US6496802B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for providing access to electronic works
Assignee: Universal Music Group Inc
•
Filing: 2000-07-13
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Granted: 2002-12-17
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Expires: 2020-07-13
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a system and method for providing access to electronic works over a network. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention offers a user access to electronic copies of works, such as songs, albums, movies, or music videos, over a network. The user responds to the offer by requesting to access to a particular work. Before such a request is granted, the present invention may verify that the user is authorized to access to the work. In one embodiment, the user verifies that they are authorized to access an electronic copy of the work by demonstrating that they possess a physical copy of the work. In another embodiment, the user verifies that they are authorized to access an electronic copy of the work by demonstrating that they ordered or purchased a copy of the work. If a user's authorization is verified, the user may then be provided with access to an electronic copy of the work by such techniques as downloading or streaming.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander T. van Zoest
- 👤 Matthew John DiMeo
- 👤 Brian Mason Degenhardt
- 👤 Charles Lawrence Sismondo
- 👤 Brian Callahan
- 👤 John William DeRose
- 👤 George Matthew Costello
- 👤 Tristan Anne Barnum
- 👤 James Park
- 👤 Joshua Stephens
- 👤 Michael Oliphant
- 👤 David M Story
- 👤 John P. Knott
- 👤 James Martin Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0207; G06Q30/0225; G06Q30/0241; G06Q30/0248; G06Q30/0251; G06Q30/0277
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of providing electronic works, comprising the steps of: offering electronic works to a user over a network, receiving a request for access to at least one electronic work over the network; verifying the user is authorized to access the requested electronic work; providing the user with access to the requested electronic work over the network; and storing electronic works; wherein the step of verifying includes the steps of: receiving data corresponding to at least one track offset of a physical work, and comparing the at least one track offset of the physical work to a corresponding track offset on at least one stored electronic work.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of providing electronic works, comprising the steps of: offering electronic works to a user over a network, receiving a request for access to at least one electronic work over the network; verifying the user is authorized to access the requested electronic work; providing the user with access to the requested electronic work over the network; and storing electronic works; wherein the step of verifying includes the steps of: receiving data corresponding to at least one track offset of a physical work, and comparing the at least one track offset of the physical work to a corresponding track offset on at least one stored electronic work.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical work is a compact disk.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of verifying includes the step of: acquiring identification information from the physical work, and identifying at least one electronic work for the comparison.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the identification information is a title of the physical work.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of comparing compares a range of values for a track offset of the physical work to the stored electronic works.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of comparing compares a plurality of track offsets.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of providing electronic works, comprising the steps of: offering electronic works to a user over a network, receiving a request for access to at least one electronic work over the network; verifying the user is authorized to access the requested electronic work; providing the user with access to the requested electronic work over the network; and storing electronic works; wherein the step of verifying includes the steps of: sending a request to obtain data corresponding to at least a portion of a physical work; receiving data corresponding to the at least a portion of the physical work; and comparing the at least a portion of the physical work with a corresponding portion of at least one electronic work to determine whether to grant the request.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of providing electronic works, comprising the steps of: offering electronic works to a user over a network, receiving a request for access to at least one electronic work over the network; verifying the user is authorized to access the requested electronic work; providing the user with access to the requested electronic work over the network; and storing electronic works; wherein the step of verifying includes the steps of: sending a request to obtain data corresponding to at least a portion of a physical work; receiving data corresponding to the at least a portion of the physical work; and comparing the at least a portion of the physical work with a corresponding portion of at least one electronic work to determine whether to grant the request.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of comparing includes correlation to identify the corresponding portions of the at least a portion of the physical work and the corresponding portion of the at least one electronic work.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of comparing includes phase shifting either the at least a portion of the physical work or the corresponding portion of the at least one electronic work.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 8 or 9 , comprising the step of: increasing size of the portion of the physical work or the corresponding portion of the at least one electronic work prior to comparison.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of comparing includes a Fast Fourier Transform analysis on the portion of the physical work and the corresponding portion of the at least one electronic work.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of comparing includes comparing time domain samples from the portion of the physical work.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7 , where the step of comparing accommodates a margin of error allowance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of: repeating the verifying step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of verifying further includes the steps of: sending a request to obtain data corresponding to at least a portion of a physical work; receiving data corresponding to the at least a portion of the physical work; and comparing the at least a portion of the physical work with a corresponding portion of at least one electronic work to determine whether to grant the request.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of acquiring an electronic version of a work, comprising the steps of: obtaining a physical work; creating an electronic work from the physical work; extracting samples of data from the physical work; identifying an electronic work in an encoding queue; retrieving the electronic work identified in the encoding queue; and transferring the retrieved electronic work to storage.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of acquiring an electronic version of a work, comprising the steps of: obtaining a physical work; creating an electronic work from the physical work; extracting samples of data from the physical work; identifying an electronic work in an encoding queue; retrieving the electronic work identified in the encoding queue; and transferring the retrieved electronic work to storage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of providing encoders in a queue based, database mediated configuration.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of extracting further extracts index information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the index information identifies what samples of the physical work were extracted.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of: labeling the physical work.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein the physical work is labeled with a UPC code.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of: labeling the electronic work with a label corresponding to the label on the physical work.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 16 , further comprising the steps of: labeling the electronic work; and using the label of the electronic work as a unique identifier for accounting purposes.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of: loading pointers to the electronic work into the encoding queue.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the encoding queue uses a first in, first out scheduling algorithm.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of: encoding the electronic work identified in the encoding queue.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the step of encoding encodes two versions of the electronic work.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 27 , wherein the two versions of the electronic work are a 24 kilobit per second version and a 128 kilobit per second version.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 24 , further comprising the step of: inserting pointers into the encoding queue to indicate which encoded electronic works are ready for the transferring step.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the transferring step also transfers the index information.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of delivering electronic works, comprising the steps of: receiving a request for access to an electronic work and a form of user identification from a device; identifying characteristics of the requesting device; verifying the form of user identification against stored information; storing frequently requested items locally in memory; and providing the device with access to the electronic work; wherein the verifying step includes checking whether the user is simultaneously logged in from another device.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of delivering electronic works, comprising the steps of: receiving a request for access to an electronic work and a form of user identification from a device; identifying characteristics of the requesting device; verifying the form of user identification against stored information; storing frequently requested items locally in memory; and providing the device with access to the electronic work; wherein the verifying step includes checking whether the user is simultaneously logged in from another device.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of acquiring an electronic work, comprising the steps of: logging into a service offering access to at least one electronic work; sending a request to access at least one electronic work and a form of identification; demonstrating authorization to receive the requested electronic work; and obtaining access to the requested electronic work; wherein the step of demonstrating includes sending a confirmation number for the purchase of a physical work.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of acquiring an electronic work, comprising the steps of: logging into a service offering access to at least one electronic work; sending a request to access at least one electronic work and a form of identification; demonstrating authorization to receive the requested electronic work; and obtaining access to the requested electronic work; wherein the step of demonstrating includes sending a confirmation number for the purchase of a physical work.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for providing electronic works, comprising: means for offering electronic works to a user over a network; means for storing at least one of the offered electronic works; means for receiving a request for access to at least one electronic work over the network; means for verifying the user is authorized to access the requested electronic work wherein the means for verifying includes: means for receiving data corresponding to at least one track offset of a physical work, and means for comparing the at least one track offset of the physical work to a corresponding track offset on at least one stored electronic work; and means for providing the user with access to the requested electronic work over the network.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for providing electronic works, comprising: means for offering electronic works to a user over a network; means for storing at least one of the offered electronic works; means for receiving a request for access to at least one electronic work over the network; means for verifying the user is authorized to access the requested electronic work wherein the means for verifying includes: means for receiving data corresponding to at least one track offset of a physical work, and means for comparing the at least one track offset of the physical work to a corresponding track offset on at least one stored electronic work; and means for providing the user with access to the requested electronic work over the network.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the means for verifying further includes: means for sending a request to obtain data corresponding to at least a portion of a physical work; means for receiving data corresponding to the at least a portion of the physical work; and means for comparing the at least a portion of the physical work with a corresponding portion of at least one electronic work to determine whether to grant the request.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
143 words
An apparatus for providing electronic works, comprising: means for offering electronic works to a user over a network; means for storing at least one of the offered electronic works; means for receiving a request for access to at least one electronic work over the network; means for verifying the user is authorized to access the requested electronic work wherein the means for verifying includes: means for sending a request to obtain data corresponding to at least a portion of a physical work, means for receiving data corresponding to the at least a portion of the physical work, and means for comparing the at least a portion of the physical work with a corresponding portion of at least one electronic work to determine whether to grant the request; and means for providing the user with access to the requested electronic work over the network.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
143 words
An apparatus for providing electronic works, comprising: means for offering electronic works to a user over a network; means for storing at least one of the offered electronic works; means for receiving a request for access to at least one electronic work over the network; means for verifying the user is authorized to access the requested electronic work wherein the means for verifying includes: means for sending a request to obtain data corresponding to at least a portion of a physical work, means for receiving data corresponding to the at least a portion of the physical work, and means for comparing the at least a portion of the physical work with a corresponding portion of at least one electronic work to determine whether to grant the request; and means for providing the user with access to the requested electronic work over the network.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
69 words
An apparatus for acquiring an electronic version of a work, comprising: means for obtaining a physical work; means for creating an electronic work from the physical work; means for extracting samples of data from the physical work; means for identifying an electronic work in an encoding queue; means for retrieving the electronic work identified in the encoding queue; and means means for transferring the retrieved electronic work to storage.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
69 words
An apparatus for acquiring an electronic version of a work, comprising: means for obtaining a physical work; means for creating an electronic work from the physical work; means for extracting samples of data from the physical work; means for identifying an electronic work in an encoding queue; means for retrieving the electronic work identified in the encoding queue; and means means for transferring the retrieved electronic work to storage.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for providing electronic works, comprising: a server for offering electronic works to a user over a network, wherein the server stores at least one of the offered electronic works, wherein the server receives a request for access to at least one electronic work over the network; wherein the server verifies the user is authorized to access the requested electronic work by receiving data corresponding to at least one track offset of a physical work, and comparing the at least one track offset of the physical work to a corresponding track offset on at least one stored electronic work; and wherein the server provides the user with access to the requested electronic work over the network.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for providing electronic works, comprising: a server for offering electronic works to a user over a network, wherein the server stores at least one of the offered electronic works, wherein the server receives a request for access to at least one electronic work over the network; wherein the server verifies the user is authorized to access the requested electronic work by receiving data corresponding to at least one track offset of a physical work, and comparing the at least one track offset of the physical work to a corresponding track offset on at least one stored electronic work; and wherein the server provides the user with access to the requested electronic work over the network.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein the server also sends a request to obtain data corresponding to at least a portion of a physical work, receives data corresponding to the at least a portion of the physical work, and compares the at least a portion of the physical work with a corresponding portion of at least one electronic work to determine whether to grant the request.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for providing electronic works, comprising: a server for offering electronic works to a user over a network, storing the offered electronic works, and receiving a request for access to at least one electronic work over the network; wherein the server also verifies the user is authorized to access the requested electronic work by sending a request to obtain data corresponding to at least a portion of a physical work, receiving data corresponding to the at least a portion of the physical work, and comparing the at least a portion of the physical work with a corresponding portion of at least one electronic work to determine whether to grant the request; and wherein the server also provides the user with access to the requested electronic work over the network.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for providing electronic works, comprising: a server for offering electronic works to a user over a network, storing the offered electronic works, and receiving a request for access to at least one electronic work over the network; wherein the server also verifies the user is authorized to access the requested electronic work by sending a request to obtain data corresponding to at least a portion of a physical work, receiving data corresponding to the at least a portion of the physical work, and comparing the at least a portion of the physical work with a corresponding portion of at least one electronic work to determine whether to grant the request; and wherein the server also provides the user with access to the requested electronic work over the network.
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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) | 2005-12-16 | 2006-06-17 | 2006-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-16 | 2010-06-17 | 2010-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-16 | 2014-06-17 | 2014-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |