System for recording and distributing recorded information over the internet
First Claim
1. A computer system, comprising:
- a memory to store a database;
a first logic unit linked with the database to establish a first communications connection with an information provider and to record a first communication in real time as the first communication is being articulated by the information provider over the first communications connection, the database to store the first recorded communication, wherein the database further stores information about an account set up for the information provider;
a second logic unit to provide to a user a list of recorded communications including the first recorded communication, the list including a rate per period of time to access a respective recorded communication, and the list including a user selectable link for the respective recorded communication, which when selected causes a central controller to facilitate establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user;
in response to the user selecting the user selectable link of a recorded communication from the list of recorded communications, the central controller to facilitate establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user; and
a third logic unit to bill the user in response to providing the selected communication to the user, wherein the third logic unit is to track how long the selected recorded communication is delivered to the user and to credit to the account an amount based upon how long the selected recorded communication is delivered minus a fee.
32 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for recording and distributing information is described. The system includes a controller computer capable of establishing a communications connection via a communications interface with information providers and users. The controller computer also maintains a web site through which information providers can list and describe the information services to be distributed through the web site and through which users can browse to find information services to purchase. Information providers record information over the communications connection, which is stored in a database maintained on the controller computer. Users select to receive recorded information, which is delivered over the communications connection by the controller computer. The controller computer further has the capability of automatically billing users and crediting information providers for the information.
369 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A computer system, comprising:
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a memory to store a database; a first logic unit linked with the database to establish a first communications connection with an information provider and to record a first communication in real time as the first communication is being articulated by the information provider over the first communications connection, the database to store the first recorded communication, wherein the database further stores information about an account set up for the information provider; a second logic unit to provide to a user a list of recorded communications including the first recorded communication, the list including a rate per period of time to access a respective recorded communication, and the list including a user selectable link for the respective recorded communication, which when selected causes a central controller to facilitate establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user; in response to the user selecting the user selectable link of a recorded communication from the list of recorded communications, the central controller to facilitate establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user; and a third logic unit to bill the user in response to providing the selected communication to the user, wherein the third logic unit is to track how long the selected recorded communication is delivered to the user and to credit to the account an amount based upon how long the selected recorded communication is delivered minus a fee. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of information recording and delivering, the method comprising:
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establishing a first communications connection with an information provider; recording a first communication in real time as the first communication is being articulated by the information provider over the first communications connection; providing to a user a list of recorded communications, including the first recorded communication, the list including a rate per period of time to access a respective recorded communication, and the list including a user selectable link for the respective recorded communication, which when selected causes a central controller to facilitate establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user; in response to the user selecting the user selectable link of a recorded communication from the list of recorded communications, the central controller facilitating establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user; and billing the user in response to providing the selected communication to the user, comprising tracking how long the selected recorded communication is delivered to the user and crediting to an account set up for the information provider an amount based upon how long the selected recorded communication is delivered minus a fee. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A machine readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, which when executed, perform a method comprising:
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establishing a first communications connection with an information provider; recording a first communication in real time as the first communication is being articulated by the information provider over the first communications connection; providing to a user a list of recorded communications, including the first recorded communication, the list including a rate per period of time to access a respective recorded communication, and the list including a user selectable link for the respective recorded communication, which when selected causes a central controller to facilitate establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user; in response to the user selecting the user selectable link of a recorded communication from the list of recorded communications, the central controller facilitating establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user; and billing the user in response to providing the selected communication to the user, comprising tracking how long the selected recorded communication is delivered to the user and crediting to an account set up for the information provider an amount based upon how lone the selected recorded communication is delivered minus a fee.
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35. A system for information recording and delivering, the system comprising:
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means for establishing a first communications connection with an information provider; means for recording a first communication in real time as the first communication is being articulated by the information provider over the first communications connection; means for providing to a user a list of recorded communications, including the first recorded communication, the list including a rate per period of time to access a respective recorded communication, and the list including a user selectable link for the respective recorded communication, which when selected causes a central controller to facilitate establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user; a central controller means for facilitating establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user, in response to the user selecting the user selectable link of a recorded communication from the list of recorded communications; and means for billing the user in response to providing the selected communication to the user, comprising means for tracking how long the selected recorded communication is delivered to the user and for crediting to an account set up for the information provider an amount based upon how long the selected recorded communication is delivered minus a fee.
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Specification