Systems and methods for distributing on-line content
First Claim
1. A method for allowing a user at one of a plurality of user devices to purchase a desired content item over a communications network, wherein the desired content item is owned by one of a plurality of content owners, each of which owns other content items, wherein the content items are stored on at least one content provider computer, wherein information on the content items is maintained in a catalog on a catalog provider computer separate from the content provider computer, wherein a plurality of vendors have a plurality of corresponding vendor websites on corresponding vendor computers, wherein at least a given one of the vendors obtains the information on the desired content item from the catalog before offering the desired content item for sale on the given vendor'"'"'s website, wherein the vendor communicates with a micropayment service provider computer when the user purchases the desired content item, and wherein the communications network is used for communications between the content provider computer, the catalog provider computer, the vendor computers, the micropayment service provider computer, and the user devices, the method comprising:
- maintaining an account of funds by the micropayment service provider computer to be used by the user to make micropayment purchases of the content items over the communications network;
selecting by the user the desired content item for purchase from the given vendor'"'"'s website, wherein information on the desired content item is included in the catalog maintained on the catalog provider computer;
purchasing the selected desired content item using a portion of the maintained funds, and wherein no payment information is required from or provided by the user to the vendor computer; and
debiting the user'"'"'s account the portion of the funds for the purchase of the desired content item, wherein the user downloads the desired content item over the communications network after the user purchases the desired content item.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for distributing content such as audio, video, and text files to users over a communications network such as the Internet. Content owners may store content items at content provider computers. A catalog provider computer may be used to host a catalog that lists the various content items available from the content owners. Vendors having vendor websites operating on vendor computers may view the content information in the catalog to determine which content items to offer on the websites. Users may select a desired content item to purchase at a vendor'"'"'s website. When a user clicks on an appropriate purchase option, a micropayment service provider computer handles the purchase transaction. The purchased content item may then be delivered to the user from an appropriate one of the content provider computers.
154 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for allowing a user at one of a plurality of user devices to purchase a desired content item over a communications network, wherein the desired content item is owned by one of a plurality of content owners, each of which owns other content items, wherein the content items are stored on at least one content provider computer, wherein information on the content items is maintained in a catalog on a catalog provider computer separate from the content provider computer, wherein a plurality of vendors have a plurality of corresponding vendor websites on corresponding vendor computers, wherein at least a given one of the vendors obtains the information on the desired content item from the catalog before offering the desired content item for sale on the given vendor'"'"'s website, wherein the vendor communicates with a micropayment service provider computer when the user purchases the desired content item, and wherein the communications network is used for communications between the content provider computer, the catalog provider computer, the vendor computers, the micropayment service provider computer, and the user devices, the method comprising:
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maintaining an account of funds by the micropayment service provider computer to be used by the user to make micropayment purchases of the content items over the communications network; selecting by the user the desired content item for purchase from the given vendor'"'"'s website, wherein information on the desired content item is included in the catalog maintained on the catalog provider computer; purchasing the selected desired content item using a portion of the maintained funds, and wherein no payment information is required from or provided by the user to the vendor computer; and debiting the user'"'"'s account the portion of the funds for the purchase of the desired content item, wherein the user downloads the desired content item over the communications network after the user purchases the desired content item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 30)
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17. A system for allowing a user at one of a plurality of user devices to purchase a desired content item over a communications network, wherein the desired content item is owned by one of a plurality of content owners, each of which owns other content items, wherein the content items are stored on at least one content provider computer, wherein information on the content items is maintained in a catalog on a catalog provider computer separate from the content provider computer, wherein a plurality of vendors have a plurality of corresponding vendor websites on corresponding vendor computers, wherein at least a given one of the vendors obtains the information on the desired content item from the catalog before offering the desired content item for sale on the given vendor'"'"'s website, wherein the vendor communicates with a micropayment service provider computer when the user purchases the desired content item, and wherein the communications network is used for communications between the content provider computer, the catalog provider computer, the vendor computers, the micropayment service provider computer, and the user devices, the system comprising:
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a micropayment service provider computer that communicates with at least the vendor computers and user devices over the communications network, wherein the given vendor communicates with the micropayment service provider computer during user purchase transactions and accesses information on the desired content item from the catalog maintained on the catalog provider computer and wherein; the micropayment service provider computer is configured to provide an account of funds to be used by the user to make micropayment purchases of content items over the communications network; the micropayment service provider computer is configured to allow the user to purchase the desired content item when the user selects the desired content item for purchase from the given vendor'"'"'s website; and the micropayment service provider computer is configured to debit the user'"'"'s account when the user purchases the desired content item, wherein the user downloads the desired content item over the communications network after the user purchases the desired content item. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31)
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Specification