Patent Publication Number: US-2013246149-A1

Title: Authentication and delivery of an electronic book

Description:
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY 
     This disclosure relates generally to electronic books and more particularly, to authentication and delivery of an electronic book. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic books (e-books) may provide a cost efficient and environment-friendly way to access, download and/or read content from multiple authors on a single electronic device (e.g., iPad®, Kindle®, etc.). As a part of a marketing campaign, a party may want potential users to have access to and to read one or more promotional copies of electronic books in the hope that the user will return and purchase other electronic books from the same party. 
     In the past, this type of marketing campaign was limited to physical paper books that were handed out to potential users at conferences, bookstores, etc. Carrying a huge number of physical paper books to different locations can be costly and cumbersome due to problems associated with weight, cost, transportation, size and space. An easy, cost efficient and environment-friendly method of implementing the same marketing campaign may involve providing potential users and readers with a small card having a unique promotional code that entitles the holder of the card to access, download and read a promotional book in electronic format. These small cards (much like a key fob for a hotel room) may be carried with ease, are easy to produce and manufacture, are cost efficient, and do not pose a threat to the environment. They can easily be placed by a user in his/her purse, wallet or pocket, and may be redeemed if and when the user is ready to download and read the free and/or promotional copy of the electronic book. 
     Upon redemption by the user, this format of distributing promotional electronic books may also provide the party with a rich collection of relevant and precise information about the user, the user&#39;s location, his/her reading habits, etc. This information may be used by the party to market other books to the user/reader based on the user&#39;s interest level, likes and dislikes, preferences for certain authors and subject matters/genres to others and/or frugality in terms of paying for electronic books. 
     This level of user-generated and user-specific information may not available to authors and publishers if they distribute physical paper copies of promotional books. Once given to the user and/or reader, the author and/or publisher may lose track of the user forever and may never hear back from the user. They may also not have user-centric information for future marketing and sales campaigns targeted to a specific user. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed are methods, an apparatus and/or a system of authentication and delivery of an electronic book. 
     In one aspect, a server device includes a memory and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to execute instructions associated with permitting searching of an electronic book profile of a desired electronic book on the server device by a user based on a predetermined search code provided to the user based on the electronic book profile, and providing a search result based on the searching of the electronic book profile of the desired electronic book such that a non-discount price associated with the desired electronic book is presented to the user. The server device also includes authenticating the user based on a unique promotional code associable with the electronic book profile such that the desired electronic book is downloadable to an electronic device by the user upon entering of the unique promotional code, and resetting the non-discount price associated with the desired electronic book to a discount price that is less than the non-discount price associated with the desired electronic book based on tracking interaction of the user with a number of electronic book profiles such that the discount price is adjusted based on an interest level of the user associated with a number of desired electronic books related to the number of electronic book profiles. 
     In another aspect, a method includes permitting searching of an electronic book profile of a desired electronic book on a server device by a user thereof based on a predetermined search code provided to the user based on the electronic book profile, and providing, through the server device, a search result based on the searching of the electronic book profile of the desired electronic book such that a non-discount price associated with the desired electronic book is presented to the user. The method also includes authenticating the user based on a unique promotional code associable with the electronic book profile such that the desired electronic book is downloadable to an electronic device by the user upon entering of the unique promotional code, and resetting, through the server device, the non-discount price associated with the desired electronic book to a discount price that is less than the non-discount price associated with the desired electronic book based on tracking interaction of the user with a number of electronic book profiles such that the discount price is adjusted based on an interest level of the user associated with a number of desired electronic books related to the number of electronic book profiles. 
     The methods and systems disclosed herein may be implemented by any means for achieving various aspects, and may be executed in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform any of the operations disclosed herein. Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Example embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of entering of a predetermined search code by a user of a server device to locate a desired electronic book from an electronic book profile resident on the server device, according to one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating presentation of a non-discount price of the desired electronic book to the user, according to one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of entering of a unique promotional code associated with a desired electronic book and presentation of the desired electronic book for downloading by the user, according to one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of downloading of the desired electronic book to an electronic device of the user, according to one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of calculation of frugality of the user and an appropriate recommendation of desired electronic books based on a subsequent interaction of a user profile with an electronic book profile and with a number of desired electronic books, according to one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  is a table showing the price outcome of a desired electronic book based on interest level of the user and frugality level thereof, according to one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of tracking of user behavior based on the subsequent interaction(s) of the user, according to one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  is a user-interface view of a promotional electronic book card with a predetermined search code and a unique promotional code to download a desired electronic book, according to one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  is a process flow diagram detailing the operations involved in a method of authentication and delivery of an electronic book, according to one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view of a generic computer system with a non-transitory memory and a processor, wherein any of the embodiments described herein may be performed. 
     
    
    
     Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows. 
     DETAILED DISCLOSURE 
     Example embodiments, as described below, may be used to provide a method, a system and/or an apparatus of authentication and delivery of an electronic book. Although the present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates entering of a predetermined search code  110  by a user  108  of server device  106  to locate a desired electronic book  102  from an electronic book profile  104  resident on the server device  106 , according to one or more embodiments. One or more electronic book profiles  104  A-N may be resident on the server device  106 , according to one embodiment. According to another embodiment, each electronic book profile  104  may contain one or more desired electronic books  102  and the predetermined search code  110  may be applicable to just one electronic book  102  associable with one electronic book profile  104 . The predetermined search code  110  may be provided to the user  108  by a party (e.g., an author, a publisher, a bookstore, or any other party, entity, and/or organization) at a conference, a bookstore, a live event, etc., according to one or more exemplary embodiments. Other ways of providing the predetermined search code  110  are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments. 
     Once entered by the user  108 , the predetermined search code  110  may act as a locator to locate the desired electronic book  102  associated with the predetermined search code  110  from an electronic book profile  104 , according to one or more embodiments. This location function may employ any search methodology used for searching databases and other information location systems in server device  106 , according to another embodiment. It will be appreciated that a single predetermined search code  110  may be associable with and may be able to locate multiple desired electronic books  102  A-N from multiple electronic book profiles  104  A-N, according to one or more exemplary embodiments. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the presentation of the non-discount price  202  of the desired electronic book  102  to the user, according to one or more embodiments. Once the user  108  is able to locate the desired electronic book  102  upon entering the predetermined search code  110 , the user may be presented with a non-discount price  202  of the electronic book  102 , according to one or more embodiments. For example, a non-discount price of  202 A associated with desired electronic book  102 A and a non-discount price  202 B associated with desired electronic book  102 B may be presented to the user  108 . The purpose of the aforementioned presentation of the non-discount price  202  of the desired electronic book  102  to the user  108  may involve raising user (e.g., user  108 ) awareness of the true and/or actual cost of the desired electronic book  102 . 
     According to one or more exemplary embodiments, the user  108  may be authenticated based on a unique promotional code  302  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) associable with the electronic book profile  104  such that the desired electronic book  102  may be downloadable by the user  108  upon entering of the unique promotional code  302 . The unique promotional code  302  may authenticate the user  108  based on the user  108 &#39;s selection of a desired electronic book  102 , according to one or more embodiments. According to one or more illustrative examples, multiple unique promotional codes  302  A-N may be associable with multiple desired electronic books  102  A-N within one or more electronic book profiles  104 . The unique promotional code  302  may, from time to time, be offered to one or more users  108  such that unique promotional code  302  A-N may only be applied to purchases made through the account in respect of which the unique promotional code  302  was offered and registered, according to one or more embodiments. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the entering of the unique promotional code  302  associated with a desired electronic book  102  and the presentation of the desired electronic book  102  for downloading by the user  108 , according to one or more embodiments. The unique promotional code  302  may be set up within a user  108  type (e.g., on a user profile  502 ) to subtract a specific monetary amount or percentage off the non-discount price  202  of the desired electronic book  102 , according to one or more embodiments. All desired electronic books  102  A-N may be a part of the same electronic book profile  104  or may be part of a number of electronic book profiles  104  A-N, according to one or more exemplary embodiments. 
     According to one or more embodiments, a discount module (not shown) may be implemented in server device  106  to reset the non-discount price  202  associated with the desired electronic book  102  to a discount price  402  that may be less than the non-discount price  202  associated with the desired electronic book  102 . According to an exemplary embodiment, a download module (not shown) implemented on server device  106  may permit the downloading of the desired electronic book  102  to an electronic device  404  of the user  108 . A tracking module (not shown) implemented on server device  106  may track a subsequent interaction of the user  108  with a number of electronic book profiles  104  A-N such that the discount price  402  may be adjusted based on an interest level  504  of the user  108  associated with a number of desired electronic books  102  A-N, according to one or more illustrative and exemplary embodiments. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the downloading of the desired electronic book  102  to an electronic device  404  of the user  108 , according to one or more embodiments. The desired electronic book  102  may be downloaded to any electronic device  404  of the user  108 . Examples of the electronic device  404  include an iPad®, a Kindle®, a Nook® etc. The discount price  402  may be adjusted based on an interest level  504  of the user  108  associated with a number of desired electronic books  102  A-N. This adjustment may happen after a subsequent interaction of the user  108  with one or more electronic book profiles  104  A-N, according to one or more illustrative examples. 
     It will be appreciated that, according to one or more embodiments, the search module (not shown) may be configured to locate fragments of a number of electronic book profiles  104  A-N based on a user profile  502  such that a subsequent interaction with the user  108  to track an interest level  504  of the user  108  may be associable with a number of desired electronic books  102  A-N. The fragments of the number of electronic book profiles  104  A-N based on the interest level  504  of the user  108  and the corresponding user profile  502  may also be modified, according to one embodiment. It will also be appreciated that, according to one or more exemplary embodiments, a price module (not shown) may make an association between the non-discount price  202  associated with the desired electronic book  102  and a frugality level  506  associable with a user profile  502  such that the non-discount price  202  associated with the desired electronic book  102  may be reduced prior to being presented to the user  108  if and when the user  108  subsequently interacts with a number of electronic book profiles  104  A-N. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the calculation of the frugality level  506  of the user  108  and an appropriate recommendation of desired electronic books  102  A-N based on a subsequent interaction of a user profile  502  (associated with user  108 ) with an electronic book profile  104  and/or with a number of desired electronic books  102  A-N, according to one or more embodiments. The user  108  may enter one or more unique promotional codes  302  A-N based on his/her desired electronic books  102  A-N. Upon a subsequent interaction of the user  108  with an electronic book profile  104  (e.g., which may have a number of desired electronic books  102  A-N), the user  108 &#39;s interest level  504  and frugality level  506  may be calculated and/or determined based on the user  108 &#39;s subsequent interaction, according to one or more embodiments. The user  108  may have a different interest level  504  in electronic book  102 A versus electronic book  102 N. The user  108 &#39;s frugality level  506  may also vary between different electronic books  102  A-N. Based on the user  108 &#39;s interest level  504  and frugality level  506 , a recommendation may be made to the user selecting and/or ranking particular electronic books (e.g., desired electronic books  102  A-D in  FIG. 5 ), according to one or more exemplary embodiments. 
       FIG. 6  shows a table view of the price outcome  602  of a desired electronic book  102  based on user  108 &#39;s interest level  504  and frugality level  506 , according to one or more embodiments. According to an illustrative example, Joe may want desired electronic book  102 D and his interest level  504  in desired electronic book  102 D may be high. However, his frugality level  506  may also be high, which means that Joe may not want to pay the non-discount price  202  for desired electronic book  102 D. Therefore, the price outcome  602  may be adjusted to $3.00 (significantly less than the non-discount price  202 D) based on Joe&#39;s interest level  504  and frugality level  506  as associable with desired electronic book  102 D. 
     Similarly, and according to one or more embodiments, James may want desired electronic book  102 C and his interest  504  in desired electronic book  102 C may be high. However, his frugality level  506  in desired electronic book  102 C may be low, which means that James may not mind paying a price that is close to the non-discount price  202 C (albeit a bit lower), according to an illustrative example. Thus, the price outcome  602  may be adjusted to $10.00 (not significantly less than the non-discount price  202 C) based on James&#39; interest level  504  and frugality level  506  as associable with desired electronic book  102 C. 
     According to an illustrative embodiment, Jane may want desired electronic book  102 B, but her interest  504  in desired electronic book  102 B may be low. Her frugality level  506  in desired electronic book  102 B may also be low, which means that Jane may not want to pay a price that is close to the non-discount price  202 B (she may want a much lower price as a motivation to purchase), according to an illustrative example. Thus, the price outcome  602  may be adjusted to $5.00 (moderately less than the non-discount price  202 B) based on Jane&#39;s interest level  504  and frugality level  506  as associable with desired electronic book  102 B. 
     Jack, on the other hand, may want desired electronic book  102 A but his interest  504  in desired electronic book  102 B may be low, according to an illustrative example. However, his frugality level  506  in desired electronic book  102 A may be high, which means that Jack may need a very low discount price  402  (e.g., close to zero or free/promotional level) to download the desired electronic book  102 A. Thus, the price outcome  602  may be adjusted to $0.00 based on Jack&#39;s interest level  504  and frugality level  506  as associable with desired electronic book  102 A. 
     According to one or more exemplary embodiments, the authentication module (not shown) may be configured to automatically populate the predetermined search code  110  such that the unique promotional code  302  may be used to create a number (e.g., practically infinite) of predetermined search codes  110  A-N associable with a number of electronic book profiles  104  A-N. In addition, and according to another embodiment, the download module (not shown) may be configured to permit the downloading of the desired electronic book  102  in a number of file formats associable with a number of electronic devices  404  A-N (e.g., iPad®, Kindle®, Nook® etc.). According to an illustrative example, the user  108  may be permitted to select the file format most appropriate and/or compatible with the user  108 &#39;s electronic device  404  (e.g., a .pdf file format, an .epub file format, a .mobi file format etc.). As mentioned above, and according to one embodiment, the tracking module (not shown) may be used to track user  108 &#39;s behavior based on a subsequent interaction of user  108  with a number of electronic book profiles  104  A-N. 
     According to one or more embodiments, a method may comprise permitting a search function of an electronic book profile  104  of a desired electronic book  102  searchable on the server device  106  such that a user  108  may be capable of locating the desired electronic book  102  by entering a predetermined search code  110  provided to the user  108  based on the electronic book profile  104 . The user  108  may be authenticated based on a unique promotional code  302  associable with the electronic book profile  104  such that the desired electronic book  102  may be downloadable by the user  108  upon entering of the unique promotional code  302 , according to one or more embodiments. One or more authentication methods implemented may be based on but not limited to: passwords, one-time passwords, public-key cryptography, zero-knowledge proofs, digital signatures, authentication protocols such as secure socket layer, IP SEC, secure shell and Kerberos. 
     The user  108  may be provided with a link to download the desired electronic book  102  to an electronic device  404  of the user  108 , according to one or more embodiments. The link may be in the form of an email message, a text message, or any other form of internet and/or mobile device based communication. The link may also be generated automatically and may be presented to user  108  on a secure website. The behavior of the user  108  may then be tracked based on a subsequent interaction of the user  108  with a number of electronic book profiles  104  A-N, according to one or more embodiments. According to an illustrative example, the behavior of the user  108  may be associable with factors including but not limited to: an author  702 , a title  704 , a genre  706 , an electronic book length, a complexity level, a text-to-image ratio, and/or a language  708  of the desired electronic book  102  such that a number of electronic book profiles  104  A-N matching the behavior of the user  108  may be presented to the user  108  upon subsequent interaction of the user  108  with the number of desired electronic books  102  A-N. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates tracking of the behavior of the user  108  based on a subsequent interaction of the user  108 , according to one or more embodiments. According to an illustrative example, Joe may desire Dan Brown novels, and in particular, Da Vinci Code. Based on Joe&#39;s preferred and/or desired genre  706  and language  708 , an electronic book profile  104  including mystery, detective novels and fiction may be associated with Joe. Subsequently, desired electronic books  102  A-N consisting of Dan Brown novels such as Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons may be presented to be downloaded by Joe. It will be appreciated that the tracking module (not shown) may work seamlessly with Joe&#39;s interest level  504  and frugality level  506  (see  FIG. 6 ) to determine the price outcome  602  associable with Joe&#39;s desired electronic books  102  A-N. 
     Similarly, and according to an illustrative example, Jane may desire Charles Dickens&#39; novels, and in particular, Oliver Twist. Based on Jane&#39;s preferred and/or desired genre  706  and language  708 , an electronic book profile  104  including historical fiction and period books may be associated with Jane. Subsequently, desired electronic books  102  A-N including Charles Dickens novels such as David Copperfield and Great Expectations may be presented to be downloaded by Jane. It will be appreciated that the tracking module (not shown) may work seamlessly with Jane&#39;s interest level  504  and frugality level  506  (see  FIG. 6 ) to determine the price outcome  602  associable with Jane&#39;s desired electronic books  102  A-N. 
     According to another illustrative example, James may desire Fyodor Dostoyevsky novels, and in particular, Crime and Punishment. Based on James&#39; preferred and/or desired genre  706  and language  708 , an electronic book profile  104  including suspense and literary works may be associated with James. Subsequently, desired electronic books  102  A-N including Fyodor Dostoyevsky novels such as The Idiot and Brothers Karamazov may be presented to be downloaded by James. It will be appreciated that the tracking module (not shown) may work seamlessly with James&#39; interest level  504  and frugality level  506  (see  FIG. 6 ) to determine the price outcome  602  associable with James&#39; desired electronic books  102  A-N. 
     Jack, on the other hand and according to another illustrative example, may desire biographies written by Walter Isaacson, and in particular, Steve Jobs. Based on Jack&#39;s preferred and/or desired genre  706  and language  708 , an electronic book profile  104  including biography and technology-related electronic books may be associated with Jack. Subsequently, desired electronic books  102  A-N including biographies written by Walter Isaacson such as Einstein and Benjamin Franklin may be presented to be downloaded by Jack. It will be appreciated that the tracking module (not shown) may work seamlessly with Jack&#39;s interest level  504  and frugality level  506  (see  FIG. 6 ) to determine the price outcome  602  associable with Jack&#39;s desired electronic books  102  A-N. The user  108  and other similar users may have different desires and/or preferences and the price outcome  602  may be adjusted based on the user  108 &#39;s interest level  504  and/or frugality level  506 , according to one or more exemplary embodiments. 
     It will be appreciated that the downloading of the desired electronic book  102  to an electronic device  404  of the user  108  may be based on a type of electronic device  404  of the user  108  such that the desired electronic book  102  may be presented for downloading in a file format compatible with the electronic device  404  of the user  108 , according to one or more embodiments. Different electronic devices  404  may have varying requirements in terms of compatible and/or preferred file formats. The desired electronic book  102  may be automatically formatted based on the file format (e.g., a .pdf file format, an .epub file format, a .mobi file format etc.) most compatible and/or preferred by user  108 &#39;s electronic device  404  (e.g., iPad®, Kindle®, Nook® etc.), according to one or more exemplary embodiments. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a user-interface view of a promotional electronic book card (e.g., BookStub™ card)  800  with a predetermined search code  110  and a unique promotional code  302  to download a desired electronic book  102 , according to one or more embodiments. The promotional electronic book card  800  may identify the author  702 , the title  704  and/or the genre  706  of the desired electronic book  102  in addition to other source identifying information (e.g., language  708 , country of origin etc.) of the desired electronic book  102 , according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, promotional electronic book card  800  may present an internet/web link directing user  108  to visit a website (which may or may not be a mobile website) to download the desired electronic book  102 . 
     According to one or more embodiments, promotional electronic book card  800  may include the predetermined search code  110  to be entered into a search box. Once the search is complete, user  108  may be instructed to scroll down and click “ADD TO CART” (to begin the delivery process of the desired electronic book  102 ). According to an illustrative embodiment, the user  108  may then be prompted to enter the unique promotional code  302  and the price may be updated and/or adjusted from a non-discount price  202  to a discount price  402  (e.g., which may be further adjusted based on user  108 &#39;s interest level  504 , frugality level  506  and upon user  108 &#39;s subsequent interaction with a number of electronic book profiles  104  A-N etc.). The discount price  402  may then reset to zero (or any other amount based on price outcome  602 ) and the user  108  may click CHECKOUT to begin downloading his/her desired electronic book  102  on to his/her electronic device  404 , according to one or more exemplary embodiments. 
       FIG. 9  shows a process flow diagram detailing the operations involved in a method of authentication and delivery of an electronic book, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, operation  902  may involve permitting searching of an electronic book profile  104  of a desired electronic book  102  on a server device  106  by a user  108  thereof based on a predetermined search code  110  provided to the user  108  based on the electronic book profile  104 . In one or more embodiments, operation  904  may involve providing, through server device  106 , a search result based on the searching of the electronic book profile  104  of the desired electronic book  102  such that a non-discount price  202  is presented to the user  108 . 
     In one or more embodiments, operation  906  may involve authenticating the user  108  based on a unique promotional code  302  associable with the electronic book profile  104  such that the desired electronic book  102  is downloadable to an electronic device  404  by the user  108  upon entering of the unique promotional code  302 . In one or more embodiments, operation  908  may then involve resetting, through server device  106 , the non-discount price  202  associated with the desired electronic book  102  to a discount price  402  that is less than the non-discount price  202  associated with the desired electronic book  102  based on tracking interaction of the user  108  with a number of electronic book profiles  104  A-N such that the discount price  402  is adjusted based on an interest level  504  of the user  108  associated with a number of desired electronic books  102  A-N related to the number of electronic book profiles  104  A-N. 
       FIG. 10  shows a data processing system (e.g., electronic device  404 ) in which one or more operations disclosed herein may be performed. The processor  1002  may be a microprocessor, a state machine, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, etc. (e.g., Intel® Pentium® processor, ARM processor, etc.). The main memory  1004  may be a dynamic random access memory, a non-transitory memory, and/or a primary memory of a computer system. The static memory  1006  may be a hard drive, a flash drive, and/or other memory information associated with the data processing system. The bus  1008  may be an interconnection between various circuits and/or structures of the data processing system. The video display  1010  may provide graphical representation of information on the data processing system. The alpha-numeric input device  1012  may be a keypad, a keyboard, a virtual keypad of a touchscreen and/or any other input device of text (e.g., a special device to aid the physically handicapped). 
     The cursor control device  1014  may be a pointing device such as a mouse. The drive unit  1016  may be a hard drive, a storage system, and/or another longer term storage subsystem. The signal generation device  1018  may be a bios and/or a functional operating system of the data processing system. The network interface device  1020  may be a device that performs interface functions such as code conversion, protocol conversion and/or buffering required for communication to and from the network  1026 . The machine readable medium  1028  may provide instructions on which any of the methods disclosed herein may be performed. The instructions  1024  may provide source code and/or data code to the processor  1002  to enable any one or more operations disclosed herein. 
     Although the present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments. For example, the various devices, modules, analyzers, generators, etc. described herein may be enabled and operated using hardware circuitry (e.g., CMOS based logic circuitry), firmware, software and/or any combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software (e.g., embodied in a machine readable medium). For example, the various electrical structure and methods may be embodied using transistors, logic gates, and electrical circuits (e.g., application specific integrated (ASIC) circuitry and/or in Digital Signal Processor (DSP) circuitry). 
     Particularly, several modules may be employed to execute the present embodiments. The search module, the price module, the authentication module, the discount module, the download module, the tracking module, and all other modules may be enabled using software and/or using transistors, logic gates, and electrical circuits (e.g., application specific integrated ASIC circuitry) such as a security circuit, a recognition circuit, a dynamic landmark circuit, an ignition event circuit, a store circuit, a transform circuit, an ICE circuit, and other circuits. The aforementioned modules may be executed through processor  1002  communicatively coupled to a memory (e.g., main memory  1004 ). 
     In addition, it will be appreciated that the various operations, processes, and methods disclosed herein may be embodied in a machine-readable medium and/or a machine accessible medium compatible with a data processing system (e.g., a computer system), and may be performed in any order (e.g., including using means for achieving the various operations). Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.