System for providing access to playable media
AssigneeMedia Queue, LLC
InventorJohn N. Gross
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A network based distribution system is disclosed for distributing/temporarily renting playable media items, such as movies in a digital format. The distribution system includes a number of components that interoperate to improve a subscriber's experience, including an intelligent queue monitor which works on his/her behalf to ensure that an adequate and interesting list of tides is made available to the subscriber.
Claims22
An electronic system for distributing playable media items to a subscriber including:
- (a) a subscriber queue routine operating on a first computer for setting up a subscriber selection queue for the subscriber, said subscriber selection queue consisting of a list of one or more playable media items to be viewed by the subscriber;
- wherein said subscriber selection queue is set up at least in part in response to item selection directions provided by the subscriber;
- (b) a subscriber queue replenishment control routine which implements queue replenishment rules provided by the subscriber for the subscriber selection queue;and
- (c) a queue monitoring routine which monitor said subscriber selection queue in accordance with said queue replenishment control rules to determine if changes should be made to said subscriber selection queue;
- and
- wherein said subscriber selection queue can be modified by said subscriber queue replenishment control routine to generate a new list of one or more playable media items based on a confirmation from the subscriber.
A network based media rental service system for distributing playable media items to a subscriber, the system comprising:
- (a) a subscriber preference routine for capturing subscriber preference data from the subscriber during a first data session, said subscriber preference data interface operating within a web browser and including queue management options, notification options, and shipment options;
- (b) a subscriber selection routine for storing titles of one or more playable media items in a subscriber selection queue;
- (c) a subscriber queue monitoring routine configured for managing said subscriber selection queue in accordance with said queue management options;
- wherein said subscriber queue monitoring routine automatically adds one or more additional titles to said subscriber selection queue and without additional subscriber input;
- (d) a subscriber notification routine for providing a notice to the subscriber in accordance with said notification options and in response to said subscriber queue monitoring routine adding said one or more additional tides to said subscriber selection queue;
- (e) a subscriber shipping routine for shipping said one or more additional tides to said subscriber in accordance with said shipment options.
A network based media rental service system for distributing playable media items to a subscriber, the system comprising:
- (a) means for receiving subscriber preference data for the subscriber during a first data session, including notification and shipment options;
- (b) means for generating a subscriber profile for the subscriber suitable for use by a recommender system;
- (c) a recommender system suitable for identifying a media item that is likely to be of interest to the subscriber;
- (d) a notification system for notifying the subscriber and shipping said media item to the subscriber in accordance with said subscriber preference data;
- wherein said media item can be automatically shipped to the subscriber after said first data session, and without requiring a second data session by the subscriber with said media rental service.
A digital video recorder coupled to a media distribution system, the digital video recorder comprising:
- (a) means for receiving subscriber preference data for the subscriber during a first data session, including notification and media delivery options;
- (b) means for generating a subscriber profile for the subscriber suitable for use by a recommender system;
- (c) a recommender system suitable for identifying a media item that is likely to be of interest to the subscriber;
- (d) a notification system for notifying the subscriber and delivering said media item to the subscriber in accordance with said subscriber preference data;
- wherein said media item can be automatically delivered to the subscriber after said first data session, and without requiring a second data session by the subscriber with said media distribution system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.