Electronic media distribution system with media purchase interface
View Patent ↗User interface systems gain access to media data stored in a database for a predetermined amount of time. Access is gained through a server that presents to the interface a selection menu for selecting media data. Upon selection of media data the server accesses the data from the database and transmits it to the user interface. The server also presents to the user interface a content history menu by which ancillary data associated with the content played by the system during the predetermined time is presented. The ancillary data may include the title of the content, the artist of the content, the availability of the content for purchase and its price, the title of one or more compilations, e.g., CDs, on which the content is contained and the availability of the compilations/CD for purchase and the price.
1. A system for providing electronic media content to any one of a plurality of users, said system comprising:
a plurality of user interfaces each having a video monitor, an input device, speakers and an interface device;
a central database having a plurality of content stored therein, each content having ancillary data associated therewith, the ancillary data also stored in the database; and
a server interfacing with both the user interfaces and the central data base over communication lines, the server programmed to:
present to the video monitor a selection menu through which a compilation may be selected, the compilation comprising a plurality of content in a specified order;
in response to a selection of a compilation, present to the video monitor a player menu through which the compilation may be played and one or more of the plurality of content associated with the compilation may be selected for individual playing, the player menu including a history menu link;
in response to user interaction with the player, access the content for playing through the user interface; and
in response to linking to the history menu, present to the video monitor a history menu comprising data indicative of the content that has been played by the player in response to user interaction with the player and the ancillary data associated with that content.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the ancillary data comprises the title of the played content.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the ancillary data comprises an indication of the purchase availability of the played content.
4. The system of claim 1 where the history menu provides data only for content that is played by the player for a predetermined amount of time based on user interaction with the player menu.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein history menu comprises a link to a search menu by which the content data base may be searched.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the compilation has a programmed playlist order and the player menu comprises at least one of a content up user interface and a content down user interface through which the user may bypass the programmed playlist order and select individual content for playing.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the server is further programmed to present the player menu for a specific time duration and the history menu includes only the data associated with the content that has been played during that time.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the ancillary data comprises the artist of the played content.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the ancillary data comprises information on the artist.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the history menu provides an interface through which purchasable content may be purchased.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the interface comprises a selection interface by which content to purchase may be selected.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the ancillary data comprises the title of one or more content compilations with which the played content is associated.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the ancillary data comprises an indication of the purchase availability of the one or more content compilations.
14. The system of claim 12 wherein the ancillary data comprises information on the one or more content compilations.
15. A method of providing electronic media content to any one of a plurality of user interfaces each having a video monitor, an input device, speakers and an interface device, the content stored in a central database, each content having ancillary data associated therewith, the ancillary data also stored in the database said method comprising:
presenting to the video monitor a selection menu through which a compilation may be selected, the compilation comprising a plurality of content in a specified order;
in response to a selection of a compilation, presenting to the video monitor a player menu through which the compilation may be played and one or more of the plurality of content associated with the compilation may be selected for individual playing, the player menu including a history menu link;
in response to user interaction with the player, accessing the content for playing through the user interface; and
in response to linking to the history menu, presenting to the video monitor a history menu comprising data indicative of the content that has been played by the player in response to user interaction with the player and the ancillary data associated with that content.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the ancillary data comprises the title of the played content.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the ancillary data comprises the artist of the played content.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the ancillary data comprises an indication of the purchase availability of the played content.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein the ancillary data comprises the title of one or more content compilations with which the played content is associated.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein the player menu is presented for a specific time duration and the history menu includes only the data associated with the content that has been played during that time.