System for recording and distributing recorded information over the internet
View Patent ↗A system for recording and distributing information is described. The system includes a controller computer capable of establishing a communications connection via a communications interface with information providers and users. The controller computer also maintains a web site through which information providers can list and describe the information services to be distributed through the web site and through which users can browse to find information services to purchase. Information providers record information over the communications connection, which is stored in a database maintained on the controller computer. Users select to receive recorded information, which is delivered over the communications connection by the controller computer. The controller computer further has the capability of automatically billing users and crediting information providers for the information.
1. A computer system, comprising:
a memory to store a database;
a first logic unit linked with the database to establish a first communications connection with an information provider and to record a first communication in real time as the first communication is being articulated by the information provider over the first communications connection, the database to store the first recorded communication, wherein the database further stores information about an account set up for the information provider;
a second logic unit to provide to a user a list of recorded communications including the first recorded communication, the list including a rate per period of time to access a respective recorded communication, and the list including a user selectable link for the respective recorded communication, which when selected causes a central controller to facilitate establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user;
in response to the user selecting the user selectable link of a recorded communication from the list of recorded communications, the central controller to facilitate establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user; and
a third logic unit to bill the user in response to providing the selected communication to the user, wherein the third logic unit is to track how long the selected recorded communication is delivered to the user and to credit to the account an amount based upon how long the selected recorded communication is delivered minus a fee.
2. The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the database further stores a description of the the first communication.
3. The system as described in claim 2 , further comprising a fourth logic unit linked with the database to establish a computer connection with an information provider computer and to receive via the computer connection the description from the information provider.
4. The system as described in claim 3 , wherein the computer connection is established through a web site accessible by the information provider computer.
5. The system as described in claim 2 , wherein the second logic unit is to establish a computer connection with a user computer and to deliver the description to the user computer via the computer connection.
6. The system as described in claim 5 , wherein the computer connection is established through a web site accessible by the user computer.
7. The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the first communications connection includes an audio connection.
8. The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the first communications connection includes a video connection.
9. The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the first communications connection is established over a computer network.
10. The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the first communications connection is established over a telephone network.
11. The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the second communications connection includes an audio connection.
12. The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the second communications connection includes a video connection.
13. The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the second communications connection is established over a computer network.
14. The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the second communications connection is established over a telephone network.
15. The system as described in claim 1 , further comprising a fourth logic unit to track how long the selected recorded communication is delivered to the user and the third logic unit bills the user based upon how long the selected recorded communication is delivered.
16. The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the database further stores information about a user account.
17. The system as described in claim 16 , wherein the third logic unit is to deduct an amount from the user account for the selected recorded communication.
18. The system as described in claim 16 , wherein the third logic unit is to track how long the selected recorded communication is delivered to the user and to deduct from the user account an amount based upon how long the selected recorded communication is delivered.
19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first communications connection further comprises a telephone connection that supports two way voice communication that is at least one of a two way live conversation, a one way recording, or a one way live communication.
20. A method of information recording and delivering, the method comprising:
establishing a first communications connection with an information provider;
recording a first communication in real time as the first communication is being articulated by the information provider over the first communications connection;
providing to a user a list of recorded communications, including the first recorded communication, the list including a rate per period of time to access a respective recorded communication, and the list including a user selectable link for the respective recorded communication, which when selected causes a central controller to facilitate establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user;
in response to the user selecting the user selectable link of a recorded communication from the list of recorded communications, the central controller facilitating establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user; and
billing the user in response to providing the selected communication to the user, comprising tracking how long the selected recorded communication is delivered to the user and crediting to an account set up for the information provider an amount based upon how long the selected recorded communication is delivered minus a fee.
21. The method as described in claim 20 , further comprising:
storing a description of the first recorded communication provided by the information provider; and
including the description within the list of recorded communications.
22. The method as described in claim 21 , further comprising:
establishing a first computer connection with an information provider computer; and
receiving the description from the information provider over the first computer connection.
23. The method as described in claim 21 , further comprising:
establishing a second computer connection with a user computer, wherein the list of recorded communications is delivered to the user via the second computer connection.
24. The method as described in claim 21 wherein the list is delivered to the user in response to a keyword search.
25. The method as described in claim 21 wherein the list is delivered to the user in response to a category selection.
26. The method as described in claim 20 , wherein the first communications connection includes an audio connection.
27. The method as described in claim 20 , wherein the first communications connection includes an a video connection.
28. The method as described in claim 20 , wherein the first communications connection is established over a computer network.
29. The method as described in claim 20 , wherein the first communications connection is established over a telephone network.
30. The method as described in claim 20 , wherein the second communications connection includes an audio connection.
31. The method as described in claim 20 , wherein the second communications connection includes a video connection.
32. The method as described in claim 20 , wherein the second communications connection is established over a computer network.
33. The method as described in claim 20 , wherein the second communications connection is established over a telephone network.
34. A machine readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, which when executed, perform a method comprising:
establishing a first communications connection with an information provider;
recording a first communication in real time as the first communication is being articulated by the information provider over the first communications connection;
providing to a user a list of recorded communications, including the first recorded communication, the list including a rate per period of time to access a respective recorded communication, and the list including a user selectable link for the respective recorded communication, which when selected causes a central controller to facilitate establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user;
in response to the user selecting the user selectable link of a recorded communication from the list of recorded communications, the central controller facilitating establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user; and
billing the user in response to providing the selected communication to the user, comprising tracking how long the selected recorded communication is delivered to the user and crediting to an account set up for the information provider an amount based upon how lone the selected recorded communication is delivered minus a fee.
35. A system for information recording and delivering, the system comprising:
means for establishing a first communications connection with an information provider;
means for recording a first communication in real time as the first communication is being articulated by the information provider over the first communications connection;
means for providing to a user a list of recorded communications, including the first recorded communication, the list including a rate per period of time to access a respective recorded communication, and the list including a user selectable link for the respective recorded communication, which when selected causes a central controller to facilitate establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user;
a central controller means for facilitating establishing a connection with the user to provide the selected recorded communication to the user, in response to the user selecting the user selectable link of a recorded communication from the list of recorded communications; and
means for billing the user in response to providing the selected communication to the user, comprising means for tracking how long the selected recorded communication is delivered to the user and for crediting to an account set up for the information provider an amount based upon how long the selected recorded communication is delivered minus a fee.