Patent US6038591A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6038591A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Programmed music on demand from the internet
Assignee: Tumbleweed Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1999-06-15
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Granted: 2000-03-14
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Expires: 2019-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for delivering programmed music and targeted advertising messages to Internet based subscribers includes a software controlled microprocessor based repository in which the dossiers of a plurality of the subscribers are stored and updated, musical content and related advertising are classified and matched. A subscriber has an appropriate microprocessor based device capable of selecting information and receiving information from the Internet. The subscriber receives the programmed music and matched advertisements from the repository over the Internet.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Wolfe
- 👤 Jeffrey Pinals
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H60/00; H04H60/61; H04H60/66; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; H04H60/35; H04H60/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of transmitting programmed information to a plurality of users, comprising: (a) creating a first database containing a large number of discrete data units each of which has a related profile, the data units comprising musical content; (b) creating a second database containing a variety of discrete advertising messages each of which has a related profile; (c) receiving requests for the data units from the plurality of users, and enabling each user to select a desired one of said data units; (d) appending to the requested data units at least one of said advertising messages based upon a matching of profile criteria to create a composite response packet in the form of a sequential data flow, containing an advertising message identifying a source of the programmed information and a data unit; and (e) transmitting the composite response packet to the requesting user.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of transmitting programmed information to a plurality of users, comprising: (a) creating a first database containing a large number of discrete data units each of which has a related profile, the data units comprising musical content; (b) creating a second database containing a variety of discrete advertising messages each of which has a related profile; (c) receiving requests for the data units from the plurality of users, and enabling each user to select a desired one of said data units; (d) appending to the requested data units at least one of said advertising messages based upon a matching of profile criteria to create a composite response packet in the form of a sequential data flow, containing an advertising message identifying a source of the programmed information and a data unit; and (e) transmitting the composite response packet to the requesting user.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of transmitting programmed information to a plurality of users, comprising: (a) creating a first database containing a large number of discrete data units each of which has a related profile; (b) creating a second database containing a variety of discrete advertising messages each of which has a related profile; (c) receiving requests for the data units from the plurality of users, and enabling each user to select a desired one of said data units, the data units being musical works; (d) appending to the requested data units at least one of said advertising messages based upon a matching of profile criteria to create a composite response packet in the form of a sequential data flow, containing an advertising message and a data unit, the musical work being combined with the advertising message in a manner so that the musical work cannot be separated from the advertising messages by users; (e) transmitting the composite response packet to the requesting user.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of transmitting programmed information to a plurality of users, comprising: (a) creating a first database containing a large number of discrete data units each of which has a related profile; (b) creating a second database containing a variety of discrete advertising messages each of which has a related profile; (c) receiving requests for the data units from the plurality of users, and enabling each user to select a desired one of said data units, the data units being musical works; (d) appending to the requested data units at least one of said advertising messages based upon a matching of profile criteria to create a composite response packet in the form of a sequential data flow, containing an advertising message and a data unit, the musical work being combined with the advertising message in a manner so that the musical work cannot be separated from the advertising messages by users; (e) transmitting the composite response packet to the requesting user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein an advertiser associated with an advertising message revises the advertising message using an Internet session between the advertiser and the second database.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein an amount of selected advertising messages appended to requested data units and an amount of the requested data units between each advertising message is based on the matching between the profile associated with the user and the profiles associated with the advertisements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one advertising message in the second database is comprised of audio and video content.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of transmitting programmed information to a plurality of users, comprising: (a) creating a first database containing a large number of discrete data units each of which has a related profile; (b) creating a second database containing a variety of discrete advertising messages each of which has a related profile; (c) receiving requests for the data units from the plurality of users, and enabling each user to select a desired one of said data units; (d) appending to the requested data units at least one of said advertising messages based upon a matching of profile criteria to create a composite response packet in the form of a sequential data flow, containing an advertising message and a data unit, the data units being musical works; (e) transmitting the composite response packet to the requesting user; and (f) packaging selected ones of the response packets so that each successive playing of the musical work results in the user hearing a different advertising message.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of transmitting programmed information to a plurality of users, comprising: (a) creating a first database containing a large number of discrete data units each of which has a related profile; (b) creating a second database containing a variety of discrete advertising messages each of which has a related profile; (c) receiving requests for the data units from the plurality of users, and enabling each user to select a desired one of said data units; (d) appending to the requested data units at least one of said advertising messages based upon a matching of profile criteria to create a composite response packet in the form of a sequential data flow, containing an advertising message and a data unit, the data units being musical works; (e) transmitting the composite response packet to the requesting user; and (f) packaging selected ones of the response packets so that each successive playing of the musical work results in the user hearing a different advertising message.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein an advertiser associated with an advertising message revises the advertising message using an Internet session between the advertiser and the second database.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein an amount of selected advertising messages appended to requested data units and an amount of the requested data units between each advertising message is based on the matching between the profile associated with the user and the profiles associated with the advertisements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein at least one advertising message in the second database is comprised of audio and video content.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of transmitting programmed information to a plurality of users, comprising: (a) creating a first database containing a large number of discrete data units each of which has a related profile, the data units being musical works; (b) creating a second database containing a variety of discrete advertising messages each of which has a related profile; (c) receiving requests for the data units from the plurality of users, and enabling each user to select a desired one of said data units; (d) appending to the requested data units at least one of said advertising messages based upon a matching of profile criteria to create a composite response packet in the form of a sequential data flow, containing an advertising message and a data unit, the advertising message being appended to the musical work in the form of a voice over a leading portion of the musical work; (e) transmitting the composite response packet to the requesting user; (f) classifying the users into predetermined user classes; and (g) associating each piece of advertising message with at least two user classes on a prioritized basis.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of transmitting programmed information to a plurality of users, comprising: (a) creating a first database containing a large number of discrete data units each of which has a related profile, the data units being musical works; (b) creating a second database containing a variety of discrete advertising messages each of which has a related profile; (c) receiving requests for the data units from the plurality of users, and enabling each user to select a desired one of said data units; (d) appending to the requested data units at least one of said advertising messages based upon a matching of profile criteria to create a composite response packet in the form of a sequential data flow, containing an advertising message and a data unit, the advertising message being appended to the musical work in the form of a voice over a leading portion of the musical work; (e) transmitting the composite response packet to the requesting user; (f) classifying the users into predetermined user classes; and (g) associating each piece of advertising message with at least two user classes on a prioritized basis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein an advertiser associated with an advertising message revises the advertising message using an Internet session between the advertiser and the second database.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein an amount of selected advertising messages appended to requested data units and an amount of the requested data units between each advertising message is based on the matching between the profile associated with the user and the profiles associated with the advertisements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein at least one advertising message in the second database is comprised of audio and video content.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for transmitting programmed information across a computer network, said system comprising: at least one user terminal; a server which uses the computer network to transmit the programmed information to the at least one user terminal, the server having; a first database comprising a plurality of data units, each data unit having a related profile; a second database comprising at least one advertising message; a central processing unit which executes functions comprising: receiving requests for at least one selected data unit transmitted by the user terminal; appending at least one of said advertising messages to the selected data units based upon a matching of profile criteria to create a composite response packet in the form of a sequential data flow, containing an advertising message and a data unit; and transmitting the composite response packet to the user terminal.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for transmitting programmed information across a computer network, said system comprising: at least one user terminal; a server which uses the computer network to transmit the programmed information to the at least one user terminal, the server having; a first database comprising a plurality of data units, each data unit having a related profile; a second database comprising at least one advertising message; a central processing unit which executes functions comprising: receiving requests for at least one selected data unit transmitted by the user terminal; appending at least one of said advertising messages to the selected data units based upon a matching of profile criteria to create a composite response packet in the form of a sequential data flow, containing an advertising message and a data unit; and transmitting the composite response packet to the user terminal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 14, wherein the first database further comprises at least one generic message.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the central processing unit further executes a function in which the generic message is interleaved with the selected data unit in the form of a voice over at least one of a leading or trailing portion of the selected data unit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 14, wherein each data unit comprises a musical work.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for transmitting and receiving programmed information between a user terminal and a server, comprising the steps of: storing at least one data content item in a first database associated with the server; storing at least one advertisement in a second database associated with the server, each advertisement having an associated profile; receiving a request from the user terminal to transmit at least one data content item from the server to the user terminal; selecting at least one advertisement for transmission to the user terminal based on a matching between a profile associated with a user of the user terminal and the profiles associated with the advertisements; assembling a response packet, said response packet comprising at least one advertisement sequentially appended to the requested data content item; and transmitting the assembled response packet from the server to the user terminal.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for transmitting and receiving programmed information between a user terminal and a server, comprising the steps of: storing at least one data content item in a first database associated with the server; storing at least one advertisement in a second database associated with the server, each advertisement having an associated profile; receiving a request from the user terminal to transmit at least one data content item from the server to the user terminal; selecting at least one advertisement for transmission to the user terminal based on a matching between a profile associated with a user of the user terminal and the profiles associated with the advertisements; assembling a response packet, said response packet comprising at least one advertisement sequentially appended to the requested data content item; and transmitting the assembled response packet from the server to the user terminal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the profile associated with the user is derived by gathering identifying characteristics of the user during the user's interaction with the server.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the profile associated with the user is derived by gathering identifying characteristics of the user during the user's communication session with a host computer, the host computer transmitting the user's identifying characteristics to the server.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the server transmits the assembled response packet to the user terminal the user's communication session with the host computer remains active.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 18, wherein a plurality of advertisements are associated with an advertiser and at least one advertisement associated with the advertiser is selected based on a matching between the profile associated with the user and the profiles associated with the advertiser's advertisements.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the data content storage step further comprises the step of storing in the first database descriptive information associated with each respective data content item.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of: choosing at least one data content item based on the user's profile; transmitting, to the user terminal, the descriptive information associated with the chosen data content item; and displaying the descriptive information associated with the chosen data content item on the user terminal, wherein the user's data content item selection is based on the displayed descriptive information.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of storing the user's data content item selection in a third database associated with the server.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of: filtering the descriptive information based on the user's profile to create a filtered list of descriptive information whose elements reflect the user's preferences; transmitting the filtered list to the user terminal, wherein the user's data content item selection is based on the filtered descriptive information.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 26, wherein a sequence of data content items within the response packet is determined in accordance with an order of selection by the user.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 26, wherein a sequence of data content items within the response packet is determined by the server.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein the sequence of data content items within the response packet is determined in accordance with an order of selection by the user.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein a sequence of data content items within the response packet is determined by the server.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 18, further including the steps of: creating separate credit accounts for at least two advertisers, each associated with at least one respective advertisement; and storing advertisement allocation data in the credit accounts, the advertisement allocation data corresponding to a prepaid advertising credit amount.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 31, wherein the prepaid advertising credit is increased by an advertiser using an Internet session established between the advertiser and the server.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein the data content items comprise musical works.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 33, further including the steps of: creating separate credit accounts for at least two advertisers, each associated with at least one respective advertisement; and storing advertisement allocation data in the credit accounts, the advertisement allocation data corresponding to a prepaid advertising credit amount.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 34, wherein the prepaid advertising credit is increased by an advertiser using an Internet session established between the advertiser and the server.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein an advertiser associated with an advertisement revises the advertisement using an Internet session between the advertiser and the server.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein an amount of selected advertising messages appended to requested data content items and the amount of requested data content items between each advertising message is based on the matching between the profile associated with the user and the profiles associated with the advertisements.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein at least one stored advertisement is comprised of audio and video content.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-14 | 2003-09-13 | 2004-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-14 | 2007-09-13 | 2008-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-14 | 2011-09-13 | 2012-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |