Purchase and delivery of digital content using multiple devices and data networks

• US 20030060157A1
• Filed: 10/04/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Concert Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Concert Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Henrick, Robert F.
• Application Number:
  US10/265,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060157A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.04
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/85 which are mobile communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system that facilitates the purchase and delivery of audio and video content (e.g., entertainment media) over the Internet is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the disclosed system allows a user who hears or sees an audio or video broadcast to use a cell phone or other wireless device to order the broadcast material, and have it remotely delivered to an independent device (e.g., the user'"'"'s personal computer) without further user intervention. Thus, the system allows the user to order the desired content using a wireless device that the user will often have in his or her possession when he or she hears or sees the desired content, but to have the content delivered to a second remote device.

Claims

1. A system for the delivery of digital content corresponding to content identified by a media source viewed or heard by an individual, the individual possessing a first data device adapted to transmit and receive data messages and having access to a second data device adapted to download digital data files, comprising:

a server that is accessed in an interactive manner by the individual using the first data device to select desired content by entering a content identifier;

a piece of software adapted to be installed on the second data device to facilitate the downloading of digital content from the server;

the server being adapted to download the selected content to the second data device with the aid of the piece of software.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the media source is a source selected from the group of:

a billboard, a poster, a newspaper, a book, a magazine, and a catalog.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the media source is a source selected from a group of:

a compact disc, a video tape, a cellular telephone network, and the Internet.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first data device is a digital cell phone adapted to communicate with the server via a wireless connection.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the wireless connection is established via a local area wireless network

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first data device is a PDA or other appliance with a wireless connection.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first data device is a PC with a wired Internet connection.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the content received by the broadcast receiver is broadcast via a digital satellite network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the content received by the broadcast receiver is broadcast via a cable network

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the interactive manner in which the first device communicates with the server is via a voice telephone call.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the voice call is taken by a human.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the voice call is taken by a voice response system.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein selected content is downloaded through a community or subscription service that does not charge for each download.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein selected content is downloaded from a second server upon authorization.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the second server is operated by the same entity that operates the first server.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the second server is operated by a distinct entity from the entity that operates the first server.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the second data device is a PC.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the second data device is a music playback client that has connectivity to the Internet

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the second data device is preconfigured with the piece of software before being purchased by the individual.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the second data device communicates with the first server via a wireless connection.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the first server is further adapted to stream said digital content to the first data device or the second data device at a time specified by the individual.

22. The system of claim 1, where the second data device maintains an always-on connection to the Internet.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the second data device periodically connects to the Internet and checks with the first server to determine whether there is content for the second data device to download.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the server multicasts content and the second data device is provided with a code that permits it to decrypt and save a particular portion of the multicast content.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the second data device comprises a digital receiver for a digital radio broadcast and is given instructions to save a particular content.

26. The system of claim 1, further comprising a digital recording device for recording the downloaded music.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the digital recording device comprises a recordable CD ROM, DVD, hard disk, or minidisk.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the digital recording device comprises removable FLASH or other memory usable in a portable MP3 player.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is adapted to bill the individual for downloaded content.

30. A system for the delivery of digital content corresponding to content received by an audiovisual receiver in the possession of an individual, the individual also possessing a first data device adapted to transmit and receive data messages and having access to a second data device adapted to download digital data files, comprising:

a server that is accessed in an interactive manner by the individual using the first data device to select desired content;

a piece of software adapted for installation on the second data device to facilitate the downloading of digital content from the server;

the server being adapted to download the selected content to the second data device with the aid of the piece of software.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the audiovisual receiver is a television.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the content received by the audiovisual receiver is broadcast from a television station.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the content received by the audiovisual receiver is broadcast via a cable television network.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the content received by the audiovisual receiver is broadcast via an Internet netcast.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the first data device is a digital cell phone adapted to communicate with the server via a wireless connection.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the wireless connection is established via a local area wireless network

37. The system of claim 30, wherein the first data device is a PDA or other appliance with a wireless connection.

38. The system of claim 30, wherein the first data device is a PC with a wired Internet connection.

39. The system of claim 30, wherein the content received by the broadcast receiver is broadcast via a digital satellite network.

40. The system of claim 30, wherein the content received by the broadcast receiver is broadcast via a cable network

41. The system of claim 30, wherein the interactive manner in which the first device communicates with the server is via a voice telephone call.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the voice call is taken by a human.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the voice call is taken by a voice response system.

44. The system of claim 30, wherein selected content is downloaded through a community or subscription service that does not charge for each download.

45. The system of claim 30, wherein selected content is downloaded from a second server upon authorization.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the second server is operated by the same entity that operates the first server.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the second server is operated by a distinct entity from the entity that operates the first server.

48. The system of claim 30, wherein the second data device is a PC.

49. The system of claim 30, wherein the second data device is a music playback client that has connectivity to the Internet

50. The system of claim 30, wherein the second data device is preconfigured with the piece of software before being purchased by the individual.

51. The system of claim 30, wherein the second data device communicates with the first server via a wireless connection.

52. The system of claim 30, wherein the first server is further adapted to stream said digital content to the first data device or the second data device at a time specified by the individual.

53. The system of claim 30, where the second data device maintains an always-on connection to the Internet.

54. The system of claim 30, wherein the second data device periodically connects to the Internet and checks with the first server to determine whether there is content for the second data device to download.

55. The system of claim 30, wherein the server multicasts content and the second data device is provided with a code that permits it to decrypt and save a particular portion of the multicast content.

56. The system of claim 30, wherein the second data device comprises a digital receiver for a digital radio broadcast and is given instructions to save a particular content.

57. The system of claim 30, further comprising a digital recording device for recording the downloaded music.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the digital recording device comprises a recordable CD ROM, DVD, hard disk, or minidisk.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein the digital recording device comprises removable FLASH or other memory usable in a portable MP3 player.

60. The system of claim 30, wherein the server is adapted to bill the individual for downloaded content.