Digital media file with embedded sales/marketing information

• US 20060100924A1
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Tevanian, Avadis Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/982,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20060100924A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.230
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions

Abstract

Techniques for facilitating e-commerce by utilizing sales, marketing and/or tracking information (“e-commerce information”) embedded in digital media files are disclosed. These techniques can allow a user of a media management application to purchase digital media files or other subject matter based on the embedded e-commerce information.

Claims

1. A digital media file, comprising:

media content; and

embedded e-commerce information which is usable by a media management application such that a subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is purchasable using the media management application.

2. The digital media file of claim 1, further comprising:

embedded tracking data.

3. The digital media file of claim 1, wherein the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is a product or service associated with the media content.

4. The digital media file of claim 1, wherein the media content is locked.

5. The digital media file of claim 1, wherein the media content is selected from the group consisting of a partial music file, a locked music file, a low quality music file, a complete music file, a music video, a partial e-book, an audio advertisement, a video advertisement, and a movie preview.

6. The digital media file of claim 1, wherein the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is selected from the group consisting of an unlocked music file, a collection of music files, event tickets, a music DVD, a music CD, a complete e-book, and a printed book.

7. The digital media file of claim 1, wherein the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is selected from the group consisting of the right to play the digital media file on a media player or the right to copy the digital media file onto a removable storage media.

8. The digital media file of claim 1, further comprising embedded tracking information.

9. The digital media file of claim 1, wherein the subject matter of the e-commerce information is a license key to enable playback of the digital media file.

10. The digital media file of claim 1, wherein the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is rights to use the digital media file.

11. A method for facilitating e-commerce, comprising:

obtaining a digital media file, the digital media file including media content and embedded e-commerce information;

accessing the embedded e-commerce information of the digital media file using a media management application; and

using the media management application to purchase one or more rights relating to the digital media file according to the embedded e-commerce information of the digital media file.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more rights pertain to the right to play the digital media file on a media player or the right to copy the digital media file onto a removable storage media.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more rights are selected from the group consisting of the right to play the digital media file on a single media player, the right to play the digital media file on more than one media player, and the right to copy the digital media file onto removable storage media.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the removable storage media is a selected from the group consisting of compact disk (CD), DVD, Minidisc™

and flash memory card.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the digital media file is selected from the group consisting of a partial music file, a complete music file, a music video, a partial e-book, an audio advertisement, a video advertisement, and a movie preview.

16. A method for facilitating e-commerce, comprising:

obtaining a digital media file, the digital media file including media content and embedded e-commerce information;

accessing the embedded e-commerce information of the digital media file using a media management application; and

using the media management application to purchase the subject matter of the e-commerce information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is the digital media file.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is one or more digital media files.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the digital media file is a video file and the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is a music file.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the digital media file is a partial music file and the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is one or more complete digital media files.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the digital media file is a music file and the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is a music album.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is an event ticket.

23. A method for facilitating e-commerce, comprising:

obtaining a digital media file, the digital media file including media content and embedded tracking information;

accessing the embedded tracking information using a media management application; and

reporting the embedded tracking information.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the reporting occurs upon purchase of the digital media file.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the digital media file further includes embedded e-commerce information.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is the digital media file.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the digital media file comprises media content and the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is one or more digital media files.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the digital media file is a partial music file and the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is a complete music file.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the digital media file is a music file and the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is a music album.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the digital media file is a music video file and the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is a music file.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the digital media file comprises media content and the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is an event ticket.

32. A method for facilitating e-commerce, comprising:

receiving a client request to purchase the subject matter of e-commerce information embedded in a digital media file,

authenticating the client request;

processing a payment for the subject matter of the e-commerce information;

verifying that the payment for the subject matter of the e-commerce information has been received; and

sending the subject matter of the e-commerce information to the requesting client.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the subject matter of the e-commerce information is a license key to enable playback of the digital media file.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the license key further enables the copying of the digital media file to a removable storage media.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the license key enables the playing of the media on one or more additional media players.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the subject matter of the e-commerce information is digital media file.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the subject matter of the e-commerce information is a music file, music video, or e-book.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the subject matter of the e-commerce information is a link to obtain event admission tickets.

39. A method for facilitating e-commerce, comprising:

parsing a set of digital media files for embedded e-commerce information using a media management application;

displaying the set of digital media files in a media management application window, wherein each digital media file having embedded e-commerce information is displayed with an e-commerce indicator;

determining whether the e-commerce indicator being displayed is selected; and

initiating purchase of the subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information associated with a digital media file when said determining determines that the e-commerce indicator has been selected.

40. A method for facilitating e-commerce, comprising:

obtaining a digital media file, the digital media file including media content and embedded e-commerce information;

accessing the embedded e-commerce information of the digital media file using a media management application;

receiving a user request to purchase one or more rights relating to the digital media file;

connecting to a remote commerce server via a network;

authenticating the user request to purchase;

processing a payment for the rights relating to the digital media file; and

granting a license to the rights relating to the digital media file.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the first, second, and third remote commerce servers are the same server computer.

42. A computer system for facilitating e-commerce, comprising:

one or more client computers, each connected to a computer network;

a client media management application running on one or more of the client computers;

at least one digital media file including media content and embedded e-commerce information stored on a client computer connected to the computer network and running the client media management application;

one or more remote server computers configured to process e-commerce transactions using at least the embedded e-commerce information, each remote server computer connected to the computer network; and

one or more remote media content server computers configured to deliver media content to any client computer connected to the computer network upon the successful completion of an e-commerce transaction.

43. A computer readable medium including at least one digital media file, the digital media file comprising media content, and embedded e-commerce information which is usable by a media management application such that a subject matter of the embedded e-commerce information is accessible from the media management application.

44. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 43, wherein the embedded e-commerce information is purchasable using the media management application.

45. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 43, wherein the digital media file further comprises embedded tracking information.

46. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 43, wherein the media content is locked.

47. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 43, wherein the media content is selected from the group consisting of a partial music file, a locked music file, a low quality music file, a complete music file, a music video, a partial e-book, an audio advertisement, a video advertisement, and a movie preview.