Billing support in a media exchange network
First Claim
1. A system providing billing support for the exchange of media, the system comprising:
- a first television display in a first home of a first user;
a first storage in the first home, the first storage supporting media consumption by the first television display in the first home, and having a first network protocol address;
a user interface for the selection and display of media content, at the first home, the user interface allowing at least one user to create at least one user defined media channel, wherein the at least one user selects media content for the at least one user defined media channel through the user interface, and the at least one user specifies, through the user interface, times when the user selected media content will be made available on the at least one user defined media channel, the user interface displaying a graphical representation of the at least one user defined media channel, the at least one user defined media channel comprising a sequence of the user selected media content for consumption at the times specified by the at least one user, wherein the at least one user defined media channel is pushed from the first home to other authorized users at locations that are separate and distinct from the first home;
at least one server storing the media content, and having a second network protocol address; and
server software that receives from the first home via a communication network a request for the delivery of media content, the request comprising information securing payment for delivery, and that responds by coordinating the delivery of the media content from the at least one server at the second network protocol address to the first storage at the first network protocol address for consumption by the first television display.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system providing billing support for the exchange of media is disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention may provide for the authorization of and billing for the delivery of media from a media server to local storage for consumption on a television display. The media may be audio, still pictures, video, or data. Other embodiments may provide for the authorization of and billing for the transfer of media from a media peripheral to a media server for media backup or distribution. A media peripheral may be, for example, a digital camera, digital camcorder, personal computer (PC), personal digital assistant (PDA), multi-media gateway, and MP3 player. An embodiment may support pre-payment, payment at time of use, and post-use billing for the media exchange. In an embodiment of the present invention, the storing or accessing of media may be performed without identifying the user to the media server.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A system providing billing support for the exchange of media, the system comprising:
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a first television display in a first home of a first user; a first storage in the first home, the first storage supporting media consumption by the first television display in the first home, and having a first network protocol address; a user interface for the selection and display of media content, at the first home, the user interface allowing at least one user to create at least one user defined media channel, wherein the at least one user selects media content for the at least one user defined media channel through the user interface, and the at least one user specifies, through the user interface, times when the user selected media content will be made available on the at least one user defined media channel, the user interface displaying a graphical representation of the at least one user defined media channel, the at least one user defined media channel comprising a sequence of the user selected media content for consumption at the times specified by the at least one user, wherein the at least one user defined media channel is pushed from the first home to other authorized users at locations that are separate and distinct from the first home; at least one server storing the media content, and having a second network protocol address; and server software that receives from the first home via a communication network a request for the delivery of media content, the request comprising information securing payment for delivery, and that responds by coordinating the delivery of the media content from the at least one server at the second network protocol address to the first storage at the first network protocol address for consumption by the first television display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system providing billing support for the exchange of media, the system comprising:
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a first storage in the first home, the first storage supporting media consumption, and having an associated first protocol address; a second television display in a second home, and having an associated second protocol address; a user interface for the selection and display of media content, at the first home, the user interface allowing at least one user to create at least one user defined media channel, wherein the at least one user selects media content for the at least one user defined media channel through the user interface, and the at least one user specifies, through the user interface, times when the user selected media content will be made available on the at least one user defined media channel, the user interface displaying a graphical representation of the at least one user defined media channel, the at least one user defined media channel comprising a sequence of the user selected media content for consumption at the times specified by the at least one user, wherein the at least one user defined media channel is pushed from the first home to the second home; at least one server storing the media content; and server software that receives from the first home at the associated first protocol address, via a communication network, a request for the delivery of the media content, the request comprising information securing payment for delivery, and that responds by coordinating the delivery of the media content from one or both of the first storage and/or the at least one server to the second television display at the associated second protocol address for consumption. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system providing billing support for the exchange of media, the system comprising:
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a first storage in a first home; a second television display in a second home; a user interface for the selection and display of media content, the user interface allowing at least one user to create at least one user defined media channel, wherein the at least one user selects media content for the at least one user defined media channel through the user interface, and the at least one user specifies, through the user interface, times when the user selected media content will be made available via the at least one user defined media channel, the user interface displaying a graphical representation of the at least one user defined media channel comprising a sequence of the user selected media content for consumption at the times specified by the at least one user, wherein the at least one user defined media channel is pushed from the first home to the second home; at least one server storing the media content; and server software that receives a request for the delivery of the media content, the request comprising information securing payment for delivery, and that responds by coordinating the delivery of the media content from one of the first storage and the at least one server to the second television display for consumption. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. One or more circuits for use in a communication terminal at a first location in a media exchange network, the one or more circuits comprising:
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at least one interface for communicating via a broadband communication infrastructure; at least one processor operably coupled to the at least one interface and to storage containing executable code enabling creation by a first user at the first location of one or more media channels for distribution to an authorized second user at a second location remote from the first location, wherein the one or more media channels comprises media content selected by the first user and arranged according to times specified by the first user; and wherein each of the one or more media channels comprises a sequence of media content selected by the first user, which is made available for consumption by the second user of the media exchange network at times scheduled by the first user, wherein the one or more media channels are pushed by the first user at the first location to the second user at the second location. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification