Multicasting method and apparatus
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A system for streaming a continuous sequence of individual pieces of information over a communications network to a group of users that selected a particular channel, the system comprising:
- at least one server adapted to transmit the continuous sequence of individual pieces of information at approximately the same time to each user in the group that selected the particular channel, wherein the individual pieces of information include audio information;
an application that generates a user interface screen adapted to allow a user to initiate a purchase of a product, the user interface screen including;
a channel guide that includes a list of available channels of audio; and
a program guide that provides information relating to the particular channel; and
at least one server adapted to maintain an audit log that records data indicative of at least one of;
how many users listened to the particular channel;
ortimes at which the users listened to the particular channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A scalable architecture is disclosed for delivery of real-time information over a communications network. Embedded into the architecture is a control mechanism that provides for the management and administration of users who are to receive the real-time information. In the preferred embodiment, the information being delivered is high-quality audio. However, it could also be video, graphics, text or any other type of information that can be transmitted over a digital network. Preferably, there are multiple channels of information available simultaneously to be delivered to users, each channel consisting of an independent stream of information. A user chooses to tune in or tune out a particular channel, but does not choose the time at which the channel distributes its information. Advantageously, interactive (two-way) information can be incorporated into the system, multiple streams of information can be integrated for delivery to a user, and certain portions of the information being delivered can be tailored to the individual user.
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Citations
135 Claims
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1. A system for streaming a continuous sequence of individual pieces of information over a communications network to a group of users that selected a particular channel, the system comprising:
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at least one server adapted to transmit the continuous sequence of individual pieces of information at approximately the same time to each user in the group that selected the particular channel, wherein the individual pieces of information include audio information; an application that generates a user interface screen adapted to allow a user to initiate a purchase of a product, the user interface screen including; a channel guide that includes a list of available channels of audio; and a program guide that provides information relating to the particular channel; and at least one server adapted to maintain an audit log that records data indicative of at least one of; how many users listened to the particular channel;
ortimes at which the users listened to the particular channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for streaming a continuous sequence of individual pieces of information over a communications network to a group of users that selected a particular channel comprising the steps of:
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transmitting the continuous sequence of individual pieces of information at approximately the same time to each user in the group that selected the particular channel, wherein the individual pieces of information include audio information; providing an application that generates a user interface screen adapted to allow a user to initiate a purchase of a product, the user interface screen including; a channel guide that includes a list of available channels of audio; and a program guide that provides information relating to the particular channel; and maintaining an audit log that records data indicative of at least one of; how many users listened to the particular channel;
ortimes at which the users listened to the particular channel. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for making available a plurality of media streams, wherein each of the media streams comprises an independent continuous sequence of individual pieces of information, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting the media streams, wherein a particular media stream of the media streams is transmitted at approximately the same time to a group, wherein the group comprises a set of all users that selected the particular media stream; providing an application that generates a user interface screen including; a channel guide that includes a list of available media streams; and side-bar information containing data selected from the group consisting of graphics, images and text; and maintaining a database that includes data indicative of at least one of; the media streams selected by the users; how many users listened to the selected media streams;
ortimes at which users listened to the selected media streams. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A system for streaming a continuous sequence of individual pieces of audio information over a communications network to a group of users that selected a particular channel, the system comprising:
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at least one server adapted to transmit the continuous sequence of individual pieces of audio information at approximately the same time to each user in the group that selected the particular channel; at least one server adapted to maintain an audit log that records data indicative of how many users listened to the particular channel; a client application that generates a user interface screen including; a channel guide that includes a list of available channels of audio, wherein the available channels include channels featuring different types of music; a program guide that provides information relating to the particular channel; and a frame adapted to allow a user to initiate a purchase of a product. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A system for streaming a continuous sequence of individual pieces of audio information over a communications network to a group of users that selected a particular channel, the system comprising:
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a plurality of servers adapted to transmit the continuous sequence of individual pieces of audio information at approximately the same time to each user in the group that selected the particular channel; at least one server adapted to maintain an audit log that records data indicative of how many users listened to the particular channel, wherein the data are stored in a database; a client application that generates a user interface screen including; a channel guide that includes a list of available channels of audio, wherein the available channels include channels featuring different types of music; side-bar information containing data selected from the group consisting of;
an album cover, artist information and a URL; anda frame adapted to allow a user to initiate a purchase of a product. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A system for streaming multiple channels of audio information over a communications network, the system comprising:
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a plurality of servers adapted to transmit the multiple channels of audio information, each channel including an independent continuous sequence of individual pieces of information and said plurality of servers configured so that the audio information for a particular channel of the multiple channels is transmitted at approximately the same time to a group, wherein the group comprises a set of all users that selected the particular channel; at least one server adapted to route the audio information by selecting one or more of the plurality of servers in response to selection signals received from the users; a client application that generates a user interface screen including; a channel guide that includes a list of the multiple channels of audio information, wherein the multiple channels include channels featuring different types of music; and a program guide that provides information relating to a selected channel. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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85. A system for streaming audio information over a communications network, the system comprising:
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multiple channels of audio information, each channel of the multiple channels including an independent continuous sequence of individual pieces of information; at least one server adapted to transmit the audio information of each channel, said server configured so that the audio information for a particular channel of the multiple channels is transmitted at approximately the same time to a group, wherein the group comprises a set of all users that selected the particular channel; an application that generates a user interface screen adapted to allow a user to initiate a purchase of a product, the user interface screen including; a channel guide that includes a list of the multiple channels available to the user, wherein the channels include different types of music; and a program guide that provides information relating to a channel selected by the user; and at least one server adapted to maintain an audit log that records data indicative of at least one of; the channels selected by the users; how many users listened to the selected channels;
ortimes at which users listened to the selected channels. - View Dependent Claims (86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95)
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96. A system for streaming audio information over a communications network, the system comprising:
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multiple channels of audio information, each channel of the multiple channels including an independent continuous sequence of individual pieces of information; at least one server adapted to transmit the audio information of each channel, said server configured so that the audio information for a particular channel of the multiple channels is transmitted at approximately the same time to a group comprising a set of all users that selected the particular channel; an application that generates a user interface screen adapted to allow a user to initiate a purchase of a product, the user interface screen including; a channel guide that includes a list of the multiple channels available to the user, wherein the channels include different types of music; and a program guide that provides information relating to a channel selected by the user; and at least one server adapted to route the individual pieces of information in response to selection signals received from the users. - View Dependent Claims (97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103)
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104. A system for streaming a continuous sequence of individual pieces of audio information over a communications network to a group of users that selected a particular channel, the system comprising:
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at least one server adapted to transmit the continuous sequence of individual pieces of audio information at approximately the same time to each user in the group that selected the particular channel; an application that generates a user interface screen adapted to allow a user to initiate two-way interaction allowing the user to chat and further adapted to allow the user to initiate a purchase of a CD that is relevant to the audio information being transmitted, the user interface screen including; a channel guide that includes a list of available channels of audio information, wherein the channels include different types of music; and a program guide that provides information relating to the particular channel; and at least one server adapted to maintain an audit log that records data indicative of at least one of; how many users listened to the particular channel;
ortimes at which users listened to the particular channel. - View Dependent Claims (105, 106, 107, 108)
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109. A system for streaming a continuous sequence of individual pieces of audio information over a communications network to a group of users that selected a particular channel, the system comprising:
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at least one server adapted to transmit the continuous sequence of individual pieces of audio information at approximately the same time to each user in the group that selected the particular channel; an application that generates a user interface screen adapted to allow a user in the group to initiate two-way interaction allowing the user to chat and further adapted to allow the user to initiate a purchase of a CD that is relevant to the audio information being transmitted, the user interface screen including; a channel guide that includes a list of available channels of audio information, wherein the channels include different types of music; and a program guide that provides information relating to the particular channel; and at least one server adapted to route the individual pieces of audio information in response to selection signals received from the users. - View Dependent Claims (110, 111, 112, 113)
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114. A system for streaming audio over a communications network, the system comprising:
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at least one server configured to transmit a continuous sequence of packets containing audio information, wherein the continuous sequence of packets is transmitted at approximately the same time to each of multiple user computers; a software application configured to be loaded onto each of the user computers, wherein the software application contains instructions for generating a user interface comprising; a channel guide that includes a list of available channels of audio information; and a program guide that provides program information for at least one of the available channels; and at least one server configured to record which user computers received the audio information, which of the available channels were received, or times at which any of the available channels were received. - View Dependent Claims (115, 116)
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117. A method for streaming audio over a communications network, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a continuous sequence of packets containing audio information, wherein the continuous sequence of packets is transmitted at approximately the same time to each of multiple user computers; providing a software application configured to be loaded onto each of the user computers, wherein the software application contains instructions for generating a user interface comprising; a channel guide that includes a list of available channels of audio information; and a program guide that provides program information for at least one of the available channels; and generating a database that includes data indicative of how many user computers received the audio information, which of the available channels were received, or times at which any of the available channels were received. - View Dependent Claims (118, 119)
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120. A system for streaming multiple channels of audio information over a communications network, the system comprising:
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a plurality of first servers configured to transmit the multiple channels of audio information, each channel including an independent continuous sequence of packets containing audio information, where said plurality of first servers are configured so that the audio information for a particular channel is transmitted at approximately the same time to each of multiple user computers that requested the particular channel; at least one second server adapted to route the audio information to the user computers through selected first servers of said plurality of first servers in response to selection signals received from the user computers; and a software application configured to be loaded onto each of the user computers, wherein the software application contains instructions for generating a user interface comprising; an order placing feature that allows users of the multiple user computers to place an order for a product; a channel guide that includes a list of the multiple channels, wherein the multiple channels include channels featuring different types of music; and a program guide that provides program information relating to a particular channel of the multiple channels. - View Dependent Claims (121)
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122. A system for streaming a continuous sequence of packets of audio information over a communications network, the system comprising:
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at least one server configured to transmit the packets at approximately the same time to each of multiple user computers; a software application configured to be loaded onto each of the user computers, wherein the software application contains instructions for generating a user interface comprising; an order placing feature that allows users of the multiple user computers to place an order for a CD that is relevant to the audio information; a two-way interaction feature that allows users of the multiple user computers to participate in a chat session; a channel guide that includes a list of available channels of audio information; and a program guide that provides program information for at least one of the available channels; and at least one server configured to record which user computers received the audio information, which of the available channels were received, or times at which any of the available channels were received. - View Dependent Claims (123)
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124. A system for streaming audio information over a communications network, the system comprising:
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multiple channels of audio information, each channel of the multiple channels including an independent continuous sequence of individual pieces of information; at least one server adapted to transmit the audio information of each channel, said server configured so that the audio information for a particular channel of the multiple channels is transmitted at approximately the same time to a group comprising a set of all users that selected the particular channel; an application that generates at least one user interface screen adapted to allow a user to initiate a purchase of a product; and at least one server adapted to maintain an audit log that records data indicative of at least one of; the channels selected by the users; how many users listened to the selected channels;
ortimes at which users listened to the selected channels. - View Dependent Claims (125, 126, 127, 128)
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129. A system for streaming audio information over a communications network, the system comprising:
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multiple channels of audio information, each channel of the multiple channels including an independent continuous sequence of individual pieces of information; at least one server adapted to transmit the audio information of each channel, said server configured so that the audio information for a particular channel of the multiple channels is transmitted at approximately the same time to a group comprising a set of all users that selected the particular channel; an application that generates at least one user interface screen adapted to allow a user to initiate a purchase of a product; and at least one server adapted to route the individual pieces of information in response to selection signals received from the users. - View Dependent Claims (130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135)
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Specification