Multicasting method and apparatus

A method for transmitting at least one stream of audio and/or visual information over a communications network to a plurality of users comprising the steps of:

• controlling the routing of the stream of information through the network in response to selection signals received from the users, and
• monitoring the reception of the stream of information by the users and accumulating records relating to the reception of the stream of information by the users wherein at least one stream of information comprises an audio and/or visual selection and the records that are accumulated indicate the time that a user starts receiving the audio and/or visual selection and the time that the user stops receiving the audio and/or visual selection.

A communication system comprising:

• means for converting at least one stream of audio and/or visual information into a stream of addressed digital packets complying with the specifications of a network communication protocol,
• means for routing such stream via a communication network to selected users,
• means for controlling the routing of the stream of packets in response to selection signals received from the users, and means for monitoring the reception of packets by the user and for accumulating records that indicate which streams of packets were received by which users, wherein at least one stream of Rackets comprises an audio and/or visual selection, and the means for monitoring further includes means for accumulating records that indicate the time that a user starts receiving the audio and/or visual selection and the time that the user stops receiving the audio and/or visual selection.

A method for transmitting at least one stream of audio and/or visual information over a communications network to a plurality of users comprising the steps of:

• controlling the routing of the stream of information through the network in response to selection signals received from the users, and
• monitoring the reception of the stream of information by the users and accumulating records relating to the reception of the stream of information by the users, wherein at least one stream of information comprises music selections and the records that are accumulated indicate how many users did or did not listen to the entire selection.

A method for transmitting at least one stream of audio and/or visual information over a communications network to a plurality of users comprising the steps of:

• controlling the routing of the stream of information through the network in response to selection signals received from the users, and
• monitoring the reception of the stream of information by the users and accumulating records relating to the reception of the stream of information by the users, wherein at least one stream of information comprises an audio and/or visual selection and the records that are accumulated indicate the elapsed time that a user received the audio and/or visual selection.