System and method for purchasing an item displayed on a display device
First Claim
1. A system for enabling a user to purchase an item displayed on a display screen of a television receiver, said system comprising:
- means adapted to be coupled to said television receiver for receiving television signals representative of a number of items offered for sale and for providing the received television signals to said television receiver so as to enable the item or items offered for sale to be displayed on said display screen; and
reading means for reading information from a card and for forwarding the read information to the receiving and providing means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for enabling a user to purchase an item displayed on a display screen of a television receiver which may be located in the user'"'"'s home or office. The system may include a set-top box having a processor and a back-channel and adapted to receive television signals representative of a number of items offered for sale and provide the received television signals to the television receiver so as to enable the item or items offered for sale to be displayed on the display screen, and a credit card reader adapted to read information from a credit card when the credit card is provided thereto by the user and forward the read information to the set-top box. The set-top box may process the information received from the credit card reader and supply the same to an external destination such as a store, a credit card company, a manufacturer or the like so as to enable payment for a desired item without necessarily storing such information in the STB. By ensuring that the user uses a physical credit card, and not just a credit card number and potentially with additional authentication such as confirmation of telephone number of line used (using CALLER ID, for instance), the present invention may reduce the likelihood of fraud.
84 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for enabling a user to purchase an item displayed on a display screen of a television receiver, said system comprising:
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means adapted to be coupled to said television receiver for receiving television signals representative of a number of items offered for sale and for providing the received television signals to said television receiver so as to enable the item or items offered for sale to be displayed on said display screen; and
reading means for reading information from a card and for forwarding the read information to the receiving and providing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for enabling a user to purchase an item displayed on a display screen of a television receiver, said system comprising:
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a commerce device coupled to said television receiver adapted to receive television signals representative of a number of items offered for sale and provide the received television signals to said television receiver so as to enable the item or items offered for sale to be displayed on said display screen; and
a card reader adapted to read information from a card and forward the read information to the commerce device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29)
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15. A system for enabling a user to purchase an item displayed on a display screen of a television receiver, said system comprising:
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a set-top box having a processor and a back-channel and adapted to receive television signals representative of a number of items offered for sale and provide the received television signals to said television receiver so as to enable the item or items offered for sale to be displayed on said display screen; and
a credit card reader adapted to read information from a credit card when said credit card is provided thereto by said user and forward the read information to the set-top box, wherein said set-top box processes the information received from said credit card reader in a predetermined manner and outputs the same by way of the back-channel for supply to an external destination so as to enable payment for a desired item.
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19. A method for enabling a user to purchase an item displayed on a display screen of a television receiver, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving television signals at a receiving device representative of a number of items offered for sale and providing the received television signals to a television receiver so as to enable the item or items offered for sale to be displayed on said display screen; and
reading information from a card and forwarding the read information to the receiving device.
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26. A method for enabling a user to purchase an item displayed on a display screen of a television receiver, said method comprising the steps of:
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coupling a set-top box having a processor and a back-channel so as to receive television signals representative of a number of items offered for sale and provide the received television signals to said television receiver so as to enable the item or items offered for sale to be displayed on said display screen; and
reading information from a credit card by use of a credit card reader when said credit card is provided thereto by said user and forwarding the read information to the set-top box, wherein said set-top box processes the information received from said credit card reader in a predetermined manner and outputs the same by way of the back-channel for supply to an external destination so as to enable payment for a desired item.
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Specification