Rechargeable media distribution and play system

• US 7,877,412 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: B# On Demand, LLC
• Original Assignee: Gregg S. Homer
• Inventors: Homer, Gregg S.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, SHAHID AL
• Application Number:
  US10/908,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,087 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/9, 707/102, 707/103.R, 707/104.1, 707/716, 707/783, 707/802, 707/803, 707/804, 707/805, 709/217, 709/225
• US Class Current: 707/783
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3344 using natural language analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1078 Logging; Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An electronic media distribution/play system includes a service facility that has a communications network interface and maintains a data file catalog. The catalog is sent over the network to requesting users, and the system processes payments from customers in establishing file access authorizations. Encrypted user-selected files and a player program are transmitted to each customer for metered access to received data files as limited by the authorization, and customers can make additional selections and play the encrypted files freely while the authorization remains established. The system can transmit the data files from local storage, and also provide links to encrypted files that are stored at remote vendor facilities. Authorizations can be for selected portions or class levels of the catalog, and for terms measured as calendar time, play time, and collective number of plays. Also disclosed is a method for facilitating the distribution and accessing of electronic files.

Claims

1. A system for playing digital files on a software program embodied on a computer-readable medium comprising:

means for delivering to a user over a communications network a license to enable the user to play at least two different digital files on the software program in accordance with the parameters of the license,

wherein the digital files can be played on the software program without maintaining a persistent connection to the communications network,

the digital files are encoded in a manner limiting play on the software program in the absence of the license,

the manner in which the digital files is encoded is a proprietary format, the license enables the decoding of the digital files for play, and

to the extent the playing of the digital files on the software program exceeds the parameters of the license, the playing is limited.

4. The system of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the communications network comprises at least one of cable, Internet, telephone, satellite, microwave, cellular, radio, light, laser, CD-ROM, or removable drive medium.

5. The system of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the at least one digital file is capable of generating at least one of sound, spoken words, music, moving images, still images, or human-readable text.

6. The system of claim 1 2, or 3 wherein the at least one digital file comprises a software program.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the software program comprises at least one of system software, programming software, or application software.

11. The system of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the parameters of the license are based at least in part on calendar time.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the parameters of the license are based at least in part on play time.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the parameters of the license are based at least in part on the number of plays.

14. The system of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the user'"'"'s device comprises at least one of a computer or handheld device.

2. A system for playing digital files on a software program embodied on a computer-readable medium comprising:

means for delivering to a user over a communications network at least two different digital files capable of being played by the user on the software program in accordance with the parameters of a license,

wherein the license authorizes the playing of the at least two different digital files on the software program,

the digital files can be played on the software program without maintaining a persistent connection to the communications network,

the digital files are encoded in a manner limiting play on the software program in the absence of the license,

the manner in which the digital files is encoded is a proprietary format, the license enables the decoding of the digital files for play, and

to the extent the playing of the digital files on the software program exceeds the parameters of the license, the playing is limited.

15. The system of claim 2 wherein the manner in which the digital files is encoded is a proprietary encoding format.

16. The system of claim 2 wherein the manner in which the digital files is encoded is a proprietary file format.

47. The system of claim 2 wherein each of the at least two digital files comprises different digital content.

3. A system for playing digital files on a software program embodied on a computer-readable medium comprising:

means for delivering to a user over a communications network a software program capable of playing at least two different digital files in accordance with the parameters of a license,

wherein the license authorizes the playing of the at least two different digital files on the software program,

the digital files can be played on the software program without maintaining a persistent connection to the communications network,

the digital files are encoded in a manner limiting play on the software program in the absence of the license,

the manner in which the digital files is encoded is a proprietary format, the license enables the decoding of the digital files for play, and

to the extent the playing of the digital files on the software program exceeds the parameters of the license, the playing is limited.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein the software program comprises a full program.

9. The system of claim 3 wherein the software program comprises a plug-in.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein the software program comprises a software patch.

17. The system of claim 3 wherein the manner limiting play comprises preventing play of at least a portion of at least one of the digital files.

18. The system of claim 3 wherein the manner limiting play comprises interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of at least one of the digital files.

19. The system of claim 3 wherein the manner limiting play comprises interfering with play of at least a portion of at least one of the digital files.

20. The system of claim 3 wherein the manner limiting play comprises disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the software program.

21. The system of claim 3 wherein the manner limiting play comprises disabling access to at least a portion of at least one of the digital files.

22. The system of claim 3 wherein the manner limiting play in the absence of the license is the same as the manner limiting play to the extent the playing of the digital files exceeds the parameters of the license.

23. The system of claim 3 wherein the manner limiting play in the absence of the license is different, at least in part, from the manner limiting play to the extent the playing of the digital files exceeds the parameters of the license.

24. A method for playing digital files on a software program embodied on a computer-readable medium comprising:

(a) delivering to a user over a communications network a license to enable the user to play at least two different digital files on the software program in accordance with the parameters of the license,

wherein the digital files can be played on the software program without maintaining a persistent connection to the communications network,

the digital files are encoded in a manner limiting play on the software program in the absence of the license,

the manner in which the digital files is encoded is a proprietary format, and the license enables the decoding of the digital files for play; and

(b) limiting play of the digital files on the software program to the extent the play exceeds the parameters of the license.

27. The method of claim 24, 25, or 26 wherein the communications network comprises at least one of cable, Internet, telephone, satellite, microwave, cellular, radio, light, laser, CD-ROM, or removable drive medium.

28. The method of claim 24, 25, or 26 wherein the at least one digital file is capable of generating at least one of sound, spoken words, music, moving images, still images, or human-readable text.

29. The method of claim 24, 25, or 26 wherein the at least one digital file comprises a software program.

34. The method of claim 24, 25, or 26 wherein the parameters of the license are based at least in part on calendar time.

35. The method of claim 24 wherein the parameters of the license are based at least in part on play time.

36. The method of claim 24 wherein the parameters of the license are based at least in part on the number of plays.

37. The method of claim 24, 25, or 26 wherein the user'"'"'s device comprises at least one of a computer or handheld device.

25. A method for playing digital files on a software program embodied on a computer-readable medium comprising:

(a) delivering to a user over a communications network at least two different digital files capable of being played by the user on the software program in accordance with the parameters of a license,

wherein the license authorizes the playing of the at least two different digital files on the software program,

the digital files can be played on the software program without maintaining a persistent connection to the communications network,

the digital files are encoded in a manner limiting play on the software program in the absence of the license,

the manner in which the digital files is encoded is a proprietary format, and the license enables the decoding of the digital files for play; and

(b) limiting play of the digital files on the software program to the extent the play exceeds the parameters of the license.

38. The method of claim 25 wherein the manner in which the digital files is encoded is a proprietary encoding format.

39. The method of claim 25 wherein the manner in which the digital files is encoded is a proprietary file format.

48. The method of claim 25 wherein each of the at least two digital files comprises different digital content.

26. A method for playing digital files on a software program embodied on a computer-readable medium comprising:

(a) delivering to a user over a communications network a software program capable of playing at least two different digital files in accordance with the parameters of a license,

wherein the license authorizes the playing of the at least two different digital files on the software program,

the digital files can be played on the software program without maintaining a persistent connection to the communications network,

the digital files are encoded in a manner limiting play on the software program in the absence of the license,

the manner in which the digital files is encoded is a proprietary format, and the license enables the decoding of the digital files for play; and

(b) limiting play of the digital files on the software program to the extent the play exceeds the parameters of the license.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein the software program comprises at least one of method software, programming software, or application software.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein the software program comprises a full program.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein the software program comprises a plug-in.

33. The method of claim 26 wherein the software program comprises a software patch.

40. The method of claim 26 wherein the manner limiting play comprises preventing play of at least a portion of at least one of the digital files.

41. The method of claim 26 wherein the manner limiting play comprises interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of at least one of the digital files.

42. The method of claim 26 wherein the manner limiting play comprises interfering with play of at least a portion of at least one of the digital files.

43. The method of claim 26 wherein the manner limiting play comprises disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the software program.

44. The method of claim 26 wherein the manner limiting play comprises disabling access to at least a portion of at least one of the digital files.

45. The method of claim 26 wherein the manner limiting play in the absence of the license is the same as the manner limiting play to the extent the playing of the digital files exceeds the parameters of the license.

46. The method of claim 26 wherein the manner limiting play in the absence of the license is different, at least in part, from the manner limiting play to the extent the playing of the digital files exceeds the parameters of the license.

49. A system for playing digital files on a software program embodied on a computer-readable medium comprising:

means for delivering to a user over a communications network a license to enable the user to play at least two different digital files on the software program in accordance with the parameters of the license,

wherein the digital files can be played on the software program without maintaining a persistent connection to the communications network,

the digital files are encoded in a manner limiting play on the software program in the absence of the license,

the license enables the decoding of the digital files for play,

the manner in which the digital files is encoded comprises encryption, and to the extent the playing of the digital files on the software program exceeds the parameters of the license, the playing is limited.

50. A system for playing digital files on a software program embodied on a computer-readable medium comprising:

means for delivering to a user over a communications network at least two different digital files capable of being played by the user on the software program in accordance with the parameters of a license,

wherein the license authorizes the playing of the at least two digital files on the software program,

the digital files can be played on the software program without maintaining a persistent connection to the communications network,

the digital files are encoded in a manner limiting play on the software program in the absence of the license,

the license enables the decoding of the digital files for play,

the manner in which the digital files is encoded comprises encryption, and to the extent the playing of the digital files on the software program exceeds the parameters of the license, the playing is limited.

55. The system of claim 50 wherein the digital files comprise an encrypted format.

51. A system for playing digital files on a software program embodied on a computer-readable medium comprising:

means for delivering to a user over a communications network a software program capable of playing at least two different digital files in accordance with the parameters of a license,

wherein the license authorizes the playing of the at least two digital files on the software program,

the digital files can be played on the software program without maintaining a persistent connection to the communications network,

the digital files are encoded in a manner limiting play on the software program in the absence of the license,

the license enables the decoding of the digital files for play,

the manner in which the digital files is encoded comprises encryption, and to the extent the playing of the digital files on the software program exceeds the parameters of the license, the playing is limited.

52. A method for playing digital files on a software program embodied on a computer-readable medium comprising:

(a) delivering to a user over a communications network a license to enable the user to play at least two different digital files on the software program in accordance with the parameters of the license,

wherein the digital files can be played on the software program without maintaining a persistent connection to the communications network,

the digital files are encoded in a manner limiting play on the software program in the absence of the license,

the manner in which the digital files is encoded comprises encryption, and the license enables the decoding of the digital files for play; and

(b) limiting play of the digital files on the software program to the extent the play exceeds the parameters of the license.

53. A method for playing digital files on a software program embodied on a computer-readable medium comprising:

(a) delivering to a user over a communications network at least two different digital files capable of being played by the user on the software program in accordance with the parameters of a license,

wherein the license authorizes the playing of the at least two digital files on the software program,

the digital files can be played on the software program without maintaining a persistent connection to the communications network,

the digital files are encoded in a manner limiting play on the software program in the absence of the license, and

the license enables the decoding of the digital files for play;

the manner in which the digital files is encoded comprises encryption, and

(b) limiting play of the digital files on the software program to the extent the play exceeds the parameters of the license.

56. The method of claim 53 wherein the manner in which the digital files is encoded comprises encryption of the digital files.

54. A method for playing digital files on a software program embodied on a computer-readable medium comprising:

(a) delivering to a user over a communications network a software program capable of playing at least two different digital files in accordance with the parameters of a license,

wherein the license authorizes the playing of the at least two different digital files on the software program,

the digital files can be played on the software program without maintaining a persistent connection to the communications network,

the digital files are encoded in a manner limiting play on the software program in the absence of the license,

the manner in which the digital files is encoded comprises encryption, and the license enables the decoding of the digital files for play; and

(b) limiting play of the digital files on the software program to the extent the play exceeds the parameters of the license.