Methods and apparatus for electronic file playback
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 service;
receive, from the playback service, a play list of a user, in which the play list identifies a plurality of audio files available from the playback service to playback on the apparatus;
allow the user to select an audio file from the plurality of audio files identified by the play list;
send, to the playback service, a request to playback the audio file of the plurality of audio files;
receive, from the playback service, at least a portion of the audio file;
play the at least a portion of the audio file; and
after playing the at least a portion of the audio file, verify that the audio file is not stored in the memory by searching the apparatus.
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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.
56 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
memory, the memory storing software that, when executed, causes the apparatus to; communicate with a playback service; receive, from the playback service, a play list of a user, in which the play list identifies a plurality of audio files available from the playback service to playback on the apparatus; allow the user to select an audio file from the plurality of audio files identified by the play list; send, to the playback service, a request to playback the audio file of the plurality of audio files; receive, from the playback service, at least a portion of the audio file; play the at least a portion of the audio file; and after playing the at least a portion of the audio file, verify that the audio file is not stored in the memory by searching the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method, comprising:
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receiving, at a computing device, from a playback service, a play list of a user, in which the play list identifies a plurality of audio files available from the playback service to playback on the playback device, in which the computing device comprises a memory; allowing the user to select an audio file from the plurality of audio files identified by the play list; sending, from the computing device to the playback service, a request to playback the audio file of the plurality of audio files; receiving, at the computing device, from the playback service, at least a portion of the audio file; playing, by the computing device, the at least a portion of the audio file; and after playing the at least a portion of the audio file, verifying, by the computing device, that the audio file is not stored in the memory by searching the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification