Method and apparatus for offering digital content for sale over a communications network

摘要

Content in digital form like pictures, music files, videos, software etc. from a plurality of content providers (110) is sold to a plurality of users (130) over a communication network like the internet. The content provider submits to a service provider (100) information about the content to be sold and the service provider provides controlled user access to the content for sale under the conditions defined by the information submitted by the content provider. Purchase data about sold items are stored and the user authentification and payment process for all content providers is carried out centrally through a payment system (120) thus offering low transaction costs.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
accessing content from a first computer system, wherein said first computer system is associated with a content provider; storing said content in a memory of a second computer system, wherein said second computer system is associated with a service provider; displaying, using said second computer system, a first graphical user interface for enabling a user to select said content for purchase; scanning said first computer system for updated content at regular intervals:
determining updated content by comparing a timestamp of a file of said content in said first computer system to a timestamp of a content file most recently moved from said first computer system to said second computer system;overwriting said content stored in said memory of said second computer system when said updated content is determined; andreplacing said updated content in the first computer system with a dummy file, said dummy file having a file name that is the same as a file name of said updated content.