Method of providing audio format professional information update service for payment, via internet

• US 7,606,735 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2004
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James D Welch
• Original Assignee: James D Welch
• Inventors: Welch, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pond; Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US10/796,162
• Time in Patent Office: 2,051 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/20 Education
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of providing continuing education for keeping professionals aware and informed of developments in easily accessed categorized topical areas of interest on a for-payment basis, utilizing the Internet primarily as an audio format distribution means. The method can include a client providing attestation of access and listened-to-grasping of the information over the internet, the client making permanent library copies, and the client accessing information utilizing time and/or topic tags.

Claims

1. A method of accessing audio formatted content from an information provider'"'"'s website server by one or more user computers to receive professional continuing education information comprising the steps of:

a) accessing the information provider'"'"'s website sever by one or more user computers connected to the server by a computer network, wherein the network is the internet;

b) selecting by a user audio formatted content organized at the website by topical categories, wherein the topical categories are specific to maintaining professional currency;

c) selecting by the user a payment from the group consisting of periodic subscription and pay per access event;

d) accessing the selected audio formatted content from the website server by the user computer subsequent to the user selecting from the group consisting of;

providing proof of paid subscription and making payment, wherein the selected audio formatted content is tagged with time information and wherein the selected audio formatted content by the user is updated at the website server between at least two accesses by the user of the selected audio formatted content; and

e) sending a notice to the website server and/or a licensing body computer by the user acknowledgement of audio delivery of the received audio formatted content, wherein the notice provides attestation of completion or provides a completed questionnaire.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio formatted content comprises a journal summary.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio formatted content further comprises a live audio presentation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio formatted content comprises selection from the group consisting of:

an interview;

expert commentary;

subscribing-client Hyde-Park; and

subscribing-client advertising programming.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user receives at the user'"'"'s computer supplemental text and/or visually formatted content simultaneously with the audio formatted content.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the website server delivers to the user'"'"'s computer a citation to a source of additional information regarding a topic.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the topical categories are selected from the group consisting of:

law related areas of;

patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, computer, internet, unfair competition, high-tech, contract, tort, property, wills &

trusts, criminal, evidence, constitutional, corporate, taxation, estate planning, securities, banking, bankruptcy, accounting, trade regulation, commodities, insurance, energy, environment and water, aviation, automobile, labor, social security, family, divorce, juvenile, workman'"'"'s compensation, personal injury, product liability, employment practices, administrative, educational, mass communications, medical, farm, and military;

science, medical and technology related areas of;

astronomy, architecture, mathematics/statistics, physics, chemistry, engineering (electrical/electronic, nuclear, mechanical, civil, chemical, biological, genomic, construction, transportation, industrial, manufacturing, agricultural, computer, energy, environmental), horticulture/forestry, geology, food science, nutrition, psychology, zoology, veterinary, medicine (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, cardiology, renal, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, pathology, microbiology), pharmacy, nursing, Scientology/Dianetics; and

specific approach to practice tips.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprises step f):

re-accessing previously accessed time tagged audio formatted content by one or more user computers.

9. The method of claim 1, which further comprises step f):

tagging audio formatted content with at least one keyword and one or more user computers re-accessing previously accessed information based partly thereupon.

10. The method of claim 1, which further comprises step f):

recording selected audio formatted content in machine readable media by the one or more user computers.