Token based digital media distribution system

• US 20070265971A1
• Filed: 05/09/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: August R. Smalley
• Original Assignee: August R. Smalley
• Inventors: Smalley, August R.
• Application Number:
  US11/801,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20070265971A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering

Abstract

A method for distributing digital media is provided herein. In accordance with the method, a web site (101) is provided from which a plurality of digital media files (209₁₁ to 209_kn) are accessible, wherein each digital media file contains digital media associated with a particular artist (105_l to 105_k). A plurality of tokens (107₁₁ to 107_kj) are also provided, wherein each token has a unique identification code which can be utilized to gain access, via the website, to digital media files which are associated with the identification code. The identification codes of said plurality of tokens are associated with at least one digital media file which is accessible from the web site and which is associated with a particular artist, thereby creating a plurality of associated tokens.

Claims

1. A method for distributing digital media, comprising:

providing a web site from which a plurality of digital media files are accessible, wherein each digital media file contains digital media associated with a particular artist;

providing a plurality of tokens, wherein each token has a unique identification code which can be utilized to gain access to digital media files which are associated with the identification code; and

associating the identification codes of said plurality of tokens with at least one of said plurality of digital media files, thereby creating a plurality of associated tokens.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

distributing the plurality of associated tokens to the artist.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of associated tokens enables a user to download digital media from the digital media files that the token is associated with.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the token has a monetary value associated with it.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification code can be utilized to gain access to digital media files via the website.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification code can be utilized to gain access to digital media files via another website.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification code can be utilized to gain access to digital media files from a store.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of tokens is a plastic card.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital media downloadable with the token has a monetary value associated with it, and wherein the associated token enables a user to download digital media whose value does not exceed the monetary value associated with the token.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the artist sells the tokens at an event.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the sales price of the tokens at the event are discounted below the monetary value associated with the token.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the digital media can be purchased from the website, and wherein the cost of digital media purchased with the token is discounted relative to the cost of purchasing the digital media from the website.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

distributing the plurality of associated tokens at an event.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the event is associated with at least one artist, and wherein the associated tokens are associated with digital media files associated with the at least one artist.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the digital media files are audio files, wherein the associated tokens are distributed by a record label, and wherein the at least one artist further includes at least one other artist represented by the record label.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the associated tokens are distributed at the event for free.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital media files are video files.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital media files are image files.

19. A system for distributing digital media, comprising:

a web site from which a plurality of digital media files are accessible, wherein each digital media file contains digital media associated with a particular artist; and

a plurality of tokens, wherein each token has a unique identification code which can be utilized to gain access to digital media files which are associated with the identification code, and wherein the identification codes of said plurality of tokens are associated with at least one digital media file which is accessible from the website and which is associated with a particular artist.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of associated tokens enables a user to download digital media from the digital media files that the token is associated with.