Digital Transactions for the Delivery of Media Files
First Claim
1. A method of delivering a digital media file comprising the following steps:
- (a) dividing a master version of a digital media file into a first series of time frames and a second series of different time frames;
(b) delivering the first series of time frames to one or more users without any form of access control, the first series capable of being used to form a version of the media file which is incomplete and/or corrupted;
(c) delivering the second series of time frames to one or more users, the second series capable of being re-combined with the first series to form a re-assembled version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted, in which access to the second series is only granted to users satisfying defined access control criteria.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An incomplete/partly corrupted media file is delivered ‘in the clear’; in addition, a delta file is delivered to users meeting access control criteria which, when combined with the incomplete/partly corrupted parts allows a complete and uncorrupted version of the media file to be re-constructed. The method allows, in one implementation, a secure music purchase system to operate over digital radio: for example, the start of a song when played over the radio is usually deliberately talked over and the end cut short to prevent listeners being able to record a complete copy. With the present system, this practice can continue, but listeners can also purchase the missing or corrupted sections to enable them to possess a complete and uncorrupted version for playback.
49 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of delivering a digital media file comprising the following steps:
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(a) dividing a master version of a digital media file into a first series of time frames and a second series of different time frames;
(b) delivering the first series of time frames to one or more users without any form of access control, the first series capable of being used to form a version of the media file which is incomplete and/or corrupted;
(c) delivering the second series of time frames to one or more users, the second series capable of being re-combined with the first series to form a re-assembled version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted, in which access to the second series is only granted to users satisfying defined access control criteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 29)
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11. A method of receiving a digital media file at a receiving device, the media file being held at a remote source as a master version divided into a first series of time frames and a second series of different time frames;
- the method comprising the following steps;
(a) receiving at the receiving device the first series of time frames, the first series capable of being used by the receiving device to form a version of the media file which is incomplete and/or corrupted;
(b) receiving at the receiving device the second series of time frames, the second series capable of being re-combined by the receiving device with the first series to form a version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted, in which access to the second series is only possible if the receiving device satisfies defined access control criteria. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- the method comprising the following steps;
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18. An apparatus for processing a digital media file, the apparatus programmed to:
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(a) divide a master version of a digital media file into a first series of time frames and a second series of different time frames;
(b) send the first series of time frames, the first series capable of being used at a receiving device without any form of access control to form a version of the media file which is incomplete and/or corrupted;
(c) send the second series of time frames, the second series capable of being re-combined at the receiving device with the first series to form a version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted, in which access to the second series is only granted to users satisfying defined access control criteria. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. Apparatus for receiving a digital media file, the media file being held at a remote source as a master version divided into a first series of time frames and a second series of different time frames;
- the apparatus programmed to;
(a) receive the first series of time frames, the first series capable of being used by the receiving device to form a version of the media file which is incomplete and/or corrupted;
(b) receive the second series of time frames, the second series capable of being re-combined by the receiving device with the first series to form a version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted, in which access to the second series is only possible if the receiving device satisfies defined access control criteria. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
- the apparatus programmed to;
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26. A media file structured into a first series of time frames and a second series of different time frames;
- the first series capable of being used by a receiving device to form a version of the media file which is incomplete and/or corrupted;
the second series of time frames capable of being re-combined by the receiving device with the first series to form a version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted, in which access to the second series is only possible if the receiving device satisfies defined access control criteria. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
- the first series capable of being used by a receiving device to form a version of the media file which is incomplete and/or corrupted;
Specification