Interface for presenting downloadable digital data content format options

• US 7,526,450 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2001
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Music Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Music Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hughes, David A., Smith, Allen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hewitt, II; Calvin Loyd
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHERR, CRISTINA O
• Application Number:
  US09/836,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20020013826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,933 Days
• Field of Search: 705 50- 59, 705 26- 27, 705/1, 705/10
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A transaction for downloadable digital data is facilitated over an electronic network. A presence is maintained on the electronic network to which a consumer may connect. A page is transmitted from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network, the page including information concerning the downloadable digital data. A command is received from the consumer over the electronic network indicating that the consumer wishes the transaction for the downloadable digital data. Format options are transmitted from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network via the at page, the format options being selectable by the consumer and including at least one of (i) types of software on which the downloadable digital data may be executed; (ii) types of portable devices on which the downloadable digital data may be stored; (iii) types of compression formats in which the downloadable digital data may be configured; (iv) types of CODECs through which the downloadable digital data may be processed; and (v) types of digital rights management algorithms to which the downloadable digital data may be subject.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating a transaction for downloadable digital data over an electronic network, the method comprising:

maintaining a presence to which a consumer connects on the electronic network;

transmitting a page from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network, the page including information concerning the downloadable digital data;

receiving a command from the consumer over the electronic network indicating that the consumer is engaging in a transaction for the downloadable digital data;

transmitting format options from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network via the page, the format options being displayed to the consumer and selectable by the consumer and including (i) types of software on which the downloadable digital data is to be executable;

(ii) types of portable devices on which the downloadable digital data is to be stored;

(iii) types of compression formats in which the downloadable digital data is to be configured;

(iv) types of CODECs through which the downloadable digital data is to be processed; and

(v) types of digital rights management to which the downloadable digital data is to be subjected;

receiving the consumer'"'"'s selection of at least one of the type of software, the type of compression format, the type of digital rights management, and the type of portable device, over the electronic network at the presence;

transmitting the downloadable digital data to the consumer over the electronic network in a format consistent with at least one of the selected type of software, the selected type of compression format, the selected type of digital rights management, and the selected type of portable device;

storing at least one of the selected type of software, the selected type of compression format, the selected type of digital rights management, and the selected type of portable device; and

designating the stored type of software, type of compression format type of digital rights management, and type of portable device as default format options and transmitting the default format options from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network via the page in response to another command from the consumer over the electronic network indicating that the consumer is engaging in another transaction for downloadable digital data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) a given type of software is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of compression formats, the types of digital rights management, and the types of portable devices;

(ii) a given type of compression format is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of digital rights management, and the types of portable devices;

(iii) a given type of digital rights management is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of portable devices; and

(iv) a given type of portable device is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of digital rights management.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising permitting selection by the consumer from among only the compatible respective subsets of at least one of the types of compression formats, the types of digital rights management, and the types of portable devices, when the given type of software is selected by the consumer.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising permitting selection by the consumer from among only the compatible respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of digital rights management, and the types of portable devices, when the given type of compression format is selected by the consumer.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising permitting selection by the consumer from among only the compatible respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of portable devices, when the given type of digital rights management is selected by the consumer.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising permitting selection by the consumer from among only the compatible respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of digital rights management, when the given type of portable device is selected by the consumer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the downloadable digital data includes at least one of audio data, video data, and text data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each type of software, each type of compression format, each type of digital rights management, and each type of portable device is displayed on the page and selectable by way of activation by the consumer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable devices on which the downloadable digital data stores data in a manner that is compliant with secure digital music initiative (SDMI) specifications.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic network comprises the Internet and the presence comprises a web site thereon.

11. A system for facilitating a transaction for downloadable digital data over an electronic network, comprising:

means for maintaining a presence to which a consumer connects on the electronic network;

means for transmitting a page from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network, the page including information concerning the downloadable digital data;

means for receiving a command from the consumer over the electronic network indicating that the consumer is engaging in a transaction for the downloadable digital data;

means for transmitting format options from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network via the page, the format options being displayed to the consumer and selectable by the consumer and including (i) types of software on which the downloadable digital data is to be executable;

(ii) types of portable devices on which the downloadable digital data is to be stored;

(iii) types of compression formats in which the downloadable digital data is to be configured;

(iv) types of CODECs through which the downloadable digital data is to be processed and (v) types of digital rights management to which the downloadable digital data is to be subjected;

means for receiving the consumer'"'"'s selection of at least one of the type of software, the type of compression format, the type of digital rights management, and the type of portable device, over the electronic network at the presence;

means for transmitting the downloadable digital data to the consumer over the electronic network in a format consistent with at least one of the selected type of software, the selected type of compression format, the selected type of digital rights management, and the selected type of portable device;

means for storing at least one of the selected type of software, the selected type of compression format, the selected type of digital rights management, and the selected type of portable device; and

means for designating the stored type of software, type of compression format, type of digital rights management, and type of portable device as default format options and transmitting the default format options from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network via the page in response to another command from the consumer over the electronic network indicating that the consumer is engaging in another transaction for downloadable digital data.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of (i) a given type of software is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of compression formats, the types of digital rights management, and the types of portable devices;

(ii) a given type of compression format is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of digital rights management, and the types of portable devices;

(iii) a given type of digital rights management is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of portable devices; and

(iv) a given type of portable device is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of digital rights management.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the downloadable digital data includes at least one of audio data, video data, and text data.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein each type of software, each type of compression format, each type of digital rights management, and each type of portable device is displayed on the page and selectable by way of activation by the consumer.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the portable devices on which the downloadable digital data stores data in a manner that is compliant with secure digital music initiative (SDMI) specifications.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronic network comprises Internet and the presence comprises a web site thereon.

17. An electronic storage medium for storing instructions which, when executed by a programmable controller, carry out a method for facilitating a transaction for downloadable digital data over an electronic network, comprising:

maintaining a presence to which a consumer connects on the electronic network;

transmitting a page from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network, the page including information concerning the downloadable digital data;

receiving a command from the consumer over the electronic network indicating that the consumer is engaging in a transaction for the downloadable digital data;

transmitting format options from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network via the page, the format options being displayed to the consumer and selectable by the consumer and including (i) types of software on which the downloadable digital data is to be executable;

(ii) types of portable devices on which the downloadable digital data is to be stored;

(iii) types of compression formats in which the downloadable digital data is to be configured;

(iv) types of CODECs through which the downloadable digital data is to be processed; and

(v) types of digital rights management to which the downloadable digital data is to be subjected;

receiving the consumer'"'"'s selection of at least one of the type of software, the type of compression format, the type of digital rights management, and the type of portable device, over the electronic network at the presence;

transmitting the downloadable digital data to the consumer over the electronic network in a format consistent with at least one of the selected type of software, the selected type of compression format, the selected type of digital rights management, and the selected type of portable device;

storing at least one of the selected type of software, the selected type of compression format, the selected type of digital rights management, and the selected type of portable device; and

designating the stored type of software, type of compression format, type of digital rights management, and type of portable device as default format options and transmitting the default format options from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network via the page in response to another command from the consumer over the electronic network indicating that the consumer is engaging in another transaction for downloadable digital data.

18. The electronic storage medium of claim 17, wherein at least one of (i) a given type of software is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of compression formats, the types of digital rights management, and the types of portable devices;

(ii) a given type of compression format is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of digital rights management, and the types of portable devices;

(iii) a given type of digital rights management is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of portable devices; and

(iv) a given type of portable device is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of digital rights management.

19. The electronic storage medium of claim 17, wherein the downloadable digital data includes at least one of audio data, video data, and text data.

20. The electronic storage medium of claim 17, wherein each type of software, each type of compression format, each type of digital rights management, and each type of portable device is displayed on the page and selectable by way of activation by the consumer.

21. The electronic storage medium of claim 17, wherein the portable devices on which the downloadable digital data stores data in a manner that is compliant with secure digital music initiative (SDMI) specifications.

22. The electronic storage medium of claim 17, wherein the electronic network comprises the Internet and the presence comprises a web site thereon.

23. A method of facilitating a transaction for downloadable digital data over an electronic network, the method comprising:

maintaining a presence to which a consumer connects on the electronic network, wherein the presence is operative to receive a consumer connection, and wherein the electronic network comprises the internet and the presence comprises a web site on the Internet;

transmitting a page from the presence over the electronic network to the consumer, wherein the page includes information concerning the downloadable digital data, and wherein the downloadable digital data includes at least one of audio data, video data, and text data;

receiving a command from the consumer over the electronic network indicating that the consumer is engaging in a transaction for the downloadable digital data;

transmitting format options from the presence over the electronic network via the page to the consumer, wherein the format options are selectable by the consumer and include at least one of (i) types of software on which the downloadable digital data is to be executable;

(ii) types of portable devices on which the downloadable digital data is to be stored;

(iii) types of compression formats in which the downloadable digital data is to be configured;

(iv) types of CODECs though which the downloadable digital data is to be processed; and

(v) types of digital rights management to which the downloadable digital data is to be subjected;

wherein at least one of (i) a given type of software is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of compression formats, the types of digital rights management, and the types of portable devices;

(ii) a given type of compression format is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of digital rights management, and the types of portable devices;

(iii) a given type of digital rights management is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of portable devices; and

(iv) a given type of portable device is compatible with respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of digital rights management;

wherein when a type of software is selected by the consumer, the method further comprises permitting selection by the consumer from among only the compatible respective subsets of at least one of the types of compression formats, the types of digital rights management, and the types of portable devices;

wherein when a type of compression format is selected by the consumer, the method further comprises permitting selection by the consumer from among only the compatible respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of digital rights management, and the types of portable devices;

wherein when a type of digital rights management is selected by the consumer, the method further comprises permitting selection by the consumer from among only the compatible respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of portable devices;

wherein when a type of portable device is selected by the consumer, the method further comprises permitting selection by the consumer from among only the compatible respective subsets of at least one of the types of software, the types of compression formats, and the types of digital rights management;

wherein each type of software, each type of compression format, each type of digital rights management, and each type of portable device is displayed on the page and selectable by way of activation by the consumer;

receiving the consumer'"'"'s selection of at least one of the type of software, the type of compression format, the type of digital rights management, and the type of portable device, over the electronic network at the presence;

transmitting the downloadable digital data over the electronic network to the consumer in a format consistent with at least one of the selected type of software, the selected type of compression format, the selected type of digital rights management, and the selected type of portable device;

storing an indication of at least one of the selected type of software, the selected type of compression format, the selected type of digital rights management, and the selected type of portable device;

designating the indication of the stored type of software, type of compression format, type of digital rights management, and type of portable device as default format options; and

transmitting the default format options from the presence over the electronic network via a second page to the consumer in response to another command from the consumer over the electronic network, wherein the another command indicates that the consumer is engaging in another transaction for downloadable digital data.