Electronic media distribution system with media purchase interface

• US 20030208300A1
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonifi Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mark Dilorenzo
• Inventors: DiLorenzo, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 6,876,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

User interface systems gain access to media data stored in a database for a predetermined amount of time. Access is gained through a server that presents to the interface a selection menu for selecting media data. Upon selection of media data the server accesses the data from the database and transmits it to the user interface. The server also presents to the user interface a content history menu by which ancillary data associated with the content played by the system during the predetermined time is presented. The ancillary data may include the title of the content, the artist of the content, the availability of the content for purchase and its price, the title of one or more compilations, e.g., CDs, on which the content is contained and the availability of the compilations/CD for purchase and the price.

Claims

1. A system for providing electronic media content to any one of a plurality of users, said system comprising:

a plurality of user interfaces each having a video monitor, an input device, speakers and an interface device;

a central database having a plurality of content stored therein, each content having ancillary data associated therewith, the ancillary data also stored in the database;

a server interfacing with both the user interfaces and the central data base over communication lines, the server programmed to;

present to the video monitor a selection menu through which a compilation may be selected, the compilation comprising a plurality of content in a specified order;

in response to a selection of a compilation, present to the video monitor a player menu through which the compilation may be played and one or more of the plurality of content may be selected for playing;

the player menu including a link to a content history menu;

in response to user interaction with the player, access the content for playing through the user interface;

in response to linking to the content history menu, present to the video monitor the content history menu, the history menu comprising data indicative of the content played and its associated ancillary data.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the ancillary data comprises the title of the played content.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the ancillary data comprises the artist of the played content.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the ancillary data comprises information on the artist.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the artist information comprises biographical information and discography information.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the ancillary data comprises an indication of the purchase availability of the played content.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the ancillary data further comprises the price of the played content.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the ancillary data comprises the title of one or more content compilations with which the played content is associated.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the ancillary data comprises an indication of the purchase availability of the one or more content compilations.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the ancillary data further comprises the price of the content compilation.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the ancillary data comprises information on the one or more content compilations.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the history menu provides an interface through which purchasable content may be purchased.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the interface comprises a selection interface by which content to purchase may be selected.

14. The system of claim 1 where the history menu provides data only for content that is played for a predetermined amount of time.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein history menu comprises a link to a search menu by which the content data base may be searched.

16. A method of providing electronic media content to any one of a plurality of user interfaces each having a video monitor, an input device, speakers and an interface device, the content stored in a central database, each content having ancillary data associated therewith, the ancillary data also stored in the database said method comprising:

presenting to the video monitor a selection menu through which a compilation may be selected, the compilation comprising a plurality of content in a specified order;

in response to a selection of a compilation, presenting to the video monitor a player menu through which the compilation may be played and one or more of the plurality of content may be selected for playing;

the player menu including a link to a content history menu;

in response to user interaction with the player, accessing the content for playing through the user interface;

in response to linking to the content history menu, presenting to the video monitor the content history menu, the history menu comprising data indicative of the content played and its associated ancillary data.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the ancillary data comprises the title of the played content.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the ancillary data comprises the artist of the played content.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the ancillary data comprises an indication of the purchase availability of the played content.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the ancillary data comprises the title of one or more content compilations with which the played content is associated.