WO2001082024A2

WO2001082024A2 - Electronic commerce method for digital data products using internet and virtual hard disk system

Info

Publication number: WO2001082024A2
Application number: PCT/KR2000/001341
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jin Ho Yang
Original assignee: Wellab Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2000-04-24
Filing date: 2000-11-21
Publication date: 2001-11-01
Also published as: KR20010097541A; KR100549611B1; AU1897601A; WO2001082024A3

Abstract

In an electronic commerce transaction method for digital data products using an Internet and a virtual hard disk system, a purchase order for the digital data products is first input from a client computer to an Internet shopping mall, and then the purchase order is transmitted to a product server system affiliated with the Internet shopping mall. Next, a digital data product corresponding to the purchase order is transmitted from the product server system to the virtual hard disk system so that the user can use the purchased digital product after logging in to the virtual hard disk system through the client computer.

Description

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE METHOD FOR DIGITAL DATA PRODUCTS USING INTERNET AND VIRTUAL HARD DISK

SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electronic commerce transaction method, and more particularly, to an electronic commerce transaction method for digital data products using the Internet and a virtual hard disk system.

BACKGROUND ART

The number of Internet users is growing in tandem with the development of technologies related to the Internet and improvement of computer systems. Accordingly, a variety of methods has been proposed to provide greater convenience and improve the effectiveness for Internet users.

One of such methods is directed to a virtual hard disk system. The virtual hard disk system has been developed to enable users the use of a virtual hard disk assigned to him or her as if it was the user's own local hard disk. The virtual hard disk system is accessed through the Internet.

To use a computer, users must buy a variety of software to operate the computer as well as a variety of digital data products formatted in a word data file, an image data file, a motion picture data file, and a sound data file.

There are two ways in which such digital data products are purchased: 1. Users can directly purchase storing media such as CD-ROMs, floppy diskettes, or tapes in which the digital data are stored.

2. Users can download the digital data through an online network or through e-mail transmission.

In the first case, there is the problem that purchasing costs are increased since the digital data is stored in the storing media.

In the second case, there is the problem that the digital data may not be safely transmitted and downloaded due to computer viruses or other malfunctions in the user's computer.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above described problem.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide an electronic commerce transaction method for digital data products using the Internet and a virtual hard disk system, in which user can safely use the digital data through the network system by transmitting and storing the digital data to the virtual hard disk which is purchased by the user so that the user can log-in and use the stored digital data. To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides an electronic commerce transaction method for digital data products using an Internet and a virtual hard disk system, the method comprising the steps of inputting a purchase order for the digital data products from a client computer to an internet shopping mall, transmitting the purchase order to a product server system affiliated with the internet shopping mall, and transmitting a digital data product corresponding to the purchase order from the product server system to the virtual hard disk system so that the user can use the purchased digital data product after logging in to the virtual hard disk system through the client computer.

According to another embodiment, an electronic commerce transaction method for digital data products using an Internet and a virtual hard disk system may comprises the steps of inputting a purchase order for the digital data products from a client computer to an internet shopping mall, and transmitting a digital data product corresponding to the purchase order from a shopping mall server system to the virtual hard disk system so that the user can use the purchased digital data product after logging in to the virtual hard disk system through the client computer.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, an electronic commerce transaction method for digital data products using an Internet and a virtual hard disk system comprises the steps of inputting a purchase order for the digital data products from a client computer to an internet shopping mall, transmitting the purchase order to a product server system affiliated with the internet shopping mall, and linking a digital data product, corresponding to the purchase order, of the product server system to the virtual hard disk system so that the user can use the purchased digital data product linked to the virtual hard disk system after logging in to the virtual hard disk system through the client computer.

The purchase order includes a member ID of the virtual hard disk system, which is assigned to the user before the user purchases the digital data product.

The digital data products is a digital data format selected from the group consisting of computer software, word data files, image data files, motion picture data files, and sound data files, all of which can be used through a computer. According to still another embodiment of the present invention, an electronic commerce transaction method for digital data products using an Internet and a virtual hard disk system, the method comprising the steps of inputting a purchase order for the digital data products from a client computer to an internet shopping mall, and linking a digital data product, corresponding to the purchase order, of a shopping mall server system of the internet shopping mall to the virtual hard disk system so that the user can use the purchased digital product linked to the virtual hard disk system after logging in to the virtual hard disk system through the client computer. The shopping mall server system of the Internet shopping mall includes a digital data product storing part for storing the digital data products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system applied to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an electronic commerce transaction method for digital data products using the Internet and a virtual hard disk system according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a system applied to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an electronic commerce transaction method for digital data products using the Internet and a virtual hard disk system according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an electronic commerce transaction method for digital data products using the Internet and a virtual hard disk system according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a client system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a virtual hard disk system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 8 is an example view of a web page of an Internet shopping mall applied to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram illustrating a system by which a method of a preferred embodiment can be realized and FIG. 2 shows a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention.

A computer user connects to an Internet shopping mall 20 (ISM) through the Internet using a client system 10 (CS). The client system 10 has a web browser, an Internet connecting device, an operating program, and a variety of application programs. The computer user conducts e- commerce through the Internet shopping mall using the client system and uses a virtual hard disk 53 of a virtual hard disk system 50 (VHDS) that will be described hereinbelow. The Internet shopping mall 20 is operated and managed by a shopping mall server system 30 (SMSS) and provides information on a variety of digital data products. The digital data products are digital data formats such as computer software, word data files, image data files, motion picture data files, and sound data files, all of which can be used through a computer.

The computer user searches a digital data product that he or she wants to buy through the information on the digital data products provided on the Internet shopping mall 20. When the user decides what he or she wants to purchase, the user inputs his or her information, selects the digital data product he or she wants to buy, and inputs the payment information on the purchase price. At this point, the information of the user to be input should include at least a member ID of the virtual hard disk system 50, which is assigned to the user. According to the present invention, the digital data products are sold in a manner that the products are transmitted to the virtual hard disk system 50 in the form of digital data. Therefore, the member ID of the user, which is assigned to the user at the virtual hard disk system 50, should be input in the purchaser information. When the user obtains the member ID from the virtual hard disk system 50, the virtual hard disk 53 for the user is assigned in the virtual hard disk system 50.

In order for the user to register as a member of the virtual hard disk system 50 when the user does not have a member ID, it is preferable that a website operating the virtual hard disk system 50 is linked to the Internet shopping mall 20 at which the digital data products are sold.

The payment for the purchase of the digital data products can be settled by a variety of well-known methods which are used in other Internet shopping malls. When the user offers a purchase order for a digital data product, the shopping mall server system 30 of the Internet shopping mall 20 transmits the order to a product server system 40 (PSS) of the digital data product supplier affiliated with the Internet shopping mall 20. The product server system 40 to which the order is transmitted from the shopping mall server system 30 transmits the digital data product ordered by the user to the virtual hard disk system 50 in the form of digital data. The digital data product transmitted to the virtual hard disk system 50 is stored in a space assigned to the member ID of the user. It is preferable to report the fact to the user when the transmission to the virtual hard disk system 50 is completed. As the transmission can be realized in real time, the real time an electronic commerce transaction is possible.

To use the digital data product transmitted to the virtual hard disk system 50, the user contacts the virtual hard disk system 50 through the Internet using the client system 10 and performs the login. When the login is performed, the virtual hard disk system 50 makes it possible for the user to use a predetermined space of a hard disk as if it is the user's local hard disk. There is now a website where users can obtain a 2-Giga byte hard disk space. Since the operating system of the client system 10 recognizes the virtual hard disk 53 assigned to the user as if it is a local hard disk, the user can easily store and run the files in the virtual hard disk 53 through the user's operating system.

When the user logs into the website providing the virtual hard disk system 50, the user is allowed to access the virtual hard disk 53 assigned to him or her. The user can use the digital data products in the virtual hard disk system 50 but also downloads the same to the client system 10 to use the digital data products he or she purchased. The following are possible using examples of the digital data products according to the types of product:

1. Computer software stored in the virtual hard disk 53 can be used by running an install file of the software to be installed in the local hard disk of the client system 10 or by being downloaded the same to the local hard disk of the client system 10.

2. Word data files, image data files, motion picture data files, sound data files can be used by being downloaded to the local hard disk and run using application files. In addition, with increases in the transmission speed of digital data and development of computer program technology, it may be possible to use the computer software stored in the virtual hard disk 53 by installing an execution file of the software and an application program stored in the virtual hard disk 53. Likewise, the word, image, motion picture and sound data files may also be run by executing an application program stored in the virtual hard disk 53.

According to the present invention, since the digital data products are stored in the virtual hard disk 53, there is no possibility that the digital data becomes missing or damaged. In addition, the user can use the digital data products wherever he or she goes as far as there is a client system by which the user can access the virtual hard disk system 50.

In FIG. 1 , the symbol CD indicates a data flow illustrating user's purchase order of the digital data products at the Internet shopping mall 20, and the (2) shows a data flow illustrating a transmission of the purchase order to the product server system 40. The symbol (3) indicates a data flow illustrating a data transmission of digital data products from the product server system 40 to the virtual hard disk system 50, and the @ shows a data flow illustrating the use of the digital data products stored in the virtual hard disk 53 of the virtual hard disk system 50.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the shopping mall server system 30 includes a product purchase managing module 31 , a product delivery managing module 32, a payment managing module 33, and a product information data base 34. The product server system 40 includes a product transmission managing module 41 , and a digital data product storing part 42. The virtual hard disk system 50 includes a member data managing module 51 , a virtual hard disk managing module 52, and a virtual hard disk 53.

FIG. 3 shows a system applied to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows an electronic commerce transaction method for digital data products using the Internet and a virtual hard disk system according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawings, a shopping mall server system 30 includes a digital data product storing part 36. When a user makes a purchase order of a digital data product through the Internet shopping mall 20, the shopping server system 30 transmits the digital data product ordered by the user to the virtual hard disk system 50, after which the user accesses the virtual hard disk system 50 and uses the transmitted digital data product. At this point, the Internet shopping mall 20 may be operated by supplying with the digital data products from other electronic commerce companies and stores the same in the digital data product storing part 36 to sell the products. In addition, the Internet shopping mall 20 may be directly operated by a digital data supplier.

In FIG. 3, the symbol © indicates a data flow illustrating a user's purchase order of the digital data products at the Internet shopping mall 20, the (6) shows a data flow illustrating a data transmission of digital data products from the shopping mall server system 30 to the virtual hard disk system 50, and the © indicates a data flow illustrating a use of the digital data products stored in the virtual hard disk 53 of the virtual hard disk system 50.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shopping mall server system 30 includes a product purchase managing module 31 , a product delivery managing module 32, a payment managing module 33, a product information data base 34, and a product transmission managing module 35. The virtual hard disk system 50 includes a member data managing module 51 , a virtual hard disk managing module 52, and a virtual hard disk 53.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart illustrating an electronic commerce transaction method for digital data products using the Internet and a virtual hard disk system according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the virtual hard disk system 50 is linked to the product server system 40 for the digital data products. That is, when the virtual hard disk 53 assigned to the user shown in FIG. 1 is not suitable for storing the digital data products or transmitting the digital data products due to various system problems, the user is allowed to use another virtual hard disk 53 linked to the digital data products of the digital data product storing part 42.

A method for linking the virtual hard disk 53 to the digital data products can be realized using a mount commander supported by Rinux and Unix. That is, the mount connects the digital data products to be mounted to a directory of the virtual hard disk 53.

When the digital data products are linked to the virtual hard disk 53, the user can use the digital data products through the virtual hard disk 53. In this embodiment, a digital data product link step for linking the digital data product to the virtual hard disk system 50 is required instead of the step of data-transmitting a digital data product from the product server system 40 in the first embodiment and from the shopping mall server system 30 in the second embodiment. In addition, the product server system 40 should include a product link managing module instead of the product transmission managing module 41 of the first embodiment, and the shopping mall server system 30 should include a product link managing module instead of the product transmission managing module 35 of the second embodiment.

In this embodiment, it is also possible to link the digital data product to the virtual hard disk 53 even when the digital data product storing part 36 is provided in the shopping mall server system 30 without the addition of the product server system 40. FIGS. 6 and 7 show flowcharts illustrating the operations of the client system 10 and the virtual hard disk system 50, respectively.

The user registered as a member of the virtual hard disk system 50 can access the virtual hard disk system 50 through the client system 10. That is, the user can connect to the website operating the virtual hard disk system 50 through the Internet or a direct connection program installed in the client system 10. After accessing the virtual hard disk system 50, the user inputs an ID and a password. The ID and password are transmitted to the virtual hard disk system 50 and the client system 10 stands by ready to receive the data from the virtual hard disk system 50. The virtual hard disk system 50 standing by ready to receive the data from the client system 10 through the network receives the member ID and password from the client system 10, and identifies the ID and password if they are correct. When the ID and password are correct, the virtual hard disk system 50 identifies if there is the virtual hard disk 53 assigned to the ID input by the user. Generally, when the user registers as a member, the virtual hard disk system 50 assigns the virtual hard disk 53 to the user. However, if it is determined that there is no virtual hard disk 53 due to a system error, the virtual hard disk 53 is assigned to the user. When the forming of the virtual hard disk 53 fails, a message such as "Failure to form Virtual Hard Disk" is transmitted to the client system 10. Next, it is determined if the virtual hard disk 53 assigned to the ID is shared. When the virtual hard disk 53 is shared, a success message is transmitted to the client system 10, and the user is approved to use the virtual hard disk 53. When the virtual hard disk 53 is not shared, a fail message is transmitted to the client system 10.

When the user is not allowed to use the virtual hard disk 53, the virtual hard disk system 50 transmits a suitable message to the client system 10 so that the user can take measures according to the situation. For instance, when the ID and password are not correct, the virtual hard disk system 50 transmits a message such as "input the ID and password again". When the user is not approved to access the virtual hard disk system

50, the client system 10 tries to complete the connection again by predetermined intervals. For instance, the client system 10 analyzes the data from the virtual hard disk 50. Then if the ID and password are correct, the client system 10 displays a message " Communication error". And if not correct, the client system 10 displays a message such as "input the ID and password again".

When the user is approved to access the virtual hard disk system 50 and to use the assigned virtual hard disk 53, the user can use the digital data products purchased by the user and transmitted to the virtual hard disk 53.

FIG. 8 shows a purchase order web page of the Internet shopping mall according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the computer user can selects one of online and offline delivery sen/ices. When the user wants to receive the purchased product through the offline delivery service, he/she should input his/her address, and when want to receive the same through the online delivery sen/ice, should input his/her member ID. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, to purchase the digital products, the user should inputs further information such as a product number, a product name, a name, a telephone number, and a member ID of the virtual hard disk. After inputting the information, the purchase process is finished by clicking the purchase button. While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIM:

1. An electronic commerce transaction method for digital data products using an Internet and a virtual hard disk system, the method comprising the steps of: inputting a purchase order for the digital data products from a client computer to an internet shopping mall; transmitting the purchase order to a product server system affiliated with the internet shopping mall; and transmitting a digital data product corresponding to the purchase order from the product server system to the virtual hard disk system so that the user can use the purchased digital data product after logging in to the virtual hard disk system through the client computer.

2. An electronic commerce transaction method of claim 1 wherein the purchase order includes a member ID of the virtual hard disk system, which is assigned to the user before the user purchases the digital data product.

3. An electronic commerce transaction method of claim 1 wherein the digital data products include a digital data format selected from the group consisting of computer software, word data files, image data files, motion picture data files, and sound data files, all of which can be used through a computer.

4. An electronic commerce transaction method for digital data products using an Internet and a virtual hard disk system, the method comprising the steps of: inputting a purchase order for the digital data products from a client computer to an internet shopping mall; and transmitting a digital data product corresponding to the purchase order from a shopping mall server system to the virtual hard disk system so that the user can use the purchased digital product after logging in to the virtual hard disk system through the client computer.

5. An electronic commerce transaction method of claim 4 wherein the purchase order includes a member ID of the virtual hard disk system, which is assigned to the user before the user purchases the digital data product.

6. An electronic commerce transaction method of claim 4 wherein the digital data products include a digital data format selected from the group consisting of computer software, word data files, image data files, motion picture data files, and sound data files, all of which can be used through a computer.

7. An electronic commerce transaction method of claim 4 wherein the shopping mall server system of the internet shopping mall includes a digital data product storing part for storing the digital data products.

8. An electronic commerce transaction method for digital data products using an Internet and a virtual hard disk system, the method comprising the steps of: inputting a purchase order for the digital data products from a client computer to an internet shopping mall; transmitting the purchase order to a product server system affiliated with the internet shopping mall; and linking a digital data product, corresponding to the purchase order, of the product server system to the virtual hard disk system so that the user can use the purchased digital data product linked to the virtual hard disk system after logging in to the virtual hard disk system through the client computer.

9. An electronic commerce transaction method of claim 8 wherein the purchase order includes a member ID of the virtual hard disk system, which is assigned to the user before the user purchases the digital data product.

10. An electronic commerce transaction method of claim 8 wherein the digital data products include a digital data format selected from the group consisting of computer software, word data files, image data files, motion picture data files, and sound data files, all of which can be used through a computer.

11. An electronic commerce transaction method for digital data products using an Internet and a virtual hard disk system, the method comprising the steps of: inputting a purchase order for the digital data products from a client computer to an internet shopping mall; and linking a digital data product, corresponding to the purchase order, of a shopping mall server system of the internet shopping mall to the virtual hard disk system so that the user can use the purchased digital product linked to the virtual hard disk system after logging in to the virtual hard disk system through the client computer.

12. An electronic commerce transaction method of claim 11 wherein the purchase order includes a member ID of the virtual hard disk system, which is assigned to the user before the user purchases the digital data product.

13. An electronic commerce transaction method of claim 11 wherein the digital data products include a digital data format selected from the group consisting of computer software, word data files, image data files, motion picture data files, and sound data files, all of which can be used through a computer.

14. An electronic commerce transaction method of claim 11 wherein the shopping mall server system of the internet shopping mall includes a digital data product storing part for storing the digital data products.