System and Method for On-Demand Storage of Randomly Selected Data

Abstract

A data storage system allows a subscriber to store data at the time the subscriber experiences the date with an indication, such as a press of a button or a voice command. The indication causes a request to obtain and store the data to be issued. For example, the subscriber can store music while listening to it, store or request movies while viewing them, or store movie soundtracks while viewing movies. The entire music file can be stored, for example, in a vehicle in which the subscriber is traveling. For some environments, such as storage in a cellular telephone, a portion of the music is stored in a format compatible for that environment, such as cellular telephone ring tone format. When the indication is received, a determination is made as to which music is required, generally by determining the time of the indication. The music heard by the listener is then downloaded for storage in accordance with the subscriber's request. Movies, songs or soundtracks can be stored when they are viewed or heard, for example, while in a movie theater.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for storing a movie while it is concurrently being viewed by a user, comprising:
 a device to accept movie data and provide the movie data to a display device for display;   a controller having a button thereon that a user presses while watching the movie to store the movie from the beginning without the user having to select from a movie list after the user has begun watching the movie; and   a storage device on which to store the movie after the user presses the button to store the movie.   
     
     
         2 . The system recited  claim 1 , wherein the storage device is on a mobile platform, and at least a portion of the movie is stored on the mobile platform. 
     
     
         3 . The system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the storage device is on a mobile platform and a song from a soundtrack of the movie is stored on the mobile platform. 
     
     
         4 . A method for storing a movie while it is concurrently being viewed by a user, comprising:
 accepting movie data corresponding to the movie;   providing the movie data to a display;   displaying the movie data on the display as a movie;   accepting a button press from a user while the user is concurrently watching the movie; and   storing movie data from the beginning on a storage device without requiring the user having to select from a movie list after the user has begun watching the movie.   
     
     
         5 . The system recited  claim 4 , wherein the storage device is on a mobile platform, further comprising storing at least a portion of the movie on a mobile platform. 
     
     
         6 . The system recited in  claim 4 , wherein the storage device is on a mobile platform and the movie has a movie soundtrack, further comprising storing a song from the movie soundtrack on the mobile platform. 
     
     
         7 . A system for allowing a user to store a movie from its beginning after the user has begun watching the movie, comprising:
 a controller having a button thereon the user presses while watching the movie to store the movie from the beginning without the user having to select from a movie list after the user has begun watching the movie;   a processor to detect the button press, and in response to generate a movie storage request that includes the identity of the movie, wherein the processor forwards the request to a device to satisfy the request; and   a storage device to receive the movie from the movie storage device for storage.   
     
     
         8 . The system recited  claim 7 , wherein the storage device is on a mobile platform, further comprising storing at least a portion of the movie on a mobile platform. 
     
     
         9 . The system recited in  claim 7 , wherein the storage device is on a mobile platform and the movie has a movie soundtrack, further comprising storing a song from the movie soundtrack on the mobile platform.