Methods for transacting electronic commerce
OwnerRichard R. Reismaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A novel electronic information transport component can be incorporated in a wide range of electronic information products, for example magazine collections, to automate the mass distribution of updates, such as current issues, from a remote server to a wide user base having a diversity of computer stations. Advantages of economy, immediacy and ease of use are provided. Extensions of the invention permit automated electronic catalog shopping with order placement and, optionally, order confirmation. A server-based update distribution service is also provided. In addition, an offline web browser system, with hyperlink redirection capabilities, a novel recorded music product with automated update capabilities and an Internet charging mechanism are provided.
Claims46
A computer implemented method for transacting electronic commerce between a remote computer system and a user station over a communications network, the method comprising:
- a. during a first user-initiated communications session, (1) receiving at the remote computer system user information for a user not previously identified to the remote computer system from the user station for storage remote from the user station, (2) providing user identification information from the remote computer system to the user station for automatic storage at the user station by software running at the user station, (3) creating an association at the remote computer system between the user identification information and the user information, and (4) using at the remote computer system the user information when processing a first purchase transaction;
- and
- b. during a second user-initiated communications session subsequent to and separate from the first user-initiated communications session, (1) the user identification information is automatically accessed by the software running on the user station and provided to the remote computer system and (2) using at the remote computer system the transported user identification information to gain access to the stored user information when processing a subsequent purchase transaction associated with the communications session,
- wherein at least a portion of the communications network includes the Internet.
A computer implemented method for transacting electronic commerce between a remote computer system and a user station over a communications network, the method comprising:
- a. providing user identification information from the remote computer system to the user station for automatic storage at the user station by software running at the user station;
- b. receiving at the remote computer system user information from the user station for storage remote from the user station for a user not previously identified to the remote computer system;
- c. creating an association at the remote computer system between the user identification information and the user information;
- and
- d. during each of a plurality of separate user-initiated communications sessions, (1) the user identification information is automatically accessed by the software running on the user station and provided to the remote computer system and (2) the remote computer system uses the provided user identification information to gain access to the stored user information when processing a purchase transaction associated with the communications session,
- wherein at least a portion of the communications network includes the Internet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.