Digital audio and video playback with performance complement testing

• US 20050141709A1
• Filed: 01/20/2005
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Timothy Robert Bratton
• Original Assignee: Timothy Robert Bratton
• Inventors: Bratton, Timothy Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/040,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20050141709A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

System and method for monitoring and modifying a playlist of viewable audio and/or video selections at one or more selected times to account for the effects of restrictions on the times, and number of times, a selection is viewed in an internet-based viewing system. The system implements, and monitors compliance with, the performance complement requirements and other copyright restrictions. A selection can be viewed in association with one or more selected advertisements, with limited restrictions or no restrictions on viewing times. Priority advertisements, related to the date and/or to the time of day and/or to payment amount, are given preference. A license, paid for to view a selection, may have unlimited duration or may be limited in time.

Claims

1-50. -50. (canceled)

51. A method comprising:

determining whether skipping a viewing of an audio work will result in violating one or more time interval constraints; and

disabling a skip control of a graphical user interface when skipping the viewing of the audio work will result in violating one or more time interval constraints.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the one or more time interval constraints further comprise:

one or more amounts of time selected to facilitate prevention of a performance complement violation when viewing audio works of a sequence of audio works.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the one or more time interval constraints further comprise:

one or more amounts of time selected to facilitate compliance with performance complement conditions.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the one or more performance complement conditions further comprise:

at least one of (1) viewing more than a number N1 of audio works from the same recording within a pre-selected time period, (2) viewing more than a number N2 of consecutive audio works from the same recording within the pre-selected time period, (3) viewing more than a number N3 of audio works from the same recording artists or artist group or anthology within the pre-selected time period, or (4) viewing more than a number N4 of consecutive audio works from the same recording artists or artist group or anthology within the pre-selected time period.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein the audio work further comprises a selection among a sequence of audio works.

56. A method comprising:

determining whether skipping a viewing of an audio work of a sequence of audio works will result in failure to comply with a time interval condition associated with the sequence of audio works; and

preventing skipping of the viewing of the audio work if skipping the viewing of the audio work will result in failure to comply with the time interval condition.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the time interval condition further comprises:

an amount of time selected to facilitate prevention of a performance complement violation when viewing audio works of the sequence of audio works.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein determining whether skipping the viewing of an audio work of a sequence of audio works will result in failure to comply with a time interval condition associated with the sequence of audio works further comprises:

determining whether a view time of the audio work is required to maintain compliance with performance complement conditions.

59. The method of claim 56, wherein preventing skipping of the viewing of the audio work further comprises:

disabling a skip and/or forward control of a graphical user interface.

60. The method of claim 56, wherein the time interval condition further comprises:

an amount of time selected to facilitate compliance with performance complement conditions.

61. The method of claim 56, wherein the failure to comply with the time interval condition further comprises exceeding or failing to exceed a pre-determined amount of time.

62. A machine memory comprising:

logic to determine how a view time of an audio work of a sequence of audio works affects a time interval condition; and

logic to prevent skipping of the view time of the audio work when skipping of the view time of the audio work affects the time interval condition in a manner that increases the likelihood of a performance complement violation.

63. The machine memory of claim 62, wherein the time condition further comprises:

a time interval selected to facilitate prevention of a performance complement violation when viewing audio works of the sequence of audio works.

64. The machine memory of claim 62, wherein the time condition further comprises:

a time interval selected to facilitate compliance with performance complement conditions.

65. The machine memory of claim 62, wherein the logic to determine how a view time of an audio work of a sequence of audio works affects a time interval condition further comprises:

logic to determine whether a view time of the audio work is required to maintain compliance with performance complement conditions.

66. A music rendering system for rendering an audio work using an electronic device, comprising:

a music controller program code operative to be executed on the electronic device for managing at least one audio work, the music controller program code operative when executed to determine whether skipping a viewing time of the audio work results in exceeding or failing to exceed a time interval condition related to enforcement of at least one performance complement condition; and

the music controller program code operative to disable a skip control of a graphical user interface of the electronic device when skipping the viewing time of the audio work would exceed the time interval.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein the time interval condition is selected to facilitate prevention of a performance complement violation when viewing audio works of a sequence of audio works.

68. The system of claim 66, wherein the time interval condition is selected to facilitate compliance with performance complement conditions.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the performance complement conditions further comprises:

at least one of (1) viewing more than a number N1 of audio works from the same recording within a pre-selected time period, (2) viewing more than a number N2 of consecutive audio works from the same recording within the pre-selected time period, (3) viewing more than a number N3 of audio works from the same recording artists or artist group or anthology within the pre-selected time period, or (4) viewing more than a number N4 of consecutive audio works from the same recording artists or artist group or anthology within the pre-selected time period.

70. The system of claim 66, wherein the audio work comprises a selection among a sequence of audio works, wherein the program code is operative when executed to receive the at least one audio work in an encrypted format, render the selection and decrypt at least one audio work to render the selection.