The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 19, 2006
Filed:
Dec. 30, 1999
Perry A. Pierce, Darien, CT (US);
Perry A. Pierce, Darien, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A method and system for electronically selling a data item such as a song, a literature piece or a picture. A data repository is used for a seller to store the data item that the seller wishes to sell for a fee. The data repository is accessible to a buyer who deposits a fund to the data repository prior to downloading the data item. Preferably, the data repository is connected to a telecommunication network such as the Internet so that the buyer can download the purchased data item directly through the telecommunication network. Preferably, the seller posts a price which is the maximum amount the seller wishes to collect and sets a minimum amount that the seller is willing to collect from the buyer for downloading the data item. Preferably, the buyer makes an offer to the data repository wherein a software program is used to check whether the offered price falls within the fee range as set by the seller.