System and method for the distribution of software products

Abstract

A system and method for selling software products over a network. The system includes a server computer with access to software products. The system is configured to allow a user to purchase a subscription for the periodic acquisition of selected software products. In one embodiment, as part of the subscription, the user pays an amount during selected billing intervals. In return, the system issues to the user a number of credits for downloading at no additional charge at least one of the software products during a credit interval, which may be equal in length to the billing interval. In one embodiment, the system debits a number of credits in response to fulfilling a user's purchase request. The system may be also configured to deduct credits that are not used within selected credit intervals.

1 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A computer method of obtaining software products, the method comprising:
 transmitting information over a network to a server computer to purchase a software subscription to obtain access to a plurality of software products, the subscription requiring payment of a predetermined amount at selected billing intervals during a subscription period;   receiving over the network a subscription credit to be used during a credit interval to purchase an unrestricted access version of one of the plurality of software products, wherein the subscription period comprises a plurality of predetermined credit intervals that do not coincide with the billing intervals;   receiving via a user interface a selection specifying a software product selected from among the plurality of software products;   communicating to the server computer a purchase request for the selected software product during the credit interval, the purchase request including an indication that the purchase is to be made using the subscription credit; and   receiving from the server computer over the network an unrestricted access version of the selected software product in exchange for the subscription credit.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the subscription credit is expirable and expires at an end of the credit interval. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising, prior to communicating the purchase request for the selected software:
 communicating to a server computer an evaluation request for the software product; and   receiving from the server computer over the network a restricted access version of the selected software product,   wherein the purchase request is communicated following an evaluation period.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein operability of the restricted access version is limited to the evaluation period. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising:
 determining a type of acquisition that has been requested;   if the type of acquisition requested is an evaluation transaction,
 communicating to a server computer an evaluation request for the software product; and 
 receiving from the server computer over the network a restricted access version of the selected software product, wherein the purchase request is communicated following an evaluation period; and 
   if the type of acquisition requested is a purchase transaction, communicating to the server computer the purchase request.   
     
     
         50 . A client computing device for purchasing software products, comprising:
 a processor;   a network interface to access a server computer over a network;   a service module configured to:
 facilitate payments for a software purchase subscription to a plurality of software products, each payment being a predetermined amount paid over the network at a selected billing interval in a subscription period; 
 receive over the network from the server computer a subscription credit to be used during a credit interval to purchase an unrestricted access version of one of the plurality of software products, wherein the subscription period comprises a plurality of predetermined credit intervals that do not coincide with the billing intervals; 
 present a user interface to receive a selection specifying a software product selected from among the plurality of software products; 
 transmit over the network to the server computer a purchase request for the selected software product during the credit interval, the purchase request including an indication that the purchase is to be made using the subscription credit; and 
 receive over the network from the server computer an unrestricted access version of the selected software product in exchange for the subscription credit. 
   
     
     
         51 . The client computing device of  claim 50 , wherein the subscription credit is expirable and expires at an end of the credit interval. 
     
     
         52 . The client computing device of  claim 50 , wherein the service module is further configured to:
 communicate to a server computer an evaluation request for the software product; and   receive from the server computer over the network a restricted access version of the selected software product,   wherein the purchase request is transmitted following an evaluation period.   
     
     
         53 . The client computing device of  claim 52 , wherein operability of the restricted access version is limited to the evaluation period. 
     
     
         54 . The client computing device of  claim 50 , wherein the service module is further configured to:
 determine a type of acquisition that has been requested;   if the type of acquisition requested is an evaluation transaction,
 communicate to a server computer an evaluation request for the software product; and 
 receive from the server computer over the network a restricted access version of the selected software product, wherein the purchase request is communicated following an evaluation period; and 
   if the type of acquisition requested is a purchase transaction, communicate to the server computer the purchase request.   
     
     
         55 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by a client computing device cause the client computing device to perform operations comprising:
 transmitting information over a network to a server computer to purchase a software subscription to obtain access to a plurality of software products, the subscription requiring payment of a predetermined amount at selected billing intervals during a subscription period and providing a credit for the purchase of one of a plurality of software products games during each of a plurality of credit intervals, wherein the subscription period comprises a plurality of predetermined credit intervals that do not coincide with the billing intervals; and   receiving a selection specifying a software product selected from among the plurality of software products;   communicating to the server computer a purchase request for the selected software product during the credit interval, the purchase request including an indication that the purchase is to be made using the subscription credit; and   receiving from the server computer over the network an unrestricted access version of the selected software product in exchange for the subscription credit, wherein the client computing device thereafter has unrestricted access to the purchased software product.   
     
     
         56 . A computer method of obtaining software products, the method comprising:
 transmitting information over a network to a server computer to purchase a software subscription to obtain access a plurality of software products, the subscription requiring payment of a predetermined amount at selected billing intervals during a subscription period, wherein the subscription includes a subscription discount for purchasing an unrestricted access version of one of the plurality of software products;   communicating to the server computer a purchase request for the selected software product, the purchase request including an indication that the purchase is to be made using the subscription discount; and   receiving from the server computer over the network an unrestricted access version of the selected software product.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein an amount of the subscription discount is based upon how many software products are being purchased. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising, prior to communicating the purchase request for the selected software:
 communicating to a server computer an evaluation request for the software product; and   receiving from the server computer over the network a restricted access version of the selected software product,   wherein the purchase request is communicated following an evaluation period.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein operability of the restricted access version is limited to the evaluation period. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising:
 determining a type of acquisition that has been requested;   if the type of acquisition requested is an evaluation transaction,
 communicating to a server computer an evaluation request for the software product; and 
 receiving from the server computer over the network a restricted access version of the selected software product, wherein the purchase request is communicated following an evaluation period; and 
   if the type of acquisition requested is a purchase transaction, communicating to the server computer the purchase request.   
     
     
         61 . A client computing device for purchasing software products, comprising:
 a processor;   a network interface to access a server computer over a network;   a service module configured to:
 facilitate payments for a software purchase subscription to a plurality of software products, each payment being a predetermined amount paid over the network at a selected billing interval in a subscription period, wherein the subscription provides a subscription discount for purchasing an unrestricted access version of one of the plurality of software products; 
 present a user interface to receive a selection specifying a software product selected from among the plurality of software products; 
 transmit over the network to the server computer a purchase request for the selected software product, the purchase request including an indication that the purchase is to be made using the subscription discount; and 
 receive over the network from the server computer an unrestricted access version of the selected software product. 
   
     
     
         62 . The client computing device of  claim 61 , wherein an amount of the subscription discount is based upon how many software products are being purchased.) 
     
     
         63 . The client computing device of  claim 61 , wherein the service module is further configured to:
 communicate to a server computer an evaluation request for the software product; and   receive from the server computer over the network a restricted access version of the selected software product,   wherein the purchase request is communicated following an evaluation period.   
     
     
         64 . (New The client computing device of  claim 63 , wherein operability of the restricted access version is limited to the evaluation period. 
     
     
         65 . The client computing device of  claim 61 , wherein the service module is further configured to:
 determine a type of acquisition that has been requested;   if the type of acquisition requested is an evaluation transaction,
 communicate to a server computer an evaluation request for the software product; and 
 receive from the server computer over the network a restricted access version of the selected software product, wherein the purchase request is communicated following an evaluation period; and 
   if the type of acquisition requested is a purchase transaction, communicate to the server computer the purchase request.   
     
     
         66 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by a client computing device cause the client computing device to perform operations comprising:
 transmitting information over a network to a server computer to purchase a software subscription to obtain access to a plurality of software products, the subscription requiring payment of a predetermined amount at selected billing intervals during a subscription period and providing subscription discount for purchasing an unrestricted access version of one of the plurality of software products;   communicating to the server computer a purchase request for the selected software product during the credit interval, the purchase request including an indication that the purchase is to be made using the subscription discount; and   receiving from the server computer over the network an unrestricted access version of the selected software product, wherein the client computing device thereafter has unrestricted access to the purchased software product.