Method for commercialization and advertising using a personal media player
Methods for disseminating a portable, pre-configured, self-contained media player with non-removable, non-rerecordable digital content is provided. By binding the content to a portable and inexpensive media player, enhanced dissemination of the content, whether in audio and/or video form, to consumers can be achieved. Due to the portability and “instant-on” capability of a self-contained media player, consumers can be more effectively targeted with advertising or event-related information. Due to the non-removability of the content in the media player, the content provider's concerns regarding copying of the content can be minimized.
1 . A method of distributing content, comprising the steps of:
storing the content in a digitized format in a fixed memory of a portable, self-contained, playback-only media player, wherein the memory is non-consumer recordable and the digitized content is non-transferable from the player.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the digitized content is electronically stored in the fixed memory.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
bundling a non-removable headphone with the media player.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
providing playback control with the media player.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
providing a video screen in the player.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
providing a replaceable power source in the player.
7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the power source is a fuel cell.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the content is audio content.
9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the audio content is spoken word.
10 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the audio content is an audio book.
11 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the audio content is music.
12 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the content is video content.
13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the content is at least one of audio and visual.
14 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the video content is a movie.
15 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the video content is a music video.
16 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the content is entertainment.
17 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
placing an image related to the content on an exterior of the media player.
18 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein an advertisement is placed in the content.
19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein an image related to the content is placed on an exterior of the media player, and the advertisement is related to the content.
20 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
conforming an exterior shape of the media player to relate to the content.
21 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
distributing the digitized content in the media player to at least one or more consumers.
22 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the step of storing includes downloading the digitized content into the memory, prior to distributing the media player to the consumer.
23 . The method according to claim 21 , further comprising the step of:
establishing a forum to enable consumers with players to barter their players.
24 . A method of distributing content, comprising the steps of:
sponsoring an activity which solicits at least one or more attendees; and
distributing the content to an attendee in a portable, self-contained, playback-only media player, wherein the content is digitally stored in a fixed memory of the player, and the memory is non-consumer recordable, and the digitized content is non-transferable from the player.
25 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the digitized content is electronically stored in the fixed memory.
26 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising the step of:
bundling a non-removable headphone with the media player.
27 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising the step of:
providing playback control with the media player.
28 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising the step of:
providing a video screen in the player.
29 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising the step of:
providing a replaceable power source in the player.
30 . The method according to claim 29 , wherein the power source is a fuel cell.
31 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the content is audio content.
32 . The method according to claim 30 , wherein the content is an audio book.
33 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the content is video content.
34 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the content is audio-visual content.
35 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the content is related to the activity.
36 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the content is entertainment.
37 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising the step of:
binding an activity-related image to an exterior of the media player.
38 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein an advertisement is placed in the content.
39 . The method according to claim 38 , wherein the advertisement is related to the content, and an image related to the activity is placed on an exterior of the media player.
40 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising the step of:
conforming a shape of the media player to an activity-related image.
41 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising the step of:
establishing a forum to enable attendees with players to barter their players.
42 . A method of distributing content, comprising the steps of:
providing a product;
bundling with the product a portable, self-contained, playback-only media player, containing product-related content digitally stored in a fixed memory of the player, wherein the memory is non-consumer recordable, and the digitized content is non-transferable from the player.
43 . The method according to claim 42 , further comprising:
binding an image of the product to an exterior of the media player.
44 . The method according to claim 42 , further comprising:
conforming a shape of the media player to relate to the product.
45 . The method according to claim 42 , wherein the digitized content is electronically stored in the fixed memory.
46 . The method according to claim 42 , further comprising the step of:
bundling a non-removable headphone with the media player.
47 . The method according to claim 42 , further comprising the step of:
providing playback control with the media player.
48 . The method according to claim 42 , further comprising the step of:
providing a video screen in the player.
49 . The method according to claim 42 , further comprising the step of:
providing a replaceable power source in the player.
50 . The method according to claim 42 , wherein the power source is a fuel cell.
51 . The method according to claim 42 , wherein the content is information relating to the product.
52 . The method according to claim 51 , wherein the information is instructional and relates to a use of the product.
53 . The method according to claim 42 , wherein the product is a service.
54 . The method according to claim 42 , wherein the product is medically related.
55 . The method according to claim 42 , wherein the product is computer related.
56 . The method according to claim 42 , wherein the product is mechanically related.
57 . A method of distributing content, comprising the steps of:
displaying a portable, self-contained, playback-only media player, containing content stored in a digitized format in a fixed memory of the player, wherein the memory is non-consumer recordable, and the digitized content is non-transferable from the player; and
at least renting or selling the player to a consumer.
58 . The method according to claim 57 , wherein the digitized content is electronically stored in the fixed memory.
59 . The method according to claim 57 , further comprising the step of:
bundling a non-removable headphone with the media player.
60 . The method according to claim 57 , further comprising the step of:
providing playback control with the media player.
61 . The method according to claim 57 , further comprising the step of:
providing a video screen in the player.
62 . The method according to claim 57 , further comprising the step of:
providing a replaceable power source in the player.
63 . The method according to claim 62 , wherein the power source is a fuel cell.
64 . The method according to claim 57 , wherein the content is audio content.
65 . The method according to claim 57 , wherein the audio content is spoken word.
66 . The method according to claim 64 , wherein the audio content is music.
67 . The method according to claim 64 , wherein the audio content is an audio book.
68 . The method according to claim 57 , wherein the content is video content.
69 . The method according to claim 68 , wherein the video content is a movie.
70 . The method according to claim 68 , wherein the video content is a music video.
71 . The method according to claim 57 , further comprising the step of:
placing an image related to the content on an exterior of the media player.
72 . The method according to claim 57 , wherein an advertisement is placed in the content.
73 . The method according to claim 72 , wherein the advertisement is related to the content, and an image related to the content is placed on an exterior of the media player.
74 . The method according to claim 57 , further comprising the step of:
conforming an exterior shape of the media player to relate to the content.
75 . The method according to claim 57 , further comprising the step of:
loading the digitized content into the memory, prior to the at least renting or selling the player to the consumer.
76 . The method according to claim 57 , wherein the content is instructional.
77 . The method according to claim 57 , wherein the content is informational.
78 . The method according to claim 57 , wherein the content is educational.
79 . The method according to claim 57 , wherein the content is promotional.
80 . The method according to claim 57 , wherein the content is sports-related.
81 . The method according to claim 57 , wherein the content is entertainment-related.