MUSIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. A user station for use in a music distribution system for distributing music to consumer locations at which user stations may be situated, wherein the music distribution system includes a data transmission system configured to blanket transmit a plurality of music content items to remote consumer locations in digital form, a central controller system configured to store addresses corresponding to remote consumer locations, a mechanism configured to verify to the controller system when a pre-selected music content item has been recorded at a remote consumer location, and a billing system configured to bill consumers for pre-selected music content items that have been recorded at the consumer'"'"'s location, said user station comprising:
- a pre-selection mechanism configured to enable a consumer to pre-select from the blanket transmission of a plurality of music content items specific music content items for storage in the user station at a remote consumer location;
a selection mechanism configured to enable said consumer to select for playback any one of the pre-selected music content items stored in the user station;
a mechanism configured to receive pricing information for the pre-selected music content items and to store said pricing information for subsequent querying by the central controller; and
a mechanism configured to transmit to the music distribution system pricing information for a music content item once a consumer indicates at the user station that the consumer wishes to make a permanent copy of the music content item.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Music is blanket transmitted to each customer'"'"'s computer-based user station. Customers preselect from a list of available music in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay only for music that they choose to have recorded for unlimited playback. An antipiracy “ID tag” is woven into the recorded music so that any illegal copies therefrom may be traced to the purchase transaction. Music is transmitted on a fixed schedule or through an active scheduling process that monitors music requests from all or a subset of satellite receivers and adjust scheduling according to demand for various CD'"'"'s. In those instances where transmission interruptions result in data loss, the system downloads the next transmission of the requested CD and uses both transmissions to produce a “good copy”. In conjunction to the blanket transmission, an automated CD manufacturing facility may be provided to manufacture CD'"'"'s and distribute them by ground transportation.
51 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A user station for use in a music distribution system for distributing music to consumer locations at which user stations may be situated, wherein the music distribution system includes a data transmission system configured to blanket transmit a plurality of music content items to remote consumer locations in digital form, a central controller system configured to store addresses corresponding to remote consumer locations, a mechanism configured to verify to the controller system when a pre-selected music content item has been recorded at a remote consumer location, and a billing system configured to bill consumers for pre-selected music content items that have been recorded at the consumer'"'"'s location, said user station comprising:
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a pre-selection mechanism configured to enable a consumer to pre-select from the blanket transmission of a plurality of music content items specific music content items for storage in the user station at a remote consumer location; a selection mechanism configured to enable said consumer to select for playback any one of the pre-selected music content items stored in the user station; a mechanism configured to receive pricing information for the pre-selected music content items and to store said pricing information for subsequent querying by the central controller; and a mechanism configured to transmit to the music distribution system pricing information for a music content item once a consumer indicates at the user station that the consumer wishes to make a permanent copy of the music content item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for use at consumer locations of a music distribution system, comprising:
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receiving, at a user station employed at a remote consumer location, a blanket transmission of a plurality of music content items; receiving, at said consumer location, information identifying available music content items; recording, in said user station, a pre-selected music selection; transmitting a signal from said user station to verify to a controller system that the pre-selected music selection has been recorded at said consumer location; receiving, at said consumer location, pricing information for the pre-selected music content item and storing said pricing information in the user station for subsequent querying by a central controller; and transmitting said pricing information for the pre-selected music content item stored in the user station after a consumer makes an indication at the user station that the consumer wishes to make a permanent copy of the music content item; and receiving, at the consumer location, billing information relating to the copied music content item. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification