Patent ID: 7246106
Filing Date: 2007-07-17
Classification: G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for distributing a plurality of digital article files for a price within a micro-price range, comprising the steps of: providing for receiving at a central computer first author information from a first client computer for establishing a first author account associated with and utilizing the first author information, the first author account having a first author account value, and the first author account having a first author identifier for at least logging into the central computer from the first client computer; providing for receiving at the central computer a first digital article file from the first client computer, the first digital article file comprising a first digital article, wherein the first digital article file is associated with the first author identifier; providing for receiving at the central computer a first digital article micro-price within the micro-price range from the first client computer for establishing a first price to charge buyers for the first digital article; providing for storing the first digital article file in a memory associated with the central computer, the first digital article file being retrievable from the memory; providing for receiving at the central computer second author information from a second client computer for establishing a second author account associated with and utilizing the second author information, the second author account having a second author account value, and the second author account having a second author identifier for at least logging into the central computer from the second client computer; providing for receiving at the central computer a second digital article file from the second client computer, the second digital article file comprising a second digital article, wherein the second digital article file is associated with the second author identifier; providing for receiving at the central computer a second digital article micro-price within the micro-price range from the second client computer for establishing a second price to charge buyers for the second digital article; providing for storing the second digital article file in a memory associated with the central computer, the second digital article file being retrievable from the memory; providing for receiving at the central computer first buyer information from a third client computer for establishing a first buyer account associated with and utilizing the first buyer information, the first buyer account having a first buyer account value, and the first buyer account having a first buyer identifier for at least logging into the central computer from the third client computer; providing for receiving at the central computer a first buyer payment for increasing the first buyer account value from the third client computer; providing for receiving at the central computer a request for the purchase of the first digital article file from the third client computer; providing for debiting the first buyer account by decreasing the first buyer account value an amount relating to the first digital article micro-price; providing for crediting the first author account by increasing the first author account value an amount relating to the first digital article micro-price; providing for transmitting the first digital article file to the third client computer in response to the request for the purchase of the first digital; providing for receiving at the central computer second buyer information from a fourth client computer for establishing a second buyer account associated with and utilizing the second buyer information, the second buyer account having a second buyer account value, and the second buyer account having a second buyer identifier for at least logging into the central computer from the fourth client computer; providing for receiving at the central computer a second buyer payment for increasing the second buyer account value from the fourth client computer; providing for receiving at the central computer a request for the purchase of the second digital article from the fourth client computer; providing for debiting the second buyer account by decreasing the second buyer account value an amount relating to the second digital article micro-price; providing for crediting the second author account by increasing the second author account value an amount relating to the second digital article micro-price; and, providing for transmitting the second digital article file to the fourth client computer in response to the request for the purchase of the second digital article.