Digital Media Asset Identification System and Method
First Claim
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1. A system for distributing digital media assets across a network to customers comprising:
- a digital media asset server coupled to the network for servicing transfers to customers, said digital media asset server including;
(a) a first software routine adapted to set up an account for a first customer to receive digital media assets;
wherein only a single authorization is required for said first customer to receive a plurality of separate digital media assets under said account;
(b) a second software routine adapted to transfer a first digital media asset over the network for said first customer to a first client device and to generate a transaction record associated with said transfer;
wherein said first digital media asset is configured by said first software routine to include identification data for such asset and said first customer on said first client device, including at least a customer identification and an asset identification;
further wherein said first digital media asset does not include any digital rights restrictions to restrict playback by said first customer on a second client device.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method for identifying and transferring digital media assets within a system through the use of identification data. The identification data is applied to each transferred copy and includes data specific to the customer and digital media asset. To facilitate transfers and ease of use the digital media assets can be made DRM-free.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for distributing digital media assets across a network to customers comprising:
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a digital media asset server coupled to the network for servicing transfers to customers, said digital media asset server including; (a) a first software routine adapted to set up an account for a first customer to receive digital media assets; wherein only a single authorization is required for said first customer to receive a plurality of separate digital media assets under said account; (b) a second software routine adapted to transfer a first digital media asset over the network for said first customer to a first client device and to generate a transaction record associated with said transfer; wherein said first digital media asset is configured by said first software routine to include identification data for such asset and said first customer on said first client device, including at least a customer identification and an asset identification; further wherein said first digital media asset does not include any digital rights restrictions to restrict playback by said first customer on a second client device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for distributing digital music files across a network to customers comprising:
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a digital music file server coupled to the network for servicing transfers to customers, said digital music file server including; (a) a first software routine adapted to set up an account for a first customer to receive digital music files; wherein only a single authorization is required for said first customer to receive a plurality of separate digital music files under said account, and said digital music files do not include any watermark, encryption or other protection to restrict playback by said first customer; (b) a second software routine adapted to transfer a first digital music file over the network for said first customer to a first client device and to generate a transaction record associated with said transfer; wherein said first digital music file is configured by said first software routine to include a first identifier within such music file for said first customer on said first client device, including at least a first customer identification and a digital music file identification; further wherein said software routine is adapted to provide a unique identifier for at least some combinations of customers and digital music files, such that said first digital music file is coded for a second customer authorized to receive said digital music files with a second identifier including a second customer identification and said digital music file identification.
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25. A system for distributing digital media assets across a network comprising:
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a first client device associated with a first customer adapted to store and play digital media assets; wherein said digital media assets are machine readable music files; a digital media asset server coupled to the network for servicing transfers to customers, said digital media asset server including; (a) a first software routine adapted to set up an account for said first customer to receive digital media assets; wherein only a single authorization is required for said first customer to receive a plurality of separate digital media assets under said account; (b) a second software routine adapted to transfer a first digital media asset over the network for said first customer to said first client device and to generate a transaction record associated with said transfer; wherein said first digital media asset is configured by said first software routine to include identification data for such asset and said first customer on said first client device, including at least a customer identification and an asset identification; further wherein said first digital media asset does not include any watermark, encryption or other protection to restrict transfer by said first customer to a second client device or playback thereon.
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26. A method of distributing digital media assets across a network to customers comprising:
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providing a digital media asset server coupled to the network for servicing transfers to customers, said digital media asset server including one or more software routines adapted to execute the following operations; (a) to set up an account for a first customer to receive digital media assets; wherein only a single authorization is required for said first customer to receive a plurality of separate digital media assets under said account; (b) to transfer a first digital media asset over the network for said first customer to a first client device and to generate a transaction record associated with said transfer; (c) to configure said first digital media asset to include identification data for such asset and said first customer on said first client device, including at least a customer identification and an asset identification; wherein said first digital media asset does not include any digital rights restrictions to restrict playback by said first customer on a second client device.
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27. A method of distributing digital music files across a network to customers comprising:
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providing a digital media asset server coupled to the network for servicing transfers to customers, said digital media asset server including one or more software routines adapted to execute the following operations; (a) to set up an account for a first customer to receive digital music files; wherein only a single authorization is required for said first customer to receive a plurality of separate digital music files under said account, and said digital music files do not include any watermark, encryption or other protection to restrict playback by said first customer; (b) to transfer a first digital music file over the network for said first customer to a first client device and to generate a transaction record associated with said transfer; (c) to configure said first digital music file to include a first identifier within such music file for said first customer on said first client device, including at least a first customer identification and a digital music file identification; wherein a unique identifier is provided for at least some combinations of customers and digital music files, such that said first digital music file is coded for a second customer authorized to receive said digital music files with a second identifier including a second customer identification and said digital music file identification.
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28. A method of distributing digital media assets across a network comprising:
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providing a first client device to a first customer adapted to store and play digital media assets; wherein said digital media assets are machine readable music files; providing a digital media asset server coupled to the network for servicing transfers to customers, said digital media asset server including one or more software routines adapted to execute the following operations; (a) set up an account for said first customer to receive digital media assets; wherein only a single authorization is required for said first customer to receive a plurality of separate digital media assets under said account; (b) transfer a first digital media asset over the network for said first customer to said first client device and to generate a transaction record associated with said transfer; (c) configure said first digital media asset to include identification data for such asset and said first customer on said first client device, including at least a customer identification and an asset identification; further wherein said first digital media asset does not include any watermark, encryption or other protection to restrict transfer by said first customer to a second client device or playback thereon.
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Specification