Content management apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus is configured to provide a chart of content items to user devices. The apparatus is configured to enable individual users to temporarily access one or more content items listed in the chart. The apparatus includes a user device interface configured to communicate with user device applications and a permissions module configured to define user access permissions, including temporary user access permissions, relating to individual ones of the one or more items of content. The apparatus also provides a distribution module configured to implement permissions defined in the permission module in relation to user devices by making available one or more items of content listed in the chart to at least one user device application.

1 . An apparatus configured to provide a chart of content items to a plurality of user devices and configured to enable individual users to temporarily access one or more content items listed in the chart, the apparatus comprising:
 a user device interface configured to communicate with user devices applications;   a permission module configured to define user access permissions, including temporary user access permissions, relating to individual ones of the one or more items of content; and   a distribution module configured to implement permissions defined in the permission module in relation to user devices by making available one or more items of content listed in the chart to at least one user device application.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , configured to automatically update the chart accessible to a user device during low levels of network traffic. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , configured to automatically update the chart accessible to a user device during night, the content items making up the chart then being playable according to the permissions applying irrespective of current location or signal strength. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the permissions module defines temporary availability to a user of at least one content item in a chart in terms of one or more of: number of plays; number of streams; number of shares; and duration of availability to the user. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the permissions module defines temporary availability to a user of at least one content item in a chart and is configured to update the permissions module responsive to the chart being updated. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising at least one sharing interface configured to implement sharing of content items from a first user to a second user according to permission set in the permissions module. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the sharing interface is configured to operate via one or more of: a social network; and an email client. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the sharing interface is configured to carry a message or link establishing content item permissions for a user of the system. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein permissions established via the sharing interface comprise one or more of: number of plays; number of streams; number of shares; and duration of availability to the user. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein users are enabled to send messages to each other via the apparatus, and where a research data module comprises a sentiment engine configured to monitor behavior and/or message content for sentiment connected to a content item. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein users are enabled to send messages to each other via a sharing interface. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a research module coupled to the user device application, wherein the research module is configured to receive from the user application metrics comprising one or more of: number of purchases by track; number of plays by track; ratio of plays to purchases by track; duration of play by track; sharing by track; who is sharing; ratio of shares to purchases; timing of plays; duration of use of user application; geographical stamps; average number of plays of a track by a user; sentiment of messaging in relation to a track. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising one or more of a retail module and a purchase module configured to couple to and receive data from the user device application. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , configured to convert a content item of the chart from a state of temporary availability on the user device to a state of permanent availability on the user device responsive to a trigger event. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , configured to recognize as trigger event one or more of: a purchase event; a reward; and an alteration of permissions data. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , configured to convert a content item from a state of temporary availability to a state permanent availability by one or more of: supplying from the apparatus to the user application a version of the content item in a format recognized by commercially available content players; changing a file extension such that the content item can be recognized by commercially available content players; converting the content item file from a secure format to a format recognized by commercially available content players; decrypting the content item; re-constituting the content item in a format recognized by commercially available content players. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a payment module operable to accept payments by one or more of: a financial card; mobile phone account; and internet payment system. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a chart interface configured to enable communication with one or more chart providers. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the distribution module is configured to receive the chart from the one or more chart providers. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a content data storage module configured to store the one or more items of content data listed in the chart. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , configured to change a format the an items of content data responsive to a trigger event. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a fragmentation module configured to encrypt the one or more items of content data prior to transferring the one or more items of content data together with an encryption key to the at least one user device. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the fragmentation module is configured to fragment each of the one or more items of content data into a plurality of components. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein each component relates to a different recorded frequency range. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , configured to record a user level record of consumption events. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , configured to automatically adjust one or more of access permissions applying to an individual and pricing of content to an individual in dependence upon a consumption event data of that individual. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , configured to record a user level record of consumption events selected from one or more of: tagging; play content; download content, play sample of content; download sample of content; share with network contact; message to network contact; make commentary on content; purchase content; and receive any of the aforementioned from a network contact. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a recorded consumption event contributes to a score indicative of consumer response to the consumed content item. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein a score has contributions from consumption events selected from one or more of the following: tagging; play content by stream; download, play sample of content; download sample of content; share; message to network contact; make commentary on content; purchase; and receive any of the aforementioned from a network contact. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein configured to automatically generate a report based on pluralities of said scores.