Abstract:
This invention provides a system that enable a trading network center and participating network operators as well as their selling-subscribers to select for-not-use/for-trade electronic information data items to trade by using an interactive button/menu/toolbar driven interface, such as a browser or onscreen widget; also it enable their buying-subscribers to select and access dealpack by using the same interface through a controlled access process controlled and operated by the trading network center via its trading portal.

Description:
[0001]    This invention is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/519,393 and is related to the same field as original application the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Background of the Invention 
       [0002]    The Ser. No. 10/519,393 application presents an eCommerce trading network where it connect participating subscription network operators and allow their subscribers trade their selected for-not-use content items with each other. Although Ser. No. 10/519,393 described the methods of unique selecting, packaging and control delivering processes, it mostly related to a TV guide interface and the embodiment of the implementation only touched the details of a cable TV network based scenario, even it mentioned using internet browser as an interface, it did not further present an embodiment of the implementation. 
       SUMMERY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The objective of this invention is to provide a solution that will enable the subscribers of participating network operators to trade their “for-not-use” content data items by using a interface that will be accessible via EPG (Electronic Programming Guide), internet browser and embedded interface to execute the selection process and participating the trading securely in real time. In order to realize the objective, this invention provides a computer implemented button, menu and toolbar driven method for subscriber electronic information data item selection and trade as well as traded items, the dealpack as described by the Ser. No. 10/519,393 application, controlled access by the same and different participating network subscribers. 
         [0004]    In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the computer implemented method includes a trading network center controlled interface at client side (text, graphics, sound, touch). The interface embedded/downloads/patches/upgrades a selection software mean, which enable users select desired to view content items by specified time frame and content, and sends out the un-selected for-not-use items to packaging process. This packaging process then will automatically map and group the for-not-use items in accordance with pre-defined grid/matrix, package, label and price them into dealpack. The dealpack then will be listed out for real, delayed, relayed time trading. The system uses a network center controlled trading portal for dealpack indexing, listing, searching, trading, charging and billing as well as for dealpack controlled access by the same or different participating network operators and their subscribers. 
         [0005]    The above said computer implemented method for electronic information data item (such as TV program) selection and packaging out for trade comprises an interactive content data item selection mean. Such selection mean functioning as an interface in the form of an button on a screen or a menu or toolbar item of an electronic program guide (EPG) for TV or a web browser or widget of PC, could be interactively operated via a control device, such as a set-top box and/or a hand-held device, that rolling displays the content listing and operates the selection means on a TV/PC screen or via internet web pages directly. The subscriber selects button, or menu/toolbar items via the selection means (such as EPG) manually or passively by automatic prompt. Either way, the system will ask the subscriber to confirm for-trade or performing setups/updates. When confirmed for-trade, which means the setup has been done previously already, the subscriber needs only to confirm for-trade in accordance with the previous setup configuration. When needs to setup or update, the selection process will bring subscriber to do content/time selection for-not-use, wherein the selected menu bar item, could be time frame or time frame group; content item or content items combination (such as program channel/title or channel/title combination), can be triggered to further list out by pre-defined format, such as being listed by categorized content item lists sorted by selected time frames. Time along horizontal axis and items (such as channels/title or channels/titles combination) along vertical axis, Other menu items, such as automatic/manual confirmation for-trade, etc. could be also included in the setup. When selecting items, subscriber can select desired to view items B (time/content) from the entire content lineup list A by check mark/or flag, and with confirmation, the rest items C of list A shall be put as for-not-use in a specified time frame, which are then waiting for subscriber&#39;s trade call. Upon receiving the trade call, the for-not-use items along with the subscription data (such as subscriber ID, key and billing data, etc) called from subscription service database, shall be immediately mapped, regrouped, packaged, labeled and priced automatically by the packaging process to generate the dealpacks. The dealpack&#39;s physical media data are stored in synchronized and networked database servers located outside the subscription network or within it, waiting for call from buying-subscriber, while dealpack&#39;s subscription/label data will be sent into trading database server, which is linked with the network center trading database exchange server, and be populated onto a display format, updated in real time to enable internal (among operator&#39;s own subscribers) or external (with subscribers of other network operators) trading via the network trading center&#39;s trading portal. 
         [0006]    Participating network operator and its subscribers can then search the wanted Dealpacks to purchase. For one preferred embodiment of the invention&#39;s internet based video program selection and purchasing, the search result can be a list of prices of the Dealpacks, as well as the purchasing and supply method, etc.. Upon selected the wanted dealpack item to play, when system can be configured to prompt for accepting deduction of the price amount by entering subscriber id and password, or configured via setup for automatic deduction before the start of playing. The trading center then can use debt (settling account with operators by month), or use credit card/bank card as payment tool to close deal online in real time. Once paid, a payment verifier and a random number key factor shall be scrambled with selling-subscriber&#39;s secret key and the buying-subscriber shall be given a newly issued Dealpack secret key, which could be administered by the trading network center on behalf of the buying-subscriber to submit for accessing the Dealpack; where the accessing can be a seamless symbolic linking path to the selling-subscriber&#39;s home directory via a dummy account or directly; or the new secret key could be submitted by the buying-subscriber him/herself via internet, cable or wirelessly to activate the access of the Dealpack 
         [0007]    The Dealpack secret key is generated by a method of assembling and encrypting the selling-subscriber&#39;s key (such as account number, password) with Dealpack&#39;s ID, network address identifier, time frame identifier (time-tag) and payment verifier together with a random number key factor. 
         [0008]    The above mentioned Dealpack secret key authentication access method also comprises: the Dealpack physical data linking, encoding transmission, gateway filtering, buying-subscriber terminal interface decoding and releasing for access. The said controlled access method include steps of: buying-subscriber selects, searches and purchases the secret key for selected Dealpacks; network administrator controls and authenticates the secret key, queries, links the physical Dealpack data, which are stored at synchronized and networked database server, encoded and transmitted at-least-cost-route to the buying-subscriber location. 
         [0009]    The unique electronic information data item selection method, coupled with the Dealpack and controlled access key generating processes, results in combined technical effects that enhance the efficiency of utilizing the network resources (statistics shows that about ⅔-¾ of network resources are idle during slow time, such as night time for telecommunication network, early day time and late night time for TV network), the efficiency of processing the electronic information data item (separating the label/subscription data with physical media data, so as to efficiently manipulating and virtual processing the Dealpack data from various sources and synchronizing/transmitting the physical data among distributed and networked database servers directly without going through the trading center) and the unique granulated secure accessing process of the Dealpack that only this invention application uses, allowing seamless business process of two trading network subscribers&#39; selling and buying and fine manipulation of the Dealpack without losing security control. 
         [0010]    The objective and characteristics of the invention will become apparent from the following drawings and the detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is the use case overall diagram of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is the electronic information data item selection process flow chart. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is the packaging process flow chart. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is the controlled access process flow chart. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is the block diagram of the gateway filter/censor process. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    An preferred embodiment of this invention&#39;s application situation is to use computer/hand-held interface, such as a browser, to interactively operate in a computer internet network subscription environment. Refer to  FIG. 1 , the use case diagram gives the general overview of the entire application. Selling-subscriber  84  of a network operator A interactively operates client  88  (in this case, the hand-held device or computer) via GUI (graphical user interface) browser  88 ′ to use the Electronic Information Data Item Selection process  81 , generating the Dealpack contents  90  via packaging process  83 , which are to be listed online by trading network center  89  administered by network operator  86 ; buying-subscriber  85  of other network operator B via its client interface  91  shall be able to access the Dealpack via controlled access process  82  at online market portal  82 ′. 
         [0017]    Specifically, refers to  FIG. 2 , the Electronic Information Data Item Selection Process  81 , subscriber operates client  88 , and chooses the menu item with selection to sell sign  11  to enter the process, which will pull down the menu with down-line sub-menu items of trade  12 , setup  13 , etc. When first time selecting so, chooses the menu item setup  13  (it could be arranged to prompting for entering subscriber account number and password here) will pull-down a sub-menu with time frame bar  14 , for-not-use content bar  15 , auto prompt bar  16 , etc.; choosing time frame  14  will open a window to enter start-time and end-time, which define the time frame when subscriber does not use the service, then clicking OK, will start listening to content item selection call to sort the content items; selecting the for-not-use content bar  15 , will open a window prompting to select the content items by category and content item list, (if content item does not have category code pre-set, a small process to assign category code is set in front of this step). When selection is done, the click of OK will sort out the selected categories and content items into a selected list  22 , and sorted by time frame  24  if the time frame has selected, or listening for time frame  24  call for sorting. The sorted out for-not-use items will be adding ID and time-tag by  26  and stored in memory  27 , which is in listening for-trade call status  28 . Another setup sub-menu item is auto-prompt  16 , it will lead to a window prompt  29  asking whether to be prompted at sign-out  93 , selecting yes and OK will link to the close process that will hold-on the close process  94  by prompting on screen a window asking to do Trade  12  or Setup  13 . Now the selection of the menu item Trade  12  will lead to a window asking trade confirmation, choosing OK will call the setup pre-configured selected for-not-use items  18 , and send it to the next procedure, packaging process, then resume the normal program operation or the sign-out close down process  19 . 
         [0018]    Now refer to  FIG. 3  Packaging Process. The for-trade call from above selection process will send the for-not-use items  10  and subscription data  32  to packaging process  83 , which will first query the data received by pre-set criteria  33 , including matching them with label data  34  and subscription data  35  matrix, then mapping the physical media data item with ID  37  into allocated database server memory  48  with network address assigned  49 ; the process will then regroup the items  38  by Dealpack specs  39 , such as number of items in the Dealpack, allowed category code, number of movies and number of stage performance etc., and package  40  the Dealpack by linking with subscriber account and assign ID  41 , label  42  the Dealpack with label data  43  and price  44  the Dealpack by price function  45 . This will generate the Dealpack  46 , with its physical media data being screened by  47  to avoid duplication and being sent to synchronized network database server  48  to listening call for accessing  50 , the label/subscription data of Dealpack shall goes to trading center database server for listing online  51 . 
         [0019]    The access control process of subscription network B is illustrated via  FIG. 4 . The buying-subscriber  85  via his/her terminal interface device  91  browses Dealpacks  51  online. The browser interface  88 ′ with select sign menu item Select to Buy  52 , if selected by subscriber  85 , will pull down to show a window  55  which will allow searching by keyword, categories for Dealpacks from listing database at the trading center  200 . If a Dealpack is selected, another window  56  will be opened, showing detailed label data and price information by unit and group. When Watch Now is selected, will display a box  57  to enter account number and password of network operator B, with the account number and password verified by database trading server  200  OK, will lead to payment confirmation window  58 ; with auto deduction selected and OKed, will trigger the trading network center payment settlement process  59 ; when payment made, will issue a payment verifier and trigger the secret key issuing process  60 , that will lead to the issuing of the secret key for the Dealpack; the secret key will be submitted to the trading network center payment settlement process  59  for releasing ticket to synchronized network database server  62  to retrieve the selected Dealpack by Dealpack ID and Item ID, and activate the transmission and display of Dealpack physical media at screen  64 . 
         [0020]    Note, Dealpacks stored in  48  and  62  servers are synchronized and networked database servers at different regions, transmitting the Dealpack from  48  to  62  is a result of least-cost-routing arrangement, it will require pass the border gateway node for rating code censoring. Only censoring Oked Dealpacks are released to enter  62 . 
         [0021]    It is to be understood that the above preferred embodiments of the invention only illustrates the key concept and composition of this invention, many variations and modification can be made based on the accent of the above embodiments, which will be apparent to one skilled in the art, that are also within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below.