Digital entertainment distribution system

• US 20060026065A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eduardo Bondio, Hugo Andres Bolatti
• Original Assignee: Eduardo Bondio, Hugo Andres Bolatti
• Inventors: Bondio, Eduardo, Bolatti, Hugo Andres
• Application Number:
  US11/111,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20060026065A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.690
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising

Abstract

Customers can browse, preview, select and purchase digital entertainment products, such as music or movies, at kiosks or point-of-sale locations connected to a central source of digital entertainment content. The products can be paid for or their price subsidized by credits which the customers have obtained from non-competing companies as part of those companies'"'"' own marketing efforts.

Claims

1. A system for distributing and selling digital entertainment content, said system comprising

an in-person access network with terminals installed at pre-established locations, where potential customers can sample, select, purchase and obtain on the spot entertainment products in physical media or by download, and/or an internet access site with a similar functionality, and

a system of redeemable credits for non-competing companies marketing consumer product goods and services, which credits, once distributed to these companies'"'"' customers with their products or otherwise, allow said customers to pay at least part of the price of said content at said access locations or sites, by applying said credits towards the price of said content.

2. A method of distributing and selling digital entertainment content, said method comprising the steps of

providing a remotely and/or locally accessible source of entertainment content,

providing a plurality of in-person content access locations connected to said source and having means for attracting customer attention and desire to interact, means for searching said source, means for previewing content, and means for selling and delivering selected content to customers in physical carriers,

providing a web site having means for offering a similar presentation and functionality as said locations, dependent on customers'"'"' access point set-up,

providing exclusive per-product category sponsors, who deal in non-competing products, means for purchasing credit issuing rights, and inducing said sponsors to execute such rights by regularly and or periodically distributing free credits to their customers, which credits, are applicable to the purchase price of said selected content, and

providing entertainment content broadcasters'"'"' promotional efforts, content broadcast information and content related news.

3. The invention of claim 2, further comprising distributing said credits by additional means other than through said non-competing sponsors.

4. The invention of claim 2, wherein said credits are distributed upon sale of sponsors'"'"' products.

5. The invention of claim 2, wherein said credits are distributed by the sponsors other than in association with their product sales.

6. The invention of claim 2, further comprising advertising the availability of said content and the availability of credits which can be applied against purchase of selected content.

7. The invention of claim 6, further comprising inducing entertainment content customers to effectively utilize such credits in their purchases of entertainment products

8. The invention of claim 7, further comprising causing customers that use credits to pay for part or all of the price of said entertainment content to perceive that they can buy said content consistently at a reduced price or free in some proportion, depending on the channel'"'"'s policies, the credits the customer has accumulated and the products he purchases.

9. The invention of claim 6, wherein said advertising is by direct mail, fax or email.

10. The invention of claim 6, wherein said advertising is through mass media, public signs, shows, events and other promotional activity.

11. The invention of claim 6, wherein said advertising is done by said sponsors.

12. The invention of claim 2, further comprising providing statistical information and exchanging operational information to said sponsors

13. The invention of claim 2, further comprising a mechanism to sell credits to customers through an agent network

14. The invention of claim 2, further comprising a mechanism to sell credits to customers through other means different than through an agent network

15. The invention of claim 2, further comprising purchasing content from content owners

16. The invention of claim 2, further comprising providing content owners a means to upload content and for making such content available to consumers through an embodiment of the invention.

17. The invention of claim 2, further comprising providing statistical information and exchanging operational information to said content owners.

18. The invention of claim 2, further comprising identifying other content related to said selected content.

19. The invention of claim 2, further comprising providing alternative electronic formats for said selected content.

20. The invention of claim 2, further comprising providing alternative carrier options for said selected content.

21. The invention of claim 2, further comprising providing immediate preview of selected content.

22. The invention of claim 2, wherein the searching means is adapted to permit search on multiple variables.

23. The invention of claim 2, wherein said variables are selected from the group consisting of title, author, performer, period, musical category, lyrics segment, ranks, air play information from radio, open TV, cable TV or other broadcast company, events, and shows.