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System for distributing subscription and on-demand audio programming

  • US 5,572,442 A
  • Filed: 07/21/1994
  • Issued: 11/05/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A system for distributing subscription and on-demand audio programming comprising:

  • a library containing a pluality of audio program materials stored in a digital format;

    a program selection module that allows a subscriber to request program materials contained within said library;

    an information request manager that selects program materials chosen by said subscriber from said library and that forwards said selected program material to a data transmission system for distribution to the subscriber at rates faster than real time wherein said information request manager sorts said subscriber library requests into bins to determine the number of subscriber requests for each program in said library, fetches a copy of the requested program, queues the program, and commands transfer of the program to said data transmission system, and wherein said information request manager stores subscriber addresses in said bins to track the subscriber address of each subscriber who has requested a particular program;

    and further comprising;

    a counter for determining when a preset number of subscriber requests is reached in each bin, such that said information request manager activates a program transfer routine when said preset number is reached.

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