Music distribution system and associated antipiracy protections

Abstract

Music is blanket transmitted (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's computer-based user station. Customers preselect from a list of available music in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay only for music that they choose to have recorded for unlimited playback, for example, by a “CD burner”. An “ID tag” is woven into the recorded music so that any illegal copies therefrom may be traced to the purchase transaction.

1 . A data transmission device comprising: 
 a general population cluster preference database;    a consumer catalog generator module;    an individual consumer preference information storage module; and    a payload scheduler.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said individual consumer preference information storage module comprises an interface that obtains said consumer preferred music styles of each consumer.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said general population cluster preference database comprises an information collector mechanism that collects said consumer preferred music styles of a plurality of consumer locations.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said consumer catalog generator module comprises: 
 a catalog generator that generates an individual consumer catalog based on an analysis of said consumer preferred music styles of a plurality of consumer locations from said general population cluster preference database and said consumer preferred music styles from said individual consumer preference information storage module.    
   
   
       5 . A system for distributing music or video content to consumers comprising: 
 receiving an order to purchase a music CD or video DVD though the Internet;    placing an ID tag in the music or video selected;    archiving the ID tag information with the purchaser's identity;    sending the ID tag information to a third party for tracking;    compressing the selection;    sending the selection over the Internet to the purchaser; and    enabling the purchaser to de-compress the selection and store it on storage media.