Abstract:
The invention provides a method and system capable of allowing users to complete collections of objects without unwanted duplication thereof. The system automatically, and in response to user direction, determines if objects are available that would complete a user&#39;s collection. The system can automatically purchase and obtain delivery of objects identified as being needed to complete a collection. The system allows a user to statically define and derive the parameters of a desired collection of objects and can create, and suggest to the user, collections of which the user already has a portion. The system includes functionality that provides user-definable collections.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates to licenses and sales of collections of items, such as for example collections of movies, collections of music, collections of baseball cards, collections of coins, collections of books, collections of postage stamps, or collections of other such items; in aspects thereof, the invention relates to a user interface with which a user can interact with a local library server, with the effect of being able to make purchases to complete collections of objects conveniently, easily, quickly, and without substantial duplication.  
         [0003]     2. Related Art  
         [0004]     Collectables have been popular throughout history. Fads come and go and collectables; such as Beanie Babies, Lladro, and Pokemon are favorites among collectors. Companies, like the Franklin Mint, have established entire businesses around selling items that are part of collections to those who would collect them.  
         [0005]     Media collections have long been popular: from record albums on vinyl to VHS and DVD movies. Film franchises have become very lucrative for motion picture companies. Blockbuster movies practically dictate multiple sequels. The same is true with television series and specials; ten or more seasons for a successful show is not uncommon. Distributors of DVD content have recognized the viewing public&#39;s interest in viewing this type of content on demand and have accommodated them by providing series sets with complete seasons, trilogies, and the like.  
         [0006]     Problem: Completing Collections  
         [0007]     A first known problem is that users often like to have these complete collections of series, such as for example “all Star Wars films,” or “all episodes of Survivor,” or “all films with Kate Beckinsale in them,” or “all films directed by Quentin Tarantino.” Unfortunately, it is difficult for the user to maintain the knowledge of which films they already own, and it would be undesirable for the user to buy multiple copies of movies as they try to complete a collection.  
         [0008]     This problem is described herein with regard to collections of movies (such as imprinted on physical media like DVD&#39;s), but in general the described problem also applies to other types of collections, such as collections of music, collections of baseball cards, collections of coins, collections of books, collections of postage stamps, and the like.  
         [0009]     Aspects of this problem are that “collections” of series might be defined in many different ways:  
         [0010]     Easy Definitions of Collections 
        The collection might be predefined by the seller, such as for example, all “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” episodes.     The collection might be defined by a third party (not the seller), such as for example, predefined by a third party.        
 
         [0013]     More Complex Definitions 
        The collection or database might be defined in either a dynamic or static manner: 
            An example of a collection defined in a static manner might include “all movies made in the 1930&#39;s”.     An example of a collection defined in a dynamic manner might include “all movies with Kate Beckinsale in them,” as a new movie might be released next year meeting that criterion. Another example of a collection defined in a dynamic manner might include the “all time greatest selling 40 movies,” as a new movie might cause that collection to change.    
            The collection or database might be defined in either an objective or subjective manner: 
            An example of a collection defined in a subjective manner might include those approved by a known critic or expert on a particular genre, perhaps with bookmarks or clippings included with the other media. One such example might include “Steve Swernofsky&#39;s 50 favorite movies and commentary thereon.”    An example of a collection defined in a subjective manner might include those that are private to an individual person, such as for example, “my favorite driving songs,” “my favorite horror movies,” or “my favorite science fiction thrillers without any aliens.” In one embodiment, access to these private collections might be restricted to the user who created them.     An example of a collection defined in a subjective manner might include a collection defined by interaction between a universal collection or database of possible items, and a query specifying a sub-collection of that universal collection or database. The “universal” collection or database itself, and the query applied to that database, might themselves be either or both dynamic or static. 
                Once a collection is completely purchased, that collection might be updated by circumstances, such as when new media streams are produced or released for distribution. A collection of “all Star Wars films” would be updated every time there is a new such film, and a collection of “all episodes of the Sopranos” would be updated every time there is a new such episode (possibly as often as once per week). It is an object of the invention to make it easy for the users to update and complete their collections.     Although queries applied to databases are often thought of as being Boolean in nature, involving comparisons, AND, and OR operators, there is no particular requirement in embodiments of the invention for restriction thereto. For example, a weighted distance or similarity metric, such as described in the “mosaic” application, might be workable, or other clustering techniques might be used.    
               
               
 
         [0023]     Collections Defined In Response To Their Elements 
        In yet another example, the collection itself might be defined (consciously or unconsciously) by a user in a way that is difficult to describe in a structured way. The likes and dislikes of a user for media streams might typically involve one or more genres, such as “action” films, or “western” films, but it can be difficult to easily present all films likely to be wanted by the user in a convenient and easily-understood format. A collector of coins might only like gold coins and not silver coins or only gold coins that predate 1100BC. 
            Similarly, it might be difficult for the user to easily express what genres or collections they are looking for. For example, selecting all film versions of Shakespearean plays, including take-offs such as “West Side Story,” might be quite inconvenient for the user to specify. This problem is similar if the user likes a particular genre, but dislikes a particular subgenre, such as liking all westerns except for those starring Ronald Reagan.    
               
 
         [0026]     Partial Solutions: Completing Collections  
         [0027]     Partial solutions to this known problem involve making it easier for the user to determine those items that fall within the collection the user wishes to define, with the effect of allowing the user to make purchases to complete collections of objects. 
        Speculative download or speculative ingestion allow the user to watch a movie with only the difficulty of entering payment information. However, this can still be a problem when the user indicates an entire group of movies to purchase, as a bulk purchase might involve entering payment information repeatedly. One known solution is the “shopping cart” model, but this does not offer the user any sense of security that their collection will be made complete.     The “guide” and “mosaic” techniques for presentation of movie titles or movie posters allow the user to more easily determine which items are “close” to particular items selected by the user, but there is still a difficulty in distinguishing which of those movies are already owned by the user (and thus available for immediate presentation) and which are not yet owned by the user (and thus only available after download or ingestion).     The “guide” and “mosaic” techniques for presentation also allow the user to more easily determine whether a particular item is “near” the preferences expressed by the user, but there is still a problem with relating user preferences (explicitly or implicitly specified) to suggested titles to buy, and there is no guarantee that a user will not accidentally purchase an item they already own.        
 
         [0031]     Problem: How to “Complete” A Collection  
         [0032]     A problem is that absence from the user&#39;s portion of the collection might be defined in one of multiple ways:  
         [0033]     Multiple Copies: Most users will desire to own only one copy of any particular item, especially in the case of media streams. However, for some users, such as lending libraries or purchasers of multiple licenses to software, it might be desirable to own more than one copy of the media stream. In these cases, it might be desirable to ask the user for a criterion as to when the collection is complete, such as how many copies make for a “complete” collection.  
         [0034]     Multiple Prices: It might sometimes be less expensive to purchase an entire collection rather than to purchase the individual items needed to complete that collection. Alternatively, there might be other collections sold as a unit that (individually or when grouped together) would allow the user to complete that collection. In these cases, it would be advantageous for the user to want to obtain the best possible coverage at the least cost.  
         [0035]     Multiple Rights. Most users will desire, for each particular item, to own one copy of that item outright. However, for some types of items, especially media streams, the user might already have some rights to that item. In these cases, it would be advantageous for the user not to duplicate the rights they have in any particular item.  
         [0036]     Multiple Versions. Most users will desire, for each particular item, to have only one version of that item. However, for some types of items (especially media streams), or for some users (especially avid collectors), it might be desirable to ask the user whether distinct versions should be considered different for purposes of completing the collection. For example, some users might prefer to have both the French version and the English version of the movie “Barbarella,” while others would prefer to have only one or the other version.  
         [0037]     Problem: Not Purchasing Duplicates  
         [0038]     A problem is that, subject to the “multiple copies” problem described above, it would be advantageous to not order anything the user already owns. Accordingly, it would be preferable if it were easily possible to determine what the user owns without having to obtain any relatively large amount of information from the user.  
         [0039]     In one embodiment, a system might keep a log of all media streams already owned by the user or a log of all media streams that have been imported by the user into the system, with the effect of incrementally providing the same result.  
         [0040]     In alternative embodiments, a system might keep a log of hash ID&#39;s or secure hashes of known inputs, with the effect of providing the same results.  
         [0041]     In still other embodiments, a system might use physical detection, such as RFID or GPS, to determine if physical objects are in fact owned by the user, with the effect of providing the same results. This embodiment would be effective when the objects themselves are physical and cannot easily be tracked electronically.  
         [0042]     In still other embodiments, a system might include software and/or hardware associated with each owned object that announces the presence of that object.  
         [0043]     Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a technique for being able to conveniently purchase collections of objects without duplicate purchases of objects in those collections already owned by the user. These and other advantages are described in other and further detail below.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0044]     The invention provides techniques, including methods and systems, as described below, capable of facilitating user interaction with a computing device such as a server device, with the effect of being able to conveniently purchase one or more items with the effect of providing the user with ownership of a substantially complete collection of items, and without duplication of items the user already has or is about to purchase, unless the user so desires such duplication.  
         [0045]     Similarly, the invention also provides techniques, including methods and systems, as described below, capable of replenishing inventory as requested by the user. Unlike a fixed standing order, the user&#39;s existing inventory can be detected, and a vendor-designated addition to that inventory provided for the user&#39;s approval. The provided techniques are adjustable to provide for completing collections, where those collections might include only individual copies of each element, or might include multiple copies of selected elements. In some preferred embodiments, the actual values of the number of elements actually possessed by the user and the number of elements proffered by the vendor might change from time to time, with the techniques also checking those numbers from time to time, and requesting user approval for updating the user&#39;s existing inventory.  
         [0046]     Similarly, the invention also provides techniques, including methods and systems, as described below, capable of distinguishing among multiple types of rights and multiple versions of products or services in the user&#39;s existing inventory. The provided techniques are adjustable to provide for actions as described above, including making those distinctions and either (1) preferring selected types of rights or versions as proffered by the vendor or requested by the user, or (2) obtaining the user&#39;s preference when those different types of rights or versions are available. Similarly to numerical count, in some preferred embodiments, the actual multiple types of rights and multiple versions of products or services actually possessed by the user or proffered by the vendor might change from time to time, with the techniques also checking those distinctions from time to time and acting accordingly.  
         [0047]     After reading this application, those skilled in the art would recognize that the invention provides an enabling technology by which substantial advance is made in the art of user interfaces, particularly for collections, and more generally for doing business with relatively large databases. For example, the invention might be used to provide one or more of, or some combination or extension or mixture of, any of the following: 
        Assisting a user in substantially completing a collection of goods or services, such as a collection of rights to media streams already partially owned by the user, with the effect of leveraging the user&#39;s probable desire to complete partial collections. For example, users with home collections of media streams might wish to create or maintain collections of substantially all media streams in a particular genre or series.     Assisting a user in substantially replenishing an inventory of goods or services, such as a inventory of rights to media streams already partially owned by the user, with the effect of allowing the user to easily maintain a level of inventory without having to review that inventory from time to time. For example, users with retail businesses, or who have a use for goods or services which consume those goods or services from time to time, might wish to create or maintain a substantially regular inventory of those goods or services.     Assisting a user in maintaining or creating a collection of goods or services compatible with that user&#39;s preferences, without the user having to explicitly describe the nature of that collection. For example, users who desire particular sets of media streams, but whose preferences are not easily described with respect to particular collections, descriptive terms, or genres that are standard among those proffered by vendors.     Collecting and using information about express or implied user preferences, such as in response to preferred media streams selected by users from a relatively large database. For example, with this information, users might be presented with collections, descriptive terms, or genres that are not standard among those proffered by vendors, and offered the opportunity to substantially complete collections with respect to those preferences.        
 
         [0052]     Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide techniques, including methods and systems, capable of facilitating user interaction with a computing device such as a server device, with the effect of being able to conveniently purchase one or more items with the effect of providing the user with ownership of a substantially complete collection of items, and without duplication of items the user already has or is about to purchase, unless the user so desires such duplication. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0053]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a system capable of facilitating user interaction with a computing device such as a server device.  
         [0054]      FIG. 2  shows an illustration of a screen for user editing of collection models in a system for sales of bundled collections excluding those already purchased.  
         [0055]      FIG. 3  shows a process flow diagram for sales of bundled collections excluding those already purchased. 
     
    
     INCORPORATED DISCLOSURE  
       [0056]     This application incorporates by reference and claims priority of at least the following documents. 
        U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/418,739, filed Apr. 18, 2003, attorney docket number 217. 1018.01, titled “Mosaic-Like User Interface for Video Selection and Display”.     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/418,949, filed Apr. 18, 2003, attorney docket number 217.1017.01, titled “Grid-Like Guided User Interface for Video Selection and Display”.     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/964,566, filed Oct. 12, 2004, in the names of inventors Stephen WATSON and Michael MALCOLM, attorney docket number 217.1024.01, titled “Distinct Display of Media Streams Not Owned by a User”.     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/964,565, filed Oct. 12, 2004, in the names of inventors Stephen WATSON and Lawrence KESTELOOT, attorney docket number 217.1030.01, titled “Separable Presentation Control Rules with Distinct Control Effects”.     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/932,330, filed Aug. 31, 2004, in the names of inventors Lawrence KESTELOOT, Paul RECHSTEINER, and Michael MALCOLM, attorney docket number 217.1031.01, titled “Unique Features in Multiple DVD Sets”.     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/936,789, filed Sep. 8, 2004, in the names of inventors Ian EPPERSON, Lawrence KESTELOOT, and Stephen WATSON, attorney docket number 217.1032.01, titled “Touch Panel User Inter-face”.        
 
         [0063]     These documents are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, and are sometimes referred to herein as the “incorporated disclosure”. Inventions described herein can be used in combination or conjunction with technology described in the incorporated disclosure.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0064]     In the description herein, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described, including preferred process steps and data structures. Those skilled in the art would realize, after perusal of this application, that embodiments of the invention might be implemented using a variety of other techniques not specifically described, without undue experimentation or further invention, and that such other techniques would be within the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0000]     Definitions  
         [0065]     The general meaning of each of these following terms is intended to be illustrative and in no way limiting. 
        The phrases “media stream”, and the like, describe information intended for presentation in a sequence, such as motion pictures including a sequence of frames or fields, or such as audio including a sequence of sounds. As used herein, the phrase “media stream” has a broader meaning than the standard meaning for “streaming media,” (of sound and pictures that are transmitted continuously using packets and that start to play before all of the content arrives). Rather, as described herein, there is no particular requirement that “media streams” must be delivered continuously. Also as described herein, media streams can refer to other information for presentation, such as for example animation or sound, as well as to still media, such as for example pictures or illustrations, and also to databases and other collections of information.     The phrases “digital content”, and the like, describe data in a digital format, intended to represent media streams or other information for presentation to an end viewer. “Digital content” is distinguished from packaging information; such as for example message header information. For the two phrases “digital content” and “media stream,” the former describes a selected encoding of the latter, while the latter describes a result of presenting any encoding thereof.     The term “DVD”, the phrase “digital versatile disc”, and the like, describe a technology standard capable of storing data.     The phrases “digital media,” and the like, describe physical media capable of maintaining digital content in an accessible form. Digital media includes disk drives (including magnetic, optical, or magneto-optical disk drives), as well as any other physical media capable of maintaining information, such as digital content.     The phrases “DVD media content format,” and the like, describe a family of encoding formats including DVD-audio and DVD-video (such as for example used with media including digital video disks or equivalents thereof). DVD media content format is a specific example of one of many possible formats in which digital content might be encoded.     The phrases “digital media,” and the like, describe physical media capable of maintaining digital content in an accessible form. Digital media includes disk drives (including magnetic, optical, or magneto-optical disk drives), as well as any other physical media capable of maintaining information, such as digital content.     The terms “playback,” “presentation,” and the like, describe presentation (such as for example to one or more users) of audio, visual, or other features of media streams.     The phrase “content server”, and the like, describe devices (or portions thereof, or sets of such devices or portions thereof) capable of sending digital content to recipients. For example, a content server might include a web server at which a user is provided the capability of purchasing digital media for download. In the context of the invention, there is no particular requirement that the server be (logically or physically) located at any particular address or place, or have any particular architecture, or use any particular protocol for communication. For example, the content server might include a process logically available to a local presentation device.        
 
         [0074]     The scope and spirit of the invention is not limited to any of these definitions, or to specific examples mentioned therein, but is intended to include the most general concepts embodied by these and other terms.  
         [0000]     System Elements  
         [0075]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a system capable of facilitating user interaction with a computing device such as a server device.  
         [0076]     A system  100  includes elements shown in  FIG. 1 , plus possibly other elements as described in the incorporated disclosure. These elements include at least a server device  110 , a local library  120 , at least one client device  130 , and a user  140 .  
         [0077]     The server device  110  includes elements shown in  FIG. 1 , plus possibly other elements as described in the incorporated disclosure. In one embodiment, these elements include at least a media object database  111 , a communication link  112 , and optionally a set of digital content  113  (or at least the capability for accessing digital content  113  from another device) as well as at least a processor, a main memory, mass storage, and software for executing instructions capable of operating the server device  110  consistent with the invention as further described herein. In one embodiment, the server device  110  includes at least a portion that is either physically, functionally, or logically remote from the local library  120 . In one embodiment, the server device  110  is capable of downloading digital content  113 , as described in the incorporated disclosure, in a cryptographically secure manner, also as described in the incorporated disclosure.  
         [0078]     The media object database  111  includes elements shown in  FIG. 1 , plus possibly other elements as described in the incorporated disclosure. These elements include at least the following information. 
        Information ilia describing metadata associated with media objects, such as for example—a set of titles, actors, directors, genres, producers, ratings (e.g., motion picture ratings for sex or violence), release dates, remakes, sequels or prequels, series (e.g., ordering in a sequence of motion pictures of television episodes), or other and further associated works.     Information  111   b  describing the media object itself, such as for example a set of digital content comprising the media object or elements thereof.     Information  111   c  describing preferences expressed by other users or groups of users, such as for example a set of awards, collaborative preference information, recommendations or reviews (either by designated experts or friends), or other and further preference information about the media objects.     Information  111   d  not specifically related to media objects, such as for example, in a more generalized database, a set of access control information, access frequency, recently of access or alteration, or other and further information not specific to media streams.        
 
         [0083]     Information  111   a  describing metadata includes elements shown in  FIG. 1 , plus possibly other elements as described in the incorporated disclosure. These elements include at least information specific to a particular media stream, group of media streams, or other databases or information. This information might include both information intrinsic to a media stream (such as for example actors, aspect ratio, MPAA rating, or running time) and information extrinsic to the media stream and associated therewith (such as for example price or availability).  
         [0084]     The communication link  112  includes elements shown in  FIG. 1 , plus possibly other elements as described in the incorporated disclosure. In one embodiment, the communication link  112  includes internet access. More generally, the communication link  112  might include any possible technique for communication, presently known or unknown.  
         [0085]     Digital content  113  includes elements shown in  FIG. 1 , plus possibly other elements as described in the incorporated disclosure. These elements include at least audio, video, and combinations thereof as used to present sound and images. For example, but without limitation, digital content  113  can represent media streams  111 , such as for example including movies and songs as might be present on physical media such as Compact Discs, DVDs, Digital Audio Tape, and any other types of electronic computer storage devices.  
         [0086]     A local library  120  includes elements shown in  FIG. 1 , plus possibly other elements as described in the incorporated disclosure. These elements might include the following information. 
        Information  121   a  describing metadata associated with media objects, similar to information  111   a  described above.     Information  121   b  describing the media object itself, similar to information  111   b  described above.     Information  121   c  describing preferences expressed by users of the local library  120 , similar to information  111   c  described above.     Information  121   d  not specifically related to media objects, and particular to the local library, similar to information  111   d  described above.        
 
         [0091]     A client device  130  includes elements shown in  FIG. 1 , plus possibly other elements as described in the incorporated disclosure. These elements include at least at least one presentation device  131 , at least one input device  132 , a mass storage, and software for executing instructions (not shown, but understood by one skilled in the art), as well as at least a processor, main memory, and storage. This software preferably includes communications and control software capable of operating the client device  130  consistent with the invention as further explained herein.  
         [0092]     The presentation device  131  includes elements shown in  FIG. 1 , plus possibly other elements as described in the incorporated disclosure. These elements include at least a device capable of presenting information as described above. The presentation device  131  may include a CRT (such as a television or RGB type computer monitor), flat panel display, a projection display or screen, or other or further types of devices for displaying or presenting information. In one embodiment, the client device  130  and the presentation device  131  are included in separate physical devices; however, in the context of the invention there is no particular requirement therefor. In alternative embodiments, the client device  130  and the presentation device  131  may be included in one device, or other or further types of systems not described herein.  
         [0093]     The input device  132  includes elements shown in  FIG. 1 , plus possibly other elements as described in the incorporated disclosure. These elements include at least a device capable of receiving information, such as for example commands or information. In a preferred embodiment, the input device  132  includes a touch screen. In alternative embodiments, the input device  132  may include any combination of a computer keyboard and computer mouse, track-ball, touch screen, television remote control, or other or further devices not described herein.  
         [0094]     A user  140  includes elements shown in  FIG. 1 , plus possibly other elements as described in the incorporated disclosure. These elements include at least a human user, or a substitute therefore, such as for example a computer program capable of acting on behalf of a human user (or a group thereof), or an Artificial Intelligence capable of expressing preferences similarly to a human user.  
         [0000]     User Interface Concepts  
         [0095]      FIG. 2  shows an illustration of a screen for user editing of collection models in a system for sales of bundled collections excluding those already purchased.  
         [0096]     In a preferred embodiment the user  140  customizes parameters of the system to make the system more responsive and efficient to their needs. This is not a requirement as the system includes its own set of default values.  
         [0097]     Customizable parameters are stored in the user data  139  and include; 1) collection models  145 , 2) payment data, and 3) other information.  
         [0098]     Collection models  145  include specific information defining the attributes necessary for a media stream ill to be included in that collection model  145 . The system  100  includes many predefined collection models  145 . New collection models  145  can be created and existing ones can be edited. For example, but without limitation, a collection model  145  could include the following attributes: 
        1. Science fiction     2. Includes time travel     3. Does not include aliens     4. Includes martial arts     5. Set on Earth     6. 1990 release or later     7. Hollywood production     8. Widescreen aspect ratios only        
 
         [0107]     Attributes for collection models  145  are preferably predefined such that they can be correlated with similar information available at the server device  110 . The user  140  may at any time define a new collection model  145  by selecting a set of attributes and grouping them under a title, such as, “Modern Action Time Travel Movies.” Preferably, the user  140  defines the title and then selects which attributes to include. The selection process in easily accomplished using lists, dropdown menus, dialog boxes, and similar selection techniques known in the art.  
         [0108]     A collection model  145  includes not only information intrinsic to the media stream  111 , but also to the externally related factors, such as, what price the user  140  is willing to pay and payment type (Visa, American Express, etc.).  
         [0109]     Collection models  145  are specifically advantageous where bundled collections of media streams  111  are concerned. The client device  130  is in regular contact with the server device  110 . If a user  140  has defined a collection model  145  that identifies a now available media stream  111 , the media stream  111  can be purchased and delivered to the user  140  such that the overall collection of a user  140  remains up-to-date.  
         [0110]     For example, a user  140  may have defined a simple collection model  145  as follows: 
        1. Media stream main title: The Sopranos     2. Auto purchase any new release (Visa)     3. Do not purchase duplicative special editions etc.     4. Price compare active        
 
         [0115]     Using the collection model  145  above, the system  100  would auto purchase any new release of the “Sopranos” cable television series and charge it to a Visa Card. The system would not purchase any special editions of episodes already owned. The system would price compare buying any newly released episodes individually against buying them as a set to determine if buying the set is cheaper even though it may mean duplication of some media streams  111 .  
         [0116]     The system also includes automatically generated and default collection models  145  and collection models  145  supplied in the system  100 . An example of supplied collection models  145  includes: 
        Musicals (1950-1959)     Spaghetti Westerns directed by Sergio Leone     Star Wars     Starring: Cameron Diaz     Saturday Night Live     Days of Our Lives (1989-1991)     Directed by: Stephen Spielberg     Composed by: John Williams     Hong Kong Chop Socky (1970-1979)        
 
         [0126]     The system  100  can generate collection models  145  automatically by analyzing user data  139 , digital content  113 , the client database  137 , and digital content metadata  125 . For example, the system may determine that the actor most often found on media streams  111  owned by the user  140  is Al Pacino. The system can then automatically create a collection model  145  that will alert the user  140  when new movies are released starring Al Pacino, or the system may suggest to the user  140  the existing movies starring Al Pacino that the user  140  does not own. Trailers or excerpts from such movies can be made available to the user  140  to promote a sale.  
         [0127]     Automatically generated collection models  145  may be saved or discarded by the user  140 . The user  140  may also take a collection model  145  automatically generated by the system  100  and use it as a starting point for creating new collection models  145 . Thus, in the previous example, the user  140  could take the Al Pacino collection model  145  and modify it to include only movies starring Al Pacino from 1972 through 1984. Collection models  145  may also be shared between a first user  140  and a second user  140 . New collection models  145  may also be available from a vendor individually or as collections. Generally, a fee is charged by the vendor for additional vendor-supplied collection models  145 .  
         [0128]     When more than one user  140  uses the same system, each user  140  may chose to lock their collection models  145  and their portion of the media streams. This allows a user  140  to keep their preferences private and confidential.  
         [0129]     The number of attributes associated with digital content grows daily. New media streams  111 , crew, cast members, and the like are being created as a part of the entertainment industry. Thus, every unit of digital content  113  purchased by a user  140  has the possibility of being an object of a new automatically generated collection model  145 . The user  140  has the ability to adjust a set of options that control automatically generated collection models  145 . These options include (but are not limited to) the ability to set field thresholds, field matching values, and field aggregate values. By setting at least some of these values appropriately, the system  100  would not query the user  140  with a question, such as “you own (1) movie starring John Wayne, would you like to complete your collection by purchasing the other 173?” The user  140  could in this case set the threshold to be prompted when the percentage of movies necessary to complete a collection based on a starring movie actor is less than 10%.  
         [0130]     Thus, the system  100  operates either in some level of a default mode to locate digital content  113  likely to be of interest of the user  140  and either queries the user  140  for purchase instructions or automatically purchases the media streams  111 , or the system  100  operates in a user-customized mode to locate digital content  113  specifically identified by the user  140  to have a high probability of being desired and either queries the user  140  for purchase instructions or automatically purchases the digital content  113 .  
         [0131]     The user  140  may define their own attributes. Attributes may be defined statically or dynamically. For example, but without limitation, a statically defined attribute may include the era that a movie is set in. A derived attribute can include logic that calculates the ratio of male to female actors in a movie or collection of movies. This feature is preferably supported using a user-editable language and/or a set of attributes stored in a library that are user-definable and otherwise editable.  
         [0132]     The system presents, for example, a set of elements on a screen where the elements represent collections or bundles of objects, such as movies. The system can present the elements differently in response to: 
        whether the objects are offered as part of a collection;     whether the objects are offered at a discount if purchased together;     and the like.        
 
         [0136]     The system presents a set of elements on screen with the effect that some elements represent “bundles”, that is, collections of objects. The user  140  can select one or more elements and the system performs an action in response to the user&#39;s selection. The action the system performs can be: 
        Buy all the objects in the bundles represented by the selected elements without fear of duplication of objects in the bundles or already owned by the user, unless so desired. That is, no object already owned by the user  140  will be in the current set of objects being purchased, unless the user  140  SO desires. For example, if a user  140  is buying a collection known as “Prison Escape Movies” and is also buying a collection known as “The Steve McQueen Collection”, the system would not only avoid purchasing movies that the user  140  already owns but would also avoid buying duplicates of titles that are common to both collections. In this case, it is likely that “The Great Escape” would be in both collections. In some cases, certain movies may only be offered as sets and then duplication would be unavoidable.     Try-and-buy, rent, view an advertisement for, or enjoy another enticement for, all the objects in the bundles represented by the selected elements without fear of duplication of objects in the bundles or already owned by the user  140 , unless so desired. 
 
 Method of Operation 
       
 
         [0139]      FIG. 3  shows a process flow diagram for sales of bundled collections excluding those already purchased.  
         [0140]     A method  300  includes a set of flow points and steps. Although described serially, these flow points and steps of the method  300  can be performed by separate elements in conjunction or in parallel, whether a synchronously or synchronously, in a pipelined manner, or otherwise. There is no particular requirement that the flow points or steps must be performed in the same order as described, except where explicitly so indicated.  
         [0141]     At a flow point  310 , the system is ready to process a request  141 .  
         [0142]     At a step  311 , the client device  130  sends a request  141  to the server device  110 . The request  141  includes information regarding collection models  145  that specifically or generally identify movies or movie types the user  140  is looking for to complete movie collections.  
         [0143]     At a step  313 , the server device  110  receives the request  141 .  
         [0144]     At a step  315 , the server device  110  processes the request  141 . Since a request  141  can contain many facets of information, the request  141  can be parsed into separate components to be handled at the server device  110 . The availability of specifically identified media stream titles can be searched in the server database  123  as can statically and dynamically identified media streams  111  through the associated digital content metadata  125 . Thus if the user  140  has identified criteria that states they always purchase XXX rated movies starring Busty Bubbles, the MPAA rating and movie star can be gleaned from the digital content metadata  125 .  
         [0145]     At a step  317 , the server device  110  sends a response  143  to the client device  130 .  
         [0146]     At a step  319 , the client device  130  receives a response  143  from the server device  110 . The response  143  may require parsing at the client device  130 . The response  143  preferably includes the results of the request  141 . If no new media streams  111  are available that meet the parameters of the request  141 , the response  143  includes a message to the user  140  informing them of this fact. Other information may be included, such as identification of media streams  111  that may be of interest to the user  140 , but which did not exactly match a collection model  145 . If new media streams  111  desired by the user  140  have been identified, the system informs the user  140  of such. The user  140  may or may not have asked that the system  100  inform him of the availability before purchasing.  
         [0147]     The ability of the system  100  to optionally (at the command of the user  140 ) notify the user  140  of the availability of media streams  111  without automatically purchasing them gives the user  140  additional flexibility in completing their collections. For example, the user  140  may have set up a collection model  145  entitled “Haunted Hollow 1-2-3.” The user  140  may not have seen the final installment of the trilogy, and even though they liked the first movie, worry it may be as bad as the second installment they just saw and thus may not want the third installment.  
         [0148]     If the response  143  to the user  140  indicates that one or more movies meet the parameters of a collection model  145  and includes asking the user  140  to give the goahead, an additional step  319 A is required. At step  319 A, the user  140  either desires or declines a purchase. If the user  140  declines, no payment is sent and no purchase transaction is executed. If the user  140  desires to make the purchase, a separate request  141  is sent that includes collection model parameters for the specific media stream  111  in question along with automatic payment criteria.  
         [0149]     At a step  321 , the client device  130  updates the client database  137  with information contained in the response  143 . If a media stream  111  has been automatically purchased, the client database  137  would be updated to indicate the purchase and the status of the media stream  111  (for example: purchased &amp; in-transit, purchased &amp; available, purchased &amp; pending release). An invoice may also be included in the response  143 . In a preferred embodiment, media streams  111  are sent independently of the response  143 . In an alternative embodiment of the invention, media streams  111  are included as part of a response  143 .  
         [0150]     At a step  323 , the server device  110  sends one or more media streams  111  to the client device  130 . In the case of non-electronically transferable objects, the objects are delivered in a method consistent with the object type, such as by U.S. Mail, United Parcel Service (UPS), Federal Express, and the like.  
         [0151]     At a step  325 , the client device  130  receives the media streams  111 . The media streams  111  are stored on the client mass storage  135 . The client device  130  updates the client database  137  to indicate that the media streams  111  are now present on the client mass storage  135  and available for viewing by the user  140 .  
         [0152]     At a flow point  327 , a request  141  has been processed.  
         [0000]     Alternative Embodiments  
         [0153]     Although preferred embodiments are disclosed herein, many variations are possible which remain within the concept, scope, and spirit of the invention. These variations would become clear to those skilled in the art after perusal of this application.  
         [0154]     For example, the invention is not restricted to media stream collection, but is also applicable to all collectables and objects that may be logically grouped, such as for example Lladro, baseball cards, books, postage stamps, coins, toys, computer games, and to presentation of databases and other collections of information, or of user interfaces associated with operating systems or application software.  
         [0155]     Those skilled in the art will recognize, after perusal of this application, that these alternative embodiments are illustrative and in no way limiting.