SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEARCHING AND BROWSING MEDIA CONTENT
First Claim
1. A method of searching for media content in a metadata database connected to a processor, the metadata database comprising metadata of a media article for being available at an article dispensing machine and metadata of a media selection for being available at an associated content provider, the method comprising:
- receiving a search request, the search request comprising search criteria;
searching the metadata database for the media article matching the search criteria and the media selection matching the search criteria, in response to the search request;
determining an availability of the matching media article for distribution from the article dispensing machine;
identifying the associated content provider;
determining an availability of the matching media selection at the associated content provider; and
providing a search result set comprising the matching media article and the matching media selection, based on the determined availabilities of the matching media article and the matching media selection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of searching for media content in a metadata database is provided. Searching may include matching keywords in search criteria or using predefined search criteria for browsing of static or dynamic listings of media content. The method includes receiving a search request including search criteria, and searching the metadata database for a physical media article matching the search criteria and a digital media selection matching the search criteria. The method also includes determining availabilities of the matching media article and the matching media selection. A search result set with the matching media articles and matching media selections is provided, based on their availabilities. The search result set may also include media articles and media selections that are indirectly associated with the search criteria. An associated content provider may be linked to the customer based on a subscription. The media selection may be accessed by an audio/visual display interface.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method of searching for media content in a metadata database connected to a processor, the metadata database comprising metadata of a media article for being available at an article dispensing machine and metadata of a media selection for being available at an associated content provider, the method comprising:
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receiving a search request, the search request comprising search criteria; searching the metadata database for the media article matching the search criteria and the media selection matching the search criteria, in response to the search request; determining an availability of the matching media article for distribution from the article dispensing machine; identifying the associated content provider; determining an availability of the matching media selection at the associated content provider; and providing a search result set comprising the matching media article and the matching media selection, based on the determined availabilities of the matching media article and the matching media selection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of searching for media content in a metadata database and an inventory database connected to a processor, the metadata database comprising metadata of a plurality of media articles and metadata of a plurality of media selections, the inventory database comprising availability of the plurality of media articles at a plurality of article dispensing machines, the method comprising:
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receiving a search request, the search request comprising a search keyword; selecting at least one media article having metadata matching the search keyword from the metadata database; selecting at least one media selection having metadata matching the metadata of the selected media article from the metadata database by utilizing a mapping of the metadata of the selected media article to the metadata of the plurality of media selections; identifying an associated content provider; determining an availability of the selected media selection for distribution from the associated content provider; determining an availability of the selected media article at the plurality of article dispensing machines using the inventory database; and providing a search result set comprising the selected media selection, the associated content provider where the selected media selection is available, the selected media article, and locations of the plurality of the article dispensing machines where the selected media article is available. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A network of article dispensing machines comprising:
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an article dispensing machine; a central memory remote from the article dispensing machine and containing a customer profile database, a metadata database, and an inventory database, the customer profile database containing a customer subscription with an associated content provider based on a unique customer identifier, the metadata database comprising metadata of a plurality of media articles and metadata of a plurality of media selections, and the inventory database comprising availability of the plurality of media articles at the network of article dispensing machines; and a central processor in communication with the article dispensing machine and the central memory, the central processor comprising a search engine, the central processor for; searching the metadata database for the media article matching search criteria and the media selection matching the search criteria using the search engine, in response to receiving the search criteria; determining an availability of the matching media article at the article dispensing machine in the inventory database; identifying the associated content provider in the customer profile database; determining an availability of the matching media selection for distribution from the associated content provider based on the customer subscription with the associated content provider; and providing a search result set comprising the matching media article and the matching media selection, based on the determined availabilities of the matching media article and the matching media selection. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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Specification