Method and apparatus for delivering digital multimedia content

• US 20020069308A1
• Filed: 07/10/2001
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Songpro.Com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Songpro.Com, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Ronald L., Collins, Michael K.
• Application Number:
  US09/903,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20020069308A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/5
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4183 providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB

Abstract

A multi-media docking station includes a display monitor arranged to display a selection of available multi-media content, an user input device (such as a keyboard, touchpad, mouse, etc.) used to provide user input commands to a host processor unit. The host processor unit, in turn, executes any received user input command by retrieving a selected multi-media content file(s) from a memory device coupled thereto based upon the particular user selection input commands. The selected multi-media content file(s) is then transferred in a file format appropriate to the selected user supplied storage medium by way of any number of I/O ports.

Claims

1. A multi-media docking station, comprising:

a display monitor arranged to display a selection of available multi-media content;

a host processor unit coupled to the display monitor;

a memory device coupled to the host processor unit;

an I/O port coupled to the host processor unit; and

a user input device used to provide user input commands to the host processor unit which executes any received user input command by retrieving a selected multi-media content file from the memory device based upon the particular user selection input command, wherein the selected multi-media content file(s) is then transferred in a file format appropriate to a selected user supplied storage medium by way of the I/O ports.

2. A docking station as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a remuneration input port coupled to the host processor suitably arranged to receive any number and type of monetary compensation medium such that a user can select any number of multi-media content files for purchase in real time.

3. A docking station as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an external network interface arranged to connect the docking station to a distributed network of interconnect computing devices such that if the selected multi-media content file is not locally available to the docking station, a remote file request can be made to the distributed network of computing devices.

4. A docking station a recited in claim 1, wherein the user input device is selected from a group comprising:

a keyboard, a touchpad, a mouse, a trackpad.

5. A docking station as recited in claim 2, wherein the monetary compensation medium is selected from a group comprising:

cash, a credit card, a debit card.

6. A docking station as recited in claim 1, wherein the file format is selected from a group comprising:

a .WAV format, an MP3 format, and a WMA format.

7. A docking station as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a comestable vending portion suitable for vending a consumable product.

8. A docking station as recited in claim 7, wherein the consumable product is selected from a group comprising:

a soft drink, and a snack.

9. A method for distributing selected multi-media content file, comprising:

displaying a list of available multi-media content files on a display;

selecting a particular multi-media content file from the list of available multi-media content files;

based upon the user selection, determining if the selected file is stored locally in a mass storage medium coupled to the docking station;

determining a type of user supplied storage medium that is to be used to store the selected multi-media file;

determining whether or not monetary remuneration is required;

if monetary remuneration is required, determines if the proper compensation has been received from a remuneration port; and

if the host processor determines that proper remuneration has been received, then transferring the selected file in an appropriate format to the selected user supplied storage medium.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

if it is determined that the request file is not stored locally, then generating a remote file request; and

storing to the mass storage medium.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

formatting the selected file to the appropriate file format.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the appropriate file format is selected from a group comprising:

a .WAV format, an MP3 format, and a WMA format.