DIGITAL MEDIA CONTENT LOCATION AND PURCHASING SYSTEM

• US 20090287583A1
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Holmes, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 8,666,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

Systems and methods for locating digital media content. The systems and methods include receiving search terms from a client device through a single interface, searching a plurality of digital media content providers for digital media content using the search terms to obtain search results, sorting and organizing the search results, and returning the search results to the client device through the single interface.

Claims

1. A method of locating digital media content, comprising:

receiving search terms from a client device through a single interface;

searching a plurality of digital media content providers for digital media content using the search terms to obtain search results;

sorting and organizing the search results to only include digital media content to which rights may be obtained; and

returning the search results to the client device through the single interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving search terms from a client device includes providing an input field and receiving input through the input field.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving search terms from a client device includes identifying information associated with digital media content being played back on the client device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sorting and organizing the search results includes comparing the search results to user preferences.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein searching a plurality of digital media content provider for digital media content includes searching the plurality of digital media content providers at least one of a global network content, digital audio content, digital video content, analog audio content, and digital images.

6. A method for locating digital media content for playback on an electronic device, the method comprising:

identifying digital media content being played back on a device,

determining if a user has rights to the digital media content; and

initiating a search of a plurality of digital media content providers if the user does not have rights to the digital media content.

7. The method of claim 6, and further comprising

receiving search results for the availability of the digital media content from the digital media content providers,

determining if digital media content from the digital media content providers meets the predetermined criteria, and

automatically purchasing the digital media content based on if the digital media content meets the predetermined criteria.

8. The method of claim 7, and further comprising receiving digital media content over a network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving digital media content over a network includes receiving digital media content from at least one of a global network, an 802.11 related network, radio frequency networks, a satellite network, and a terrestrial RF network.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining whether additional rights are available if the user has rights to the digital media content.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising comparing additional available rights to user preferences and initiating a search of the plurality of content providers if the additional available rights correspond to the user preferences.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein determining if the user has rights to the digital media content includes searching the digital media content to which the user has rights.

13. A device, comprising:

a processor configured to playback digital media content; and

memory, the memory having stored thereon a location and purchasing module, the location and purchasing module being configured to identify digital media content being played back on a device, determine if a user has rights to the digital media content, initiate a search of a plurality of digital media content providers if the user does not have rights to the digital media content, receiving search results for the availability of the digital media content from the digital media content providers, determine if digital media content from the digital media content providers meets the predetermined criteria, and automatically purchase the digital media content based on if the digital media content meets the predetermined criteria.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to receive and playback music received over a network.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the location and purchasing module is further configured to the digital media content that has been purchased.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the locating and purchasing module is configured to search at least a portion of digital media content to which the user has rights.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the locating and purchasing module is configured to search at least one of a registry of digital media content residing on the memory, a registry of digital media content available from a subscription service, a registry of digital media content stored on an external device, and a registry of digital media content purchased from content providers.

18. The device of claim 13, further comprising one or more of:

a satellite radio;

a cellular telephone;

a laptop computer;

a personal digital assistant;

a personal audio device;

a personal audio and/or video device;

or

any combination thereof.