On-line media store that supports pre-ordering of digital media assets

US7848955B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Apple Inc. · US

Inventors

• Jonathan B. Leffert · Santa Clara, US
• Patrice Gautier · San Francisco, US
• Bruno Posokhow · San Francisco, US
• Ellis M. Verosub · Redwood City, US
• Payam Mirrashidi · San Francisco, US
• David Neumann · Palo Cedro, US
• David Scheck · Las Vegas, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 10, 2005
• Grant date: Dec 7, 2010
• Expiry date: Oct 7, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q40/04
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Techniques to facilitate pre-ordering of digital media assets from an on-line media store are disclosed. A user of the on-line media store can view advance listings for digital media assets that have not yet been released. A user can also choose to pre-order a digital media asset that has not yet been released. According to one aspect, a bundle (or group) of digital media assets can be pre-ordered. Such a pre-order is recorded and monitored so that the desired digital media asset can be purchased and delivered to the user once the digital media asset become available. Since the monitoring is computerized and the delivery is electronic, once a digital media asset becomes available, delivery of any pre-order can, if desired, occur nearly immediately.