# US 2010/0169463 A1 · Digital content distribution systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0169463 A1 - Document ID: US20100169463A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/719,313 - Filed: 2010-03-08 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2005-02-23 - Assignees: Trans World New York LLC - Inventors: Gregory W. HARPER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100169463A1 ## CPC - G06F 21/1063: {Personalisation} - G06F 21/34: involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards - G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling - G06Q 20/367: {involving electronic purses or money safes} - G06Q 20/382: {insuring higher security of transaction} - G06Q 30/06: Buying, selling or leasing transactions - H04L 67/10: in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46) - G06F 2221/2117: User registration - G06F 2221/2147: Locking files - G06F 2221/2153: Using hardware token as a secondary aspect - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Embodiments of the present invention enable a user to acquire an item (e.g., a digital song, digital video, etc.) using one device (e.g., a portable device) and to easily move a copy of the acquired item from the one device to another device so that a user of the other device can play the item. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for enabling a user having a portable device to acquire an item, comprising: (a) operating a server; (b) enabling the user to connect the portable device to the server; and (c) while the portable device is connected to the server, transmitting from the server to the portable device (1) a helper application and (2) a copy of an item requested by the user, wherein the portable device is configured to store the helper application and the copy of the requested item on a storage unit contained within or connected to the portable device, wherein the helper application is configured to download a second helper application after the portable device connects to a computer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the helper application is configured to download the second helper application substantially in response to the user connecting the portable device to the computer and to a determination that the second helper application is not installed on the computer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second helper application is configured to store a copy of the item stored on the storage unit in a content library stored in a second storage unit that is contained within or connected to the computer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the second helper application is configured to prompt the user to select at least one content player and then store the copy of the item in the content library. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second helper application is configured to silently store a copy of the item stored on the storage unit in a content library stored in a second storage unit that is contained within or connected to the computer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the second helper application is configured to silently store the copy of the item in the content library substantially in response to the user connecting the portable device to the computer and to a determination that no copy of the item is stored in the content library. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step (b) comprises providing a listening and viewing station (LVS) to which the user can directly connect the portable device, wherein the LVS is connected to the server. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the LVS is openly accessible to the public. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the LVS is located within a retail establishment. ### Claim 10 A method for enabling a user having a portable device to acquire an item, comprising: (a) operating a server; (b) enabling the user to connect the portable device to the server; and (c) while the portable device is connected to the server, transmitting from the server to the portable device (1) a helper application and (2) a copy of an item requested by the user, wherein the portable device is configured to store the helper application and the copy of the requested item on a first storage unit contained within or connected to the portable device, wherein the helper application is configured such that, in response to the user connecting the portable device to a particular computer, the helper application automatically begins a process for storing a copy of the item stored on the first storage unit in a content library stored in a second storage unit, said second storage unit being contained within the computer or connected to the computer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the process comprises prompting the user to select at least one content player. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the process comprises silently storing the copy of the item in the content library. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the process consists of silently storing the copy of the item in the content library. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the step (b) comprises providing a listening and viewing station (LVS) to which the user can directly connect the portable device, wherein the LVS is connected to the server. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the LVS is openly accessible to the public. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the LVS is located within a retail establishment.