Patent ID: 7249060
Filing Date: 2007-07-24
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for allowing a user at one of a plurality of user devices to purchase a desired content item over a communications network, wherein the desired content item is owned by one of a plurality of content owners, each of which owns other content items, wherein the content items are stored on at least one content provider computer, wherein information on the content items is maintained in a catalog on a catalog provider computer separate from the content provider computer, wherein a plurality of vendors have a plurality of corresponding vendor websites on corresponding vendor computers, wherein at least a given one of the vendors obtains the information on the desired content item from the catalog before offering the desired content item for sale on the given vendor's website, wherein the vendor communicates with a micropayment service provider computer when the user purchases the desired content item, and wherein the communications network is used for communications between the content provider computer, the catalog provider computer, the vendor computers, the micropayment service provider computer, and the user devices, the method comprising: maintaining an account of funds by the micropayment service provider computer to be used by the user to make micropayment purchases of the content items over the communications network; selecting by the user the desired content item for purchase from the given vendor's website, wherein information on the desired content item is included in the catalog maintained on the catalog provider computer; purchasing the selected desired content item using a portion of the maintained funds, and wherein no payment information is required from or provided by the user to the vendor computer; and debiting the user's account the portion of the funds for the purchase of the desired content item, wherein the user downloads the desired content item over the communications network after the user purchases the desired content item.