Media exchange system & method

• US 20040172275A1
• Filed: 02/02/2004
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Media Queue LLC
• Original Assignee: Media Queue LLC
• Inventors: Gross, John N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,700,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications

Abstract

A network based distribution system and method is disclosed for permitting subscribers to exchange playable media items, such as movies in a digital format. The exchange system includes a number of components that interoperate to improve a subscriber'"'"'s experience, including an intelligent queue monitor which works on his/her behalf to identify potential items of interest for the subscriber. The system can thus automatically exchange for desirable titles, including other titles from other subscribers, under a set of programmed directives from the user, and/or in response to supply/demand requirements of other subscribers.

Claims

1. A method of exchanging playable media items distributed by a network based service provider, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) defining a first set of media items as available for bidding by subscribers of the network based service provider;

(b) receiving a request over the network for a first media title from a first subscriber;

(c) reviewing said first set of media items to locate said first media title for said first subscriber;

(d) in response to the results of step (c) being affirmative, offering said first media title to said first subscriber in accordance with a bid identified for access rights for said first media title;

(e) providing said access rights to said first subscriber when said first subscriber accepts said bid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first set of media items are movies in DVD format which have been recently released.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first set of media items are items which have been automatically identified as being popular with subscribers of the network based service provider.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said access rights include a right to receive said first media title by a predetermined date.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first subscriber can satisfy said bid by offering access rights for a second media title owned by said first subscriber to a second subscriber.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first set of media items are designated with an exchange status which changes with time based on a demand for such items.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said access rights are associated with a rental request queue maintained at an online website for a second subscriber.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said bid includes a request for additional capacity from said first subscriber to be used at least during a limited period by a second subscriber.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first subscriber can make a bid for a media title before such media title becomes available as part of said first set of media items.

10. The method of claim 1, further including a step:

receiving a request from one or more subscribers to designate media titles for which they have access rights to be part of said first set of media items to be made available to other subscribers.

11. The method of claim 1, further including a step:

(f) monitoring said transfer of access rights between said first subscriber and a second subscriber, and between other subscribers, to compile a list of transferred media tides.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said list is used to identify demand trends for media items.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the network based service provider automatically provides a notification to said first subscriber to indicate availability of said first media title for bidding.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said notification is generate in response to a determination made by a recommender system based on a computed expected desirability of such first media tide to said first subscriber.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said bid is provided by a second subscriber who has access rights for said first media tide.

16. A method of exchanging playable media items distributed by a network based service provider, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a request over the network for a first media title from a first subscriber;

(b) determining if a copy of said first media title can be provided to the first subscriber without requiring a bid from said first subscriber;

(c) in response to the results of step (b) being affirmative, providing a copy of said first media title to said first subscriber without obtaining additional consideration from the first subscriber;

(d) in response to the results of step (b) being negative, reviewing a second subscriber selection queue maintained by the network based service provider to locate said first media tide for said first subscriber;

(e) determining if said first media title is available through a reserve bid in said second subscriber selection queue;

(f) in response to the results of step (e) being affirmative, offering said first media title to said first subscriber in accordance with said reserve bid;

(g) repeating steps (d) and (e) in response to the results of step (e) being negative;

(h) providing said first media title from said second subscriber selection queue to said first subscriber when said first subscriber accepts said reserve bid.

17. A computing system for exchanging playable media items over an electronic network between a first subscriber of a media distribution service and a second subscriber of the media distribution service, the computing system comprising:

(a) an exchange routine configured for;

i) identifying a first set of media items available for bidding;

ii) receiving a request from a first subscriber to access a first media tide;

iii) reviewing said first set of media items to locate said first media title for said first subscriber;

iv) in response to the results of step (c) being affirmative, offering said first media title to said first subscriber in accordance with a bid identified for access rights for said first media tide;

v) providing said access rights to said first subscriber when said first subscriber accepts said bid.

18. The computing system of claim 17, wherein said exchange routine is integrated as part of an online website maintained by the media distribution service.

19. The computing system of claim 17, wherein said exchange routine is implemented by a separate monitoring service operated as part of an online website separate from a website maintained by the media distribution service.

20. The computing system of claim 17, wherein said exchange routine is integrated as part of a standalone software routine operating on a client computing machine which interacts with a computing system maintained by the media distribution service.