US 10,866,979 B2Granted

Subscription media on demand IX

AssigneeB# On Demand, LLC

InventorGregg S. Homer

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An electronic media distribution/play system includes a service facility that has a communications network interface and maintains a data file catalog. The catalog is sent over the network to requesting users, and the system processes payments from customers in establishing file access authorizations. Encrypted user-selected files and a player program are transmitted to each customer for metered access to received data files as limited by the authorization, and customers can make additional selections and play the encrypted files freely while the authorization remains established. The system can transmit the data files from local storage, and also provide links to encrypted files that are stored at remote vendor facilities. Authorizations can be for selected portions or class levels of the catalog, and for terms measured as calendar time, play time, and collective number of plays. Also disclosed is a method for facilitating the distribution and accessing of electronic files.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A system for facilitating distribution and accession of data files, comprising:

(a) a service facility having an electronically accessible catalog of a plurality of different data files, each of which comprises at least a portion of a different work, and a network interface for communicating over a communications network;
(b) a service facility configured to receive from the network interface a user request to view the catalog;
(c) a service facility configured to transmit the catalog to the user over the communications network in response to the user request to view the catalog;
(d) a service facility configured to receive from the network interface a user request to establish a user account for the user, to determine whether the user is qualified to establish the user account for the user, and if the user is qualified to establish the user account for the user, to establish an authorization for accessing an authorized plurality of the different data files, each of which comprises at least a portion of a different work, wherein the authorization is usable across a plurality of logon sessions, as limited by the authorization, and wherein the authorization is configured to expire if at least one predetermined act is not performed by or on behalf of the user within a predetermined period of time;
(e) a service facility configured to receive from the network interface a user request to access selected ones of the authorized plurality of the different data files;
(f) a service facility configured to transmit the selected ones to user main memory over the communications network as received data files in response to the user request;
and
(g) a service facility configured to provide to the user a player program for accessing the received data files, wherein the player program is implemented for metering access to the received data files as limited by the authorization.

5 more elements

A method for facilitating distribution and accession of data files, comprising:

(a) providing a service facility having an electronically accessible catalog of a plurality of different data files, each of which comprises at least a portion of a different work, and a network interface for communicating over a communications network;
(b) providing a service facility configured to receive from the network interface a user request to view the catalog;
(c) providing a service facility configured to transmit the catalog to the user over the communications network in response to the user request to view the catalog;
(d) providing a service facility configured to receive from the network interface a user request to establish a user account for the user, and if the user is qualified to establish the user account for the user, to establish an authorization for accessing an authorized plurality of the different data files, each of which comprises at least a portion of a different work, wherein the authorization is usable across a plurality of logon sessions, as limited by the authorization, and wherein the authorization is configured to expire if at least one predetermined act is not performed by or on behalf of the user within a predetermined period of time;
(e) providing a service facility configured to receive from the network interface a user request to access selected ones of the authorized plurality of the different data files;
(f) providing a service facility configured to transmit the of selected ones of the authorized plurality of the different data files to user main memory over the communications network as received data files in response to a user request;
and
(g) providing a service facility configured to provide to the user a player program for accessing and metering access to the received data files, wherein the player program is implemented for metering access to the received data files as limited by the authorization.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/867,668Filed 10 Jan 2018 · continuation
Priority: 18 Jan 2000
Published: US 2018/0139212 A117 May 2018
Granted: 15 Dec 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification21 codes

G06F 16/3344
Query execution: using natural language analysis
G06F 21/6218
Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules: to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file…
G06Q 10/109
Office automation; Time management: time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
G06Q 20/10
Payment architectures: specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems

Family

Application09/484,632Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Jan 2000
Application09/910,438Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Jul 2001
Application10/908,373Parent of this continuation · filed 9 May 2005
Application10/908,373Parent of this division · filed 9 May 2005
Application13/011,624Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Jan 2011
Application13/011,702Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Jan 2011
Application13/011,688Parent of this division · filed 21 Jan 2011
Application14/481,558Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Sep 2014
Application15/002,141Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Jan 2016
Application15/376,364Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Dec 2016
US 2018/0139212 A1Pre-grant publication · published 17 May 2018
US 9,900,323 B2Parent of this continuation
US 9,553,880 B2Parent of this continuation
US 9,330,242 B2Parent of this continuation
US 8,832,149 B2Parent of this continuation
US 9,031,985 B2Parent of this continuation
Application13/011,702Parent of this division
US 7,877,412 B2Parent of this continuation
US 6,912,528 B2Parent of this continuation
Application09/910,438Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 7,877,412 B2Parent of this division
US 2002/0042730 A1Published application
US 2005/0187936 A1Published application
US 2011/0113067 A1Published application
US 2011/0119308 A1Published application
US 2011/0119769 A1Published application
US 2014/0380509 A1Published application
US 2016/0156634 A1Published application
US 2017/0093881 A1Published application
US 10,866,979 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.