US 2018/0139212 A1Published application

Subscription Media On Demand IX

AssigneeB# On Demand, LLC

InventorGregg S. Homer

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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.

Claims3

Dependent claims

A system for on-demand distribution of works over a communications network, comprising:

a memory;
a processor in data communication with the memory;
a network interface in data communication with the processor;
at least one catalog stored in the memory;
wherein the at least one catalog is configured to reference at least a first work and a second work, wherein the first work is different from the second work, wherein each of the first work and the second work is selectable by a user from the at least one catalog, wherein a first data file comprises at least a portion of the first work, wherein a second data file comprises at least a portion of the second work, wherein the first data file is different from the second data file, wherein each of the first data file and the second data file is capable of transmission to a user device over the communications network, wherein each of the first data file and the second data file is capable of play on a software player associated with the user device, wherein each of the first data file and the second data file is encrypted prior to play, wherein at least a portion of the first data file is configured to reside in both main and non-volatile memory on the user device at the time of play of the first data file, wherein at least a portion of the second data file is configured to reside in both main and non-volatile memory on the user device at the time of play of the second data file, and wherein either:
the first data file and the second data file each comprises at least one musical recording, or
the first data file and the second data file each comprises at least one moving image;
and
wherein the processor is configured to require a first authorization, which first authorization is configured to enable at least one of transmission or play of at least a portion of each of the first data file and the second data file, wherein the first authorization is configured to expire with respect to both the first data file and the second data file if at least one predetermined act is not performed by or on behalf of the user within a predetermined period of time, wherein the at least one predetermined act and the predetermined period of time are the same for both the first data file and the second data file, wherein the first authorization is usable across at least two logon sessions within the predetermined period of time, and wherein the at least one of transmission or play of at least a portion of each of the first data file and the second data file is configured to be at least one of limited or inhibited after the expiration of the first authorization.

6 more elements

A method of on-demand distribution of works over a communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a first request from a user device to access at least one catalog stored in a memory, wherein the at least one catalog is configured to reference at least a first work and a second work, wherein the first work is different from the second work, wherein each of the first work and the second work is selectable by a user from the at least one catalog, wherein a first data file comprises at least a portion of the first work, wherein a second data file comprises at least a portion of the second work, wherein the first data file is different from the second data file, wherein each of the first data file and the second data file is capable of transmission to a user device over the communications network, wherein each of the first data file and the second data file is capable of play on a software player associated with the user device, wherein each of the first data file and the second data file is encrypted prior to play, wherein at least a portion of the first data file is configured to reside in both main and non-volatile memory on the user device at the time of play of the first data file, wherein at least a portion of the second data file is configured to reside in both main and non-volatile memory on the user device at the time of play of the second data file, and wherein either:
the first data file and the second data file each comprises at least one musical recording, or
the first data file and the second data file each comprises at least one moving image;
returning the access to the at least one catalog in response to the first request;
receiving a second request from the user device for at least one of transmission or play of at least a portion of each of the first data file and the second data file;
and
requiring a first authorization, which first authorization is configured to enable at least one of transmission or play of at least a portion of each of the first data file and the second data file;
wherein the first authorization is configured to expire with respect to both the first data file and the second data file if at least one predetermined act is not performed by or on behalf of the user within a predetermined period of time, wherein the at least one predetermined act and the predetermined period of time are the same for both the first data file and the second data file, wherein the first authorization is usable across at least two logon sessions within the predetermined period of time, and wherein the at least one of transmission or play of at least a portion of each of the first data file and the second data file is configured to be at least one of limited or inhibited after the expiration of the first authorization.

5 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method of accessing works by a user device in a data communication network, the method comprising:

requesting, in a first request, access to at least one catalog stored in a memory of a remote computing device, wherein the at least one catalog is configured to reference at least a first work and a second work, wherein the first work is different from the second work, wherein each of the first work and the second work is selectable by a user from the at least one catalog, wherein a first data file comprises at least a portion of the first work, wherein a second data file comprises at least a portion of the second work, wherein the first data file is different from the second data file, wherein each of the first data file and the second data file is capable of transmission to a user device over the communications network, wherein each of the first data file and the second data file is capable of play on a software player associated with the user device, wherein each of the first data file and the second data file is encrypted prior to play, wherein at least a portion of the first data file is configured to reside in both main and non-volatile memory on the user device at the time of play of the first data file, wherein at least a portion of the second data file is configured to reside in both main and non-volatile memory on the user device at the time of play of the second data file, and wherein either:
the first data file and the second data file each comprises at least one musical recording, or
the first data file and the second data file each comprises at least one moving image;
receiving the access to the at least one catalog in response to the first request;
receiving a requirement for a first authorization, which first authorization is configured to enable at least one of transmission or play of at least a portion of each of the first data file and the second data file, wherein the first authorization is configured to expire with respect to both the first data file and the second data file if at least one predetermined act is not performed by or on behalf of the user within a predetermined period of time, wherein the at least one predetermined act and the predetermined period of time are the same for both the first data file and the second data file, wherein the first authorization is usable across at least two logon sessions within the predetermined period of time;
and
receiving, at the user device, at least a portion of each of the first data file and the second data file;
wherein the at least one of transmission or play of at least a portion of each of the first data file and the second data file is configured to be at least one of limited or inhibited after the expiration of the first authorization.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/867,668Filed 10 Jan 2018
Priority: 18 Jan 2000
Published: 17 May 2018
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

Application09/484,632Continuation in part · filed 18 Jan 2000
Application09/910,438Continuation · filed 19 Jul 2001
Application10/908,373Continuation · filed 9 May 2005
Application13/011,624Continuation · filed 21 Jan 2011
Application13/011,702Continuation · filed 21 Jan 2011
Application13/011,688Division · filed 21 Jan 2011
Application14/481,558Continuation · filed 9 Sep 2014
Application15/002,141Continuation · filed 20 Jan 2016
Application15/376,364Continuation · filed 12 Dec 2016
Application15/867,668Continuation
Application13/011,702Division
Application09/910,438Continuation in part
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