Rechargeable Media Distribution and Play System with Download Kiosk

• US 20110113067A1
• Filed: 01/21/2011
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: B# On Demand, LLC
• Original Assignee: B# On Demand, LLC
• Inventors: Homer, Gregg S.
• Application Number:
  US13/011,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20110113067A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/783
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3344 using natural language analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1078 Logging; Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An electronic media distribution/play system includes a service facility that has a communications network interface and maintains a data file catalog. The catalog is sent over the network to requesting users, and the system processes payments from customers in establishing file access authorizations. Encrypted user-selected files and a player program are transmitted to each customer for metered access to received data files as limited by the authorization, and customers can make additional selections and play the encrypted files freely while the authorization remains established. The system can transmit the data files from local storage, and also provide links to encrypted files that are stored at remote vendor facilities. Authorizations can be for selected portions or class levels of the catalog, and for terms measured as calendar time, play time, and collective number of plays. Also disclosed is a method for facilitating the distribution and accessing of electronic files.

Claims

1. A system for distributing a digital file to a storage device comprising:

means for delivering the digital file to a kiosk, and

wherein at least a portion of the digital file is available for download from the kiosk to the storage device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for delivering comprises at least one of cable, Internet, telephone, satellite, microwave, cellular, radio, light, laser, CD-ROM, removable drive medium, regular mail, or e-mail.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital file is capable of generating at least one of sound, spoken words, music, moving images, still images, or human-readable text.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital file comprises a software program.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the software program is a media player.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the media player is full program.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the media player is plug-in.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the media player is patch.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the software program comprises at least one of system software, programming software, or application software.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital file comprises an authorization.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital file is encoded.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the manner of encoding is encryption.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the manner of encoding is an encoded file.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the manner of encoding is and encoded file format.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein the availability of the file for download does not require authorization.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein the availability of the file for download requires authorization.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the authorization comprises payment.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein the authorization comprises a key.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the key comprise an electronic key.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the key comprise a digital key.

30. The system of claim 27 wherein the key comprise a software key.

31. The system of claim 27 wherein the key comprise a hardware key.

32. The system of claim 24 wherein the authorization comprises a password.

33. The system of claim 24 wherein the parameters of the authorization are based at least in part on calendar time.

34. The system of claim 24 wherein the parameters of the authorization are based at least in part on play time.

35. The system of claim 24 wherein the parameters of the authorization are based at least in part on the number of plays.

36. The system of claim 24 wherein file access is limited to extent it exceeds the authorization.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein limiting file access comprises preventing play of at least a portion of the file.

38. The system of claim 36 wherein limiting file access comprises interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of the file.

39. The system of claim 36 wherein limiting file access comprises interfering with play of at least a portion of the file.

40. The system of claim 36 wherein limiting file access comprises disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the player program.

41. The system of claim 36 wherein limiting file access comprises disabling access to at least a portion of the file.

42. The system of claim 36 wherein the manner limiting file access in the absence of the authorization is the same as the manner limiting file access to the extent access to the file exceeds the parameters of the authorization.

43. The system of claim 36 wherein the manner limiting file access in the absence of the authorization is different, at least in part, from the manner limiting file access to the extent access to the file exceeds the parameters of the authorization.

44. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage device comprises a hard drive.

46. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage device comprises a removable drive medium.

48. The system of claim 46 wherein the removable drive medium comprises at least one of a CD-ROM or disk.

49. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage device comprises at least one of a computer or handheld device.

2. A system for distributing a digital file to a storage device comprising:

means for providing a kiosk,

wherein the digital file can be delivered to the kiosk, and

at least a portion of the digital file is available for download from the kiosk to the storage device.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the means for delivering comprises at least one of cable, Internet, telephone, satellite, microwave, cellular, radio, light, laser, CD-ROM, removable drive medium, regular mail, or e-mail.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the means for delivering comprises at least one of cable, Internet, telephone, satellite, microwave, cellular, radio, light, laser, CD-ROM, removable drive medium, regular mail, or e-mail.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the digital file is capable of generating at least one of sound, spoken words, music, moving images, still images, or human-readable text.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein the digital file comprises a software program.

16. The system of claim 2 wherein the digital file comprises an authorization.

18. The system of claim 2 wherein the digital file is encoded.

23. The system of claim 2 wherein the availability of the file for download does not require authorization.

25. The system of claim 2 wherein the availability of the file for download requires authorization.

45. The system of claim 2 wherein the storage device comprises a hard drive.

47. The system of claim 2 wherein the storage device comprises a removable drive medium.

50. The system of claim 2 wherein the storage device comprises at least one of a computer or handheld device.

51. A method for distributing a digital file to a storage device comprising:

delivering the digital file to the kiosk, wherein at least a portion of the digital file is available for download from the kiosk to the storage device.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein the means for delivering comprises at least one of cable, Internet, telephone, satellite, microwave, cellular, radio, light, laser, CD-ROM, removable drive medium, regular mail, or e-mail.

55. The method of claim 51 wherein the digital file is capable of generating at least one of sound, spoken words, music, moving images, still images, or human-readable text.

57. The method of claim 51 wherein the digital file comprises a software program.

59. The method of claim 57 wherein the software program is a media player.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the media player is full program.

61. The method of claim 59 wherein the media player is plug-in.

62. The method of claim 59 wherein the media player is patch.

63. The method of claim 57 wherein the software program comprises at least one of method software, programming software, or application software.

64. The method of claim 51 wherein the digital file comprises an authorization.

66. The method of claim 51 wherein the digital file is encoded.

68. The method of claim 66 wherein the manner of encoding is encryption.

69. The method of claim 66 wherein the manner of encoding is an encoded file.

70. The method of claim 66 wherein the manner of encoding is and encoded file format.

71. The method of claim 51 wherein the availability of the file for download does not require authorization.

73. The method of claim 51 wherein the availability of the file for download requires authorization.

75. The method of claim 73 wherein the authorization comprises payment.

76. The method of claim 73 wherein the authorization comprises a key.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein the key comprise an electronic key.

78. The method of claim 76 wherein the key comprise a digital key.

79. The method of claim 76 wherein the key comprise a software key.

80. The method of claim 76 wherein the key comprise a hardware key.

81. The method of claim 73 wherein the authorization comprises a password.

82. The method of claim 73 wherein the parameters of the authorization are based at least in part on calendar time.

83. The method of claim 73 wherein the parameters of the authorization are based at least in part on play time.

84. The method of claim 73 wherein the parameters of the authorization are based at least in part on the number of plays.

85. The method of claim 73 wherein file access is limited to extent it exceeds the authorization.

86. The method of claim 85 wherein limiting file access comprises preventing play of at least a portion of the file.

87. The method of claim 85 wherein limiting file access comprises interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of the file.

88. The method of claim 85 wherein limiting file access comprises interfering with play of at least a portion of the file.

89. The method of claim 85 wherein limiting file access comprises disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the software program used to play the file.

90. The method of claim 85 wherein limiting file access comprises disabling access to at least a portion of the file.

91. The method of claim 85 wherein the manner limiting file access in the absence of the authorization is the same as the manner limiting file access to the extent access to the file exceeds the parameters of the authorization.

92. The method of claim 85 wherein the manner limiting file access in the absence of the authorization is different, at least in part, from the manner limiting file access to the extent access to the file exceeds the parameters of the authorization.

93. The method of claim 51 wherein the storage device comprises a hard drive.

95. The method of claim 51 wherein the storage device comprises a removable drive medium.

97. The method of claim 95 wherein the removable drive medium comprises at least one of a CD-ROM or disk.

98. The method of claim 51 wherein the storage device comprises at least one of a computer or handheld device.

52. A method for distributing a digital file to a storage device comprising:

providing a kiosk,

wherein the digital file can be delivered to the kiosk, and

at least a portion of the digital file is available for download from the kiosk to the storage device.

54. The method of claim 52 wherein the means for delivering comprises at least one of cable, Internet, telephone, satellite, microwave, cellular, radio, light, laser, CD-ROM, removable drive medium, regular mail, or e-mail.

56. The method of claim 52 wherein the digital file is capable of generating at least one of sound, spoken words, music, moving images, still images, or human-readable text.

58. The method of claim 52 wherein the digital file comprises a software program.

65. The method of claim 52 wherein the digital file comprises an authorization.

67. The method of claims 52 wherein the digital file is encoded.

72. The method of claim 52 wherein the availability of the file for download does not require authorization.

74. The method of claim 52 wherein the availability of the file for download requires authorization.

94. The method of claim 52 wherein the storage device comprises a hard drive.

96. The method of claim 52 wherein the storage device comprises a removable drive medium.

99. The method of claim 52 wherein the storage device comprises at least one of a computer or handheld device.