Supply of digital audio and video products

A method of operating a server of a merchant computer system, the method comprising:

• inviting a client to make a selection from a range of audio/video products stored by the server in product files;
• receiving a client selection for evaluation of one of the products;
• reading the selected product file to generate a digital audio/video signal;
• storing client history data, the client history data includes a personal client file for individually identified clients and stores past purchasing records of the client;
• identifying a personal client file corresponding to the client;
• defining a level of content degradation dependent on the identified personal client file containing client history data;
• applying the defined level of content degradation to the digital audio/video signal to generate a degraded digital audio/video signal having a degradation in perceived quality corresponding to said defined level of content degradation;
• and
• outputting the degraded digital audio/video signal to the client.

A method of communicating between a client, server and gateway on a computer network, the method comprising:

• a) the server storing client history data, the client history data includes a personal client file for individually identified clients and stores past purchasing records of the client;
• b) the client establishing communication with the server to identify the client and a client payment instrument to the server;
• c) the server identifying a personal client file corresponding to the client;
• d) the server transmitting to the client a range of audio/video products for supply in return for payment;
• e) the client transmitting to the server an evaluation request for one of the products;
• f) the server and gateway communicating to obtain payment authorization for the requested product from the payment instrument;
• g) the server defining a level of content degradation as a function of client history stored in the identified personal client file;
• h) the server transmitting to the client a degraded evaluation version of the selected product without payment authorization, the degraded evaluation version of the selected product having a degraded perceived quality corresponding to the level of content degradation;
• i) the client transmitting to the server a payment decision;
• j) the server and gateway communicating to effect payment capture for the authorized payment;
• and
• k) the server transmitting to the client a non-degraded version of the selected product.

A server apparatus comprising:

• means for supplying a range of audio/video products as respective digital audio/video signals;
• means for storing client history data, the client history data includes a personal client file for individually identified clients and stores past purchasing records of the client;
• means for inviting and receiving a client selection from among the products via a network connection;
• means for identifying a personal client file corresponding to the client;
• means for defining a level of content degradation as a function of the identified personal client file;
• means for processing the digital audio/video signal associated with the selected product to apply the defined level of content degradation thereto;
• and
• means for outputting the degraded digital audio/video signal to the network connection, the degraded digital audio/video signal having a degraded perceived quality corresponding to the defined level of content degradation, whereby a degraded version of the selected product is supplied to the client.

A merchant computer system comprising a server and a client interconnectable over a network, wherein the server comprises:

• a file store configured to store a range of audio/video products in respective product files and client history data, the client history data includes a personal client file for individually identified clients and stores past purchasing records of the client;
• a dialogue unit having a network connection and operable to invite and receive a client selection from among the products via the network connection, to identify a personal client file corresponding to the client, and to define a level of content degradation dependent upon the personal client file containing client history data stored in the file store;
• a product reader connected to read the product files from the file store to generate a digital audio/video signal;
• and
• a signal processing unit having an input connectable to receive the digital audio/video signal from the product reader, a processing core operable to apply a defined level of content degradation to the digital audio/video signal creating a degraded digital audio/video signal having a degradation in perceived quality corresponding to said defined level of content degradation of the dialogue unit, and an output connected to output the degraded digital audio/video signal from the processing core to the network connection.

A method of communicating between a client, server and gateway on a computer network, the method comprising:

• a) the server storing client history data, the client history data includes a personal client file for individually identified clients and stores past purchasing records of the client;
• b) the client establishing communication with the server to identify the client;
• c) the server identifying a personal client file corresponding to the client;
• d) the server transmitting to the client a range of audio/video products for supply in return for payment;
• e) the client transmitting to the server an evaluation request for one of the products;
• f) the server defining a level of content degradation as a function of client history stored in the identified personal client file;
• g) the server transmitting to the client a degraded evaluation version of the selected product without payment authorization, the degraded evaluation version of the selected product having a degraded perceived quality corresponding to the level of content degradation;
• h) performing steps d) through g) at least once;
• i) the client transmitting to the server a purchase decision and payment instrument;
• j) the server and gateway communicating to obtain payment authorization for the requested product from the payment instrument;
• k) the server and gateway communicating to effect payment capture for the authorized payment;
• and
• l) the server transmitting to the client a non-degraded version of the selected product.