Method for subscription media on-demand
DCFirst Claim
1. A subscription system for playing media files on a user device comprising:
- a file access authorization, which authorization enables a user to play at least two different media files on a player program on the user device,wherein at least a portion of at least one of the media files resides on the user device at the time of play,the authorization is limited by at least one predetermined play parameter, andto the extent the playing of at least one of the media files on the user device exceeds at least one predetermined play parameter, the playing is limited by means comprising at least one of;
preventing play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,interfering with play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,denying play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,disabling access to at least a portion of at least one of the media files,denying access to at least a portion of the player program,disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the player program, ordisabling at least a portion of the functionality of the user device.
1 Assignment
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
101 Claims
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1. A subscription system for playing media files on a user device comprising:
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a file access authorization, which authorization enables a user to play at least two different media files on a player program on the user device, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the media files resides on the user device at the time of play, the authorization is limited by at least one predetermined play parameter, and to the extent the playing of at least one of the media files on the user device exceeds at least one predetermined play parameter, the playing is limited by means comprising at least one of; preventing play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, interfering with play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, denying play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, disabling access to at least a portion of at least one of the media files, denying access to at least a portion of the player program, disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the player program, or disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the user device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A subscription system for playing media files on a user device comprising:
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at least two different media files, which media files are capable of being played by a user on a player program on the user device in accordance with a file access authorization, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the media files resides on the user device at the time of play, the authorization is limited by at least one predetermined play parameter, and to the extent the playing of at least one of the media files on the user device exceeds at least one predetermined play parameter, the playing is limited by means comprising at least one of; preventing play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, interfering with play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, denying play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, disabling access to at least a portion of at least one of the media files, denying access to at least a portion of the player program, disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the player program, or disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the user device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A subscription system for playing media files on a user device comprising:
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a player program, which player program is configured to play at least two different media files on a user device in accordance with a file access authorization, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the media files resides on the user device at the time of play, the authorization is limited by at least one predetermined play parameter, and to the extent the playing of at least one of the media files on the user device exceeds at least one predetermined play parameter, the playing is limited by means comprising at least one of; preventing play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, interfering with play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, denying play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, disabling access to at least a portion of at least one of the media files, denying access to at least a portion of the player program, disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the player program, or disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the user device. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A subscription method for playing media files on a user device comprising:
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providing a file access authorization, which authorization enables a user to play at least two different media files on a player program on the user device, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the media files resides on the user device at the time of play, the authorization is limited by at least one predetermined play parameter, and to the extent the playing of at least one of the media files on the user device exceeds at least one predetermined play parameter, the playing is limited by means comprising at least one of; preventing play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, interfering with play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, denying play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, disabling access to at least a portion of at least one of the media files, denying access to at least a portion of the player program, disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the player program, or disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the user device. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A subscription method for playing media files on a user device comprising:
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providing at least two different media files, which media files are capable of being played by a user on a player program on the user device in accordance with a file access authorization, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the media files resides on the user device at the time of play, the authorization is limited by at least one predetermined play parameter, and to the extent the playing of at least one of the media files on the user device exceeds at least one predetermined play parameter, the playing is limited by means comprising at least one of; preventing play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, interfering with play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, denying play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, disabling access to at least a portion of at least one of the media files, denying access to at least a portion of the player program, disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the player program, or disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the user device. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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86. A subscription method for playing media files on a user device comprising:
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providing a player program, which player program is configured to play at least two different media files on a user device in accordance with a file access authorization, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the media files resides on the user device at the time of play, the authorization is limited by at least one predetermined play parameter, and to the extent the playing of at least one of the media files on the user device exceeds at least one predetermined play parameter, the playing is limited by means comprising at least one of; preventing play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, interfering with play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, denying play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files, disabling access to at least a portion of at least one of the media files, denying access to at least a portion of the player program, disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the player program, or disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the user device. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101)
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Specification