Software code for permitting a user to access broadcast media

Abstract

A software implemented code is operational in a system for permitting a user to access broadcast media in data communication with a broadcast receiving device. The code comprises encoded information that is sufficient to uniquely identify the media being broadcast and comprises information regarding the permitted uses of the broadcast media. The code is configured to be broadcast with the media and to travel with the broadcast media, or alternatively is configured to be distributed to the user independent of the media. The code is also capable of being selectively stored into a storage medium associated with said broadcast receiving device, and is configured to selectively permit access by the user to the broadcast media. Alternatively, the code is capable of being transmitted to a station in response to an input from the user selecting said media, and is configured to instruct the station to selectively permit access by the user to the media depending upon the user input.

1 . A software implemented code operational in a system for permitting a user to access broadcast media in data communication with a broadcast receiving device, 
 said code comprising encoded information, said encoded information sufficient to uniquely identify the media being broadcast and comprising information regarding the permitted uses of said broadcast media,    said code configured to be broadcast with said media and, once broadcast with said media, to travel with said broadcast media,    said code capable of being selectively stored into a storage medium associated with said broadcast receiving device, and    said code configured to selectively permit access by said user to said broadcast media.    
   
   
       2 . The software implemented code of  claim 1 , wherein said code, along with the broadcast media associated therewith, is capable of being received by said broadcast receiving device, said broadcast receiving device being in data communication with said storage medium wherein the at least one code associated with at least one media selection can be selectively stored.  
   
   
       3 . The software implemented code of  claim 1 , wherein said code is transmitted to a station in response to an input from a user, and is configured to selectively permit access by said user to said broadcast media depending upon said user input.  
   
   
       4 . The software implemented code of  claim 3 , wherein said station comprises at least one database relating at least one of said codes to an identity of at least one media, to at least one right, to at least one license fee, or to at least one claimant of said right.  
   
   
       5 . The software implemented code of  claim 3 , wherein said information regarding the permitted uses of said broadcast media instructs said station to selectively permit access by said user to said broadcast media depending upon said user input.  
   
   
       6 . The software implemented code of  claim 5 , wherein said code permits access by said user to said broadcast media in accordance only with said information regarding the permitted uses of said broadcast media.  
   
   
       7 . The software implemented code of  claim 3 , wherein the broadcast receiving device is capable of receiving said broadcast media and selectively storing said broadcast media into said storage medium, and wherein said information regarding the permitted uses of said broadcast media instructs said station to selectively permit said user to access said broadcast media from said storage medium of said broadcast receiving device.  
   
   
       8 . The software implemented code of  claim 7 , wherein said station, in response to said user input, is configured to send a second code to said receiving device, instructing said receiving device to selectively permit said user to access said broadcast media from said receiving device.  
   
   
       9 . The software implemented code of  claim 3 , wherein said information regarding the permitted uses of said broadcast media instructs said station to selectively permit said user to access said broadcast media from said station.  
   
   
       10 . The software implemented code of  claim 3 , wherein said information regarding the permitted uses of said broadcast media instructs said station to selectively forward to said user said broadcast media with selectively permitted access.  
   
   
       11 . The software implemented code of  claim 10 , wherein said broadcast media with selectively permitted access is forwarded to said user electronically.  
   
   
       12 . The software implemented code of  claim 10 , wherein said broadcast media with selectively permitted access is forwarded to said user physically.  
   
   
       13 . The software implemented code of  claim 3 , wherein said station, in response to said user input, is configured to send a second code to said receiving device, instructing said receiving device to selectively permit said user to access said broadcast media from said receiving device.  
   
   
       14 . The software implemented code of  claim 3 , wherein said user input is indicative of the identity of the user, an authorization code, or a member code.  
   
   
       15 . The software implemented code of  claim 1 , wherein said code comprises a plurality of code units, each code unit comprising encoded information sufficient to uniquely identify a selection of media and containing information regarding the permitted uses of said media selection, 
 wherein the broadcast of media may comprise a broadcast of a plurality of media selections, each media selection having a different code being broadcast therewith, and each code capable of being separately selectively stored into said storage medium.    
   
   
       16 . The software implemented code of  claim 1 , wherein said code is dependent upon a plurality of attributes of said media.  
   
   
       17 . The software implemented code of  claim 1 , wherein said code is updated by a distributor of said media.  
   
   
       18 . The software implemented code of  claim 17 , wherein said distributor submits updated code to a broadcaster of said media prior to the broadcast of said media.  
   
   
       19 . The software implemented code of  claim 18 , wherein the broadcaster embeds said code into a broadcasting band of said media prior to the broadcast of said media.  
   
   
       20 . The software implemented code of  claim 1 , wherein the stored media comprises a watermark.  
   
   
       21 . The software implemented code of  claim 1 , wherein said encoded information further comprises information regarding at least one right of said broadcast media and at least one claimant of said right.  
   
   
       22 . The software implemented code of  claim 21 , wherein said code is transmitted to a station in response to an input from a user, and said station is configured to calculate payments due to said at least one claimant as a result of access of said broadcast media by said user.  
   
   
       23 . The software implemented code of  claim 21 , wherein said encoded information further contains royalty rates due to said at least one claimant for access of said at least one right of said broadcast media.  
   
   
       24 . The software implemented code of  claim 21 , wherein said at least one right of said broadcast media is chosen from among the group consisting of performance right, broadcast right, reproduction right, synchronization right, publication or distribution right, derivative works right, display right, right to display names of claimants, sameness maintenance right, lending right, adaptation right, utility right of secondary writing, recording/filming right, personal recording/filming compensation payment demanding right, and transmission enabling right.  
   
   
       25 . The software implemented code of  claim 21 , wherein said at least one claimant of said at least one right is chosen from among the group consisting of at least one writer, at least one composer, at least one artist, at least one musical arranger, at least one producer, at least one publisher, at least one recording entity and any other owner of at least one right.  
   
   
       26 . The software implemented code of  claim 1 , wherein said encoded information sufficient to uniquely identify the media being broadcast comprises information chosen from the group consisting of a category code, title information, media content information, artist/composer information, arranger information, publisher information, and rights claimant information.  
   
   
       27 . The software implemented code of  claim 1 , wherein said information regarding the permitted uses of said broadcast media comprises information chosen from the group consisting of information regarding permitted mediums, modes and extent of: audition of media during audition, play, copy, transmitting and forwarding, purchasing, performing, broadcasting, listening, recording, synchronizing, alteration, sampling, and delivery of said broadcast media.  
   
   
       28 . The software implemented code of  claim 1 , said code capable of being selectively stored into a storage medium associated with said broadcast receiving device, wherein the storage device is incorporated within said broadcast receiving device.  
   
   
       29 . The software implemented code of  claim 1 , said code capable of being selectively stored into a storage medium associated with said broadcast receiving device, wherein said storage medium is incorporated within a card-type storage medium capable of being attached to and detached from said broadcast receiving device.  
   
   
       30 . The software implemented code of  claim 29 , wherein said code is capable of being selectively stored into said storage medium when said card-type storage medium is attached to said broadcast receiving device.  
   
   
       31 . The software implemented code of  claim 30 , wherein said code is transmitted to a station in response to an input from a user and is configured to selectively permit access by said user to said broadcast media depending upon said user input, such that said code is capable of being transmitted to said station when said card-type storage medium is detached from said broadcast receiving device and attached to said station.  
   
   
       32 . The software implemented code of  claim 30 , wherein said code is transmitted to a station in response to an input from a user and is configured to selectively permit access by said user to said broadcast media depending upon said user input, such that said code is capable of being transmitted to said station when said card-type storage medium is detached from said broadcast receiving device and attached to a unit for transmission of said code from said unit to said station.  
   
   
       33 . A software implemented code operational in a system for permitting a user to identify and access media in a plurality of locations, 
 said code comprising a plurality of code units, each code unit comprising encoded information sufficient to uniquely identify a specific selection of media and containing information regarding the permitted uses of said media selection,    said code configured to be distributed to said user independent of said media,    said code capable of being selectively stored into a storage medium,    said code capable of being transmitted to a station in response to an input from the user selecting said media, and    said code configured to instruct said station to selectively permit access by said user to said media depending upon said user input.    
   
   
       34 . The software implemented code of  claim 33 , wherein said station comprises at least one database relating at least one of said code units to an identity of at least one media selection, to at least one right, to at least one license fee, or to at least one claimant of said right.  
   
   
       35 . The software implemented code of  claim 33 , wherein said information regarding the permitted uses of said media instructs said station to selectively permit said user to access said media depending upon said user input.  
   
   
       36 . The software implemented code of  claim 35 , wherein said station permits access by said user to said media in accordance only with said information regarding the permitted uses of said media.  
   
   
       37 . The software implemented code of  claim 35 , wherein said station is capable of selectively storing said media into a storage device depending upon said information regarding the permitted uses of said media.  
   
   
       38 . The software implemented code of  claim 35 , wherein said information regarding the permitted uses of said media instructs said station to selectively forward to said user said media with selectively permitted access.  
   
   
       39 . The software implemented code of  claim 38 , wherein said media with selectively permitted access is forwarded to said user electronically.  
   
   
       40 . The software implemented code of  claim 38 , wherein said media with selectively permitted access is forwarded to said user physically.  
   
   
       41 . The software implemented code of  claim 33 , wherein said station, in response to said user input, is configured to send a second code to a central storage unit, instructing said central storage unit to selectively permit said user to access said media from said central storage unit.  
   
   
       42 . The software implemented code of  claim 33 , wherein said user input is indicative of the identity of the user, an authorization code, or a member code.  
   
   
       43 . The software implemented code of  claim 33 , wherein said code is updated by a distributor of said media.  
   
   
       44 . The software implemented code of  claim 43 , wherein said distributor submits updated code to a broadcaster of said media prior to broadcast of said media.  
   
   
       45 . The software implemented code of  claim 44 , wherein the broadcaster embeds said code into a broadcasting band of said media prior to broadcast of said media.  
   
   
       46 . The software implemented code of  claim 33 , wherein the stored media comprises a watermark.  
   
   
       47 . The software implemented code of  claim 33 , wherein said encoded information further comprises information regarding at least one right of said specific media selection and at least one claimant of said right.  
   
   
       48 . The software implemented code of  claim 47 , wherein said encoded information further contains royalty rates due to said at least one claimant for access of said at least one right of said media selection.  
   
   
       49 . The software implemented code of  claim 48 , wherein said station is configured to calculate payments due to said at least one claimant as a result of access of said media selection by said user.  
   
   
       50 . The software implemented code of  claim 47 , wherein said at least one right of said media selection is chosen from among the group consisting of performance right, broadcast right, reproduction right, synchronization right, publication or distribution right, derivative works right, display right, right to display names of claimants, sameness maintenance right, lending right, adaptation right, utility right of secondary writing, recording/filming right, personal recording/filming compensation payment demanding right, and transmission enabling right.  
   
   
       51 . The software implemented code of  claim 47 , wherein said at least one claimant of said at least one right is chosen from among the group consisting of at least one writer, at least one composer, at least one artist, at least one musical arranger, at least one producer, at least one publisher, at least one recording entity and any other owner of at least one right.  
   
   
       52 . The software implemented code of  claim 33 , wherein said encoded information sufficient to uniquely identify a specific media selection comprises information chosen from the group consisting of a category code, title information, media content information, artist/composer information, arranger information, publisher information, and rights claimant information.  
   
   
       53 . The software implemented code of  claim 33 , wherein said information regarding the permitted uses of said media selection comprises information chosen from the group consisting of information regarding permitted mediums, modes and extent of: audition of media during audition, play, copy, transmitting and forwarding, purchasing, performing, broadcasting, listening, recording, synchronizing, alteration, sampling, and delivery of said media selection.  
   
   
       54 . The software implemented code of  claim 33 , wherein said storage medium is incorporated within a card-type storage medium capable of being attached to and detached from said station.  
   
   
       55 . The software implemented code of  claim 54 , wherein said code is transmitted to a station in response to an input from a user and is configured to selectively permit access by said user to said media depending upon said user input, such that said code is capable of being transmitted to said station when said card-type storage medium is attached to said station.  
   
   
       56 . The software implemented code of  claim 54 , wherein said code is transmitted to a station in response to an input from a user and is configured to selectively permit access by said user to said media depending upon said user input, such that said code is capable of being transmitted to said station when said card-type storage medium is attached to a unit for transmission of said code from said unit to said station.