Radio station program identifier and distribution system
First Claim
1. A program distribution system comprising:
- a program storage unit for storing programs and having a database module for indexing stored programs by time, date and broadcaster information;
a request processing unit for receiving and processing remote customer requests for custom recordings, wherein the request processing unit identifies and selects which programs a customer is requesting based on time, date and broadcaster information of broadcasted programs;
a network interface for linking remote request appliances to the request processing unit;
a central duplication station having a duplicating unit interconnected to request processing unit, the program storage unit and the database module for creating custom recordings, wherein the duplicating unit is responsive to information from the request processing unit, and, by utilizing information from the database module and programs from the program storage unit, the duplicating unit creates a custom recording of a requested plurality of programs; and
a shipping unit for shipping a custom recording from the central duplication station to a customer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radio program distribution system for creating custom recordings containing a requested plurality of musical programs. The system stores digital copies of musical programs and can selectively copy the programs onto custom recordings. Each participating broadcaster transmits program information to the system about each broadcasted program, and the system creates an entry in a database identifying the program, the time, the date and the broadcaster of each broadcast by a participating broadcaster. The system is connected to a telephone network, allowing customers to call into the system and request a custom recording containing desired musical programs. The customer requests which musical programs are desired by giving the time, date and broadcaster of when the program was heard on the radio. The system allows a customer to hear a preview of each requested program, choose programs broadcast temporally close to a requested time, choose from a menu programs similar to a requested program, and select the radio station from a menu. The system creates a custom recording and ships it to the customer.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A program distribution system comprising:
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a program storage unit for storing programs and having a database module for indexing stored programs by time, date and broadcaster information; a request processing unit for receiving and processing remote customer requests for custom recordings, wherein the request processing unit identifies and selects which programs a customer is requesting based on time, date and broadcaster information of broadcasted programs; a network interface for linking remote request appliances to the request processing unit; a central duplication station having a duplicating unit interconnected to request processing unit, the program storage unit and the database module for creating custom recordings, wherein the duplicating unit is responsive to information from the request processing unit, and, by utilizing information from the database module and programs from the program storage unit, the duplicating unit creates a custom recording of a requested plurality of programs; and a shipping unit for shipping a custom recording from the central duplication station to a customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of vending custom recordings comprising the steps of:
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storing broadcasted programs on a program storage unit; indexing the programs stored on the program storage unit by time, date and broadcaster information of when and by which broadcaster the programs were broadcasted; receiving and processing a remote request from a customer identifying by time, date and broadcaster information a plurality of programs that the customer wants on a custom recording; duplicating the requested plurality of programs from the program storage unit and creating a custom recording containing those programs; and shipping the custom recording to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification