Patents

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.