Method and system for subscriber-based audio service over a communication network

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and system for providing audio service to a client through a communication network. A user subscribes to the service and the user's access to audio files is contingent upon authorization and validation. Once authorized, the user may access and stream out audio date files, or similar types of files, to the client device through the communication network. Metrics are maintained for the play-out of each audio file and payment may be allocated to an owner of rights in the audio file based on the play-out statistics. The user may maintain customized play lists on the server for playing out preselected audio files. A play list may be sent to another user. The server may also be configured to select audio files not previously selected by the user based on the user's past selection behavior or based on the user's stated preferences. The audio files identified by the server are then suggested to the user. The user may also be referred by the server to a sales site to purchase a recording of the audio file.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for providing audio service through a communication network to a user, the method comprising the steps of:
 registering the user for the audio service;   storing a User identifier value for the user responsive to registering the user for the audio service;   receiving a request message through the communication network, the request message including a network address value, a User identifier value and an audio identifier value;   searching for a matching stored user name value that matches the user name value from the request message;   when no matching stored user name value is found, rejecting the request message;   when the matching stored user name value is found, searching for an audio file corresponding to the audio identifier value of the request message; and   when the corresponding audio file is found, streaming the audio file over the communication network to the network address.   
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , the method further including the step of incrementing a play-out count of the streamed audio file. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , the method further including the step of allocating payment to an owner of the streamed audio filed based on the value of the play-out count. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , the method further including the step of generating play-out statistics for audio files based on the play-out count for each audio file. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , the method further including the step of recording a duration of play-out of the streamed audio file. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , the method further including the step of allocating payment to an owner of the streamed audio filed based on a total duration of play-out of the streamed audio file. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , the method further including the step of generating play-out statistics for audio files based on the play-out duration value for each audio file. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , where the method further includes the step of collecting demographic data for each user and the step of generating play-out statistics for audio files based on the play-out duration value for each audio file includes relating the play-out statistic for each audio file to the demographic data for each user that has played-out each audio file. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , the method further including the steps of:
 storing a play list for the user, where the play list includes a plurality audio identifier values;   receiving a play list request message;   responsive to the play list request message, retrieving the play list for the user and transmitting the play list to the user over the communication network; and   streaming out an audio file corresponding to one of the plurality of audio identifier values from the play list.   
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further including the step of sending the play list to another user. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further including the steps of:
 receiving a request with the play list from the another user;   validating the another user;   when the another user is validated as having subscribed, playing out the play list to the another user; and   when the another user is not validated as having subscribed, sending a message to the another user inviting the another user to subscribe.   
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , the method further including the steps of:
 storing a referral link for each audio file, where the referral link corresponds to a sales site accessible through the communication network;   outputting the referral link with the streamed audio file;   responsive to a user request for the referral link, transferring the user to the sales site; and   incrementing a referral count for the referral link.   
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , the method further including the step of billing an owner of the sales site based on the value of the referral count for the referral link. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , the method further including the steps of:
 tracking the audio identifier values for a set of user requests;   matching the audio identifier values for the set of user requests with a predetermined set of categories to determine at least one user category;   selecting at least one unselected audio identifier from the user category that has not been requested by the user; and   sending the unselected audio identifier to the user.   
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , where the predetermined set of categories includes at least one of a music genre, a music era, and an artist. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , where the method further includes the steps of:
 comparing the audio identifier values for the set of user requests with a pattern of user requests for each of a plurality of other users in order to find a similar pattern of user requests from another user;   selecting at least one unselected audio identifier from audio identifier values selected by the another user that has not been requested by the user; and   sending the unselected audio identifier to the user.   
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , the method further including the steps of:
 obtaining a selection of categories from the user along with a selected proportion for each category of the selection; and   selecting a set of audio identifier values from the selection of categories based on the selected proportions.   
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , the method further including the step of storing the set of audio identifier values as another user accessible play list. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , where the proportion for each category of the selection is expressed as a percentage. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1 , the method further including the steps of:
 obtaining a selection of categories from the user along with a selected proportion for each category of the selection;   selecting a set of audio identifier values from the selection of categories based on the selected proportions; and   playing out to the user each of the audio files corresponding to the set of audio identifier values.   
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , the method further including the steps of:
 detecting that each audio file corresponding to the set of audio identifier values has been played out to the user;   selecting another set of audio identifier values from the selection of categories based on the selected proportions; and   playing out to the user each of the audio files corresponding to the another set of audio identifier values.   
     
     
       22. A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a computer system, a request from a first user of a music streaming service to send a playlist of music files to a second user of the music streaming service, wherein the playlist was previously created by the first user;   in response to receiving the request from the first user, sending, by the computer system, a message identifying the playlist to the second user;   receiving, at the computer system, a request from the second user to begin streaming at least a portion of the playlist;   in response to receiving the request from the second user, streaming, by the computer system, one or more of the music files included in the playlist to the second user;   storing, by the computer system, play-out information indicative of an amount of the streaming of the music files in the playlist to the second user, wherein the storing includes inserting records into a table of streamed music files, wherein the records include a first record specifying, for a particular one of the music files in the playlist streamed to the second user, 1) a pointer to the particular music file, 2) a duration of play-out of the particular music file streamed to the second user, and 3) an owner identifier indicating an owner of the particular music file to receive payment; and   based on the play-out information, allocating, by the computer system, payments for owners of the music files in the playlist that have been streamed to the second user, wherein the allocating includes determining a total duration of play-out of the particular music file based on a plurality of durations of play-out of the particular music file included in the table.   
     
     
       23. The method of claim 22, wherein the request from the first user includes information identifying the second user. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:
 receiving, by the computer system, an access request from the second user to access the music streaming service; and   in response to determining that the second user is a registered user of the music streaming service, granting, by the computer system, the second user access to the music streaming service.   
     
     
       25. The method of claim 24, wherein the access request from the second user includes:
 the request to begin streaming the music files included in the playlist; and   a password.   
     
     
       26. The method of claim 22, further comprising:
 receiving, by the computer system, an access request from the second user to access the music streaming service; and   in response to determining that the second user is not a registered user of the music streaming service, sending, by the computer system, a message inviting the second user to register with the music streaming service.   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:
 receiving, by the computer system, a registration request message from the second user, wherein the registration request message includes billing information.   
     
     
       28. The method of claim 22, wherein the message sent to the second user includes an invitation to the second user to register with the music streaming service. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 22, further comprising:
 storing, by the computer system, music files and playlists previously created by a plurality of users of the music streaming service, wherein each of the playlists is associated with one or more of the stored music files.   
     
     
       30. The method of claim 22, further comprising:
 in response to determining that the second user is a registered user, sending, by the computer system, a link that is configured to grant the second user access to the music streaming service.   
     
     
       31. The method of claim 22, further comprising:
 subsequent to streaming a music file included in the playlist to the second user, receiving, by the computer system, a request from the second user to add the streamed music file to a playlist created by the second user.   
     
     
       32. The method of claim 22, wherein the playlist was previously created by the first user from a set of audio files stored by the computer system. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 22, wherein the playlist was previously created by the first user for the first user. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 22, wherein the play-out information specifies, for a particular one of the music files in the playlist streamed to the second user, a count value indicating a number of times the particular music file has been streamed to the second user. 
     
     
       35. A computer system, comprising:
 a storage unit configured to store:
 a plurality of music files, and 
 a plurality of playlists respectively associated with one or more music files of the plurality of music files, the plurality of playlists having been created based on information received from users of a music streaming service; and 
   a processing unit configured to:
 receive a request from a first user of the music streaming service to send, to a second user of the music streaming service via a public network, information relating to a first playlist of the plurality of playlists, wherein the first playlist was previously created by the first user; 
 in response to receiving the request from the first user, send a message identifying the first playlist to the second user; 
 in response to receiving a request from the second user to begin streaming from the first playlist, stream one or more of the music files included in the first playlist to the second user; 
 maintain, in a table of streamed music files, play-out information indicative of an amount of the streaming of the music files in the first playlist to the second user, wherein maintaining the play-out information includes inserting one or more records for a particular one of the music files in the playlist streamed to the second user, wherein the one or more records identify the particular music file and include one or more durations of play-out of the particular music file streamed to users and an owner identifier indicating an owner of the particular music file to receive payment; and 
 allocate, based on the play-out information, payments for owners of the music files in the first playlist that have been streamed to the second user, wherein allocating a payment to the owner includes determining, from the table, a total duration of play-out of the particular music file based on a plurality of durations of play-out. 
   
     
     
       36. The computer system of claim 35, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:
 receive a request from the second user to access the music streaming service; and   in response to determining that the second user is a registered user of the music streaming service, grant the second user access to the music streaming service.   
     
     
       37. The computer system of claim 36, wherein the request from the second user to access the music streaming service includes:
 information identifying the first playlist; and   information identifying the one or more of the music files included in the first playlist.   
     
     
       38. The computer system of claim 35, wherein the message identifying the first playlist to the second user includes an invitation to the second user to register with the music streaming service. 
     
     
       39. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a request, via a public network, from a first user of a music streaming service to send a playlist of music files to a second user of the music streaming service;   in response to receiving the request from the first user, sending a message to the second user, the message including information identifying at least one of a plurality of music files included in the playlist;   receiving a request from the second user to begin streaming at least a portion of the playlist;   in response to receiving the request from the second user, streaming one or more of the plurality of music files included in the playlist to the second user;   storing, in a table, play-out information indicative of an amount of the streaming of the music files in the playlist to the second user, wherein the storing includes inserting, into the table, a first record for a particular one of the music files in the playlist streamed to the second user, wherein the first record includes an identifier of the particular music file, a duration of play-out of the particular music, and an owner identifier indicating an owner to receive payment for the particular music file; and   using the play-out information to allocate payments for owners of the music files in the playlist that have been streamed to the second user, wherein the using includes determining a play-out time of the particular music file based on a plurality of durations of the play-out of the particular music file as indicated in the table.   
     
     
       40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 39, further comprising:
 receiving an access request from the second user to access the music streaming service; and   in response to determining that the second user is a registered user of the music streaming service, granting the second user access to the music streaming service.   
     
     
       41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 39, further comprising:
 receiving an access request from the second user to access the music streaming service; and   in response to determining that the second user is not a registered user of the music streaming service, sending a message inviting the second user to register with the music streaming service.   
     
     
       42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein the message sent to the second user further includes information for registering with the music streaming service. 
     
     
       43. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 39, further comprising:
 in response to determining that the second user is a registered user of the music streaming service, sending a link that is configured to allow the second user to access to the music streaming service.   
     
     
       44. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 39, further comprising:
 subsequent to streaming a music file included in the playlist to the second user, receiving a request from the second user to add the streamed music file to a playlist created by the second user.