Media auto exchange system and method

A method of exchanging playable media items over an electronic network between a first subscriber of a media distribution service and a second subscriber of the media distribution service, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) monitoring a first subscriber selection queue for the first subscriber, said first subscriber selection queue consisting of a first ordered list of one or more first playable media items to be delivered to the subscriber in a first priority defined by the first subscriber;
• (b) monitoring a second subscriber selection queue for the second subscriber, said second subscriber selection queue consisting of a second ordered list of one or more second playable media items to be delivered to the second subscriber in a second priority defined by the second subscriber;
• (c) detecting when the first subscriber and the second subscriber have a common tide in their respective first and second subscriber selection queues;
• wherein the first subscriber has a first right of access to said common tide which is earlier than a second right of access to said common tide held by said second subscriber;
• (d) determining whether an inducement should be provided to said first subscriber to surrender said first right of access;
• (e) offering said inducement to said first subscriber;
• (f) providing said first right of access to said second subscriber when said first subscriber accepts said inducement;
• wherein steps (a) through (f) are performed automatically by an exchange program operating under control of the media distribution service.

A method of exchanging playable media items distributed by a network based service provider, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving a request over the network for a first media title from a first subscriber;
• b. determining if a copy of said first media tide can be provided to the first subscriber without requiring a bid from said first subscriber;
• c. in response to the results of step (b) being affirmative, providing a copy of said first media title to said first subscriber without obtaining additional consideration from the first subscriber;
• d. in response to the results of step (b) being negative, automatically reviewing a second subscriber selection queue maintained by the network based service provider on behalf of said first subscriber to locate said first media title for said first subscriber;
• e. determining if said first media title is available through a reserve bid in said second subscriber selection queue;
• f. in response to the results of step (e) being affirmative, offering said first media title to said first subscriber in accordance with said reserve bid;
• g. repeating steps (d) and (e) in response to the results of step (e) being negative;
• h. providing said first media title from said second subscriber selection queue to said first subscriber when said first subscriber accepts said reserve bid.

A computing system for exchanging playable media items over an electronic network between a first subscriber of a media distribution service and a second subscriber of the media distribution service, the computing system comprising:

• (a) a monitoring routine, said monitoring routine being configured for:
• i) monitoring a first subscriber selection queue for the first subscriber, said first subscriber selection queue consisting of a first ordered list of one or more first playable media items to be delivered to the subscriber in a first priority defined by the first subscriber;
• and
• ii) monitoring a second subscriber selection queue for the second subscriber, said second subscriber selection queue consisting of a second ordered list of one or more second playable media items to be delivered to the second subscriber in a second priority defined by the second subscriber;
• and
• iii) detecting when the first subscriber and the second subscriber have a common tide in their respective first and second subscriber selection queues;
• wherein the first subscriber has a first right of access to said common title which is earlier than a second right of access to said common tide held by said second subscriber;
• (b) an exchange routine configured for:
• i) automatically switching said first right of access to said second subscriber for said common tide based on a value of a subscriber satisfaction criterion for said second subscriber generated by an exchange program operating

A computer system for exchanging playable media items distributed by a network based service provider, the computer system comprising:

• (a) a subscriber exchange routine which is configured for:
• i) receiving a request over the network for a first media title from a first subscriber;
• ii) determining if a copy of said first media tide can be provided to the first subscriber without requiring a bid from said first subscriber;
• iii) providing a copy of said first media tide to said first subscriber without obtaining additional consideration from the first subscriber in response to the results of step (b) being affirmative,
• iv) in response to the results of step (b) being negative, reviewing a second subscriber selection queue maintained by the network based service provider to locate said first media tide for said first subscriber;
• v) determining if said first media tide is available through a reserve bid in said second subscriber selection queue;
• vi) in response to the results of step (e) being affirmative, offering said first media tide to said first subscriber in accordance with said reserve bid;
• vii) repeating steps (d) and (e) in response to the results of step (e) being negative;
• ix) providing said first media tide from said second subscriber selection queue to said first subscriber when said first subscriber accepts said reserve bid.