Method and system for distribution of media

• US 7,107,045 B1
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Knoop, Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAMER, TEMICA M
• Application Number:
  US10/308,940
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

A method and system for playing a media sample representing a full media selection on a wireless handset and, in turn, requesting the full media selection to be sent to a client station other than the wireless handset. The method and system provides for a user of a wireless handset to receive one or more media samples from a media content provider, such as a media server. The user can then request one or more full media selections from the media server, and the media server can, in turn, e-mail to the user a hyperlink for each full media selection selected by the user. The user can then invoke the hyperlink to access a full media selection at a client station other than the wireless handset.

Claims

1. A media distribution method comprising:

responsive to a first user-request, sending a media sample to a wireless handset, the media sample representing a full media selection;

thereafter receiving from the wireless handset a second user-request for the full media selection;

responsive to the second user-request, e-mailing to a user a hyperlink to the full media selection; and

responsive to user invocation of the hyperlink at a client station other than the wireless handset, sending the full media selection to the client station.

2. The media distribution method of claim 1, wherein the hyperlink is a limited-lifetime hyperlink.

3. The media distribution method of claim 1, further comprising:

a media player on the wireless handset playing the media sample to the user; and

a media player on the client station playing the full media selection to the user.

4. The media distribution method of claim 1, further comprising, after sending the media sample to the wireless handset and before sending the full media selection to the client station:

receiving agreement from the user to pay for the full media selection.

5. The media distribution method of claim 4, wherein a wireless service provider provides wireless communication service to the wireless handset, and wherein the wireless service provider receives the agreement to pay for the full media selection.

6. The media distribution method of claim 1, further comprising, after sending the media sample to the wireless handset and before sending the full media selection to the client station:

receiving user payment for the full media selection.

7. The media distribution method of claim 6, wherein a wireless service provider provides wireless communication service to the wireless handset, and wherein the wireless service provider receives the user payment for the full media selection.

8. The media distribution method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the user an indication of at least one other user to receive the full media selection; and

e-mailing to the at least-one other user the hyperlink to the full media selection.

9. The media distribution method of claim 8, wherein The hyperlink is a limited-lifetime hyperlink.

10. The media distribution method of claim 1, wherein sending a media sample to a wireless handset comprises streaming the media sample to the wireless handset.

11. The media distribution method of claim 1, wherein sending a full media selection to a client station comprises streaming the full media selection to the client station.

12. A wireless handset comprising:

a processor;

data storage; and

machine language instructions stored in the data storage and executable by the processor to;

(i) responsive to a user request, receive from a media server a media sample, the media sample representing a full media selection, and

(ii) responsive to a user selecting the full media selection, request the media server to e-mail to the user a hyperlink to the full media selection, such that responsive to user invocation of the hyperlink at a client station other than the wireless handset, the media server will send the full media selection to the client station.

13. The wireless handset of claim 12, wherein the hyperlink is a limited-lifetime hyperlink.

14. The wireless handset of claim 12, further comprising:

a media player stored in the data storage and being executable by the processor to play the media sample to the user.

15. The wireless handset of claim 12, wherein the machine language instructions are further executable by the processor to receive agreement from the user to pay for the full media selection.

16. The wireless handset of claim 15, wherein a wireless service provider provides wireless communication service to the wireless handset, and wherein the wireless service provider receives the agreement to pay for the full media selection.

17. The wireless handset of claim 12, wherein the machine language instructions are further executable by the processor to receive user payment for the full media selection.

18. The wireless handset of claim 17, wherein a wireless service provider provides wireless communication service to the wireless handset, and wherein the wireless service provider receives the user payment for the full media selection.

19. A media server comprising:

a processor;

data storage; and

machine language instructions stored in the data storage and executable by the processor to;

(i) responsive to a first user-request send a media sample to a wireless handset, the media sample representing a full media selection,

(ii) thereafter receive from the wireless handset a second user-request for the full media selection,

(iii) responsive to the second user-request, e-mail to a user a hyperlink to the full media selection, and

(iv) responsive to user invocation of the hyperlink at a client station other than the wireless handset, send the full media selection to the client station.

20. The media server of claim 19, wherein the hyperlink is a limited-lifetime hyperlink.

21. The media server of claim 19, further comprising:

a media application stored in the data storage and being executable by the processor to send the full media selection to the user.

22. The media server of claim 19, wherein the machine language instructions are further executable by the processor to:

receive from a user an indication of at least one other user to receive the full media selection; and

e-mail to the at least-one other user the hyperlink to the full media selection.

23. The media server of claim 22, wherein the hyperlink is a limited-lifetime hyperlink.

24. A system comprising:

a wireless handset; and

a media server; and

wherein The wireless handset comprises a processor, data storage, and machine language instructions stored in the data storage and executable by the processor to (i) receive, responsive to a first user-request, from the media server a media sample, the media sample representing a full media selection; and

(ii) request the media server to e-mail to a user a hyperlink to the full media selection; and

herein the media server comprises a processor, data storage, and machine language instructions stored in the data storage and executable by the processor to (i) send a media sample to the wireless handset, the media sample representing a full media selection;

(ii) responsive to a second user-request from the wireless handset for the full media selection, e-mail to a user a hyperlink to the full media selection; and

(iii) responsive to user invocation of the hyperlink at a client station other than the wireless handset the full media selection to the client station.

25. A wireless handset comprising:

a means for receiving from a media server, responsive to a user request, a media sample, the media sample representing a full media selection; and

a means for requesting the media server to e-mail to a user a hyperlink to the full media selection, such that responsive to user invocation of the hyperlink at a client station other than the wireless handset, the media server will send the full media selection to the client station.

26. A media sewer comprising:

a means for sending a media sample to a wireless handset responsive to a first user-request, the media sample representing a full media selection;

a means for receiving from the wireless handset a second user-request for the full media selection;

a means for e-mailing to a user a hyperlink to the full media selection in response to the second user-request; and

a means for sending the full media selection to a client station other than the wireless handset in response to user invocation of the hyperlink at the client station.

27. A system comprising:

a means for sending a media sample to a wireless handset responsive to a first user-request, the media sample representing a full media selection;

a means for receiving from a media server the media sample;

a means for requesting the media server to e-mail to a user a hyperlink to the full media selection;

responsive to a second user-request from the wireless handset for the full media selection, a means for e-mailing to the user the hyperlink to the full media selection; and

responsive to user invocation of the hyperlink at a client station other than the wireless handset, a means for sending the full media selection to the client station.