Content Delivery System and Method

• US 20070149115A1
• Filed: 03/02/2007
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Affinity Labs of Texas, LLC
• Inventors: White, Russell, Imes, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.60
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/02 with automatic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 : for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 : for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 : file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 : using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 : Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

An audio system and method are disclosed. A method incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, making a user interface available to a user. In practice, the user may indicate a desire to download a content file by selecting a link on the user interface page, which may be a webpage. In response, a first copy of the content file having an appropriate format may be made available for download to the user'"'"'s cellular telephone over a wireless link and a second copy of the content file having a different format may be made available to the user'"'"'s personal computer.

Claims

1. A content delivery method, comprising:

maintaining a user interface page that is accessible to a wireless user device that has a player configured to execute a specific format of content file, the user interface page configured to present a user with a first selectable link associated with a piece of selectable content;

recognizing receipt of a request for the piece of selectable content from the wireless user device; and

after receiving the request, making a first version of the piece of selectable content available for downloading to the wireless user device and a second version of the piece of selectable content available for downloading to a personal computer of the user, wherein the first version has a different format than the second version and the different format is the specific format playable by the wireless user device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface page is a webpage accessible via the public Internet.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending the first version of the piece of selectable content to the wireless user device; and

sending the second version of the piece of selectable content to the personal computer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a listing of URL locations, wherein at least one item in the listing identifies a network location of the piece of selectable content.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a repository that stores the first version of the piece of selectable content and the second version of the piece of selectable content.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing an available version of the piece of selectable content and reformatting the available version to create the first version of the piece of selectable content.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of reformatting the available version occurs subsequent to recognizing receipt of the request for the piece of selectable content from the wireless user device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the available version has the same format as the second version.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising recognizing receipt of a different request for a different piece of selectable content from the personal computer of the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface page comprises a link to a searching function configured to allow the user to search through a collection of available pieces of selectable content.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the searching function comprises an artist search capability, a genre search capability, and a song search capability.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless user device is a cellular telephone and the user interface page is configured for presentation on a display of the cellular telephone.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface page comprises a plurality of links that navigate to corresponding pages.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a first of the corresponding pages comprises a store front for an online store configured to facilitate a user purchase request.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the user purchase request is the request for the piece of selectable content.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the first version of the piece of selectable content to the wireless user device via a wireless link, wherein the wireless link utilizes a version of a Code Division Multiple Access transmission protocol.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the piece of selectable content comprises audio content.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the piece of selectable content comprises video content.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a digital content application configured to execute at the wireless user device, the digital content application operable to direct the wireless user device to access the user interface page, to receive the first version of the piece of selectable content, to locally save the first version of the piece of selectable content, and to initiate presentation of a selectable icon on a display of the wireless user device, wherein the selectable icon is linked to the first version of the piece of selectable content such that a selection of the selectable icon launches a playing of the piece of selectable content.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the different format is a format configured for a device that is operable to receive a limited amount of information as compared to the personal computer of the user.

21. A content delivery system, comprising:

a user interface page that is accessible to a wireless user device, the user interface page configured to present a user with a selectable link associated with a piece of selectable content and to recognize a request for the piece of selectable content;

a digital engine operably associated with the user interface page, the digital engine maintaining information associated with the piece of selectable content; and

a download engine communicatively coupled to the digital engine and configured to indicate, in response to the request for the piece of selectable content, that a first version of the piece of selectable content is available for downloading to the wireless user device via a wireless link and to indicate that a second version of the piece of selectable content is available for downloading to a personal computer of the user, wherein the first version has a different format than the second version and the different format is a specific format playable by the wireless user device.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a collection of instructions configured to be saved on a wireless telephone and to direct the wireless telephone to request access to the user interface page, to request the piece of selectable content, to receive the first version of the piece of selectable content, to locally save the first version at the wireless telephone, and to initiate a playing of the different format.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising a collection of instructions configured to be saved on the personal computer and to direct the personal computer to receive the second version of the piece of selectable content, to locally save the second version at the personal computer, to add the piece of selectable content to a playlist, and to initiate a playing of the second version.

24. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

the wireless user device, wherein the wireless user device is operable as a telephone;

the personal computer;

a collection of instructions configured to be saved on the wireless user device and to direct the wireless user device to request access to the user interface page, to request the piece of selectable content, to receive the first version of the piece of selectable content, and to locally save the first version at the wireless telephone; and

a different collection of instructions configured to be saved on the personal computer and to direct the personal computer to receive the second version of the piece of selectable content, to locally save the second version at the personal computer, and to add the piece of selectable content to a playlist.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the piece of selectable content comprises audio content.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the piece of selectable content is a song.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the piece of selectable content comprises video content.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the download engine is further configured to respond to a wireless download request for the piece of selectable content by initiating communication of the first version of the piece of selectable content to the wireless user device via the wireless link.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein at least a portion of the wireless link utilizes a form of spread spectrum signalling in a frequency band that is greater than 1.7 GHz and less than 2.0 GHz.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the portion of the wireless link is an asynchronous CDMA implementation around 1.9 GHz.

31. A content delivery method, comprising:

making a user interface page available to a user;

recognizing receipt of a request for a song file from the user;

determining that a plurality of user devices are destination devices for receiving downloads of a selected piece of content, wherein the plurality of user devices comprise a wireless telephone and a personal computer of the user; and

responding to the request by;

(a) making a first version of the song file available for downloading to the wireless telephone via a wireless link; and

(b) making a second version of the song file available for downloading to the personal computer of the user, wherein the first version has a different format than the second version and the different format is a specific format playable by the wireless telephone.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising initiating a communication of the first version to the wireless telephone;

and initiating a different communication of the second version to the personal computer.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising including a log in region on an introductory page to allow the user to input a user ID and password.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

recognizing receipt of a new request for a video file; and

responding to the new request by initiating communication of a version of the video file.