Method and apparatus for distributing and selling electronic content

• US 7,167,840 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2000
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goliff, William, Sibley, Erin H., Seidman, Lawrence P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell; James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Worjloh; Jalatee
• Application Number:
  US09/544,833
• Time in Patent Office: 2,505 Days
• Field of Search: 705 50- 79, 713/150
• US Class Current: 705/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A system for distributing electronic content packages has a content provider that has electronic content and a broadcast center. The broadcast center is coupled to the content provider for receiving the electronic content and transmitting a plurality of the electronic to the system users. A user appliance has a filter therein. The appliance is coupled to the broadcast center for receiving the electronic content. The filter filters the plurality of electronic content with predetermined filter terms and accepts one of the plurality of electronic content to form a selected content subset as a function of the filter terms. This process is repeated for the plurality of electronic content.

Claims

1. A method for distributing electronic content comprising the steps of:

in a broadcast center, distributing a plurality of electronic content having predetermined user rights less than full user rights associated therewith;

linking and distributing marketing information with each of said plurality of electronic content selections; and

in a user appliance,

receiving the plurality of electronic content and associated marketing information;

filtering said plurality of electronic content with predetermined filter terms;

accepting one or more of said plurality of electronic content to form a selected content subset as a function of said marketing information matching said predetermined filter terms; and

storing the selected content subset for user review.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

reviewing the selected content subset; and

purchasing one or more of the selected content subset.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein in response to the step of purchasing one or more of the selected content subset, releasing greater rights to said one or more of the selected content subset.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said greater rights comprise full rights to use said one or more of the selected content subset.

5. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the step of releasing greater rights comprises shipping a full electronic content package to the user.

6. A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising the step of confirming the purchase.

7. A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising the steps of storing marketing information in response to said step of purchasing.

8. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the step of filtering comprises adjusting said filter terms in response to the step of purchasing.

9. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the step of purchasing comprises providing an account number and contacting a merchant bank.

10. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the step of purchasing comprises billing the user on a regular basis.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of distributing promotional material with said plurality of electronic content.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of filtering comprises the step of prompting the user for filter terms.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of distributing comprises the steps of distributing a plurality of electronic content having limited user rights associated therewith.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein said limited rights is selected from the group consisting of a one time play right, a selected portion play right, and full rights for a predetermined time.

15. A system for distributing electronic content packages comprising:

a content provider having a plurality of electronic content;

a broadcast center coupled to the content provider for receiving said plurality of electronic content and transmitting said plurality of electronic content with marketing information, said plurality of electronic content having predetermined limited rights less than full rights associated therewith;

a user appliance having a filter therein, said appliance coupled to said broadcast center for receiving said plurality of electronic content with marketing information, said filter filtering the plurality of electronic content with predetermined filter terms and accepting one or more of said plurality of electronic content to form a selected content subset as a function of said filter terms and marketing information.

16. A user appliance for a system comprising;

a receiver receiving a plurality of electronic content and associated marketing information, with limited rights in the electronic content;

a filter coupled to the receiver;

a storage device coupled to said filter,

said filter filtering the plurality of electronic content with predetermined filter terms and accepting one or more of said plurality of electronic content and its associated limited rights to form a selected content subset as a function of said filter terms and the marketing information, and after accepting, storing said selected content subset on said local storage device, said associated limited rights capable of being converted to greater rights upon receiving a decryption key without receiving additional electronic content.

17. A user appliance as recited in claim 16 further comprising a review device coupled to said storage device for reviewing said electronic content subset and initiating a buy transaction.

18. A method for distributing electronic content to users in a system comprising:

simultaneously broadcasting to each user appliance of the system a plurality of electronic content samples having predetermined user rights less than full user rights associated therewith;

distributing marketing information with each of said plurality of electronic content samples;

receiving the plurality of electronic content samples and associated marketing information;

filtering the plurality of electronic content samples with predetermined filter terms; and

accepting one of said plurality of electronic content samples to form a selected sample as a function of the marketing information matching said filter terms; and

storing the selected sample for user review.