SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STREAMLINED ACQUISITION, DOWNLOAD AND OPENING OF DIGITAL CONTENT
A system and method for the purchase, downloading and opening of digital content, which is accomplished with one or two gestures, e.g., button or taps. Digital content items are displayed on the user's local device along with a button, i.e., a “Buy” button that can be selected to purchase a particular item of content. The user taps, clicks, or selects the “Buy” button to initiate the purchase, downloading and opening of the content. The instruction to purchase the content is transmitted to the remote server, which completes the purchase transaction and begins the download of the purchased content. Included with the downloaded content, preferably as parameters or metadata, is an indication of which reader application is required to open and read the digital content. When the download to the user's local device is completed, it uses these parameters to automatically launch the appropriate reader and automatically open the purchased, downloaded content, without any action required by the user.
1 . A method for acquiring and accessing digital content on a local device comprising:
receiving an indication from a user of the local device of an item of digital content to be acquired;
transmitting the indication of the item of digital content to a remote server;
receiving a download of the item of digital content from the remote server;
receiving parameters associated with the item of digital content indicating an application required to access the downloaded item of digital content;
automatically launching the application; and
automatically accessing the item of digital content using the launched application.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the digital content is an electronic book and the application is an electronic book reader.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the digital content is a digital periodical and the application is a digital periodical reader.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a query with respect to digital content from the user;
transmitting the query to the remote server;
receiving digital content data corresponding to digital content that satisfy the query; and
displaying the digital content data to the user.
5 . The method according to claim 4 , further comprising:
displaying a button associated the digital content data for each item of digital content data, the button enabling the user to provide the user's indication of the item of digital content to be acquired.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the indication from the user is a commitment from the user to purchase the item of digital content.
7 . The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:
receiving a confirmation from the user confirming the commitment to purchase the item of digital content.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a confirmation from the user confirming the indication to acquire the item of digital content.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein parameters are contained in the downloaded item of digital content.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein parameters are contained in metadata of the downloaded item of digital content.
11 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a password from the user; and
transmitting the password to the remote server, the password enabling access to a user's account on the remote server.
12 . A method for providing digital content to a local device comprising:
receiving an indication from the local device of an item of digital content to be acquired;
downloading the item of digital content to the local device;
downloading parameters associated with the item of digital content, the parameters indicating an application required to access the downloaded item of digital content, the parameters operable to enable the local device to automatically launch the application and automatically access the item of digital content using the launched application.
13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the digital content is an electronic book and the application is an electronic book reader.
14 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the digital content is a digital periodical and the application is a digital periodical reader.
15 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving a query with respect to digital content from the local device;
determining digital content that satisfies the query; and
transmitting to the local device digital content data corresponding to digital content that satisfy the query.
16 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the indication from the local device is a commitment from the user to purchase the item of digital content.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
verifying a credit card of the user; and
performing a financial transaction with the credit card of the user for the purchase of the item of digital content.
18 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
receiving a confirmation from the local device confirming the commitment to purchase the item of digital content.
19 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein parameters are contained in the downloaded item of digital content.
20 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein parameters are contained in metadata of the downloaded item of digital content.
21 . A device for acquiring and accessing digital content on a local device comprising:
a user interface subsystem operable to receive an indication from a user of the local device of an item of digital content to be acquired;
an input output subsystem operable to transmit the indication of the item of digital content to a remote server, receive a download of the item of digital content from the remote server, and receive parameters associated with the item of digital content indicating an application required to access the downloaded item of digital content; and
an operating system operable to automatically launch the application and automatically access the item of digital content using the launched application.
22 . A system for providing digital content to a local device comprising:
a digital content database storing digital content available for downloading to the local device, the digital content database further storing parameters indicating an application required to access the digital content on the local device, the parameters operable to enable the local device to automatically launch the application and automatically access the digital content using the launched application; and
an interface server coupled to the digital content database, the interface server operable to:
receive an indication from the local device of an item of digital content to be acquired,
locate the item of digital content in the digital content database,
download the item of digital content to the local device, and
download to the local device the parameters associated with the item of digital content.