WO2001037109A1

WO2001037109A1 - System and method for implementing on-site electronic purchasing using user-operated terminals

Info

Publication number: WO2001037109A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/031888
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ivan Chung-Shung Hwang
Original assignee: Hwang Ivan Chung Shung
Priority date: 1999-11-19
Filing date: 2000-11-20
Publication date: 2001-05-25
Also published as: AU1783101A; EP1234243A1; CA2390521A1; CN1391675A; JP2003515222A; KR20020055597A

Abstract

A system that provides interactive multimedia based electronic purchasing services to a group of concurrent customers in a commercial site via user operated wired and wireless transaction terminals, i.e., commercial Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). The disclosed system is comprised of a multiple-computer-based server array and a number of multi-link commercial PDAs. The invention further employs a number of unique methods for implementing interactive advertising-based, interactive payment-based, as well as customized content-based electronic purchasing services. Moreover, the invention can accommodate a plurality of concurrent customers ranging from a few to thousands, using multi-link-based workgroup server arrays that can deliver mission-critical highly-available and scaleable on-demand interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services in a commercial site.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING ON-SITE ELECTRONIC PURCHASING USING USER-OPERATED TERMINALS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to multi-user transaction enabling systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multiple- computer-based server array and various user-operated transaction terminals, i.e., commercial PDAs, as well as a number of unique methods for implementing mission critical on-demand interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services to a community of concurrent customers at a commercial site.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

CORRESPONDING PATENTS AND PENDING APPLICATIONS

The present application takes priority from Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/166,548 filed November 19, 1999 entitled "AN INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA TRANSACTION SYSTEM WITH USER-OPERATED TERMINALS". This application is also related to:

1 ) The workgroup computer which is used as the preferred building block to construct a preferred embodiment of the present invention, (as illustrated by U.S. Patent No. 5,530,892 issued June 25, 1996; U.S. Patent No. 5,577,205 issued November 19, 1996, and U.S. Patent No. 5,802,391 issued September 1 , 1998);

2) Multi-link multimedia architecture, which is used as the preferred system architecture to configure the present disclosed system, (see U.S. Patent No. 6,049,823 issued April 11 , 2000 entitled "MULTI-SERVER, INTERACTIVE, VIDEO-ON-DEMAND TELEVISION SYSTEM UTILIZING A DIRECT- ACCESS-ON-DEMAND WORKGROUP"); and

3) Workgroup server arrays and workgroup server clusters (see Patent Application Serial No. 60/135,318 filed May 20, 1999, entitled "A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING A WORKGROUP SERVER ARRAY").

4) E-Leads and E-CommerceBoxes (see Patent Application Serial No. 60/154,900 filed Sep. 20, 1999, entitled "A SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING SMART CARD-BASED E-COMMERCE SERVICES USING E-COMMERCE BOXES").

BACKGROUND ART

The merging of computer technology and various forms of entertainment and informational media provides a natural base for on-demand interactive multimedia involving a community of customers. Such a community of customers in a commercial site may, for example, include customers in retail 3 stores or customers in service-oriented retail sites like fast-food restaurants. A preferred form of the commercial system should provide businesses with the capability of offering interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services via its attached customer-operated transaction terminals, i.e., commercial PDAs, to facilitate "onsite" E-Store-based business operations.

For example, in a retail site, an ideal commercial system, which is capable of communicating with the retailer's existing "online" E-Store-based and database servers, should provide in-store walk-in customers with the following interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services:

1. Pre-sale service, which allows walk-in customers to receive intermediary E-Currencies, such as E-Coupons, E-Points and E-Rebates, from interactive advertising-based commercial PDAs and redeem them via Point-Of-Sale (POS) based commercial PDAs.

2. Pre-order service, which allows walk-in customers to receive a hardcopy of the entire personal intermediary E-Currencies stored in the commercial system via customized content-based commercial PDAs.

3. Payment service, which allows walk-in customers to pay via POS-based commercial PDAs.

4. After-order service, which allows walk-in customers to receive payment- based intermediary E-Currencies via POS-based commercial PDAs and such E-Currencies can further be stored in the database of the said commercial system for later use.

5. After-sale customer service, which allows walk-in customers to order online, as well as manage personal records in the online database servers via Point-of-Purchase (POP) based commercial PDAs. 4

Moreover, in a service-oriented retail site, where customers remain for a longer period of time, as in the fast-food restaurants, additional interactive multimedia-based personal services, such as Internet/e-mail, pay phone/e- directory, TV/news/sports and on-demand entertainment, can be rendered via additional portable commercial PDAs.

Therefore, in order to render above-mentioned interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services, different purpose-based commercial PDAs are needed. For example, an ideal commercial system should be equipped with the following four (4) commercial PDAs to start with.

1. The iACT unit: (interactive Advertising and customized Content Triggering unit), which is interactive advertising-based commercial PDA that is also capable of providing customized content-based services. It is equipped with a smart card reader, a printer and a number of contact or contactless magnetic- tape card readers. When entering the store, the customer can insert the smart card into the smart card reader, as well as swipe or wave the magnetic tape card, as well as input the multi-function smart card via the contact or contactless magnetic-tape card reader. The iACT unit will print out a hardcopy of the entire available intermediary E-Currencies with associated items' locations in the store. If interested in the ad shown on the in-store TV, the customer can access any nearby magnetic-tape card reader controlled by the iACT unit and simply swipe the smart card through it. Once the action is recorded, the interactive advertising-based data, (i.e., E-Leads, as illustrated in co-pending patent application Serial No. 60/154,900 entitled "A SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING SMART CARD-BASED E-COMMERCE SERVICES USING E-COMMERCE BOXES") are generated and stored in the iACT unit, which can later upload the data to online servers. The online servers can then decipher the E-Lead data, generate intermediary E- Currencies based on the advertiser's request and send them to the customer's database (i.e., E-CommerceBoxes, as illustrated in co-pending patent application Serial No. 60/154,900) in the said commercial system as well as the customer's database (E-CommerceBox) in the online database servers. 2. The iPOS unit: (interactive Point-of-Sale unit), which is interactive advertising-based commercial PDA that is also capable of providing onsite payment-based electronic purchasing services. It is equipped with a smart card reader and a 13" touch-screen LCD, showing interactive advertising on the right hand side. The customer can touch the screen based on the advertising and the associated E-Lead data that can be generated by the iPOS unit and subsequently uploaded to the online servers for intermediary E- Currency services, which are similar to what the iACT unit can provide. In addition, it is linked with cashier's POS station, so customers can be informed of any itemized charge, make electronic payment and receive rewards during the transaction.

3. The iPOP unit: (interactive Point-of-Purchase unit), which is interactive advertising-based commercial PDAs that are also capable of providing online- based electronic purchasing services. It is equipped with a keyboard, a smart card reader, a printer, a magnetic card reader and a 19" touch-screen VGA or TV monitor, showing interactive advertising-based content when not being used. The customer swipes or waves the smart card through the contact or the contactless magnetic card reader and generates implicit or user-select interactive advertising-based data that can be subsequently uploaded to the online servers for E-Currency services, which are similar to what the iACT unit can provide. In addition, the iPOP unit powered by the said commercial system, which can communicate with online E-Store and database servers, allows customers to shop, order and pay, receive rewards and manage personal data online.

4. iPOR units: (interactive PORtable units), which are interactive advertising based commercial PDAs that are capable of rendering both the "onsite" and the "online" electronic purchasing services. The customer in a commercial site will first go to a service kiosk which houses a plurality of docking stations, each being equipped with an iPOR unit. The customer inserts the smart card into the smart card reader installed in the docking station. After a client authentication process, the docking station will release the iPOR unit to the legitimate customer, so that he or she can bring it to any table inside the commercial site. For wired operation, the customer will need to connect the plug from the table to the iPOR unit. For wireless operation, the customer needs to stay in the confines of the commercial site. The iPOR unit can perform all the functions similar to an iPOP unit. In addition, since it is linked with cashier's POS system, the customer can order and pay electronically for the onsite purchasing without interfacing with a cashier, and the products or services can be delivered immediately, as such services in a fast food restaurant. Furthermore, it can be used for rendering personal-based entertainment services, such as Internet/e-mail, pay phone/e-directory, TV/news/sports and on-demand game or video.

The above-mentioned interactive advertising contents are embedded with video clips, graphical pages, text pages and interactive-audio clips. Therefore, the above interactive advertising based commercial PDAs should be interactive multimedia capable, which means the commercial system should provide adequate concurrent interactive multimedia sharing among all the attached commercial PDAs.

With such interactive multimedia capabilities, customers in a fast-food restaurant can then order food and drink directly through interactive multimedia-based ordering pages on an iPOR unit. Moreover, customers can enjoy on-demand interactive-video based entertainment services, conduct online shopping with intermediary e-currencies, watch TV, surf the Internet and even make a phone call. The fast-food drive-thru customers can pay for the food electronically simply by waving an electronic key fob, which is issued together with a smart card, to an iPOS unit located underneath the drive-thru window. Therefore, it is imperative that each transaction service be interactive-multimedia capable, so^'that customers can comprehend the electronic purchasing services faster without any hindrance and the benefits of interactive advertising and electronic purchasing transactions can then be realized. Further from a business standpoint, the ideal onsite interactive multimedia- based electronic purchasing transaction system should also be easy and inexpensive to install and sufficiently scaleable and cost-effective to concurrently accommodate from a small number of customers in a typical retail store to a large number of customers in a hotel.

Currently, the multi-user interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services in commercial sites can be offered by using a number of stand-alone client computers together with a number of networked servers, serving as Point-of-Purchasing units. Electronic purchasing services are directly rendered through each client computer functioned as user-interface terminal, which is equipped with all the user-interactivity peripheral and displaying devices. The onsite electronic purchasing system created by using client-based and server- based networking computers is referred as the client-server-based electronic purchasing system hereinafter.

However, these kinds of client-server-based systems are not capable of providing essential interactive multimedia features, such as full-motion, fullscreen video, when in a larger multi-user environment. The cause of this deficiency of the networked-based on-demand multimedia database/file server or servers, which cannot provide sufficient on-demand interactive multimedia concurrent sharing for all the networked client computers, is the hard disk's slow average access time required for retrieving data.

The current client-server network architecture, populated with client computers and server computers, tends to create a number of on-demand multimedia database/file servers and a number of non-multimedia database/application servers. However, by using only one network link inside the proposed electronic purchasing system, the bandwidth has to be sufficient enough to accommodate all the generated traffic, which can be categorized as follows: 8

1. Data communication between the client computers and a number of non- multimedia database/application/file servers;

2. Concurrent on-demand delivery of the multimedia content from the multimedia database/file servers to all the client computers;

3. Peer-to-peer communication among various servers and among various client computers resulting from system monitoring and management coordination.

The application servers, such as transaction/accounting servers for different transaction-oriented services, as well as system management/security servers, constantly generate non-multimedia data traffic on the network. While, the multimedia database/file servers, such as digital audio-based server, digital video-based server, and interactive game server, also constantly generate multimedia data traffic to client computers. Each client computer, functioned as one user-interface terminal, will accept interactivity from only one user through either a mouse, a keyboard or a touch-screen-based input device and generate the VGA display on the monitor for only one user to watch. As a result, the traffic between one multimedia database/file server and many client computers will quickly use up the network bandwidth. Further, combining these two different groups of servers together on the same network link to all the attached client computers, tends to create collisions that will degrade the network performance, thereby yielding unstable and jolted multimedia delivery, and slower system operation.

Even with the isochronous-protocol-based network communication, which guarantees the throughput performance for concurrent multimedia delivery to each client computer, the number of concurrent customers can be reduced to an even smaller number. That is the reason why the current LAN bandwidth can only accommodate a few concurrent customers that are able to share the same multimedia and non-multimedia databases. 9

The only current solution to regulating the LAN traffic is to add more costly intelligent network switches. The larger the user base is, the more complicated and costly the system-wide network link will be. Therefore, by converting system-wide internal LAN-based servers into on-demand multimedia servers generates adverse effects on the other application servers. Even if such a multi-user interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing system could be built by using the most powerful servers and the highest bandwidth for a fixed number of customers, one additional user will make the proposed system insufficient in providing adequate quality of services (QoS) for all the customers concurrently.

Another thin-client server architecture will be ideal for bigger servers such as mainframes or minicomputers. However, the same kind of problem exists, as discussed above, that the use of networked servers, as on-demand multimedia database/file servers, will produce unsatisfactory throughput to client computers and degrade other application-based servers performance.

In a very small environment, the client-server based electronic purchasing system may provide adequate on-demand interactive multimedia for a few concurrent customers with only a few client computers. However, when one client computer, served as one user-interface terminal for one user, should become idle or malfunctions, the price/performance will become less desirable. In addition, the fault tolerance of these client-server-based systems can't be easily implemented, since each server will have to be installed with additional redundant hardware and fail-safe OS-based clustering software packages.

Therefore, the client-server-based architecture using a plurality of client computers and server computers is not ideal in delivering on-demand fault- tolerant interactive multimedia-based services for either a small or a large group of customers concurrently and cost-effectively. Furthermore, current computer platforms are not ideal building blocks for implementing an onsite multi-user interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing system. The mainframe computers are too costly and not scalable for a smaller number of customers, for example, customers in a fast-food restaurant. The mini-computers are also too costly and not scalable enough to satisfy a smaller group of customers. The high-end workstation servers or the PC servers are only capable of delivering on-demand interactive multimedia for a few customers concurrently. Moreover, it is not easy to cascade them all together to accommodate a larger number of customers, for example, guests in a 1 ,000-room hotel, due to the deficiency of client-server network computing in rendering interactive multimedia for concurrent customers as described above.

User-interface terminals of the client-server-based electronic purchasing system are most likely to be stationed at fixed locations. However, wireless portability is more difficult to be implemented, due to the fact that, based on client-server architecture, if the wireless link, which is much slower, connects to the system network, the overall network throughput will be degraded dramatically. Certainly, wireless portability, as described in iPOR units, is desirable because it enables more units to be accessed by more customers concurrently and the operation it renders is more ergonomic and user-friendly.

The client-computer-based user-interface terminal can be individually interactive multimedia capable, however, the concurrent interactive multimedia electronic purchasing services are usually generated from a number of centralized media and database servers located in a servicing center or in a headend, where the main processing unit is installed. Currently, none of the client-computer-based user-interface terminals are able to provide on-demand interactive multimedia services from the headend servers, due to headend servers' on-demand deficiency and the two-way broadband infrastructure not yet available. 11

Even if a client-server-based electronic purchasing system can be built by using the most powerful computers as the multimedia database/file servers and the two-way broadband as the network link, those inherited deficiencies of such system still will not be in any way resolved. As discussed above, one of the major deficiencies is lacking the capability to render on-demand interactive multimedia for concurrent customers in a scalable and cost-effective manner.

Therefore, the conventional client-server-based electronic purchasing system is not capable of providing multi-user interactive-multimedia-based electronic purchasing services for accommodating either a small or a large group of concurrent customers via its client-computer-based user-interface terminals concurrently and cost-effectively.

12

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned computer platforms, i.e., main-frames, mini-computers, high-end workstations and PCs, together with the client-server architecture can not create a capable multi-user transaction enabling system to provide on- demand interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services for a community of concurrent customers efficiently and cost-effectively.

The objects of this invention are accomplished by not only resolving the above-mentioned deficiencies but also devising more technological breakthroughs in constructing a multi-user interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing transaction system. Furthermore, the present invention comprises a plurality of apparatuses and employs different integration methods to build differently configured systems. Each disclosed system provides interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services to a community of concurrent customers via a variety of uniquely built wired or wireless user- operated transaction terminals, i.e., commercial PDAs.

The present invention employs a workgroup-computer-based workgroup- server array (as illustrated in co-pending Provisional Application Serial No. 60/135,318), as the preferred building block to build the multiple-server-based main-processing unit. Furthermore, the main-processing unit can be configured based on multi-link multimedia architecture (as described in U.S. Patent No. 6,049,823) which includes not only the common internal network link, but also the video-delivery link and the user-interactivity link to interface with various commercial PDAs. The preferred embodiment of the disclosed system can thus be built to effectively generate as many "interactive channels" to accommodate as many concurrent customers as desired via a variety of commercial PDAs, utilizing multi-link-based workgroup server array's efficiency in delivering mission critical highly available and scaleable on-demand interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services in a commercial site. 13

More particularly, the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the following three types of uniquely built apparatuses. They are 1 ) multi-link workgroup server array-based main-processing units, 2) multi-link- based multiplexer devices, 3) multi-link-based commercial PDAs. Each multi- link commercial PDA consists of a multi-link-based set-top-box with various attached user-interface devices. There are three major kinds of user-interface devices: 1 ) off-the-shelf common devices, such as serial-port touch-screens and smart card readers, as well as USB-port-based, 2) Bluetooth devices, such as cell phones and handheld PDAs, 3) uniquely-built devices, which will be disclosed hereinafter. Furthermore, based on the preferred embodiment, the present invention employs a number of unique methods for implementing interactive advertising-based, interactive payment-based, and customized content-based "onsite" electronic purchasing services.

The present invention employs yet another different integration methods, which utilize different apparatuses for building different configured systems for different applications. For short-distance application with the distance under 100ft between the main-processing unit and its attached commercial PDAs, VGA-based commercial PDAs are ideal. For distance more than 100ft, NTSC/PAL-based commercial PDAs are more suited, because NTSC/PAL signals can be extended easily by simply implementing video repeaters. For smaller sites, such as restaurants and convenient stores, a smaller electronic purchasing system can be built by using a smaller workgroup-server-array, which configures a smaller main-processing unit that can serve 4 to 8 commercial PDAs concurrently. For larger sites, such as hotels and stadiums, a larger electronic purchasing system can be built by using multiple workgroup server clusters, which can configure a larger main-processing unit that can serve thousands of commercial PDAs concurrently.

The present disclosed system may employ an interactive kiosk, which houses a number of docking stations with portable user-interface devices and a number of security-based video-monitoring devices, so that "onsite" serviceability and real-time interactive security can be implemented. 14

The present disclosed system allows external-computing devices, such as other LAN based server computers or client computers, to interface directly with the main-processing unit via the internal network link using either wired or wireless network hubs or switches.

The present disclosed system further allows a number of personal-based accessories, such as cellphones and handheld personal digital assistants (PDA) to interface with disclosed commercial PDAs via either wired or wireless links, such as Bluetooth, so that the disclosed system's "onsite" electronic purchasing services can be extended onto those personal accessories.

The disclosed system also allows WAN connectivity, either wired or wireless, enabling the disclosed system to communicate with online web-based servers via Intranet, Extranet and Internet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned aspects and advantages of the present invention, as well as additional aspects and advantages thereof will be more fully understood hereinafter, as a result of a detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, when taken in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 A is an electronic-function block diagram illustrating a preferred multi- link workgroup computer-based processor, i.e., TeamProcessor, as one of the workgroup server array's components for building a preferred main-processing unit;

FIG. 1 B is an exploded view illustrating a preferred workgroup computer- based chassis, i.e., TeamChassis, as one of the workgroup server array's components for building a preferred main-processing unit;

FIG. 1 C is an electronic-function block diagram illustrating a plurality of preferred workgroup computer-based direct-access servers, i.e., TeamServers, as one of the workgroup server array's components for building a preferred main-processing unit;

FIG. 1 D is an electronic-function block diagram illustrating a preferred workgroup computer-based modular peripheral device, i.e., TeamPanel, as one of the workgroup server array's components for building a preferred main- processing unit;

FIG. 1 E is an electronic-function block diagram illustrating multiple cascading of TeamPanels, for accommodating an 8-TeamProcessor-based or more than 8-TeamProcessor-based workgroup-server array for building a preferred main- processing unit; 16

FIG. 2.0 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a preferred interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing system (OS-204V), which is configured to include a main processing unit equipped with a 2- TeamProcessor-based workgroup-server-array, multi-link-based peripheral devices and user-operated commercial PDAs, in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is an electronic-wiring block diagram, illustrating a preferred RF- based modular box (MB-204V), as one of the multi-link peripheral devices to be integrated into the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 2.0;

FIG. 2B is an electronic-wiring block diagram, illustrating a preferred cable distribution box (CDB-204V), as one of the multi-link peripheral devices to be integrated into the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 2.0;

FIG. 2C is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred multi- link iPOS-V unit, as one of the user-operated onsite electronic purchasing- based commercial PDAs to be integrated into the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 2.0;

FIG. 2D is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred POS- interface peripheral device, to be used with the preferred iPOS-V units as shown in FIG. 2C;

FIG. 2E is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred multi- link iPOP-V unit, as one of the user-operated online electronic purchasing- based commercial PDAs to be integrated into the preferred system as shown in FIG. 2.0;

FIG. 2F is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred iACT unit, as one of the user-operated interactive advertising-based commercial PDAs to be integrated with the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 2.0; 17

FIG. 3.0 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a preferred interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing system (OS-408), which is configured to include a main-processing unit equipped with a 4-TeamProcessor-based workgroup-server-array, multi-link peripheral devices and user-operated commercial PDAs, in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is an electronic-wiring block diagram, illustrating a preferred RF- based modular box (MB408), as one of the multi-link peripheral devices to be integrated into the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 3.0;

FIG. 3B is an electronic-wiring block diagram illustrating a preferred cable distribution box (CDB-408), as one of the multi-link peripheral devices to be integrated into the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 3.0;

FIG. 3C is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred multi- link iPOS-R unit, as one of the user-operated onsite electronic purchasing- based commercial PDAs to be integrated into the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 3.0;

FIG. 3D is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred multi- link iPOP-R unit, as one of the user-operated online electronic purchasing- based commercial PDAs to be integrated into the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 3.0;

FIG. 3E is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred multi- link iPOR-C unit, as one of the user-operated online and onsite electronic purchasing-based commercial PDAs to be integrated into the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 3.0;

FIG. 3F is a generic outline drawing illustrating a preferred iPOR-based user interface device; FIG. 4.0 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a preferred interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing system (OS-816), which is configured to include a main-processing unit equipped with an 8-TeamProcessor-based workgroup-server-array, multi-link peripheral devices and user-operated commercial PDAs, in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is an electronic-wiring block diagram, illustrating a preferred RF- based modular box (MB-816), as one of the multi-link peripheral devices to be integrated into the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 4.0;

FIG. 4B is an electronic-wiring block diagram, illustrating a cable distribution box (CDB-408-Ethemet), as one of the multi-link peripheral devices to be integrated into the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 4.0;

FIG. 4C is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred multi- link iPOS-RE unit, as one of the user-operated onsite electronic purchasing- based commercial PDAs to be integrated into the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 4.0.

FIG. 4D is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred multi- link iPOP-RE unit, as one of the user-operated online electronic purchasing- based commercial PDAs to be integrated into the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 4.0;

FIG. 4E is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred multi- link iPOR-W unit, as one of the user-operated online and onsite electronic purchasing-based commercial PDAs to be integrated into the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 4.0;

FIG. 5A is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred WSA- based onsite electronic purchasing system; FIG. 5B is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a multi-node server cluster-based onsite electronic purchasing system;

FIG. 5C is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a multi-tier server array-based onsite electronic purchasing system;

FIG. 5D is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred WSC- based onsite electronic purchasing system;

FIG. 6A is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred wireless and portable StorePDA user-interface device and its coupling transceiver;

FIG. 6B is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred multi- link ITVD unit, as one of the user-operated onsite interactive advertising-based commercial PDAs;

FIG. 6C is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred multi- link IMEC unit, as one of the user-operated onsite interactive advertising-based commercial PDAs;

FIG. 6D is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred multi- link iPOS unit, as one of the user-operated onsite interactive advertising-based and interactive payment-based commercial PDAs;

FIG. 6E is a generic outline drawing illustrating a preferred StorePDA with front view and back view;

FIG. 6F is a generic outline drawing illustrating a preferred iMEC kiosk unit in a commercial site; 20

FIG. 6G is a generic outline drawing illustrating a preferred iPOS kiosk unit in a commercial site;

FIG. 6H is a generic outline drawing illustrating a preferred iACT kiosk unit in a commercial site;

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred interactive multimedia- based electronic purchasing system (OS-204), which is configured to include a 2-TeamProcessor-based main-processing unit, multi-link multiplexer devices and user-operated commercial PDAs, in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred interactive multimedia- based electronic purchasing system (OS-1224), which is configured to include a 12-TeamProcessor-based main-processing unit, multi-link multiplexer devices and user-operated commercial PDAs, in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7C is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred workgroup server cluster-based electronic purchasing system (M10-OS1224), which comprises up to ten (10) OS-1224 systems, in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 7D is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred large-scale interactive multimedia electronic purchasing system (M100-OS1224), which comprises up to ten (10) M10-OS1224 systems, in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 21

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention comprises a plurality of unique apparatuses, which are the basic building blocks for the disclosed system. The disclosed system provides interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services to a community of concurrent customers in a commercial site via attached user- operated wired and wireless transaction terminals, hereinafter referred as commercial Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs).

More particularly, the preferred embodiment of the disclosed system comprises the following unique apparatuses. They are 1 ) multi-link workgroup server array-based main-processing units, 2) multi-link-based multiplexer devices for linking the main-processing unit with various multi-link commercial PDAs, and 3) multi-link-based commercial PDAs.

A typical multi-link commercial PDA consists of a multi-link-based set-top-box with various attached user-interface devices, which can be grouped into the following three major types: 1 ) the off-the-shelf common devices, such as serial-port touch-screens and smart card readers, as well as U SB-port-based, 2) the Bluetooth devices, such as cell phones and handheld PDAs, 3) unique devices, which will be disclosed hereinafter. Furthermore, the present invention employs unique methods for implementing interactive advertising- based, interactive payment-based, and customized content-based "onsite" electronic purchasing services.

In order to implement the preferred embodiment, the present invention includes various disclosed apparatuses in different preferred system configurations, so that their functionality, variation and relationship with one another can be demonstrated. This disclosure omits the standard power and other implied modules, to best illustrate only the relevant modules and components for the purpose of simplicity and clarity. 22

The implementation of the preferred embodiment of the main-processing unit employs workgroup server array as the basic building blocks, which is described in co-pending Provisional Application Serial No. 60/135,318, so that mission-critical highly-available, scalable transaction services can be established. Moreover, the main-processing unit is further configured based on multi-link multimedia architecture, (as described in U.S. Patent No. 6,049,823), which includes not only the common internal network link, but also the video- delivery link and the user-interactivity link.

As illustrated in the applicant's U.S. Patent No. 5,802,391 and the applicant's Provisional Application No. 60/135,318, a generic workgroup server array contains four major workgroup-computer-based components, i.e., TeamProcessors, TeamChassis, TeamServers and TeamPanels. These components can further be modified, so that a modified workgroup server array can be used as the preferred build block to construct a preferred embodiment of the main-processing unit.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a preferred Team/workgroup computer-based TeamProcessor for constructing a preferred main-processing unit, based on the aforementioned multi-link multimedia architecture, is illustrated. The preferred multi-link TeamProcessor is equipped with a 1-way, 2-way, 4-way, or 8-way Intel-Pentium PCI-based CPU card with 512MB RAM. It contains a group of basic-computing components, such as a floppy disk interface module, an IDE interface module, two (2) VGA card modules with NTSC/PAL capture capabilities, an MPEG-II playback card module, a sound card module, a USB module, a parallel interface module, a RAP module (which includes COM1 , COM2, keyboard, PS2 mouse, reset, DiskLED, PowerLED, PowerSW, and various control sensors and indicators), and multiple network link LAN card modules using Ethernet. It also contains workgroup-computing-based components, such as multiple workgroup server link card modules using SCSI- II, which can be used as optional workgroup peer-to-peer link modules, and multiple workgroup peer-to-peer link card modules using Ethernet. In addition, it contains multi-link-based components, which include a group-based common 23 user-interactivity link module or multiple point-to-point user-interactivity link modules, as well as multiple point-to-point video-delivery link modules using VGA and a common video-delivery link module using composite NTSC/PAL- based video.

The preferred multi-link TeamProcessor can further interface with 1 ) basic- computing external peripheral drives and devices, such as a floppy disk, IDE disk and optical drives, USB-based digital camera and modem, a mouse, a printer and network Ethernet-based switches/hubs, 2) workgroup-computing- based external drives or devices, such as SCSI-based RAIDs, hard disks, RAM disks, tape and optical drives, and workgroup peer-to-peer link-based Ethernet switches/hubs, 3) multi-link-based external peripheral devices, such as a modulator box, a cable distribution box that provides individual set of cables to each multi-link commercial PDA.

As shown in FIG. 1 B, a preferred workgroup server chassis, i.e., TeamChassis, can enclose up to four (4) CPU-card-based TeamProcessors and a number of module-based drives and devices, such as IDE-based disk, optical drives and PS-2 power supply modules, as well as TeamServers and TeamPanel, which will be described below. TeamChassis is also equipped with internal redundant power supplies, security alarm, smart-power management, hot swappable disks and fans. Moreover, if the TeamProcessor is compactPCI-based, then all the add-in cards are also hot swappable.

The maximum number of TeamProcessors that can be workgrouped together to form a workgroup server array is constrained by the internal workgroup server link, which is used for linking various TeamServers. If the workgroup server link employs SCSI-II or the like, the effective length to ensure proper data transmission is 6 meters and the number of nodes that can be attached is 16. That is why a TeamChassis, which can enclose at least two TeamProcessors, is used to support a better workgroup server link based on SCSI cable scheme. The first TeamProcessor connects the cable from the external port and links to the second TeamProcessor inside the TeamChassis, 24 which further extends the cable for external connection. The same TeamChassis can also house four CPU-card based TeamProcessors, allowing the SCSI cable to be even shorter.

Currently, there are 4 different SCSI standards, i.e., FAST SCSI, Ultra SCSI, Ultra2, LVD SCSI and Ultra3, LVD SCSI (i.e., SCSI-Ill). Each standard has both narrow (8-bit) and wide (16-bit) configurations. Therefore, the preferred SCSI implementation is to use LVD SCSI-Ill, which has the maximum data rate at 160MB/sec with the cable length up to twelve (12) meters. As described in applicant's U. S. Patent No. 5,802,391 , Column 12, line 43 to line 48, peripheral bus-based protocol standards, such as Fiber Channel, Serial Storage Architecture (SSA) and IEEE 1394 FireWire, can also be used to implement various workgroup server link card modules, in addition to aforesaid SCSI standards.

FIG. 1 C shows a preferred workgroup server array, in which eight preferred multi-link TeamProcessors, each equipped with multiple SCSI-lll-based TeamServer controller card modules, are all connected by the first workgroup sever link (S1 ) using SCSI-Ill. The S1 workgroup server link also connects to four (4) Direct-Access SCSI-based TeamServers (DASTS), which can be SCSI-based RAIDs, hard disks, RAM-disks, tapes, as well as optical disks. In addition, TeamProcessor-1 (TP-1 ) and TeamProcessor-2 (TP-2) are connected together with the second workgroup server link (S2) that also connects to a SCSI-disk-based DASTS-A, forming a fail-over Server-Pair-1. Similarly, fail-over Server-Pair-2 are formed by TP-3 and TP-4 with SCSI-disk- based DASTS-B, fail-over Server-Pair-3 are formed by TP-5 and TP-6 with SCSI-disk-based DASTS-C, and fail-over Server-Pair-4 are formed by TP-7 and TP-8 with SCSI-disk-based DASTS-D.

These SCSI-disk-based TeamServers, i.e., DASTS-A, -B, -C and -D, are SCSI disk drives, each of which can be partitioned into two logical drives, so that each of the two TeamProcessors in the Server-Pair is allocated with one logical drive and enabled with absolute read and write privileges. 25

Therefore, TP-1 has the absolute read and write privilege over DASTS-A- Logid , but it can only read from DASTS-A-Logic-2 for fail-safe purpose, so that if TP-2 should fail, TP-1 can take over by reading the log file recorded earlier by TP-2 and continue the process without failure. Whereas, TP-2 has the absolute read and write privilege over DASTS-A-Logic2, but it can only read from DASTS-A-Logic1 for fail-safe purpose. Similarly, the same scenario applies to other fail-over Server Pairs.

It is imperative that non-primary TeamProcessors can access a TeamServer in only a read-only fashion, or the data integrity will be compromised due to the fact that double writes to the same data record may occur. In a pure proprietary environment, where TeamProcessors are only running with the proprietary software programs, the above criteria can be easily met. However in an open environment, where TeamProcessors are running with non- proprietary software programs, an OS-based system device driver will be needed for coordinating TeamServer accessing privileges among all the connected TeamProcessors. In the preferred embodiment of a TeamProcessor, a more sophisticated non-network-based system driver is required, so that the particular TeamProcessor can be guaranteed the absolute privileges over its primary TeamServer and the read-only privilege over other TeamServers. In addition, the driver can also allow the primary TeamProcessor to dynamically yield its absolute privileges to the fail-over TeamProcessor.

Moreover, it can be defined as such that the Server-Pair-1 has the absolute privilege over TeamServer DASTS-1 with TP-1 as the primary processor and TP-2 as the fail-over processor, which means unless TP-1 should fail, TP-2 can only read from the DASTS-1. TeamServer DASTS-1 is usually a RAID that contains a workgroup-based distributed database. Therefore, TP-1 is equipped with full-fledged database server engine, while TP-2 will be equipped with database server engine but only with read mechanism. Other Server-Pair TeamProcessors will also be equipped with database server engine with only 26 read mechanism, so that they can directly read from the workgroup database without bothering the primary TeamProcessor, i.e., TP-1 , without affecting network traffic, and without degrading the overall service performance. This is the real benefit of implementing direct-access Team/workgroup servers, as illustrated in the applicant's U.S. Patent No. No. 5,802,391 , entitled "DIRECT- ACCESS TEAM/WORKGROUP SERVER SHARED BY TEAMΛΛ ORKGROUPED COMPUTERS WITHOUT USING A NETWORK OPERATING SYSTEM". Similarly, the same scenario applies to Server Pair-2 that which has the absolute privilege over DASTS-2, Server Pair-3 that has the absolute privilege over DASTS-3, and Server Pair-4 that has the absolute privilege over DASTS-4.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 C, each preferred multi-link TeamProcessor has three Ethernet modules: 1 ) workgroup server array internal link, which connects with all the other TeamProcessors in the workgroup server array, 2) workgroup server cluster internal link, which connects with all the other counterpart fail- over Server-Pair in all the other workgroup server arrays within the same workgroup server cluster, 3) dual LAN links, one of which connects to one LAN segment switch/hub, the other connects to another LAN segment switch/hub, so that fail-safe LAN linkage can be established.

The reason for implementing workgroup server array (WSA) internal link is to establish peer-to-peer connectivity among all the TeamProcessors, so that any activities within the workgroup server array will not affect other workgroup server arrays belonging to the same workgroup server cluster. Moreover, since all of these TeamProcessors are connected on the workgroup server array internal link and are installed with network operation system, each direct- access database/file TeamServer can be mapped by its primary TeamProcessor as a network-access drive, which allows other TeamProcessors in the same workgroup server array to act like a client to access the database with read and write services rendered by the primary TeamProcessor. Furthermore, if the workgroup peer-to-peer link using SCSI- 27

III is faulty, the workgroup server array peer-to-peer link using Ethernet can be the alternative communication link, or vice versa.

The reason for implementing the workgroup server cluster (WSC) internal link is to establish inter-workgroup server array communication, so that all the distributed databases in all the workgroup server arrays can be seamlessly aggregated as one database within the same workgroup server cluster. For example, a preferred workgroup server cluster is comprised of 10 preferred workgroup server arrays, and each workgroup server array has 4 fail-over Server-Pairs, and each server pair has two preferred multi-link TeamProcessors. Then the first workgroup server cluster link will connect the first Server-Pair in those ten workgroup server arrays, so that any workgroup cluster-based database request directed to anyone of the first Server-Pair in a particular workgroup server array will be also involved with either one of first Server-Pairs in all the other nine workgroup server arrays. The benefit is to ensure fail-safe and faster database services, since every TeamProcessor can render database services for other counterpart TeamProcessors in other workgroup server arrays, without jamming the primary database servers.

Therefore, the S1 link creates the fail-over Server Pair based on direct- access Pair-centric log-file-based TeamServer and the S2 link makes each TeamProcessor in a workgroup server array a direct-access workgroup database handler on WSA-centric distributed database TeamServer. Moreover, the WSA internal link creates workgroup server array internal failsafe operation, based on the S1 link, and the WSC internal link creates WSC workgrouped database by linking WSA-centric distributed database TeamServers, based on the S2 link.

FIG. 1 D illustrates the preferred TeamPanel, which comprises four (4) basic control units (CU) and one (1 ) main control unit (MCU), and connects to four (4) TeamProcessors via RAP, VGA, USB, and audio port. The basic control unit is equipped with an on-board micro-controller that uses COM1 and COM2 28 as fail-safe pair to communicate with its attached TeamProcessor and l²C to communicate with other basic control units and the main control unit.

The main control unit (MCU) contains an on-board watch-dog timer-based micro-controller, which interfaces with a keyboard or a keypad and two (2) serial-based devices, typically a serial LCD display and a serial smart card reader, so that authenticated personnel can maintain and control the MCU. The MCU further controls five (5) switches, which allow the selected VGA signal, PS/2 mouse, PS/2 keyboard, and USB signal to flow through onto the common VGA, Audio, USB, PS/2 mouse and keyboard buses. These buses link between all the basic control units and the workgroup shareable VGA display, USB-based peripherals, as well as the PS/2-based mouse and keyboard. The main control unit (MCU) also keeps various status and usage tables for supervising common buses and peripheral devices, so that after checking the tables for no conflicting usage, it can allow requests from various TeamProcessors to be carried out sequentially. The main control unit is further equipped with EEPROM, so that the status tables can be maintained, enabling the on-board micro-controller to restore the status back to normal, even after an abnormal reset.

The on-board micro-controller of the basic control unit (CU) generates a set of ten interface signals, which connect to the front panel. The Front-Panel contains two interactive push-button switches; the first one is for selecting the chosen TeamProcessor for external workgroup shareable VGA-based monitor to display, for the external shareable keyboard and the shareable mouse to control. The second one equipped with an LED is for powering on or off the chosen TeamProcessor. There are also two sets of LEDs, which indicate primary system disk activity and select enabled respectively. A ball-pen- enabled reset switch is also included for resetting the chosen TeamProcessor. Both the TeamPanel functional board and the front-panel are enclosed in a TeamChassis so that the cabling from the workgrouped TeamProcessors to the TeamPanel functional board and from the functional board to the front- panel is shorter and easier to manage. 29

The default TeamProcessor that supervises the main control unit (MCU) of the TeamPanel is called TeamManager. Even though the MCU maintains its own status and usage tables, TeamManager will always have the highest priority for MCU to react to. As for workgroup communication to TeamManager, any TeamProcessor can first transfer the message to its attached control unit (CU) via COM2 of RAP, and then the control unit (CU) repacks the message with l²C protocol header and notifies the main control unit (MCU) via TeamPanel internal link using l²C. Once the main control unit (MCU) allows the linkage to take place, the basic control unit can communicate directly with the TeamManager through TeamPanel internal l²C link, thereby, for instance, reporting the current status of its attached TeamProcessor. Moreover, the TeamPanel internal link can be used as an alternative communication link to workgroup server array peer-to-peer links using SCSI-Ill and Ethernet.

FIG. 1 E shows two TeamPanels cascaded together to connect eight preferred workgrouped TeamProcessors. The first TeamPanel, i.e. TP-408M, and the second TeamPanel, i.e., TP-408C as slave to TP-408M, are connected via the common VGA, Audio, USB, and l²C buses, so that the main control unit in TP-408M will supervise all the basic control units (CU) in TP- 408C. The TeamManager controls the first TeamPanel, will also be the TeamManager of the second TeamPanel. To communicate with TeamManager, any TeamProcessor of the second TeamPanel, will first transfer the message to its attached control unit (CU) via COM2 of RAP and the control unit re-packs the message with l²C protocol header and notifies the main control unit in the first TeamPanel via internal l²C link. Once the main control unit allows the linkage to take place, the particular basic control unit (CU) of the second TeamPanel can communicate directly with the TeamManager of the first TeamPanel through TeamPanel internal l²C link. Therefore, based on the same scenario, any particularly configured workgroup server array can be accommodated either by a single or by multiple TeamPanels cascaded together. Furthermore, the front-panel of each 30

TeamPanel can be enclosed in each TeamChassis, or can be extended to an external box for easy monitoring and management of multiple TeamPanels.

Based on the above-mentioned preferred workgroup-server-array-based components, a preferred main-processing unit can further be constructed by using the preferred workgroup-server-array, which is equipped with a plurality of TeamProcessors, TeamServers, and TeamPanels, all housed in multiple TeamChassis.

The preferred workgroup server array is equipped with the built-in functions, which are described in the previously cited applicant's Provisional Patent Application. Functions include, but are not limited to, workgroup coordination and supervisory services, workgroup internal/onsite/remote monitoring and management, workgroup device sharing, workgroup fail-safe scheme and failsafe software, workgroup load balancing services, workgroup file and database services, and workgroup security and workgroup scalability.

Therefore, the main-processing unit, constructed by using preferred workgroup server array as the preferred building block, can then provide highly available and scaleable, mission-critical transaction enabling services for more concurrent customers. The preferred main-processing unit can further interface with a variety of disclosed multi-link wired or wireless user-operated transaction terminals, i.e., commercial PDAs, enabling on-demand fault- tolerant interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services to be rendered to onsite customers concurrently and in a scalable fashion.

The onsite customers, who are going to receive the onsite electronic purchasing services via the preferred onsite electronic purchasing systems, will have at least one of the following user-ID-based tokens: 1 ) a magnetic tape- based membership card, 2) a key-fob that provides contactless-based magnetic tape-based membership card information, 3) a processor-based smart card that enable two-factor authentication with PKI-based private key, user password and user-based membership ID# and E-Wallet. The 31 customers, who have a multi-function smart card that is also be equipped with contactless magnetic tape capability, will be also referred to herein as "smart card users".

FIG. 2.0 illustrates a preferred workgroup-server-array-based multi-link electronic purchasing system, which is comprised of 1 ) a 2-TeamProcessor- based main-processing unit, 2) a number of multi-link-based multiplexer devices, as shown in FIG. 2A and 2B, 3) a number of multi-link-based commercial PDAs, i.e., iPOS, iPOP and iACT as shown in FIG. 2C, FIG. 2E and FIG. 2F respectively, and 4) a special-purposed iPOS-based user- interface device, as shown in FIG. 2D.

As shown in FIG 1A, each TeamProcessor in the preferred main-processing unit is equipped with 2 VGA cards, providing two VGA-based individual video- delivery "interactive channels", on which interactive multimedia content can be delivered. In addition, each TeamProcessor can attach as many commercial PDAs, as long as its computing power can sustain. Based on different functionality, there are three (3) types of commercial PDAs. They are 1 ) multi-link interactive Point-of-Sale commercial PDAs, based on one (1 ) VGA-based individual video-delivery link and two (2) RS-422-based individual user-interactivity links, hereinafter referred as iPOS-V units. 2) Multi-link interactive Point-of-Purchase commercial PDAs, based on one (1 ) VGA-based individual video-delivery link and two (2) RS-422-based individual user- interactivity links, hereinafter referred as iPOP-V units. 3) Customized content- based commercial PDAs, based on two (2) RS-422-based individual user- interactivity links, hereinafter referred as iACT units.

In the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 2.0, there are two (2) iPOS-V units, two (2) iPOP-V units, and four (4) iACT units, each unit being linking to two (2) host TeamProcessors, both primary and secondary, via two (2) individual user-interactivity links for fault-tolerance. In addition, the preferred configured system is equipped with a number of non-interactive 32 channel generators, such as security-based Camcorders and DVD/VCRs, as well as a number of NTSC/PAL-based TVs.

Each TeamProcessor contains two VGA-based cards and one DVD/MPEG-II playback card, which together can generate 3 NTSC/PAL based video signals, modulated as channel 65, 66, 67 for the first TeamProcessor and 68, 69, 70 for the second TeamProcessor. There are three (3) security-based Camcorders, which generate three (3) NTSC/PAL-based video signals that can be further modulated as channel 71 , 72, 73 and one VCR, which generates backup or background video signal that can be modulated as channel 74.

As shown in FIG. 2A, a preferred RF modulator box comprises ten RF modulators with preset channel numbers from 65 to 74. It further contains a group of video combiner, so that all these modulated channels can all be combined on an RF cable, i.e., a common video-delivery link, together with existing cable TV signals from channel 1 to channel 64.

As shown in FIG. 2B, a preferred cable distribution box consolidates all the RS-422-based individual user-interactivity links from all the TeamProcessors in the preferred system and distributes each individual set of cables to each attached commercial PDA. The common RF-based video-delivery link also connects to all the TeamProcessors, so that each TeamProcessor can capture the video or the still-image from channel 1 to channel 74, for security and maintenance purposes.

As shown in FIG. 2C, a preferred multi-link-based stationed iPOS-V unit is illustrated. The said unit comprises an intelligent set-top-box, a 13" VGA- based LCD or monitor, l²C-based backup LCD display, serial-based user- interface devices, such as a touch-screen for VGA-based display, a thermal printer, a smart card reader, as well as keyboard-port-based magnetic card reader. 33 The set-top-box built-in with an iPOS-V unit is equipped with a microcontroller and a number of user-interface modules. Keyboard-based magnetic card reader, touch-screen and smart card reader are the input modules, a serial printer is the output module, as well as a VGA monitor and a backup LCD display are the display modules. The on-board micro-controller handles all the interactivity events generated from the input modules and redirects event messages to its host TeamProcessor via the individual point-to-point RS- 422 serial-based user-interactivity link. The host TeamProcessor deciphers and processes the input message, generates the interactive multimedia content, and sends the signals via the VGA-based individual video-delivery link to the display module. In addition, the host TeamProcessor can decipher and process the input message, generate text-based content, and send the data via the individual RS-422 serial-based user-interactivity link to the on-board micro-controller, which can further relay the data to the output printer. In order to become fault tolerant, the set-top-box of iPOS-V unit is built-in with a C- MOS/TTL-based switch (SW), which controls two RS-422 communication lines that connect to two (2) host TeamProcessors. If the primary TeamProcessor should fail, the on-board micro-controller will detect and send a signal to the smart switch, which will disconnect the communication with the primary TeamProcessor and reconnect the secondary TeamProcessor, so that the user-interactivity generated from input modules will be processed by the secondary TeamProcessor. Even though the VGA display module doesn't receive any signal from the primary TeamProcessor, the output printer module and the backup LCD display module still can receive the processing result from the secondary TeamProcessor and react accordingly.

The iPOS-V unit's main functions are to provide customers with the onsite POS-based electronic purchasing. The iPOS-V unit interfaces mainly with disclosed system's TeamServers, as well as interfaces with online servers for additional real-time e-commerce and database services. Customers can use smart card reader to log in, touch the display monitor to activate subsequent services. The said unit is interactive advertising capable, showing interactive advertising-based video or graphical pages on the display. The smart card 34 user can touch the screen and generate interactive advertising-based E-Lead data, which can be stored in the said unit and can later be uploaded to the interactive-advertising-based server for processing. E-lead data are proprietary information, which contains, but are not limited to, ad ID#, channel ID#, time-date, User/Smart card ID#, advertiser/vender ID#, coupon ID#, location ID# and commercial PDA ID#, and are established between the advertiser and the service aggregator. The E-Lead data can then be deciphered by the interactive advertising-based server, which can further trigger a series of subsequent services for smart card users, based on the advertiser's pre-arranged request with the service aggregator. Such services as intermediary E-Currency and E-mails can be generated and sent to the smart card user's database (i.e., E-CommerceBoxes) resided in the present disclosed systems, online web-based servers as well as in the smart cards. All the details regarding interactive-advertising-based E-Lead and intermediary E- Currencies for onsite electronic purchasing-based e-commerce services are illustrated in the co-pending Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/154,900 filed September 20, 1999, entitled "A SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING SMART CARD-BASED E-COMMERCE SERVICES USING E-COMMERCE BOXES".

In a typical POS environment, the cashier operates all the devices attached to a POS station. For example, a bar-code reader for inputting product and membership information, a keyboard for activating POS functions, and a dial- up payment device for processing credit or debit card payment. However, a user-operated iPOS unit will have to rely on its TeamProcessor to communicate with the said POS station operated by the said cashier via network link. The data being input into the said POS station can then be obtained and processed by the said iPOS unit interfaced by a user in front of the said cashier, so that the user can be informed of each step of the POS processing. In so doing, the said POS station needs to re-install a modified POS-based software program that can handle the requests from TeamProcessors. Another interface method between a POS station and an iPOS unit can be implemented by using a POS interface device, as shown in FIG. 2D. The said POS interface device, which interfaces between a user-operated iPOS unit and a cashier-operated POS station, can intercept signals from cashier-operated peripheral devices, such as a barcode reader and a keyboard, and redirects them to both the iPOS unit and the existing POS station. The iPOS unit can simulate the same operations that are processed on the POS station. It can further retrieve from the connected iPOS unit and process the E-Wallet data stored on the smart card, which contains information regarding the user's credit cards, debit cards, as well as membership cards. Also, it can interface with a dial-up card-based payment terminal based on Terminal Control Language (TCL) installed by the payment terminal's manufacturer, so that the e-wallet on the smart card can be interpreted and then processed by the existing dial-up payment terminal. Furthermore, it provides a LCD-based control panel, which displays prompts for the cashier to respond based on payment terminal's requests. It generates subsequent payment transaction results, which can be further re-keyed into the existing POS station. The purpose of the said POS interface unit is to help the iPOS unit integrate with the existing POS station seamlessly without having to modify the POS-based software program that has been installed. However, if the POS program can be accessed and modified to accommodate the iPOS unit, the payment transaction results can then be automatically transferred into the existing POS station via LAN, which completes the whole payment transaction and simplifies the cashier's operation.

As shown in FIG. 2E, a preferred multi-link-based stationed commercial iPOP-V unit is illustrated. The said iPOP-V unit comprises an intelligent set- top-box, a 19" VGA-based monitor, and serial-based user-interface devices, such as a touch-screen for VGA-based display, a thermal printer, a smart card reader, as well as a keyboard-port-based magnetic card reader. The on-board micro-controller of the iPOP-V unit's set-top-box handles all the interactivity events generated from the input modules and redirects event messages to its primary host TeamProcessor via the individual RS-422 serial-based user- 36 interactivity link. The TeamProcessor deciphers and processes the input message, generates the interactive multimedia content, and sends the signals via the VGA-based individual video-delivery link to the display modules. In addition, the TeamProcessor can further decipher and process the input message, generate text-based content, and send the data via the individual serial-port-based user-interactivity link to the micro-controller, which can further relay the data to the output module. In order to become fault tolerant, the set- top-box of iPOP-V unit is built-in with a C-MOS/TTL-based switch (SW), which controls two RS-422 communication lines that connect to two (2) host TeamProcessors. If the primary TeamProcessor should fail, the on-board micro-controller will detect and send a signal to the smart switch, which will disconnect the communication with the primary TeamProcessor and reconnect the secondary TeamProcessor, so that the user-interactivity generated from input modules will be processed by the secondary TeamProcessor. Even though the VGA display module doesn't receive any signal from the primary TeamProcessor, the output printer module still can receive the processing result from the secondary TeamProcessor.

The iPOP-V unit's main functions are to provide customers with the online electronic purchasing capabilities. The iPOP-V unit interfaces mainly with online servers using the built-in browser for e-commerce services, as well as interfaces with the disclosed system's TeamServers for additional database services. Customers can use smart card reader to log in and then touch the display monitor to activate subsequent services, such as browsing the online e-stores. The unit is interactive advertising capable, showing interactive advertising-based video or graphical pages on the display. The smart card user can touch the screen and generate interactive advertising-based E-Lead data, which can be stored in the said unit and can later be uploaded to the online server for E-Lead processing and for generating subsequent online and onsite electronic purchasing-based e-commerce services. 37

As shown in FIG. 2F, a preferred fail-safe multi-link-based stationed commercial iACT unit is illustrated. It comprises an intelligent set-top-box and its physical wire-linked user-interface unit, which includes a number of user- interface peripheral devices, such as an LCD display, a serial printer, a smart card reader, as well as one keyboard-based and a serial-based magnetic card reader. The on-board micro-controller handles all the interactivity events generated from the input modules and redirects event messages to its host TeamProcessor via the individual RS-422 serial-based user-interactivity link. The TeamProcessor deciphers and processes the message, generates text- based content, and sends the customized content-based data via the individual serial-port-based user-interactivity link to the output printer and the LCD display. From mission critical point of view, the set-top-box of iACT unit is built-in with a C-MOS/TTL-based switch (SW), which controls two RS-422 communication lines that connect to two (2) host TeamProcessors. If the primary TeamProcessor should fail, the on-board micro-controller will detect and send a signal to the smart switch, which will disconnect the communication with the primary TeamProcessor and reconnect the secondary TeamProcessor, so that the user-interactivity generated from input modules will be processed by the secondary TeamProcessor.

The iACT unit's main functions are for generating onsite-based E-Lead data. If the smart card user is interested in the ad generated by a TeamProcessor's MPEG-II playback card and shown on the in-store TVs, the user can access any nearby iACT unit and simply swipe the smart card through the contact magnetic card reader. Optionally, the reader can be built-in with at least 3 Interest buttons, i.e., the current-ad button, the 1^st previous ad button and the 2^nd previous ad button, so that the user can push the desired ones to initiate the subsequent e-commerce services. If any of the optional buttons is pushed or simply the smart card is swiped where there are no optional buttons, the E- Lead data can be generated by the micro-controller based on the time of execution and stored in the iACT unit. The unit can later upload the E-Lead data to the interactive-advertising-based server for E-Lead processing. 38

FIG. 3.0 illustrates a preferred workgroup-server-array-based multi-link electronic purchasing system, which is comprised of 1 ) a 4-TeamProcessor- based main-processing unit, 2) a number of multi-link-based multiplexer devices, as shown in FIG. 3A and 3B, 3) a number of multi-link-based commercial PDAs.

In addition to iPOS-V, iPOP-V and iACT units as discussed above, there are three (3) new types of multi-link commercial PDAs, based on RF-based common video-delivery link and two (2) RS-422-based individual user- interactivity links. They are 1 ) RF-based interactive Point-of-Sale commercial PDAs, hereinafter referred as iPOS-R units, as shown in FIG. 3C, 2) RF-based interactive Point-of-Purchase commercial PDAs, hereinafter referred as iPOP- R units, as shown in FIG. 3D, and 3) RF-based wireless interactive portable commercial PDAs, hereinafter referred as iPOR-C units, as shown in FIG. 3E.

As shown in FIG. 3.0, there are multi-link-based multiplexer apparatuses, i.e., a modulator box and a cable distribution box, as well as two (2) RS-422 serial- based iPOS-R units, two (2) RS-422 serial-based iPOP-R units, eight (8) RS- 422 serial-based iACT units and four (4) RS-422 serial-based iPOR-C units. Each unit is linked to two (2) host TeamProcessors, both primary and secondary, for fault tolerance. In addition, the preferred configured system is equipped with a number of non-interactive channel generators, such as security-based Camcorders and DVD/VCRs, as well as a number of NTSC/PAL-based TVs.

Each TeamProcessor contains two (2) VGA cards and one DVD/MPEG-II playback card, which together can generate 3 NTSC/PAL based video signals, modulated as channel 65, 66, 67 for the first TeamProcessor, 68, 69, 70 for the second TeamProcessor, 71 , 72, 73 for the third TeamProcessor and 74, 75, 76 for the fourth TeamProcessor. There are three (3) security-based Camcorders, which generate 3 NTSC/PAL-based video signals that can be further modulated as channel 77, 78, 79 and one VCR, which generates backup or background video signal that can be modulated as channel 80. 39

As shown in FIG. 3A, a preferred RF modulator box comprises 16 RF modulators with preset channel numbers from 65 to 80. It further contains a group of video combiner, so that all these modulated channels can all be combined on a RF cable, i.e., a common video-delivery link, together with existing cable TV signals from channel 1 to channel 64.

As shown in FIG.3B, a preferred cable distribution box consolidates all the RS-422-based individual user-interactivity links from all the TeamProcessors and a common RF-based video-delivery link, and distributes each individual set of cables to each attached commercial PDA. The common RF-based video-delivery link also connects to all the TeamProcessors, so that each TeamProcessor can capture the video or the still-image from channel 1 to channel 80, for security and maintenance purposes.

As shown in FIG. 3C, a preferred fail-safe multi-link-based stationed iPOS-R unit is illustrated. The said unit comprises an intelligent set-top-box, a 13" VGA/TV-changeable LCD display monitor, l²C-based tuner and On-Screen- Display (OSD) device, and serial port-based user-interface devices, such as a touch-screen for VGA/TV display, a thermal printer, a smart card reader, as well as keyboard-port-based magnetic card reader.

The set-top-box built-in with the iPOS-R unit is equipped with a microcontroller and a number of functional modules. Keyboard-based magnetic card reader, touch-screen and smart card reader are the input modules, a serial printer is the output module, as well as a VGA/TV monitor is the display module. The on-board micro-controller handles all the interactivity events generated from its input modules and redirects the event messages to its host TeamProcessor via the individual RS-422 serial-based user-interactivity link. The host TeamProcessor deciphers and processes the message, and generates the interactive multimedia content, which is further modulated into a RF video signal with a pre-set channel number. The host TeamProcessor will provide the pre-set channel-number information to the on-board microcontroller, so that it can control the built-in l²C on-board tuner to receive the RF 40 video signal via the common video-delivery link and tune to the right channel. The tuner further demodulates the RF video signal and displays the composite video onto the VGATV monitor. In addition, the host TeamProcessor can also decipher and process the input message, generate the text-based content, and send the data via the individual RS-422 serial-based user-interactivity link to the on-board micro-controller, which can relay the data to the On-Screen- Display (OSD) device's display buffer via l²C link. The OSD device can process the data content and merge it with the incoming composite video, creating an overlay effect that can be displayed onto the VGA/TV monitor. The OSD can further display any data content, which is the result of self-diagnosis or user-interactivity generated from interfacing either with the on-board microcontroller or any of the TeamProcessors.

In order to become fault tolerant, the set-top-box of iPOS-R unit is built-in with a C-MOS/TTL-based switch (SW), which controls two RS-422 communication lines that connect to two (2) host TeamProcessors. If the primary TeamProcessor should fail, the on-board micro-controller will detect and send a signal to the smart switch, which will disconnect the communication with the primary TeamProcessor and reconnect the secondary TeamProcessor, so that the user-interactivity generated from input modules will be processed by the secondary TeamProcessor. Since the secondary TeamProcessor can provide the pre-set channel-number information to the on-board micro-controller, which further controls the on-board tuner to receive RF video signal from the common video-delivery link and tune to the right channel. The interactive multimedia content generated by the secondary TeamProcessor can then be displayed onto the VGATV monitor; thereby the full-fledged fail-safe capability can be established. Since the iPOS-R unit is equipped with a VGA/TV- changeable display monitor, the primary TeamProcessor's VGA-based individual video-delivery link can also be connected. When the primary TeamProcessor fails, the user can switch the monitor from VGA mode to the TV-based NTSC/PAL mode, so that the content generated by the secondary TeamProcessor can be displayed. An iPOS-R unit's main functions are the same as an iPOS-V unit. In addition, an iPOS-R unit interfaces with the same POS interface unit, as shown in FIG. 2D, so that the existing POS station can be seamlessly integrated with an iPOS-R unit without having to modify the POS-based software program that has been installed.

As shown in FIG. 3D, a preferred fail-safe multi-link-based stationed commercial iPOP-R unit is illustrated. The said iPOP-R unit comprises an intelligent set-top-box, a 19" VAG/TV-changeable display monitor, l²C-based tuner and On-Screen-Display (OSD) device, and serial-based user-interface devices, such as a touch-screen for NTSC/PAL-based display, a thermal printer, a smart card reader, as well as a keyboard-port-based magnetic card reader.

The set-top-box built-in with the iPOP-R unit is equipped with a microcontroller and a number of input, output and display modules as mentioned above. The on-board micro-controller handles all the interactivity events generated from its input modules and redirects the event messages to its host TeamProcessor via the individual RS-422 serial-based user-interactivity link. The host TeamProcessor deciphers and processes each event message, generates the interactive multimedia content, which is further modulated into a RF video signal with a pre-set channel number. The host TeamProcessor will provide the pre-set channel-number information to the on-board microcontroller, so that it can control the built-in l²C on-board tuner to receive the RF video signal via the common video-delivery link, and tune to the right channel. The tuner further demodulates the RF video signal and displays the composite video onto the VGATV monitor. In addition, the host TeamProcessor can also decipher and process the input message, generate the text-based content, and send the data via the individual RS-422 serial-based user-interactivity link to the on-board micro-controller, which can relay the data to the On-Screen- Display (OSD) device's display buffer via l²C link. The OSD device can process the data content and merge it with the incoming composite video, creating an overlay effect that can be displayed onto the VGA/TV monitor. The 42

OSD can further display any data content, which is the result of self-diagnosis or user-interactivity generated from interfacing either with the on-board microcontroller or any of the TeamProcessors.

In order to become fault tolerant, the set-top-box of iPOP-R unit is built-in with a C-MOS/TTL-based switch (SW), which controls two RS-422 communication lines that connect to two (2) host TeamProcessors. If the primary TeamProcessor should fail, the on-board micro-controller will detect and send a signal to the smart switch, which will disconnect the communication with the primary TeamProcessor and reconnect the secondary TeamProcessor, so that the user-interactivity generated from input modules will be processed by the secondary TeamProcessor. Since the secondary TeamProcessor can provide the pre-set channel-number to the on-board micro-controller, which can control the on-board tuner, which receives RF video signal from the common video- delivery link, to tune to the right channel. The interactive multimedia content generated by the secondary TeamProcessor can then be displayed onto the VGA/TV monitor; thereby the full-fledged fail-safe capability can be established. Since the iPOP-R unit is equipped with a VGA/TV-changeable display monitor, the primary TeamProcessor's VGA-based individual video- delivery link can also be connected. If the primary TeamProcessor should fail, the user can switch the monitor from VGA mode to the TV-based NTSC/PAL mode, so that the content generated by the secondary TeamProcessor can be displayed.

The iPOP-R unit's main functions are the same as an iPOP-V unit, which provides customers with the online electronic purchasing capabilities. It is interactive advertising capable, showing interactive advertising-based video or graphical pages from any video channel via the common video-delivery link. The smart card user can touch the screen and generate interactive advertising- based E-Lead data, which can be stored in the said unit and can later be subsequently uploaded to the interactive-advertising-based server for E-Lead processing. 43

The preferred 4-TeamProcessor system further is equipped with 4 fail-safe multi-link-based portable commercial PDAs. Each portable commercial PDA comprises a smart card docking station and its wireless-linked portable user- interface unit, which is built-in with a number of user-interface peripheral devices, such as digital or analog video LCD display with touch screen, batteries, as well as magnetic card reader. Each docking station communicates with its portable unit via wireless video-delivery link and wireless user-interactivity link. This particular commercial PDA, which can be categorized as an interactive Portable-based PDA, is hereinafter referred as iPOR-C.

As shown in FIG. 3E, a preferred fail-safe multi-link-based portable iPOR-C unit is illustrated. It comprises a smart-switch-enhanced serial-based docking station and a wireless/portable user-interface unit, based on 900Mhz wireless serial and a 2.4Ghz wireless base-band composite video and audio for accessing all the interactive and non-interactive channels.

The docking station contains a built-in micro-controller board and an enclosure for housing the portable unit, so that the portable unit can be stored, locked and charged. The built-in micro-controller board is equipped with a battery charging mechanism, a solenoid-based locking mechanism, smart card reader, and a control-based LCD display with several push-button control lines. In addition, it is built-in with a C-MOS/TTL-based switch (SW), which controls two RS-422 communication lines that connect to two (2) host TeamProcessors for fail-safe purpose, similar to iPOP-R unit's SW as described above. Moreover, it is equipped with 900Mhz wireless RS-232 module to communicate with its designated portable unit and redirect the user's interactivity generated from that particular portable unit to its host TeamProcessor through the wired RS422-based individual user-interactivity link. It is equipped with a tuner and an OSD (on-screen-display) module, so that tuner can tune to the desired channel and generate base-band video and audio signals. The base-band video can be channeled into OSD module, so that any on-screen message generated by the on-board micro-controller can be overlapped with the base-band video. It is also equipped with 2.4Ghz wireless base-band transmitter module (WBBT) to transmit the base band video signals to its designated portable unit.

The portable user-interface terminal is equipped with a micro-controller board, a touch-screen, a 6" NTSC or PAL-based LCD display, a 2.4Ghz wireless base-band receiver (WBBR), a 900Mhz wireless RS232 module, an OSD (onscreen-display) module, speakers/ear phones, cooling fans, an alarm mechanism that interfaces with site entrances, a temperature sensor, and a battery pack. It can also be equipped with an optional magnetic card reader, as well as an optional cordless phone handset with locking mechanism.

The on-board micro-controller of the portable unit handles all the interactivity events generated from the touch-screen and transmits the event messages to its host docking station via wireless RS232. The docking station receives the event messages and redirects them to the host TeamProcessoi either primary or secondary, via the individual RS-422 serial-based user-intemctivity link. The host TeamProcessor deciphers and processes each message, generates the interactive multimedia content, which is further modulated into a RF video signal with a pre-set channel number. The host TeamProcessor will provide the pre-set channel-number information to the on-board micro-controller of the docking station, which controls the built-in l²C tuner. The tuner tunes to the desired interactive or non-interactive channel and demodulates the RF zignal into base band composite video that is channeled into the OSD module. The composite video, which may be a combination of both in-coming video and the message content generated by a built-in On-Screen-Display (OSD) device. The message content, which is resulted from user-interactivity, can be sent to the OSD device's display buffer. The OSD device processes the content and merges it with the base band composite video, creating an overlay-based composite video, which can be channeled into WBBT, together with composite audio generated from the tuner. The WBBT merges composite video and audio, and transmit them to the portable unit via 2.4 GHz. The portable unit is built in with the WBBR unit, which receives the composite video and audio signals. The audio signals link to built-in speakers or an earphone jack. The composite video signal links to the built-in OSD, which generates self- diagnostic messages. After OSD signal processing, the composite video can be display by the 6" LCD on the portable unit.

As shown in FIG. 3F, a preferred portable user-interface unit is illustrated. The preferred portable unit is designed to be equipped with a handle for easy portability, a cordless phone handset and an optional card-swiping mechanism. The detached cordless handset with its contoured shape matches seamlessly with the unit handle, so that when it is locked with the unit, it can be part of the handle. When the unit is set straight on the surface, the detachable cordless handset can be unlocked and released, so that customers can use it for telephone services. Because of its lightweight, the preferred portable unit can be easily accessed, carried and operated anywhere within the commercial site by a number of customers during the business hours.

The iPOR-C unit's main functions are to provide customers with both onsite POS-based electronic purchasing and online POP-based electronic purchasing. The iPOR-C unit interfaces with disclosed system's TeamServers and online servers, so that iPOS and iPOP functions, as described above, can all be accommodated. Customers can use the smart card and insert it into the docking station's smart card reader to log in. After proper authentication, the docking station will release the designated portable unit, so that customers can bring it to the service area within the commercial site. Customers can touch the display monitor to activate subsequent services. The unit is interactive advertising capable, showing interactive advertising-based video or graphical pages on the display. The smart card user can touch the screen and generate interactive advertising-based E-Lead data, which can be stored in the unit and can later be uploaded to the online interactive-advertising-based server for E- Lead processing. 46

In the present invention, other multi-link methods can also be implemented to accommodate more concurrent customers in a larger environment. For example, besides using the RS422 point-to-point-based serial-port-interface for implementing the individual-based user-interactivity link from a RS-422-based commercial PDA to its host TeamProcessor, there are other peripheral buses can also be adopted to implement user-interactivity link. An Ethernet-based commercial PDA can connect to its host TeamProcessor by using an Ethernet- hub, which also connects to other TeamProcessors and their designated Ethernet-based commercial PDAs, creating a group-based common user- interactivity link.

For any RS422 Serial-based commercial PDA using individual-based user- interactivity link, the internal docking station or the set-top-box will have to be equipped with a C-MOS/TTL-based switch (SW), which controls two individual RS-422 user-interactivity links that connect to two (2) host TeamProcessors, both primary and secondary, as discussed above. In so doing, the fail-safe capability can be implemented. For Ethernet-based commercial PDAs, if the primary TeamProcessor should fail, the commercial PDA's on-board microprocessor will try to exhaust all the TeamProcessors linked in the same group, until it finds a TeamProcessor that is still functioning. Therefore, user- interactivity generated from any working commercial PDA will always be responded to without failure. That is, "group-based" user-interactivity link uses Ethernet cable to connect a number of TeamProcessors, Ethernet-based commercial PDAs, creating a fail-safe group. The benefits are the Ethernet hub-based cabling scheme is simpler and fail-safe capability is built-in without adding additional hardware. However, group-based user-interactivity link using Ethernet cable, such as CAT5, only for the physical layer implementation, the data-link layer and networking layer protocols are implemented differently from the regular Ethernet protocol, such as IEEE 802.3 and the like.

Furthermore, besides using 2.4Ghz RF wireless for implementing as a portion of the common-video delivery link connecting a docking station to its designated portable user-interface unit, a short-distance wireless using RF 47

300-ohm antenna pair, hereinafter referred as RFP, can also be adopted as the other option. In so doing, a large number of portable-based commercial PDAs can be accommodated without being confined to only a few available wireless video channels in the 900Mhz range or in the 2.4Ghz range. Each channel needs at least 6Mhz bandwidth without interfering with other vicinity channels.

As shown in FIG. 4.0, a preferred workgroup-server-array-based multi-link electronic purchasing system, which is comprised of 1 ) an 8-TeamProcessor- based main-processing unit, 2) a number of multi-link-based multiplexer devices, as shown in FIG. 4A and 4B, 3) a number of multi-link-based commercial PDAs.

In addition to iPOS-R, iPOP-R and iACT units as discussed above, there are three (3) new types of multi-link commercial PDAs, based on RF-based common video-delivery link and Ethernet-based group user-interactivity link. They are 1 ) RF- and Ethernet-based interactive Point-of-Sale commercial PDAs, hereinafter referred as iPOS-RE units, as shown in FIG. 4C, 2) RF- and Ethernet-based interactive Point-of-Purchase commercial PDAs, hereinafter referred as iPOP-RE units, as shown in FIG. 4D, 3) RF-wired/RFP and Ethernet-based interactive portable commercial PDAs, hereinafter referred as iPOR-W units, as shown in FIG. 4E.

As shown in FIG. 4.0, there are multi-link-based apparatuses, i.e., a modulator box and two cable distribution boxes. In addition, there are two Ethernet-based fail-safe groups. The first fail-safe group contains four (4) TeamProcessors, four (4) iPOS-RE units, four (4) iPOP-RE units and eight (8) iACT units. The second fail-safe group contains four (4) TeamProcessors, eight (8) iPOR-W units and eight (8) iACT units. In addition, the preferred configured system is equipped with a number of non-interactive channel generators, such as security-based Camcorders and DVDΛ/CRs, as well as a number of NTSC/PAL-based TVs. Each TeamProcessor contains two (2) VGA cards and one DVD/MPEG-II playback card, which together can generate 3 48

NTSC/PAL based video signals, modulated as channel 31 , 32, 33 for the first TeamProcessor up to 52, 53, 54 for the eighth TeamProcessor. There are three (3) security-based Camcorders, which generate 3 NTSC/PAL-based video signals that can be further modulated as channels 55, 56, 57 and one VCR, which generates backup or background video signal that can be modulated as channel 58.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a preferred RF modulator box comprises 28 RF modulators with preset channel numbers from 31 to 58. It further contains a group of video combines, so that all of these modulated channels can be combined on a RF cable, i.e., a common video-delivery link, together with existing cable TV signals from channel 1 to channel 30.

As shown in FIG 4B, the preferred 8-TeamProcessor-based configured system deploys two cable distribution boxes, i.e., CDB-408-Ethernet. The first cable distribution box is implemented for the first Ethernet-based fail-safe group, and the second cable distribution box is implemented for the second fail-safe group. Each cable distribution box further consolidates all the individual user-interactivity links, group user-interactivity link and a common RF-based video-delivery link, and distributes each individual set of cables to each attached commercial PDA within each fail-safe group. The common RF- based video-delivery link also connects to each TeamProcessor within each fail-safe group, so that each TeamProcessor can capture the video or the still- image from channel 1 to channel 58, for security and maintenance purposes.

As shown in FIG. 4C, a preferred fail-safe multi-link-based stationed iPOS-RE unit is illustrated. The said unit comprises an intelligent set-top-box, a 13" VGA/TV-changeable LCD display monitor, l²C-based tuner and On-Screen- Display (OSD) device, and serial-based user-interface devices, such as a touch-screen for VGA/TV display, a thermal printer, a smart card reader, as well as a keyboard-port-based magnetic card reader. 49

The set-top-box built-in with the iPOS-RE unit is equipped with a microcontroller and a number of functional modules. Keyboard-based magnetic card reader, touch-screen and smart card reader are the input modules, a serial printer is the output module, as well as a VGA/TV monitor is the display module. The on-board micro-controller handles all the interactivity events generated from its input modules and redirects the event messages to its host TeamProcessor via the common group-based user-interactivity link using Ethernet. The host TeamProcessor deciphers and processes the message, generates the interactive multimedia content, which is further modulated onto an RF video signal with a pre-set channel number. The host TeamProcessor will provide the pre-set channel-number information to the on-board microcontroller, so that it can control the built-in l²C on-board tuner to receive the RF video signal via the common video-delivery link and tune to the right channel. The tuner further demodulates the RF video signal and displays the composite video onto the VGA/TV monitor. In addition, the host TeamProcessor can also decipher and process the input message, generate the text-based content, and send the data via the group-based common Ethernet user-interactivity link to the on-board micro-controller, which can relay the data to the On-Screen- Display (OSD) device's display buffer via l²C link. The OSD device can process the data content and merge it with the incoming composite video, creating an overlay effect that can be displayed onto the VGATV monitor. The OSD can further display any data content, which is the result of self-diagnosis or user-interactivity generated from interfacing either with the on-board microcontroller or any of the TeamProcessors.

If the primary TeamProcessor should fail, the on-board micro-controller will detect and search for all the other TeamProcessors within the fail-safe group, until a functioning TeamProcessor is located. The newly located TeamProcessor can then process the user-interactivity generated from input modules. The newly located TeamProcessor can provide the pre-set channel- number information to the on-board micro-controller, which further controls the on-board tuner to receive RF video signal from the common video-delivery link and tune to the right channel. The interactive multimedia content generated by 50 the newly located TeamProcessor can then be displayed onto the VGA/TV monitor; thereby the full-fledged fail-safe capability can be established. Since the iPOS-RE unit is equipped with a VGA/TV-changeable display monitor, the primary TeamProcessor's VGA-based individual video-delivery link can also be connected. When the primary TeamProcessor fails, the user can switch the monitor from VGA mode to the TV-based NTSC/PAL mode, so that the content generated by the newly located TeamProcessor can be displayed.

An iPOS-RE unit's main functions are the same as an iPOS-R unit. In addition, an iPOS-RE unit interfaces with the same POS interface unit, as shown in FIG. 2D, so that the existing POS station can be seamlessly integrated with an iPOS-RE unit without having to modify the POS-based software program that has been installed.

As shown in FIG. 4D, a preferred fail-safe multi-link-based stationed commercial iPOP-RE unit is illustrated. The said iPOP-RE unit comprises an intelligent set-top-box, a 19" VAG/TV-changeable display monitor, l²C-based tuner and On-Screen-Display (OSD) device, and serial-based user-interface devices, such as a touch-screen for NTSC/PAL-based display, a thermal printer, a smart card reader, as well as a keyboard-port-based magnetic card reader.

The set-top-box built-in with the iPOP-RE unit is equipped with a microcontroller and a number of input, output and display modules as mentioned above. The on-board micro-controller handles all the interactivity events generated from its input modules and redirects the event messages to its host TeamProcessor via the group-based user-interactivity link via Ethernet. The host TeamProcessor deciphers and processes each message, generates the interactive multimedia content, which is further modulated onto an RF video signal with a pre-set channel number. The host TeamProcessor will provide the pre-set channel-number information to the on-board micro-controller, so that it can control the built-in l²C on-board tuner to receive the RF video signal via the common video-delivery link and tune to the right channel. The tuner further demodulates the RF video signal and displays the composite video onto the VGA/TV monitor. In addition, the host TeamProcessor can also decipher and process the input message, generate the text-based content, and send the data via group-based common Ethernet user-interactivity link to the on-board micro-controller, which can relay the data to the On-Screen-Display (OSD) device's display buffer via l²C link. The OSD device can process the data content and merge it with the incoming composite video, creating an overlay effect that can be displayed onto the VGA/TV monitor. The OSD can further display any data content, which is the result of self-diagnosis or user- interactivity generated from interfacing either with the on-board micro-controller or any of the TeamProcessors.

If the primary TeamProcessor should fail, the on-board micro-controller will detect and search for all the other TeamProcessors within the fail-safe group, until a functioning TeamProcessor is located. The newly located TeamProcessor can then process the user-interactivity generated from input modules. Since the newly located TeamProcessor can provide the pre-set channel-number information to the on-board micro-controller, which further controls the on-board tuner to receive RF video signal from the common video- delivery link and tune to the right channel. The interactive multimedia content generated by the newly located TeamProcessor can then be displayed onto the VGA/TV monitor; thereby the full-fledged fail-safe capability can be established. Since the iPOS-RE unit is equipped with a VGA/TV-changeable display monitor, the primary TeamProcessor's VGA-based individual video- delivery link can also be connected. When the primary TeamProcessor fails, the user can switch the monitor from VGA mode to the TV-based NTSC/PAL mode, so that the content generated by the newly located TeamProcessor can be displayed.

The iPOP-RE unit's main functions are the same as an iPOP-R unit, which provides customers with the online electronic purchasing capabilities. The iPOP-RE unit is also interactive advertising capable, showing interactive advertising-based video or graphical pages from any video channel via the 52 common video-delivery link. The smart card user can touch the screen and generate interactive advertising-based E-Lead data, which can be stored in the said unit and can later be subsequently uploaded to the interactive-advertising- based server for E-Lead processing.

The preferred 8-TeamProcessor system further is equipped with eight failsafe multi-link-based portable commercial PDAs. Each portable commercial PDA comprises a smart card docking station and its wireless-linked portable user-interface unit, which is built-in with a number of user-interface peripheral devices, such as digital or analog video LCD display with touch screen, batteries, as well as magnetic card reader. Each docking station communicates with its multi-link portable unit via wired/RFP-wireless video- delivery link and wireless user-interactivity link. This particular commercial PDA, which can be categorized as an interactive Portable-based PDA, is hereinafter referred as iPOR-W.

As shown in FIG. 4E, a preferred fail-safe multi-link-based portable iPOR-W unit is illustrated. It comprises a smart-switch-enhanced serial-based docking station and a portable user-interface unit, based on 900Mhz wireless serial and a wired/RFP-wireless RF for accessing all the interactive and non-interactive channels.

The docking station contains a built-in micro-controller board and an enclosure for housing the portable unit, so that the portable unit can be stored, locked and charged. The built-in micro-controller board is equipped with a battery charging mechanism, a solenoid-based locking mechanism, smart card reader, and a control-based LCD display with several push-button control lines. Moreover, it is equipped with 900Mhz wireless RS-232 module to communicate with its designated portable unit and redirect the user's interactivity generated from that particular portable unit to its host TeamProcessor through the group-based common user-interactivity link using Ethernet. It is also equipped with wired/RFP-wireless module to relay RF signals to its designated portable unit. 53

The portable user-interface terminal is equipped with a micro-controller board, a touch-screen, a 6" NTSC or PAL-based LCD display, a wired/RFP-wireless module, a 900Mhz wireless RS232 module, a tuner, an OSD module, speakers/ear phone jack, cooling fans, an alarm mechanism that interfaces with site entrances, a temperature sensor, and a battery pack. It can also be equipped with an optional magnetic card reader, an optional cordless phone and its handset locking mechanism.

The on-board micro-controller of the portable unit handles all the interactivity events generated from the touch-screen and transmits the event messages to its host docking station via wireless RS232. The docking station receives the event messages and redirects them to the host TeamProcessor, either primary or secondary, via the common group-based user-interactivity link using Ethernet. The host TeamProcessor deciphers and processes each event message, generates the interactive multimedia content, which is further modulated onto an RF video signal with a pre-set channel number. The host TeamProcessor will provide the pre-set channel-number information to the onboard micro-controller of the docking station, which further transmits the information to its designated portable unit via wireless RS232. The on-board micro-controller of the portable unit receives the information and controls the built-in l²C tuner, which also constantly receives the RF video signal via the wired/RFP-wireless connection. The tuner demodulates the in-coming video, tunes to the desired interactive or non-interactive channel, and displays the composite video onto the LCD display. The composite video, which may be a combination of both in-coming video and the message content generated by a built-in On-Screen-Display (OSD) device. The message content, which is resulted from self-diagnosis or user-interactivity, can be sent to the OSD device's display buffer. The OSD device processes the content and merges it with the incoming video, creating an overlay effect that can be displayed onto the LCD display. Furthermore, the physical appearance of an iPOR-W unit is the same as an iPOR-C unit. Also, an iPOR-W unit's main functions are the same as an iPOR-C unit. After illustrating various system configurations with different main-processing units, multi-link multiplexer devices and commercial PDAs, a standard WSA- based onsite electronic purchasing system can be summarized in FIG. 5A. The main-processing unit is equipped with a workgroup server array, which is comprised of up to m-Pair TeamProcessors, with each TeamProcessor having multiple links to connect with a plurality of multi-link-based set-top-boxes via a plurality of multi-link multiplexer devices. Each multi-link set-top-box can accommodate as many off-the-shelf common user-interface devices, Bluetooth-based user-interface devices, as well as special-purpose custom- made user-interface devices, all together creating a multi-link commercial PDA.

Therefore, the preferred WSA-based electronic purchasing system is comprised of 1 ) an m-Pair WSA-based main-processing unit, 2) multiple multi- link multiplexer devices and 3) a plurality of multi-link commercial PDAs, from the first commercial PDA-1 to the last commercial PDA-n. The WSA will provide mission critical highly available and scaleable on-demand interactive multimedia electronic purchasing services in a commercial site and by adjusting the number of n, the quality-of-service (QoS) for each attached commercial PDA can be guaranteed.

FIG. 5B illustrates a multi-node server cluster-based onsite system and FIG. 5C illustrates a multi-tier server array-based onsite system. Multi-node server clusters can provide fail-safe operations with a single application, such as database, while multi-tier server arrays can provide mission critical operations with multiple applications, such as load-balancing, application and database. However, they are not comprised of multi-link fail-over server-pair TeamProcessors with direct-access TeamServer-based database handling capabilities, so they can only link with a number of PC-based set-top-boxes or their equivalents via multiple network links. The scale-up capability will become a problem, if m is becoming a larger number in both cases. FIG. 5D illustrates a preferred workgroup server cluster-based onsite system. It contains a workgroup server cluster-based main-processing unit, which is comprised of a plurality of workgroup server arrays, from WSA-1 to WSA-K. Since each workgroup server array can provide all the attached commercial PDAs with guaranteed quality of services (QoS), the number of workgroup server arrays can be increased and scaled up without limitations. Furthermore, based on the workgroup server cluster link and the S2 link, all the distributed WSA-based database can be aggregated and function as one workgroup server cluster's database, rendering services to a huge number of commercial PDAs, from the first commercial PDA-1 in WSA-1 to the last commercial PDA-N_k in WSA-K.

The present invention further employs a number of methods for implementing onsite electronic purchasing services, based on yet another group of special- purpose multi-link commercial PDAs. These special-purpose commercial PDAs can render 1 ) interactive advertising-based, 2) interactive payment- based and 3) customized content-based electronic purchasing services.

FIG. 6A illustrates a preferred wireless and portable user-interface device, i.e., StorePDA, which allows walk-in customers to conduct onsite interactive advertising-based electronic purchasing activities. FIG. 6A also illustrates a preferred StorePDA Transceiver, which can be attached to any multi-link set- top-box with a UART-based RS232 port. FIG. 6B illustrates a preferred interactive TV display (iTVD) unit, which can be placed in a commercial site and provide public-viewing-based TV commercials for walk-in customers to take subsequent actions with a StorePDA. FIG. 6C illustrates a preferred interactive Manufacturer's E-Commerce service (iMEC) unit, which can be placed in the manufacturer's shelf area and allow walk-in customers to interact with the private-viewing-based TV commercials that are related only to the manufacturer's products or services. The iMEC unit also is equipped with a number of special-purpose matrix-based graphic-mode LCDs for itemized electronic labeling as well as advertising. FIG. 6D illustrates a preferred iPOS unit that is attached with a StorePDA Transceiver, so that it can interface with a StorePDA.

The method of using StorePDA to interface with iTVD and iMEC commercial PDAs is to render interactive advertising and intermediary e-currency-based electronic purchasing services, allowing walk-in customers to react to the public-viewing ads and private-viewing ads. If the walk-in customer is interested with the current commercial on the iTVD, the customer can push the current-AD-0 button as shown in FIG. 6E. If interested in the previous commercial, the customer can push AD-1 button. The StorePDA will record the time of the day and create the E-Lead data for iTVD and there is no need for the StorePDA to directly communicate with iTVD via any wireless link.

The walk-in customer can then go the manufacturer's shelf area, which is installed with an iMEC kiosk and a number of attached iLCD user-interface devices, as illustrated in FIG. 6F. The customer can interface with the private- viewing-based iMEC kiosk unit via the touch screen and scan through all the advertising pages that are embedded with video. Once the interested advertising page is located, the customer can place the StorePDA into the receptacle of the iMEC kiosk unit and trigger via the touch screen to download the E-Lead data to the StorePDA via wireless IR. The customer can also trigger the StorePDA via IR button, directly aim at one iLCD user-interface device that is showing the interested item, and download the E-Lead data.

The main-processing unit, which is equipped with TeamProcessor-based interactive and non-interactive TV channel processors that render the digital- video-based TV commercials, can decipher the E-Lead data as to which TV commercial of which manufacturer is broadcast in which time frame and generate subsequent e-commerce services based on the manufacturer's or advertiser's request. Moreover, the detailed method of how the main processing unit handles multiple public-viewing iTVD kiosks and private- viewing iMEC kiosks concurrently is illustrated in the applicants U.S. Patent No. 6,049,823. The walk-in customer can then go to the checkout counter, which is installed with IPOS kiosk unit as illustrated in FIG. 6G. The customer will insert the smart card or swipe the magnetic membership card on the unit. The cashier will start the check out process on each item and place the StorePDA on the StorePDA transceiver and download all the E-Lead data to the iPOS unit, so that the E-Lead data gather from iMEC, iLCD as well as iTVD kiosks can be processed based on the customer's ID from the smart card or the membership card.

The iPOS unit is an interactive advertising-based commercial PDA that is also capable of providing onsite payment-based electronic purchasing services. It is equipped with a smart card reader and a 13" touch-screen LCD, showing interactive advertising on the right hand side. The customer can touch the screen based on the interested advertising and the associated E-Lead data. The E-Lead data may contain those ready-to-use e-coupons, which can be redeemed immediately through the iPOS unit against those items being already checked-out. In addition, it is equipped with POS interface device, so the customer can be informed of any itemized charge, make electronic payment using E-Wallet and receive reward-based intermediary E-Currencies, such as e-coupons, e-points and e-rebates, during the transaction.

FIG. 6H illustrates a preferred iACT kiosk unit situated at the entrance in a commercial site. The iACT unit is an interactive advertising-based commercial PDA that is also capable of providing customized content-based services. It is equipped with a smart card reader, a printer and a contact or contactless magnetic-tape card reader. When entering the store, the customer can insert the smart card into the smart card reader, as well as swipe or wave the magnetic tape-based membership card or the multi-function smart card via the contact or contactless magnetic-tape card readers. The iACT unit will print out a hardcopy for the customer of the entire available intermediary E-Currencies, such as e-coupons, e-certificates, with associated items' locations in the store. 58

Details regarding E-Lead data generation and processing, E-ADMail and intermediary E-Currencies generation and processing, as well as various subsequent e-commerce based electronic purchasing services, such as smart card-based E-Wallet and customer's personal database services using E- CommerceBoxes, are illustrated in applicant's co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/154,900 entitled "A SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING SMART CARD-BASED E-COMMERCE SERVICES USING E-COMMERCE BOXES".

All the commercial PDAs illustrated in the present invention are capable of communicating with personal-based Bluetooth devices, such as cellphones and handheld PDAs. These Bluetooth devices can interface with iACT kiosk unit by transmitting the membership card ID#, so that customized content- based electronic purchasing services can be rendered. They can further interface with the iTVD, iMEC and iLCD kiosk units by downloading the E-Lead data, so that interactive advertising-based electronic purchasing services can be rendered. Moreover, they can interface with iPOS kiosk unit by transmitting membership card ID# and gathered E-Lead data, so that intermediary E- Currencies can be redeemed and re-issued, rendering interactive advertising- based electronic purchasing services. If these personal-based Bluetooth devices are enhanced with smart chips, which can enable PKI private keys and password-protected E-Wallet, all the aforementioned smart card-based onsite electronic purchasing services, such as interactive advertising and secure/failsafe interactive multiple payments, can be rendered via disclosed commercial PDAs.

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred interactive multimedia- based electronic purchasing system (OS-204), which is configured to include a 2-TeamProcessor-based main-processing unit, peripheral devices and user- operated commercial PDAs. It accommodates a retail store, as one of the typical small-scale installation sites, serving 4 customers concurrently. 59

FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred interactive multimedia- based electronic purchasing system (OS-1224), which is configured to include a 12-TeamProcessor-based main-processing unit, peripheral devices and user-operated commercial PDAs. It accommodates a fast-food restaurant, as one of the typical normal-scale installation sites, serving up to 24 customers concurrently.

FIG. 7C is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred workgroup server cluster-based electronic purchasing system (M10-OS1224), which comprises up to ten (10) OS-1224 systems. It is configured to accommodate a hotel, as one of the typical large-scale installation sites, serving up to 240 customers concurrently.

FIG. 7D is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred large-scale interactive multimedia electronic purchasing system integration (M100-OS1224), which comprises up to ten (10) M10-OS1224 systems. It is configured to accommodate a theatre or stadium, as one of the typical very large-scale installation sites, serving up to 2,400 customers concurrently. Further up- scaling of capacity is readily accommodated.

As will now be understood, the present invention provides an interactive advertising-based transaction-enabling system using user-operated terminals for rendering online and onsite electronic purchasing and e-commerce services.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatuses, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or the scope of Applicant's general inventive concept which is limited only by the appended claims and their equivalents.

I claim:

Claims

1. An interactive multimedia transaction system for use at a commercial site; the system comprising: a plurality of servers; at least one linking device for connecting said servers to input and output lines; a plurality of user interface devices at said commercial site, said user interface devices being in communication with said at least one linking device by employing data transfer links selected from the group of data transfer links consisting of video/audio delivery and user interactive links, multiple serial, Ethernet, fiber channel, and fire wire; and. a plurality of set-top boxes for interfacing said user interface devices to said at least one linking device.

2. The system recited in claim 1 wherein said user interface devices comprise devices taken from the group consisting of portable wireless devices, customer-based kiosks, video display devices, smart-card-based reader devices, and customer-based fixed in store personal digital assistant devices. 61

3. The system recited in claim 1 wherein said user interface devices comprise in- store personal digital assistant devices having user information readers.

4. The system recited in claim 1 wherein said user interface devices comprise in- store portable personal digital assistant devices.

5. The system recited in claim 1 wherein said user interface devices comprise wireless devices.

6. The system recited in claim 1 wherein said user interface devices comprise an audio/video device.

7. An interactive multimedia transaction system for use at a commercial site; the system comprising: a plurality of database servers and a plurality of workgroup processors interconnected by internal workgroup links; a plurality of local transaction devices taken from the group of devices consisting of fixed in-store PDAs and portable in-store PDAs; said local transaction devices being in communication through set-top-boxes with said processors and servers.

62 8. The system recited in claim 7 wherein said local transaction devices comprise devices taken from the group consisting of portable wireless devices, customer-based kiosks, video display devices, smart-card-based devices, and customer-based fixed in- store personal digital assistant devices.

9. The system recited in claim 7 wherein said local transaction devices comprise in- store personal digital assistant devices having user-information readers.

10. The system recited in claim 7 wherein said local transaction devices comprise in- store portable personal digital assistant devices.

11. The system recited in claim 7 wherein said local transaction devices comprise wireless devices.

63

12. The system recited in claim 7 wherein said local transaction devices comprise an audio/video device.

13. A method of processing advertising content in a multi-media-based, multiuser interactive system at a commercial site; the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of site-based personal digital assistant devices at said commercial site; providing a plurality of audio/video displays at said commercial site; providing a plurality of link devices at said commercial site; interconnecting said personal digital assistant devices, said audio/video displays to a plurality of servers using at least one of said linking devices.

14. A method of processing in real-time, electronic currency in a multi-media, multi-user interactive system at a commercial site; the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of site-based personal digital assistant devices at said commercial site; providing a plurality of interactive point of sale terminals at said commercial site; 64

providing a plurality of data transfer links at said commercial site; and interconnecting said personal digital assistant devices and said interactive point of sale terminals to a plurality of servers at said commercial site using said data transfer links.

15. A method of providing on-site electronic commerce services in a multimedia, multi-user interactive system at a commercial site; the method comprising the following steps: providing a plurality of site-based personal digital assistants at said commercial site; implementing said personal digital assistants to respond only to selected user identification inputs; interconnecting said personal digital assistants to a plurality of servers at said commercial site.

16. The method recited in claim 15 wherein said step of providing a plurality of site-based personal digital assistants comprises the step of selecting commercial PDAs and associated set-top-boxes. 65

17. The method recited in claim 15 wherein said step of interconnecting comprises the step of providing a plurality of data transfer links between said personal digital assistants and said servers.

18. A processing unit for on-site electronic purchasing employing a plurality of user-operated terminals; the unit comprising: a server array having a plurality of multi-link processors each having a plurality of server controllers and all being interconnected by a first server link to each other and to a plurality of data base servers; respective pairs of said processors each said pair being connected to an additional server link and to a file status server forming a fail-over processor pair.

19. The processing unit recited in claim 18 wherein said user-operated terminals comprise a plurality of on-site devices taken from the group consisting of interactive advertising and content triggering units; interactive point-of-sale units; interactive point-of-purchase units; interactive portable units; and interactive audio/video units. 66

20. The system recited in claim 1 wherein said user interface devices comprise devices taken from the group consisting of interactive advertising and content triggering units; interactive point-of-sale units; interactive point-of-purchase units; interactive portable units; and interactive audio/video units.

21. The system recited in claim 7 wherein said local transaction devices comprise devices taken from the group consisting of interactive advertising and content triggering units; interactive point-of-sale units; interactive point-of- purchase units; interactive portable units; and interactive audio/video units.

22. A method of conducting secure on-site electronic commerce including at least one of customized content delivery, interactive advertising, and interactive payment; the method comprising the step of: providing a plurality of on-site user interface devices having user identification authentication resources taken from the group consisting of smart cards and built-in smart chip-based bluetooth wireless devices.