Methods and devices for digital media distribution
A brokerage for digital media distribution allows initial recipients of digital media to promote and generate additional distribution of the digital media. The brokerage may involve transferring a copy of the digital media from the device of the initial recipient to a device of an entity interested in obtaining the same digital media, and the device of the entity may then complete the transfer by submitting a record of the transaction that identifies the recipient who has generated the sale such that this initial recipient is compensated by the digital media distributor. The brokerage may alternatively involve directing the device of the receiving entity to a network link that provides access to the digital media and that is associated with the initial recipient. The device of the entity may then complete the transfer that causes the initial recipient to be compensated by the digital media distributor.
1. A method of distributing digital media, comprising:
receiving at a first device a first copy of the digital media from a server, the first copy including:
first media data that identifies the first copy as being associated with the first device;
second media data that specifies that the first device has authorization to playback the first copy; and
third media data that specifies that the first device has authorization to transfer at least one additional copy of the digital media made from the first copy, wherein a transfer includes providing by the first device transfer media data that identifies the additional copy uniquely relative to the first device;
receiving at the first device a first request to transfer one of the at least one additional copies of the digital media to a second device;
creating at the first device a second copy of the digital media in response to receiving the first request, the second copy including:
the first media data; and
the transfer media data;
transferring by the first device the second copy to the second device; and
sending from the first device a first transaction record to the server, the first transaction record including:
the first media data; and
the transfer media data.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second copy requires authorization data for playback, the method further comprising:
sending from the second device a second transaction record to the server, the second transaction record including:
the first media data;
the transfer media data; and
a request to obtain authorization data for the second copy; and
receiving at the second device fourth media data from the server in response to sending the second transaction record, wherein the fourth media data specifies that the second device has authorization to playback the second copy.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising paying from a first entity associated with the server a fee to a second entity associated with the first device in response to sending the first transaction record.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the transfer media data includes a sale price; and
paying the fee to the second entity comprises paying an amount based on the sale price.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising verifying at the server that the sale price included in the transfer media data in the first transaction record is the same as the sale price included in the transfer media data in the second transaction record prior to:
paying the fee; and
sending the fourth media data.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third media data further specifies playback control for the at least one additional copy.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the playback control comprises a grace period of playback of the one additional copy prior to authorization data being required.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the playback control comprises a limitation on the period of playback of the one additional copy.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising utilizing digital rights management to control playback of the digital media.
10. A method of distributing digital media, comprising:
receiving at a first device a first copy of the digital media from a server, wherein the first copy includes:
first media data that specifies that the first device has authorization to playback the first copy; and
a link for accessing an additional copy of the digital media, wherein the link is associated with the first device;
receiving at the first device a first request for the digital media from a second device;
sending from the first device the link to the second device in response to receiving the first request;
receiving at the server an attempt to access the link by the second device; and
receiving at the second device a second copy of the digital media from the server in response to receiving the attempt to access the link.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second copy includes second media data that specifies that the second device has authorization to playback the second copy.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving the attempt to access the link by the second device comprises receiving first request data that identifies:
the second device; and
a form of payment by the second device.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
generating at the server a record of the attempt to access the link in response to receiving the attempt to access the link; and
paying an entity associated with the first device for the record of the attempt.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
receiving the attempt to access the link further comprises receiving a sale price from the second device; and
paying the entity for the record of the attempt comprises paying an amount based on the sale price.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving at the server an indication of the sale price from the first device;
the method further comprising verifying at the server that the sale price as received from the attempt is the same as the sale price as received from the first device prior to paying the entity for the request.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein:
the second copy requires authorization data for playback;
the method further comprising:
receiving at the server an indication of the sale price from the first device; and
verifying at the server that the sale price as received from the attempt is the same as the sale price as received from the first device prior to providing authorization data.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second copy includes second media data that specifies playback control.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the playback control comprises a grace period of playback of the second copy prior to authorization data being required for playback.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the playback control comprises a limitation on the period of playback of the second copy.
20. Machine-executable code embedded within a tangible medium and including instructions for carrying out a method of distributing digital media, the method comprising:
receiving at a first device a first copy of the digital media from a server, the first copy including:
first media data that identifies the first copy as being associated with the first device;
second media data that specifies that the first device has authorization to playback the first copy; and
third media data that specifies that the first device has authorization to transfer at least one additional copy of the digital media made from the first copy, wherein a transfer includes providing by the first device transfer media data that identifies the additional copy uniquely relative to the first copy;
receiving at the first device a first request to transfer one of the at least one additional copies of the digital media to a second device;
creating at the first device a second copy of the digital media in response to receiving the first request, the second copy including:
the first media data; and
the transfer media data;
transferring by the first device the second copy to the second device; and
sending from the first device a first transaction record to the server, the first transaction record including:
the first media data; and
the transfer media data.
21. The machine-executable code of claim 20 , wherein the second copy requires authorization data for playback, the method further comprising:
sending from the second device a second transaction record to the server, the second transaction record including:
the first media data;
the transfer media data; and
a request to obtain authorization data for the second copy; and
receiving at the second device fourth media data from the server in response to sending the second transaction record, wherein the fourth media data specifies that the second device has authorization to playback the second copy.