Consumer driven methods for associating content indentifiers with related web addresses
First Claim
1. A method of operating a database that has plural records, the method including receiving queries, each including an identifier, and replying to said queries by reference to information from database records associated with said identifiers, said identifiers being drawn from a universe of possible identifiers, a majority of which do not have active database records associated therewith, the method including:
- receiving a query from a user including an identifier that has no active database record associated therewith, said identifier being derived from an existing media content object; and
permitting the user to create an active database record corresponding to said identifier.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Media content objects, such as audio MP3 files, are associated with identifiers. The identifiers can be assigned, or can be implicit (e.g., derived from other data in the content object, as by hashing). A user of the file can utilize the identifier to query a database and thereby obtain the URL of one or more internet resources associated with that content (e.g., web sites with fan info, concert schedules, opportunities to purchase CDs, etc.). Some identifiers may not be associated with URLs in the database. A user who queries the database with such an identifier (e.g., which may be derived from an independently produced MP3) finds that there is not yet an associated URL. In this case, the user may be given the opportunity to lease this virtual address for a predetermined period, with the privilege of specifying a URL for that identifier. Subsequent users who link from this particular MP3 file thereafter are directed to the URL specified by the first user. In some arrangements, the leasing privilege is awarded through a brief auction, triggered by the first user'"'"'s discovery that the address is not used. Other users who query the database with that identifier during the period of the auction are permitted to bid. When the first lease period expires, the privilege can be re-auctioned. Proceeds from such auctions can be shared, e.g., with the user who triggered the first action, or with the high bidder of a previous auction.
183 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of operating a database that has plural records, the method including receiving queries, each including an identifier, and replying to said queries by reference to information from database records associated with said identifiers, said identifiers being drawn from a universe of possible identifiers, a majority of which do not have active database records associated therewith, the method including:
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receiving a query from a user including an identifier that has no active database record associated therewith, said identifier being derived from an existing media content object; and permitting the user to create an active database record corresponding to said identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 20, 21, 23)
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4. A method comprising:
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deriving an identifier corresponding to an existing media content object; querying a database with the derived identifier; and if the database has no active record corresponding to said derived identifier, permitting a party who first queried the database with said identifier to define such a record. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 22)
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- 14. A method of managing a universe of identifiers, some of said identifiers being active and having internet resources associated therewith, and others of said identifiers being inactive, the method including receiving a query corresponding to an inactive identifier and, in response, initiating a time-limited auction, a winner of said auction being granted the privilege of associating an internet resource with said identifier for at least a predetermined time period.
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16. A method comprising:
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auctioning to the highest bidder the privilege of defining a link that is to be associated, for a predetermined time period, with an identifier through a database; and at the expiry of said predetermined time period, re-auctioning said privilege. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 26, 27)
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Specification