Enhanced content tracking system and method

Abstract

The invention, as shown by the system in FIG. 2 , relates to a client-side content tracking system of media files, e.g. digital music files. Audio tracking—or indeed multimedia tracking—is shifted to a client-side perspective, with the client tasked with establishing use of a selected source audio track by tracking—and then reporting uplink to the server—at least one of: entry and exit points associated with playing of at least one of said musical sections in the identified source audio track, and how the identified source audio track was used, performed or manipulated at the client device. Server functionality is designed, having regard to the reported tracking data and its link to a unique identifier to permit the media file (e.g. source audio track) to be selected and/or identified, to store or relay—possibly in the context of a subscription service and billing regime for content use—tracking data related to use of at least a portion of the source audio track at or by the client device. In the context of audio, reporting of use at a client device can, in turn, cause streaming of related multi-media content from a third-party database to the client device. For music, reporting of entry and end points into and out of sections of complete audio tracks can coincide with musically seamless audio transitions between sections.

1 . A method of attributing to an identifiable client quantified use, by the identifiable client, of an identifiable digital source file that at least contains a plurality of musical sections, the method comprising:
 over a network connection, making a request to access the identifiable digital source file and obtaining access thereto;   determining local use of the identifiable digital source file at the client by automatically tracking entry and exit points associated with playing of at least one of said musical sections in the identifiable digital source file and automatically generating tracking data for said entry and exit points,   sending a report of local use of at least a portion of the identifiable digital source file by the client, the report associating the tracking data with a unique identifier associated with the identifiable digital source file and identifying points in real time used for cross-fades or cuts that maintain musical rhythm between entry and exit points;   remotely resolving performance telemetry of musical sections by or at the client by reference to the unique track identifier and said generated tracking data, thereby identifying and attributing, as viewed from the client's perspective, quantitative use of musical sections of the identifiable digital source file.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifiable client is an identifiable communications device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifiable client is a specific user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at a server connected to the client over the network connection, providing access to the identifiable digital source file from a multiplicity of source files, said access including making available said unique identifier.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at a server connected to the client over the network connection, resolving the performance telemetry to identify and attribute said quantitative use of musical sections at the client.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the tracking data infers or reports existence of at least one of:
 i) a derivative work of the identifiable digital source file, wherein the derivative work was assembled by processing at the identifiable communications device;   ii) synchronization of the identifiable digital source file with other media, wherein the synchronization was brought about by processing at the identifiable communications device; and   iii) mechanical or electronic copying of the identifiable digital source file at the identifiable communications device wherein the copying was initiated by processing at the identifiable communications device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further including:
 at the communications device, determining use of the identifiable digital source file by tracking:   entry and exit points associated with playing of at least one of said musical sections,   how the identified identifiable digital source track was used, or performed or manipulated; and   at the communications device, generating tracking data for at least one of:   (a) entry and exit points, and   (b) how the identified source audio track was used, or performed or manipulated at the communications device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein providing access to the identifiable digital source file includes at least sending an associated file description to the communications device;
 and the method further comprises:   at the communications device, using the associated audio file description to identify transition points in real time for a succession of cross-fades or cuts between at least some sections in an audio track, each of said transition points corresponding to a point in musical time that realizes an audibly seamless transition;
 sending, to the server, the transition points and the unique track identifier; 
 resolving, at the server, use of specific musical sections identified by the transition points and the unique track identifier to allow attribution of use of the specific musical sections. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a database stores files uploaded from the communication device, each uploaded file defining an edit of its respective source file. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 at the server, in response to resolving performance telemetry, identifying and then causing communication of targeted information to the communications device, wherein the targeted information is relevant to the identifiable digital source file or musical sections thereof.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein transition points for the identifiable digital source file are stored in a database as a representation of the edit of the source file, and the method further includes:
 making the representation of the edit of the source file available by providing access to the transition points to a plurality of client devices distinct to the communication device, thereby allowing each of the plurality of client devices to play the edit and wherein the transition points are embedded as metadata in an audio track.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the transition points are real-time values. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the real-time values are a pulse count within the digital source audio file. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at a server connected to the client over the network connection, resolving the performance telemetry to identify and attribute said quantitative use of musical sections at the client.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the identifiable digital source file is selected from the group comprising:
 a downloaded track; and   a streamed file.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  15 , wherein at least some sections of the identifiable source file are an audio track that forms part of a multimedia file containing at least one image synchronized for display therewith. 
     
     
         17 . A system for attributing quantitative use of a client-selectable digital source file at an identifiable client device, the selectable digital source file including at least a plurality of musical sections, the system comprising:
 a server;   at least one client device;   a network supporting selective connection of the server to the at least one client device;   wherein the server is arranged:   to provide to the client device with controlled access to a client-selected digital source file;   to receive from the client device tracking data that is linked to a unique identifier related to the client-selected digital source file and which tracking data reports local use of said client-selected digital source file by or at the client, said tracking data relating to at least one of:   entry and exit points associated with playing, at the client device, of at least one of said musical sections in the client-selected digital source file, and   how the client-selected digital source file was used, or performed or manipulated at the client device;   to resolve performance telemetry of musical sections by the client device by reference to the unique track identifier and said generated tracking data, thereby identifying and attributing, as viewed from the client's perspective, quantitative use of individual musical sections of the client-selected digital source file.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the client device makes use of a user account identifier to associate attribution to the user account. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a database in which is stored a plurality of digital source files each containing at least one musical section, the database in communication with the server. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the server, when providing controlled access to the client-selected digital source file, is further arranged to make available the unique identifier. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the server is further arranged to provide the client device with access to a database in which is stored associated audio file descriptions defining musically viable cross-fades or cuts between sections in a multiplicity of digital audio files, each viable cross-fade or cut in each section defined by a point in real time corresponding to a point in musical time where an audibly seamless cross-fade maintains musical rhythm between entry and exit points of selected sections. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the server is further arranged:
 to send associated audio file description to the client device, the audio file description relating to the client-selected digital source file;   to receive, from the client device to which the associated audio file description was sent, transition points referenced with the unique identifier of the selected digital source file, said transition points identify in real time a succession of cross-fades or cuts between at least some of the sections in the client-selected digital source file, each of said transition points corresponding to a point in musical time that realizes an audibly seamless transition;   to resolve specific musical sections of the client-selected digital source file identified by the transition points and the unique track identifier to allow reporting of use of the specific musical sections.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the server is further arranged, in response to resolving use of the specific musical section, to identify and then cause communication of targeted information that is pre-identified as relevant to the selected digital source file and which targeted information is stored in a database. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the tracking data infers or reports existence of at least one of:
 i) a derivative work of the client-selected digital source file, wherein the derivative work was assembled by processing at the client device;   ii) synchronization of the client-selected source file with other media, wherein the synchronization was brought about by processing at the client device; and   iii) mechanical or electronic copying of the client-selected source file at the client device wherein the copying was initiated by processing at the client device.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the server is further arranged to resolve a responsibility for a payment for use of the client-selected digital source audio file by at least one of:
 a) the recipient client device; and   b) a media server, coupled to network and the client device, with which media server the client device interacts.   
     
     
         26 . A computer program product stored in a computer-readable non-transitory tangible medium, the computer program product comprising code that, when loaded into a computer, executes to cause the computer to attribute, to an identifiable client device, quantified use of an identifiable digital source file that at least contains a plurality of musical sections, the code including procedure to perform a method that:
 obtains access to the identifiable digital source file;   determines local use of the identifiable digital source file at the client by automatically tracking entry and exit points associated with playing of at least one of said musical sections in the identifiable digital source file and automatically generating tracking data for said entry and exit points, and   sends a report of local use of at least a portion of the identifiable digital source file by the client, the report associating the tracking data with a unique identifier associated with the identifiable digital source file and identifying points in real time used for cross-fades or cuts that maintain musical rhythm between entry and exit points and wherein the tracking data provides performance telemetry relating to use of musical sections by or at the client device by reference to the unique track identifier and said generated tracking data, whereby said report is arranged to allow remote attribution, as viewed from the client's perspective, of quantitative use of musical sections of the identifiable digital source file by or at the client device.   
     
     
         27 . A server for identifying and attributing identified quantitative use of digital source audio files each having at least one musical section, the server arranged to provide:
 controlled access to a plurality of individual identifiable digital source files, the plurality of individual identifiable digital source files stored in a database;   in response to a request received from a client device for access to a selected digital source file of the plurality of digital audio files, to provide the client device with access to the selected digital source file and wherein each client device is one of a multiplicity of remote networked and independently operable client devices in communication with the server;   to provide, to the client device, a unique identifier related to said selected digital source file;   to receive from the client device tracking data that is linked to the unique identifier and which tracking data reports local use of the selected digital source file at the client device, said tracking data relating to at least one of:   entry and exit points associated with playing, at the client device, of at least one of said musical sections in the selected digital source file, and   how the selected digital source file was used, or performed or manipulated at the client device;   to resolve performance telemetry of musical sections at a specific client device by reference to the unique track identifier and said generated tracking data, thereby identifying and attributing, as viewed from the specific client device's perspective, quantitative use by the specific device of musical sections from the plurality of source files of the database.   
     
     
         28 . The server of  claim 27 , wherein the server is further arranged:
 to provide client devices with access to a database in which is stored associated audio file descriptions defining musically viable cross-fades or cuts between sections in digital audio files, each viable cross-fade or cut in each section defined by a point in real time corresponding to a point in musical time where an audibly seamless cross-fade maintains musical rhythm between entry and exit points of selected sections.   
     
     
         29 . The server of  claim 27 , wherein the tracking data infers or reports existence of at least one of:
 i) a derivative work of the digital source file, wherein the derivative work was assembled by processing at the client device;   ii) synchronization of the identified source audio track with other media, wherein the synchronization was brought about by processing at the client device; and   iii) mechanical or electronic copying of the identified source audio track at the client device wherein the copying was initiated by processing at the client device.   
     
     
         30 . The server of  claim 29 , wherein the server is further arranged to resolve a responsibility for a payment for use of the selected digital source audio file by at least one of:
 a) the specific client device; and   b) a media server, coupled to network and the specific client device, with which media server the specific client device interacts.