Media player and access system and method and media player operating system architecture

• US 20050091107A1
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Instant Media Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Instant Media Incorporated
• Inventors: Blum, Scott
• Application Number:
  US10/845,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20050091107A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.65
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/435 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising

Abstract

A computer operating system and media player are provided in which an integrated desktop environment is provided wherein a separate window is not necessary to operate the media player or perform other functionalities. In one embodiment, the media player controls are situated in a particular location on the desktop while the remainder of the desktop is available for internet, media player, e-commerce or other functionalities without opening separate windows. A cache memory management system also is provided in which free memory regions are used for the storage of data available for purchase or usage.

Claims

1. A content delivery method comprising:

identifying a plurality of clients to receive a media file;

creating a script file for one or more of said clients;

receiving one of said script files in a corresponding client media player system;

executing said script in said client media player system..

2. The content delivery method of claim 1 further comprising sending advertising content to an advertising campaign server from an advertising campaign source.

3. The content delivery method of claim 1 further comprising downloading advertising content from an Internet server location to the client media player system in accordance with said script.

4. The content delivery method of claim 1 wherein said client media player system includes a PC.

5. The content delivery method of claim 1 wherein said client media player system includes a television.

6. The content delivery method of claim 1 wherein said client media player system includes a billboard.

7. The content delivery method of claim 1 wherein said client media player system includes a portable music player.

8. A content delivery method comprising:

receiving data files in a content player system;

caching said received data files; and

displaying a listing of said cached data files.

9. The content delivery method of claim 8 further comprising selecting one or more of the cached data files.

10. The content delivery method of claim 9 further comprising determining if a fee is associated with said selected cached data files following said selecting step.

11. The content delivery method of claim 10 further comprising playing at least one of said selected cached data files that does not require a fee.

12. The content delivery method of claim 9 further comprising effectuating a payment for at least one cached data file that is determined to require a fee.

13. The content delivery method of claim 10 further comprising effectuating a payment for said at least one cached data file that is determined to require a fee.

14. The content delivery method of claim 13 further comprising generating payment or debit data indicating a selection operation for said at least one cached data files that is determined to require a payment following said effectuating payment step.

15. The content delivery method of claim 8 further comprising:

providing a visual representation of at least one of said cached data files; and

providing a visual representation of whether a fee is required.

17. The content delivery system of claim 14 further comprising a second said media player systems receiving said script creation server and operated in accordance with a second said script.

16. A content delivery system comprising:

a script creation server creating a script corresponding to one or more particular identified media player systems; and

a first of said media player systems receiving said script and operated in accordance with a first said script.

18. A script controlling a media player system containing the following control parameters:

identifications of said one or more media files;

location data indicating the Internet locations from which designated ones of said media files can be downloaded; and

downloading sequence for said one or more media files.

19. The script of claim 18 further comprising a download timing parameter.

20. A media player system comprising:

a cache memory storing a plurality of content files; and

a selection module adapted to identifying media files in the memory cache.

21. The media player system of claim 20 further comprising a payment module making a payment for content files identified by said selection module.

22. A media player system comprising:

a display unit including a media player region where media player functionality options are displayed, and a desktop region;

a media player selection button positioned in said media player region; and

browser functionality buttons situated in said media player region.

23. The media player system of claim 22 further comprising a cache access button.

24. The media player system of claim 22 wherein media files are accessible upon selection of said cache access button.

25. The media player system of claim 22 further comprising a library memory storing media files.

26. The media player system of claim 22 further comprising a cache memory storing media files.

27. The media player system of claim 26 wherein said library memory stores media files previously selected from among files in said cache memory.

28. The media player system of claim 22 further comprising a script execution module wherein the media player system is controlled in accordance with a script executed in said script execution module to download advertising content via the Internet.

29. The media player system of claim 22 further comprising a script execution module wherein the media player system is controlled in accordance with a script executed in said script execution module to download media content via the Internet.

30. The content delivery system of claim 22 wherein said client media player system includes a PC.

31. The content delivery system of claim 22 wherein said client media player system includes a television.

32. The content delivery system of claim 22 wherein said client media player system includes a billboard.

33. The content delivery system of claim 22 wherein said client media player system includes a portable music player.

34. A media player skinned onto a computer operating system.

35. The media player of claim 34 further including an integrated e-commerce system.

36. The media player of claim 34 further comprising:

a skinning module;

at least one media player functionality module; and

an e-commerce engine.

37. The media player of claim 34 wherein the e-commerce engine is a part of the media player functionality module.

38. The media player of claim 34 wherein the skinning module is a part of the media player functionality module.

39. The media player of claim 34 wherein the skinning module and e-commerce module are part of the media player functionality module.

40. A computer operating system incorporating media player functionality.

41. The computer operating system of claim 40 further comprising e-commerce functionality.

42. The computer operating system of claim 40 further comprising instant searching functionality.

43. The computer operating system of claim 40 further comprising browser functionality not requiring opening a separate browser window.

44. The computer operating system of claim 40 further comprising searching functionality not requiring opening a separate window.

45. The computer operating system of claim 40 further providing instant access to media files stored in a cached memory.

46. The computer operating system of claim 40 further comprising no-click payment functionality.

47. The computer operating system of claim 40 further comprising cache memory maintenance functionality wherein data files in said cached memory are loaded at designated times from a remote source.

48. The computer operating system of claim 40 further comprising cache memory maintenance functionality wherein data files in said cached memory requiring a payment for operation are denoted as requiring payment in a designated display area.

49. The computer operating system of claim 40 further comprising:

a desktop interface module;

a media player module; and

an e-commerce module.

50. An Internet transaction method comprising:

identifying media files requiring payment for playing;

selecting an alphanumeric identifier on a display corresponding to a particular media file; and

recording a transaction record.

51. The transaction method of claim 50 wherein said recording a transaction record is initiated following said selecting step.

52. The transaction method of claim 50 further comprising transmitting said transaction record to a remote server

53. The transaction method of claim 50 further comprising:

playing said particular media file; and

sending said transaction record to a remote server after said playing begins.

54. The transaction method of claim 50 further comprising:

playing said particular media file; and

sending said transaction record to a remote server in parallel with playing said particular media file.

55. The transaction method of claim 50 further comprising:

playing said particular media file; and

sending said transaction record to a remote server at the same time as playing said particular media file.

56. The transaction method of claim 50 further comprising:

playing said particular media file; and

sending said transaction record to a remote server after playing said particular media. file.

57. A content delivery method comprising:

receiving data files in a content player system;

caching said received data files; and

categorizing said data files in one or more categories.