Methods, systems, and products for distributing digital media

• US 20090100480A1
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Published: 04/16/2009
• 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, Arnold Chester JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,739,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/100
• 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

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for advanced distribution of digital media. A list of subscriber addresses to a new release of a digital media is retrieved at a server associated with a producer. An electronic copy of the digital media is sent from the server to a subscriber'"'"'s address in the list of subscribers. The electronic copy of the digital media is stored in a memory of a device and may be retrieved at a specified date. The memory may have a partitioned portion that is dedicated to new releases of media offered by the producer. A cost associated with the device and/or the digital media is subsidized by the producer, such that only the producer, the subscriber, and/or a service/network provider have access to the partitioned portion of the memory.

Claims

1. A method of distributing digital media, comprising:

retrieving a list of subscriber addresses to a distribution plan for new releases of media;

sending an electronic copy of the media from the server to a subscriber address in the list of subscriber addresses, such that only authorized subscribers to the distribution plan receive a new release of media;

storing the electronic copy of the media in a memory of a device associated with the subscriber address, the memory having a partitioned portion that is dedicated to the new releases of media offered by the producer, such that the new release of media is only storable and retrievable from the partitioned portion of the memory.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising preventing retrieval of the new release of the media prior to a specified date.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising preventing retrieval of the new release of the media prior to a date of premiè

re.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein on the date of premiè

re, making the new release of the media retrievable from the partitioned portion of the memory.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving and storing promotional content that is related to the new release of the media.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising retrieving, prior to a specified date associated with the media, the promotional content from the partitioned portion of the memory.

7. The method according to claim 4, further comprising retrieving a preview of the new release of the media.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein retrieving the promotional content comprises retrieving previews of other new releases.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising accessing a set of rules stored in the memory, the set of rules determining which of the new releases of media offered by the producer is stored in the partitioned portion of the memory.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising declining to store a new release in the partitioned portion of the memory, based on the set of rules.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

comparing subscriber information to a profile of the new release of the media; and

when the profile satisfies the subscriber information, then sending the new release of the media to the device associated with the subscriber'"'"'s address.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising charging a price for retrieving the new release of the media from the partitioned portion of the memory, the price determined by the date of retrieval, such that a highest price is charged on a date of premiè

re of the media, and the price is reduced on dates later than the date of premiè

re.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising reducing the price according to periodic intervals measured from the date of premiè

re.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising reducing the price according to a discounted pricing scheme, such that the price is discounted each day measured from the date of premiè

re.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising incentivizing the subscriber to retrieve the new release of the media from the partitioned portion of the memory, the incentive comprising a vote in an election campaign.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising tallying votes of subscribers who retrieve the new releases of media offered by the producer.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising diluting the votes of the subscribers in the election campaign, such that honorary members of an academy have greater voting power than the subscribers.

18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising incentivizing the subscriber to retrieve the new release of the media from the partitioned portion of the memory, the incentive associated with a merchant having a zone improvement plan associated with the subscriber'"'"'s address.

19. A system for distributing digital media, comprising:

means for retrieving a list of subscriber addresses to a distribution plan for new releases of media;

means for sending an electronic copy of the media from the server to a subscriber address in the list of subscriber addresses, such that only authorized subscribers to the distribution plan receive a new release of media;

means for storing the electronic copy of the media in a memory of a device associated with the subscriber address, the memory having a partitioned portion that is dedicated to the new releases of media offered by the producer, such that the new release of media is only storable and retrievable from the partitioned portion of the memory;

means for incentivizing the subscriber to retrieve the new release of the media from the partitioned portion of the memory, the incentive comprising a vote in an election campaign and a coupon from a merchant having a zone improvement plan associated with the subscriber'"'"'s address;

means for tallying votes of subscribers who retrieve the new releases of media offered by the producer; and

means for diluting the votes of the subscribers in the election campaign, such that honorary members of an academy have greater voting power than the subscribers.

20. A computer program product storing processor executable instructions for performing a method of distributing digital media, the method comprising:

retrieving a list of subscriber addresses to a distribution plan for new releases of media;

sending an electronic copy of the media from the server to a subscriber address in the list of subscriber addresses, such that only authorized subscribers to the distribution plan receive a new release of media;

storing the electronic copy of the media in a memory of a device associated with the subscriber address, the memory having a partitioned portion that is dedicated to the new releases of media offered by the producer, such that the new release of media is only storable and retrievable from the partitioned portion of the memory;

incentivizing the subscriber to retrieve the new release of the media from the partitioned portion of the memory, the incentive comprising a vote in an election campaign and a coupon from a merchant having a zone improvement plan associated with the subscriber'"'"'s address;

tallying votes of subscribers who retrieve the new releases of media offered by the producer; and

diluting the votes of the subscribers in the election campaign, such that honorary members of an academy have greater voting power than the subscribers.