Patent ID: 7346581
Filing Date: 2008-03-18
Classification: G06Q,G07F,H04H,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for distributing copyrighted works and managing payments owed as a result of the distributing to the owners of the copyrights in the copyrighted works, said method comprising: distributing from a server located at a distribution facility said copyrighted works through a first transmission system, the copyrighted works being enciphered, comprising musical pieces and being distributed as first digital data packets multiplexed with a broadcasted television program related to the copyrighted works and comprising second digital data packets; receiving at a receiving facility in communication with the transmission system the first and second digital data packets distributed from the server, the receiving facility comprising a packet selector in communication with a first memory and a monitor, selecting with the packet selector the first digital data packets for transmission to the first memory for storage and the second digital data packets for transmission to the monitor for displaying the television program; receiving at a communication interface at said distribution facility through a second transmission system a purchasing record identifying selected copyrighted works distributed from the distribution facility and selected by the receiving facility for downloading at the receiving facility and storing in the first memory, said purchasing record being stored in a second memory at the time of said downloading and transmitted to said communication interface after said downloading, said second memory being associated with said receiving facility and also storing, in advance of said selecting of said selected copyrighted works by said receiving facility, authorization data for authorizing the downloading of said selected copyrighted works; storing in a third memory associated with said server copyright information corresponding to each of said distributed copyrighted works, said information providing the identity of the distributed copyrighted works, the identity of the owners of the copyrights for the distributed copyrighted works, data relating to the costs for downloading the copyrighted works by said receiving facility and the identity of the broadcasted television program; calculating with a processor associated with said server, in communication with said third memory, based upon said purchasing record and said copyright information, a copyright payment due each owner of the copyrights for the selected copyrighted works.