Interactive delivery of media using dynamic playlist generation subject to restrictive criteria
First Claim
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1. A computer implemented method of delivering digital media items to a user electronic device, the method comprising:
- obtaining at the computer a playlist comprising a sequentially ordered plurality of digital media items that satisfies a set of restrictive criteria, wherein the set of restrictive criteria includes a condition that would preclude a media file from being slaved within a defined period of time;
playing said playlist by the computer, wherein playing said playlist comprises sequentially delivering to the user electronic device, via a computer network, said sequentially ordered plurality of digital media items; and
while the computer is playing the playlist;
receiving, from the user electronic device, an indication to add a requested digital media item to the playlist;
evaluating whether adding the requested digital media item to the playlist would satisfy the set of restrictive criteria; and
when the set of restrictive criteria is satisfied, selectively adding the requested digital media item to the playlist for delivery to the user electronic device subsequent to receipt of the request.
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Abstract
A media delivery scheme distributes a stream of media files to a group of users while allowing individual users to request specific media files. In one embodiment, a media server maintains a playlist of media files to broadcast, and requests for media must satisfy certain restrictive criteria to be added to the playlist. In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, the media server schedules requested media so as to comply with provisions of the DMCA.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method of delivering digital media items to a user electronic device, the method comprising:
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obtaining at the computer a playlist comprising a sequentially ordered plurality of digital media items that satisfies a set of restrictive criteria, wherein the set of restrictive criteria includes a condition that would preclude a media file from being slaved within a defined period of time; playing said playlist by the computer, wherein playing said playlist comprises sequentially delivering to the user electronic device, via a computer network, said sequentially ordered plurality of digital media items; and while the computer is playing the playlist; receiving, from the user electronic device, an indication to add a requested digital media item to the playlist; evaluating whether adding the requested digital media item to the playlist would satisfy the set of restrictive criteria; and when the set of restrictive criteria is satisfied, selectively adding the requested digital media item to the playlist for delivery to the user electronic device subsequent to receipt of the request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. One or more media servers for delivering digital media files to a plurality of client electronic devices over a computer network, the one or more media servers comprising:
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a network connection for communicatively coupling one or more of the media servers with the plurality of client electronic devices over the network; a playlist memory containing a playlist, wherein the playlist comprises a sequentially ordered plurality of digital media items that satisfies a set of restrictive criteria, wherein the set of restrictive criteria includes a condition that would preclude a media file from being slaved within a defined period of time; a media storage memory containing a library of the digital media files; and
a processor coupled with the network connection, the playlist memory, and the media storage memory, the processor operative to;play the playlist by transmitting digital media files according to the sequential order indicated by the playlist from the media storage memory to the plurality of client electronic devices over the computer network; and while the playlist is playing; evaluate requests to add a requested digital media item to the playlist from one or more of the client electronic devices using the set of restrictive criteria; and upon at least one of the requests satisfying the set of restrictive criteria, add an indication of the requested digital media file to the playlist for delivery to the user electronic device subsequent to receipt of said at least one of the requests. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification