Offline Media Purchases Using Pre-paid Credits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of portable electronic devices cannot purchase or access new media items when disconnected from a communications network, as existing methods require online connections for payment authorization and media downloads or streams.
Innovation Solution
The system allows offline media item purchases using pre-paid credits stored on the device, enabling users to locally store and unlock media items without network connectivity by restricting access until payment is processed, with transactions updated when connectivity is restored.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the device requires network connection for media purchases, then payment authorization and media downloads can be processed, but media consumption is interrupted when disconnected from network
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-loads recommended media items onto the device before the user needs them, so that when the device is offline, the user can still access and purchase these pre-loaded items. The media items are stored in a restricted state that allows offline viewing but requires purchase authorization to remove restrictions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary storage layer on the device that holds media items in a restricted state between the remote server and the user's playback. This intermediary storage allows the device to function offline by providing pre-loaded content that can be purchased and unlocked locally without requiring continuous network connection.
2Ease of operation
If the device stores pre-paid credits locally, then offline media purchases can be completed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the payment authorization function from the network-dependent remote server and implements it locally on the device using pre-paid credits. The complex network-based payment processing is replaced with simple local credit deduction, while the server maintains only the credit balance records and syncs them when connectivity is restored.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a local copy of the payment system functionality on the device by storing pre-paid credits locally. This copied payment system allows the device to autonomously authorize purchases without needing to communicate with the remote server, simplifying the offline operation while maintaining accounting accuracy through periodic synchronization.
3Reliability
If the device restricts access to recommended media items, then purchase authorization is enforced, but user access to media is limited when offline
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the accessibility state of media items based on purchase authorization. Before purchase, media items are in a restricted state that allows offline viewing but prevents permanent access. After purchase authorization, the system transitions the media item to an unlocked state, allowing full access. This dynamic state change ensures accurate authorization while maximizing user access when possible.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-restricts access to recommended media items before the user completes a purchase, allowing the device to enforce authorization requirements. The media items are loaded in advance but remain in a restricted state that can be unlocked locally after purchase, ensuring that access control is maintained until authorization is completed.
Data Source
AI summary
This is directed to providing offline purchasing of media items using an electronic device. One or more media items that are not part of a user's media library can be stored on an electronic device. When a user later wishes to play back one of the media items, but the device cannot connect to a communications network to provide payment information for purchasing the media items, the electronic device can use pre-paid credits that were purchased and stored by the device when a communications network was available to complete the purchase. By using pre-paid credits, the media store can be assured that the user has sufficient funds for the media item purchase.