Content vending machine using IEEE 1394

A multimedia content vending machine comprising:

• a. a processor;
• b. a user interface for displaying a menu of downloadable selections corresponding to a plurality of multimedia data files stored at a remote location, identifying a user selection from the menu, and notifying the processor of the user selection;
• c. a payment interface for accepting payment and for notifying the processor when payment is made;
• d. a download interface for coupling with an external media storage device;
• and
• e. a network interface for coupling with a communications network, wherein the remote location storing the plurality of multimedia data files is coupled to the network interface via the communications network,
• wherein upon receiving payment notification from the payment interface, the processor instructs the remote location to transmit the stored multimedia data file corresponding to the user selection, the network interface receives the transmitted multimedia data file and transmits the multimedia data file to the download interface, and the download interface receives the transmitted multimedia data file from the network interface and transmits the multimedia data file to the external media storage device.

A multimedia content vending machine comprising:

• a. a processor;
• b. a storage medium for storing a plurality of encrypted multimedia data files;
• c. a user interface for displaying a menu of downloadable selections corresponding to the plurality of multimedia data files stored in the storage medium, identifying a user selection from the menu, and notifying the processor of the user selection;
• d. a payment interface for accepting payment and for notifying the processor when payment is made;
• and
• e. a download interface for coupling with an external media storage device,
• wherein upon receiving payment notification from the payment interface, the processor instructs the storage medium to further encrypt the stored multimedia data file corresponding to the user selection with a time key for restricting playback to within a predetermined time frame and to transmit the encrypted multimedia data file to the download interface, and the download interface receives the transmitted encrypted multimedia data file from the storage medium and transmits the encrypted multimedia data file to the external media storage device.

A multimedia content vending machine comprising:

• a. means for controlling;
• b. means for storing a plurality of multimedia data files;
• c. means for interfacing with a user wherein the means for interfacing with a user displays a menu of downloadable selections corresponding to the plurality of multimedia data files stored in the means for storing, identifies a user selection from the menu, and notifies the means for controlling of the user selection;
• d. means for accepting payment and for notifying the means for controlling when payment is made;
• and
• e. a first means for interfacing with a network coupled to an external media storage device,
• wherein the means for controlling instructs the means for storing to transmit the stored multimedia data file corresponding to the user selection upon receiving payment notification from the means for accepting payment, and further wherein the first means for interfacing with the network receives the transmitted multimedia data file from the means for storing and transmits the multimedia data file to the external media storage device.

A method of distributing digital content comprising:

• a. storing a plurality of multimedia data files in a physically accessible multimedia content vending machine;
• b. displaying a menu of downloadable selections on the multimedia content vending machine, wherein the menu of downloadable selections corresponds to the plurality of multimedia data files;
• c. identifying a user selection from the menu;
• d. notifying a processor of the user selection;
• e. accepting payment and notifying the processor when payment is made;
• and
• f. transmitting the stored multimedia data file corresponding to the user selection upon receiving payment notification at the processor, wherein the multimedia data file is transmitted from the multimedia content vending machine to an externally coupled media storage device.

A method of distributing digital content comprising:

• a. storing a plurality of multimedia data files at a remote location;
• b. displaying a menu of downloadable selections at a multimedia content vending machine, wherein the menu of downloadable selections corresponds to the plurality of multimedia data files;
• c. identifying a user selection from the menu;
• d. notifying a processor within the multimedia content vending machine of the user selection;
• e. accepting payment and notifying the processor when payment is made;
• and
• f. transmitting the stored multimedia data file corresponding to the user selection upon receiving payment notification at the processor, wherein the multimedia data file is transmitted from the remote location over a communications path to the multimedia content vending machine and to an externally coupled media storage device.

A method of accessing digital content comprising:

• a. making a selection from a menu of downloadable selections displayed on a multimedia content vending machine, wherein the menu of downloadable selections corresponds to a plurality of multimedia data files stored within the multimedia content vending machine;
• b. providing payment through a payment interface on the multimedia content vending machine;
• c. connecting an external media storage device to the multimedia content vending machine;
• d. downloading the multimedia data file corresponding to the selection onto the external media storage device;
• and
• e. disconnecting the external media storage device from the multimedia content vending machine;

A method of accessing digital content comprising:

• a. making a selection from a menu of downloadable selections displayed on a multimedia content vending machine, wherein the menu of downloadable selections corresponds to a plurality of multimedia data files stored at a remote location from the multimedia content vending machine;
• b. providing payment through a payment interface on the multimedia content vending machine;
• c. connecting an external media storage device to the multimedia content vending machine;
• d. downloading the multimedia data file corresponding to the selection from the a remote location over a communications path to the multimedia content vending machine and onto the external media storage device;
• and
• e. disconnecting the external media storage device from the multimedia content vending machine;