Method and system for access to electronic images of text based on user ownership of corresponding physical text
First Claim
1. A method for providing user access to electronic images of a physical text based on user ownership of the physical text, comprising:
- (a) receiving a request for access to one or more electronic images of a physical text in which the request identifies the user submitting the request;
(b) confirming user ownership of the physical text based on the user identity;
(c) consulting one or more access rules that define an amount of content in electronic images of the physical text that can be provided to the user based on the user'"'"'s ownership of the physical text, wherein the defined amount of content for users who own the physical text is greater than an amount of content that may otherwise be provided to users who do not own the physical text; and
(d) providing user access to the one or more electronic images of the physical text in accordance with the one or more access rules.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus of the invention enable users to request access to one or more electronic images of pages in a physical text. When the user is identified and user ownership of the physical text is confirmed, the user is given access to the requested electronic images in accordance with the one or more access rules. Electronic images of pages may be automatically added to a user-personalized library of electronic content for later access. A flag associated with the user and the pages images may be set to indicate confirmed user ownership of the physical text. A user may purchase a physical text itself or purchase an item that the physical text normally accompanies. Electronic page images may be acquired by scanning printed pages of the text or from a user upload. Access to the electronic images of a physical text is based on user ownership of the physical text.
150 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for providing user access to electronic images of a physical text based on user ownership of the physical text, comprising:
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(a) receiving a request for access to one or more electronic images of a physical text in which the request identifies the user submitting the request; (b) confirming user ownership of the physical text based on the user identity; (c) consulting one or more access rules that define an amount of content in electronic images of the physical text that can be provided to the user based on the user'"'"'s ownership of the physical text, wherein the defined amount of content for users who own the physical text is greater than an amount of content that may otherwise be provided to users who do not own the physical text; and (d) providing user access to the one or more electronic images of the physical text in accordance with the one or more access rules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for providing a central database with electronic images of physical texts and enabling access thereto by multiple users, comprising:
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(a) acquiring images of pages of physical texts in which identifying information is associated with the images to identify the physical texts from which the images are acquired; (b) storing the page images and the associated identifying information in the central database; (c) receiving information indicating a user'"'"'s ownership of a particular physical text; and (d) based on the information received indicating the user'"'"'s ownership of the particular physical text, enabling the user to access page images of the physical text, or portions thereof, in the central database, which otherwise are not accessible to users who do not own the physical text. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for providing user access to electronic images of a physical text based on user ownership of the physical text, comprising:
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(a) means for receiving a request from a user to access one or more electronic images of a physical text, wherein the request identifies the user; (b) means for confirming user ownership of the physical text based on the user'"'"'s identity; (c) means for consulting one or more access rules that define an amount of content in electronic images that can be provided to the user based on the user'"'"'s ownership of the physical text, wherein the defined amount of content for users who own the physical text is greater than an amount of content that may otherwise be provided to users who do not own the physical text; and (d) means for providing user access to the one or more requested electronic images in accordance with the one or more access rules. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification