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 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A wireless portable device comprising:
 a wireless transceiver;   a display;   a touch-sensitive layer on the display; and   a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver, the display, and the touch-sensitive layer, wherein the processor is operative to:
 display selection areas for title(s) of one or more digital content items, wherein the selection areas are sufficiently large to be selectable via the touch-sensitive layer by a user's fingertip; 
 receive a selection of a title of a digital content item based on input received by the touch-sensitive layer; and 
 render the digital content item corresponding to the selected title after receiving the digital content item via the wireless transceiver. 
   
     
     
         17 . The wireless portable device of  claim 16 , wherein the digital content items comprise one or more of the following: audio files, video files, auto-executable files, text files, and software files. 
     
     
         18 . The wireless portable device of  claim 16  further comprising a memory, and wherein a listing of the title(s) of the one or more digital content items is stored in the memory. 
     
     
         19 . The wireless portable device of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more digital content items to which the title(s) correspond are stored in an external memory that is in communication with the processor via the Internet and via a wireless network. 
     
     
         20 . The wireless portable device of  claim 19 , wherein the listing of the title(s) is received by the portable device from a server connected to the Internet. 
     
     
         21 . The wireless portable device of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is operative to manipulate the listing of title(s) based on user input received from the touch-sensitive layer. 
     
     
         22 . The wireless portable device of  claim 21 , wherein the listing of title(s) is manipulated by re-ordering a sequence of the title(s). 
     
     
         23 . The wireless portable device of  claim 21 , wherein the listing of title(s) is manipulated by deleting one or more of the title(s). 
     
     
         24 . The wireless portable device of  claim 16 , wherein the digital content item is received from a server connected to the Internet. 
     
     
         25 . The wireless portable device of  claim 16 , wherein the digital content item is received by one of downloading, pseudo-downloading, and streaming. 
     
     
         26 . The wireless portable device of  claim 16 , wherein the selections areas permit input of ranking information that can be used for prioritization and sorting of the digital content items. 
     
     
         27 . The wireless portable device of  claim 16 , wherein the touch-sensitive layer is one of the following: inductive, capacitive, resistive, and infrared sensing. 
     
     
         28 . A wireless portable device comprising:
 a wireless transceiver;   a display;   a touch-sensitive layer on the display; and   a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver, the touch-sensitive layer, and the display, wherein the processor is operative to:
 display a musical artist, title, and album name and a graphic representing album cover art of a digital musical content item; 
 display a selection area to indicate a price at which the digital musical content item can be purchased; 
 receive input from the touch-sensitive layer that corresponds to the selection area for purchasing the digital musical content item; and 
 receive the digital musical content item via the wireless transceiver. 
   
     
     
         29 . The wireless portable device of  claim 28 , wherein the digital musical content item is a DRM-protected digital audio file. 
     
     
         30 . The wireless portable device of  claim 28  further comprising a memory, and wherein the digital musical content item is a digital audio file that is stored in the memory after it is received. 
     
     
         31 . The wireless portable device of  claim 30 , wherein the processor is further operative to send the stored digital musical content item to at least one other wireless portable device. 
     
     
         32 . The wireless portable device of  claim 28 , wherein the processor is operative to receive the digital musical content item only after a connection to a wireless network becomes available. 
     
     
         33 . The wireless portable device of  claim 28 , wherein prior to retrieving the digital musical content item, the processor requires entry of a PIN code or password. 
     
     
         34 . The wireless portable device of  claim 28 , wherein the digital musical content item is received from a server connected to the Internet that makes available a selection of various digital musical content items. 
     
     
         35 . A wireless portable device comprising:
 a wireless transceiver;   a memory;   a display;   a touch-sensitive layer on the display; and   a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver, the memory, the display, and the touch-sensitive layer, wherein the processor is operative to:
 receive digital content via the wireless transceiver and store the digital content in the memory; 
 display a listing of items stored in the memory and designate a selection area corresponding to each item which is large enough to accommodate a fingertip; 
 receive input from the touch-sensitive layer corresponding to at least one of the items displayed in the listing; 
 update the listing of items to reflect the input received from the touch-sensitive layer and store the updated listing in the memory; and 
 display the updated listing of items. 
   
     
     
         36 . The wireless portable device of  claim 35 , wherein the listing of items stored in the memory comprises a playlist of audio or video files. 
     
     
         37 . The wireless portable device of  claim 35 , wherein the input received from the touch-sensitive layer corresponds to one of a deletion or a re-ordering of the selected item. 
     
     
         38 . The wireless portable device of  claim 35 , wherein the input received from the touch-sensitive layer corresponds to the addition of a new item to the listing. 
     
     
         39 . The wireless portable device of  claim 35 , wherein the input from the touch-sensitive layer is used to scroll the listing prior to a selection being made. 
     
     
         40 . The wireless portable device of  claim 35 , wherein the input from the touch-sensitive layer is utilized to create a new listing onto which one or more items are added. 
     
     
         41 . The wireless portable device of  claim 35 , wherein the listing of items is displayed in chronological order of when each item was received on the portable device. 
     
     
         42 . A wireless portable device comprising:
 a wireless transceiver;   a display;   a touch-sensitive layer on the display; and   a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver, the display, and the touch-sensitive layer, wherein the processor is operative to:
 receive credit card information via input from the touch-sensitive layer; 
 transmit the credit card information via the wireless transceiver; 
 subsequently receive a secure code entered via the touch-sensitive layer; 
 verify the secure code matches a previously entered secure code; and 
 transmit a request to charge the credit card via the wireless transceiver. 
   
     
     
         43 . The wireless portable device of  claim 42 , wherein the secure code comprises one of a password and a PIN code. 
     
     
         44 . The wireless portable device of  claim 42 , wherein the credit card information is utilized to purchase digital content that is subsequently received by the portable device via the wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         45 . The wireless portable device of  claim 44 , wherein the digital content comprise one or more of the following: audio files, video files, auto-executable files, text files, and software files. 
     
     
         46 . The wireless portable device of  claim 44 , wherein the purchase corresponds to downloaded digital audio or video content. 
     
     
         47 . The wireless portable device of  claim 44 , wherein the purchase corresponds to a digital content subscription service.