Methods, systems, and products for streaming media

• US 10,803,477 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2018
• Issued: 10/13/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: McQuaide, Jr., Arnold Chester
• Primary Examiner(s): Parra, Omar S
• Application Number:
  US15/965,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20180247329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 899 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79

Abstract

Digital media is distributed via the Internet to a subscriber using a device. The digital media may have an access restriction mechanism to prevent or reduce premature or unauthorized access by the client device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

sending, by a server, a stream of an electronic media to a client device, the stream of the electronic media locked by an expiring lock specifying a permissible date of access;

receiving, by the server, an electronic notification sent from the client device, the electronic notification specifying a retrieval date of a retrieval of the stream of the electronic media;

determining, by the server, a calendar difference from the permissible date of access to the retrieval date; and

notifying, by the server, a billing server of a price for the retrieval of the stream of the electronic media, the price based on the calendar difference determined from the permissible date of access to the retrieval date.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the stream of the electronic media to an address associated with the client device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the stream of the electronic media to an address associated with a user of the client device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a promotional content to the client device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a preview of the electronic media to the client device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a subscription associated with the client device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a subscription associated with a user of the client device.

8. A system, comprising:

a hardware processor; and

a memory device, the memory device storing instructions, the instructions when executed causing the hardware processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

sending a stream of an electronic media to a client device, the stream of the electronic media locked by an expiring lock until a permissible date of access;

receiving an electronic notification specifying a retrieval date of a retrieval of the stream of the electronic media by the client device;

determining a calendar difference from the permissible date of access to the retrieval date; and

notifying a billing server of a price associated with the stream of the electronic media sent to the client device, the price based on the calendar difference determined from the permissible date of access to the retrieval date.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise sending the stream of the electronic media to an address associated with the client device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise sending the stream of the electronic media to an address associated with a user of the client device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise sending a promotional content to the client device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise sending a preview of the electronic media to the client device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining a subscription associated with the client device.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining a subscription associated with a user of the client device.

15. A memory device storing instructions that when executed cause a hardware processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

sending a stream of an electronic media to a client device, the stream of the electronic media locked by an expiring lock that specifies an expiration at a date of premiè

re;

receiving an electronic notification specifying a retrieval date of a retrieval of the stream of the electronic media by the client device;

determining a calendar difference from the date of premiere to the retrieval date; and

notifying a billing server of a purchase price associated with the stream of the electronic media sent to the client device, the purchase price based on the calendar difference determined from the date of premiere to the retrieval date.

16. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise sending the stream of the electronic media to an address associated with the client device.

17. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise sending the stream of the electronic media to an address associated with a user of the client device.

18. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise sending promotional content to the client device.

19. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise sending a preview of the electronic media to the client device.

20. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining a subscription associated with at least one of the client device and a user of the client device.