초록 ▼

The present invention is a system and method for providing access to electronic works over a network. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention offers a user access to electronic copies of works, such as songs, albums, movies, or music videos, over a network. The user responds to the offer by

The present invention is a system and method for providing access to electronic works over a network. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention offers a user access to electronic copies of works, such as songs, albums, movies, or music videos, over a network. The user responds to the offer by requesting to access to a particular work. Before such a request is granted, the present invention may verify that the user is authorized to access to the work. In one embodiment, the user verifies that they are authorized to access an electronic copy of the work by demonstrating that they possess a physical copy of the work. In another embodiment, the user verifies that they are authorized to access an electronic copy of the work by demonstrating that they ordered or purchased a copy of the work. If a user's authorization is verified, the user may then be provided with access to an electronic copy of the work by such techniques as downloading or streaming.

대표청구항 ▼

The present invention is a system and method for providing access to electronic works over a network. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention offers a user access to electronic copies of works, such as songs, albums, movies, or music videos, over a network. The user responds to the offer by

The present invention is a system and method for providing access to electronic works over a network. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention offers a user access to electronic copies of works, such as songs, albums, movies, or music videos, over a network. The user responds to the offer by requesting to access to a particular work. Before such a request is granted, the present invention may verify that the user is authorized to access to the work. In one embodiment, the user verifies that they are authorized to access an electronic copy of the work by demonstrating that they possess a physical copy of the work. In another embodiment, the user verifies that they are authorized to access an electronic copy of the work by demonstrating that they ordered or purchased a copy of the work. If a user's authorization is verified, the user may then be provided with access to an electronic copy of the work by such techniques as downloading or streaming. eeds a predetermined threshold and the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum, initiate application of a price reduction to the customer order. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer program is further operable to initiate application of a price reduction in response to the determination that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold, the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum, and a price of an item in the customer order has a price that is no less than the price reduction. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer program is further operable to initiate application of a price reduction having a value equal to the minimum discount. 11. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer program is further operable to initiate application of a price reduction having a value equal to the accumulated discount. 12. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer program is further operable to determine a discount associated with each item by applying the same percentage discount on each item. 13. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer program is further operable to determine a discount associated with each item by applying a variable percentage discount on each product. 14. A computerized system for customer promotion comprising: a storage medium; a processor coupled to the storage medium; and a computer program encoded on the computer-readable medium, the computer program operable, when executed on the processor to sequentially receive signals indicative of the respective prices of a plurality of items in a customer order received over the Internet and in response sequentially determine a discount associated with each item; accumulate the price of the each item; accumulate all unapplied discounts after the determination of a discount for the each item; determine that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold; determine that the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum; and in response to the determination that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold and the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum, initiate application of a price reduction to the customer order. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer program is further operable to initiate application of a price reduction in response to the determination that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold, the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum, and a price of an item in the customer order has a price that is no less than the price reduction. 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer program is further operable to initiate application of a price reduction having a value equal to the minimum discount. 17. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer program is further operable to initiate application of a price reduction having a value equal to the accumulated discount. 18. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer program is further operable to determine a discount associated with each item by applying the same percentage discount on each product. 19. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer program is further operable to determine a discount associated with each item by applying a variable percentage discount on each item. 20. A method for customer promotion of a retail store comprising: sequentially processing, at a remote computer at a location remote from the retail store on a substantially real-time basis, each of a plurality of items in a customer order; accumulating the price of the each item; determining a marginal discount associated with the each item; after processing, and determination of a marginal discount for the each item, accumulating, by the remote computer, all unapplied marginal discounts; generating a first signal indicating that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold; generating, by the remote computer, a second si gnal indicating that the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum; and in response to the first signal and the second signal, applying a price reduction to the customer order. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein sequentially processing each of a plurality of items in a customer order comprises sequentially processing each of a plurality of items in a customer order received over the Internet. 22. The method of claim 20, wherein applying a price reduction to the customer order comprises applying a price reduction in response to the first signal and the second signal and upon processing an item in the customer order having a price that is no less than the price reduction. 23. The method of claim 20, wherein applying a price reduction to the customer order comprises applying the minimum discount. 24. The method of claim 20, wherein applying a price reduction to the customer order comprises applying the accumulated discount. 25. The method of claim 20, wherein determining a marginal discount associated with the each item comprises applying the same percentage discount on the each item. 26. The method of claim 20, wherein determining a marginal discount associated with the each item comprises applying a variable percentage discount on the each item. 27. A system for customer promotion over the Internet comprising: a computer-readable medium; and a computer program encoded on the computer-readable medium, the computer program operable, when executed on a computer, to sequentially receive, at a location remote from the retail store on a substantially real-time basis, signals indicative of the respective prices of a plurality of items in a customer order received over the Internet and in response sequentially determine a marginal discount associated with each item; accumulate the price of the each item; accumulate all unapplied marginal discounts after the determination of a marginal discount for the each item; determine that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold; determine that the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum; and in response to the determination that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold and the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum, initiate application of a price reduction to the customer order. 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the computer program is further operable to initiate application of a price reduction in response to the determination that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold, the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum, and a price of an item in the customer order has a price that is no less than the price reduction. 29. The system of claim 27, wherein the computer program is further operable to initiate application of price reduction having a value equal to the minimum discount. 30. The system of claim 27, wherein the computer program is further operable to initiate application of a price reduction having a value equal to the accumulated discount. 31. The system of claim 27, wherein the computer program is further operable to determine a marginal discount associated with each item by applying the same percentage discount on each item. 32. The system of claim 27, wherein the computer program is further operable to determine a marginal discount associated with each item by applying a variable percentage discount on each item. 33. A system comprising a remote computer coupled to a retail store, the remote computer located remote from the retail store, the remote computer comprising: a storage medium; a processor coupled to the storage medium; and a computer program encoded on the computer-readable medium, the computer program operable, when executed on the processor to detect, at the remote computer on a substantially real-time basis, sequential signals indicative of the respective prices of a plurality of items in a customer order received over th e Internet and in response sequentially determine a marginal discount associated with each item; accumulate the price of the each item; accumulate all unapplied marginal discounts after the determination of a marginal discount for the each item; determine that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold; determine that the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum; and in response to the determination that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold and the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum, initiate application of a price reduction to the customer order. 34. The system of claim 33, wherein the computer program is further operable to initiate application of a price reduction in response to the determination that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold, the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum, and a price of an item in the customer order has a price that is no less than the price reduction. 35. The system of claim 33, wherein the computer program is further operable to initiate application of a price reduction having a value equal to the minimum discount. 36. The system of claim 33, wherein the computer program is further operable to initiate application of a price reduction having a value equal to the accumulated discount. 37. The system of claim 33, wherein the computer program is further operable to determine a marginal discount associated with each item by applying the same percentage discount on each item. 38. The system of claim 33, wherein the computer program is further operable to determine a marginal discount associated with each item by applying a variable percentage discount on each item. 39. A method for customer promotion of a retail store comprising: sequentially processing each of a plurality of items in a customer order; accumulating the price of the each item; determining a marginal discount associated with the each item, the value of the marginal discount being dependent on the price of the item and otherwise independent of the identity of the item; after processing, and determination of a marginal discount for the each item, accumulating all unapplied marginal discounts; generating a first signal indicating that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold; generating a second signal indicating that the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum; and in response to the first signal and the second signal, applying a price reduction to the customer order. 40. The method of claim 39, wherein sequentially processing each of a plurality of items in a customer order comprises sequentially processing each of a plurality of items in a customer order received over the Internet. 41. The method of claim 39, wherein applying a price reduction to the customer order comprises applying a price reduction in response to the first signal and the second signal and upon processing an item in the customer order having a price that is no less than the price reduction. 42. The method of claim 39, wherein applying a price reduction to the customer order comprises applying the minimum discount. 43. The method of claim 39, wherein applying a price reduction to the customer order comprises applying the accumulated discount. 44. The method of claim 39, wherein determining a marginal discount associated with the each item comprises applying a constant percentage discount on the each item. 45. The method of claim 39, wherein determining a marginal discount associated with the each item comprises applying a variable percentage discount on the each item.