Retail point of sale (RPOS) apparatus for internet merchandising

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus for the money transactions required in the selling of merchandise or media content on the Internet and uses at least one in-person contact with the buyer. A predefined transaction originating at a real place of business authorizes access to web content or merchandise from a place off the web. Purchasers (end-users) must physically go to a retail location to choose the Internet media or merchandise shopping cart they wish to acquire where age can be verified if necessary and payment can be made with or without a credit card. Content security using a non-audible or invisible code signal sequence(s) can provide traceability as well as absolute anonymity for the purchaser. This apparatus can be used to conduct transactions off the web so that business can be done on the web.

Claims

1. A payment system for preselected and itemized Internet merchandise or itemized downloadable media material objects, comprising: a retail point of sale establishment; and a physical access CARD for sale in said retail point of sale establishment wherein or whereon the access CARD there is URL information that is an Internet transaction location of said preselected and itemized Internet merchandise or itemized downloadable media material objects wherein purchase of the physical access card authorizes an ownership right in the preselected itemized Internet merchandise or itemized downloadable media material objects.

2. The payment system of claim 1, wherein the retail point of sale establishment further comprises: a retail store, convenience store, vending machine, parking lot, hallway, lobby, or other physical place to conduct business.

3. The payment system of claim 1, wherein said ownership rights transaction authorization record further comprises a code.

4. The payment system of claim 3, wherein said code further comprises a scratch off code.

5. The payment system of claim 3, wherein said code further comprises a bar code.

6. The payment system of claim 3, wherein said code further comprises a magnetic strip record.

7. The payment system of claim 1 wherein said for sale in said retail point of sale establishment further comprises a price wherein said price is at least zero comprising a free sample or any positive amount of payment from a customer to said retail point of sale establishment.

8. The payment system of claim 1 wherein said physical access CARD is a paper ticket.

9. The payment system of claim 1 wherein said physical access CARD is a memory storing device.

10. The payment system of claim 1 wherein said physical access CARD is a plastic CARD.

11. The payment system of claim 1 wherein said physical access CARD is a smart CARD.

12. The payment system of claim 1 wherein said physical access CARD is placed inside a package.

13. The payment system of claim 1 wherein said preselected and itemized Internet merchandise or itemized downloadable media material objects is content also recorded on physical media.

14. A method of merchandise transfer on a computer network: creating specific online information that is a transaction location of a product; specifying a price wherein the price is specific to the product on a selling computer; receiving payment of the price from a purchaser through a transaction; recording the payment directly or through other computers on the network; causing an authorization as a result of the payment; and causing transfer of ownership rights in the product to the purchaser by granting access or rights to the purchaser on the computer network; wherein the product comprises itemized networked merchandise or downloadable media material objects; wherein the transaction comprises an in person transaction at a retail point of sale location; wherein said payment is associated to the specific online information that is the transaction location of the product.

15. The method of merchandise transfer on a computer network in claim 14, wherein said specific information that is an online transaction location of said product further comprises a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

16. The method of merchandise transfer on a computer network in claim 14, wherein said payment amount is a specific price for said product on said selling computer set to at least zero, comprising a price of free or any positive amount.

17. The method of merchandise transfer on a computer network in claim 14, wherein said in person transaction at a retail point of sale location further comprises selling a prepaid card wherein said prepaid card is also specific to said product.

18. The method of merchandise transfer on a computer network in claim 14, wherein said retail point of sale location further comprises a retail store, convenience store, vending machine, parking lot, hallway, lobby, or other physical place to conduct business.

19. A method for selling itemized Internet merchandise or itemized downloadable media material objects, comprising: placing a physical access CARD for sale in a retail point of sale establishment wherein or whereon the access CARD there is URL information that is an Internet transaction location of said itemized Internet merchandise or itemized downloadable media material objects wherein purchase of the physical access CARD authorizes an ownership right in the itemized Internet merchandise or itemized downloadable media material objects.

20. The method for selling itemized internet merchandise or itemized downloadable media material objects in claim 19, wherein or whereon the access CARD is a prepaid voucher which causes the authorization of an ownership right at a time later than the purchase of the physical access CARD.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0058] The following drawings provide examples of different applications and construct specifications for the RPOS technology. They are not meant to be inclusive of all uses, they are merely examples.

[0059] FIG. 1 uses a flow chart to illustrate a use of the RPOS. The process begins with web content dealers who have content posted to a public computer network (Internet) and have chosen to use RPOS for distribution. The web content dealers may manufacture the card themselves or use a third party. The type of security system used for placing the access key on the card is only important as to the particular level of security that is desired. The web content dealer then distributes the CARD, directly or through distribution channels, to a retail establishment. The retail establishment sells the CARD over the counter to the customer. The dealer, distributor, and retail establishment may use whatever profit margins or price mark-ups as they choose or is agreed upon. The CARD is delivered to the customer like any other retail product. Continuing along the flow chart in FIG. 1 to the customer, the CARD is used to access only the web content that is predefined by the CARD. The purpose of the CARD in this transaction is only to ensure that the user is in possession of it. The transaction takes place through an over-the counter sale.

[0060] FIG. 2 uses a flow chart to illustrate an alternate use of the RPOS The process again begins with Web Content Dealers. In this application the Web Content Dealers may or may not subscribe to the RPOS system (i.e. make their own CARDs). To facilitate the creation of a CARD for the WEB Content Dealers, a retail establishment supplies a computer or terminal as a customer access point, which provides Internet access, and issues a CARD to a customer upon entering the retail establishment. The customer browses the web and looks for content to purchase. Whenever a Web Content Dealer requires some sort of payment and the customer agrees, the customer authorizes payment from the retail establishment and by default the retail establishment agrees to the purchase. The customer is not required to enter his or her own name, credit card payment information, address, or any other information that they do not choose. Upon leaving the establishment, the customer pays the retail establishment the amount required for content received or to be received. The purpose of the CARD in this transaction is only to ensure that the user is in possession of it. The actual transaction takes place through an over-the-counter sale.

[0061] The system described in FIG. 2 illustrates a subtle yet important difference from prior art used in Internet commerce, in that Internet access is only required for the customer to choose which media content to purchase and to later retrieve on whatever computer the customer chooses. Internet access is not required during the recording of specific media content locations (URLs); they can be simply written down, picked out from a written menu after having seen the web dealers preview pages, or retrieved as a menu item from the local computer at the check out. Internet access is also not required during the recording of the specific access information, or during the retail transaction. While Internet Access during these processes may be used to facilitate the RPOS processes, it is not required. While the CARD holds some intrinsic value it does not hold any dollar amount information, account information, or other means of payment; the transaction is completed in person at the checkout.

[0062] FIG. 3 uses a flow chart to illustrate an alternate use of the RPOS. The process again begins with Web Content Dealers. A Vending Machine Dealer purchases CARDs through normal product distribution channels. Customer purchases the CARD from the vending machine acquiring the ability to access the desired web content. This type of system is not capable of age verification as with over-thecounter sales. Again, the purpose of the CARD in this transaction is only to ensure that the user is in possession of it. The actual transaction takes place through a vending machine.

[0063] FIG. 4 illustrates how CARD is used as an age verification system (Adult Check). The process begins with dealers of adult materials on the Internet. A retail establishment (such as video rental store, convenience store, bookstore, adult merchandiser, or other type of store) obtains CARDs through typical distribution channels. Customers purchase the CARD over the counter provided they can prove they are of legal age to do so. Customer physically transports the CARD to a location where customer has access to a computer that is capable of receiving Web content. The customer uses the CARD to obtain access to those specific materials the seller of the CARD intended.

[0064] FIG. 5 shows some examples of recording devices that are used or could be modified for use as the media delivery method, access CARD, or to deliver a small cookie-free-cache-back application. Some of these examples have also been patented previously. All that is required for use with the CARD is the ability to deliver Personal Identification Number (PIN) information or other form of security used for access. For optional added anonymity, the CARD may also deliver a small amount of software code to run the mini-Application for Cookie Free Cache Back system. Reference 1 shows an example a of Low-level security access key. Reference 2 shows an example of how a mini-application (applet) can be delivered on floppy prior to accessing content. Reference 3 shows a better security system using a scratch off access key. Reference 4 shows a smart card which could be used to deliver both an access key and mini-application applet. In all of these examples the CARD is not used as money, credit, or cash.

[0065] FIG. 6 is an example of Font Fingerprinting where a font subset file must be delivered to the user.

[0066] FIG. 7 is an example of Hidden Pixelization for Content Fingerprinting. The hidden pixelization binary fingerprinting or encoded message can be divined using a scanning device capable of detecting the differences.

[0067] FIG. 8 illustrates the similarities between the New Courier font and the Courier 10BT font.