Streaming media content purchasing system

• US 20040260826A1
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mark Zimmerman
• Original Assignee: Mark Zimmerman
• Inventors: Zimmerman, Mark Andrew
• Application Number:
  US10/250,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260826A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/63 for services of sales data processing systems or methods specially adapted for electronic commerce G06Q30/00
• 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: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2542 for selling goods, e.g. TV shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/6125 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 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A System allowing the direct purchase of streaming media content by a Consumer. This System utilizes a Streaming Media Application Feature and a Processing Application to perform the sales transaction with minimal interaction by the Consumer. The Consumer simply tunes in to a media stream (audio or video) through a media device/application, through which they have the ability to purchase the media content directly based on available options.

Claims

1. A system allowing the direct purchase of streaming media content by a Consumer.

2. Where the streaming media in claim 1 is defined as audio/visual transmissions over a medium allowing Consumers to listen/view the broadcast through a streaming media device/application.

3. Where the Consumer in claim 1 is any end user of such streaming media as defined in claim 2.

4. Where the streaming media device/application in claim 2 is defined as any device or application allowing a Consumer to listen to or view the streaming media broadcast.

5. Where the direct purchase in claim 1 is defined as minimal interaction on the part of the Consumer to transact a purchase of the media content with a media content supplier who in turn delivers the media content to the Consumer.

6. Where the minimal interaction in claim 5 is defined as the Consumer being able to perform one action (like a button push or computer mouse click) to automatically purchase the media content or to be presented with an interface with the ability to process the purchase of the specific media content.

7. Where the delivery of media content in claim 5 can be defined as the direct transfer of the media file over a network (ie:

download), the physical shipping of the media content on a preferred medium (like a CD or DVD disc) or any other method of transferring the media content to the consumer on a re-playable format.

8. Where the media content delivered to the Consumer in claim 7 is in a format selected by the Consumer from a list of available media formats for the particular media content purchased.

9. Where the System in claim 1 is comprised of a Consumer interactive Feature of the streaming media device/application and processing system.

10. Where the Feature in claim 9 is defined as a simple user interface built into or around a streaming media device/application allowing for the direct purchase of the media content by the Consumer as defined in claim 5.

11. Where the processing system in claim 9 is an application that will accept the interaction from the Feature in claim 10 and either handle the purchase transaction directly or forward the transaction to another application.

12. Where the application in claim 11 can be standalone or added to an existing media supplier application.

13. Where the presented interface in claim 6 can offer the Consumer options based on the current media stream, show options for similar content and/or be used as a method of drawing the Consumer to the interface where additional purchasing options and advertising is present.

14. Where the automatic purchasing of the media in claim 6 can be a result of the Consumer configuring the feature in the streaming media device/application based on their preferences.