Transaction payment system

Abstract

A system for the transaction of transactional amounts when using merchantable content on a medium includes a clearinghouse, an apparatus having a medium handler, a merchantable content receiver, a medium identifier, a content identifier, a medium use mechanism, and a transmitter. The medium handler accepts the medium and the merchantable content receiver accepts the merchantable content. The medium identifier reads a first identifier from the medium. The content identifier reads a second identifier from the merchantable content. The medium use mechanism incorporates and uses the merchantable content with the medium. The transmitter sends the first and second identifiers to the clearinghouse. The clearinghouse has a first account for a medium provider referenced by the first identifier and a second account for the content provider referenced by the second identifier. The clearinghouse further includes an account manager for transferring a royalty amount from the first account to the second account when the first and second identifiers are received.

1 . A method of supplying a recordable compact disc having an identifier for the collection of transactional amounts incurred in using privileged content, comprising the steps of: 
 selling the recordable compact disc without the privileged content at a price which includes a pre-payment amount;    sending the pre-payment amount to a clearinghouse account referenced by said identifier.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said recordable compact disc is consumable.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of confirming that the recordable compact disc has been sold before sending the pre-payment amount.  
     
     
         4 . (canceled)  
     
     
         5 . A method of providing for the collection of royalty payments for privileged content, comprising the steps of: 
 providing an first identifier and a royalty amount to a clearinghouse to establish a first account referenced by said first identifier;    receiving a key which corresponds to said first identifier;    combining said key with the privileged content thereby creating a merchantable content; and    making the merchantable content available to at least one other person wherein when the merchantable content is used on a medium, the key and a second identifier identifying the medium are provided to the clearinghouse and wherein the clearinghouse using the key to identify the first account and the royalty amount transfers a quantity of money equal to the royalty amount from a second account referenced by said second identifier to said first account.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of combining said key with the privileged content includes the step of encrypting said privilege content with said key to create said merchantable content.  
     
     
         7 . (canceled).  
     
     
         8 . A method of providing a clearinghouse for the exchange of transactional amounts, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a first identifier for a medium from a first party;    creating an first account for the first party referenced by said first identifier;    receiving a second identifier from a second party and a royalty amount representing the cost of using a privileged content;    creating a second account for said second party referenced by said second identifier;    providing a key to said second party;    receiving a transaction including the key and said first identifier when the medium is used with the privileged content;    using said key to identify said second account; and    transferring the royalty amount from said first account to said second account.    
     
     
         9 . A method of using a merchantable content, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving the merchantable content;    retrieving a first identifier from a medium that references the medium;    using said merchantable content with said medium wherein the payment of a royalty amount is incurred by the use of the merchantable content;    retrieving a key from said merchantable content; and    transmitting said key and said first identifier to a clearinghouse wherein the royalty amount is transferred from a first account referenced by said first identifier to a second account referenced by said key.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the steps of: 
 determining that a valid first identifier is received; and    if not received, then preventing the step of using said merchantable content.    
     
     
         11 . A method of using merchantable content having a key, comprising the steps of: 
 purchasing medium having a first identifier, wherein the purchase price includes a pre-payment amount;    retrieving the merchantable content;    using the merchantable content with the medium wherein a royalty payment is incurred, and wherein the use of the merchantable content causes the transmission of the key and the first identifier to a clearinghouse where the royalty payment is transferred from a first account referenced by the first identifier to a second account reference by the key.    
     
     
         12 - 20 . (canceled)