Media transaction processor
First Claim
1. A multimedia transaction processor for facilitating the sale of multimedia material, said apparatus comprising a media server operable to store multimedia material from at least one vendor, meta data representing the content of the multimedia material and data identifying the vendor providing the multimedia material, said meta data and said identifying data being stored in association with said multimedia material, a communications processor connectable, via a communications link, to one or more data processing systems and operable to receive, via said communications link, from one of said data processing systems, data indicative of a request for multimedia content from a buyer, an access processor operable to retrieve from said server possible multimedia material content items corresponding to said requested multimedia content by generating meta data from said data requesting said multimedia content and comparing said generated meta data with the meta data stored in association with said multimedia material, and from the comparison retrieving said possible multimedia content items from said server, and to communicate to the buyer data processing system data representative of said possible multimedia content items, and a transaction controller operable, in response to selection data representative of a selection of at least one of said possible multimedia content items from said buyer, to communicate to said vendor identified by said stored identification, data ordering said selected multimedia content items, and to complete a sales transaction for the selected multimedia material with the buyer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multimedia transaction processor for facilitating the sale of multimedia material, the apparatus comprises a media server operable to store multimedia material from at least one vendor, and to store meta data representing the content of the multimedia material and data identifying the vendor providing the multimedia material, the meta data and the identifying data being stored in association with the multimedia material. The apparatus includes a communications processor connectable, via a communications link, to one or more data processing systems and is operable to receive via the communications link data indicative of a request for multimedia content from one of the buyers. An access processor is operable to retrieve from the server possible multimedia material content items corresponding to the requested multimedia content by generating meta data from the data requesting the multimedia content and comparing the generated meta data with the meta data stored in association with the multimedia material, and from the comparison retrieving the possible multimedia content items from the server. The communications processor communicates to the buyer data processing system data representative of the possible multimedia content items. A transaction controller is operable, in response to selection data, to communicate data requesting the selected multimedia content items to the vendor identified by the stored identification and to complete the transaction with the buyer. The transaction may be completed by arranging for money to be charged to the buyer. The multimedia transaction processor provides a facility for users to sell and to buy multimedia material in order to fulfil a particular need. The buyers have access to multimedia material items from any vendor which places media items on the transaction processor. Preferably the data communications link includes the Internet.
62 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A multimedia transaction processor for facilitating the sale of multimedia material, said apparatus comprising
a media server operable to store multimedia material from at least one vendor, meta data representing the content of the multimedia material and data identifying the vendor providing the multimedia material, said meta data and said identifying data being stored in association with said multimedia material, a communications processor connectable, via a communications link, to one or more data processing systems and operable to receive, via said communications link, from one of said data processing systems, data indicative of a request for multimedia content from a buyer, an access processor operable to retrieve from said server possible multimedia material content items corresponding to said requested multimedia content by generating meta data from said data requesting said multimedia content and comparing said generated meta data with the meta data stored in association with said multimedia material, and from the comparison retrieving said possible multimedia content items from said server, and to communicate to the buyer data processing system data representative of said possible multimedia content items, and a transaction controller operable, in response to selection data representative of a selection of at least one of said possible multimedia content items from said buyer, to communicate to said vendor identified by said stored identification, data ordering said selected multimedia content items, and to complete a sales transaction for the selected multimedia material with the buyer.
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20. A multimedia transaction processor comprising:
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a media storage server storing a plurality of media items and data representative of one or more respective proprietors of rights relating to each item;
a data communications link;
one or more user data processing systems connectable via the data link to the media storage server, each user data processing system having means for identifying, to the media server, a user of that data processing system and to communicate request data to the media storage server representative of a request to transfer selected multimedia items stored in said media storage server to the requesting user data processing system, wherein said media storage server is operable, in response to said request data to transfer a multimedia item, to compare the identity of the requesting user with the proprietors of rights relating to the requested media item and, in the event that the user of the data processing system is not the proprietor of rights relating to the requested media item, to generate charging information relating to a charge to that user for transfer of the requested multimedia item. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A media storage server for storing a plurality of media items and ownership data representative of one or more respective proprietors of rights relating to each item, and charging data representative of the cost of selling said media items;
- said media storage server being connectable via a data communications link to one or more user data processing system, each user data processing system having means for identifying, to the storage server, a user of that data processing system and to communicate request data representative of a request to transfer media items held at the storage server to that user data processing system;
said media storage server being operable, in response to a request from a user data processing system to transfer a media item, to compare the identity of the user of that user data processing system with the proprietors of rights relating to the requested media item and, in the event that the user of the data processing system is not the proprietor of rights relating to the requested media item, to generate charging information from said charging data relating to a charge to that user for transfer of the requested media item.
- said media storage server being connectable via a data communications link to one or more user data processing system, each user data processing system having means for identifying, to the storage server, a user of that data processing system and to communicate request data representative of a request to transfer media items held at the storage server to that user data processing system;
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26. A method of media storage and retrieval, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing, at a media storage server, a plurality of media items, data representing one or more respective proprietors of rights relating to each item and charging data representative of the cost of selling said media items;
connecting a user data processing system to the storage server via a data communications link;
the user data processing system identifying, to the storage server, a user of that user data processing system;
the user data processing system issuing requests to the storage server to transfer media items held at the storage server to that user data processing system;
the media storage server, in response to request data representative of a request for multimedia material from a user data processing system to transfer a media item, comparing the identity of the requesting user data processing system with the proprietors of rights relating to the requested media item and, in the event that the requesting user data processing system is not the proprietor of rights relating to the requested media item, generating charging from the charging data information relating to a charge to that user for transfer of the requested media item.
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27. A method of operation of a media system, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing a plurality of media items and data representative of one or more respective proprietors of rights relating to each item;
connecting to a user data processing system via a data communications link;
receiving from the user data processing system data identifying, to the storage server, the requesting user data processing system;
receiving from the requesting user data processing system request data representative of a request to transfer multimedia data items from the media storage server to that user data processing system;
in response to a request from a user data processing system to transfer a media item, comparing the identity of the requesting user data processing system with the proprietors of rights relating to the requested media item and, in the event that the requesting user data processing system is not the proprietor of rights relating to the requested media item, generating charging information from said charging data relating to a charge to that user for transfer of the requested media item.
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31. A media storage and retrieval method substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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32. A method of operation of a media storage system, the method being substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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33. A multimedia transaction processor and a multimedia transaction system as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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34. A method of vending and a method of buying multimedia material as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Specification