Patent Document

[0001]    The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/029,012, filed Feb. 16, 2011, titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PRODUCT PLACEMENT”, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/378,006, filed Mar. 17, 2006, titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PRODUCT PLACEMENT”, which claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/663,104, filed Mar. 18, 2005, titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PRODUCT PLACEMENT”, the entireties of all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to product distribution, and more particularly to paying a fee to place a first product with a second product when the second product is presented. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    It can be very difficult for manufacturers or distributors to distribute their products to consumers. Major retailers typically display and offer for sale well-known products and largely ignore products from unknown or small manufacturers or distributors. This limits the consumers&#39; choices. 
         [0006]    Using the music industry as an example, it can be difficult for new music artists to distribute their music to consumers. Major music retailers typically display and offer for sale music from well-known, mainstream artists and largely ignore unknown artists. This limits the music consumers&#39; choices to less than 10% of the music that is currently available. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In an embodiment, new music artists provide music to deliver to customers when the customers purchase similar music from music resellers. In an embodiment, the music reseller is an on-line store that sells downloadable digital content, such as songs formatted as MP3 files, videos formatted as MPEG files, downloadable text, such as articles and books, ring tones, and the like. In another embodiment, the music reseller sells products, such as compact discs audio (CDs), digital video discs (DVDs), and the like. 
         [0008]    The music artist provides song information and song associations, which indicate songs, artists, or albums that are similar to artist&#39;s music. The artist&#39;s song information and song associations are stored in a song profile database. Further, the music artist funds an account and bids to have his music delivered to customers who purchase similar music. In an embodiment, the artists, typically mainstream artists, are compensated when their songs or albums are used in an association. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment, a customer selects music from a music reseller and is offered music that is similar in style to the selected music. In an embodiment, the offered music is complementary to the customer. When the customer accepts the offer, the song information associated with the selected music is cross-referenced with the music information stored in the song profile database to determine which music in the database shares similar characteristics with the music the customer selected. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment, the song profile database comprises a first database, which has song information provided by individual, independent music artists, and a second database, which has song information provided by non-independent music artists, such as recording companies, and the like. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, unique customer identification is also sent to the database. The unique customer identification is used to identify songs previously placed with the customer so that the same customer does not receive the same placed song more than once. The unique customer identification is cross-referenced with information stored in an artist historical database to remove songs previously sent to the customer from the group of songs that are similar to the music the customer selected. 
         [0012]    To increase the likelihood of placing their song with a similar song selected by the customer, music artists can bid against one another for placement with the customer. An independent artist-bidding engine determines which music artist associated with a song that is similar to the selected music has the highest bid. The artist-bidding engine further determines whether the artist with the highest bid has sufficient funds in his account. The music artist with the highest bid and sufficient funds pays to have his music delivered to the customer. In an embodiment, the song associated with the winning bid is delivered to the customer. In an embodiment, the song associated with the winning bid is delivered to the customer along with the customer&#39;s selected music. When the music artist&#39;s song is delivered to the customer, the artist&#39;s account is debited by the amount of the bid. 
         [0013]    The artists can promote their music to customers who are pre-screened or pre-qualified to enjoy music that is similar to the artists&#39; style of music. Customers who enjoyed the complimentary song can purchase additional music by the artist from the placement service or the music reseller. 
         [0014]    While an embodiment of the invention is described with respect to distributing music, any downloadable digital content, or any physical product could be advertised and distributed in this manner. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment, the owner of a secondary product bids for product placement, funds an account, and supplies secondary product samples to be distributed to customers purchasing similar primary products. When the customer purchases a primary product, a search engine determines which products from a database of secondary products available for placement meet the search criteria and offers to distribute the secondary product to the customer with or without the primary product. In an embodiment, there is no charge to the customer for the secondary product. The search criteria comprise matching the primary product with similar secondary products. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, the product owner can bid to increase the likelihood of placing the secondary product with the primary product. The matching secondary product having the highest bid is distributed to the customer and the account associated with the secondary product is debited. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, a method of data object distribution comprises receiving at least one unique identifier associated with a primary data object and at least one unique identifier associated with a secondary data object, associating the secondary data object with the primary data object, and debiting an account associated with the secondary data object when the secondary data object is presented. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment, a method of data object distribution comprises receiving at least one characteristic associated with a primary data object, receiving at least one unique identifier, at least one characteristic, and a fee amount associated with a secondary data object, determining whether the characteristic associated with the secondary data object matches the characteristic associated with the primary data object, and debiting an account associated with the secondary data object by the fee amount when the secondary data object and the primary data object have at least one matching characteristic and when the secondary product is presented. 
         [0019]    In a further embodiment, a method of music distribution comprises receiving at least one song identifier, and a fee associated with a song, identifying music selected by a customer, and debiting an account associated with the song when the song is presented. 
         [0020]    In yet another embodiment, a method of music distribution comprises receiving at least one song identifier, at least one characteristic, and a fee associated with a song, determining whether the characteristic associated with the song matches at least one characteristic associated with purchased music, and debiting an account associated with the song by the charge when the song and the purchased music have at least one matching characteristic and when the song is delivered. 
         [0021]    In an embodiment, a method of music distribution comprises receiving at least one song identifier, at least one characteristic, and a fee associated with a song, determining whether the characteristic associated with the song matches at least one characteristic associated with purchased music, and debiting an account associated with the song by an amount of the fee when the song and the purchased music have at least one matching characteristic and when the song is presented. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment, an apparatus for music distribution comprises a storage device configured to store at least one song identifier, at least one characteristic, and a fee associated with a song, a processor configured to determine whether the characteristic associated with the song matches at least one characteristic associated with purchased music, and an account associated with the song, wherein the account is debited by an amount of the bid when the song and the purchased music have at least one matching characteristic and when the song is presented. 
         [0023]    In a further embodiment, an apparatus for music distribution comprises means for receiving at least one song identifier, at least one characteristic, and a fee associated with a song, means for determining whether the characteristic associated with the song matches at least one characteristic associated with purchased music; and means for debiting an account associated with the song by an amount of the fee when the song and the purchased music have at least one matching characteristic and when the song is presented. 
         [0024]    In yet another embodiment, a method of music distribution comprises receiving at least one identifier associated with a song selected by a consumer, determining whether the song selected by the consumer is associated with at least a second song, issuing a message approving download of the associated second song to the consumer, and debiting an account associated with a promoter of the second song by an amount when the second song is presented to the consumer. 
         [0025]    In an embodiment, a method of product distribution comprises receiving at least one product identifier associated with a primary product and at least one product identifier associated with a secondary product, presenting the secondary product with the primary product, and debiting an account associated with the secondary product when the secondary product is presented. 
         [0026]    In an embodiment, a method of product distribution comprises receiving at least one characteristic associated with a primary product, receiving at least one product identifier, at least one characteristic, and a bid amount associated with a secondary product, determining whether the characteristic associated with the secondary product matches the characteristic associated with the primary product, and debiting an account associated with the secondary product by the bid amount when the secondary product and the primary product have at least one matching characteristic and when the secondary product is delivered. The method further comprises receiving at least one product identifier, at least one characteristic, and a bid associated with each of a plurality of secondary products, determining whether the characteristic associated with each of secondary products matches the characteristic associated with the primary product to produce a group of matching secondary products, determining which matching secondary product from the group of matching secondary products is associated with the highest bid, and debiting an account associated with the highest bid secondary product when the highest bid secondary product is delivered. 
         [0027]    In another embodiment, a method of music distribution comprises receiving at least one song identifier, and a bid associated with a song, identifying selected music, and debiting an account associated with the song when the song is delivered. 
         [0028]    In a further embodiment, a method of music distribution comprises receiving at least one song identifier, at least one characteristic, and a charge associated with a song, determining whether the characteristic associated with the song matches at least one characteristic associated with purchased music, and debiting an account associated with the song by the charge when the song and the purchased music have at least one matching characteristic and when the song is delivered. 
         [0029]    In another embodiment, a method of music distribution comprises receiving at least one song identifier, at least one characteristic associated with the song, and a bid associated with the song, determining whether the characteristic associated with the song matches at least one characteristic associated with purchased music, and debiting an account associated with the song by an amount of the bid when the song and the purchased music have at least one matching characteristic and when the song is delivered. 
         [0030]    In another embodiment, an apparatus for music distribution comprises a storage device configured to store at least one song identifier, at least one characteristic, and a bid associated with a song, a processor configured to determine whether the characteristic associated with the song matches at least one characteristic associated with purchased music, and an account associated with the song, wherein the account is debited by an amount of the bid when the song and the purchased music have at least one matching characteristic and when the song is delivered. 
         [0031]    In a further embodiment, an apparatus for music distribution comprises a means for receiving at least one song identifier, at least one characteristic, and a bid associated with a song, a means for determining whether the characteristic associated with the song matches at least one characteristic associated with purchased music, and a means for debiting an account associated with the song by an amount of the bid when the song and the purchased music have at least one matching characteristic and when the song is delivered. 
         [0032]    In yet another embodiment, a method of music distribution comprises receiving at least one identifier associated with a song selected by a consumer, determining whether the song selected by the consumer is associated with at least a second song, downloading the second song to the consumer when the song selected by the consumer is associated with the second song, and debiting an account associated with a promoter of the second song by an amount when the second song is delivered to the consumer. 
         [0033]    For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0034]    A general architecture that implements the various features of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a music placement process. 
           [0036]      FIGS. 2 ,  2 A,  2 B are flow charts showing a music placement process, according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of a music placement system. 
           [0038]      FIGS. 4 ,  4 A,  4 B are flow charts showing an artist enrollment process, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0039]      FIGS. 5 ,  5 A,  5 B are flow charts showing a song enrollment process, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing a bidding-for-placement process, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing a music placement process, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0042]      FIG. 8  is flow chart showing song selection, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 9  is an exemplary screen shot illustrating an Artist Administration page. 
           [0044]      FIG. 10  is an exemplary screen shot illustrating a Song Association Administration page. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0045]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a music placement process  100 . An artist  108  interfaces with a placement service  106  through a communication medium  110 , which is indicated by path  112 , for placement of the artist&#39;s items with a customer  102 . The artist  108  can be any individual or organization that owns the rights to an item, where an item can be delivered as digital content or a physical product. In an embodiment, the artist  108  comprises an independent music artist  108  and the item comprises a song. In another embodiment, the artist  108  is an organization that can represent one or more music artists, such as a record label company, or the like. 
         [0046]    The artist  108  provides the item, such as a song or a song identifier, song associations, and a bid amount. In an embodiment, the song associations comprise song titles, album titles, or other musical artists. Typically, the artist  108  chooses associations from mainstream musicians that the customer  102  recognizes. The artist  108  chooses associations that are similar in style, genre, mood, theme, instrumentation, musical influences, or the like to the artist&#39;s item. The bid is the amount the artist  108  is willing to pay the placement service  106  each time the placement service  106  places the artist&#39;s song with the customer  102 . 
         [0047]    By placing artist&#39;s songs with customers  102  who have purchased or selected similar music, the placement service  106  offers artists  108  an opportunity to introduce their music to customers  102  or music-buyers who are pre-qualified to enjoy the artist&#39;s music and/or the artist&#39;s style of music. To increase the chances of the artist&#39;s items placing with specific associated items requested by the customer  102 , the artists  108  can adjust the bid amount. In an embodiment, the artist&#39;s item associated with the highest bid amount from a group of artists&#39; items that match the association criteria places with the customer  102 . 
         [0048]    The customer or consumer  102  interfaces with a reseller  104  through the communications medium  110 , which is indicated by path  114 , to acquire, request, or purchase a product. In an embodiment, the reseller  104  is a music reseller  104 , and the product is a product that can be delivered as digital content, such as downloadable music, video, and the like, or any physical product. 
         [0049]    The music reseller  104  interfaces with the placement service  106  through the communications medium  110 , which is indicated by path  116 , and sends the placement service  106  information associated with the customer&#39;s requested product. In an embodiment, the music reseller  104  also sends the placement service  106  information associated with the customer  102 . 
         [0050]    The placement service  106  determines which of the artists&#39; items are associated with the customer&#39;s purchase. In an embodiment, the placement service  106  interfaces with the customer  102  through the communications medium  110 , which is indicated by path  118 , and delivers the customer&#39;s selection or purchase along with at least one of the artists&#39; items, such as a downloadable song, that matches association criteria associated with the customer&#39;s requested product. 
         [0051]    In another embodiment, the placement service  106  and delivers at least one of the artists&#39; items to the customer  102  and the music reseller  104  delivers the customer&#39;s selection to the customer  102 . In another embodiment, the placement service  106  delivers the artists&#39; items to the music reseller  104  and the music reseller  104  delivers the artists&#39; items to the customer  102 . 
         [0052]    Focusing now on the communication medium  110  as shown in  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment, the communications medium  110  is the Internet, which is a global network of computers. In other embodiments, the communications medium  110  can be any communication system including by way of example, dedicated communication lines, telephone networks, wireless data transmission systems, two-way cable systems, customized computer networks, interactive television networks, and the like. 
         [0053]      FIGS. 2 ,  2 A,  2 B are a flow chart showing a music placement process  200 , according to another embodiment of the invention. In block  210 , the customer  102  purchases a product, such as a downloadable song, from the music reseller  104 . The customer  102  receives an offer for additional music that is similar in style to the purchased music. In an embodiment, the music reseller  104  offers the customer  102  the additional music. In another embodiment, the placement service  106  offers the customer  102  the additional music. In an embodiment, the additional music is offered at no cost to the customer  102 . 
         [0054]    In block  212 , when the customer  102  accepts the offer, the reseller  104  sends selected song information about the customer&#39;s song selection and a unique customer identification associated with the customer  102  to the placement service  106 . Examples of selected song information are, but not limited to the song title, the recording artist, the customer&#39;s name, the customer&#39;s delivery address, such as a street and city address or an email address, the customer&#39;s postal code, purchase date and time, and the like. In an embodiment, the unique customer identification permits the placement service  106  to track the customer&#39;s purchases without the reseller  104  releasing private customer information. In an embodiment, the customer&#39;s postal code allows the placement service  106  to track demographic sales data. 
         [0055]    In block  214 , the placement service  106  receives the selected song information and the unique customer identification. The placement service  106  cross-references the selected song information with the associations from the artists  108  to determine which of the artists&#39; items have at least one matching association with the customer&#39;s purchased music. In an embodiment, the placement service  106  determines the matching songs from artists  108  where the artists  108  are independent music artists, as shown in blocks  216   a - 228   a , separately from determining matching songs from artists  108  where the artists  108  are non-independent artists  108 , as shown in blocks  216   b - 228   b.    
         [0056]    Following the independent musician path, in block  216   a , the song placement service  106  compiles a database of song associations from the song associations provided by the independent artists  108 . Using the selected song information and the associations database, the song placement service  106  then determines which artists&#39; songs are similar to the purchased song. 
         [0057]    For example, one independent artist  108  can specify that his song “Ventura Highway” is similar in style to a song by a mainstream artist titled “Summer Breeze”. When the selected song information from the reseller  104  indicates that the customer  102  purchased “Summer Breeze”, the song placement service  106  cross-references the title “Summer Breeze” with the song associations stored in the independent artist song association database and determines that the song “Ventura Highway” is associated with “Summer Breeze”. 
         [0058]    In block  218   a , the placement service  106  checks a historical transaction database, which stores the customers&#39; unique identifications along with the artists&#39; songs previously sent to the customer  102 , to identify songs, which were previously placed with the customer  102 . This can be used to prevent a song from being placed more than one time with the same customer  102 . Continuing with the above example, the placement service  106  determines if the song “Ventura Highway” was previously placed with this customer  102 . In an embodiment, the placement service  106  does not place the same independent artist song more than one time with the same customer  102 . 
         [0059]    The artist bidding engine  220   a  accesses an independent artist maximum bid database and an independent artist account database to determine whether there are sufficient funds in the account to cover the amount of the bid in block  222   a.    
         [0060]    In block  224   a , the artist bidding engine  220   a  further retrieves the independent artist  108  having the highest bid amount and sufficient funds in his account from the group of independent artists  108  found in block  216   a . That is, the placement service  106  determines which independent artist  108  has the highest bid from the group of independent artists  108  having songs which are similar to the music the customer  102  purchased. In an embodiment, the placement service  106  notifies the remaining independent artists  108  of the current high bid. 
         [0061]    In the event that more than one independent artist  108  has bid the highest bid amount, the placement service  106  determines which independent artist  108  applied to the placement service first in block  226   a . The song associated with the independent artist  108  having the highest bid and the earliest enrollment date is selected for placement with the customer  102 . 
         [0062]    In block  228   a , the placement service  106  determines at least one song from the independent artists  108  enrolled in the placement system meets the criteria for placement with the customer  102 . Continuing the above example, the independent artist having the song “Ventura Highway” has bid the highest bid amount of all of the independent artists  108  which have a song that is associated with the purchased song “Summer Breeze”. Further, the independent artist  108  with the song “Ventura Highway” has sufficient funds in his account to cover the bid. 
         [0063]    Blocks  216   b - 228   b  are similar to blocks  216   a - 228   a , but describe the process of selecting a song for placement from non-independent artists  108 , such as recording companies, which are enrolled in the placement service  106 . Following the non-independent musician path, in block  216   b , the song placement service  106  compiles a database of song associations from the song associations provided by the non-independent artists  108 . Using the selected song information, the song placement service  106  then determines which non-independent artists&#39; songs match the song criteria associated with the customer&#39;s selected song. 
         [0064]    For example, one non-independent artist  108  can specify that the song “Shower The People” is similar in style to a song by a mainstream artist titled “Summer Breeze”. When the selected song information from the reseller  104  indicates that the customer  102  purchased “Summer Breeze”, the song placement service  106  cross-references the title “Summer Breeze” with the song associations stored in the non-independent artist song association database and determines that the song “Shower The People” is associated with “Summer Breeze”. 
         [0065]    In block  218   b , the placement service  106  checks the historical transaction database, which stores the customers&#39; unique identifications along with the non-independent artists&#39; songs previously sent to the specific customer  102 , to identify songs that have been previously placed with the customer. In an embodiment, the placement service  106  does not place the same non-independent artist song more than once with the same customer  102 . Continuing with the above example, the placement service  106  determines that the non-independent artist song “Shower The People” was not previously placed with this customer  102 . 
         [0066]    The non-independent artist bidding engine  220   b  accesses the artist maximum bid database and the artist account database to determine whether there are sufficient funds in the account to cover the amount of the maximum bid in block  222   b.    
         [0067]    In block  224   b , the non-independent artist bidding engine  220   a  further retrieves the non-independent artist  108  having the highest bid amount and sufficient funds in the account from the group of non-independent artists  108  found in block  216   b . That is, the placement service  106  determines which non-independent artist  108  has the highest bid from the group of non-independent artists  108  having songs which are similar to the music the customer  102  purchased. In an embodiment, the placement service  106  notifies the remaining non-independent artists  108  of the current high bid. 
         [0068]    In the event that more than one non-independent artist  108  has bid the highest bid amount, the placement service  106  determines which non-independent artist  108  applied to the placement service  106  first in block  226   b . The song associated with the non-independent artist  108  having the highest bid and the earliest enrollment date is selected for placement with the customer  102 . 
         [0069]    In block  228   b , the placement service  106  determines at least one song from the non-independent artists  108  enrolled in the placement system meets the criteria for placement with the customer  102 . Continuing the above example, the non-independent artist having the song “Shower The People” has bid the highest bid amount of all of the non-independent artists  108 , which have a song that is associated with the purchased song “Summer Breeze”. Further, the non-independent artist  108  with the song “Shower The People” has sufficient funds in the account to cover the bid. 
         [0070]    The account can be a tally of points or a counting mechanism that can accept different accounting mechanisms, such as payments, credits, or debits. The account can be a point holding location where points are credited or debited to the account for placement, purchase, association, or the like. 
         [0071]    While the above example illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  2 A,  2 B uses bids as one way of determining the amount that is paid for placement of the placed music, other way of determining payments can be used. Examples of other payment methods include, but are not limited to, no charge for placement of the product to either the artist  108  or the customer  102 , a fee, a flat fee, auctions, and the like. 
         [0072]    While the above example illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  2 A,  2 B the cost of placing a secondary product, such as the artist&#39;s song, with a primary product, such as the customer&#39;s selected music, is paid for by the artist  108 . In other embodiments, the cost or placement fee is paid for by the customer  102 . In yet another embodiment, the cost or placement fee is paid for by advertisers or other third parties, such as distributors, and the like. 
         [0073]    In block  230 , in an embodiment, the placement service  106  delivers at least one song from the independent artist  108  meeting the placement criteria, at least one song from the non-independent artist  108  meeting the placement criteria, and the purchased or requested song to the customer  102 . In another embodiment, the placement service delivers  106  at least one song from the independent artist  108  and at least one song from the non-independent artist  108 . In an embodiment, the placement service  106  delivers the songs transparently to the customer  102  via the reseller&#39;s customer interface. In another embodiment, a third party delivers the placed songs and the purchased song to the customer  102 . In yet another embodiment, a third party delivers the placed songs to the customer  102 . 
         [0074]    In the above example, the placement service  106  sends the customer  102  the independent artist song “Ventura Highway”, the non-independent artist song “Shower The People”. Having two placement selection paths, one for independent music artists (blocks  216   a - 228   a ) and one for non-independent music artists (blocks  216   b - 228   b ), permits the independent musicians from being over bid by well-funded companies and provides a mechanism for the independent musicians to promote their music to customers that are already pre-selected to prefer their style of music. 
         [0075]    In another embodiment, the placement service  106  delivers an offer or a partial product associated with the placed product and not the actual placed product. For example, the placement service  106  could offer the customer  102  a discount for purchase of a product that has similar characteristics with the customer&#39;s selected product, or a teaser, such as a movie trailer or a chapter from a book as an enticement to purchase the product having similar characteristics with the customer&#39;s selected product. 
         [0076]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary music placement service  106 . The music placement service  106  communicates with the customer  102  through a customer interface  310 . In an embodiment, the placement service  106  sends the artist placed music to the customer  102  and receives rating information regarding the artist placed music from the customer  102  via the customer interface  310 . In an embodiment, the customer  102  downloads the artist placed music from the placement service  106 . In another embodiment, the customer  102  downloads the artist placed music from the reseller  104 . 
         [0077]    The placement service  106  communicates with the reseller  104  through the reseller interface  312 . In an embodiment, the placement service  106  receives the song purchase information comprising the title of the song, the artist associated with the song, the unique customer identifier, the customer delivery information, and the like from the reseller  104  via the reseller interface  312 . In an embodiment, the placement service  106  communicates with the customer  102  through the reseller interface  312 . 
         [0078]    Further, the placement service  106  communicates with the artist  108  through the artist interface  314 . In an embodiment, the placement service  106  receives songs and/or song identifiers, song associations, bids, account information, funds for the artist accounts, artist profiles, artist biographies, and the like from the artists  108  and the placement service  106  sends bid notifications, account balances, accept/reject notifications, such as, for example, an email to the artist stating that the artist song does/does not meet the artistic or technical standards of the placement service  106 , and the like to the artist  108  via the artist interface  314 . 
         [0079]    The placement service  106  further comprises one or more server systems  318  communicating with one of more database collections  316  to determine whether to place the artist&#39;s song with the customer  102 . In an embodiment, the customer  102  downloads the artist placed music from the server  318 . 
         [0080]    The server system  318  comprises one or more computers. The computers comprise, by way of example, processors, program logic, or other substrate configurations representing data and instructions, which operate as described herein. In other embodiments, the processors can comprise controller circuitry, processor circuitry, processors, general-purpose single-chip or multi-chip microprocessors, digital signal processors, embedded microprocessors, microcontrollers and the like. 
         [0081]    The server system  318  comprises bidding code  328 , matching song code  330 , and account transaction code  332 . The server code  328 ,  330 ,  332  includes one or more software processes or program logic designed to execute on the server system  318 . In one embodiment, server code  328 ,  330 ,  332  may advantageously be implemented as one or more modules. The modules may advantageously be configured to execute on one or more processors. The modules may advantageously include software or hardware components such as software object-oriented software components, class components and task components, processes methods, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. 
         [0082]    The database collection  316  can comprise one or more logical and/or physical data storage systems for storing data used by the server  318 . In an embodiment, the database  316  comprises an independent artist song profile database  320  for storing independent artists songs, song associations for the independent artist songs, and the like, a non-independent artist song profile database  322  for storing non-independent artist songs, song associations for the non-independent artist songs, and the like, an artist profile database  324  for storing profiles and biographies of the artists  108 , and an artist account database  326  for storing account balances, bid information associated with the artist songs, and the like. 
         [0083]      FIGS. 4 ,  4 A,  4 B illustrate an artist enrollment process  400 , according to an embodiment of the invention. The artist  108  creates a new account via the artist interface  314  in block  410 . The artist  108  supplies his country of residence in block  412  and account information in block  414 . In an embodiment, the account information comprises band/artist name, contact name, primary email address, alternate email address, a password, and the like. 
         [0084]    In block  416 , the artist  108  supplies address information used to receive payments. In an embodiment, the customer  102  can purchase the artists songs through either the music reseller  104  or the placement service  106 . Typically, this would occur after the customer  102  is exposed to the artists work through the placed song. The customer  102  can return to the music reseller  104  or the placement service  106  to purchase additional music by the artist  108 . This results in the artist  108  being paid for the additional music purchased by the customer  102 . This takes place with a pre-arranged profit sharing arrangement with the artist  108  that specifies the amount the artist  108  is to receive if a customer purchases music by that artist  108 . 
         [0085]    In an embodiment, the address information comprises an address including city, state, zip code, and the like, and phone numbers, such as at least one of a primary phone number, a secondary phone number, a cell phone number, a facsimile phone number, and the like. 
         [0086]    In block  418 , the artist  102  determines which payment forms to use when making payments to the placement service  106 . In an embodiment, the payment forms comprise PayPal, credit cards, check, money order, wire transfer, and the like. If the artist  102  chooses to make payments using PayPal, then the artist enters a PayPal email address in block  420 . If the artist  102  chooses to make payment using a credit card, then the artist  102  enters credit card information, such as credit card type, number, security code expiration date, billing address, and the like in block  422 . 
         [0087]    In block  424 , the artist  102  enters a description of his music style. In an embodiment, the artist  102  enters a genre category. Examples of genre categories are avant-garde, ballet, ballad, blues, band music, Cajun, Celtic, country, folk, gospel, and the like. In another embodiment, the artist  102  enters a mainstream artist, album, or song that is most similar to his style. In an embodiment, the artist&#39;s musical style information is stored in the database  316 . 
         [0088]    In block  426 , the artist  102  enters an artist profile. In block  428 , the artist  102  enters an artist bibliography. In an embodiment, the artist&#39;s profile and the artist&#39;s bibliography are stored in the artist profile database  324 . 
         [0089]    In block  430 , the artist  102  receives terms and conditions. In order to continue with the enrollment process  400 , the artist  108  accepts the terms and conditions. 
         [0090]    In block  432 , when the artist  102  accepts the terms and conditions, the artist  102  receives an indication that the placement service  106  created the artist account. In an embodiment, the account information is stored in the account database  326 . 
         [0091]    In block  434 , the artist  102  can access the Artist Administration page, which provides the artist  102  with a summary of their account and song administration information. An exemplary screen shot of the Artist Administration page, illustrated in  FIG. 9A , is discussed further below. 
         [0092]    After completing the artist enrollment process  400 , the artist  108  enters songs or song identifiers and song associations in a song enrollment process  500 . Song identifiers are, for example, at least one of a song title, a record locator, a song, or the like.  FIGS. 5 ,  5 A,  5 B illustrate the song enrollment process  500 , according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         [0093]    In block  510 , the artist  108  enters the song enrollment process  500  from the Artist Administration page ( FIG. 9A ) by selecting ADD NEW SONG, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         [0094]    In block  512 , the artist  108  receives a legal warning and a list of the technical requirements used to upload the artist&#39;s song to the placement service  106 . 
         [0095]    In block  514 , the artist  108  enters song information. In an embodiment, the song information comprises the song title, the artist name, the album title, the year the song was recorded, comments, CD track, genre, and the like. In another embodiment, the song information comprises an ID3 tag. 
         [0096]    In block  516 , the artist  108  enters song associations that associate the artist&#39;s song with other music. In an embodiment, the artist  108  can make associations between his song and a specific artist, a specific album, a specific song, and the like. In another embodiment, the artist  108  can make associations between his song and a musical genre, a mood, a theme, a country, an instrument, and the like. In the example discussed above, the artist  108  associated his song “Ventura Highway” with the song “Summer Breeze”. 
         [0097]    In block  518 , the placement service  106  determines additional song, artist, and album associations for the artist&#39;s song, based on the associations made by the artist  108 . The artist  108  can accept or decline the additional associations. 
         [0098]    In block  520 , the artist chooses his song file and in block  522 , the artist  108  uploads his song to the placement service  106 . In an embodiment, the placement service  106  verifies that the song and the upload meet technical requirements. In another embodiment, the placement service  106  compares the ID3 tag information with the song information supplied by the artist  108 . 
         [0099]    In block  524 , if the artist&#39;s song file did not upload correctly, the placement service  106  informs the artist  102  of any technical discrepancies, instructs the artist  108  to re-upload the file when the problems are corrected. Further, if the ID3 tag information from the artist&#39;s song file does not match the song information supplied by the artist  108 , the placement service  106  instructs the artist  108  to correct any discrepancies. 
         [0100]    The artist  108  makes corrections to the song information in block  526 . 
         [0101]    In block  528 , the artist  108  accepts or declines the end user license agreement and legal disclaimer. When the artist  108  accepts the end user license agreement and legal disclaimer, the artist  108  receives notification that his song is accepted by the placement service  106  in block  530 . In another embodiment, the placement service  106  reviews the song and song associations to determine that the song meets standards set forth by the placement service  106  before accepting the artist&#39;s song. 
         [0102]    The Song Association page contains a summary of the song information and song associations. An exemplary screen shot of the Song Association page, illustrated in  FIG. 9B , is discussed further below. 
         [0103]    The artist  108  can add additional songs by returning to the beginning of the song enrollment process  500 . 
         [0104]      FIG. 6  illustrates a bidding for placement process  600 , according to an embodiment of the invention. In order to increase the likelihood of the artist&#39;s items being placed with the customer selected products, the artist  108  can bid against other artists  108  for placement. The artist  108  with the highest bid having a song associated with the music purchased by the customer  102  wins placement of the song with the customer  102 . Each time the artist  108  wins the chance to be paired with another artist, the placement service debits the bid amount from the artist&#39;s account. A bidding artist  108  can be outbid by another artist  108  when a higher bid is placed. The bidding artist  108  is notified when a higher bid is placed, and the bidding artist  108  has the opportunity to submit a higher bid. 
         [0105]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , in block  610 , the music placement service  106  receives the artist&#39;s music and artist information. The music placement service  106  stores the artist&#39;s music and artist information in the database  316  in block  612 . In an embodiment, the artist information comprises at least one of a song, a song identifier, song associations, an artist profile, an artist biography, account information, and account funds. 
         [0106]    In block  614 , the placement service  106  receives a bid from the artist  108 . The bid comprises the amount of money the artist  108  is willing pay to have his song placed with or delivered to the customer  102  who selects music that is associated with his song. In another embodiment, the bid is the amount of money an advertiser is willing to pay to have the artist&#39;s song delivered to the customer  102 . In block  616 , the placement service  106  stores the bid in the database  316 . 
         [0107]    In block  618 , the placement service  106  determines whether the artist  108  has the highest bid associated with a specific song, artist, or album. 
         [0108]    In block  620 , when the artist  108  does not have the highest bid, the placement service  106  notifies the artist  108  that a higher bid has been placed. The artist has the option of increasing his bid, which is received in block  614 . 
         [0109]    In block  622 , when the artist  108  has the highest bid, the placement service  106  debits the artist&#39;s account by the amount of the bid when the artist&#39;s song is placed with the customer  102 . 
         [0110]      FIG. 7  illustrates a music placement process  700 , according to another embodiment of the invention. In block  710 , the placement service  106  receives customer information from the music reseller  104 . In an embodiment, the customer information comprises the music the customer  102  selected, the unique customer identification, and the like. In an embodiment, the customer information further comprises the customer&#39;s delivery address, such as a post office box, a street address, or a web address. 
         [0111]    In block  712 , the placement service  106  determines which of the artist&#39;s songs stored in the database  316  are associated with the customer&#39;s music. 
         [0112]    In block  714 , the placement service  106  determines whether any of the matching songs were previously sent to the customer  102  associated with the unique customer identification. In an embodiment, artist&#39;s songs that were previously sent to the customer  102  are not sent to the same customer  102  to prevent customers  102  from receiving duplicate placed songs. 
         [0113]    In block  716 , the placement service  106  reviews the bids associated with the matching songs and determines which matching song has the highest bid. Further, the music placement service  106  verifies that the account associated with the matching song having the highest bid has sufficient funds. 
         [0114]    In block  718 , the placement service  106  places the matching song with the customer  102 . In an embodiment, the placement service  106  delivers the matching song with the highest bid to the customer  102 . In another embodiment, the placement service  106  delivers at least one matching song having the highest bid from an independent music artist and at least one matching song having the highest bid from a non-independent music artist to the customer  102 . In another embodiment, the music placement service  106  further delivers the customer&#39;s requested or purchased music to the customer  102 . In another embodiment, the customer  102  downloads the matching song or songs from the placement service  106 . 
         [0115]    In another embodiment the music reseller  104  delivers the matching song with the highest bid to the customer  102 . In another embodiment, the music reseller  104  delivers at least one matching song having the highest bid from an independent music artist and at least one matching song having the highest bid from a non-independent music artist to the customer  102 . In another embodiment, the music reseller  104  further delivers the customer&#39;s requested or purchased music to the customer  102 . In another embodiment, the customer  102  downloads the matching song or songs from the music reseller  104 . 
         [0116]    In block  720 , the placement service  106  debits the account associated with the placed song. 
         [0117]    In another embodiment, the placement service  106  selects at least one song to be placed with the customer&#39;s music. The songs may or may not be associated with the customer&#39;s music. The placement service  106  determines if any of the songs were previously sent to the customer  102  to prevent duplicate songs from being sent to the same customer  102 . The placement service  106  selects the song associated with the highest bid to be placed with the customer  102 . 
         [0118]    In an embodiment, the customer  102  can distribute or refer the placed song to friends. In an embodiment, the customers  102  send friends a link to the placed song. When the placed song is downloaded by the customer&#39;s referral, the artist&#39;s account is debited. 
         [0119]    In an embodiment, the customer  102  sends the placement service  106  reviews or ratings of the music placed with the customer  102 . In an embodiment, the placement service  106  stores the customer reviews in the database  316  and uses the customer reviews in the artist song selection process. In an embodiment, the customer  102  sends the placement service  106  reviews through the customer interface  310 . In another embodiment, customer  102  sends the placement service  106  reviews via the reseller&#39;s user interface. 
         [0120]      FIG. 8  illustrates a song selection process  800  having a non-independent artist path (blocks  812   a - 820   a ) and an independent artist path (blocks  812   b - 820   b ), according to an embodiment of the invention. In block  810 , the server  318  receives a request to find songs that are associated with the customer&#39;s selected song. 
         [0121]    Following the non-independent artist path, in block  812   a , the server  318  accesses the song profile database  322  containing song associations for songs enrolled by non-independent music artists  108 , such as, for example, recording companies. 
         [0122]    In block  814   a , the server  318  uses the search criteria to find the songs associated with the customer&#39;s selected song and generates a list of the non-independent artist matching songs. In an embodiment, the search criteria comprises at least one of associated song titles, associated artists, associated albums, associated moods, associated musical genres, associated instrumentation, associated musical themes, associated countries, and the like. 
         [0123]    In block  816   a , the server  318  sorts the list of matching songs found in block  814   a  by the bid associated with each song. In an embodiment, the server  318  sorts the list of matching songs in order of highest bid to lowest bid. 
         [0124]    In block  818   a , the server  318  sorts each sub-group of matching songs having the same bid amount by the date that the artist  108  enrolled the song in the placement service  106 . In an embodiment, the server  318  sorts the sub-groups in order of oldest date to most recent date. 
         [0125]    In block  820   a , the server  318  selects the non-independent artist song having the highest bid from the list of matching songs. In the event that more than one matching song has the highest bid, the server selects the non-independent artist song having the highest bid and the oldest enrollment date. The placement service  106  sends the selected song to the customer  102  and debits the artist&#39;s account by the bid amount. 
         [0126]    In an embodiment, the server  318  also processes the independent artist path to select a song from an independent music artist to place with the customer  102 . 
         [0127]    Following the independent artist path, in block  812   b , the server  318  accesses the song profile database  320  containing song associations for songs enrolled by independent music artists  108 . 
         [0128]    In block  814   b , the server  318  uses the search criteria to find the songs associated with the requested song and generates a list of the matching independent artist songs. In an embodiment, the search criteria comprises at least one of associated song titles, associated artists, associated albums, associated moods, associated musical genres, associated instrumentation, associated musical themes, associated countries, and the like. 
         [0129]    In block  816   b , the server  318  sorts the list of matching songs found in block  814   b  by the bid associated with each song. In an embodiment, the server  318  sorts the list of matching song in order of highest bid to lowest bid. 
         [0130]    In block  818   b , the server  318  sorts each sub-group of matching songs having the same bid amount by the date that the independent artist  108  enrolled the song in the placement service  106 . In an embodiment, the server  318  sorts the sub-groups in order of oldest date to most recent date. 
         [0131]    In block  820   b , the server  318  selects the independent artist song having the highest bid from the list of matching songs. In the event that more than one matching song has the highest bid, the server  318  selects the independent artist song having the highest bid and the oldest enrollment date. The placement service  106  sends the selected song to the customer  102  and debits the artist&#39;s account by the bid amount. 
         [0132]      FIG. 9  is an exemplary screen shot illustrating an Artist Administration page  900 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the Artist Administration page comprises a profile  910 , an account administration section  912 , and a song administration section  914 . 
         [0133]    The artist profile  910  comprises a brief description of the artist. In an embodiment, the artist  108  provides the artist profile  910 . 
         [0134]    The account information section  912  comprises the current account balance, account recharge options, artist contact information, and artist credit card information. 
         [0135]    The song administration section  914  comprises a list of the songs that the artist  108  has enrolled with the placement service  106 . The list comprises the song title, the name of the album that the song is from, the play time of the song, the number of times the song has been downloaded or placed with the customer  102 , and the amount of money that the artist  108  has spent for placing the song. 
         [0136]    In an embodiment, the artist  108  can change, add, or delete associations for a particular song from the song administration section  914 . In an embodiment, each artist song enrolled in the placement service  106  can be associated with more than one song, album, artist, or the like. The song administration section  914  further comprises the association that created the most downloads. 
         [0137]    For example, the artist&#39;s song “Ventura Highway” from the album “Complete Greatest Hits” has been placed with customers  102  eighty-two (82) times. Of all the associations the artist provided for “Ventura Highway”, the association to the song “Summer Breeze” provided the most associations. 
         [0138]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , which is described in more detail below, the association of “Summer Breeze” provided 31 placements. Further, the artist  108  spent $0.97 for each song placement that was associated with the song “Summer Breeze”. 
         [0139]      FIG. 10  is an exemplary screen shot illustrating a Song Association Administration page  1000 . The Song Association Administration page  1000  comprises artist song information  1010 , pairing suggestions  1012 , and a list of the music  1014  with which the artist&#39;s song is associated. In an embodiment, the associated music  1014  comprises artists, album, and songs. 
         [0140]    The artist song information  1010  comprises the song title, the tag information, such as the ID3 data, the song lyrics, and information concerning the album containing the artist&#39;s song, such as, for example, a picture of the album cover. 
         [0141]    The pairing suggestions  1012  comprise suggested artists, suggested albums, or suggested songs that are similar to the artist&#39;s song. In an embodiment, the placement service  106  provides the pairing suggestions  1012 . 
         [0142]    The list of associated music  1014  comprises the name of the associated music, the association type, such as, for example, album, song, or artist, the number of times the artist&#39;s song has been placed with the associated music, the bid amount that the artist  108  bid to place his song with the associated music, the current high bid amount, and the total amount the artist  108  has spend placing his song with the associated music. 
         [0143]    For example, the artist  108  has associated his song “Ventura Highway” with the artist “John Mayer”, the song “Fire &amp; Rain”, the song “How Sweet It Is”, the album “Eagles Greatest Hits”, and the other entries on the list  1014 . The artist  108  set a maximum bid amount of $0.45 to have “Ventura Highway” placed with “John Mayer” and his current high bid is $0.37. The artist&#39;s song “Ventura Highway” was placed four times with customers  102  that purchased “John Mayer” music from the music reseller  104  and the artist  108  has spent $1.48 placing his song “Ventura Highway” with customers  102  that purchased “John Mayer” music. 
         [0144]    While certain embodiments have been described using the digital music industry and digital music content as examples, the novel methods and systems described herein are applicable to a variety of products and industries. 
         [0145]    In another embodiment, the reseller  104  comprises an on-line video store and the product comprises digital video content. For example, the customer  102  requests or purchases a downloadable movie from a digital video reseller  104  and is offered a complementary movie that is similar to their purchased movie. The reseller  104  sends the placement service  106  customer information comprising, for example, the title of the purchased movie, movie subject, the customer&#39;s delivery address, and the like. 
         [0146]    The placement service  106  also receives short films, movies, and/or videos from film artists  108 . In addition, the film artists  108 , such as independent film artists, movie studios, or the like, provide associations associating their works with other film artists, movies, and the like. Using the systems and methods described above, the placement service  106  cross-references the associations with the characteristics of the customer&#39;s requested movie to determine which video content from the film artists  108  shares similar characteristics with the customer&#39;s requested movie. 
         [0147]    To increase the likelihood of placing their video with a similar movie, the film artists  108  can bid against one another for placement with the customer  102 . Using the systems and methods described above, the placement service  106  determines which film artist  108  associated with a video that is similar to the customer&#39;s requested movie has the highest bid. The film artist  108  with the highest bid and sufficient funds in his account pays to have his video delivered to the customer  102  along with the customer&#39;s requested movie. When the film artist&#39;s video is delivered to the customer  102 , the placement service  106  debits the film artist&#39;s account by the amount of the bid. 
         [0148]    In another embodiment, the reseller  104  comprises a traditional retail store, and the product is any physical product, data object, or the like. For example, the customer  102  purchases a beverage in a grocery store  104  and is offered at least one complementary sample of a similar beverage. The grocery store  104  sends the placement service customer information, such as the product&#39;s bar code information, the customer&#39;s loyalty card information, and the like. 
         [0149]    The placement service  106  receives samples of beverage products from other beverage manufacturers, providers or third party distributors  108 . Further, the beverage providers  108  provide associations between their beverage and other products. Using the systems and methods described above, the placement service  106  cross-references the associations with the characteristics of the customer&#39;s purchased beverage to determine which beverage or other product from the provider  108  shares similar characteristics with the customer&#39;s purchased beverage. 
         [0150]    To increase the likelihood of placing their beverage with a similar beverage, the providers  108  can pay a fee for placement with the customer  102 . Using the systems and methods described above, the placement service  106  determines which provider  108  associated with a beverage that is similar to the customer&#39;s purchased beverage has the highest fee. The provider  108  with the highest fee and sufficient funds in his account pays to have his beverage presented to the customer  102 . When the provider&#39;s beverage is presented to the customer  102 , the placement service  106  debits the provider&#39;s account by the amount of the fee. 
         [0151]    While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.

Technology Category: 3