Audio visual player apparatus and system and method of content distribution using the same

Abstract

A portable wireless communications subscriber audio and/or video player apparatus and system and method for selecting, requesting, downloading, and playing audio and/or video data content files from an Internet-based database server. The wireless link is preferably implemented in accordance with the WiFi protocol, which allows connectivity to the Internet by being in proximity with a local base station or WiFi hotspot (i.e., publicly available local wireless access hub connected to the Internet). The portable wireless communications subscriber audio and/or video player apparatus and system preferably include a security means for monitoring and blocking unauthorized use of the player apparatus and system. The player apparatus further preferably has the capability to communicate with other neighboring player apparatus for the purpose of exchanging content data files, playlists and personal messages.

1 . A method of acquiring digital media content, the method comprising: 
 storing a plurality of musical selections on a media storage means;    creating a list of desired media content on a portable device;    ordering musical selections on said list from said media storage means independently of whether the portable device is in communication with said media storage means; and    transmitting the musical selections to the portable device.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  where the step of creating is accomplished through a manual selection by at least one user.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  where the step of creating is accomplished through an automated process that comprises: 
 generating lists in several categories;    tabulating the categories for digital media presented to at least one user;    selecting the categories using a predetermined criteria; and    placing the selected categories on the list.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said selecting step is based on the frequency that each category has been selected by users.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said media categories including at least one of audio and audiovisual presentations.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said media categories correspond of genres associated with said presentations.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the content includes audio selections.  
     
     
         8 . A system for storing and distributing digital media in a networked environment, the system comprising: 
 a content source storing content;    a user-operated device including a communications subsystem for determining when there is network connectivity to the content source and for establishing a connection to the content source when possible, using a wireless communication channel;    an authentication system in communication with the content source wherein the authentication system verifies the identity of the user to the content source;    a content selector operated by the user to make a selection from said content;    a transmitter for communicating the user selections of content to the content source; and    a receiver that receives the selected content from said content source;    wherein said content source releases the selected content to said user-operated device if said user-operated device is authenticated by said authentication system.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said user-operated device operates without control commands from a user.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said user-operated device includes a memory storing content lists descriptive of content available from the content source.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said device selects content based on said content lists.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said device communicates with said content source wirelessly.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said content source is shared by several user-operated devices.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said content source is another user-operated device.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said content source generates a list indicative of its content.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said list is downloaded to the user-operated device.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein said list is downloaded at regular intervals.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  wherein said list is downloaded after it has been updated.  
     
     
         19 . A method for acquiring digital media content, the method comprising: 
 downloading an electronic catalog of digital media content available from at least one source of digital media content;    storing the electronic catalog in a database on a local storage medium;    selecting at least one item of digital media content from the database stored on the local storage medium; and    retrieving the at least one item of digital media content from the associated source of digital media content when access to the associated source is available.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  where the retrieving is done through a wired connection.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  where the retrieving is done through a wireless connection.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising: 
 sending a secure authentication message that identifies the user to the at least one source of digital media content;    validating the identity of the user; and    enabling the retrieval of at least one of the selected items of digital media content.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising updating the catalog.  
     
     
         24 . A method for sharing digital media content, the method comprising: 
 Identifying, by a first user, digital media of interest contained in a collection of digital media possessed by a second user;    determining when access to the collection of digital media possessed by the second user is available;    transmitting a request for the digital media content of interest; and    retrieving digital media content of interest.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said first user has access to a content source and wherein said digital media of interest is retrieved from said content source.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said request is sent to said second user and said digital media of interest is retrieved from said second user.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24  where the step of identifying comprises accessing a catalog of the second user on a centralized database.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  where the centralized database includes a ranking of digital media based on published charts from widely circulated publications.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  where the centralized database includes a ranking of digital media based on user ratings.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  where the centralized database user rankings are clustered based on geographic location.  
     
     
         31 . A method of  claim 24  where the step of identifying comprises directly accessing the at least one second user's database.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the step of identifying includes determining the digital media that the second user is currently accessing.  
     
     
         33 . A method for sharing digital media content, the method comprising: 
 detecting, by a first device, of at least one other device;    establishing a connection to said one other device;    receiving identifiers said one other device;    displaying the received identifiers on a user interface on the first device;    accepting a user's selection of at least one of the identifiers using the user interface on the first device;    receiving a list of available media files from the at least one selected device;    displaying at least a portion of the list of available media files on the user interface on the first device;    accepting the user's selection of at least one media file from the list of available media files;    receiving the at least one media file from one of the at least one selected devices; and    verifying that said first device has sufficient rights to play each of the received media files.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  where the network is wired.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  where the network is wireless.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  where the wireless network uses an IEEE 802.11 protocol.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  where the wireless network is an ad-hoc wifi network.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33  where said list of available media files includes a music file.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33  where said list of available media files includes a play list.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33  where said list of available media files includes an image file.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33  where said list of available media files includes a video file.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising playing the media file.  
     
     
         43 . A wireless digital media distribution and playback system comprising: 
 a data communications network, at least a portion of which is a wireless network; and    a digital media player connected to the wireless network for sending and receiving a digital media file through the wireless network, said digital media including a presenter that presents at least one of an audio and an audiovisual presentation to a user from said digital media file.    
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43  further comprising: 
 at least one server coupled to the data communications network for centralized storage and distribution of digitized media.    
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 43  wherein the digital media player incorporates a rights management system to prevent the unauthorized sending and receiving of digital media.  
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 43  wherein said digital media file includes a segment of a presentation.  
     
     
         47 . A networked portable media player comprising: 
 a network interface for sending and receiving digital media segments;    a digital storage medium coupled to the network interface for storing the digital media segments;    a rights management system coupled to the network interface for limiting access to the digital media segments;    a media decoder coupled to the digital storage medium;    a media presentation means coupled to the media decoder for presenting the digital media segments to a user;    a user interface for interaction with the user; and    a controller for managing the transfer, storage, and presentation of the digital media segments.    
     
     
         48 . The portable media player of  claim 47  where the network interface connects to a wired network.  
     
     
         49 . The portable media player of  claim 47  where the network interface connects to a wireless network.  
     
     
         50 . The portable media player of  claim 47  where the digital media segment is digitized audio.  
     
     
         51 . The portable media player of  claim 47  where the digital media segment is digitized video.  
     
     
         52 . The portable media player of  claim 47  where the digital storage medium is a semiconductor memory device.  
     
     
         53 . The portable media player of  claim 47  where the digital storage medium is a magnetic storage device.  
     
     
         54 . The portable media player of  claim 47  where the digital storage medium is an optical storage device.  
     
     
         55 . The portable media player of  claim 47  where the rights management system's permitted usage is based on a purchase.  
     
     
         56 . The portable media player of  claim 47  where the rights management system's permitted usage is based on a rental.  
     
     
         57 . The portable media player of  claim 47  where the rights management system's permitted usage is based on a lease.  
     
     
         58 . The portable media player of  claim 47  where the rights management system's permitted usage is based on barter.  
     
     
         59 . The portable media player of  claim 47  where the rights management system's permitted usage is based on a subscription.  
     
     
         60 . A method of acquiring digital media content, the method comprising: 
 storing a plurality of content selections on a dedicated electronic database;    creating a list of all the available media content on such electronic database;    determining when access to said electronic database is available;    electronically transmitting a copy of such list to a plurality of user devices which is locally stored on such devices and available to users;    further electronically transmitting to such user devices any modifications the initial list;    enabling users to select for acquisition at least one item from such list;    recording such selection on the user device; and    transmitting the request for such selection from the user device to the electronic database when the device detects an available network connection;    transmitting the requested item to the user device;    storing the item locally on the device.    
     
     
         61 . A method of acquiring digital media content, the method comprising: 
 storing a plurality of content selections on a dedicated electronic database;    creating a list of all available playlist subscriptions;    determining when access to said electronic database by any of a plurality of user devices is available;    electronically transmitting a copy of the list of available playlist selections to a plurality of user devices, a copy of which is locally stored on each such device and available to users;    further electronically transmitting to such user devices any modifications that are made to the initial list, which modifications are processed on the devices so as to reflect the current updated list of available playlist selections;    enabling users to select, one or more of the available playlist selections from the list displayed on the user devices, even in the absence of any available network connection;    recording such selection on the user device, and transmitting the request for such selection from the user device to the electronic database as soon as the device detects an available network connection;    electronically transmitting a specified updated playlist in accordance with each of each user's selections, along with the media content files that correspond and are indicated in the updated playlist, when the device determines it can connect to the database, and repeating this process periodically;    enabling users to access and render the playlist and content files on the device.