Stored program pay-per-play

• US 6,732,366 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2000
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Index Systems Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Russo, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US09/495,240
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 348/3, 348/1, 348/7, 348/10, 700/94, 386/52, 386/55, 386/83, 725/1, 725/2, 725/5, 725/8, 725/9, 455/3.06, 455/2.01, 455/3.04
• US Class Current: 725/5
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A stored program pay-per-play system includes a high-capacity storage medium facilitating compilation of video, audio or other programs at a subscriber'"'"'s site. While the recording of such programs may take place at any time preceding playback, billing occurs only when, and if, the subscriber chooses to select a program for replay or actually enjoys the program substantially in its entirety. The program provider may automatically download programs, either based upon actual or surmised viewer preferences, or at the provider'"'"'s discretion, for example, using newly-available selections. Display generation circuitry is preferably implemented, enabling the viewer to review selections to be downloaded, those selections available for immediate replay, remaining account balance, and other features, including “parental lockout” and so forth.

Claims

1. A musical selection pay-per-play system, comprising:

an input for receiving musical selections to be played at a subscriber'"'"'s location, including selections automatically provided to the subscriber in accordance with categorical criteria, the playing of a selection having associated therewith a payment to a provider;

a memory for locally storing one or more such musical selections; and

means for ensuring payment to the provider after the selection has been identified for playing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the payment is due only after the selection has been played substantially in its entirety.

3. The system of claim 1, further including:

means for providing a list at the subscriber'"'"'s location of currently available musical selections; and

means for identifying selections from the list to be stored for replay at a future time.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for ensuring payment to the provider includes the transfer of information to the provider after the music has been selected for playing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for ensuring payment to the provider includes a transfer of funds prior to the playing of a particular musicial selection.

6. A method of compensating a music provider, comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a subscriber'"'"'s location, a piece of music in electronic form from a provider;

locally storing the music along with information relating thereto;

selecting the music to be played; and

compensating the provider only after the program has been selected or played at the subscriber'"'"'s location.