System and method for providing digital video to a wireless communications device

• US 20090070833A1
• Filed: 05/18/2006
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silver Union Worldwide Limited
• Original Assignee: Gofigure LLC A Missouri Limited Liability Company
• Inventors: Rolf, Devon A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,385,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/27 specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups H04H20/53 - H04H20/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

A system and method employs an online site for making stored digital video recordings available for selection and download to a wireless communications device. Upon receipt of a selection for a digital video recording, the system and method causes the selected digital video recording to be wirelessly transmitted to the wireless communications device. The selected digital video recording is also made available to a personal computer associated with the user who made the selection. At least a title of the selected digital video recording is stored in a personal storage account of the user.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a source of digital video recordings wherein, upon receipt of a selection of a one of said digital video recordings, said system causes said selected digital video recording to be wirelessly transmitted to a wireless communications device corresponding to said selection, wherein at least a title of said selected digital video recording is stored in a memory account associated with a user who selected said digital video recording.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said selected digital video recording is subsequently accessible by said user at said system via said memory account.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said selected digital video recording is purchased and requires a payment to be received by said wireless communications device.

5. The system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said system provides at least one of (a) the ability to pay said payment with a financial account, (b) a subscription service, and (c) a charge presented on a periodic invoice associated with said wireless device.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein access to said digital video recordings requires entry of a user-password.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said selected digital video recording is also made available, via said account, for download to a personal computer associated with a user who made said selection.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said selected digital video recording is downloaded to said wireless communications device for storage in said wireless communications device.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said selected digital video recording is streamed to said wireless communications device for streaming play in said wireless communications device.

15. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said system requires a user password before making said digital video recordings available for download.

23. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said online source further comprises a source of digital audio recordings, said system further comprising said wireless communications device to which said selected digital video recording is transmitted, wherein said wireless communications device comprises a display, a touch screen input, and a digital media player for playing said digital video recording.

24. The system as set forth in claim 23, wherein said system further comprises a personal computer associated with said user, wherein a selected digital video recording that is transmitted to the wireless communications device is accessible by said personal computer at said online source via said account.

2. (canceled)

10. A system comprising:

at least one memory having stored therein a plurality of digital video recordings that are available for downloading;

a plurality of user accounts, wherein each said account corresponds to a user of said system and wherein, when a user accesses said system and downloads a selected one of said digital video recordings, at least a title of said selected digital video recording is stored in said user account.

11. The system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said digital video recordings are available for download via a wireless link and a wired link.

12. The system as set forth in claim 10, wherein a selected digital video recording is purchased and requires a payment, wherein said system provides at least one of (a) the ability to pay said payment with a financial account, (b) a subscription service, and (c) a charge presented on a periodic invoice associated with said wireless device.

13. The system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said system causes a selected digital video recording to be wireless transmitted to a wireless communications device.

14. The system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said selected digital video recording is subsequently accessible to said user via the user'"'"'s user account.

16. A method comprising:

storing digital video recordings in a memory;

making said stored digital video recordings available via a communications network;

receiving from a wireless communications device a valid selection of a one of said digital video recordings;

upon receipt of said selection, causing said selected digital video recording to be wirelessly transmitted to said wireless communications and storing at least a title of said digital video recording in a personal storage account of a user who made said selection.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16 further comprising wirelessly streaming said selected digital video recording to said wireless communications device for play at said wireless communications device.

18. The method as set forth in claim 16 further comprising wirelessly transmitting said selected digital video recording for storage in said wireless communications device.

20. The method as set forth in claim 16 further comprising making said selected digital video recording subsequently available via said personal storage account.

21. The method as set forth in claim 16 further comprising making said selected digital video recording available, via said rersonal storage account, for download to a personal computer associated with a user who made said selection.

22. The method as set forth in claim 16 further comprising requiring a payment for said selected digital video recording, said payment comprising at least one of (a) a subscription payment, and (b) a payment for a charge presented on periodic invoice corresponding to said wireless communications device.

19. (canceled)