identification stored in the other user table associated with the other user identification and if the other user table grants owner consent.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein points are added to the user table associated with the user identification.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein points are added to a user table associated with the user identification if the transmitted disc identification does not match any stored disc identifications in any user tables.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of recording the transmitted disc identification to the user table associated with the user identification.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein points are added to a disc table associated with the stored disc identification if the transmitted disc identification matches the stored disc identification in the user table.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein if the transmitted disc identification matches a stored disc identification in an other user table and if the other user table grants owner consent, points are added to a disc table associated with the stored disc identification.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein points are added to the user table associated with the user identification.

40. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of recording the transmitted disc identification to a disc table if the transmitted disc identification does not match any stored disc identifications in any user tables.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein points are added to the disc table associated with the disc identification.

42. The method of claim 31, wherein if the transmitted disc identification matches a stored disc identification in the user table, points are added to a publisher database associated with the stored disc identification.

43. The method of claim 31, wherein if the transmitted disc identification matches a stored disc identification in an other user table and if the other user table grants owner consent, points are added to a publisher database associated with the stored disc identification.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein points are added to the user table associated with the user identification.

45. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of recording the transmitted disc identification to a publisher database associated with the disc storage medium identified by the transmitted disc identification if the transmitted disc identification does not match any stored disc identifications in any user tables.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein points are added to the publisher database associated with the transmitted disc identification.

48. The system of claim 47, further comprising a user database accessible by the host server, the user database including a user table associated with a user identification, the user table including the point account, the point account being further associated with the user identification.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the host server receives the content identification and the user identification for authorization to access the content identified by the content identification.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the host server compares the content identification to a plurality of content identifications stored in the user table associated with the user identification, and compares the content identification with a plurality of content identifications stored in other user tables associated with other user identifications.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein if the content identification matches one of the plurality of content identifications stored in the user table associated with the user identification, the host server transmits an access permission signal to the user that authorizes access to the content, assigns points to the point account of the user table associated with the content identification and the user identification, and transmits point information to the user.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein if the content identification matches one of the plurality of content identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table indicates owner consent, the host server transmits to the user an access permission signal that authorizes access to the content, assigns points to the point account of the other user table associated with the content identification and the other user identification, and transmits point information to the user.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the host server assigns points to the point account of the user table associated with the user identification.

54. The system of claim 50, wherein if the content identification matches one of the plurality of content identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table does not indicate owner consent, the host server transmits an access refusal signal to the user whereby the user cannot access the content.

55. The system of claim 50, wherein if the content identification does not match any content identifications stored in any user table, the host server transmits to the user an access permission signal to access the content, assigns points to the point account of the user table associated with the user identification, and transmits point information to the user.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the host server records the content identification to the user table associated with the user identification.

57. The system of claim 50, further comprising a disc database accessible by the host server, the disc database including a disc table that includes owner consent data and a sub-account associated with the content identification, the sub-account including point data associated with the content identification and the owner consent data including access permission data for other users.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein if the content identification matches one of the plurality of content identifications stored in the user table associated with the user identification, the host server transmits to the user an access permission signal that authorizes access to the content, assigns points to the sub-account of the disc table associated with the content identification, and transmits point information to the user.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein if the content identification matches one of the plurality of content identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table indicates owner consent, the host server transmits to the user an access permission signal that authorizes access to the content, assigns points to the sub-account of the disc table associated with the content identification, and transmits point information to the user.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the host server assigns points to the point account of the user table associated with the user identification.

61. The system of claim 57, wherein if the content identification matches one of the plurality of content identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table does not indicate owner consent, the host server transmits an access refusal signal to the user whereby the user cannot access the content.

62. The system of claim 57, wherein if the content identification does not match any content identifications stored in any user table, the host server transmits to the user an access permission signal to access the content and transmits point information to the user.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the host server records the content identification to the disc table.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the host server assigns points to the sub-account of the disc table associated with the content identification.

65. The system of claim 50, further comprising a plurality of publisher servers accessible by the host server, the publisher servers being configured to manage a plurality of publisher databases, wherein each of the publisher databases includes sub-accounts managed by one of the publisher servers.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein if the content identification matches one of the plurality of content identifications stored in the user table associated with the user identification, the host server transmits to the user an access permission signal that authorizes access to the content and transmits point information to the user, and the publisher server of the publisher database associated with the content identification assigns points to the sub-account of the publisher database associated with the content identification.

67. The system of claim 65, wherein if the content identification matches one of the plurality of content identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table indicates owner consent, the host server transmits to the user an access permission signal that authorizes access to the content and transmits point information to the user, and the publisher server of the publisher database associated with the content identification assigns points to the sub-account of the publisher database associated with the content identification.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the host server assigns points to the point account of the user table associated with the user identification.

69. The system of claim 65, wherein if the content identification matches one of the plurality of content identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table does not indicate owner consent, the host server transmits an access refusal signal to the user whereby the user cannot access the content.

70. The system of claim 65, wherein if the content identification does not match any content identifications stored in any user table, the host server transmits to the user an access permission signal to access the content and transmits point information to the user.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein a publisher server of a publisher database associated with the content identified by the content identification records the content identification to the publisher database.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein the publisher server of the publisher database associated with the content identification assigns points to the sub-account of the publisher database associated with the content identification.

47. A system for managing a point scheme, comprising:

a network;

a content identified by a content identification; and

a host server being configured to receive the content identification from the network and configured to assign points to a point account associated with the content identification.

73. A method for managing a point scheme, comprising the steps of:

a host server receiving a content identification of a content and a user identification of a user from a network;

comparing the received content identification to stored content identifications;

authorizing access to the content identified by the content identification; and

awarding points to point accounts associated with user identifications and the received content identification.