US5850520A — Method and system for electronic publication dist…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 71 words

A method for distributing an electronic publication, comprising: retrieving a version of an electronic publication from storage; delivering the electronic publication to a consumer by electronically sending the electronic publication to the consumer's electronic mail address with a return receipt requested; generating a return receipt in response to the retrieval of the electronic publication from the consumer's electronic mailbox; and sending the return receipt to the deliverer of the electronic publication.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 71 words

A method for distributing an electronic publication, comprising: retrieving a version of an electronic publication from storage; delivering the electronic publication to a consumer by electronically sending the electronic publication to the consumer's electronic mail address with a return receipt requested; generating a return receipt in response to the retrieval of the electronic publication from the consumer's electronic mailbox; and sending the return receipt to the deliverer of the electronic publication.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining billing information electronically from the consumer; and billing the consumer in response to the billing information.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining an order for the electronic publication from a consumer, the order including an electronic mail address for the consumer; and storing the order on a computer.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 60 words

The method of claim 3, wherein the electronic publication is a periodical electronic publication that is published once in a predetermined period and wherein the order comprises a subscription for a fixed number of issues of the electronic publication, said delivering step further comprising: delivering the electronic publication to the consumer during each predetermined period until the subscription runs out.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 4, further comprising: generating a renewal notice indicating that the consumer's subscription will expire; and sending the renewal notice electronically to the consumer's electronic mail address.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 5, wherein the renewal notice includes a further return receipt requested, the method further comprising: generating a further receipt in response to the retrieval of the renewal notice from the consumer's electronic mailbox.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 6, further comprising: sending the further receipt to the deliverer of the renewal notice.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 104 words

A system for distributing an electronic publication, comprising: a computer network; a consumer computer coupled to the computer network and associated with a consumer; and a publisher computer connected to the computer network and operable to retrieve an electronic publication and deliver the electronic publication to the consumer by electronically sending the electronic publication to a predetermined location associated with the consumer's computer, the electronic publication being delivered with a request for a return receipt; the consumer's computer being operable to generate a return receipt in response to the retrieval of the electronic publication, and to send the return receipt to the publisher computer.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 104 words

A system for distributing an electronic publication, comprising: a computer network; a consumer computer coupled to the computer network and associated with a consumer; and a publisher computer connected to the computer network and operable to retrieve an electronic publication and deliver the electronic publication to the consumer by electronically sending the electronic publication to a predetermined location associated with the consumer's computer, the electronic publication being delivered with a request for a return receipt; the consumer's computer being operable to generate a return receipt in response to the retrieval of the electronic publication, and to send the return receipt to the publisher computer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 8, wherein the publisher computer is further operable to receive an order for the electronic publication from the consumer, the order including the electronic mail address for the consumer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 9, wherein the order is electronically received from the consumer.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 62 words

The system of claim 9, wherein the electronic publication is a periodical electronic publication that is published once in a predetermined period and wherein the order comprises a subscription for a fixed number of issues of the electronic publication, the publisher computer being further operable to deliver the electronic publication to the consumer during each predetermined period until the subscription runs out.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system of claim 9, wherein the publisher computer is further operable to: generate a renewal notice indicating that the consumer's subscription will expire; and send the renewal notice electronically to the consumer's electronic mail address.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system of claim 12, wherein the renewal notice includes a further return receipt requested, the publisher computer being further operable to receive a further return receipt in response to the retrieval of the renewal notice from the consumer's electronic mailbox.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 8, wherein the publisher computer is further operable to: obtain billing information electronically from the consumer; and bill the consumer in response to the billing information.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 62 words

A method for notifying a consumer to renew a subscription to an electronic publication, comprising: establishing a subscription by a consumer to an electronic publication wherein the electronic publication is a periodical electronic publication that is published once in a predetermined period; generating a renewal notice indicating that the consumer's subscription will expire; and sending the renewal notice electronically to the consumer.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 62 words

A method for notifying a consumer to renew a subscription to an electronic publication, comprising: establishing a subscription by a consumer to an electronic publication wherein the electronic publication is a periodical electronic publication that is published once in a predetermined period; generating a renewal notice indicating that the consumer's subscription will expire; and sending the renewal notice electronically to the consumer.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 15, wherein the renewal notice is sent to the consumer's electronic mail address.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 15, further comprising: generating a return receipt in response to the retrieval of the renewal notice by the consumer.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-12-14	2002-06-15	2002-12-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-12-14	2006-06-15	2006-12-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-12-14	2010-06-15	2010-12-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and system for electronic publication distribution including return receipt

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