Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Remote data accessing – Accessing a remote server
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-05
2001-01-30
Miller, John W. (Department: 2711)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Remote data accessing
Accessing a remote server
C348S086000, C348S014160, C455S001000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182128
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to systems connected in a network, such as cable television and telephone systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems for distributing information, such as video-on-demand or pay-per-view systems. The invention also relates to methods and apparatus for distributing data files, such as music tracks, over existing telecommunication (e.g., cable, telephone, or satellite) networks to subscribers in response to user requests. The methods and apparatus of the present invention also record information on user requests to marketing purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Music is conventionally sold to consumers through either retail outlets or mail order houses. Retail outlets, such as department stores or specialty music stores, sell music directly to consumers on “tangible” media, including compact discs (CDs), magnetic cassette tapes, digital tapes, and vinyl record albums. Mail order houses send catalogs to subscribers who may then order music on the tangible media, which are then mailed to the subscribers through the postal service. A number of costs are involved in the retail sale of music. First of all, the tangible media must be packaged. The packaging typically includes theft-deterrent devices, and warehouses are needed to store the tangible media. Other costs associated with the retail sale of music include inventory control, retail floor space, commercial real estate, merchandise returns, and so on.
One approach at circumventing the conventional retail sale of music is through the Internet. The Internet approach requires the user to have a computer with a powerful processor, an added-on sound card, and a high-speed modem. In order to listen to a desired selection, the user needs to access a web page typically dedicated to a single artist. Because of the limited bandwidth of telephone lines, the user then needs to decide on a tradeoff: real-time listening or high-fidelity listening. If the user wants to listen to the selection in real time, then the computer will play back the selection as a monophonic and heavily filtered 8-bit translation of the original selection. If the user wants to listen to the selection in its original high-fidelity form, then the user needs to download the selection; after the downloading is complete, the user may listen to the selection by playing it back through a home stereo system. A number of disadvantages plague the Internet approach to listening to high-fidelity music in real time: it requires specialized hardware and software; it is inconvenient and complicated; and it is frustratingly slow.
The music industry is highly segmented into a multitude of categories or niches. One only needs to watch a music awards show to see all of the different categories of music. For example, commercial music may be divided into the following categories: classical, popular or “pop” music (often regarded as “Top 40”), country western, rock and roll, heavy metal, jazz, hip hop, rap, urban, adult contemporary, easy listening, new age, punk, soul, funk, Latin, folk, international. Each of these general categories may be further divided into sub-categories. For example, rock and roll is often considered to include heavy metal, punk, alternative, “classic” rock, and even rhythm and blues; classical may include opera, chamber, recital, symphonies, and choral. The classification of music is essentially endless.
One of the advantages of dividing music into categories is that retailers can determine niche markets from the people who buy certain types of music. Typically speaking, heavy metal music is listened to by male teenagers; classical music is listened to by people belonging to an educated, professional, or high-income class; and rap and hip hop are heavily followed by urban youths and young adults. Knowing the demographics of a particular geographic region, retailers may focus on the type of music endemic for the region. In regard to the above example, a retail specialty music store located in an urban setting will carry a wide selection of rap and hip hop but will not carry (or only have a very limited selection) of country western music. Marketing experts have determined that a particular demographic group who listens to a certain type of music typically purchases similar other products en masse. A blatant example of this situation would be that classical music listeners are more likely to purchase a luxury automobile than a pickup truck or compact car and more likely to read
The New Yorker
than
Rolling Stone
magazine than heavy metal listeners.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a distribution system which overcomes the disadvantages and drawbacks associated with conventional approaches of distributing music.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a distribution system which plays back music to subscribers in either real time or at a predetermined time in the future in high-fidelity bandwidth.
It is another object of the invention to provide a music distribution system which records information relevant to consumer behavior based on musical selections to be used for marketing and promotional purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects are achieved by the apparatus of the present invention which provides a system for distributing data files. The system is divided into a plurality of regional networks each including a plurality of users. Each of the regional networks includes a distribution center to which the users of that region are connected. Each distribution center includes a library for storing a plurality of data files, such as music tracks.
If a user desires to listen to one or more music tracks stored in the library of a particular region, then the user may send a request to the distribution center via an existing telephone network or cable network. Upon receiving the user's request, the distribution center locates and retrieves the requested data file stored in the regional library, and then transmits the requested file to the user via, for example, the existing cable service. At the user's destination, electronic equipment such as a television and/or a stereo receiver system may provide an audio/visual output of the requested data track.
If the regional library to which a particular user is connected does not have a requested data file, then the distribution center routes the user request to a control center. The control center in turn determines whether the requested data file is located in the libraries in the other regional networks and, if so, retrieves and routes the requested file to the user.
The advantages of the distribution system of present invention are numerous. First of all, existing cable and telephone systems may be utilized, as well as existing home entertainment centers, thereby eliminating the need to install extensive hardware systems. Because of the relatively high bandwidth of existing cable systems, consumers may listen to music in full high fidelity and at real time. Consumers also have immediate access to a large library of music without having to leave their homes, thereby eliminating the need to travel to a retail outlet with a limited selection of music to purchase music, and the need to wait for the arrival of a mail order of music. In addition, record companies benefit as no warehousing facilities are required for storing packaged music awaiting shipping, and as no retail space is required to sell the music.
Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 5191410 (1993-03-01), McCalley et al.
patent: 5195092 (1993-03-01), Wilson et al.
patent: 5418713 (1995-05-01), Allen
patent: 5423003 (1995-06-01), Berteau
patent: 5550577 (1996-08-01), Ve
Johnson Loren C.
Kelkar Anand
Miller John W.
Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP
Touchmusic Entertainment LLC
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