US 5,918,213 A · System and method for automated remote previewing and purchasing of music, video, software, and other multimedia products

Abstract

An automated product purchasing system allows purchasers to order products via a remote communications medium without having to speak to a sales representative or other human operator. According to the invention, purchasers access the automated product purchasing system and browse among the selections offered. Menu style prompts guide the customer through the various products offered by the automated product purchasing system. Product descriptions are provided to assist the customer in making his or her selections. Where appropriate, product samples are provided to the customer via the communications medium so the customer can evaluate the product prior to purchasing. Examples of product samples include movie previews, sample cuts from music tracks, software demos, and the like. Ordering and purchasing are automated so that human operators are not required to intervene in the process. The use of a membership profile with important customer information facilitates the automation of the process and minimizes the amount of times a repeat customer needs to provide this information.

Claims40

Dependent claims

An automated product purchasing system allowing a customer to sample and/or purchase media products via a remote communications interface, the system comprising:

interface means for providing an interface to a customer accessing the product system via a remote communications medium;
means for accepting input from the customer, said input identifying a desired one or more of a plurality of media products that the customer would like to sample;
means for providing a sample of said desired one or more media products to the customer via the remote communications medium
means for determining an abusive status of the customer, wherein the abusive user status is a status indicating excessive sampling of media products without making purchases,
means for obtaining and maintaining a user profile for the customer, the user profile including information regarding the customer's abusive user status;
means for defining a predetermined abusive user status time limit;
and
means for regulating customer usage on a per-customer basis for managing resource consumption of the automated product purchasing system, including limiting usage of the product system by an abusive customer having an abusive user status, wherein said limiting usage includes disconnecting the abusive customer from the product system after said customer has been connected to said product system for said abusive user status time limit.

5 more elements

A method for allowing a customer to sample media products via a remote communications interface, the method comprising the steps of:

accepting input from the customer, said input identifying a desired one or more of a plurality of media product the customer would like to sample;
providing a sample of said desired one or more media products to the customer via the remote communications medium;
determining an abusive user status of the customer, wherein the abusive user status is a status indicating excessive sampling of media products without making purchases;
obtaining and maintaining a user profile for the customer, the user profile including information regarding the customer's abusive user status;
defining a predetermined customer abusive user status time limit;
and
regulating customer usage on a per-customer basis for managing resource consumption of the automated product purchasing systems including limiting usage of the product system by an abusive customer having an abusive user status, wherein said limiting usage includes disconnecting the abusive customer from the product system after said customer has been connected to said product system for said abusive user status time limit.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for automated remote previewing and purchasing of music, video, software, and other multimedia products

Life of this patent

System and method for automated remote previewing and purchasing of music, video, software, and other multimedia products

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims40