Interface for presenting downloadable digital data content format options

• US 20020013826A1
• Filed: 04/17/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Music Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Music Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hughes, David A., Smith, Allen J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,526,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A transaction for downloadable digital data is facilitated over an electronic network. A presence is maintained on the electronic network to which a consumer may connect. A page is transmitted from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network, the page including information concerning the downloadable digital data. A command is received from the consumer over the electronic network indicating that the consumer wishes the transaction for the downloadable digital data. Format options are transmitted from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network via the at page, the format options being selectable by the consumer and including at least one of (i) types of software on which the downloadable digital data may be executed; (ii) types of portable devices on which the downloadable digital data may be stored; (iii) types of compression formats in which the downloadable digital data may be configured; (iv) types of CODECs through which the downloadable digital data may be processed; and (v) types of digital rights management algorithms to which the downloadable digital data may be subject.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating a transaction for downloadable digital data over an electronic network, the method comprising:

maintaining a presence on the electronic network to which a consumer may connect;

transmitting a page from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network, the page including information concerning the downloadable digital data;

receiving a command from the consumer over the electronic network indicating that the consumer wishes the transaction for the downloadable digital data; and

transmitting format options from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network via the page, the format options being selectable by the consumer and including at least one of (i) types of software on which the downloadable digital data may be executed;

(ii) types of portable devices on which the downloadable digital data may be stored;

(iii) types of compression formats in which the downloadable digital data may be configured;

(iv) types of CODECs through which the downloadable digital data may be processed; and

(v) types of digital rights management algorithms to which the downloadable digital data may be subject.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) a given type of software is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of compression formats, the types of digital rights management algorithms, and the types of portable devices;

(ii) a given type of compression format is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of digital rights management algorithms, and the types of portable devices;

(iii) a given type of digital rights management algorithm is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of portable devices; and

(iv) a given type of portable device is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of digital rights management algorithms.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising permitting selection by the consumer from among only the compatible respective subsets of at least one of the types of compression formats, the types of digital rights management algorithms, and the types of portable devices, when the given type of software is selected by the consumer.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising permitting selection by the consumer from among only the compatible respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of digital rights management algorithms, and the types of portable devices, when the given type of compression format is selected by the consumer.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising permitting selection by the consumer from among only the compatible respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of portable devices, when the given type of digital rights management algorithm is selected by the consumer.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising permitting selection by the consumer from among only the compatible respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of digital rights management algorithms, when the given type of portable device is selected by the consumer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the downloadable digital data includes at least one of audio data, video data, and text data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each type of software, each type of compression format, each type of digital rights management algorithm, and each type of portable device is displayed on the page and selectable by way of activation by the consumer.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving the consumer'"'"'s selection of at least one of the type of software, the type of compression format, the type of digital rights management algorithm, and the type of portable device, over the electronic network at the presence.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting the downloadable digital data to the consumer over the electronic network in a format consistent with at least one of the selected type of software, the selected type of compression format, the selected type of digital rights management algorithm, and the selected type of portable device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing at least one of the selected type of software, the selected type of compression format, the selected type of digital rights management algorithm, and the selected type of portable device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising designating the stored type of software, type of compression format, type of digital rights management algorithm, and type of portable device as default format options and transmitting the default format options from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network via the page in response to another command from the consumer over the electronic network indicating that the consumer wishes another transaction for downloadable digital data.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable devices on which the downloadable digital data may be stored are compliant with secure digital music initiative (SDMI) specifications.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic network is the Internet and the presence is a web site thereon.

15. A system for facilitating a transaction for downloadable digital data over an electronic network, comprising:

means for maintaining a presence on the electronic network to which a consumer may connect;

means for transmitting a page from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network, the page including information concerning the downloadable digital data;

means for receiving a command from the consumer over the electronic network indicating that the consumer wishes the transaction for the downloadable digital data; and

means for transmitting format options from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network via the page, the format options being selectable by the consumer and including at least one of (i) types of software on which the downloadable digital data may be executed;

(ii) types of portable devices on which the downloadable digital data may be stored;

(iii) types of compression formats in which the downloadable digital data may be configured;

(iv) types of CODECs through which the downloadable digital data may be processed; and

(v) types of digital rights management algorithms to which the downloadable digital data may be subject.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of (i) a given type of software is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of compression formats, the types of digital rights management algorithms, and the types of portable devices;

(ii) a given type of compression format is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of digital rights management algorithms, and the types of portable devices;

(iii) a given type of digital rights management algorithm is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of portable devices; and

(iv) a given type of portable device is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of digital rights management algorithms.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the downloadable digital data includes at least one of audio data, video data, and text data.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein each type of software, each type of compression format, each type of digital rights management algorithm, and each type of portable device is displayed on the page and selectable by way of activation by the consumer.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for transmitting the downloadable digital data to the consumer over the electronic network in a format consistent with at least one of the selected type of software, the selected type of compression format, the selected type of digital rights management algorithm, and the selected type of portable device.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the portable devices on which the downloadable digital data may be stored are compliant with secure digital music initiative (SDMI) specifications.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the electronic network is the Internet and the presence is a web site thereon.

22. An electronic storage medium for storing instructions which, when executed by a programmable controller, carry out a method for facilitating a transaction for downloadable digital data over an electronic network, comprising:

maintaining a presence on the electronic network to which a consumer may connect;

transmitting a page from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network, the page including information concerning the downloadable digital data;

receiving a command from the consumer over the electronic network indicating that the consumer wishes the transaction for the downloadable digital data; and

transmitting format options from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network via the page, the format options being selectable by the consumer and including at least one of (i) types of software on which the downloadable digital data may be executed;

(ii) types of portable devices on which the downloadable digital data may be stored;

(iii) types of compression formats in which the downloadable digital data may be configured;

(iv) types of CODECs through which the downloadable digital data may be processed; and

(v) types of digital rights management algorithms to which the downloadable digital data may be subject.

23. The electronic storage medium of claim 22, wherein at least one of (i) a given type of software is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of compression formats, the types of digital rights management algorithms, and the types of portable devices;

(ii) a given type of compression format is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of digital rights management algorithms, and the types of portable devices;

(iii) a given type of digital rights management algorithm is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of portable devices; and

(iv) a given type of portable device is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of digital rights management algorithms.

24. The electronic storage medium of claim 22, wherein the downloadable digital data includes at least one of audio data, video data, and text data.

25. The electronic storage medium of claim 22, wherein each type of software, each type of compression format, each type of digital rights management algorithm, and each type of portable device is displayed on the page and selectable by way of activation by the consumer.

26. The electronic storage medium of claim 22, further comprising means for transmitting the downloadable digital data to the consumer over the electronic network in a format consistent with at least one of the selected type of software, the selected type of compression format, the selected type of digital rights management algorithm, and the selected type of portable device.

27. The electronic storage medium of claim 22, wherein the portable devices on which the downloadable digital data may be stored are compliant with secure digital music initiative (SDMI) specifications.

28. The electronic storage medium of claim 22, wherein the electronic network is the Internet and the presence is a web site thereon.