Abstract:
A transaction method involving transfer of electronic files to customer storage devices, which provides additional opportunities for retailers to sell electronic files. The transaction method includes recording selection by a customer of an electronic file for purchase, recording payment for the electronic file from the customer, and transferring the electronic file to a customer storage medium.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to checkout methods and more specifically to a transaction method involving transfer of electronic files.  
         [0002]     Currently, retailers focus on selling electronic files, such as music and software files, via the World Wide Web. However, retailers are missing opportunities to sell electronic files in other ways.  
         [0003]     Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a transaction method involving transfer of electronic files to a customer storage device.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a transaction method involving transfer of electronic files is provided.  
         [0005]     The transaction method includes recording selection by a customer of an electronic file for purchase, recording payment for the electronic file from the customer, and transferring the electronic file to a customer storage medium.  
         [0006]     It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a transaction method involving transfer of electronic files.  
         [0007]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of providing electronic files, such as music and software, to customers from a self-service terminal.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the subsequent description of embodiments and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a transaction system; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram illustrating operation of transaction software of the transaction system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , transaction system  10  includes self-service terminal  12  and customer storage medium  14 .  
         [0012]     Self-service terminal  12  includes processor  16 , which executes transaction software  20 . Transaction software  20  provides an interface for facilitating display, selection, and purchase of products by a user of self-service terminal  12 . Products include electronic files  36  such as music and software. For this purpose, self-service terminal  12  may include a kiosk located at a retail establishment.  
         [0013]     For example, music retailers may provide an audio file library that customers may browse with an option to purchase selected songs. As another example, software application providers may provide a software title library that customers may browse with an option to purchase software applications, including licenses to use downloadable copies of software applications.  
         [0014]     Self-service terminal  12  further includes input device  22 , display  24 , payment unit  26 , receipt printer  28 , and storage medium  38 .  
         [0015]     Input device  22  records customer selections.  
         [0016]     Display  24  displays products, product selection information, payment information, and information to assist the customer in using transaction terminal  12 , all under the control of transaction software  20 .  
         [0017]     Payment device  26  may include a card reader, such as a smart, debit, or credit card reader. Payment unit  26  may also include a cash drawer or a cash acceptor and a cash dispenser, or a check reader.  
         [0018]     Receipt printer  28  prints a receipt following a transaction.  
         [0019]     Storage medium  38  stores electronic files  36 .  
         [0020]     In accordance with the present invention, self-service terminal  12  further includes electronic file transfer circuitry  18 , which transfers purchased electronic files  36  to customer storage medium  14 .  
         [0021]     Electronic file transfer circuitry  18  may include ports  30 , memory card reader/writer  32 , and wireless communication circuitry  34 .  
         [0022]     Ports  30  may include universal serial bus (USB) ports, firewire ports, or any other standard port types.  
         [0023]     Memory card reader/writer  32  reads memory cards insertable into customer storage medium  14 .  
         [0024]     Wireless communication circuitry  34  wirelessly downloads electronic files  36  to customer storage medium  14 . Wireless communication circuitry  34  may include infrared circuitry, Bluetooth standard circuitry, or Blackberry standard circuitry.  
         [0025]     Customer storage medium  14  stores electronic files  36  purchased by a customer using self-service terminal  12 . Customer storage medium  14  is portable and may be owned by the customer. Customer storage medium  14  may include static storage, such as static read only memory (SRAM) or a small hard disk drive.  
         [0026]     Customer storage medium  14  may be a stand-alone storage medium, such a USB storage medium, or be part of a customer peripheral, such as a cellular phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3 (MP3) player, or laptop computer.  
         [0027]     With reference to  FIG. 2 , operation of transaction software  20  is illustrated in detail, starting with Start  40 .  
         [0028]     In step  42 , transaction software  20  records selection of an electronic file for purchase by a customer.  
         [0029]     In step  44 , transaction software  20  determines whether the selection is the last selection. Transaction software  20  may wait for the customer to select the “check out” option. If not, operation returns to step  42 . Otherwise, operation proceeds to step  46 .  
         [0030]     In step  46 , transaction software  20  displays a list of purchased electronic files  36  to the customer for customer approval.  
         [0031]     In step  48 , transaction software  20  records customer approval for the transaction.  
         [0032]     In step  50 , transaction software  20  displays instructions for making payment.  
         [0033]     In step  52 , transaction software  20  records a customer choice for payment method.  
         [0034]     In step  54 , transaction software  20  records payment through payment unit  26 .  
         [0035]     In step  56 , transaction software  20  displays instructions for transferring the purchased electronic files  36  to customer storage medium  14 . The customer prepares customer storage medium  14  for the transfer. Depending on the type of storage medium  14  or associated peripheral, the customer may connect customer storage medium  14  to one of ports  30 , insert customer storage medium into memory card reader/writer  32 , or initiate a wireless transfer.  
         [0036]     In step  58 , transaction software  20  records a customer selection to begin transferring the purchased electronic files  36  to customer storage medium  14 .  
         [0037]     In step  60 , transaction software  20  transfers the purchased electronic files  36  to customer storage medium  14 .  
         [0038]     In step  62 , transaction software  20  generates a receipt and optionally prints the receipt through receipt printer  28 .  
         [0039]     In step  64 , operation ends.  
         [0040]     Advantageously, retailers could make use of this solution to increase sales and reduce inventory at retail locations.  
         [0041]     Although the invention has been described with particular reference to certain embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims.