Abstract:
A system and method for a third party logging server to keep track of sales by online merchants of copyrighted works. Providers of copyrighted works, such as publishers and authors, register with the third party logging server and acquire an authentication mechanism to use the server, such as a username and password. The providers upload digital works and royalties corresponding to the works to the third party logging proxy server. Online merchants register with the third party logging proxy server and also acquire an authentication mechanism to use the server. The merchant downloads works and royalty rates to the merchant&#39;s computer for online sales. The merchant also downloads software that informs the third party logging proxy server whenever the merchant makes a sale. The server keeps track of the sale. The server collects royalty payments from merchants. The server also calculates and sends providers their royalty payments.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates in general to a method and system for providing a third party logging server. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for an independent third party logging distribution of copyrighted works by digital distributors. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Distribution of digital copyrighted works, such as digitized music, art works, and software programs, has proliferated with the increased use of the Internet by online distributors and their customers. Distributing copyrighted works over the Internet allows both small and large copyright holders to distribute to a large number of customers. As used herein, a copyright holder is any person or entity with the legal right to distribute a copyrighted work. A copyrighted work is included in the more general term “product” that is distributed by a merchant. A copyright holder can therefore be considered a “provider” of products (e.g. copyrighted works) distributed by merchants. A copyright holder, or provider, therefore, includes publishers that have acquired the right to distribute a copyrighted work, or product, from an author and the authors of such copyrighted works, or products. A copyrighted work, or product, includes such things as software, music, art, designs, photographs, etc. 
     Some copyright holders have developed their own Internet web sites for distributing their works to customers. However, many copyright holders prefer to create their artistic works rather than spend their time managing an Internet web site. In addition, to attract customers, the author must often spend time, money, and effort advertising their web site. While an independently owned web site might make sense for a large corporation, it is often not profitable for an individual author or small organization. 
     To avoid the chore of managing an Internet web site, some authors grant distributorship rights to online retail distributors. The author may enter into a written or electronic agreement with online retail distributors granting the distributor the right to distribute the author&#39;s works. While this approach alleviates the burden of the author managing and promoting his or her own web site, it increases the author&#39;s task in identifying online retail distributors, analyzing the retail distribution agreements, and monitoring the distributors to ensure that the author is receiving proper royalty payments. 
     On the side of the business relationship, online retail distributors often face legal challenges to their distribution of copyrighted works. Online retail distributors face a challenge in ensuring the legitimacy of alleged authors that send copyrighted works to the distributor for distribution. If the person who sent a digital work to a distributor has no rights to the work, the distributor could be liable for copyright infringement. 
     While the distributor may keep log of users that upload and download works to and from the distributor&#39;s web site, the logs may not prevent the distributor from unknowingly distributing pirated works and, consequently, face copyright liability and damages. In addition, logs maintained by an online retail distributor may not be trusted by copyright holders as legitimate because the logs can be altered by the distributor without any third party oversight. 
     What is needed, therefore, is a way to provide a third party logging server that keeps track of online retail distributors&#39; sales of copyrighted works. In addition, what is needed is a logging server that allows copyright holders to determine which online distributors are legitimate distributors in order to identify and pursue illegitimate operations that are pirating the copyright holders&#39; works. 
     SUMMARY 
     It has been discovered that a third party logging proxy server can aid both copyright holders and online merchants transacting business electronically. The third party logging proxy server establishes relationships with both copyright holders and online merchants. 
     A copyright holder establishes an agreement with the third party logging proxy server electronically by completing an electronic agreement with the third party logging proxy server or by using a traditional paper-based agreement that is signed and sent to the company hosting the third party logging proxy server. Once an agreement is in place, the copyright holder receives an access mechanism, such as a username and password to access the third party logging proxy server. The copyright holder then downloads works in which the copyright holder has distribution rights. The copyright holder also downloads royalty rates corresponding with the downloaded works. The copyright holder can also use the third party logging proxy server to investigate whether online merchants that are selling the copyright holder&#39;s works are legitimate merchants established with the third party logging proxy server. 
     A merchants also establishes a relationship with the third party logging proxy server in order to have the right to distribute authors&#39; works. As part of the agreement, the merchant agrees to install a piece of software code that tracks the sale of works maintained by the third party logging proxy server and report such sales back to the third party logging proxy server. At the end of a billing cycle, the third party logging proxy server multiplies the number of works sold by a merchant by the respective royalty rates to determine an amount due by the merchant. 
     The third party logging proxy server earns revenue in several possible ways. First, a third party logging proxy server can charge a flat fee for copyright holders and/or online merchants to use its services. Second, a third party logging proxy server can sell advertising space on its web site that advertises copyright holders&#39; works to perspective online merchants and may also advertise online merchants&#39; to the general public. Third, and perhaps most importantly, the third party logging proxy server can charge a percentage of the fees paid by the online merchants as royalty payments. The third party logging proxy server can either take a portion of the copyright holders&#39; royalties or can add a percentage to the copyright holders&#39; royalties to create a higher royalty amount actually paid by the merchant. 
     The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations, and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the present invention, as defined solely by the claims, will become apparent in the non-limiting detailed description set forth below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items. 
         FIG. 1  is a network diagram showing the components used in a third party logging proxy server&#39;s interaction with copyright holders and online merchants; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing the components used in the third party logging proxy server; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing a copyright holder&#39;s use of a third party logging proxy server; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing an online merchant&#39;s use of a third party logging proxy server; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing the third party logging proxy server tracking an online merchant&#39;s sale of copyrighted works; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a third party logging proxy server processing royalty checks for its registered copyright holders; and 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an information handling system capable of implementing the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following is intended to provide a detailed description of an example of the invention and should not be taken to be limiting of the invention itself. Rather, any number of variations may fall within the scope of the invention which is defined in the claims following the description. 
       FIG. 1  shows a network diagram of the components used in a third party logging proxy server&#39;s interaction with copyright holders and online merchants. Computer network  100 , such as the Internet, connects the various components to one another. Copyright holder computer  110  includes a software program  115  used to communicate to other computer connected to computer network  100 . Software program  115  may be an Internet browser, such as Netscape Navigator™ or Microsoft Internet Explorer™. A copyright holder sends copyright holder request  120  through computer network  100 . Computer network  100 , in turn, forwards copyright holder request  160  to third party logging proxy server  170 . Third party logging proxy server  170  processes copyright holder request  160  using copyright holder system  180  (see  FIGS. 2 , and  3  for further copyright holder system details). 
     Merchant computer  130  includes a software program  135  used to communicate to other computer connected to computer network  100 . Software program  135  may be an Internet browser, such as Netscape Navigator™ or Microsoft Internet Explorer™. A merchant sends merchant request  140  through computer network  100 . Computer network  100 , in turn, forwards merchant request  150  to third party logging proxy server  170 . Third party logging proxy server  170  processes merchant request  150  using merchant system  175  (see  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  5  for further merchant system details). 
       FIG. 2  shows a diagram of the components used in the third party logging proxy server. Third party logging proxy server data stores  200  include data maintained by the third party logging proxy server. This data includes online agreements  204  entered by both merchants and copyright holders, copyrighted works and royalty schedules  208  provided by copyright holders, sales information  212  reported by merchants, and royalty data computed by the third party logging proxy server and paid to copyright holders based on the number of sales and the royalty rates (less any third party logging proxy server servicing fees). 
     Merchant system  220  include software components used to handle online merchants. These software components include merchant registration system  224  used to establish a relationship between a merchant and third party logging proxy server through the use of an online or paper-based agreement. Merchant  260  sends agreement  264  which is processed by the third party logging proxy server&#39;s merchant registration system  224 . Merchant registration system  224  also provides merchant  260  with an access mechanism, such as a username and password, used by the merchant to gain access to the third party logging proxy server. Copyrighted works delivery system  228  used to deliver copyrightable works and royalty information to merchants that have established a relationship with the third party logging proxy server. Merchant  260  sends a request for copyrightable works, and copyrightable works delivery system  228  responds by providing works and royalties  268  to merchant  260 . In some embodiments, new copyrighted works and royalties are automatically forwarded to merchants when received from copyright holders through copyright works and royalties system  248 . The copyrightable works are used in the merchant&#39;s delivery of items to customers whereas the royalty information can be used to determine a sales price after adding in the merchant&#39;s desired profit margin. Sales tracking system  232  used to receive sales data  272 , using either a batch or real time delivery mechanism, from merchant  260  and logging the sales data for royalty computations. Royalty collection system  236  used to receive payment  276  from merchant  260  based on the number of sales the merchant has made during the billing cycle and the royalty rate set for the various copyrightable works. Depending on the merchant&#39;s credit, the merchant may prepay an amount that is depleted as the merchant sells items (i.e., for a merchant with little credit), or the logging server may simply bill the merchant at the end of a billing cycle (i.e., for a merchant with good or established credit). 
     Copyright holder system  240  include software components used to handle copyright holders. These software components include copyright holder registration system  244  used to receive agreement  284  from copyright holder  280  and establish a relationship between the third party logging proxy server and copyright holder  280 . Copyright holder registration system  244  also provides copyright holder  280  with an access mechanism, such as a username and password, used by the copyright holder to gain access to the third party logging proxy server. Copyright works and royalties system  248  receives copyrighted works and royalties  288  from copyright holder  280 . Copyrighted works are preferably in a digital format. The corresponding royalty rates may be specified for individual copyrighted works or may be a general amount (i.e., $5 for any of the copyright holder&#39;s works). In addition, the copyright holder may use an adjustable royalty system, such as $10 for the first 10 copies sold by a merchant during a billing cycle, $7 for the next 20 items, and $5 for each sale thereafter. Sales inquiry system  252  allows copyright holder  280  to inquire about an online merchant&#39;s sales. If copyright holder  280  is aware of a merchant selling the copyright holder&#39;s works, the copyright holder can inquire as to whether the merchant has an established relationship with the third party logging proxy server. If the merchant does not have a relationship (as reported in inquiry/reply  292 ), then the copyright holder may pursue the merchant to determine whether the merchant is pirating the copyright holder&#39;s works. On the other hand, if the merchant is an established merchant with the third party logging proxy server, then inquiry/reply  292  includes information about the merchant&#39;s sales of the copyright holder&#39;s works. In addition, a general inquiry can be made to receive a list of all established merchants that have sold one or more of the copyright holder&#39;s works. Sales and royalty payment system  256  calculates the amount due to the copyright holder during the billing cycle. The third party logging proxy server may pay copyright holder&#39;s based on the amount of payments actually received from merchants during the billing cycle or based on the amount of royalties due notwithstanding any payments made by the merchants. If royalty payments are based on the amount collected from merchants, then the copyright holder&#39;s bear the risk of a merchant defaulting or failing to pay. On the other hand, if the royalty payments are based on the amount of royalties due notwithstanding any payments made by the merchants, the third party logging proxy server bears the risk of merchants failing to pay. A combination of payment schemes can be used, for example paying one group of copyright holders based on the amount collected whereas another group of copyright holders is paid based on the amount of royalties due notwithstanding the merchant&#39;s actual payment. The third party logging proxy server can adjust for the risk by increasing its transaction percentage for those transactions in which it is taking the risk and offering a lower transaction percentage for those transactions where the merchant is assuming the risk. In any event, sales and royalty payment system calculates payment  296  and sends the payment to copyright holder  280 , either electronically or using a traditional check (see  FIG. 6  for further payment processing details). 
       FIG. 3  shows a flowchart of a copyright holder&#39;s use of a third party logging proxy server. Processing commences at  300  whereupon a copyright holder client computer connects to the third party logging proxy server (step  305 ). The third party logging proxy server determines whether the copyright holder is a registered user (decision  310 ). Decision  310  can be accomplished by determining whether the copyright holder has a valid username and password. If the copyright holder is not a registered user, decision  310  branches to “no” branch  312  whereupon the copyright holder completes an online agreement setting out the terms and condition regarding the copyright holder&#39;s use of the third party logging proxy server and the fees that the third party logging proxy server will charge the copyright holder for the services (step  315 ). The copyright holder secures an authentication mechanism (step  320 ), such as a username and password sent to the copyright holder&#39;s email account for subsequent uses by the copyright holder of the third party logging proxy server. Now that the copyright holder is registered, the copyright holder can upload one or more copyrighted works (step  325 ) to the third party logging proxy server for distribution by merchants. The copyright holder also provides royalty rates (step  330 ) corresponding with the uploaded copyrighted works. 
     If the copyright holder is already a registered user of the third party logging proxy server, decision  310  branches to “yes” branch  332 . If the copyright holder wants to perform a merchant inquiry, decision  335  branches to “yes” branch  338 . The third party logging proxy server receives the names of one or more merchants that the copyright holder would like searched (input  340 ). The merchants specified by the copyright holder are searched (step  345 ) to determine (i) whether the merchants are registered users of the third party logging proxy server, and (ii) if the merchant is a registered user, sales data from the merchant corresponding to the copyright holder&#39;s works. The merchant information gathered by the third party logging proxy server is then returned to the copyright holder (output  350 ). On the other hand, if the copyright holder does not wish to perform a merchant inquiry, decision  335  branches to “no” branch  355  and processing continues. 
     If the registered copyright holder would like to upload new, or updated, copyrighted works to the third party logging proxy server, decision  360  branches to “yes” branch  322  whereupon the copyright holder uploads one or more copyrighted works (step  325 ) and may also specify royalty rates to apply to the newly uploaded works (or any of the copyright holder&#39;s previously uploaded works) (step  330 ). On the other hand, if the copyright holder does not wish to upload new or updated works, decision  360  branches to “no” branch  365  and processing continues. 
     If the copyright holder would like to alter the royalty rates that apply to the copyright holder&#39;s previously uploaded copyrighted works, decision  370  branches to “yes” branch  328  whereupon the copyright holder provides the updated royalty rates that apply to the works (step  330 ). On the other hand, if the copyright holder does not wish to alter royalty rates, decision  370  branches to “no” branch  375  and processing continues. 
     A determination is made whether the copyright holder has any more requests (decision  380 ). If the copyright holder has more requests, “yes” branch  390  is taken whereupon processing loops back to process the copyright holder&#39;s next request. When the copyright holder has no more requests, decision  380  branches to “no” branch  395  and processing ends at  399 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a flowchart of a merchant&#39;s use a third party logging proxy server. Processing commences at  400  whereupon a merchant client computer connects to the third party logging proxy server (step  405 ). A determination is made as to whether the merchant is already registered with the third party logging proxy server (decision  410 ). This decision can be made based upon a username and password supplied by the third party logging proxy server to the merchant. If the merchant is not yet registered, decision  410  branches to “no” branch  412  whereupon registration processing takes place. The merchant completes an online agreement (step  415 ) providing the merchant&#39;s name, address, credit information, and other business information. After the third party logging proxy server approves the merchant based on the completed agreement, the third party logging proxy server provides the merchant with an authentication mechanism (step  420 ), such as a username and password, that the merchant will use to gain subsequent access to the third party logging proxy server. The merchant also downloads a software module (step  425 ) which is installed on the merchant&#39;s computer to automatically inform the third party logging proxy server of sales of copyrightable works made by the merchant. The merchant, by way of the agreement entered in step  415 , agrees to use the software plug in and not circumvent or alter its function of recording the merchant&#39;s sales. The merchant downloads one or more copyrighted works stored on the third party logging proxy server for sale to the merchant&#39;s customers (step  430 ). The merchant also downloads royalty rates for copyrighted works (step  435 ). The royalty rates may be used by the merchant to automatically calculate a price for the works by multiplying the royalty rates by a profit margin desired by the merchant. On the other hand, if the merchant is already registered, decision  410  branches to “yes” branch  442  and processing continues. 
     Decision  444  determines whether the merchant wishes to make a payment on its account maintained by the third party logging proxy server. If the merchant wishes to make a payment, decision  444  branches to “yes” branch  448  whereupon the merchant&#39;s balance for sales of copyrighted works maintained by the third party logging proxy server is retrieved (step  445 ). The merchant makes the appropriate payment (step  450 ), perhaps using a secured area on the third party logging proxy server&#39;s web site using a credit card or otherwise transferring funds. A new balance corresponding to the merchant is calculated (step  455 ) based upon the payment made by the merchant. As previously described, the third party logging proxy server may be configured to require merchants to prepay an amount that is debited when the merchant makes sales. The amount in the merchants account is then periodically refreshed by the merchant to provide additional money from which royalty payments are made. If the merchant does not wish to make a payment, decision  444  branches to “no” branch  458  and processing continues. 
     If the merchant would like to download new, or updated, copyrighted works from the third party logging proxy server, decision  460  branches to “yes” branch  422  whereupon the merchant downloads one or more copyrighted works (step  430 ) and also downloads royalty rates that apply to the downloaded works (step  435 ). On the other hand, if the merchant does not wish to download new or updated works, decision  460  branches to “no” branch  465  and processing continues. 
     If the merchant would like download any royalty rates that apply to the copyrighted works, decision  470  branches to “yes” branch  428  whereupon the merchant receives the requested royalty rates (step  435 ). On the other hand, if the merchant does not wish to receive royalty rates, decision  470  branches to “no” branch  475  and processing continues. 
     A determination is made whether the merchant has any more requests (decision  480 ). If the merchant has more requests, “yes” branch  490  is taken whereupon processing loops back to process the merchant&#39;s next request. When the merchant has no more requests, decision  480  branches to “no” branch  495  and processing ends at  499 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a flowchart of an online merchant&#39;s use of a third party logging proxy server. During the merchant&#39;s registration process, a software module used for logging the merchant&#39;s sales was downloaded and installed on the merchant&#39;s computer (see  FIG. 4 , step  425 ). The merchant plug in software process commences at  500  whereupon one of the merchant&#39;s customers selects a copyrighted work he or she wishes to purchase (input  510 ). The customer purchases the copyrighted work (step  520 ), using the merchant&#39;s payment system, such as a secure location on the merchant&#39;s web site. The plug in software installed by the merchant during the registration process notifies the third party logging proxy server that the merchant made a sale (step  530 ). Identifier  535  corresponding to the copyrighted work is transmitted through the computer network to the third party logging proxy server. 
     Third party logging proxy server processing commences at  540  whereupon it receives the notification from the merchant (step  550 ). The third party logging proxy server adjusts the merchant&#39;s balance (step  560 ) by either subtracting the royalty amount from a prepaid balance or adding the royalty amount to an amount due balance. The third party logging proxy server also adds the royalty amount (less any amount charged by the third party logging proxy server as a transaction fee) to the copyright holder&#39;s account balance (step  570 ). The copyright holder is paid at the end of a billing cycle, for example at the end or beginning of each month. Third party logging proxy server processing then ends at  575 . 
     Merchant processing continues with the merchant downloading the copyrightable work to the customer (step  580 ). A decision is made whether there are more purchases (decision  590 ). If there are more purchases, decision  590  branches to “yes” branch  592  which loops back to process the next customer purchase. If there are no more purchase, decision  590  branches to “no” branch  596  and merchant plug in software processing ends at  599 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a flowchart of a third party logging proxy server processing royalty checks for its registered copyright holders. At the end of a billing cycle, for example at the end of each month or quarter, the third party logging proxy server processes its registered copyright holders and calculates the royalty amount due to the copyright holder and pays the copyright holder accordingly. Processing commences at  600  whereupon the first copyright holder record is read (input  610 ). In a database setting, this can be accomplished with a “Move First” command executed with the copyright holder database table. The total number of payments received from merchants for this copyright holder during the billing cycle are read (input  620 ). A payment amount is calculated (step  630 ) from this amount by subtracting any transactional fees that may be charged by the third party logging proxy server. A statement is prepared showing the credits and debits to the copyright holder&#39;s account (step  640 ). A determination is made whether the copyright holder receives electronic payment or is sent a check (decision  650 ). If the copyright holder receives electronic payment, decision  650  branches to “yes” branch  655  whereupon an electronic statement is sent to the copyright holder&#39;s email account and the copyright holder&#39;s payment is sent via a wire transaction such as an electronic funds transfer (step  660 ). On the other hand, if the copyright holder does not receive electronic payments, decision  650  branches to “no” branch  665  whereupon the statement and check are printed and mailed to the copyright holder (step  670 ). 
     If there are more copyright holders in the third party logging proxy server copyright holder database table, “yes” branch  685  is taken whereupon the database processing moves to the next copyright holder (step  690 ) before looping back to process the next copyright holder. This processing continues until there are no more copyright holders to process, in which case decision  680  branches to “no” branch  695  and processing terminates at end  699 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates information handling system  701  which is a simplified example of a computer system capable of performing the various server and client operations. Computer system  701  includes processor  700  which is coupled to host bus  705 . A level two (L 2 ) cache memory  710  is also coupled to the host bus  705 . Host-to-PCI bridge  715  is coupled to main memory  720 , includes cache memory and main memory control functions, and provides bus control to handle transfers among PCI bus  725 , processor  700 , L 2  cache  710 , main memory  720 , and host bus  705 . PCI bus  725  provides an interface for a variety of devices including, for example, LAN card  730 . PCI-to-ISA bridge  735  provides bus control to handle transfers between PCI bus  725  and ISA bus  740 , universal serial bus (USB) functionality  745 , IDE device functionality  750 , power management functionality  755 , and can include other functional elements not shown, such as a real-time clock (RTC), DMA control, interrupt support, and system management bus support. Peripheral devices and input/output (I/O) devices can be attached to various interfaces  760  (e.g., parallel interface  762 , serial interface  764 , infrared (IR) interface  766 , keyboard interface  768 , mouse interface  770 , and fixed disk (HDD)  772 ) coupled to ISA bus  740 . Alternatively, many I/O devices can be accommodated by a super I/O controller (not shown) attached to ISA bus  740 . 
     BIOS  780  is coupled to ISA bus  740 , and incorporates the necessary processor executable code for a variety of low-level system functions and system boot functions. BIOS  780  can be stored in any computer readable medium, including magnetic storage media, optical storage media, flash memory, random access memory, read only memory, and communications media conveying signals encoding the instructions (e.g., signals from a network). In order to attach computer system  701  to another computer system to copy files over a network, LAN card  730  is coupled to PCI-to-ISA bridge  735 . Similarly, to connect computer system  701  to an ISP to connect to the Internet using a telephone line connection, modem  775  is connected to serial port  764  and PCI-to-ISA Bridge  735 . 
     While the computer system described in  FIG. 7  is capable of executing the invention described herein, this computer system is simply one example of a computer system. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other computer system designs are capable of performing the copying process described herein. 
     One of the preferred implementations of the invention is an application, namely, a set of instructions (program code) in a code module which may, for example, be resident in the random access memory of the computer. Until required by the computer, the set of instructions may be stored in another computer memory, for example, on a hard disk drive, or in removable storage such as an optical disk (for eventual use in a CD ROM) or floppy disk (for eventual use in a floppy disk drive), or downloaded via the Internet or other computer network. Thus, the present invention may be implemented as a computer program product for use in a computer. In addition, although the various methods described are conveniently implemented in a general purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by software, one of ordinary skill in the art would also recognize that such methods may be carried out in hardware, in firmware, or in more specialized apparatus constructed to perform the required method steps. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those with skill in the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim element is intended, such intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such limitation is present. For non-limiting example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim elements. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim element by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim element to inventions containing only one such element, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an”; the same holds true for the use in the claims of definite articles.