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Description  |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to a method for the electronic sales and
distribution of digital audio or video signals, and more particularly, to
a method which a user may purchase and receive digital audio or video
signal from any location which the user has access to a telecommunications
line.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The three basic mediums (hardware units) of music: records, tapes, and
compact discs, greatly restricts the transferability of music and results
in a variety of inefficiencies.
CAPACITY: The individual hardware units as cited above are limited as to
the amount of music that can be stored on each.
MATERIALS: The materials used to manufacture the hardware units are subject
to damage and deterioration during normal operations, handling, and
exposure to the elements.
SIZE: The physical size of the hardware units imposes constraints on the
quantity of hardware units which can be housed for playback in confined
areas such as in automobiles, boats, planes, etc.
RETRIEVAL: Hardware units limit the ability to play, in a sequence selected
by the user, songs from different albums. For example, if the user wants
to play one song from ten different albums, the user would spend an
inordinate amount of time handling, sorting, and cueing the ten different
hardware units.
SALES AND DISTRIBUTION: Prior to final purchase, hardware units need to be
physically transfered from the manufacturing facility to the wholesale
warehouse to &:he retail warehouse to the retail outlet, resulting in
lengthly, lag time between music creation and music marketing, as well as
incurring unnessary and inefficient transfer and handling costs.
Additionally, tooling costs required for mass production of the hardware
units and the material cost of the hardware units themselves, further
drives up the cost of music to the end user.
QUALITY: Until the recent invention of Digital Audio Music, as used on
Compact Discs, distortion free transfer from the hardware units to the
stereo system was virtually impossible. Digital Audio Music is simply
music converted into a very basic computer language known as binary. A
series of commands known as zeros or ones encode the music for future
playback. Use of laser retrieval of the binary commands results in
distortion free transfer of the music from the compact disc to the stereo
system. Quality Digital Audio Music is defined as the binary structure of
the Digital Audio Music. Conventional analog tape recording of Digital
Audio Music is not to be considered quality inasmuch as the binary
structure itself is not recorded. While Digital Audio Music on compact
discs is a technological breakthrough in audio quality, the method by
which the music is sold, distributed, stored, manipulated, retrieved,
played and protected from copyright infringements remains as inefficient
as with records and tapes.
COPYRIGHT PROTECTION: Since the invention of tape recording devices, strict
control and enforcement of copyright laws have proved difficult and
impossible with home recorders. Additionally, the recent invention of
Digital Audio Tape Recorders now jeopardizes the electronic copyright
protection of quality Digital Audio Music on Compact Discs or Digital
Audio Tapes. If music exists on hardware units, it can be copied.
Accordingly, it is an objective of this invention is to provide a new and
improved methodology/system to electronically sell and distribute Digital
Audio Music.
A further objective of this invention to provide a new and improved
methodology/system to electronically store and retrieve Digital Audio
Music.
Another objective of this invention is to provide a new and improved
methodology/system to electronically manipulate, i.e., sort, cue, and
select, Digital Audio Music for playback.
Still another objective of this invention is to offer a new and improved
methodology/system which can prevent unauthorized electronic copying of
quality Digital Audio Music.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, this invention accomplishes the above cited objectives by
providing a new and improved methodology/system of electronic sales,
distribution, storage, manipulation, retrieval, playback, and copyright
protection of Digital Audio Music. The high speed transfer of Digital
Audio Music as prescribed by this invention is stored onto one piece of
hardware, a hard disk, thus eliminating the need to unnecessarily handle
records, tapes, or compact discs on a regular basis. This invention
recalls stored music for playback as selected/programmed by the user. This
invention can easily and electronically sort stored music based on many
different criteria such as, but not limited to, music category, artist,
album, user's favorite songs, etc. An additional feature of this invention
is the random playback of songs, also based on the user's selection. For
example, the user could have this invention randomly play all jazz songs
stored on the user's hard disk, or randomly play all songs by a certain
artist, or randomly play all of the user's favorite songs which the user
previously electronically "tagged" as favorites. Further, being more
specific, the user can electronically select a series of individual songs
from different albums for sequential playback.
This invention can be configured to either accept direct input of Digital
Audio Music from the digital output of a Compact Disc, such transfer would
be performed by the private user, or this invention can be configured to
accept Digital Audio Music from a source authorized by the copyright
holder to sell and distribute the copyrighted materials, thus guaranteeing
the protection of such copyrighted materials. Either method of
electronically transfering Digital Audic Music by means of this invention
is intended to comply with all copyright laws and restrictions and any
such transfer is subject to the appropriate authorization by the copyright
holder. Inasmuch as Digital Audio Music is software an this invention
electronically transfers and stores such music, electronic sales and
distribution of the music can take place via telephone lines onto a hard
disk. This new methodology/system of music sales and distribution will
greatly reduce the cost of goods sold and will reduce the lag time between
music creation and music marketing from weeks down to hours.
The present invention is a method for transmitting a desired digital video
or audio signal stored on a first memory of a first party to a second
memory of a second party. The method comprises the steps of transferring
money via a telecommunications line to the first party from the second
party. Additionally, the method comprises the step of then connecting
electronically via a telecommunications line the first memory with the
second memory such that the desired digital signal can pass therebetween.
Next, there is the step of transmitting the desired digital signal from
the first memory with a transmitter in control and in possession of the
first party to a receiver having the second memory at a location
determined by the second party. The receiver is in possession and in
control of the second party. There is also the step of then storing the
digital signal in the second memory.
Further objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent as
the following description proceeds and the particular features of novelty
which characterize this invention will be pointed out in the claims
annexed to and forming a part of this declaration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of this invention, reference should be made to
the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial flow chart which may be used in carrying out the
teachings of this invention for the purposes of electronic sales,
distribution, storage, manipulation, retrieval, playback, and copyright
protection of Digital Audio Music; and
FIG. 2 is a pictorial flow chart which may be used in carrying out the
teachings of this invention for the purposes of electronic storage,
manipulation, retrieval, and playback of Digital Audio Music.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the FIG. 1, this invention is comprised of the following:
10 Hard Disk of the copyright holder
20 Control Unit of the copyright holder
20a Control Panel
20b Control Integrated Circuit
20c Sales Random Access Memory Chip
30 Telephone Lines/Input Transfer
50 Control Unit of the user
50a Control Panel
50b Control Integrated circuit
50c Incoming Random Access Memory Chip
50d Play Back Random Access Memory Chip
60 Hard Disk of the user
70 Video Display Unit
80 Stereo Speakers
The Hard Disk 10 of the agent authorized to electronically sell and
distribute the copyrighted Digital Audio Music is the originating source
of music in the configuration as outlined in FIG. 1. The Control Unit 20
of the authorized agent is the means by which the electronic transfer of
the Digital Audio Music from the agent's Hard Disk 10 via the Telephone
Lines 30 to the user's Control Unit 50 is possible. The user's Control
Unit would be comprised of a Control Panel 50a, a Control Integrated
Circuit 50b, an Incoming Random Access Memory Chip 50c, and a Play Back
Random Access Memory Chip 50d. Similarly, the authorized agent's Control
Unit 20 would have a control panel and control integrated circuit similar
to that of the user's Control Unit 50. The authorized agent's Control Unit
20, however, would only require the Sales Random Access Memory Chip 20c.
The other components in FIG. 1 include a Hard Disk 60, a Video (display
Unit 70, and a set of Stereo Speakers 80.
Referring now to FIG. 2, with the exception of a substitution of a Compact
Disc Player 40 (as the initial source of Digital Audio Music) for the
agent's Hard Disk 10, the agent's Control Unit 20, and the Telephone Lines
30 in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 is the same as FIG. 1.
In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the following components are already commercially
available: the agent's Hard Disk 10, the Telephone Lines 30, the Compact
Disc Player 40, the user's Hard Disk 60, the Video Display Unit 70, and
the Stereo Speakers 80. The Control Units 20 and 50, however, would be
designed specifically to meet the teachings of this invention. The design
of the control units would incorporate the following functional features:
1) the Control Panels 20a and 50a would be designed to permit the agent and
user to program the respective Control Integrated Circuits 20b and 50b,
2) the Control Integrated Circuits 20b and 50b would be designed to control
and execute the respective commands of the agent and user and regulate the
electronic transfer of Digital Audio Music throughout the system,
additionally, the sales Control Integrated Circuit 20b could
electronically code the Digital Audio Music in a configuration which would
prevent unauthorized reproductions of the copyrighted material,
3) the Sales Random Access Memory Chip 20c would be designed to temporarily
store user purchased Digital Audio Music for subsequent electronic
transfer via telephone lines to the user's Control Unit 50,
4) the Incoming Random Access Memory Chip 50c would be designed to
temporarily store Digital Audio Music for subsequent electronic storage to
the user's Hard Disk 60,
5) the Play Back Random Access Memory Chip 50d would be designed to
temporarily store Digital Audio Music for sequential playback.
The foregoing description of the Control Units 20 and 50 is intended as an
example only and thereby is not restrictive with respect to the exact
number of components and/or its actual design.
Once the Digital Audio Music has been electronically stored onto the user's
Hard Disk 60, having the potential to store literally thousands of songs,
the user is free to perform the many functions of this invention. To play
a stored song, the user types in the appropriate commands on the Control
Panel 50a, and those commands are relayed to the Control Integrated
Circuit 50b which retrieves the selected song from the Hard Disk 60. When
a song is retrieved from the Hard Disk 60 only a replica of the
permanently stored song is retrieved. The permanently stored song remains
intact on the Hard Disk 60, thus allowing repeated playback. The Control
Integrated Circuit 50b stores the replica onto the Play Back Random Access
Memory Chip 50d at a high transfer rate. The Control Integrated Circuit
50b then sends the electronic output to the Stereo Speakers 80 at a
controlled rate using the Play Back Random Access Memory Chip 50d as a
temporary staging point for the Digital Audio Music.
Unique to this invention is that the Control Unit 50 also serves as the
user's personal disk jocky. The user may request specific songs to be
electronically cued for playback, or may request the Control Unit 50 to
randomly select songs based on the user's criteria. All of these commands
are electronically stored in random access memory enabling the control
unit to remember prior commands while simultaneously performing other
tasks requested by the user and, at the same &time, continuing to play
songs previously cued.
Offering a convenient visual display of the user's library of songs is but
one more new and improved aspect of this invention. As the Control Unit 50
is executing the user's commands to electronically sort, select, randomly
play, etc., the Video Display Screen 70 is continually providing feedback
to the user. The Video Display Screen 70 can list/scroll all songs stored
on the Hard Disk 60, list/scroll all cued songs, display the current
command function selected by the user, etc. Further expanding upon the
improvements this invention has to offer, the Video Display Screen 70 can
display the lyrics of the song being played, as well as the name of the
song, album, artist, recording company, date of recording, duration of
song, etc. This is possible if the lyrics and other incidental information
are electronically stored to the Hard Disk 60 with the Digital Audio
Music.
The present invention is a method for transmitting a desired digital video
or audio signal stored on a first memory of a first party to a second
memory of a second party. The method comprises the steps of transferring
money via a telecommunications line to the first party from the second
party. Additionally, the method comprises the step of then connecting
electronically via a telecommunications line the first memory with the
second memory such that the desired digital signal can pass therebetween.
Next, there is the step of transmitting the desired digital signal from
the first memory with a transmitter in control and in possession of the
first party to a receiver having the second memory at a location
determined by the second party. The receiver is in possession and in
control of the second party. There is also the step of then storing the
digital signal in the second memory.
In summary, there has been disclosed a new and improved methodology/system
by which Digital Audio Music can be electronically sold, distributed,
transferred, and stored. Further, there has been disclosed a new and
improved methodology/system by which Digital Audio Music can be
electronically manipulated, i.e., sorted, cued, and selected for playback.
Further still, there has beer disclosed a new and improved
methodology/system by which the electronic manipulation of Digital Audio
Music can be visually displayed for the convenience of the user.
Additionally, there has been disclosed a new and improved
methodology/system by which electronic copyright protection of quality
Digital Audio Music is possible through use of this invention.
Since numerous changes may be made in the above described process and
apparatus and different embodiments of the invention may be made without
departing from the spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter
contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying
drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting
sense. Further, it is intended that this invention is not to be limited to
Digital Audio Music and can include Digital Video, Digital Commercials,
and other applications of digital information.
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