Mobile Content Repurchase via Compatibility Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cellular phone users face difficulties in easily accessing and re-downloading previously purchased content when upgrading their phones, as there is no straightforward method to retrieve and repurchase past purchases, leading to manual searches and multiple version development for compatibility with different phone types.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that identifies past purchases of a subscriber, determines equivalent compatible content for a new mobile station, and provides information about these contents, allowing users to easily repurchase or download them on their upgraded devices, utilizing a cellular network's subsystems and databases to facilitate seamless content delivery based on past purchases and device changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users manually search for previously purchased content when upgrading phones, then they can find and repurchase content, but the process requires significant time and effort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of repurchasing contentVSAvoidtime to locate and repurchase content

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically identifying users who have upgraded their devices and proactively presenting them with lists of previously purchased content that is compatible with their new devices. This eliminates the need for users to manually search and significantly reduces the time and effort required to repurchase content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically matching users' past purchases with their new device compatibility without requiring manual intervention. The network subsystem autonomously identifies upgraded users, retrieves their purchase history, determines compatibility, and presents repurchase options, allowing users to simply select and repurchase content without manual searching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If service providers develop multiple versions of content for different phone types, then compatibility is ensured, but the complexity of content management increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent compatibility across devicesVSAvoidcomplexity of managing multiple content versions

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network subsystem acts as an intermediary that manages the complexity of content compatibility. Instead of service providers directly managing multiple versions for each device type, the network subsystem automatically determines compatibility between previously purchased content and users' new devices, presenting only compatible options to users. This intermediary layer simplifies content management while maintaining broad compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a universal compatibility checking mechanism that works across different device types and content formats. The network subsystem's compatibility determination process serves multiple functions: identifying upgraded users, retrieving purchase history, checking device compatibility, and presenting appropriate repurchase options, thereby managing diverse content versions through a single multi-functional process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If the system proactively presents previously purchased content to upgraded users, then repurchase convenience is improved, but the complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of content repurchaseVSAvoidcomplexity of content identification and presentation system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple functions into the existing network subsystem: identifying upgraded users, retrieving purchase history from databases, determining content compatibility with new devices, and presenting repurchase options. By combining these functions within the existing network infrastructure rather than creating separate systems, the patent achieves rapid content repurchase while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7756515B1Systems and methods of merchandising content to mobile telephones based on subscriber's purchase history

Publication Date: 2010.07.13 AT&T MOBILITY II LLC

AI summary

A system and method for merchandizing content to wireless subscribers that have upgraded their mobile station or service is disclosed. The wireless carrier maintains a database of identifying data for content downloaded to subscribers' mobile stations. When a subscriber upgrades his or her mobile station the wireless carrier searches the database for previously downloaded content, identifies the equivalent content that is compatible with the new mobile station and provides the information of available equivalent downloads to the mobile station.