Methods, systems, and products for providing electronic media

• US 7,734,548 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, John, Zimler, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): Augustin; Evens J
• Application Number:
  US11/005,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20060122938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,010 Days
• Field of Search: 707/200, 705/59, 705/52, 705/26, 713/165, 709/221, 709/231, 711/154
• US Class Current: 705/58
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing electronic media to a customer. One method prompts a customer to license a lifetime right to electronic media. The lifetime right allows the customer to experience the electronic media as often as desired. If the customer agrees to license the lifetime right, then the license is electronically stored on behalf of the customer. The licensed electronic media is communicated to the customer via a communications network.

Claims

1. A method of providing electronic media to a customer, comprising:

providing the customer a menu of electronic media;

receiving a selection from the customer;

retrieving and communicating the selected electronic media via a communications network;

establishing a byte counter that increments with each byte of the selected electronic media communicated to the customer;

establishing a threshold byte value having a percentage value of a total number of bytes of the selected electronic media;

when the byte counter equals or exceeds the threshold byte value, then pausing retrieval of the selected electronic media;

prompting the customer to license a lifetime right to the selected electronic media, the lifetime right allowing the customer to experience the selected electronic media as often as desired; and

when the customer agrees to license the lifetime right, then resuming retrieval of the selected electronic media.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the customer a list of electronic media to which the customer has licensed lifetime rights.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein if the customer declines to license the lifetime right, then further comprising prompting the customer to license a limited right to the selected electronic media, the limited right having a condition that causes the limited right to expire.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the customer a list of electronic media to which the customer has licensed limited rights.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein prompting the customer comprises prompting the customer before the byte counter equals or exceeds the threshold byte value.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein prompting the customer comprises prompting the customer after the byte counter equals or exceeds the threshold byte value.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein prompting the customer comprises prompting the customer while continuing to retrieve and communicate the selected electronic media.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein prompting the customer comprises prompting the customer after the byte counter equals or exceeds the threshold byte value.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising establishing a timer for prompting the customer to license the lifetime right.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein when the timer expires, then prompting the customer to license the lifetime right.

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising initiating a royalty payment for the license.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing the customer a menu of electronic media comprises providing a menu of movie files available for download.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing the customer a menu of electronic media comprises providing a menu of audio files available for download.