System and method for distributing music and data

• US 7,010,263 B1
• Filed: 12/14/1999
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sirius XM Radio Inc. (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: XM Satellite Radio Incorporated (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Patsiokas, Stellios J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US09/461,699
• Time in Patent Office: 2,275 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.02, 455/3.03, 455/3.06, 455/3.04, 455/186.1, 455/68, 455/69, 725/68, 725/70, 725/109, 725/110, 725/111, 725/112, 725/113, 725/134
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/63 for services of sales data processing systems or methods specially adapted for electronic commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system and method for distributing music and data. The music or data is first transmitted to a consumer via a satellite radio network. The system includes a satellite radio receiver for the user which is capable of receiving the wireless transmission and providing an audio and/or visual output in response thereto. In addition, the receiver is adapted to receive an input (e.g., voice command) from the user by which the user is able to signal an interest in recording a selection of music or data being played and/or displayed. In response to this signal and a record-ability signal, an ID signal is stored on a removable media which identifies the selection being played and/or displayed. The ID signal may be a composite signal indicating the time and channel, a signal that identifies a selection by number, or other suitable ID signal. Finally, the system includes a computer for allowing the user to use the removable media to retrieve the desired selection via the a second network such as private distribution hub or the World Wide Web. In the specific illustrative embodiment, the removable media is electronic (flash) memory. The web site is implemented with software running on a server which translates the ID signal into a human readable identification (e.g., title and artist) of the music or data selected. The user then either downloads the desired selection through the web site or places an order for delivery of physical media (e.g., a CD) on which the desired selection is stored.

Claims

1. A system for distributing program content comprising:

first means for transmitting said program content and data relating thereto using a first network, said first means being a satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) transmitter;

second means for receiving said program content and data relating thereto, said second means being a satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) receiver;

third means for receiving user input while a selection of said program content is being output by said receiver; and

fourth means for storing data relating to said selection in response to said user input.

2. The invention of claim 1 further including fifth means, responsive to said stored data, for retrieving said program content or information relating thereto from a second network.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said fourth means includes a removable electronic storage medium.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said removable electronic storage medium is a flash memory card.

5. The invention of claim 2 wherein said second network is the Internet or World Wide Web.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said program content includes a plurality of music selections.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said second means includes means for playing said music selections as they are received from said first means.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said third means includes a voice recognition system.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said fifth means includes a kiosk.

10. The invention of claim 1 further including means for selectively disabling said fourth means in response to a nonrecord-ability signal.

11. The invention of claim 1 further including means for selectively displaying information relating to said data.

12. A system comprising:

a satellite digital audio radio service transmitter for transmitting program content and data relating thereto;

a satellite digital audio radio service receiver for receiving said program content and data relating thereto;

means including a voice recognition system for receiving user input;

a removable electronic storage medium for storing said data in response to said user input; and

a computer, responsive to said stored data, for retrieving said program content or information relating thereto from the Internet or World Wide Web.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said removable electronic storage medium is a flash memory card.

14. A system comprising:

first means for transmitting program content and data relating thereto using a first network, said first network being a wireless network;

second means for receiving said program content and data relating thereto;

third means for receiving user input;

fourth means for storing said data in response to said user input; and

fifth means for selectively disabling said fourth means in response to a nonrecord-ability signal.

15. A method for recording data including the steps of:

transmitting program content and associated data using a first network, said first network being a wireless network including a satellite digital audio radio service transmitter;

receiving said content and associated data with a satellite digital radio audio service receiver;

receiving user input while a selection of said program content is being output by said receiver;

storing a signal identifying said data in response to said user input; and

retrieving said data from a second network in response to said stored signal.

16. A system for distributing program content comprising:

first means for transmitting said program content and data relating thereto using a first network;

second means for receiving said program content and data relating thereto;

third means for receiving user input while a selection of said program content is being output by said receiver; and

fourth means for storing data relating to said selection in response to said user input.