E-commerce system and method relating to program objects

• US 6,941,353 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2000
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stone Interactive Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Auran Holdings Pty Ltd
• Inventors: Lane, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDELMAN, BRADLEY E
• Application Number:
  US09/607,553
• Time in Patent Office: 1,895 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 705/26, 705/53, 705/54, 463/42, 463/43, 717171-173, 717/108, 717176-178
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A system for distributing and selling program objects. The system has the ability to download a limited functionality program object from one computer system to another, then to allow a user to view and interact but not control that object without first purchasing the object online. Once this purchase is made, and additional program object or code is provided that gives the use control of the initial program object.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for enabling a user to obtain a program object for use in a host application running on a client computer, the client computer coupled to a server computer via a network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling the user to select a program object;

(b) customizing the program object according to user input;

(c) at the server computer, automatically customizing the program object according to a rule-set in a program object template corresponding to the selected program object to create a limited functionality object;

(d) downloading the limited functionality object from the server computer to the client computer;

(e) allowing the host application to utilize the limited functionality object;

(f) upon user request at the client computer, sending a request to the server computer to obtain full functionality object corresponding to the limited functionality object;

(g) at the client computer, determining a set of program parts required to create the full functionality object from the limited functionality object;

(h) downloading the set of program parts from the server computer to the client computer;

(i) at the client computer, combining the set of program parts and the limited functionality object to create the full functionality object; and

(j) allowing the host application to utilize the full functionality object.

2. A computer-implemented method for enabling a user to obtain a program object for use in a host application running on a client computer, the client computer coupled to a server computer via a network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) at the server computer, customizing the program object according to a rule-set to create a limited functionality object;

(b) downloading the limited functionality object from the server computer to the client computer;

(c) integrating the limited functionality object in the host application;

(d) under control of the host application, outputting the limited functionality object to the user wherein the user cannot control actions of the limited functionality object;

(e) upon user request at the client computer, sending a request to the server computer to obtain a full functionality object corresponding to the limited functionality object;

(f) downloading computer code from the server computer to the client computer, said computer code able to yield the full functionality object when combined with the limited functionality object;

(g) at the client computer, combining said computer code and the limited functionality object to yield the full functionality object; and

(h) integrating the full functionality object in the host application such that the user can control actions of the full functionality object when using the host application.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of integrating the full functionality object in the host application comprises integrating the full functionality object in the host application without halting or restarting the host application.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of integrating the limited functionality object in the host application comprises integrating the limited functionality object in the host application without halting or restarting the host application.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of customizing the program object according to a rule-set to create a limited functionality object further comprises customizing the program object according to a rule-set to create a unique limited functionality object that is only created once.

6. A computer-implemented method for enabling a user to obtain a program object for use in a host application running on a client computer, the client computer coupled to a server computer via a network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling the host application to display a limited functionality object at the client computer;

(b) enabling the user the ability to select the limited functionality object;

(c) upon said selection, sending to the server computer a request for a full functionality object corresponding to the limited functionality object;

(d) receiving functional components at the client computer from the server computer in response to said request for the full functionality object, wherein the step of receiving the full functionality object further comprises receiving at the client computer a unique full functionality object that is only created once;

(e) at the client computer, integrating the received functional components with the limited functionality object to create the full functionality object;

(f) at the client computer, integrating the full functionality object with the host application without halting or restarting the host application; and

(g) allowing the user to manipulate the full functionality object.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of enabling the user to provide identifying data and payment data to the server computer.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of transmitting the full functionality object to a second client computer from the client computer.

9. An e-commerce system distributing program objects for use in a host application, the system operating over a network, comprising:

(a) a client computer running the host application;

(b) a server computer coupled to the client computer via the network;

(c) a program object template stored at the server computer;

(d) means, located at the server computer, for customizing the program object template according to a rule-set to create a limited functionality object;

(e) means for downloading the limited functionality object from the server computer to the client computer;

(f) means, located at the client computer, for integrating the limited functionality object in the host application;

(g) means, operating under control of the host application, for outputting the limited functionality object to the user wherein the user cannot control the limited functionality object;

(h) means, located at the client computer, for sending a request to the server computer to obtain a full functionality object corresponding to the limited functionality object;

(i) means, located at the server computer, for sending functional components to the client computer in response to said request to obtain the full functionality object;

(j) means to create the full functionality object from the limited functionality object and the received functional components; and

(k) means, located at the client computer, for integrating the full functionality object in the host application such that the user can control the full functionality object when using the host application.

10. In a network comprising a client computer running a host application and coupled to a server computer, a system to distribute program objects via the network, comprising:

one or more program object templates stored at the server computer in a database, each program object template providing a definition for a program object and rule-set to create the program object;

a server computer program running on the server computer, the server computer program accessing the program object templates and creating limited functionality program objects and functional components required to create full functionality program objects from corresponding limited functionality program objects, and transmitting said functional components to the client computer;

a sales database at the server computer for storing details regarding each person who obtains a full functionality program object; and

a client computer program running on the client computer in conjunction with the host application, the client computer program enabling the host application to request and receive functional components from the server computer program and to integrate (i) the received functional components with limited functionality objects to create full functionality objects and (ii) the full functionality objects with the host application;

wherein a limited functionality object, when executed by the host application, is displayed but cannot be controlled by a user; and

wherein a fill functionality object, when executed by the host application, is displayed and can be controlled by the user.