Method and system for subscriber-based audio service over a communication network
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for providing audio service through a communication network to a user, the method comprising the steps of:
- registering the user for the audio service;
storing a User identifier value for the user responsive to registering the user for the audio service;
receiving a request message through the communication network, the request message including a network address value, a User identifier value and an audio identifier value;
searching for a matching stored user name value that matches the user name value from the request message;
when no matching stored user name value is found, rejecting the request message;
when the matching stored user name value is found, searching for an audio file corresponding to the audio identifier value of the request message; and
when the corresponding audio file is found, streaming the audio file over the communication network to the network address.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a method and system for providing audio service to a client through a communication network. A user subscribes to the service and the user'"'"'s access to audio files is contingent upon authorization and validation. Once authorized, the user may access and stream out audio date files, or similar types of files, to the client device through the communication network. Metrics are maintained for the play-out of each audio file and payment may be allocated to an owner of rights in the audio file based on the play-out statistics. The user may maintain customized play lists on the server for playing out preselected audio files. A play list may be sent to another user. The server may also be configured to select audio files not previously selected by the user based on the user'"'"'s past selection behavior or based on the user'"'"'s stated preferences. The audio files identified by the server are then suggested to the user. The user may also be referred by the server to a sales site to purchase a recording of the audio file.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for providing audio service through a communication network to a user, the method comprising the steps of:
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registering the user for the audio service; storing a User identifier value for the user responsive to registering the user for the audio service; receiving a request message through the communication network, the request message including a network address value, a User identifier value and an audio identifier value; searching for a matching stored user name value that matches the user name value from the request message; when no matching stored user name value is found, rejecting the request message; when the matching stored user name value is found, searching for an audio file corresponding to the audio identifier value of the request message; and when the corresponding audio file is found, streaming the audio file over the communication network to the network address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method, comprising:
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receiving, at a computer system, a request from a first user of a music streaming service to send a playlist of music files to a second user of the music streaming service, wherein the playlist was previously created by the first user; in response to receiving the request from the first user, sending, by the computer system, a message identifying the playlist to the second user; receiving, at the computer system, a request from the second user to begin streaming at least a portion of the playlist; in response to receiving the request from the second user, streaming, by the computer system, one or more of the music files included in the playlist to the second user; storing, by the computer system, play-out information indicative of an amount of the streaming of the music files in the playlist to the second user, wherein the storing includes inserting records into a table of streamed music files, wherein the records include a first record specifying, for a particular one of the music files in the playlist streamed to the second user,
1) a pointer to the particular music file,
2) a duration of play-out of the particular music file streamed to the second user, and
3) an owner identifier indicating an owner of the particular music file to receive payment; andbased on the play-out information, allocating, by the computer system, payments for owners of the music files in the playlist that have been streamed to the second user, wherein the allocating includes determining a total duration of play-out of the particular music file based on a plurality of durations of play-out of the particular music file included in the table. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A computer system, comprising:
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a storage unit configured to store; a plurality of music files, and a plurality of playlists respectively associated with one or more music files of the plurality of music files, the plurality of playlists having been created based on information received from users of a music streaming service; and a processing unit configured to; receive a request from a first user of the music streaming service to send, to a second user of the music streaming service via a public network, information relating to a first playlist of the plurality of playlists, wherein the first playlist was previously created by the first user; in response to receiving the request from the first user, send a message identifying the first playlist to the second user; in response to receiving a request from the second user to begin streaming from the first playlist, stream one or more of the music files included in the first playlist to the second user; maintain, in a table of streamed music files, play-out information indicative of an amount of the streaming of the music files in the first playlist to the second user, wherein maintaining the play-out information includes inserting one or more records for a particular one of the music files in the playlist streamed to the second user, wherein the one or more records identify the particular music file and include one or more durations of play-out of the particular music file streamed to users and an owner identifier indicating an owner of the particular music file to receive payment; and allocate, based on the play-out information, payments for owners of the music files in the first playlist that have been streamed to the second user, wherein allocating a payment to the owner includes determining, from the table, a total duration of play-out of the particular music file based on a plurality of durations of play-out. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:
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receiving a request, via a public network, from a first user of a music streaming service to send a playlist of music files to a second user of the music streaming service; in response to receiving the request from the first user, sending a message to the second user, the message including information identifying at least one of a plurality of music files included in the playlist; receiving a request from the second user to begin streaming at least a portion of the playlist; in response to receiving the request from the second user, streaming one or more of the plurality of music files included in the playlist to the second user; storing, in a table, play-out information indicative of an amount of the streaming of the music files in the playlist to the second user, wherein the storing includes inserting, into the table, a first record for a particular one of the music files in the playlist streamed to the second user, wherein the first record includes an identifier of the particular music file, a duration of play-out of the particular music, and an owner identifier indicating an owner to receive payment for the particular music file; and using the play-out information to allocate payments for owners of the music files in the playlist that have been streamed to the second user, wherein the using includes determining a play-out time of the particular music file based on a plurality of durations of the play-out of the particular music file as indicated in the table. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification