System, method and apparatus for integrated access to electronic works

• US 20010025256A1
• Filed: 01/17/2001
• Published: 09/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Universal Music Group Incorporated (Universal Music Group NV)
• Original Assignee: Universal Music Group Incorporated (Universal Music Group NV)
• Inventors: Oliphant, Mike, Kaplan, Dan, Knott, John
• Application Number:
  US09/760,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20010025256A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for integrating a user'"'"'s access to electronic works from multiple services or sources. The invention is preferably practiced at a content location, a host location and/or a user location. In a preferred embodiment, the user has access to works at the host through an account and access to additional works at the content location. To integrate access to works available from the host location and the content location, the content location searches its own memory for electronic works available to the user. When the search is complete, the content location transmits a message to the host. The message preferably includes user identification information needed to access the user'"'"'s account with the host, an address of the content location and an identifier or work code for each work identified in the search. The message may also include some meta-data. In response, the host links the information received with the user'"'"'s account. When a user accesses his or her account and requests a work, the host identifies the work and its location with a uniform resource locator or other indicator. The host also sends a message or request to the content location to deliver the work identified by the uniform resource locator to the user location. Next, the content location delivers the requested work to the user location via streaming, downloading, or any other type of electronic delivery.

Claims

1. A method for integrating links to content at multiple sources, comprising the steps of:

providing an on-line account with access to a first electronic work, wherein the account is accessible based on a user identification, wherein a first identifier identifies the first electronic work, and wherein the first identifier is linked to the on-line account;

receiving the user identification, a second identifier for a second electronic work, and an address for a remote content location;

storing the second identifier and the address for the remote content location;

linking the second electronic work to the on-line account;

receiving a request for the second electronic work; and

sending a message identifying the second electronic work to a network location to initiate delivery of the second electronic work to a network location.

2. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the address for the remote location is an Internet protocol address.

3. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the step of receiving further includes receiving meta-data associated with the second electronic work.

4. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the second identifier is assigned to the second electronic work incrementally.

5. The method of

claim 1

, further comprising the step of updating the address of remote content location.

6. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the network location is an Internet protocol address.

7. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the steps occur in order.

8. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the account is linked to multiple remote content locations.

9. The method of

claim 1

, further comprising the steps of:

storing meta-data associated with the first electronic work;

receiving meta-data associated with the second electronic work from the remote content source; and

integrating the meta-data associated with the first electronic work with the meta-data associated with the second electronic work.

10. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the first electronic work was added to the on-line account after the user proved ownership of the first electronic work.

11. The method of

claim 10

, wherein the user proved ownership with a physical copy of the first electronic work.

12. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the first electronic work was added to the on-line account when authorization was received from a retailer.

13. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the network location is the user location.

14. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the message also identifies the address of the remote content location.

15. A method for integrating links to multiple sources of content, comprising the steps of:

scanning a memory in a remote content location for an electronic work, wherein the remote content location has an address;

assigning an identifier to the electronic work;

transmitting the identifier and the address of the remote content location to a central location;

receiving a request for the electronic work from the central location, wherein the request includes an instruction to provide the electronic work to a specified location;

retrieving the electronic work from memory; and

providing the electronic work to the specified location.

16. The method of

claim 15

, further comprising the step of extracting meta-data from the electronic work.

17. The method of

claim 15

, wherein the step of transmitting also transmits at least some meta-data to the central location.

18. The method of

claim 15

, further comprising the step of inserting the assigned identifier, a file name, and a local address into a look-up table.

19. The method of

claim 15

, wherein the step of scanning scans the memory for files with certain characteristics.

20. The method of

claim 15

, wherein the electronic work has a file name, and

claim 15

further comprises the step of generating meta-data for the electronic work based on the file name.

21. The method of

claim 15

, wherein step of assigning is done incrementally.

22. A system for integrating links to content at multiple sources, comprising:

means for providing an on-line account with access to a first electronic work, wherein the account is accessible based on a user identification, wherein a first identifier identifies the first electronic work, and wherein the first identifier is linked to the on-line account;

means for receiving the user identification, a second identifier for a second electronic work, and an address for a remote content location;

means for storing the second identifier and the address for the remote content location;

means for linking the second electronic work to the on-line account;

means for receiving a request for the second electronic work; and

means for sending a message identifying the second electronic work to a network location to initiate delivery of the second electronic work to a network location.

23. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer a program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to integrate links to content at multiple sources, said computer program logic comprising:

providing means for enabling the processor to provide an on-line account with access to a first electronic work, wherein the account is accessible based on a user identification, wherein a first identifier identifies the first electronic work, and wherein the first identifier is linked to the on-line account;

receiving means for enabling the processor to receive the user identification, a second identifier for a second electronic work, and an address for a remote content location;

storing means for enabling the processor to store the second identifier and the address for the remote content location;

linking means for enabling the processor to link the second electronic work to the on-line account;

receiving means for enabling the processor to receive a request for the second electronic work; and

sending means for enabling the processor to send a message identifying the second electronic work to a network location to initiate delivery of the second electronic work to a network location.

24. A system for integrating links to multiple sources of content, comprising:

means for scanning a memory in a remote content location for an electronic work, wherein the remote content location has an address;

means for assigning an identifier to the electronic work;

means for transmitting the identifier and the address of the remote content location to a central location;

means for receiving a request for the electronic work from the central location, wherein the request includes an instruction to provide the electronic work to a specified location;

means for retrieving the electronic work from memory; and

means for providing the electronic work to the specified location.

25. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to integrate links to multiple sources of content, said computer program logic comprising:

scanning means for enabling the processor to scan a memory in a remote content location for an electronic work, wherein the remote content location has an address;

assigning means for enabling the processor to assign an identifier to the electronic work;

transmitting means for enabling the processor to transmit the identifier and the address of the remote content location to a central location;

receiving means for enabling the processor to receive a request for the electronic work from the central location, wherein the request includes an instruction to provide the electronic work to a specified location;

retrieving means for enabling the processor to retrieve the electronic work from memory; and

providing means for enabling the processor to provide the electronic work to the specified location.