Enhanced content tracking system and method

A system for attributing quantitative use of a client-selectable digital source file at an identifiable client device, the selectable digital source file including at least a plurality of musical sections, the system comprising:

• a server;
• at least one client device;
• a network supporting selective connection of the server to the at least one client device;
• wherein the server is arranged:
• to provide to the client device with controlled access to a client-selected digital source file;
• to receive from the client device tracking data that is linked to a unique identifier related to the client-selected digital source file and which tracking data reports local use of said client-selected digital source file by or at the client, said tracking data relating to at least one of:
• entry and exit points associated with playing, at the client device, of at least one of said musical sections in the client-selected digital source file, and
• how the client-selected digital source file was used, or performed or manipulated at the client device;
• to resolve performance telemetry of musical sections by the client device by reference to the unique track identifier and said generated tracking data, thereby identifying and attributing, as viewed from the client's perspective, quantitative use of individual musical sections of the client-selected digital source file.

A computer program product stored in a computer-readable non-transitory tangible medium, the computer program product comprising code that, when loaded into a computer, executes to cause the computer to attribute, to an identifiable client device, quantified use of an identifiable digital source file that at least contains a plurality of musical sections, the code including procedure to perform a method that:

• obtains access to the identifiable digital source file;
• determines local use of the identifiable digital source file at the client by automatically tracking entry and exit points associated with playing of at least one of said musical sections in the identifiable digital source file and automatically generating tracking data for said entry and exit points, and
• sends a report of local use of at least a portion of the identifiable digital source file by the client, the report associating the tracking data with a unique identifier associated with the identifiable digital source file and identifying points in real time used for cross-fades or cuts that maintain musical rhythm between entry and exit points and wherein the tracking data provides performance telemetry relating to use of musical sections by or at the client device by reference to the unique track identifier and said generated tracking data, whereby said report is arranged to allow remote attribution, as viewed from the client's perspective, of quantitative use of musical sections of the identifiable digital source file by or at the client device.

A server for identifying and attributing identified quantitative use of digital source audio files each having at least one musical section, the server arranged to provide:

• controlled access to a plurality of individual identifiable digital source files, the plurality of individual identifiable digital source files stored in a database;
• in response to a request received from a client device for access to a selected digital source file of the plurality of digital audio files, to provide the client device with access to the selected digital source file and wherein each client device is one of a multiplicity of remote networked and independently operable client devices in communication with the server;
• to provide, to the client device, a unique identifier related to said selected digital source file;
• to receive from the client device tracking data that is linked to the unique identifier and which tracking data reports local use of the selected digital source file at the client device, said tracking data relating to at least one of:
• entry and exit points associated with playing, at the client device, of at least one of said musical sections in the selected digital source file, and
• how the selected digital source file was used, or performed or manipulated at the client device;
• to resolve performance telemetry of musical sections at a specific client device by reference to the unique track identifier and said generated tracking data, thereby identifying and attributing, as viewed from the specific client device's perspective, quantitative use by the specific device of musical sections from the plurality of source files of the database.