US6061680A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and system for finding approximate matches in database
Assignee: Gracenote Inc
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Filing: 1999-07-16
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Granted: 2000-05-09
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Expires: 2019-07-16
Abstract
Abstract Entertainment content complementary to a musical recording is delivered to a user's computer by means of a computer network link. The user employs a browser to access the computer network. A plug-in for the browser is able to control an audio CD or other device for playing the musical recording. A script stored on the remote computer accessed over the network is downloaded. The script synchronizes the delivery of the complementary entertainment content with the play of the musical recording.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Douglas Scherf
- 👤 Ti Kan
- 👤 Dale Tyson Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:29
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/11; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/40; G06F16/43; G06F16/438; G06F16/4387; G06F16/4393; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/957; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/12; G06Q20/123; G06Q20/1235; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G11B19/00; G11B19/02; G11B27/02; G11B27/031; G11B27/034; G11B27/102; G11B27/105; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/20; G11B2220/21; G11B2220/213; G11B2220/25; G11B2220/2537; G11B2220/2545; G11B2220/2562; G11B2220/40; G11B2220/41; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
At least one computer program stored on a computer-readable medium, embodying a method of searching for a match in a database of a plurality of records, where the records in the database include length information and number of segments for recordings corresponding to the records, comprising: calculating approximate length information for the records in the database and for a selected recording having a number of segments; and determining at least one approximately matching record in the database for the selected recording based on the number of segments and the approximate length information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
At least one computer program stored on a computer-readable medium, embodying a method of searching for a match in a database of a plurality of records, where the records in the database include length information and number of segments for recordings corresponding to the records, comprising: calculating approximate length information for the records in the database and for a selected recording having a number of segments; and determining at least one approximately matching record in the database for the selected recording based on the number of segments and the approximate length information.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of searching for a match in a database of a plurality of records, where the records in the database include length information and number of segments for recordings corresponding to the records, comprising: calculating approximate length information for the records in the database and for a selected recording having a number of segments; and determining at least one approximately matching record in the database for the selected recording based on the number of segments and the approximate length information.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of searching for a match in a database of a plurality of records, where the records in the database include length information and number of segments for recordings corresponding to the records, comprising: calculating approximate length information for the records in the database and for a selected recording having a number of segments; and determining at least one approximately matching record in the database for the selected recording based on the number of segments and the approximate length information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the length information for the records in the database and for the selected recording includes information indicating the length of each segment, and wherein said determining includes comparing the length of corresponding segments in the selected recording and the at least one approximately matching record in the database.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 3, wherein said determining obtains a value indicative of a difference in length between corresponding segments of the selected recording and the at least one approximately matching record in the database.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising receiving a query to search for a match between the selected recording and the records in the database, the query including the number of segments and the length information for the selected recording.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the recordings corresponding to the records in the database and the selected recording each contain at least an audio portion and the number of segments are the number of tracks in the audio portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the recordings are compact discs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the recordings are digital versatile discs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the selected recording is played at a first location, and wherein said method further comprises: generating the query by a computer at a first location where the selected recording is being played; and sending the query to a server at a second location, remote from the first location, where the database is stored.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising sending from the server to the computer additional information stored in the at least one approximately matching record and not included in the selected recording.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the recordings corresponding to the records in the database and the selected recording each contain at least an audio portion and the number of segments are the number of tracks in the audio portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the recordings are compact discs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the recordings are digital versatile discs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
92 words
A database system, comprising: a storage unit storing a database of a plurality of records, where the records in the database include length information and number of segments for recordings corresponding to the records; and a processing unit, coupled to said storage unit, programmed to calculate approximate length information for the records in the database and for a selected recording having a number of segments, and to determine at least one approximately matching record in the database for the selected recording based on the number of segments and the approximate length information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
A database system, comprising: a storage unit storing a database of a plurality of records, where the records in the database include length information and number of segments for recordings corresponding to the records; and a processing unit, coupled to said storage unit, programmed to calculate approximate length information for the records in the database and for a selected recording having a number of segments, and to determine at least one approximately matching record in the database for the selected recording based on the number of segments and the approximate length information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
A database system as recited in claim 14, wherein the length information for the records in the database and for the selected recording includes information indicating the length of each segment, and wherein said processing unit compares the length of corresponding segments in the selected recording and the at least one approximately matching record in the database.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A database system as recited in claim 15, wherein said processing unit obtains a value indicative of a difference in length between corresponding segments of the selected recording and the at least one approximately matching record in the database.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
A database system as recited in claim 14, further comprising a communication unit, coupled to said storage unit, to receive a query to search for a match between the selected recording and the records in the database, the query including the number of segments and the length information for the selected recording.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
A database system as recited in claim 17, wherein the recordings corresponding to the records in the database and the selected recording each contain at least an audio portion and the number of segments are the number of tracks in the audio portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
A database system as recited in claim 18, wherein the recordings are compact discs.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A database system as recited in claim 18, wherein the recordings are digital versatile discs.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
74 words
A database system as recited in claim 17, wherein said processing unit, storage unit and communication unit are at a first location, and wherein said database system further comprises: a computer at a second location, remote from the first location, to generate the query and play the selected recording; and a communication network at least temporarily coupling said computer and said communication unit to send the query from said computer to said communication unit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
A database system as recited in claim 21, wherein said communication unit sends to the computer via said communication network additional information stored in the at least one approximately matching record and not included in the selected recording.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the recordings corresponding to the records in the database and the selected recording each contain at least an audio portion and the number of segments are the number of tracks in the audio portion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the recordings are compact discs.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the recordings are digital versatile discs.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
45 words
At least one computer program as recited in claim 1, wherein the recordings corresponding to the records in the database and the selected recording each contain at least an audio portion and the number of segments are the number of tracks in the audio portion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
59 words
At least one computer program as recited in claim 1, wherein the length information for the records in the database and for the selected recording includes information indicating the length of each segment, and wherein said determining includes comparing the length of corresponding segments in the selected recording and the at least one approximately matching record in the database.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
At least one computer program as recited in claim 27, wherein said determining obtains a value indicative of a difference in length between corresponding segments of the selected recording and the at least one approximately matching record in the database.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
45 words
At least one computer program as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving a query to search for a match between the selected recording and the records in the database, the query including the number of segments and the length information for the selected recording.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
45 words
At least one computer program as recited in claim 29, wherein the recordings corresponding to the records in the database and the selected recording each contain at least an audio portion and the number of segments are the number of tracks in the audio portion.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
At least one computer program as recited in claim 30, wherein the recordings are compact discs.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
At least one computer program as recited in claim 30, wherein the recordings are digital versatile discs.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
64 words
At least one computer program as recited in claim 29, wherein the selected recording is played at a first location, and wherein said method further comprises: generating the query by a computer at a first location where the selected recording is being played; and sending the query to a server at a second location, remote from the first location, where the database is stored.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
37 words
At least one computer program as recited in claim 33, further comprising sending from the server to the computer additional information stored in the at least one approximately matching record and not included in the selected recording.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
At least one computer program as recited in claim 26, wherein the recordings are digital versatile discs.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
At least one computer program as recited in claim 26, wherein the recordings are compact discs.
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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) | 2003-05-09 | 2003-11-08 | 2004-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-09 | 2007-11-08 | 2008-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-09 | 2011-11-08 | 2012-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |