Patent Publication Number: US-2002010652-A1

Title: Vendor ID tracking for e-marker

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This application claims priority under 35 USC §119 to provisional application No. 60/218,453 titled “Vendor ID Tracking For E-marker” filed on Jul. 14, 2000 which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates to electronic music markers. More particularly, the present relates to electronic markers which are capable of interfacing with other electronic markers to exchange information related to marked information and access data such as password for web access.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] With increase in portable electronic devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) enabled mobile telephone and so on, there has been a steady increase in these devices capable of performing more operations.  
       [0004] Sony Corporation and its U.S. subsidiary, Sony Electronics, Inc., introduced an electronic music marker device which is capable of “bookmarking” a music clip while being played on a radio and is capable of recalling the information related to the bookmarked music clip such as the name of the song, the artist, the album containing the song and so on. Using the electronic music marker device, a user can conveniently access the music clip information that the user listened to on the radio at a later time without the need to memorize the information or wait hopefully for the disc jockey on the radio to provide that information. In this manner, if the user wants to, for example, purchase the music album which the user has marked using the electronic music marker device, the user can easily identify the necessary information related to the marked music clip from the e-marks provided by the electronic music marker device.  
       [0005] Many retail stores that carry electronics goods also carry music CDs and audio cassettes. Indeed, one can even find supermarkets and grocery stores that also carry some types of electronics goods as well as music CDs and audio cassettes. Moreover, many brick-and-mortar type retail stores also concurrently operate the sale and promotion of their goods through an on-line store where customers may purchase goods offered over an internet connection to the retailer&#39;s on-line store.  
       [0006] For retail stores that carry the electronic music marker device for sale to the consumers, it would be advantageous if the consumers who have purchased the electronic music marker device to return to the retail store to subsequently purchase the bookmarked music CDs and/or cassettes. Indeed, for on-line electronics retail stores that offer both the electronic music marker devices and music CDs or audio cassettes, it would be desirable for those consumers who have purchased the electronic music marker devices to be directed to the on-line store from which the consumers has purchased their respective electronic music marker devices.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] In view of the foregoing, a vendor tracking system for data marking device of one embodiment includes a data network, a user terminal coupled to the data network configured to transmit a signal including information corresponding to a marked data, a vendor terminal configured to transmit a vendor identification code, and a server terminal coupled to the data network configured to receive the signal from the user terminal and the vendor identification code, the server terminal further configured to transmit information corresponding to the vendor identification code and the received signal to the user terminal.  
       [0008] A vendor tracking system for a music marker device of another embodiment includes a data network, a music marker device configured to store information corresponding to one or more of a music broadcast, a user terminal coupled to the marker device, the user terminal configured to receive the stored information corresponding to the one or more of a music broadcast from the marker device and an identification code corresponding to the marker device for transmission over the data network, a vendor terminal configured to transmit a vendor identification code and one or more of purchased marker device identification codes corresponding to the vendor identification code; and a server terminal coupled to the data network configured to receive the information corresponding to the one or more of the music broadcast and the marker device identification code from the user terminal, and the vendor identification code and the one or more the purchased marker device identification codes corresponding to the vendor identification code, the server terminal further configured to compare the identification code received from the user terminal with the one or more of the identification codes received from the vendor terminal, and accordingly, to transmit information to the user terminal based on the comparison.  
       [0009] A method of a further embodiment includes receiving a vendor identification code and one or more data marking device identification code corresponding to the vendor identification code, receiving one or more marked data and a corresponding data marking device identification code, comparing the data marking device identification code corresponding to the vendor identification code with the data marking device identification code corresponding to the one or more marked data, and transmitting purchase information related to the marked data from a vendor corresponding to the received vendor identification code based on the comparing step.  
       [0010] A method of still another embodiment includes purchasing a data marking device from a vendor, marking one or more broadcast data, communicating with a data marking device service provider, and receiving purchase information corresponding to the marked one or more broadcast data for purchase from the vendor.  
       [0011] A vendor tracking system for data marking device of still yet another embodiment includes means for receiving a vendor identification code and one or more data marking device identification code corresponding to the vendor identification code, means for receiving one or more marked data and a corresponding data marking device identification code, means for comparing the data marking device identification code corresponding to the vendor identification code with the data marking device identification code corresponding to the one or more marked data, and means for transmitting purchase information related to the marked data from a vendor corresponding to the received vendor identification code based on the comparing means.  
       [0012] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0013]FIG. 1 illustrates an overall vendor ID tracking system for an electronic music marker device in accordance with one embodiment;  
     [0014]FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the electronic bookmarking device shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0015]FIG. 3 illustrates an electronic music marker device and cradle-type docking connection;  
     [0016]FIG. 4 is one embodiment of a database illustration of the bookmarks in a storage unit of the electronic music marker device;  
     [0017]FIG. 5 is a flowchart for illustrating one embodiment of the electronic music marker device operation; FIG. 6 is a flowchart for illustrating one embodiment of downloading data from the user&#39;s electronic music marker device account to the music marker device;  
     [0018]FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a user terminal of the electronic music marker device vendor ID tracking system shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0019]FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of the server terminal of the electronic music marker device vendor ID tracking system shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0020]FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of a user account database of the server terminal database storage unit shown in FIG. 8;  
     [0021]FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a playlist database of the server terminal data storage unit shown in FIG. 8;  
     [0022]FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of a user playlist database of the server terminal data storage unit shown in FIG. 8;  
     [0023]FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of a vendor ID database of the server terminal data storage unit shown in FIG. 8;  
     [0024]FIG. 13 is a graphical illustration of a user terminal display unit for displaying user electronic music marker device account in the vendor ID tracking system of one embodiment;  
     [0025]FIG. 14 illustrates a flowchart for illustrating vendor ID tracking system for device vendor of one embodiment; and  
     [0026]FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart for illustrating vendor ID tracking system at server terminal of one embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0027]FIG. 1 illustrates an overall vendor ID tracking system for an electronic music marker device in accordance with one embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, vendor ID tracking system for an electronic music marker device  100  includes user terminal  103  connected to data network  104  such as the internet via connection protocols such as TCP/IP, Appletalk, using connection interface unit (not shown) such as a dial-up modem through an internet service provider (ISP), a broadband network such as a DSL or cable modem, a T1 or LAN connection, or any other means for connecting to the internet. User terminal  103  is configured to connect to electronic music marker device  101  via cradle type connection unit  102 , and configured to receive, upon synchronization operation with music marker device  101 , bookmark information stored in music marker device  101 . In one embodiment, the bookmark information transmitted from music marker device  101  to user terminal  103  may include music marker device  101  unique device identification code, the number of stored bookmarks, and corresponding date and time stamp for each stored bookmarks.  
     [0028] Also shown in FIG. 1 is server terminal  105  connected to data network  104  for communicating with user terminals  103  for data transfer. Moreover, as further shown in FIG. 1, server terminal  105  is coupled to playlist provider  106 . Playlist provider  106  is configured to transmit playlist information corresponding to registered radio station broadcasts such as the title, artist and album information for the music broadcast from the registered radio station.  
     [0029] In one aspect, playlist provider  106  may be configured to periodically transmit information related to the music broadcast from the registered radio stations over a predetermined period of time. For example, depending upon factors such as the target market for the registered radio station or the geographic location of the registered radio station, playlist provider  106  may be configured to transmit broadcast music clip information to server terminal  105  within ten minutes from the termination of the respective music broadcast, or alternatively, within 12 or 24 hours from a predetermined broadcast cutoff time such as 10 PM or midnight. Moreover, while playlist provider  106  is shown as communicating with server terminal  105  via a dedicated connection, within the scope of the present invention, server terminal  105  and playlist provider  106  may communicate via a connection through data network  104  for data transfer.  
     [0030] Referring again to FIG. 1, vendor ID tracking system for an electronic music marker  100  also includes device vendor  107 . In one embodiment, device vendor  107  may be configured to transmit vendor ID information to server terminal  105  as well as music marker device ID information which has been sold by device vendor  107 . Device vendor ID information may be a uniquely assigned alphanumeric combination or any type of identification coding which can uniquely identify each particular device vendor  107 . Indeed, while vendor ID tracking system for an electronic music marker  100  of FIG. 1 is shown with only one device vendor  107  and one electronic music marker device  101 , within the scope of the present invention, multiple device vendors and music marker devices may be supported in the vendor ID tracking system. As will be discussed in further detail below, the device vendor  107  may transmit its unique device vendor ID to server terminal  105  for storage therein.  
     [0031]FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the electronic music marker device shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, music marker device  101  includes memory  201  such as a Random Access Memory (RAM) and a Read-Only Memory (ROM), and stored thereon is a unique bookmarking device identification code  202  which can include a predetermined combination of letters or numbers, or a combination of both. In one embodiment, identification code  202  can include a thirteen-digit number which is unique to each bookmarking device and is pre-stored in the ROM portion of memory  201 .  
     [0032] Further shown in FIG. 2 is controller (CPU)  204  which is configured to control the various components of bookmarking device  101  as shown such as display unit  207 , input units  203 A,  203 B such as bookmarking buttons for bookmarking broadcast music clips over a registered radio or television station, or for bookmarking locations, input/output (I/O) interface  205 , clock/timer  206 , and memory  201 . As can be seen from FIG. 2, upon receiving an input signal from a user of music marker device  101  via input units  203 A,  203 B, controller  204  may be configured to access the various components of device  101  depending upon the input command received from the user, to perform one or a plurality of processings, executing the input command of the user.  
     [0033] Moreover, I/O interface  205  of music marker device  101  shown in FIG. 2 may be configured to, under the control of controller  204 , interface with server terminal  105 . Display unit  207  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention may include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma-type display, and the like, configured to display text or image data, or a combined text and image data. Furthermore, as discussed above, the input unit  203 A,  203 B may include spring-loaded type input buttons for operation by the user&#39;s finger. Alternatively, input unit  203 A,  203 B may include a touchpad-type screen integrated with display unit  207  for simultaneously inputting and displaying information, where the user can tap the pressure-sensitive screen using a stylus or the like to enter input commands. Timer/clock  206  of music marker device  101  in accordance with one aspect of the present invention may be configured to provide actual time information as well as generate an elapsed time information depending upon the input command from the user under the control of controller  204 .  
     [0034]FIG. 3 illustrates an electronic music marker device and cradle-type docking connection of one embodiment. Referring to FIG. 3, music marker device  101  includes a housing comprising body  301  and cap  302 . Body  301  is provided with e-mark button  303  which is configured for user input commands.  
     [0035] Also provided on body  301  are display panels  304   a  and  304   b  which are configured to display the number of user inputted e-marks and the type of registered broadcast station for the corresponding e-marks, respectively.  
     [0036] Finally, body  301  includes communication port  305  such as a USB port which is integrated onto body  301  such that, as will be discussed in further detail below, body  301  may be placed on top of cradle type connection  102  with communication port  305  capable of being plugged into the corresponding port on cradle  102 .  
     [0037] Cap  302  can be attached to body  301  when access to communication port  305  is unnecessary. As shown, cap  302  is provided with a pair of release/lock buttons  306  on either side of cap  302  such that by depressing release/lock buttons  306  when cap  302  is locked with body  301 , cap  302  can be released from a locked position and communication port  305  may be accessed. Furthermore, cap  302  is provided with hole  307  substantially at its edge position such that link chain  308  can be looped through hole  307  to allow the user to attach the music marker device  101  to a key chain or the like.  
     [0038] Referring back to FIG. 3, cradle-type connection  102  is provided with cradle base  310  substantially flat on its bottom surface (not shown) to rest cradle  102  on a flat surface such as a desktop and a book shelf. On the other side of the bottom surface of cradle  102  is receiving section  311  substantially positioned on the middle of cradle  102 , where communication port  312  such as a USB port is provided for connection to communication port  305  of the music marker device  101 . Also shown in FIG. 3 is cable  313  attached to cradle connection  102  with a communication port  314  at its other end. In this manner, cradle  102  may be connected to user terminal  103  accessing the user&#39;s electronic music marker device account over an internet connection.  
     [0039] Additional detailed information relating to the operation of the electronic music marker device  101  may be found in pending application Ser. No. 09/126,007 filed on Jul. 29, 1998 and application Ser. No. 09/401,105 filed on Sep. 22, 1999, both assigned to Sony Corporation, joint-assignee of the present application with Sony Electronics, Inc., a subsidiary of Sony Corporation, the disclosures of each of which are herein incorporated in their entirely by reference for all purposes.  
     [0040]FIG. 4 is one embodiment of a database illustration of the bookmarks in a storage unit of the electronic music marker device. Referring to FIG. 4, storage unit such as a random access memory (RAM) and/or a read-only memory (ROM) may be configured to store device ID unique for each marker device  101  in device ID field  410 . Additionally, storage unit of marker device  101  may also be configured to store bookmarks input by the user in bookmark field  420 , with a corresponding date and time information (for example, a time stamp) for the respective bookmarks in date field  430  and time field  440 , respectively. In this manner, when music marker device  101  is connected to server terminal  105  via user terminal  103 , information stored in marker device storage unit such as the bookmarks and the corresponding date and time stamp information may be transmitted to server terminal  105 .  
     [0041]FIG. 5 is a flowchart for illustrating one embodiment of the electronic music marker device operation. Referring to FIG. 5, at step  510 , electronic music marker device  101  detects user&#39;s input operation of e-mark buttons  203 A,  203 B. Then, at step  520 , music marker device  101  illuminates or flashes a corresponding e-mark display panel  304   a ,  304   b . As discussed above, in one embodiment, the corresponding e-mark display panel  304   a ,  304   b  may be configured to display time and/or date information of the user&#39;s input operation of e-mark buttons  203 A,  203 B.  
     [0042] At step  530 , music marker  101  determines whether all available e-mark display panels  304   a ,  304   b  are being used (for example, illuminated or flashing in response to user&#39;s input operation of e-mark button  203 A,  203 B). If it is determined that there are e-mark display panels  304   a ,  304   b  available, music marker device  101  waits for further input operation by the user at step  510 . On the other hand, if it is determined at step  530  that all available e-mark display panels  304   a ,  304   b  are in use, then at step  540 , electronic music marker device  101  generates an output signal to inform the user that music marker device  101  has reached its maximum number of e-marks that it can handle, and the procedure ends. In one embodiment, the output signal from music marker device  101  to inform the user that it has reached its maximum number of e-marks it can handle may be an audible output signal such as an audible tone via an audio output terminal (not shown). Alternatively, music marker device  101  may be configured to flash all e-mark display panels  203 A.  203 B simultaneously for a predetermined period of time to visually indicate to the user that it has reached its maximum number of e-marks that it can handle.  
     [0043]FIG. 6 is a flowchart for illustrating one embodiment of downloading data from the user&#39;s electronic music marker device account to the music marker device. Referring to FIG. 6, at step  610 , music marker device  101  detects a connection to user terminal  103  connected to the internet. After the user enters the user&#39;s account information and performing necessary electronic music marker device account access steps at user terminal  103 , at step  620 , data corresponding to the e-marks (bookmarks) stored in music marker device  101  is transmitted to the user&#39;s electronic music marker device account via gateway (user) terminal  103 , and in response, the corresponding text and/or image (including video) data are retrieved from server terminal  105  of, for example, emarker.com web site and transmitted to the user&#39;s electronic music marker device account. Then, at step  630 , the text and/or image data corresponding to each e-marks are downloaded onto music marker device  101 . At step  640 , the downloaded text and/or image data are displayed on each corresponding e-mark display panel  304   a ,  304   b  on music marker device  101 .  
     [0044] When the user disconnects music marker device  101  from user terminal  103 , the termination of the is detected at step  650 , and at step  660 , music marker device  101  is reset such that previously stored e-marks inputted by the user may be erased from the storage unit of music marker device  101 , and correspondingly, the illuminated e-mark display panels  304   a ,  304   b  are turned off. The user may then operate e-mark button  203 A,  203 B again to input additional bookmarks of music clip broadcasts from registered radio and television broadcast stations.  
     [0045]FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a user terminal of the electronic music marker device in the vendor ID tracking system. Referring to FIG. 7, user terminal  103  (FIG. 1) in one embodiment may include controller  710 , storage unit  720 , I/O interface unit  730 , input unit  740 , output unit  750  and clock  760 . Storage unit  720  of user terminal  103  may include one or more of an internal or an external storage device such as a hard disc drive (HDD), a CDRW drive, or a zip drive. Input unit  740  of user terminal  103  may include one of or a combination of a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpad input device and a voice-recognition type input terminal including a microphone with corresponding software installed in user terminal  103  for performing input operations by voice commands. Controller  710  is coupled to input unit  740  and accordingly, may be configured to process the input data received from input unit  740 . Storage unit  720  is similarly coupled to controller  720 , and may be configured to store inputted data received from input unit  740  or other data received by user terminal  103 . Clock  760  also coupled to controller  710  may be configured to provide time information to controller  710  which, in turn, may be stored in storage unit  720  as discussed in further detail below.  
     [0046] Referring back to FIG. 7, I/O interface unit  730  in one embodiment may be coupled to controller  710 , and may be configured to interface with other user terminals  103  in the network or to communicate with server terminal  105 . In one embodiment, I/O interface circuit  730  of user terminal  103  may include a communication port configured to connect to the date network  104  such as the internet via connections such as, but not limited to, a modem dial-up through an internet service provider (ISP), a DSL or cable modem-type connection, and a T1, IDSN or LAN type connection. Communication port integrated in I/O interface circuit  230  may include, among others, one of a USB port, a serial port, a parallel port, an IEEE 1394 communication port, a IrDA communication port, and a Bluetooth enabled communication port.  
     [0047] Referring again to FIG. 7, output unit  750  of user terminal  103  may include display unit  751  and speakers  752 . Display unit  751  may be configured to output text, image (for example, in jpg or gif formats) or video data (for example, in .avi or .mpeg formats) while speakers may be configured to output sound data in the form of, for example, .wav file format. In this manner, user terminal  103  in one embodiment may be configured to communicate with server terminal  105  over the internet connection  104 .  
     [0048]FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a server terminal in the electronic music marker device vendor ID tracking system. Referring to FIG. 8, server terminal  105  includes display unit  820 , input unit  810 , controller  830 , input/output (I/O) interface unit  840 , memory (RAM/ROM)  850 , and storage unit  860 . Display unit  820  may be configured to display various information including the status of server terminal  105  connection, data transfer processing status, data upload information, and any other information related to the operation of server terminal  105  (FIG. 1).  
     [0049] Input unit  810  of server terminal  105  may be configured to provide input means for operations such as server terminal maintenance, data backup, data query and so on. As can be seen, both display unit  111  and input unit  810  are coupled to controller  830 . In one embodiment, controller  830  may be configured to control the display of information on display unit  820  in accordance with input operations received from input unit  810 . Alternatively, server terminal  105  may exclude display unit  820 . Referring back to FIG. 8, controller  830  of server terminal  105  is further coupled to memory  850 , storage unit  860  and I/O interface unit  840 . In one embodiment, controller  830  may be configured to control data access, retrieval and updating of the stored data in storage unit  860 . Moreover, controller  830  may further be configured to control the operation of I/O interface unit  840  which communicates with other terminals connected in the network over the internet connection  104 . In one embodiment, I/O interface circuit  840  may include a communication port configured to connect to other terminals in the network via connections such as, but not limited to, a modem dial-up through an internet service provider (ISP), a DSL or cable modem-type connection, and a T1, ISDN or LAN type connection. Communication port integrated in I/O interface circuit  840  may include, among others, one of a USB port, a serial port, a parallel port, an IEEE 1394 communication port, a IrDA communication port, and a Bluetooth enabled communication port.  
     [0050] Referring again to FIG. 8, storage unit  860  of server terminal  105  may include internal or external storage devices such as a hard disc drive (HDD), a CD-RW drive, or a zip drive. In one embodiment, storage unit  860  may be configured to storage a variety of data received by server terminal  105  and processed by server terminal  105 . In particular, storage unit  860  may include user account database  861 , playlist database  862 , user playlist database  863 , and vendor ID database  864 .  
     [0051] User account database  860  as discussed in further detail below may be configured to store information related to the registered users of the emarker system such as, for example, user name, address, account name, account password, and account status. Playlist database  862  may be configured to store playlists for each registered radio station broadcasts periodically received from playlist provider  106 . Additionally, user playlist database  863  may be configured to store music clip broadcast playlists corresponding to the user&#39;s bookmarks. Lastly, vendor ID database  864  may be configured to store vendor ID data received from device vendor  107  (FIG. 1) and the device unique IDs of the electronic music marker devices sold by the particular device vendor  107 .  
     [0052] As further shown in FIG. 8, controller is coupled to memory  850  for accessing software and drivers for performing the various functions and processes of server terminal  105  for the electronic music marker device vendor ID tracking system. Indeed, in one embodiment, the electronic music marker device vendor ID tracking system may be embodied as a computer program developed using an object oriented language that allows the modeling of complex systems with modular objects to create abstractions that are representative of real world, physical objects and their interrelationships. However, it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the various embodiments as described herein may be implemented in many different ways using a wide range of programming techniques as well as general purpose hardware systems or dedicated controllers.  
     [0053]FIG. 9 illustrates a user account database of server terminal  105  storage unit  860  shown in FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 9, user account database  861  may include a user name field  910 , a marker identification (ID) field  920 , a user account name field  930 , a user billing information field  940 , and a user contact information field  950 . As can be seen from the figure, user name field  910  may be configured to store the name of the user of music marker device  101 , while marker ID field  920  may be configured to store the music marker device ID corresponding to the respective device user name. For example, marker ID field  920  corresponding to the user John First may be configured to store the value “A11-K21-K43-F23” which corresponds to the marker device ID of John First. Moreover, marker ID field  920  corresponding to the user Matt Sawyer may be configured to store the value “K01-U23-N45-167” as the marker ID for Matt Sawyer. In this manner, for each user and their respective electronic music marker devices, a unique marker ID may be stored in user account database  861 .  
     [0054] Referring back to FIG. 9, user account name field  930  may be configured to store each user&#39;s account name, typically provided by the user, or alternatively, automatically assigned by the server terminal  105  (FIG. 1) upon user registration at the electronic music marker device web site. For example, user account name field  930  corresponding to the user John First may include “FirstJ” indicating John First&#39;s account name. While the user account names stored in the user account name field  930  are shown as a combination of each user&#39;s initials and/or names, in one aspect, the user account name may be a combination of letters and number, a unique series of number, or any other data string which may uniquely identify the respective user.  
     [0055] As can be further seen from FIG. 9, user billing information field  940  may be configured to store billing information such as credit card number, expiration date, and the type of credit card for each user. For example, user billing information field  940  corresponding to the user Helen Owen may be configured to store the value “AM” indicating her American Express card, having a card number “1245-856978-01147”. In another aspect, user billing information field  940  may include the user&#39;s bank account information such as the user&#39;s bank account name, account number, and so on. Moreover, in other embodiments, the user billing information field  940  may include information corresponding to the user&#39;s transferable assets that the user wishes use as the preferred payment method for charges incurred, such as, for example, the user&#39;s frequent flier miles, the user&#39;s bank debit card, and so on. Referring again to FIG. 9, user contact information field  750  may be configured to store contact information corresponding to each user. For example, in one aspect, user contact information field  950  may be configured to store email addresses of each respective user. Alternatively, user contact information field  950  may be configured to store a telephone number, a facsimile number, a pager number or any other type of contact information for the respective users. Moreover, user account database  861  may be further configured to store other relevant information corresponding to the users. In this manner, from the information stored in user account database  861 , server terminal  105  may retrieve information related to the respective user&#39;s account as well as to update the information stored in user account database  861  based on received playlists from playlist provider  106  and/or the users themselves who are updating their corresponding account.  
     [0056]FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a playlist database of the server terminal data storage unit shown in FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 10, playlist database  862  includes broadcast time field  1010 , name of music clip field  1020 , name of artist field  1030 , and name of album field  1040  for storing broadcast information corresponding to music broadcasts from registered radio station having call number KROK. As can be seen, broadcast time field  1010  is configured to store the beginning of the broadcast time for the corresponding music clip as well as the date of broadcast, and each of name of music clip field  1020 , name of artist field  1030 , and name of album field  1040  is configured to store the corresponding name of the music, the name of the artist and the name of the album for the broadcast music clip.  
     [0057] Indeed, in one embodiment, for each registered radio station, playlist provider  106  may be configured to transmit information related to the broadcasted music to server terminal  105  within a predetermined time from the actual broadcast time. Server terminal  105  is then configured to store the received playlist information for each registered radio stations in storage unit  860 . Server terminal  105  may also be configured to update playlist database  862  periodically or at each predetermined interval based on playlist information received from playlist provider  106  such that the data stored in playlist database  862  is maintained as up to date as possible. Furthermore, while only one playlist database  862  is shown in FIG. 8, in accordance with the present invention, server terminal  105  may be configured to generate, store and update a playlist database similar to that shown in FIG. 10 for each radio broadcast station. Moreover, within the scope of the present invention, additional data fields may be incorporated in playlist database  862 . Such additional data may include, for example, the number of music clip broadcast over a predetermined time period such as the number of same song broadcast within one day, the frequency information corresponding to the radio station broadcasting the music clips, and the Billboard chart ranking for each broadcast music album.  
     [0058]FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of a user playlist database of the server terminal data storage unit shown in FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 11, playlist database  863  stored in server terminal  105  for user John First having user account name “FirstJ” includes music title field  1110 , name of artist field  1120  corresponding to the name of the music title stored in music title field  1110 , bookmark event field  1130 , corresponding broadcast station field  1140 , and genre field  1150 .  
     [0059] As can be seen from the Figure, for each bookmark entered by John First using his electronic music marker device, once connected and synchronized with server terminal  105  via user terminal  103 , information corresponding to the bookmarks are stored in the respective fields of user playlist database  863 . For example, it can be seen from FIG. 11 that John First bookmarked the broadcast of the song titled “Ride the Lightning” by Metallica at 12:14 PM on Feb. 1, 2001, and that the song was broadcast from a radio station having call number KROK, the song classified in the hard rock category. In this manner, for each user of music marker device, server terminal  105  is configured to generate and store in user playlist database  862  information corresponding to the music broadcasts received from playlist provider  106  and the bookmarking information from each user&#39;s music marker device  101  via user terminal  103 . Additionally, server terminal  105  may be configured to add additional data fields to user playlist database  863  as well as to modify and update user playlist database  863 .  
     [0060]FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of a vendor ID database of the server terminal data storage unit shown in FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 12, vendor ID database  846  includes vendor ID field  1210 , marker ID field  1220 , marker status field  1230 , and marker account status field  1240 . In particular, as shown in the Figure, vendor ID field may be configured to store the unique vendor IDs received from one or a plurality of device vendors  107 . Furthermore, marker ID field  1220  of vendor ID database  846  may be configured to store music marker ID corresponding to the device vendor from which the marker device was sold to a customer.  
     [0061] Marker status field  1230  may be configured to store the sales status of the music marker, identifying with a “sold” flag for music marker devices that have been sold to customers, and with a “inventory” flag for the music marker devices that remain in the inventory of the corresponding device vendor. Optionally, vendor ID database  864  may further include marker account status field  1240  which, in one embodiment may include the user&#39;s e-marker.com account status for the corresponding music marker device purchased from one of the device vendors  107 .  
     [0062] For example, it can be seen from FIG. 12 that device vendor having vendor ID “electronstore01” has sold a music marker device having marker device ID “K01-U23-N45-167”, and the e-marker.com account for the user of this music marker device is in active status. In one embodiment, the vendor ID and the corresponding device IDs may be transmitted from device vendor  107  to server terminal  105  after each sales transaction of the corresponding music marker device. Alternatively, the device vendor  107  may be configured to transmit its unique vendor ID to server terminal  105  prior to any sales transaction, and thereafter, to transmit the marker device IDs with the completion of the sales of each corresponding music marker device. Additionally, device vendor  107  may transmit its vendor ID along with all marker device IDs corresponding to each music marker device in its inventory in a single transmission to server terminal  105 . In this case, marker status  1230  may be updated upon receiving data transmission indicating the sale of the corresponding marker device from device vendor  107 . Furthermore, marker account status field  1240  may be updated, for example, upon marker device user registration at e-marker.com web site, or upon detection of gateway terminal  103  connection for a particular marker device.  
     [0063]FIG. 13 is a graphical illustration of a user terminal display unit for displaying user electronic music marker device account in the vendor ID tracking system of one embodiment. Referring to FIG. 13, user terminal display unit  751  includes a plurality of bookmarked music clips  1301 ,  1302 ,  1303 , and a plurality of album information  1311 ,  1312 ,  1313  corresponding respectively to each bookmarked music clip  1311 , 1312 ,  1313 . In one aspect, each bookmarked music clip  1301 ,  1302 ,  1303  may be displayed on user terminal display unit  751  as a hypertext link such that a selection using input device  740  (FIG. 7) of user terminal  103  (FIG. 1) may configure user terminal  103  to output a short music clip corresponding to the bookmarked music clip. Furthermore, each of the plurality of album information  131 ,  1312 ,  1313  may likewise be configured with a corresponding hypertext link such that a selection of one or more of the plurality of hypertext links corresponding to the album information  1311 ,  1312 ,  1311  may display an image or a video clip of the corresponding music album.  
     [0064] Referring to FIG. 13, as shown in the Figure, there is provided purchase selection module  1321 , 1322 ,  1323  each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of album information  1311 ,  1312 ,  1313 , each corresponding to respective bookmarked music clips  1301 ,  1302 ,  1303 . In one aspect, the purchase selection module  1321 ,  1322 ,  1323  may be displayed on user terminal display unit  751  as an input icon or a hypertext link. As discussed in further detail below, server terminal  105  (FIG. 1) may be configured to display purchase selection module  1321 ,  1322 ,  1323  such that when the user selects one of the purchase selection modules  1321 ,  1322 ,  1323 , the display unit  751  may be redirected to the web-site of the device vendor from which the user has purchased the music marker device. In other words, in the case where the device vendor  107  (FIG. 1) sells both the music marker device as well as the CD, audio cassette, DVD, and the like which provide the basis for the bookmarking operation of the music marker device, server terminal  105  may be configured such that in addition to displaying the bookmarked music clip information on the user terminal display unit  751 , the purchase information for the bookmarked music clip may be customized to the music marker device vendor.  
     [0065] By way of an example, in the case where the user purchases the music marker device from an electronics vendor which also sells music CDs and audio cassettes, when the purchaser (or user) of the music marker device operates the device to bookmark broadcast music clips and establishes connection to server terminal  105  to retrieve information corresponding to the bookmarked music clips, the user terminal display unit may be configured to display a hypertext link or a functionally equivalent means to correspond to each bookmarked music clip. In this manner, in the event that the user of the music marker device wishes to purchase a CD or an audio cassette for the bookmarked music clip, the user may be first directed to the web site of the electronics vendor for the purchase of the CD or the audio cassette.  
     [0066]FIG. 14 illustrates a flowchart for illustrating vendor ID tracking system for device vendor of one embodiment. Referring to FIG. 14, at step  1410 , device vendor  107  receives music marker devices from the manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer. Thereafter at step  1420 , device vendor  107  is configured to retrieve and store the unique device IDs corresponding to the received or purchased music marker devices.  
     [0067] At step  1430 , it is determined whether a sales transaction for the music marker devices in inventory has been completed. If the sales transaction has successfully been completed, at step  1440 , device vendor  107  may be configured to transmit device ID for the music marker device of the completed sales transaction as well as the vendor ID to server terminal  105 . Alternatively, device vendor  107  may be configured to transmit vendor ID and device IDs upon receiving or purchasing the music marker devices. Moreover, device vendor  107  may further be configured such that device IDs from its inventory are transmitted to server terminal  105  periodically with the vendor ID. Thereafter at step  1450 , device vendor  107  may be configured to update its storage database to reflect that the device IDs as well as vendor ID has been transmitted to server terminal  105 .  
     [0068]FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart for illustrating vendor ID tracking system at server terminal of one embodiment. Referring to FIG. 15, at step  1510 , server terminal  105  is configured to receive and store device IDs and the corresponding vendor ID. Thereafter, upon detection of user terminal connection at step  1520  and receiving bookmarked music clip information as well as the corresponding device ID, server terminal  105  may be configured to search its vendor ID database  864  to determine whether the received device ID corresponds to a stored vendor ID.  
     [0069] At step  1540 , if there is a matching vendor ID for the received device ID, at step  1550 , server terminal  105  is configured to retrieve music clip information from playlist database  862  and transmit that information to user terminal  103 . Thereafter at step  1560 , server terminal  107  is configured to display vendor information corresponding to the transmitted data for the bookmarked music clip on user terminal display unit  751  as, for example, an input icon or a hypertext link correlated with the device vendor. Then, at step  1570 , server terminal  107  is configured to update user playlist database  863  to reflect the user&#39;s bookmarked music clips.  
     [0070] Referring back to FIG. 15, if at step  1540  server terminal  105  does not find a matching vendor ID in vendor ID database  864  corresponding to the device ID, then at step  1580 , server terminal  105  is configured to retrieve from playlist database  862  information corresponding to the bookmarked music clips and to transmit the retrieved information to user terminal  103 . Thereafter at step  1590 , server terminal  105  is configured to update user playlist database  863  to update stored information corresponding to the bookmarked music clips for the particular device user.  
     [0071] In this manner, in accordance with the various embodiments of the present invention, device vendors may be preferably selected and displayed for purchase of bookmarked music clips who correspond to the actual vendors of the music marker devices. By tracking vendor information or ID corresponding to the music marker devices sold by the vendors, when the user of the music marker device decides to purchase the CD or the audio cassette for the bookmarked music clip, the user may be directed to the web site or contact information for the vendor from whom the user purchased the music marker device. Accordingly, preference may be given to device vendors who, in addition to selling CDs and audio cassettes of broadcast music, offer for sale the music marker devices which, the users may operate to bookmark broadcast music clips.  
     [0072] Various other modifications and alterations in the structure and method of operation of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the present invention and that structures and methods within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.