Methods and systems for purchasing, sharing and transferring ownership of digital music using authenticated data files from near field communication (NFC) chips

A method of transferring music files between near field communication (NFC) enabled devices, the method comprising:

• a) providing an NFC enabled device loaded with a library of music files and an NFC chip encoded with an NFC identifier (NFC ID);
• b) generating a playlist of music files from the library of music files;
• c) assigning a playlist ID, a transfer code, and the NFC Identifier to the playlist on a server system;
• d) saving the playlist ID to the NFC chip;
• e) receiving the playlist ID from the NFC chip using a subsequent NFC enabled device and near field communication;
• f) entering the transfer code into the subsequent NFC enabled device;
• g) authenticating the NFC ID, playlist ID and transfer code on the server system;
• h) sending a permission request from the server system to the NFC enabled device to confirm transfer of the music files to a subsequent user;
• and if approved
• i) deleting the music files from the library of music files;
• and
• j) registering the music files to the subsequent user's account, wherein the registration updates ownership of the music files.

A method for transferring music files using near field communication (NFC) to an initial purchaser, the method comprising:

• a) providing an NFC chip with an NFC identifier (ID) unique to the NFC chip;
• b) assigning a group of music files to an NFC ID and purchase code pair, wherein the NFC ID and purchase code pair are stored on a server system configured to access and transfer the music files;
• c) reading the NFC ID from the NFC chip using an NFC enabled device loaded with music sharing software configured to play the music files;
• d) entering the purchase code into the NFC enabled device;
• e) authenticating the NFC ID and purchase code pair received by the NFC enabled device through communication with the server system;
• and if authenticated
• f) registering the music files to a user of the NFC enabled device, wherein the user is permitted to play the music files on the NFC enabled device and optionally download the music files to the NFC enabled device for playing anytime.

A method of sharing a music playlist using near field communication (NFC), the method comprising:

• a) assigning a playlist Identifier (playlist ID) to a playlist of music files;
• b) receiving an NFC Identifier (NFC ID) from an NFC chip to an NFC enabled device using near field communication;
• c) writing the playlist ID to the NFC chip using the NFC enabled device;
• d) storing the NFC ID and playlist ID to a server system, wherein the server system comprises an accessible copy of the music files encoded in the playlist ID for streaming without downloading the music files into long-term memory of subsequent NFC-enabled devices;
• e) receiving the NFC ID and playlist ID from the NFC chip with a subsequent NFC enabled device;
• f) authenticating the received NFC ID and playlist ID on the subsequent NFC enabled device with the server system;
• and if authenticated,
• g) streaming the copy of the music files through the subsequent NFC enabled device without downloading the copy of music files for replay, wherein the streaming is limited to a predetermined time or predetermined repetition of streaming one or more of the music files within the playlist.

A method of sharing a music playlist using near field communication (NFC), the method comprising:

• a) assigning a playlist Identifier (playlist ID) to a playlist of music files;
• b) receiving an NFC Identifier (NFC ID) from an NFC chip to an NFC enabled device using near field communication;
• c) writing the playlist ID to the NFC chip using the NFC enabled device;
• d) storing the NFC ID and playlist ID to a server system, wherein the server system comprises an accessible copy of the music files encoded in the playlist ID for streaming without downloading the music files into long-term memory of subsequent NFC-enabled devices;
• e) receiving the NFC ID and playlist ID from the NFC chip with a subsequent NFC enabled device;
• f) authenticating the received NFC ID and playlist ID on the subsequent NFC enabled device with the server system, and if authenticated, playing or streaming the copy of the music files through the subsequent NFC enabled device without downloading the copy of music files for replay;
• and
• h) presenting an option to purchase one or more of the music files using the subsequent NFC enabled device after the step of authenticating the NFC ID and playlist ID.

A near field communication (NFC) enabled device loaded with music sharing software, wherein the music sharing software comprises:

• a) NFC programming configured to receive data files from NFC chips and to write data files to NFC chips;
• b) a music player for playing music files;
• c) programming to populate one or more databases with NFC IDs assigned to NFC chips and playlist identifiers (playlist IDs) assigned to playlists of music files;
• d) query programming to compare received NFC IDs and received playlist IDs to the one or more databases;
• and if a pair is authorized, launching a playlist assigned to a received playlist ID;
• e) communication programming for communicating with a server system to update playlist IDs and NFC IDs;
• and
• f) a random data string generator that generates a string of data comprising a random order of numbers, letters and symbols.