On November 2, the US Patent & Trademark Office published two of Apple’s patent applications which are both titled ‘On-line media store that supports pre-ordering of digital media assets.’ Apple’s patent applications relate to digital media assets and, more particularly, to advance purchase of digital media assets from an on-line media store.

Apple’s 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. 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 occur nearly immediately.

Apple’s Summary

The invention pertains to pre-ordering of digital media assets from an on-line media store. 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. 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 occur nearly immediately.

The invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a method, system, device, apparatus (including graphical user interface), or computer readable medium. Several embodiments of the invention are discussed below.

As a method for pre-ordering a digital media asset from an on-line media store, one embodiment of the invention includes at least the acts of: configuring the on-line media store to provide media asset content for a digital media asset in advance of the digital media asset being released; subsequently receiving a pre-order request for the digital media asset via the on-line media store; determining when the digital media asset of the pre-order request becomes available; and processing a purchase operation for the digital media asset of the pre-order request after it is determined that the digital media asset of the pre-order request becomes available.

As a computer readable medium including at least computer program code for pre-ordering a digital media asset from an on-line media store, one embodiment of the invention includes at least: computer program code for receiving, at the on-line media store, media asset content for a digital media asset in advance of the digital media assets being released; computer program code for subsequently receiving a pre-order request for the digital media asset via the on-line media store; computer program code for determining when the digital media asset of the pre-order request becomes available; and computer program code for purchasing and delivering the digital media asset of the pre-order request after said computer program code for determining determines that the digital media asset of the pre-order request has become available.

Examples of the computer readable medium include read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROMs, DVDs, magnetic tape, optical data storage devices, and carrier waves. The computer readable medium can also be distributed over network-coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

As a network-based media store server, one embodiment of the invention includes at least: means for configuring the on-line media store to provide media asset content for a digital media asset in advance of the digital media asset being released; means for receiving a pre-order request for the digital media asset via the on-line media store; means for determining when the digital media asset of the pre-order request becomes available; and means for processing a purchase operation for the digital media asset of the pre-order request after said means for determining determines that the digital media asset of the pre-order request becomes available.

Example of iTunes Music Store Window

The pre-order item can pertain to a single digital media asset (e.g., song) or a group (or bundle) of digital media assets (e.g., album). FIG. 2B illustrates a media store content window 250 that is produced by an on-line media store according to one embodiment of the invention. The media store content window 250 pertains to media store content that is associated with a bundle of media items that can be pre-ordered from the on-line media store. In this example, the bundle of media items pertains to an album including a plurality of songs. The media store content window 250 includes a bundle information area 252. The bundle information area 252 includes bundle descriptive information 254, bundle release information 256, and a pre-order button 258. The bundle descriptive information 254 provides, in this example, album name, artist name, and associated genre. For this particular example, the album is “Wildflower,” by the artist “Sheryl Crow” which is in the “rock” genre. The bundle release information 256 indicates an expected release date. A cost for purchase of the bundle (e.g., $9.99) is depicted adjacent the pre-order button 258. The bundle information area 252 also includes artwork 260 associated with the bundle. In this example, the artwork 260 is an album artwork associated with the album.

NOTICE: MacNN presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or grant is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent applications and/or grants should be read in its entirety for further details.

The inventors listed on patent application number 20060247976 are: Bruno Posokhow, Ellis M. Verosub, Payam Mirrashidi, David Lawrence Neumann and David M. Scheck.

The inventors listed on patent application number 20060248113 are Jonathan B.; Leffert Patrice Gautier, Bruno Posokhow, Ellis M. Verosub, Payam Mirrashidi, David Lawrence Neumann and David M. Scheck.

Written and researched by Neo.