Super distribution of music

• US 20020156691A1
• Filed: 04/20/2001
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hughes, David A., Carpenter, Matthew A., Nguyen, Phuong L., Massiha, Mandana
• Application Number:
  US09/838,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20020156691A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method of distribution of music and other entertainment content. A music or (other entertainment content) sample is received as an attachment to an email. The recipient also receives a link to a source of purchase of the full music selection. In one embodiment, the full music selection is embodied as part of the music sample file and can be purchased by decryption. In another embodiment, the full copy of the music selection can be delivered as a download from the Internet. In other embodiments, the music sample is embodied as a link to a streaming music sample.

Claims

1. A method of purchasing electronic entertainment content, comprising:

receiving an electronic sample of the entertainment content;

receiving a link to a source of purchase of a complete copy of the entertainment content;

using the link to connect to the source of purchase of the complete copy; and

purchasing the complete copy.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the link comprises a URL.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sample includes an encrypted copy of the entertainment content, and wherein the complete copy of the entertainment content is purchased by decrypting the encrypted copy.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sample is received as an attachment to an email message from a sender.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sample is received from a sender and further comprising crediting an affinity credit to the sender.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the purchased copy of the entertainment content is delivered via an electronic file transfer over the Internet.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sample comprises a computer file containing a compressed content sample.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content sample comprises a link to a source of streaming music, and wherein the link to the source of streaming music further provides a link to the source of purchase.

9. A method of purchasing music, comprising:

receiving an electronic sample of a music selection as an attachment to an email message from a sender, wherein the sample comprises a computer file containing a compressed music sample;

receiving a URL link to a source of purchase of a complete copy of the music selection;

using the URL link to connect to the source of purchase of the complete copy;

purchasing the complete copy of the music selection, wherein the purchased copy of the music selection is delivered via an electronic file transfer over the Internet.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the sample is received as an attachment to an email message from a sender.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the sample is received from a sender and further comprising crediting an affinity credit to the sender.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the URL is received as an attachment to an email message from a sender.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the sample is received from a sender and further comprising crediting an affinity credit to the sender.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the sample is received as an attachment to an email message from a sender.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the sample is received from a sender and further comprising crediting an affinity credit to the sender.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the unlocking comprises unlocking the music selection for a limited number of plays.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the sample is received as an attachment to an email message from a sender.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the sample is received from a sender and further comprising crediting an affinity credit to the sender.

27. An electronic storage medium containing instructions that, when executed on a programmed processor carry out the method of claim 21.

12. A method of purchasing music, comprising:

receiving a URL as an attachment to an email message from a sender, the URL providing a link to a streaming music sample;

the URL further providing a link to a source of purchase of a complete copy of the music selection;

using the URL link to connect to the source of purchase of the complete copy;

purchasing the complete copy of the music selection, wherein the purchased copy of the music selection is delivered via an electronic file transfer over the Internet.

15. A method of purchasing music, comprising:

receiving an electronic sample of a music selection as an attachment to an email message from a sender, wherein the sample comprises a computer file containing a compressed music sample and an encrypted version of the music selection;

receiving a URL link to a source of purchase of a complete copy of the music selection;

using the URL link to connect to the source of purchase of the complete copy;

purchasing the complete copy of the music selection; and

unlocking a complete copy of the music selection embodied in the sample by decrypting the encrypted version of the music selection.

19. A method of purchasing entertainment content, comprising:

receiving an electronic sample of the entertainment content as an attachment to an email message from a sender, wherein the sample comprises a computer file containing an unencrypted sample along with an encrypted version of the entertainment content;

receiving a URL link to a source of purchase of a complete copy of the entertainment content;

using the URL link to connect to the source of purchase of the complete copy;

purchasing access to the complete copy of the entertainment content; and

unlocking the complete copy of the entertainment embodied in the sample by decrypting the encrypted version of the entertainment content.

22. A method of distributing entertainment content, comprising:

distributing a sample of the entertainment content, wherein the sample comprises a computer file containing an unencrypted sample along with an encrypted version of the entertainment content;

receiving payment for the complete copy of the entertainment content from a purchaser via the Internet;

sending an encryption key to the purchaser via the Internet for unlocking the complete copy of the entertainment embodied in the sample.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the purchaser receives the sample from a sender via email.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising awarding an affinity credit to the sender.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the unencrypted sample comprises a compressed sample.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein the entertainment content comprises digital audio.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the entertainment content comprises digital audio.

30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising providing the sample as streaming digital audio.

31. An electronic storage medium containing instructions that, when executed on a programmed processor carry out the method of claim 28.

28. A method of electronic distribution of entertainment content, comprising:

distributing an email message containing a link to a sample of the entertainment content;

providing a link to purchase the entertainment content;

receiving payment from a purchaser for the entertainment content via the Internet; and

transferring a file to the purchaser via the Internet.

32. A method of rewarding electronic distribution of entertainment content, comprising:

providing a link to purchase the entertainment content;

receiving payment from a purchaser for the entertainment content via the Internet;

transferring a file to the purchaser via the Internet;

determining that the purchaser received a sample of the entertainment content from a sender; and

awarding an affinity credit to the sender.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the entertainment content comprises digital audio.

34. An electronic storage medium containing instructions that, when executed on a programmed processor carry out the method of claim 32.

35. The method according to claim 32 carried out on an electronic commerce server.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the entertainment content comprises digital audio.

36. An electronic commerce server, comprising:

a programmed processor;

means for coupling the programmed processor to the Internet;

program means running on the programmed processor that carries out the process of;

providing a link to purchase the entertainment content;

receiving payment from a purchaser for the entertainment content via the Internet;

transferring a file to the purchaser via the Internet;

determining that the purchaser received a sample of the entertainment content from a sender; and

awarding an affinity credit to the sender.