and here is the intel patent:
patents.ibm.com
it is very broad and seems to be quite similar in function to the wave system, but the smarts are moved from the end user to a central server. so offline transactions seem impossible with their system. the patent also doesn't mention how the digital content is transferred to the end station securely, but because the primary application appears to be for a LAN, this may not be terribly important.
some claims from the intel patent:
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43. A method for distributing electronic information, comprising the steps of:
a) generating a unit of information that has a content data and a content title;
b) transmitting said unit of information from a publisher/advertiser to a metering server;
c) transmitting said content title to a plurality of client computers, each being operated by an end user;
d) requesting said content data by an end user; and,
e) transmitting said content data to said client computer of said end user that requested said content data.
44. The method as recited in claim 43, further comprising the steps of associating a price with said unit of information, subtracting said price from a balance of an end user's account, and preventing said content data from being transferred to said client computer if said balance minus said price is not greater than zero.
45. The method as recited in claim 44, further comprising the steps of transferring said end user's account and balance and generating a bill.
46. The method as recited in claim 43, further comprising the steps of compiling demographic data of end users that operate said client computers and request said content data.
47. The method as recited in claim 43, further comprising the step of generating a unit of information with an associated cost type and cost value.
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other patents that reference the particular wave patent in question can be seen at patents.ibm.com
marc |
