Music subscription and distribution for wireless devices

• US 8,229,856 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Reddick, Paul S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nigh, James D
• Application Number:
  US11/204,197
• Time in Patent Office: 2,541 Days
• Field of Search: 705 50- 59
• US Class Current: 705/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8005 Flat-fee

Abstract

A method for distributing music to a wireless communication device such as cellular telephone is provided. The method includes the step of providing a subscription service for the device, wherein the subscription service allows the device to download up to N music recordings onto the device from an on-line music content distribution site or sites, where N is an integer greater than one. The music is provided with restrictions designed to prevent effective transport of the music recordings off of the device in digital form such that the recordings cannot be played on other digital devices of any kind. The subscription service allows that the device may play the downloaded music recordings an unlimited number of plays. The subscription service also allows that the device may swap one music recording for another music recording, and may have a maximum number (S) of swaps in a given period. The service further includes billing the subscriber associated with the device a fee for the music subscription service. The values for N and S may be user configurable. The billing may also depend on the values of N and S.

Claims

1. In a system for distribution of music to wireless devices, a subscription server controlling access to music recordings to a plurality of wireless communication devices, the subscription server comprising:

a memory storing a plurality of wireless device profiles, wherein each profile includes a value of N and a value of S,

wherein N comprises a maximum number of music recordings which may be downloaded to the device for storage and play on the device, wherein each music recording is downloaded from an on-line music content distribution site or sites, and wherein N is an integer greater than one;

wherein S comprises a maximum number of swaps in a predetermined period of time, wherein each swap comprises an exchange of one music recording for another music recording; and

wherein each wireless device profile further comprise an indication of a current number of music recordings downloaded to the respective device and a current number of swaps executed by the respective device during the predetermined time period, and wherein the server interacts with the wireless devices during attempts of downloading of music or swapping of recordings so as to prevent the user activity from exceeding the value of N or S.

2. In a system for distribution of music to wireless devices, a subscription server controlling access to music recordings to a plurality of wireless communication devices, the subscription server comprising:

a memory storing a plurality of wireless device profiles, wherein each profile includes a value of N and a value of S,

wherein N comprises a maximum number of music recordings which may be downloaded to the device for storage and play on the device, wherein each music recording is downloaded from an on-line music content distribution site or sites, and wherein N is an integer greater than one;

wherein S comprises a maximum number of swaps in a predetermined period of time, wherein each swap comprises an exchange of one music recording for another music recording;

wherein each wireless device profile is accessible by the respective wireless device, wherein the respective wireless device may interactively change the value of N and S; and

wherein the server communicates with a billing system billing the wireless devices, wherein the billing system operates such that the billing for downloading up to N recordings and up to S swaps is done on a flat monthly fee, and wherein the fee varies depending on the user selection of the values of N and/or S.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the server comprises an HTML web server and wherein each wireless device profile is accessed by the respective wireless device as an HTML web page.