Self-service acquisition of digital content
OwnerGerald Pfleging, George Wilkininventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-service kiosk in one example provides a user with selectable digital content. A computer controls the operation of the kiosk. A user transaction interface module, connected to the computer, communicates information to and from the about the digital content desired by the user and payment for providing file download services. A user download interface module selectively makes accessible a physical connection port by which the download file is transmitted to a removable storage media supplied by the user that is coupled to the port.
Claims20
An apparatus for providing a user with selectable digital content, comprising:
- a kiosk including:
- a computer adapted for controlling the operation of the kiosk;
- a user transaction interface module, connected to the computer, that communicates information to the user and receives information from the user including information about the digital content desired by the user and payment for providing a download file containing the desired digital content;
- a user download interface module, connected to the computer, that selectively makes accessible a physical connection port by which the download file with the desired digital content is transmitted to a removable storage media supplied by the user that is coupled to the port.
A method for downloading a file containing digital content selected by a user from a self-service kiosk comprising the steps of:
- receiving manual input from the user at a user transaction interface of the kiosk where the manual input identifies the digital content desired by the user;
- automatically completing a payment transaction with the assistance of a computer contained in the kiosk in which the user provides account and authentication information permitting a fee associated with the downloading services to be paid;
- changing a physical connection port from a first position that is inaccessible for engagement by storage media supplied by the user to a second position that is accessible for engagement by storage media supplied by the user;
- following connection of the storage media supplied by the user with the connection port, downloading the file containing the digital content to the storage media is completed.
An apparatus for downloading a file containing digital content selected by a user from a self-service kiosk comprising:
- means for receiving manual input from the user at a user transaction interface of the kiosk where the manual input identifies the digital content desired by the user;
- means for automatically completing a payment transaction with the assistance of a computer contained in the kiosk in which the user provides account and authentication information permitting a fee associated with the downloading services to be paid;
- means for changing a physical connection port from a first position that is inaccessible for engagement by storage media supplied by the user to a second position that is accessible for engagement by storage media supplied by the user;
- means for downloading the file containing the digital content to the storage media following connection of the storage media supplied by the user with the connection port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.