Controlling access to electronic content

• US 20060195400A1
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Patrick Patterson
• Original Assignee: Patrick Patterson
• Inventors: Patterson, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US11/400,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20060195400A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of controlling access to electronic content includes receiving electronic content and producing a file that includes the electronic content and instructions for collecting and transmitting payment information. The method further includes receiving a reply to the transmitted message and selectively providing access to the electronic content based on the reply.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of controlling:

access to electronic content, the method comprising;

receiving electronic content; and

producing a file, the file comprising;

the electronic content; and

instructions for;

collecting payment information;

transmitting a message including the payment information over a network;

receiving a reply to the transmitted message; and

selectively providing access to the electronic content based on the reply to the transmitted message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving electronic content comprises receiving electronic content over a network.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving electronic content over a network comprises receiving electronic content at a web server.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the received electronic content comprises at least one of the following:

audio, video, graphics, text, and computer program instructions.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein

producing the file comprises compressing the received electronic content;

and

providing access to the electronic content comprises decompressing the compressed electronic content.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein

producing the file comprises encrypting the received electronic content;

and

providing access to the electronic content comprises decrypting the encrypted electronic content.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the instructions comprise at least one of the following:

executable instructions and interpretable instructions.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein collecting information comprises interactively collecting information from a user.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein collecting information comprises collecting information stored on a computer.

10. The method of claim 1

further comprising receiving a specification of at least one collection field from a user;

and

wherein collecting information comprises collecting information corresponding to the at least one collection field.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein collecting information comprises executing user supplied instructions.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the user supplied instructions comprise HTML (HyperText Markup Language) instructions.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the file comprises a file identifier;

and

transmitting a message including the payment information comprises transmitting a message including the file identifier and the payment information.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the payment information comprises at least one of the following:

at least part of a credit card number, an expiration date, and a payment amount.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the payment information comprises a price specified by a creator of the file.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the reply comprises an indication that the payment has been authorized.

17. The method of claim 1

further comprising receiving a message granting access and receiving a designation of electronic content to be automatic launched;

and

wherein the instructions comprise instructions for automatically launching the designated electronic content.

18. A computer-implemented method of controlling access to electronic content, the method comprising:

receiving electronic content;

receiving information describing data to be collected; and

producing a file, the file comprising;

the electronic content; and

instructions for;

collecting the described data;

transmitting over a network a message including at least some of the collected data; and

providing access to the electronic content.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the information describing the data to be collected comprises information describing a data collection form.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the information describing a data collection form comprises HTML (HyperText Markup Language) instructions.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the information describing the data to be collected comprises information defining fields.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising storing at least a portion of the collected data included in the transmitted message.

23. A computer-implemented method of tracking access to electronic content, the method comprising:

receiving a message produced by an executable file, the file including electronic content and instructions for collecting data, the message including the collected data and an identifier corresponding to the file; and

storing the collected data in a data repository.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein defining storage comprises creating at least one table column for storing the collected data.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein defining storage comprises creating a table for storing collected data included in messages having the received identifier.

26. A method of controlling access to electronic content, the method comprising:

receiving electronic content from a client via a network;

creating a file including the electronic content and instructions for providing the electronic content; and

transmitting the file to the client.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein transmitting the file to the client comprises e-mailing the file.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein transmitting the file to the client comprises:

posting the file at a network server; and

transmitting the file in response to a request for the file.

29. A system for controlling access to electronic content, the system comprising:

file creation instructions for;

receiving electronic content; and

producing a file, the file comprising;

the electronic content; and

instructions for;

collecting payment information;

transmitting a message including the payment information to a server over a network; and

selectively providing access to the electronic content based on a reply to the transmitted message; and

server instructions for;

receiving the payment information; and

transmitting a message controlling access to the electronic content based on the received payment information.