Music distribution system

• US 20040199654A1
• Filed: 04/04/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gibson Brands, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fleet Capital Corporation (Bank of America Corp.)
• Inventors: Juszkiewicz, Henry E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,216,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4182 for identification purposes, e.g. storing user identification data, preferences, personal settings or data restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code in combination with an additional device, e.g. dongle or smart card G06F21/123
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4398 involving reformatting operations of audio signals details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467

Abstract

Systems for distributing music to a plurality of customers via the Internet provide each customer with a uniquely identified proprietary device for receiving, playing and recording music. A music server computer system is provided for distributing the music to the proprietary devices over the Internet. The system provides for tracking usage of the music on the proprietary devices and reporting the usage data over the Internet to the music server compute system. The system provides for the secure distribution of digital music content over the Internet to consumers in a manner that allows efficient and economical usage of the content by consumers, while providing adequate usage reporting to copyright owners and providing adequate copy protection to prohibit unauthorized usage.

Claims

1. A method of distributing music to a plurality of customers via the Internet, comprising:

(a) providing each customer with a uniquely identified proprietary device for receiving, playing and recording music;

(b) providing a music server computer system for distributing the music to the proprietary devices over the Internet; and

(c) tracking usage of the music on the proprietary devices and reporting usage data over the Internet to the music server computer system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

combining data reported to the music server computer system from a plurality of the proprietary devices in step (c), and collectively reporting to copyright owners on the combined usage of a plurality of customers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein in step (c) the usage data includes data on the recording of the music on a transportable recorded media.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transportable recorded media is a recordable CD.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

embedding a unique identifier in music distributed to each proprietary device, the unique identifier identifying the specific proprietary device which received the music, so that any subsequent unauthorized copying of the music can be tracked to a responsible party in control of the specific proprietary device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

distributing the music from the music server computer system to the proprietary devices in a format of reduced quality as compared to commercial pre-recorded CDs, so that a music copy recorded by one of the proprietary devices is of a lesser quality than a commercial pre-recorded CD.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the format of reduced quality is an .mp3 format.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using one of the proprietary devices to record the music by recording a copy on a transportable recorded media in a format such that the copy cannot be duplicated in a playable form.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transportable recorded media is a recordable CD.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

preventing access to the music on the music server computer system by unauthorized users who are not using an authorized proprietary device.

11. A method of distributing music to a plurality of users via a communications network, comprising:

(a) providing each user with a unique identifier associated with a specific device on which the user receives and records music;

(b) directing the music to authorized devices over the communications network; and

(c) reporting data to copyright owners on the extent of distribution of each owner'"'"'s music in step (b).

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

tracking with the device the usage of the music by the device, and automatically reporting usage data to an operator via the communications network; and

combining usage data reported from a plurality of the devices, and collectively reporting to the copyright owners on the extent of usage of each owner'"'"'s music by the device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

embedding a unique identifier in music recorded by each device, the unique identifier identifying the specific device which recorded the music, so that any subsequent unauthorized copying of the recorded music can be tracked to a responsible party in control of the specific device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein:

step (b) includes distributing the music to the devices in a format of reduced quality as compared to commercial pre-recorded CDs, so that a music copy recorded by one of the devices is of a lesser quality than a commercial pre-recorded CD.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the format of reduced quality is an .mp3 format.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

using one of the devices to record the music by recording a copy on a transportable recorded media in a format such that the copy cannot be duplicated in a playable form.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the transportable recorded media is a recordable CD.

18. A method of distributing music to a plurality of customers over the Internet, comprising:

(a) providing each customer with a proprietary device for receiving, storing, playing and recording music;

(b) providing a music server computer system for distributing the music to the proprietary devices over the Internet; and

(c) embedding a unique identifier in music stored on each proprietary device, the unique identifier corresponding to the specific proprietary device which stored the music, so that any subsequent unauthorized copying of the recorded music can be tracked to a responsible party in control of the specific proprietary device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

in step (c), the unique identifier is embedded in the music by the music server computer system prior to distributing the music to each proprietary device.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein:

in step (c), the unique identifier is embedded into the music by each proprietary device.

21. A music server computer system for distributing music over the Internet, comprising:

an Internet communication system;

a music database containing music;

an authorized units database containing information uniquely identifying units that are authorized to receive music from the music database; and

music server software operable to cause the music server computer system to

review the information in the authorized units database to identify units authorized to receive music from the music database and

transmit music only to authorized units listed in the authorized units database using the Internet communication system.

22. The music server of claim 21, wherein the music server software is further operable to prevent unauthorized devices from accessing music on the music server computer system.

23. The music server of claim 22, wherein the music server software prevents unauthorized access to music by requesting unit identification information from any device attempting to access the music server computer system and denying that device access if it cannot provide unit identification information that matches unit identification information stored in the authorized units database.

24. The music server of claim 21, wherein the music server software is operable to cause the music server computer system to store information regarding the number of times music is downloaded from the music server computer system in a music usage database on the music server computer system.

25. The music server of claim 24,

further comprising a recording artist royalty database containing information regarding royalty rates for one or more recording artists;

and

wherein the music server software is operable to calculate royalties owed to the one or more recording artists using the information regarding royalty rates and the information regarding the number of times music is downloaded from the music server computer system.

26. The music server system of claim 21, wherein the music server software causes the music server computer to transmit streaming audio and only .mp3 audio files.

27. A music server computer system for tracking music distributed over the Internet, comprising:

an Internet communication system;

a music database containing music;

a download device identification database for storing information regarding devices receiving music from the music server computer system; and

music server software operable to cause the music server computer system to

transmit music over the Internet using the Internet communication system to one or more devices; and

prior to transmitting music to a particular device,

label music to be downloaded to the particular device with information uniquely identifying the particular device, and

store the information uniquely identifying the particular device in the download device identification database.

28. The music server system of claim 27, wherein the music server software causes the music server computer to label the music in such a way that the information uniquely identifying the device cannot be removed from the music without causing the music to become unplayable.

29. The music server of claim 27, wherein the music server software causes the music server computer to store, in the download device identification database, date and time information for each music download to a particular device.

30. The music server of claim 27, wherein the music server software causes the music server computer to store, in the download device identification database, Internet location information identifying a location on the Internet where each music download is transmitted.

31. The music server of claim 27, further comprising:

an authorized devices database containing information uniquely identifying devices that are authorized to receive music from the music database; and

wherein the music server software is further operable to cause the music server computer system to

review the information in the authorized devices database to identify devices authorized to receive music from the music database, and

transmit music only to authorized devices listed in the authorized devices database.

32. The music server of claim 27, wherein the music server software causes the music server computer to transmit streaming audio in an .mp3 audio file format.

33. A music server computer system for distributing music over the Internet, comprising:

an Internet communication system;

a music database containing music and music program guides;

a television program guide database containing information regarding television programs in one or more regional areas;

a unit location database for storing regional location information for one or more authorized units; and

music server software operable to cause the music server computer system to transmit music, music program guides, and television program guides over the Internet using the Internet communication system to one or more units.

34. The music server of claim 33, wherein the music program guides include date and time information identifying when music will be downloaded from the music server.

35. The music server of claim 33, wherein the television program guides include information regarding cable, satellite, and local television programming.

36. The music server of claim 33, further comprising:

an authorized units database containing information uniquely identifying units that are authorized to receive music from the music database; and

wherein the music server software is further operable to cause the music server computer system to

review the information in the authorized units database to identify units authorized to receive music from the music database and

transmit music only to authorized units listed in the authorized units database.

37. The music server of claim 33, further comprising:

a download unit identification database for storing information regarding units receiving music from the music server computer system; and

wherein the music server software is further operable to cause the music server computer system to, prior to transmitting music to a particular unit,

label music to be downloaded to the particular unit with information uniquely identifying the particular unit, and

store the information uniquely identifying the particular unit in the download unit identification database.

38. A method of distributing music over the Internet, comprising:

storing music on a music server computer system;

storing information uniquely identifying units that are authorized to receive music from the music server computer system on the music server computer system;

reviewing the information stored on the music server computer system to identify units authorized to receive music from the music database; and

transmitting music only to authorized units listed on the music server computer system using the music server computer system.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of preventing unauthorized devices from accessing music on the music server computer system.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the step of preventing unauthorized access includes the steps of:

requesting unit identification information from any device attempting to access the music server computer system; and

denying that device access if it cannot provide unit identification information that matches unit identification information stored on the music server computer system.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of storing information regarding the number of times music is downloaded from the music server computer system on the music server computer system.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising the steps of:

storing information regarding royalty rates for one or more recording artists on the music server computer system; and

calculating royalties owed to the one or more recording artists using the information regarding royalty rates and the information regarding the number of times music is downloaded from the music server computer system.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of transmitting music includes the step of transmitting streaming audio and only .mp3 audio files.

44. A method of tracking music distributed over the Internet, comprising:

storing music on a music server computer system;

storing information regarding devices receiving music from the music server computer system on the music server computer system;

transmitting music over the Internet using the music server computer system to one or more devices; and

prior to transmitting music to a particular device,

labeling music to be downloaded to the particular device with information uniquely identifying the particular device, and

storing the information uniquely identifying the particular device on the music server computer system.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of labeling music includes the step of labeling music in such a way that the information uniquely identifying the device cannot be removed from the music without causing the music to become unplayable.

46. The method of claim 44, further comprising the step of storing date and time information for each music download to a particular device on the music server computer system.

47. The method of claim 44, further comprising the step of storing Internet location information identifying a location on the Internet where each music download is transmitted.

48. The method of claim 44, further comprising the steps of:

storing information uniquely identifying devices that are authorized to receive music from the music database on the music server computer system;

reviewing the information on the music server computer system to identify devices authorized to receive music from the music server computer system, and

transmitting music only to authorized devices listed on the music server computer system.

49. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of transmitting music includes the step of transmitting streaming audio.

50. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of transmitting music includes the step of transmitting only .mp3 audio files.

51. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of transmitting music includes the step of transmitting music only to combination recorder and player units.

52. A method for distributing music over the Internet, comprising:

storing music and music program guides on a music server computer system;

storing information regarding television programs in one or more regional areas on the music server computer system;

storing regional location information for one or more units on the music server computer system; and

transmitting music, music program guides, and television program guides over the Internet using the music server computer system to one or more units.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein:

the step of storing music program guides includes the step of storing date and time information identifying when music will be downloaded from the music server computer system; and

the step of transmitting music program guides includes the step of transmitting the date and time information.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein:

the step of storing television program guides includes the step of storing information regarding cable, satellite, and local television programming; and

the step of transmitting television program guides includes the step of transmitting the information regarding cable, satellite, and local television programming.

55. The method of claim 52, further comprising the steps of:

storing information uniquely identifying units that are authorized to receive music from the music server computer system on the music server computer system;

reviewing the information on the music server computer system to identify units authorized to receive music from the music server computer system; and

transmitting music only to authorized units listed on the music server computer system.

56. The method of claim 52, further comprising the steps of:

storing information regarding units receiving music from the music server computer system on the music server computer system; and

prior to transmitting music to a particular unit,

labeling music to be downloaded to the particular unit with information uniquely identifying the particular unit, and

storing the information uniquely identifying the particular unit on the music server computer system.