# US 7,467,104 B2 · Digital content pricing methods and articles

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- Number: US 7,467,104 B2
- Document ID: US7467104B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/831,606
- Filed: 2007-07-31
- Published: 2008-01-24
- Granted: 2008-12-16
- Earliest claimed: 2001-12-20
- Assignees: Intel Corporation
- Inventors: Todd A. Schwartz; Bruce D. Bridges; Richard J. Qian; Vaughn S. Iverson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7467104B2

## CPC

- G06Q 40/02: Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance (credit or loans G06Q40/03)
- G06Q 20/1235: {with control of digital rights management [DRM]}
- G06Q 30/0283: Price estimation or determination
- G06Q 30/06: Buying, selling or leasing transactions
- G06Q 30/0601: Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
- G06Q 30/0621: {by configuring or customising goods or services}
- G07F 17/0014: {for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 (meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00)}
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})

## Abstract

A digital content pricing apparatus may include a sales computer and a memory used to retain digital content items associated with a base price and one or more option prices, along with a final price related to the base and option prices by a final pricing formula. A method may include selecting a digital content item and at least one configuration option associated with the item, calculating the item price using appropriate adjustment factors, and calculating the final price using a final pricing formula. Pricing information, in the form of prices, adjustment factors, and formulae may be defined in meta-data descriptors included in the digital content.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of pricing digital content performed by a computer comprising a processor, a memory, and an input device, the method comprising:
the input device receiving a selection of a digital content item associated with a base price;
the input device further receiving a selection of at least one configuration option associated with the digital content item, wherein the at least one configuration option is associated with a base price and at least one item configuration option associated with an option price, wherein at least one item configuration option comprises reducing a final price for a digital content item if advertising is included in the digital content item; and
the processor calculating a final price associated with the digital content item, wherein the final price is related to the base price and the option price by a final pricing formula ITEMPRICEA=ADJA*[BASEA+(OA1*PA1)+(OA2*PA2)+(OA3*PA3)], wherein BASEA is the base price for a selected digital content item A, ADJA is an item price adjustment factor for digital content item A, the values OA1, OA2, and OA3 are prices for individual options associated with digital content item A, and the factors PA1, PA2, and PA3 are option-specific price adjustment factors associated with the options OA1, OA2, and OA3; and
wherein OA1 is an option price for including advertising in the selected digital content item A.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
the memory providing a plurality of pricing formulae including the final pricing formula.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the digital content item comprises one of an on-line novel, a software program package, a compact disk, an electronic music album, an electronic magazine, a movie package, and an electronic news service.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein at least one item configuration option comprises increasing a final price for a digital content item for a higher quality recording, and wherein OA2 is an option price for the higher quality recording.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein at least one item configuration option comprises increasing a final price for a digital content item provided with supplemental content, and wherein OA3 is an option price for the supplemental content.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising:
the input device receiving selections of a plurality of other digital content items associated with at least one other base price; and
the input device further receiving a selection of at least one other configuration option associated with the plurality of other digital content items, wherein the at least one other configuration option is associated with at least one other option price, and wherein at least one external factor is determined by the processor based on one or more of a number of selected ones of the plurality of other digital content items, a quantity of each one of the selected ones of the plurality of other digital content items, the at least one other base price, and the at least one other option price.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
the processor specifying pricing information for a plurality of options associated with the digital content using a corresponding plurality of meta-data descriptors.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising:
the processor specifying a final pricing formula in a meta-data descriptor associated with the digital content.

### Claim 9

A method of pricing a digital content product package performed by a computer comprising a processor, an input device, and a display, the method comprising:
receiving from the input device an item selection associated with a prospective purchase;
presenting on the display a plurality of product options associated with the item;
receiving from the input device an indication of at least one option chosen from the plurality of product options;
the processor calculating an item price related to the item selection and the indication of at least one option chosen, wherein the item price is defined using a meta-data descriptor included in the digital content package; and
the processor calculating a final product price related to the item price, wherein the final product price is related to the base price and the option price by a final pricing formula ITEMPRICEA=ADJA*[BASEA+(OA1*PA1)+(OA2*PA2)+(OA3*PA3)], wherein BASEA is the base price for a selected digital content item A, ADJA is an item price adjustment factor for digital content item A, the values OA1, OA2, and OA3 are prices for individual options associated with digital content item A, and the factors PA1, PA2, and PA3 are option-specific price adjustment factors associated with the options OA1 OA2, and OA3; and
wherein OA1 is an option price for including advertising in the selected digital content item A.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the item price is related to an option price associated with the indication of at least one option chosen, and wherein the option price is defined using a meta-data descriptor included in the digital content package.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
the processor verifying a payment associated with the final product price.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the digital content item comprises one of an on-line novel, a software program package, a compact disk, an electronic music album, an electronic magazine, a movie package, and an electronic news service.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein at least one item configuration option comprises increasing a final price for a digital content item for a higher quality recording, and wherein OA2 is an option price for the higher quality recording.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein at least one item configuration option comprises increasing a final price for a digital content item with supplemental content, and wherein OA3 is an option price for the supplemental content.

### Claim 15

An article comprising a machine-accessible medium having data stored thereon that, when accessed, results in a machine performing:
receiving via an input device a selection of a digital content item associated with a base price;
receiving via an input device a selection of at least one configuration option associated with the digital content item, wherein the at least one configuration option is associated with an option price; and
calculating a final price associated with the digital content item, wherein the final price is related to the base price and the option price by a final pricing formula ITEMPRICEA=ADJA*[BASEA+(OA1*PA1)+(OA2*PA2)+(OA3*PA3)], wherein BASEA is the base price for a selected digital content item A, ADJA is an item price adjustment factor for digital content item A, the values OA1, OA2, and OA3 are prices for individual options associated with digital content item A, and the factors PA1, PA2, and PA3 are option-specific price adjustment factors associated with the options OA1, OA2, and OA3; and
wherein OA1 is an option price for including advertising in the selected digital content item A.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The article of claim 15, wherein the machine-accessible medium further includes data, which when accessed by the machine, results in the machine performing:
recording the at least one configuration option in a memory.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The article of claim 15, wherein the machine-accessible medium further includes data, which when accessed by the machine, results in the machine performing:
selecting a non-item specific adjustment factor associated with the digital content item; and
modifying the final pricing formula to include the non-item specific adjustment factor.