Method and system for subscriber-based audio service over a communication network

• US 6,662,231 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Distributed Media Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: SEI Information Technology Co.
• Inventors: Kim, Michael, Bottorf, Christopher J., Drosset, Joseph St-John, McMillan, Juan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barot, Bharat
• Application Number:
  US09/608,270
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200-203, 709/217-219, 709/227-229, 709/231-232
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/637 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialization, adaptation or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and system for providing audio service to a client through a communication network. A user subscribes to the service and the user'"'"'s access to audio files is contingent upon authorization and validation. Once authorized, the user may access and stream out audio date files, or similar types of files, to the client device through the communication network. Metrics are maintained for the play-out of each audio file and payment may be allocated to an owner of rights in the audio file based on the play-out statistics. The user may maintain customized play lists on the server for playing out preselected audio files. A play list may be sent to another user. The server may also be configured to select audio files not previously selected by the user based on the user'"'"'s past selection behavior or based on the user'"'"'s stated preferences. The audio files identified by the server are then suggested to the user. The user may also be referred by the server to a sales site to purchase a recording of the audio file.

Claims

1. A method for providing audio service through a communication network to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

registering the user for the audio service;

storing a User identifier value for the user responsive to registering the user for the audio service;

receiving a request message through the communication network, the request message including a network address value, a User identifier value and an audio identifier value;

searching for a matching stored user name value that matches the user name value from the request message;

when no matching stored user name value is found, rejecting the request message;

when the matching stored user name value is found, searching for an audio file corresponding to the audio identifier value of the request message; and

when the corresponding audio file is found, streaming the audio file over the communication network to the network address.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further including the step of incrementing a play-out count of the streamed audio file.

3. The method of claim 2, the method further including the step of allocating payment to an owner of the streamed audio filed based on the value of the play-out count.

4. The method of claim 2, the method further including the step of generating play-out statistics for audio files based on the play-out count for each audio file.

5. The method of claim 1, the method further including the step of recording a duration of play-out of the streamed audio file.

6. The method of claim 5, the method further including the step of allocating payment to an owner of the streamed audio filed based on a total duration of play-out of the streamed audio file.

7. The method of claim 5, the method further including the step of generating play-out statistics for audio files based on the play-out duration value for each audio file.

8. The method of claim 7, where the method further includes the step of collecting demographic data for each user and the step of generating play-out statistics for audio files based on the play-out duration value for each audio file includes relating the play-out statistic for each audio file to the demographic data for each user that has played-out each audio file.

9. The method of claim 1, the method further including the steps of:

storing a play list for the user, where the play list includes a plurality audio identifier values;

receiving a play list request message;

responsive to the play list request message, retrieving the play list for the user and transmitting the play list to the user over the communication network; and

streaming out an audio file corresponding to one of the plurality of audio identifier values from the play list.

10. The method of claim 9, further including the step of sending the play list to another user.

11. The method of claim 10, further including the steps of:

receiving a request with the play list from the another user;

validating the another user;

when the another user is validated as having subscribed, playing out the play list to the another user; and

when the another user is not validated as having subscribed, sending a message to the another user inviting the another user to subscribe.

12. The method of claim 1, the method further including the steps of:

storing a referral link for each audio file, where the referral link corresponds to a sales site accessible through the communication network;

outputting the referral link with the streamed audio file;

responsive to a user request for the referral link, transferring the user to the sales site; and

incrementing a referral count for the referral link.

13. The method of claim 12, the method further including the step of billing an owner of the sales site based on the value of the referral count for the referral link.

14. The method of claim 1, the method further including the steps of:

tracking the audio identifier values for a set of user requests;

matching the audio identifier values for the set of user requests with a predetermined set of categories to determine at least one user category;

selecting at least one unselected audio identifier from the user category that has not been requested by the user; and

sending the unselected audio identifier to the user.

15. The method of claim 14, where the predetermined set of categories includes at least one of a music genre, a music era, and an artist.

16. The method of claim 1, where the method further includes the steps of:

comparing the audio identifier values for the set of user requests with a pattern of user requests for each of a plurality of other users in order to find a similar pattern of user requests from another user;

selecting at least one unselected audio identifier from audio identifier values selected by the another user that has not been requested by the user; and

sending the unselected audio identifier to the user.

17. The method of claim 1, the method further including the steps of:

obtaining a selection of categories from the user along with a selected proportion for each category of the selection; and

selecting a set of audio identifier values from the selection of categories based on the selected proportions.

18. The method of claim 17, the method further including the step of storing the set of audio identifier values as another user accessible play list.

19. The method of claim 17, where the proportion for each category of the selection is expressed as a percentage.

20. The method of claim 1, the method further including the steps of:

obtaining a selection of categories from the user along with a selected proportion for each category of the selection;

selecting a set of audio identifier values from the selection of categories based on the selected proportions; and

playing out to the user each of the audio files corresponding to the set of audio identifier values.

21. The method of claim 20, the method further including the steps of:

detecting that each audio file corresponding to the set of audio identifier values has been played out to the user;

selecting another set of audio identifier values from the selection of categories based on the selected proportions; and

playing out to the user each of the audio files corresponding to the another set of audio identifier values.