Method for subscription media on-demand

• US 8,832,149 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2011
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: B# On Demand, LLC
• Original Assignee: B# On Demand, LLC
• Inventors: Homer, Gregg S.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, SHAHID AL
• Application Number:
  US13/011,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20110119308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 707/783, 707/716, 707/802, 707/758, 707/821, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/227, 705/50, 705/51, 705/59
• US Class Current: 707/783
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3344 using natural language analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1078 Logging; Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An electronic media distribution/play system includes a service facility that has a communications network interface and maintains a data file catalog. The catalog is sent over the network to requesting users, and the system processes payments from customers in establishing file access authorizations. Encrypted user-selected files and a player program are transmitted to each customer for metered access to received data files as limited by the authorization, and customers can make additional selections and play the encrypted files freely while the authorization remains established. The system can transmit the data files from local storage, and also provide links to encrypted files that are stored at remote vendor facilities. Authorizations can be for selected portions or class levels of the catalog, and for terms measured as calendar time, play time, and collective number of plays. Also disclosed is a method for facilitating the distribution and accessing of electronic files.

Claims

1. A subscription system for playing media files on a user device comprising:

a file access authorization, which authorization enables a user to play at least two different media files on a player program on the user device,

wherein at least a portion of at least one of the media files resides on the user device at the time of play,

the authorization is limited by at least one predetermined play parameter, and

to the extent the playing of at least one of the media files on the user device exceeds at least one predetermined play parameter, the playing is limited by means comprising at least one of;

preventing play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

interfering with play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

denying play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

disabling access to at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

denying access to at least a portion of the player program,

disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the player program, or

disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the user device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the authorization comprises at least one of a license, password, key, or coding element.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein playing a media file comprises at least one of opening, accessing, displaying, activating, or executing the media file.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least two different media files are received by the user device over a communications network during different logon sessions.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the two different media files is capable of generating at least one of sound, spoken words, music, moving images, still images, or human-readable text.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the two different media files comprises a software program.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the player program comprises stand-alone software.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the player program comprises at least one of a software patch or a plug-in.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises at least one of a computer or a handheld device.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises primary memory, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part in the primary memory.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises non-volatile memory, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part in the non-volatile memory.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises at least one of a hard drive, removable storage medium, flash drive, disk, or CD-ROM, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part on at least one of the hard drive, removable storage medium, flash drive, disk, or CD-ROM.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on at least one of late payment or nonpayment.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on elapsed calendar time.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on a number of plays.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on at least one of elapsed play time, number of files played, or number of bits played.

17. A subscription system for playing media files on a user device comprising:

at least two different media files, which media files are capable of being played by a user on a player program on the user device in accordance with a file access authorization,

wherein at least a portion of at least one of the media files resides on the user device at the time of play,

the authorization is limited by at least one predetermined play parameter, and

to the extent the playing of at least one of the media files on the user device exceeds at least one predetermined play parameter, the playing is limited by means comprising at least one of;

preventing play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

interfering with play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

denying play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

disabling access to at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

denying access to at least a portion of the player program,

disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the player program, or

disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the user device.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the authorization comprises at least one of a license, password, key, or coding element.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein playing a media file comprises at least one of opening, accessing, displaying, activating, or executing the media file.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least two different media files are received by the user device over a communications network during different logon sessions.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein at least one of the two different media files is capable of generating at least one of sound, spoken words, music, moving images, still images, or human-readable text.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein at least one of the two different media files comprises a software program.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein at least a portion of the player program comprises stand-alone software.

24. The system of claim 17 wherein at least a portion of the player program comprises at least one of a software patch or a plug-in.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises at least one of a computer or a handheld device.

26. The system of claim 17 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises primary memory, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part in the primary memory.

27. The system of claim 17 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises non-volatile memory, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part in the non-volatile memory.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises at least one of a hard drive, removable storage medium, flash drive, disk, or CD-ROM, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part on at least one of the hard drive, removable storage medium, flash drive, disk, or CD-ROM.

29. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on at least one of late payment or nonpayment.

30. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on elapsed calendar time.

31. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on a number of plays.

32. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on at least one of elapsed play time, number of files played, or number of bits played.

33. A subscription system for playing media files on a user device comprising:

a player program, which player program is configured to play at least two different media files on a user device in accordance with a file access authorization,

wherein at least a portion of at least one of the media files resides on the user device at the time of play,

the authorization is limited by at least one predetermined play parameter, and

to the extent the playing of at least one of the media files on the user device exceeds at least one predetermined play parameter, the playing is limited by means comprising at least one of;

preventing play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

interfering with play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

denying play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

disabling access to at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

denying access to at least a portion of the player program,

disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the player program, or

disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the user device.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the authorization comprises at least one of a license, password, key, or coding element.

35. The system of claim 33 wherein playing a media file comprises at least one of opening, accessing, displaying, activating, or executing the media file.

36. The system of claim 33 wherein the at least two different media files are received by the user device over a communications network during different logon sessions.

37. The system of claim 33 wherein at least one of the two different media files is capable of generating at least one of sound, spoken words, music, moving images, still images, or human-readable text.

38. The system of claim 33 wherein at least one of the two different media files comprises a software program.

39. The system of claim 33 wherein at least a portion of the player program comprises stand-alone software.

40. The system of claim 33 wherein at least a portion of the player program comprises at least one of a software patch or a plug-in.

41. The system of claim 33 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises at least one of a computer or a handheld device.

42. The system of claim 33 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises primary memory, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part in the primary memory.

43. The system of claim 33 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises non-volatile memory, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part in the non-volatile memory.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises at least one of a hard drive, removable storage medium, flash drive, disk, or CD-ROM, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part on at least one of the hard drive, removable storage medium, flash drive, disk, or CD-ROM.

45. The system of claim 33 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on at least one of late payment or nonpayment.

46. The system of claim 33 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on elapsed calendar time.

47. The system of claim 33 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on a number of plays.

48. The system of claim 33 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on at least one of elapsed play time, number of files played, or number of bits played.

49. A subscription method for playing media files on a user device comprising:

providing a file access authorization, which authorization enables a user to play at least two different media files on a player program on the user device,

wherein at least a portion of at least one of the media files resides on the user device at the time of play,

the authorization is limited by at least one predetermined play parameter, and

to the extent the playing of at least one of the media files on the user device exceeds at least one predetermined play parameter, the playing is limited by means comprising at least one of;

preventing play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

interfering with play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

denying play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

disabling access to at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

denying access to at least a portion of the player program,

disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the player program, or

disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the user device.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the authorization comprises at least one of a license, password, key, or coding element.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein playing a media file comprises at least one of opening, accessing, displaying, activating, or executing the media file.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein the at least two different media files are received by the user device over a communications network during different logon sessions.

53. The method of claim 49 wherein at least one of the two different media files is capable of generating at least one of sound, spoken words, music, moving images, still images, or human-readable text.

54. The method of claim 49 wherein at least one of the two different media files comprises a software program.

55. The method of claim 49 wherein at least a portion of the player program comprises stand-alone software.

56. The method of claim 49 wherein at least a portion of the player program comprises at least cone of a software patch or a plug-in.

57. The method of claim 49 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises at least one of a computer or a handheld device.

58. The method of claim 49 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises primary memory, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part in the primary memory.

59. The method of claim 49 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises non-volatile memory, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part in the non-volatile memory.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises at least one of a hard drive, removable storage medium, flash drive, disk, or CD-ROM, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part on at least one of the hard drive, removable storage medium, flash drive, disk, or CD-ROM.

61. The method of claim 49 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on at least one of late payment or nonpayment.

62. The method of claim 49 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on elapsed calendar time.

63. The method of claim 49 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on a number of plays.

64. The method of claim 49 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on at least one of elapsed play time, number of files played, or number of bits played.

65. The method of claim 49 wherein the means by which playing is limited comprises preventing play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files.

66. The method of claim 49 wherein the means by which playing is limited comprises interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files.

67. The method of claim 49 wherein the means by which playing is limited comprises interfering with play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files.

68. The method of claim 49 wherein the means by which playing is limited comprises disabling access to at least a portion of at least one of the media files.

69. The method of claim 49 wherein the means by which playing is limited comprises disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the user device.

70. A subscription method for playing media files on a user device comprising:

providing at least two different media files, which media files are capable of being played by a user on a player program on the user device in accordance with a file access authorization,

wherein at least a portion of at least one of the media files resides on the user device at the time of play,

the authorization is limited by at least one predetermined play parameter, and

to the extent the playing of at least one of the media files on the user device exceeds at least one predetermined play parameter, the playing is limited by means comprising at least one of;

preventing play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

interfering with play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

denying play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

disabling access to at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

denying access to at least a portion of the player program,

disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the player program, or

disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the user device.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein the authorization comprises at least one of a license, password, key, or coding element.

72. The method of claim 70 wherein playing a media file comprises at least one of opening, accessing, displaying, activating, or executing the media file.

73. The method of claim 70 wherein the at least two different media files are received by the user device over a communications network during different logon sessions.

74. The method of claim 70 wherein at least one of the two different media files is capable of generating at least one of sound, spoken words, music, moving images, still images, or human-readable text.

75. The method of claim 70 wherein at least one of the two different media files comprises a software program.

76. The method of claim 70 wherein at least a portion of the player program comprises stand-alone software.

77. The method of claim 70 wherein at least a portion of the player program comprises at least one of a software patch or a plug-in.

78. The method of claim 70 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises at least one of a computer or a handheld device.

79. The method of claim 70 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises primary memory, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part in the primary memory.

80. The method of claim 70 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises non-volatile memory, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part in the non-volatile memory.

81. The method of claim 80 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises at least one of a hard drive, removable storage medium, flash drive, disk, or CD-ROM, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part on at least one of the hard drive, removable storage medium, flash drive, disk, or CD-ROM.

82. The method of claim 70 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on at least one of late payment or nonpayment.

83. The method of claim 70 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on elapsed calendar time.

84. The method of claim 70 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on a number of plays.

85. The method of claim 70 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on at least one of elapsed play time, number of files played, or number of bits played.

86. A subscription method for playing media files on a user device comprising:

providing a player program, which player program is configured to play at least two different media files on a user device in accordance with a file access authorization,

wherein at least a portion of at least one of the media files resides on the user device at the time of play,

the authorization is limited by at least one predetermined play parameter, and

to the extent the playing of at least one of the media files on the user device exceeds at least one predetermined play parameter, the playing is limited by means comprising at least one of;

preventing play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

interfering with play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

denying play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

interrupting the continuity of play of at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

disabling access to at least a portion of at least one of the media files,

denying access to at least a portion of the player program,

disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the player program, or

disabling at least a portion of the functionality of the user device.

87. The method of claim 86 wherein the authorization comprises at least one of a license, password, key, or coding element.

88. The method of claim 86 wherein playing a media file comprises at least one of opening, accessing, displaying, activating, or executing the media file.

89. The method of claim 86 wherein the at least two different media files are received by the user device over a communications network during different logon sessions.

90. The method of claim 86 wherein at least one of the two different media files is capable of generating at least one of sound, spoken words, music, moving images, still images, or human-readable text.

91. The method of claim 86 wherein at least one of the two different media files comprises a software program.

92. The method of claim 86 wherein at least a portion of the player program comprises stand-alone software.

93. The method of claim 86 wherein at least a portion of the player program comprises at least one of a software patch or a plug-in.

94. The method of claim 86 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises at least one of a computer or a handheld device.

95. The method of claim 86 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises primary memory, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part in the primary memory.

96. The method of claim 86 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises non-volatile memory, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part in the non-volatile memory.

97. The method of claim 96 wherein at least a portion of the user device comprises at least one of a hard drive, removable storage medium, flash drive, disk, or CD-ROM, and residing on the user device comprises residing at least in part on at least one of the hard drive, removable storage medium, flash drive, disk, or CD-ROM.

98. The method of claim 86 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on at least one of late payment or nonpayment.

99. The method of claim 86 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on elapsed calendar time.

100. The method of claim 86 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on a number of plays.

101. The method of claim 86 wherein the at least one predetermined play parameter is based on at least one of elapsed play time, number of files played, or number of bits played.