File sharing methods and systems

• US 20060206486A1
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Strickland
• Original Assignee: Mark Strickland
• Inventors: Strickland, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,844,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1063 Discovery through centralising entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1082 involving incentive schemes

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems for legally sharing files in a peer-to-peer network on the internet in a manner that compensates the content owners, artists, authors and/or programmers, and the like. Methods of the present invention may include incentive programs, which allow users to earn credits that may be redeemable for later file downloads and/or for merchandise at an online store or other compensation.

Claims

1. A file sharing method comprising

receiving a request from a first user for at least one file;

determining if said file is an authorized file from an authorized licensor;

searching for a second user possessing a copy of said file;

allowing said first user to download said file from a second user possessing a copy of said file if said file is authorized and a second user possessing a copy of said file is located;

processing a debit of an account corresponding to said first user;

processing a credit of an account corresponding to said second user, wherein said credit is redeemable for compensation, but not redeemable for files; and

processing a license fee to said authorized licensor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, downloading a copy of said file from a premium content provider if a second user possessing a copy of said file is not identified.

3. A file sharing method comprising

receiving a request from a first user for at least one file;

determining if said file is an authorized file from an authorized licensor;

searching for a second user possessing a copy of said file;

allowing said first user to download said file if said file is authorized and said second user possessing a copy of said file is located;

charging said first user a fee for said file;

processing a credit of an account corresponding to said second user; and

processing a license fee to said authorized licensor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the process is repeated with one or more first users until said second user has accumulated a plurality of credits, which can be redeemed for at least one file from a third user, or which can be redeemed for merchandise.

5. A method comprising

receiving a request from a first user for at least one file;

determining if said file is an authorized file from an authorized licensor;

searching for a second user possessing a copy of said file;

determining if the downloading is a direct transaction or an indirect transaction;

if the transaction is a direct transaction, charging said first user a fee for downloading said file, and compensating said second user with credit that may be redeemed for files or merchandise;

if the transaction is an indirect transaction, determining whether said first user has accumulated enough file credits to redeem said file, and if said first user has accumulated enough file credits, authorizing a download of said file and debiting an account associated with said first user for redeemed file credits, and compensating said second user with credit that may be redeemed for compensation but not for files;

allowing said first user to download said file; and

compensating the authorized licensor.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising compensating at least one artist associated with said file.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising compensating the first user with credit.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the amount of credit compensated to said second user depends on the file uploaded.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one file is selected from the group consisting of music, movies, games, video games, television programs, videos, podcasts, software, advertisements, artwork, ring tones, literature and photos.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising registering said first user, and allowing said first user to access an entire file before receiving a request from said first user for at least one file.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining whether said second user has updated virus software before allowing said first user to download said file.

12. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining whether said first user has updated virus software before allowing said first user to download said file.

13. The method of claim 5, further comprising scanning said file for malicious files and notifying at least one of said first user and said second user if a malicious file is detected.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein said searching includes searching for a digital fingerprint associated with a file.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein said fee is selected from a common fee or a multiple of said common fee.

16. The method of claim 5, wherein in a process of said second user logging off, any transactions in progress are permitted to be completed, and any first users are informed that said second user is logging off and said second user'"'"'s files are unavailable for download.

17. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of said first and second users are provided with targeted advertising based on at least one of prior file downloads, a registration profile, and merchandise redemptions.

18. The method of claim 5, wherein the authorized file becomes authorized on a certain date after the date said request is received, and the first user is not allowed to download the file until said date.

19. The method of claim 5, wherein if the at least one file is not authorized, the method further comprises allowing said first user to submit a request that the file become authorized.

20. The method of claim 5, further comprising allowing said first user to sort various criteria of files before requesting at least one file.

21. The method of claim 5, wherein after the first user has downloaded or uploaded at least two files such that said first user has a database of at least two files, the method further comprises allowing said first user to sort said database.

22. A method comprising

allowing a guest user to access a predetermined subset of files, which access is authorized by a registered user of a peer-to-peer network;

allowing a guest user to preview one or more file in the subset of files; and

allowing a guest user to download one or more files in the subset of files.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising requiring payment from at least one of said guest user and said registered user for said download.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising allowing at least one of said guest user and said registered user to prepay for said download.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the one or more files is downloaded directly from the registered user.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the one or more files is downloaded from a third user.

27. A system comprising

a server coupled to a database;

wherein said database includes information regarding available files from one or more members of a peer-to-peer network, wherein said information is updated after a transaction in which one or more of said available files is exchanged between one or more members of the peer-to-peer network;

wherein the server is adapted to monitor exchanges between the members of the network, and adapted to control said exchanges such that only files licensed to the peer-to-peer service provider may be exchanged between end users; and

wherein the server includes software capable of monitoring for and detecting malicious files.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said server includes software capable of providing a digital fingerprint for each file, and capable of scanning files for a digital imprint.

29. A file sharing method comprising

receiving a request from a first user for at least one file;

determining if said file is an authorized file from an authorized licensor;

searching for a second user possessing a copy of said file;

requiring at least one of said first user and said second user to have updated virus protection software; and

allowing said first user to download the file.

30. A file sharing method comprising

receiving a request from a first user for at least one file;

determining if the file is an authorized file from an authorized licensor;

searching for a second user possessing a copy of the file;

allowing the first user to download the file from a second user if the file is authorized; and

processing a license fee to said authorized licensor;

wherein the method includes no transaction fees.