Hybrid Distribution Method for Playable Media

• US 20060242269A1
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Media Queue LLC
• Original Assignee: Media Queue LLC
• Inventors: Gross, John N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,612,311 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions

Abstract

A hybrid distribution system and method for distributing/temporarily renting playable media items, such as movies in a digital format. The distribution system includes a first option in which a title is delivered in a ranking order identified by the subscriber and based on an allocation priority associated with the subscriber for such title. Alternatively the subscriber can be given a second option to gain access rights to the first title from a third party. In this manner a content provider can manage different types of demand through a combination of dedicated and third party inventory.

Claims

1. A hybrid method of distributing playable media items, the playable media:

items corresponding to machine readable media readable by an electronic media player, the method comprising;

a) defining an inventory of playable media items with a computing system which are selectable by subscribers to an online media service provider;

b) receiving a request for a first title in said playable media items from a subscriber with the computing system;

wherein the subscriber can make an election with the computing system to fulfill said request by;

i. placing such first title in a subscriber queue for scheduled delivery in accordance with a ranking order identified by the subscriber and an allocation priority associated with the subscriber for such first title; and

/or

ii. receiving access rights immediately to said first title from a third party by providing a required consideration to said third party for such title;

(c) causing the computing system to control the subscriber'"'"'s temporary access to said first title in said playable media items in accordance with a set of distribution rules that include a predetermined limit on a number of titles which a subscriber can have out at one time;

wherein subscribers can receive access rights to playable media items through a distribution system which includes at least two separate temporary access options.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first title is associated with a set of items identified as high demand items.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said consideration includes non-monetary credits.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said consideration includes an electronic coupon which must be presented to said third party by the subscriber.

5. The method of claim 1 further including a step:

providing an email notification to subscribers identifying third parties with available titles in said second set of playable media items and a consideration required to secure such available titles.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber is limited to a maximum number of playable media items which can be out to the subscriber, and further including a step:

delivering a high demand item to the subscriber in step (b)(ii) such that it does not count against said maximum number.

7. A hybrid method of distributing playable media items, the playable media items corresponding to machine readable media readable by an electronic media player, the method comprising:

(a) defining an inventory of playable media items selectable with a computing system by subscribers to an online media service provider;

(b) providing temporary access to first playable media items in said inventory in accordance with a first set of distribution rules enforced by the computing system under control of the online media service provider;

said first set of distribution rules further comprising a predetermined limit on a number of titles which a subscriber can have out at one time;

(c) providing temporary access to second playable media items in said inventory through a proxy provider in accordance with a second set of distribution rules defined by the proxy provider;

wherein at least some of said second playable media items are supplied by the online media service provider to said proxy provider;

said second set of distribution rules further comprising a predetermined time limit by which titles must be returned by a subscriber;

wherein individual titles in said inventory can be delivered to subscribers through a hybrid distribution system which includes two separate temporary access options.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said proxy provider has at least one account with said online media service provider to secure titles from said inventory of playable media items.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said proxy provider facilitates a transaction for a playable media item between the online media service provider and a third party who is not a subscriber to the online media service provider.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said proxy provider also performs receiving functions to receive titles back from the subscriber.

11. A method of distributing playable media items, the playable media items corresponding to machine readable media readable by an electronic media player, the method comprising:

providing an inventory of playable media items for selection using a computing system by subscribers at a website from an online media service provider;

said inventory of playable media items further comprising;

a first set of playable media items available from said online media service provider; and

a second set of playable media items available from one or more third party providers; and

causing the computing system to provide a subscriber with a limited delivery queue which is restricted to a predetermined maximum number of titles which said subscriber can have out at one time;

providing a search interface with the computing system which is configured to allow a subscriber to search and identify whether either or both said online media service provider and/or a third party have access rights to a first title;

providing said requested title from said first set of playable items or said second set of playable items based on availability of such first title at said online media service provider and/or said third party.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said first title is provided to a subscriber that first provides a designated consideration for such item.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said subscriber can elect to have said first title not count as part of said predetermined maximum number of titles by providing an electronic coupon to one of said third party providers.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said first title can be received as an immediate rental item in exchange for additional consideration from the subscriber.

15. A method of distributing playable media items, the playable media items corresponding to machine readable media readable by an electronic media player, the method comprising:

(a) providing a first set of playable media items for selection using a computing system by subscribers at a first website from an online media service provider;

wherein access rights to said first set of playable media items are held by said online media service provider;

(b) setting up a subscriber delivery queue with the computing system for a subscriber at said first website, said subscriber delivery queue consisting of a list of one or more playable media items to be delivered to the subscriber;

(c) providing a second separate set of playable media items using the computing system for selection by subscribers at said first website from said online media service provider;

wherein access rights to said second set of playable media items are held by one or more third parties;

(d) providing a search interface with the computing system which is configured to allow a subscriber to search and identify whether either or both said online media service provider and/or a third party have access rights to a requested title;

(e) causing the computing system to provide prioritized access to said requested title from said online media service provider to the subscriber based on an allocation priority determined by said online media service provider when such service provider has access rights to said requested title;

(f) providing immediate access to said requested title from said third party to the subscriber when said third party has access rights to said requested title and said subscriber agrees to provide a requested consideration to said third party;

wherein multiple subscribers are permitted to compete for access rights to said second set of playable media items and said requested title is provided to a subscriber that first provides said requested consideration.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said third parties include other subscribers.

17. The method of claim 15 further including a step:

dividing inventory of said online media service provider into said first set of playable media items and said second set of playable media items such that all of said items are provided by said online media service provider but only a limited number are allocated for immediate access.

18. The method of claim 15 further including a step:

monitoring and compiling exchanges of playable media items performed between subscribers and said third parties.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said consideration includes non-monetary credits.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said consideration includes an electronic coupon which must be presented to said third party by the subscriber.

21. The method of claim 15 further including a step:

providing an email notification to subscribers identifying third parties with available titles in said second set of playable media items and a consideration required to secure such available titles.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein said requested title is provided from an uncommitted copy in said second set of playable media items.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein high demand items can be received as immediate rental items in exchange for additional consideration from the subscriber.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the subscriber is limited to a maximum number of playable media items which are out to the subscriber, and further including a step:

delivering a high demand item to the subscriber in step (f) such that it does not count against said maximum number.

25. The method of claim 15 further including a step:

reserving said requested title based on said third party accepting said consideration.

26. The method of claim 15 wherein different consideration can be associated with different titles.