Methods and apparatus for electronic file use and management
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- memory, the memory storing software that, when executed, causes the apparatus to;
communicate with a playback device;
store a plurality of audio files available from the apparatus to playback on the playback device;
send, to the playback device, a play list of a user, in which the play list identifies the plurality of audio files;
receive, from the playback device, a request to playback an audio file of the plurality of audio files;
send, to the playback device, at least a portion of the audio file; and
determine that the audio file is not stored on the playback device, in which determining that the audio file is not stored on the playback device comprises;
subsequent to sending the at least a portion of the audio file, receiving a report from the playback device that the audio file is not stored on the playback device.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating online storage of files (e.g., audio tracks, video, etc.) for playback/access or sale/exchange by the owners of the files without violating copyrights that copyright holders have in the files. For example, by providing a playback service that does not store additional versions of an audio file when the file is transmitted to, and immediately played on, a user device without buffering, the present invention avoids violating copyright laws by not making copies of the file. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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memory, the memory storing software that, when executed, causes the apparatus to; communicate with a playback device; store a plurality of audio files available from the apparatus to playback on the playback device; send, to the playback device, a play list of a user, in which the play list identifies the plurality of audio files; receive, from the playback device, a request to playback an audio file of the plurality of audio files; send, to the playback device, at least a portion of the audio file; and determine that the audio file is not stored on the playback device, in which determining that the audio file is not stored on the playback device comprises; subsequent to sending the at least a portion of the audio file, receiving a report from the playback device that the audio file is not stored on the playback device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising:
communicating, by a computing device, with a playback device; storing, by the computing device, a plurality of audio files available from the computing device to playback on the playback device; sending, by the computing device, to the playback device, a play list of a user, in which the play list identifies the plurality of audio files; receiving, by the computing device, from the playback device, a request to playback an audio file of the plurality of audio files; sending, from the computing device, to the playback device, at least a portion of the audio file; and determining that the audio file is not stored on the playback device, in which determining that the audio file is not stored on the playback device comprises;
subsequent to sending the at least a portion of the audio file, receiving a report from the playback device that the audio file is not stored on the playback device.
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20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to:
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communicate with a playback device; store a plurality of audio files available from the apparatus to playback on the playback device; send, to the playback device, a play list of a user, in which the play list identifies the plurality of audio files; receive, from the playback device, a request to playback an audio file of the plurality of audio files; send, to the playback device, at least a portion of the audio file; receive, from the playback device, an electronic communication indicating that the audio file is not stored on the playback device; and determine that the audio file is not stored on the playback device.
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Specification