Satellite radio-based on-demand purchase system

• US 20080249886A1
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William A. Woodard
• Original Assignee: William A. Woodard
• Inventors: Woodard, William A.
• Application Number:
  US11/732,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20080249886A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/51 specially adapted for satellite broadcast systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/17 on recording information

Abstract

A system for purchasing and downloading an audio file broadcasted through a satellite network to a predetermined storage device. The system includes a hub site containing a resident database of audio file content, transmission means, a satellite network for transmitting the audio files to subscribers, a portable satellite transceiver unit for receiving the satellite broadcasts, a purchase request function and signal for notifying the hub site of the subscriber'"'"'s desire to purchase the broadcast audio file, and a storage device for receiving a download of the audio file from the hub site.

Claims

1. A system for purchasing and downloading a currently broadcast digital audio file data to a subscriber, comprising:

an audio data content hub site;

a computer server electronically coupled to the hub site;

a catalogue of digital audio data stored on the computer server;

a satellite in operative communication with the hub site for receiving a transmission of the audio data file;

a satellite transceiver unit in operative communication with the satellite;

a relay signal retransmitting the audio data file from the satellite to the transceiver unit;

a purchase request signal generated by the transceiver unit;

transmission means for transmitting the purchase request signal from the transceiver to the hub site; and

a predetermined digital storage device including means to receive a download of the audio data file.

2. The system for purchasing and downloading a currently broadcast digital audio file of claim 1, wherein:

the computer server includes a database of stored subscriber information accessed when the hub site receives a purchase request signal.

3. The system for purchasing and downloading a currently broadcast digital audio file of claim 1, wherein:

the purchase request signal includes a subscriber information block including subscriber information and audio data file information.

4. The system for purchasing and downloading a currently broadcast digital audio file of claim 1, further comprising:

a purchase request function selectable from the transceiver unit and operable to gather and transmit the stored subscriber information, the audio file data, and the predetermined digital storage device from a single selection on the transceiver unit.

5. The system for purchasing and downloading a currently broadcast digital audio file of claim 1, wherein:

the storage device is selected from one or more of a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, an iPod®

, or the transceiver unit.

6. The system for purchasing and downloading a currently broadcast digital audio file of claim 1, wherein:

the download means include a wireless signal receiver operative to receive the download of data.

7. The system for purchasing and downloading a currently broadcast digital audio file of claim 1, wherein:

the transceiver unit includes a volatile memory and a recordable memory.

8. The system for purchasing and downloading a currently broadcast digital audio file of claim 1, wherein:

the transceiver unit is mounted in electrical connection to an automobile radio tuner.

9. The system for purchasing and downloading a currently broadcast digital audio file of claim 1, wherein:

the transceiver unit is mounted in electrical connection to a handheld radio tuner.

10. The system for purchasing and downloading a currently broadcast digital audio file of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more ground repeater antennas operative to relay and amplify the satellite transmissions to the transceiver unit.

11. The system for purchasing and downloading a currently broadcast digital audio file of claim 10, wherein:

the ground repeater antennas are further operative to retransmit the purchase request signal from the transceiver to the hub site.

12. The system for purchasing and downloading a currently broadcast digital audio file of claim 1, further comprising:

an associated file information block transmitted with the audio file and received by the transceiver unit.

13. The system for purchasing and downloading a currently broadcast digital audio file of claim 12, wherein:

the transceiver unit includes an electronic display and at least a portion of the associated file information is shown on the display.

14. A method of selling digital audio files to satellite broadcast subscribers, including:

acquiring licensed digital audio files comprising an accessible and distributable catalogue of audio files;

broadcasting the digital audio files from the catalogue to the subscribers through a signal using a satellite service;

providing reception means responsive to subscriber requests of a broadcast audio file;

locating the selected audio files identified in the subscriber request within the catalogue; and

transmitting a downloadable version of the audio file to a preselected storage device identified by the subscriber.

15. The method of selling digital audio files in claim 14, wherein:

the satellite service includes a satellite transceiver unit operative to receive and transmit digital signals.

16. The method of selling digital audio files in claim 14, wherein:

the broadcasting of audio files is performed through a satellite and ground repeater system operative to transmit and receive signals.

17. The method of selling digital audio files in claim 14, wherein:

the step of broadcasting through the satellite service includes receiving the signal through a preprogrammed satellite tuner operative to decode the satellite transmission signal and play the audio file.

18. The method of selling digital audio files in claim 17, wherein:

the step of broadcasting the signal includes transmitting with the signal associated audio file information; and

the step of receiving the satellite signal includes the step of displaying the associated audio information on a tuner display.

19. The method of selling digital audio files in claim 14, wherein:

the step of transmitting the downloadable version of the audio file includes transmitting the version in an electronic format through a wireless network wherein the storage device includes wireless receiver means for receiving the electronic format.

20. The method of selling digital audio files in claim 14, wherein:

the purchase request includes one or more preselected storage devices and associated information regarding the storage devices; and

the step of transmitting the downloadable version uses the associated information regarding the storage devices for locating and downloading the audio file to the storage devices.

21. A business method according to claim 14, wherein:

the payment of royalty fees to licensors is determined according to the number of times an audio file is purchased by subscribers.

22. A business method according to claim 14, wherein:

the payment of royalty fees to licensors is determined by a one-time fee.

23. A business method according to claim 14, wherein:

the subscriber pays for the purchase of audio files per each purchase request.

24. A business method according to claim 14, wherein:

the subscriber pays for the purchase of audio files at a periodic rate.

25. A system of selling digital audio files broadcast through a subscriber radio service, including:

an audio file center maintaining digital audio files;

a transceiver operative to receive the broadcast of digital audio files through the subscriber radio service and further operative to transmit a purchase request;

a digital file storage device;

a computer system and network operative to process purchase requests, store and retrieve digital audio files from the audio file center, and download a selected digital audio file through the network to the digital storage device.

26. The system of selling digital audio files of claim 25, wherein:

the digital audio file center is in operative connection to the computer and network system.

27. The system of selling digital audio files of claim 25, wherein:

the transceiver includes an automatic purchase function operative to automatically purchase and download an audio digital file to the digital storage device.

28. The system of selling digital audio files of claim 25, wherein:

the selected digital audio file is downloaded to multiple digital storage devices.

29. The system of selling digital audio files of claim 25, wherein:

the transceiver purchases and automatically stores a digital audio file currently broadcast.