Methods, systems, and products for providing electronic media

• US 8,046,303 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2010
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, John, Zimler, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): Augustin; Evens J
• Application Number:
  US12/774,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20100217689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 705/52, 705/26, 709/231
• US Class Current: 705/58
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing electronic media to a customer. One method prompts a customer to license a right to electronic media. If the customer agrees to license the right, then the license is electronically stored on behalf of the customer. The licensed electronic media is communicated to the customer via a communications network.

Claims

1. A method of providing electronic media to a customer, comprising:

providing the customer a menu of electronic media;

receiving a selection of selected electronic media from the customer;

retrieving and communicating the selected electronic media via a communications network;

establishing a byte counter that increments as bytes of the selected electronic media are communicated to the customer;

establishing a threshold byte value;

when the byte counter meets the threshold byte value, then pausing retrieval of the selected electronic media;

prompting the customer to license a right to the selected electronic media; and

when the customer agrees to the license, then resuming retrieval of the selected electronic media.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the customer a list of electronic media to which the customer has licensed rights.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the right is a limited right, the limited right having a condition that causes the limited right to expire.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the customer a list of electronic media to which the customer has licensed limited rights.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein prompting the customer comprises prompting the customer before the byte counter meets the threshold byte value.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein prompting the customer comprises prompting the customer after the byte counter meets the threshold byte value.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein prompting the customer comprises prompting the customer while continuing to retrieve and communicate the selected electronic media.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising initiating a royalty payment for the license.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing the customer the menu of electronic media comprises providing a menu of movie files available for download.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing the customer the menu of electronic media comprises providing a menu of audio files available for download.

11. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon for causing a processor to facilitate a method comprising:

providing the customer a menu of electronic media;

receiving a selection of selected electronic media from the customer;

retrieving and communicating the selected electronic media via a communications network;

establishing a byte counter that increments as the selected electronic media communicated to the customer;

establishing a threshold byte value;

when the byte counter equals or exceeds meets the threshold byte value, then pausing retrieval of the selected electronic media;

prompting the customer to license a right to the selected electronic media; and

when the customer agrees to the license, then resuming retrieval of the selected electronic media.

12. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 11, further comprising instructions for providing the customer a list of electronic media to which the customer has licensed rights.

13. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the license is a limited right, the limited right having a condition that causes the limited right to expire.

14. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 11, further comprising instructions for providing the customer a list of electronic media to which the customer has licensed limited rights.

15. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 11, wherein prompting the customer comprises prompting the customer after the byte counter meets the threshold byte value.

16. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 11, further comprising initiating a royalty payment for the license.