Patents

U.S. Patent U.S. Patent 6,714,723 ("Purchase")
Issued: Mar. 30, 2004
Title: Video-on-demand purchasing and escrowing system

Abstract:
An electronically integrated video-on-demand system and method comprising receiving a communication from a viewer; selecting, responsive to the communication and from a plurality of video advertisements, a video advertisement; transmitting the selected video advertisement to the viewer; processing a purchase by the viewer; confirming the purchase by the viewer; escrowing a deposit for the purchase; paying the deposit automatically after a predefined period of time following a delivery by date for the purchase; and control means for enabling the viewer to place a hold on the automatic paying of the deposit.

Claims:

• 1. An electronically integrated video-on-demand system comprising:

  • communicating means for receiving a communication from a viewer;
  • selecting means for selecting, responsive to the communication and from a plurality of video advertisements, a video advertisement;
  • transmitting means for transmitting the selected video advertisement to the viewer;
  • purchasing means for processing a purchase by the viewer and for confirming the purchase by the viewer;
  • escrowing means for escrowing a deposit for the purchase;
  • payment means for paying the deposit automatically after a predefined period of time following a delivery by date for the purchase; and
  • control means for enabling the viewer to place a hold on the automatic paying of the deposit.

• 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing of the purchase utilizes a credit facility preestablished with a transmitter of the video advertisement; and wherein the confirming of the purchase comprises an identification of the viewer.
  
  
• 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the confirming of the purchase comprises an identification of the viewer.
  
  
• 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control means enables the viewer to update the delivery by date.
  
  
• 5. An electronically integrated video-on-demand system comprising:
  
  
  • communicating means for receiving a request for a video advertisement from a viewer;
  • transmitting means for transmitting the requested video advertisement to the viewer;
  • purchasing means for processing a purchase by the viewer and for confirming the purchase by the viewer;
  • escrowing means for escrowing a deposit for the purchase;
  • payment means for paying the deposit automatically after a predefined period of time following a delivery by date for the purchase; and
  • control means for enabling the viewer to place a hold on the automatic paying of the deposit.

• 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the confirming of the purchase utilizes a third party credit authorization system.
  
  
• 7. The system of claim 5, wherein the control means enables the viewer to update the delivery by date.
  
  
• 8. An electronically integrated video-on-demand system comprising:
  
  
  • communicating means for receiving a communication from a viewer;
  • selecting means for selecting, responsive to the communication and from a plurality of video advertisements, a video advertisement;
  • transmitting means for transmitting the selected video advertisement to the viewer;
  • purchasing means for processing a purchase by the viewer and for confirming the purchase by the viewer;
  • escrowing means for escrowing a deposit for the purchase;
  • payment means for paying the deposit automatically after a predefined period of time following delivery of the purchase; and
  • control means for enabling the viewer to place a hold on the automatic paying of the deposit.

• 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processing of the purchase utilizes a preestablished credit facility; and wherein the confirming of the purchase comprises an identification of the viewer.
  
  
• 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the control means enables the viewer to update the delivery by date.
  
  
• 11. A video-on-demand method comprising the electronically integrated steps of:
  
  
• receiving a communication from a viewer;
• selecting, responsive to the communication and from a plurality of video advertisements, a video advertisement;
• transmitting the selected video advertisement to the viewer;
• processing a purchase by the viewer;
• confirming the purchase by the viewer;
• escrowing a deposit for the purchase;
• paying the deposit automatically after a predefined period of time following a delivery by date for the purchase; and
• enabling the viewer to place a hold on the automatic paying of the deposit.
  
  
• 12. The method of claim 11, further wherein the processing of the purchase utilizes a credit facility preestablished with a transmitter of the video advertisement; and wherein the confirming of the purchase comprises an identification of the viewer.
  
  
• 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the confirming of the purchase comprises an identification of the viewer.
  
  
• 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising enabling the viewer to update the delivery by date.
  
  
• 15. A video-on-demand method comprising the electronically integrated steps of:
  
  
  • receiving a request for a video advertisement from a viewer;
  • transmitting the requested video advertisement to the viewer;
  • processing a purchase by the viewer;
  • confirming the purchase by the viewer;
  • escrowing a deposit for the purchase;
  • automatically paying the deposit after a predefined period of time following a delivery by date for the purchase; and
  • enabling the viewer to place a hold on the automatic paying of the deposit.

• 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the confirming of the purchase utilizes a third party credit authorization system.
  
  
• 17. The method of claim 15, further comprising enabling the viewer to update the delivery by date.
  
  
• 18. A video-on-demand method comprising the electronically integrated steps of:
  
  
  • receiving a communication from a viewer;
  • selecting, responsive to the communication and from a plurality of video advertisements, a video advertisement;
  • transmitting the selected video advertisement to the viewer;
  • processing a purchase by the viewer;
  • confirming the purchase by the viewer;
  • escrowing a deposit for the purchase;
  • paying the deposit automatically after a predefined period of time following delivery of the purchase; and
  • enabling the viewer to place a hold on the automatic paying of the deposit.

• 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the processing of the purchase utilizes a preestablished credit facility; and wherein the confirming of the purchase comprises an identification of the viewer.
  
  
• 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising enabling the viewer to update the delivery by date.