US5594794A — Method and apparatus for free previews of communi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 111 words

A method for providing video services to consumers via an information network, comprising the steps of: providing a video service on a pay-per-view basis during a program epoch of a particular program of said video service; providing a program pre-key; using said program pre-key to determine a fixed period during said program epoch when portions of said video service are available for viewing on a preview basis; allowing a consumer to preview, without purchase, portions of said video service at any time during said fixed period for up to a maximum preview duration that is shorter than said fixed period; and enforcing said maximum preview duration in a cryptographically secure manner.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 111 words

A method for providing video services to consumers via an information network, comprising the steps of: providing a video service on a pay-per-view basis during a program epoch of a particular program of said video service; providing a program pre-key; using said program pre-key to determine a fixed period during said program epoch when portions of said video service are available for viewing on a preview basis; allowing a consumer to preview, without purchase, portions of said video service at any time during said fixed period for up to a maximum preview duration that is shorter than said fixed period; and enforcing said maximum preview duration in a cryptographically secure manner.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method in accordance with claim 1 comprising the further step of: enabling a consumer to purchase said video service for viewing during said program epoch after previewing portions thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 44 words

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said program epoch is divided into a plurality of working key epochs (WKE's), comprising the further steps of: cryptographically authenticating a count of said WKE's; and using the authenticated count to implement said maximum preview duration.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method in accordance with claim 1 comprising the further step of: maintaining a record to indicate the amount of unused preview time remaining for said consumer to view said video service during said fixed period; wherein said record is maintained in a cryptographically secure manner.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method in accordance with claim 1 comprising the further step of: maintaining a record to indicate the amount of unused preview time remaining for said consumer to view said video service during said fixed period; wherein said record is maintained in a cryptographically secure manner.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 54 words

A method in accordance with claim 1 comprising the further steps of: maintaining a record of services which said consumer has previewed during prior program epochs; and prohibiting said consumer from previewing a service during a current program epoch if the consumer has previewed any part of that service during a prior program epoch.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said record of services is maintained in a cryptographically secure manner.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 79 words

A method in accordance with claim 1 comprising the further steps of: maintaining up to N active records of previewable services at a time, each record comprising either a purchase record representing a previewable service that has been purchased by said consumer or a preview record representing a service that said consumer has selected for preview; and preventing the expiration of an active previewable service record until the program epoch for the service represented by that record is over.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method in accordance with claim 8 comprising the further step of: preventing the erasure of any preview record until the program epoch for the service represented thereby is over.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 44 words

A method in accordance with claim 8 comprising the further steps of: converting a preview record to a purchase record upon purchase by the consumer of the service represented by the preview record; and rendering the purchase record resulting from said converting step irrevocable.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method in accordance with claim 10 comprising the further step of: preventing the erasure of any preview record until the program epoch for the service represented thereby is over, except by conversion to an irrevocable purchase record.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method in accordance with claim 8 comprising the further step of: denying any additional previews to said consumer whenever all N previewable service records are active.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method in accordance with claim 1 comprising the further step of: informing said consumer of how much unused preview time remains for said video service.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fixed period is enforced in a cryptographically secure manner.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 188 words

Apparatus for providing previews of services available for purchase via a communication network, comprising: first means for processing data including a program pre-key received from said communication network, said data (i) identifying a service available for purchase, (ii) identifying an epoch over which said service is provided, (iii) indicating whether a preview is available for said service, and (iv) providing information necessary to generate keys for enabling an authorized consumer to receive said service or a preview thereof; said program pre-key being used to determine a fixed period during said epoch when previewing is permitted; second means responsive to said first means when a preview is available for said service for keeping track of said fixed period; a user interface cooperating with said first and second means for enabling a consumer to preview portions of said service at any time during said fixed period for up to a maximum preview duration that is shorter than said fixed period, said user interface also enabling a consumer to purchase said service; and means responsive to said first means for decrypting said service during a preview and after a purchase thereof.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 188 words

Apparatus for providing previews of services available for purchase via a communication network, comprising: first means for processing data including a program pre-key received from said communication network, said data (i) identifying a service available for purchase, (ii) identifying an epoch over which said service is provided, (iii) indicating whether a preview is available for said service, and (iv) providing information necessary to generate keys for enabling an authorized consumer to receive said service or a preview thereof; said program pre-key being used to determine a fixed period during said epoch when previewing is permitted; second means responsive to said first means when a preview is available for said service for keeping track of said fixed period; a user interface cooperating with said first and second means for enabling a consumer to preview portions of said service at any time during said fixed period for up to a maximum preview duration that is shorter than said fixed period, said user interface also enabling a consumer to purchase said service; and means responsive to said first means for decrypting said service during a preview and after a purchase thereof.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 further comprising means for enforcing said maximum preview duration in a cryptographically secure manner.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 38 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 further comprising: means for maintaining a record in a cryptographically secure manner to indicate the amount of unused preview time remaining for said consumer to view said service during said fixed period.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 38 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 further comprising: means for maintaining a record in a cryptographically secure manner to indicate the amount of unused preview time remaining for said consumer to view said service during said fixed period.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 79 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 further comprising: means for maintaining up to N records of active previewable services at a time, each record comprising either a purchase record representing a previewable service that has been purchased by said consumer or a preview record representing a service that said consumer has selected for preview; and means for preventing the expiration of an active previewable service record until the program epoch for the service represented by that record is over.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 further comprising: means for preventing the erasure of any preview record until the program epoch for the service represented thereby is over.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 44 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 further comprising: means for converting a preview record to a purchase record upon purchase by the consumer of the service represented by the preview record; and means for rendering the purchase record provided by said converting means irrevocable.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 21 further comprising: means for preventing the erasure of any preview record until the program epoch for the service represented thereby is over, except by conversion to an irrevocable purchase record.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 further comprising: means for denying any additional previews or previewable services to said consumer whenever all N previewable service records are active.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said user interface comprises: means for informing said consumer of how much unused preview time remains for said service.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 32 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said epoch is divided into a plurality of working key epochs, a cryptographically authenticated count of which is used to implement said maximum preview duration.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 29 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 25 further comprising: means for cryptographically authenticating at least the portion of said data that identifies whether a preview is available for said service.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 26 wherein said fixed period is enforced in a cryptographically secure manner.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 29 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 further comprising: means for cryptographically authenticating at least the portion of said data that identifies whether a preview is available for said service.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said fixed period is enforced in a cryptographically secure manner.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-01-14	2000-07-15	2001-01-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-01-14	2004-07-15	2005-01-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-01-14	2008-07-15	2009-01-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for free previews of communication network services

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