As described in a newly-published patent application, iTunes users would be able to send content from the online store or from their own libraries to other people via NFC. August 15, 2013 7:07 AM PDT (Credit: screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET) iTunes users may one day be able to send apps, music, videos, and books as gifts to other people, at least as envisioned in an Apple patent filing. Published Thursday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a patent application called "Media Gifting Devices and Methods" describes a couple of ways to give your favorite iTunes user a present. In one method, you'd select a specific item from the iTunes store, such as a song, movie, or book. Your own account is charged the cost of the content, while your recipient receives a notice to download the gifted file. In another method, you'd select an item to gift from your own iTunes library. Again, you get charged the cost of the content via your own account. Your receipient then receives a notice to download that same item directly from iTunes. You can also give some a gift directly without having to be online. In such a scenario, you'd send a locked version of the item from your library to your recipient's mobile device via NFC (near-field communications). Since NFC is involved, you'd both presumably need to be together for the transaction to occur. Once both of you are online again, your recipient's device talks to Apple's servers to unlock the item, while your account gets charged. As the patent explains it: An offer and acceptance of a selected gift file is accomplished between a gifter device and a receiving giftee device using a near-field communication (NFC) connection. If a connection to the online provider is available, the gifter device may transmit a gift request by which the gifter's account is charged for the gift file. Thereafter, a gift file created using DRM keys associated with the giftee's account may be downloaded to the giftee device. If a network connection is unavailable, the giftee device may transfer a locked gift file and a corresponding gift license to the giftee device using a peer-to-peer connection. The giftee device may authenticate the license and unlock the gift file once a connection to the online provider is available. iTunes gift cards have already proven to be a popular present. The invention outlined by Apple takes that concept further by letting you tap into your own iTunes library for gift ideas. (Via AppleInsider)
As described in a newly-published patent application, iTunes users would be able to send content from the online store or from their own libraries to other people via NFC.
(Credit: screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET)
iTunes users may one day be able to send apps, music, videos, and books as gifts to other people, at least as envisioned in an Apple patent filing.
Published Thursday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a patent application called "Media Gifting Devices and Methods" describes a couple of ways to give your favorite iTunes user a present.
In one method, you'd select a specific item from the iTunes store, such as a song, movie, or book. Your own account is charged the cost of the content, while your recipient receives a notice to download the gifted file.
In another method, you'd select an item to gift from your own iTunes library. Again, you get charged the cost of the content via your own account. Your receipient then receives a notice to download that same item directly from iTunes.
You can also give some a gift directly without having to be online. In such a scenario, you'd send a locked version of the item from your library to your recipient's mobile device via NFC (near-field communications). Since NFC is involved, you'd both presumably need to be together for the transaction to occur. Once both of you are online again, your recipient's device talks to Apple's servers to unlock the item, while your account gets charged.
As the patent explains it:
An offer and acceptance of a selected gift file is accomplished between a gifter device and a receiving giftee device using a near-field communication (NFC) connection. If a connection to the online provider is available, the gifter device may transmit a gift request by which the gifter's account is charged for the gift file. Thereafter, a gift file created using DRM keys associated with the giftee's account may be downloaded to the giftee device. If a network connection is unavailable, the giftee device may transfer a locked gift file and a corresponding gift license to the giftee device using a peer-to-peer connection. The giftee device may authenticate the license and unlock the gift file once a connection to the online provider is available.
iTunes gift cards have already proven to be a popular present. The invention outlined by Apple takes that concept further by letting you tap into your own iTunes library for gift ideas.
(Via AppleInsider )
