Digital audio and video playback with performance complement testing

• US 6,611,813 B1
• Filed: 01/20/2000
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Listen.Com (RealNetworks, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bratton, Timothy Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELISCA, PIERRE E
• Application Number:
  US09/488,047
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/57, 705/59
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• 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 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

System and method for monitoring and modifying a playlist of viewable audio and/or video selections at one or more selected times to account for the effects of restrictions on the times, and number of times, a selection is viewed in an internet-based viewing system. The system implements, and monitors compliance with, the performance complement requirements and other copyright restrictions. A selection can be viewed in association with one or more selected advertisements, with limited restrictions or no restrictions on viewing times. Priority advertisements, related to the date and/or to the time of day and/or to payment amount, are given preference. A license, paid for to view a selection, may have unlimited duration or may be limited in time.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring viewing of a selection at one or more selected times, the method comprising:

providing a playlist including at least one selection that is chosen for viewing, wherein the at least one selection has an encrypted form;

determining if at least one of the following four conditions is present;

(1) within a first selected time interval, at least M1 playlist selections from the same recording will have been viewed, if the selection is viewed;

(2) within a second selected time interval, at least M2 consecutive selections from the same recording will have been viewed, if the selection is viewed;

(3) within a third selected time interval, at least M3 selections from the same recorded anthology will have been viewed, if the selection is viewed; and

(4) within a fourth selected time interval, at least M4 consecutive selections from the same recorded anthology will have been viewed, if the selection is viewed, where M1, M2, M3 and M4 are selected non-negative numbers;

when at least one of the four conditions is present, declining to permit viewing of the selection within at least one of the first, second, third and fourth time intervals; and

when none of the four conditions is present, allowing the selection to be viewed in an unencrypted form.

2. A system for monitoring and modifying a playlist at one or more selected times, the system comprising:

a playlist including at least one viewable selection, wherein the at least one viewable selection has an encrypted form;

a computer that is programmed;

to determine if at least one of the following four conditions is present;

(1) within a first selected time interval, at least M1 playlist selections from the same recording will have been viewed, if the selection is viewed;

(2) within a second selected time interval, at least M2 consecutive selections from the same recording will have been viewed, if the selection is viewed;

(3) within a third selected time interval, at least M3 selections from the same recorded anthology will have been viewed, if the selection is viewed; and

(4) within a fourth selected time interval, at least M4 consecutive selections from the same recorded anthology will have been viewed, if the selection is viewed, where M1, M2, M3 and M4 are selected non-negative numbers;

when at least one of the four conditions is present, to decline to permit viewing of the selection within at least one of the first, second, third and fourth time intervals; and

when none of the four conditions is present, allowing the selection to be viewed in an unencrypted form.

3. A method for monitoring viewing of a selection, the method comprising:

receiving a request to view the selection, the selection stored in a local memory in an encrypted form;

denying the request to view the selection by determining if at least one of the following four conditions has occurred;

(1) a first condition in which at least a first predetermined number of selections from a recording that includes the selection have been viewed within a first selected time interval,

(2) a second condition in which at least a second predetermined number of consecutive selections from the recording that includes the selection have been viewed within a second selected time interval;

(3) a third condition in which at least a third predetermined number of selections from a recorded anthology that includes the selection have been viewed within a third selected time interval; and

(4) a fourth condition in which at least a fourth predetermined number of consecutive selections from the recorded anthology that includes the selection have been viewed within a fourth selected time interval; and

allowing the selection to be viewed in an unencrypted form when none of the four conditions is present.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining if a performance complement is applicable to said selection.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining if said selection is restricted; and

when said selection is restricted, determining if at least one of payment and payment-equivalent has been made for said viewing of said selection.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, when at least one of said payment and said payment-equivalent has not been made for viewing of said selection, allowing payment-equivalent to be made by viewing a selected number of selected advertisements at approximately a time said selection is viewed.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving said payment or said payment-equivalent for said viewing of said selection; and

allowing subsequent viewing of said selection without restriction.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving said payment or said payment-equivalent for said viewing of said selection; and

allowing subsequent viewing of said selection only within a time interval determined with reference to a time said payment or said payment-equivalent is received.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining if said selection is restricted; and

when said selection is not restricted, allowing said selection to be viewed.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising choosing at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth selected time intervals to have a length of about three hours.

11. The method of claim 3, further comprising selecting at least one of the predetermined numbers as follows:

selecting the first predetermined number to be 3, selecting the second predetermined number to be 2, selecting the third predetermined number to be 4, and selecting the fourth predetermined number to be 3.

12. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

downloading the selection across a communications network from a server computer; and

storing the selection in the local memory prior to receiving the request to view the selection.

13. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing a playlist that includes at least the selection.

14. The method of claim 3 wherein viewing further comprises viewing an audio only selection.

15. A system for monitoring viewing of a selection, the system comprising:

a client computer that is programmed to test requests to view the selection, which is stored in a local memory in an encrypted form, deny the request to-view the selection by determining if at least one of the following four conditions has occurred;

(1) a first condition in which at least a first predetermined number of selections from a recording that includes the selection have been viewed within a first selected time interval;

(2) a second condition in which at least a second predetermined number of consecutive selections from the recording that includes the selection have been viewed within a second selected time interval;

(3) a third condition in which at least a third predetermined number of selections from a recorded anthology that includes the selection have been viewed within a third selected time interval; and

(4) a fourth condition in which at least a fourth predetermined number of consecutive selections from the recorded anthology that includes the selection have been viewed within a fourth selected time interval; and

allow the selection to be viewed in an unencrypted form when none of the four conditions is present.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said client computer is further programmed to determine if a performance complement is applicable to said selection.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said client computer is further programmed:

to determine if said selection is restricted; and

when said selection is restricted, to determine if at least one of payment and payment-equivalent has been made for said viewing of said selection.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said client computer is further programmed so that, when at least one of said payment and said payment-equivalent has not been made for viewing of said selection, the system allows payment-equivalent to be made by viewing a selected number of selected advertisements at approximately a time said selection is viewed.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein said client computer is further programmed:

to receive said payment or said payment-equivalent for said viewing of said selection; and

to allow subsequent viewing of said selection without restriction.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein said client computer is further programmed:

to receive said payment or said payment-equivalent for said viewing of said selection; and

to allow subsequent viewing of said selection only within a time interval determined with reference to a time said payment or said payment-equivalent is received.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein said client computer is further programmed:

to determine if said selection is restricted; and

when said selection is not restricted, to allow said selection to be viewed.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth selected time intervals has a length of about three hours.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein at least one of said predetermined numbers satisfies the following:

the first predetermined number is 3, the second predetermined number is 2, the third predetermined number is 4, the fourth predetermined number is 3.

24. The system of claim 15 wherein the client computer is further programmed to download the selection across a communications network from a server computer and store the selection in the local memory.

25. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a playlist that includes at least the selection.

26. The system of claim 15 wherein viewing further comprises viewing an audio only selection.