Method And Apparatus For Generating And Updating A Pre-Categorized Song Database From Which Consumers May Select And Then Download Desired Playlists

• US 20090056525A1
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pushbuttonmusic.com LLC
• Original Assignee: 3B Music, LLC
• Inventors: OPPENHEIMBER, HAROLD B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,985,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/609
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/683 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0058 Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system G10H1/0083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/081 Genre classification, i.e. descriptive metadata for classification or selection of musical pieces according to style analysis genre G10H2210/036
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/085 Mood, i.e. generation, detection or selection of a particular emotional content or atmosphere in a musical piece
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/105 User profile, i.e. data about the user, e.g. for user settings or user preferences
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/125 Library distribution, i.e. distributing musical pieces from a central or master library
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/251 Mobile telephone transmission, i.e. transmitting, accessing or controlling music data wirelessly via a wireless or mobile telephone receiver, analog or digital, e.g. DECT GSM, UMTS smartphone, PDA or palmtop used for musical purposes G10H2230/015; mobile ringtone G10H2230/021

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, systems, and data structures for providing a music-subscription service customer with a portable music device that has been preloaded with customer-selected music. A music-subscription service provider receives a customer order to purchase a portable music device, and also receives the customer'"'"'s selection of less than all of the music available on the music-subscription service provider'"'"'s music database. The music-subscription service provider uses a computer to download the customer-selected music to the portable music device ordered by the customer. The music-subscription service provider then provides to the customer the portable music device that has been preloaded with the customer-selected music. The steps may be performed over the Internet and/or at a retail location.

Claims

1. A method for providing a music-subscription service customer with a portable music device that has been preloaded with customer-selected music, comprising the steps of:

a music-subscription service provider receiving a customer order to purchase a portable music device;

the music-subscription service provider receiving the customer'"'"'s selection of less than all of the music available on the music-subscription service provider'"'"'s music database;

the music-subscription service provider using a computer to download the customer-selected music to the portable music device ordered by the customer; and

the music-subscription service provider providing to the customer the portable music device that has been preloaded with the customer-selected music.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of the music-subscription service provider receiving the customer order to purchase the portable music device includes the step of, at the same time, the music-subscription service provider joining the customer to the music-subscription service.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the music-subscription service includes the step of periodically updating the customer'"'"'s portable music device over the Internet.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of the music-subscription service provider receiving the customer order to purchase the portable music device includes the step of the customer choosing from among a plurality of portable music devices with different memory capacities.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of the music-subscription service provider receiving the customer'"'"'s selection of less than all of the music available on the music-subscription service provider'"'"'s music database includes the step of the music-subscription service provider receiving the customer'"'"'s omitting at least one music genre available on the music-subscription service music database.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of the music-subscription service provider using a computer to download the customer-selected music to the portable music device ordered by the customer includes the step of the music-subscription service provider, acting as agent for the customer, registering the customer as a licensed customer of the music-subscription service.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the step of the music-subscription service provider using a computer to download the customer-selected music to the portable music device ordered by the customer includes the step of the music-subscription service provider using a computer to configure for the customer a media player.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of the music-subscription service provider using a computer to download the customer-selected music to the portable music device ordered by the customer also includes the step of the music-subscription service provider using the configured customer media player to side load the customer-selected music to the portable music device.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of the music-subscription service provider providing to the customer the configured customer media player.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the music-subscription service provider provides the configured customer media player to the customer over the Internet.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of the music-subscription service provider providing to the customer the portable music device includes the step of the music-subscription service provider shipping the portable music device to the customer via express courier.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first two steps are performed over the Internet.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein all steps are performed at a retail location.

14. Apparatus for providing a music-subscription service customer with a portable music device that has been preloaded with customer-selected music, comprising:

at least one music-subscription service provider computer configured to;

(i) receive a customer order to purchase a portable music device;

(ii) receive the customer'"'"'s selection of less than all of the music available on the music-subscription service provider'"'"'s music database; and

(iii) download the customer-selected music to the portable music device ordered by the customer.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said at least one music-subscription service provider computer is/are configured to receive over the Internet (i) the customer order to purchase a portable music device and (ii) the customer'"'"'s selection of less than all of the music available on the music-subscription service provider'"'"'s music database.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said at least one music-subscription service provider computer is/are disposed at a retail site.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said at least one music-subscription service provider computer is/are disposed at the music-subscription service provider'"'"'s business site.

18. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one music-subscription service provider computer is/are configured to, at substantially the same time:

(i) receive the customer order to purchase the portable music device and (ii) receive the customer'"'"'s selection of less than all of the music available on the music-subscription service provider'"'"'s music database.

19. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one music-subscription service provider computer is/are configured to periodically update the customer'"'"'s portable music device over the Internet.

20. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one music-subscription service provider computer is/are configured to receive the customer'"'"'s omitting at least one music genre available on the music-subscription service music database.

21. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one music-subscription service provider computer is/are configured to configure for the customer a media player.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the at least one music-subscription service provider computer is/are configured to use the configured customer media player to side load the customer-selected music to the portable music device.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the at least one music-subscription service provider computer is/are configured to provide to the customer the configured customer media player.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the at least one music-subscription service provider computer is/are configured to provide the configured customer media player to the customer over the Internet.

25. Apparatus for providing a music-subscription service customer with a portable music device that has been preloaded with customer-selected music, comprising:

at least one computer configured to (i) receive over the Internet a customer order to purchase a portable music device, (ii) receive over the Internet, the customer'"'"'s selection of music available on a database of the music-subscription service provider, (iii) configure a media player for the customer based on the customer'"'"'s selection, (iv) use the media player to download the customer-selected music to the portable music device ordered by the customer, and (v) cause the portable music device that has been preloaded with the customer-selected music to be provided to the customer.

26. A method for ordering a portable music device that has been preloaded with customer-selected music, from a music-subscription service provider, comprising the steps of:

ordering a portable music device from a music-subscription service provider;

selecting less than all of the music available on the music-subscription service provider'"'"'s music database, for loading onto the ordered portable music device; and

receiving the portable music device that has been preloaded with the selected music.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the ordering and selecting steps are performed by a customer at his/her personal computer.

28. A method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of loading onto the customer'"'"'s personal computer a media player.

28-1. A method of offering consumers a process for forming a song playlist, comprising providing to consumers a menu which offers song selection criteria comprising at least:

song name;

artist name;

album name;

year of song release;

song genre;

song popularity level;

song mood; and

song era.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the step of loading onto the customer'"'"'s personal computer the media player is performed over the Internet.

29-2. A method of preloading a portable music device for a consumer, comprising:

receiving from the consumer a selection of songs to be preloaded on to the portable music device;

loading the selected songs on to the portable music device; and

also loading on to the portable music device a plurality of songs not selected by the consumer.

30. A method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of using the customer'"'"'s personal computer to periodically update the music loaded on the portable music device.

30-3. A method of preloading a portable music device for a consumer, comprising:

loading on to the portable music device a plurality of songs having a predetermined audience reach level; and

also loading on to the portable music device a further plurality of songs having an audience reach level below said predetermined audience reach level.

31. A method of providing a consumer with an automatically rotating song playlist on his/her portable music device, comprising:

receiving from the consumer a selection of songs to be loaded on to his/her portable music device;

reducing the selected songs by a ratio corresponding to the memory of the consumer'"'"'s portable music device;

permitting the consumer to load the reduced number of selected songs on to his/her portable music device; and

periodically, when the consumer connects his/her portable music device to his/her personal computer, changing the reduced number of selected songs loaded on to his/her portable music device to rotate through the songs selected in the receiving step.

32. A method of providing a consumer with the option to download an entire 30,000 song library to the consumer'"'"'s personal computer, comprising:

permit the consumer to download media player software to his/her personal computer; and

automatically download the entire 30,000 song library to the consumer'"'"'s personal computer in response to the consumer'"'"'s choosing to download the media player.