System and method for wireless viral software distribution

• US 20030110094A1
• Filed: 10/28/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gulliver, Christopher Alan, Paik, Russell, Takemura, Masaki
• Application Number:
  US10/282,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20030110094A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A portable computer in a store can be carried past a kiosk and wirelessly receive from the kiosk demonstration versions of software, along with an ID of the store. Later, after using the demonstration version, the user can access a Web server and purchase a full version of the software. During the transaction, the store ID is provided to the server, which can then credit the particular store at which the demonstration version was obtained with a sale. The demonstration version and accompanying store ID can be virally transmitted to secondary devices.

Claims

1. A method for vending software, comprising:

A method for vending software, comprising;

wirelessly transmitting, from a kiosk to a primary portable device, a demonstration version of the software and at least some identifying data representing an identification of a store with which the kiosk is associated; and

wirelessly transmitting, from the primary portable device to a secondary portable device, at least one demonstration version and associated identifying data.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising using at least one of the devices to send to a server, via the Internet, at least a request to purchase the software along with the associated identifying data to purchase the software.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising using the server to associate a sale credit with the store.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising resetting at least one restriction of the demonstration version in connection with sending the version from the primary to the secondary device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the demonstration version is provided automatically to the secondary device without user interaction.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising transmitting at least one download utility useful for receiving the demonstration version from the primary device to the secondary device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a user of the secondary device may select at least one demonstration version to cause the primary device to transmit the demonstration version to the secondary device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying data is contained in a software agent downloaded to the primary device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the agent is useful for accessing a Web site at which the software can be purchased.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying data is contained in an access code.

11. A method for vending software, comprising:

downloading a demonstration version of the software from a primary portable computing device to a secondary portable computing device;

downloading indicating data indicating a vending facility along with the demonstration version; and

sometime later, using the indicating data to purchase the software using the secondary device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the demonstration version and indicating data are downloaded wirelessly.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising:

using the secondary device to send to a server, via the Internet, at least a request to purchase the software;

sending the indicating data from the secondary device to the server;

using the server, providing the software to the secondary device; and

using the indicating data to associate a sale credit with the store.

14. A portable computing device, comprising:

at least one download utility useful for the wireless reception, from at least one other portable computing device, of at least one demonstration version of software and identifying data representing an identification of a store from which the one other portable computing device obtained the demonstration version; and

code means for accessing a network server to purchase the software at least in part by uploading the identifying data from the device to the server.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the utility is received from the one other portable computing device only upon transmission of a request therefor.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the demonstration version is received from the one other portable computing device only upon transmission of a request therefor.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the utility is received automatically from the one other portable computing device, without a user generating a request therefor.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the demonstration version is received automatically from the one other portable computing device, without a user generating a request therefor.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the means for accessing is embodied in the utility, and the identifying information is at least one access code.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein the means for accessing is embodied in an agent and the agent includes the identifying information.