IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,401,974
Granted Patent B2
US 8,401,974 · App. 12/417,575 · Granted Mar 19, 2013

Method, system, and graphic user interface for enabling a customer to access a media file

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,401,974
App. No.
12/417,575
Granted
Mar 19, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, system, GUI, apparatus, and computer readable media for enabling a customer to access to a media file uploaded by a user are provided. A user profile may be generated using received login and profile information. The user profile may be hosted on, for example, a web site, SMS/MMS gateway, and a WAP site. A media file may be received from the user and may be upload to the user profile. The media file may be associated with a user account. A request to access the media file may be received from a customer. An account associated with the customer may be updated to indicate their requested access to the media file. The customer may then be enabled to access the media file. The user's account may be updated to indicate the transaction.

Claims (44)

1. A method for enabling a customer to access to a media file uploaded by a user to a hosted user profile, the method comprising:

receiving login information from the user via at least one of a website, a short message service (SMS)/multimedia messaging service (MMS) gateway, and a wireless application protocol (WAP) site;

receiving profile information from the user via at least one of the website, the SMS/MMS gateway, and the WAP site;

generating the user profile based on at least one of the received profile information and the received login information using a content delivery platform and content management system;

hosting the user profile on at least one of the website, the SMS/MMS gateway, and the WAP site;

generating a user account based on at least one of the received profile information and the received login information using a subscription and purchase management system;

storing at least one of the user profile and user account in a database;

receiving a media file from the user via at least one of the website, the SMS/MMS gateway, and the WAP site;

uploading the media file to the user profile using the content delivery platform and content management system;

associating the media file with the user account using the subscription and purchase management system;

receiving a request to access the media file from a customer via at least one of the website, the SMS/MMS gateway, and the WAP site, wherein the customer is associated with a customer account;

updating the customer account to indicate the requested access to the media file using the subscription and purchase management system;

enabling the customer to access the media file using the content delivery platform and content management system; and

updating the user account to indicate the customer's access of the media file using the subscription and purchase management system.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

verifying that uploading the media file complies with one or more applicable copyright laws using the content delivery platform and content management system.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

assigning a unique identifier to at least one of the user profile and the media file using the content delivery platform and content management system;

cataloging a transaction related to at least one of the user profile and the media file based on the assigned unique identifier using the content delivery platform and content management system; and

preparing a statement for the user based on a cataloged transaction using the subscription and purchase management system.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing at least one of a set of sales information and a set of promotional information to the user via at least one of the website, the SMS/MMS gateway, and the WAP site;

receiving a selection of at least one of the set of sales information and the set of promotional information via at least one of the website, the SMS/MMS gateway, and the WAP site; and

adding the selected set of information to the user profile using the subscription and purchase management system.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the set of sales information and the set of promotion information is at least one of a widget, a link, and an application programming interface (API).

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

receiving a modification of the selected set of information via at least one of the website, the SMS/MMS gateway, and the WAP site.

7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

adding the selected set of information to an application external to at least one of the hosting website, the SMS/MMS gateway, and the WAP site.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media file is at least one of an MP3 file, a graphic file, a ringtone file, a document file, a game file, a wallpaper file, and a music file.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the customer accesses the media file via a mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the customer account is an account with at least one of a bank, a utility provider, a mobile communications provider, a telecommunications provider, a lending institution, and an electronic commerce institution, wherein the account is associated with the customer.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing the media file in a digital library of media files.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

classifying the media file into at least one category using the received profile information.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

providing information to a customer regarding the media file based on its classification.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the digital library includes media files imported directly from at least one of a media distribution company and a record label.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

updating the user account to indicate the customer's communication with of at least one of the website, the SMS/MMS gateway, and the WAP site hosting the media file.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing the customer with information regarding at least one good or service when the customer communicates with at least one of the website, the SMS/MMS gateway, and the WAP site hosting the media file.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling the customer to access the media file includes: enabling the customer to download the media file.

Assignments (21)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT TO CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: IHEART COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 075557/0138 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS (REEL/FRAME 050017/0882) Recorded Jan 1, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069795/0626 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS (REEL/FRAME 049067/0800) Recorded Dec 31, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
To: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069795/0423 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS (REEL/FRAME 049079/0814) Recorded Dec 31, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
To: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069795/0488 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 29, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 069795/0912 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069793/0758 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069794/0248 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 27, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069792/0335 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 23, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069762/0453 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Feb 5, 2020
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052144/0833 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 23, 2019
From: IHEART COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U. S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 051143/0579 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2019
From: IHEART COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 050017/0882 →
RELEASE OF THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 034008/0027 Recorded May 10, 2019
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: AMFM TEXAS BROADCASTING, LP; AMFM RADIO LICENSES, LLC; CAPSTAR RADIO OPERATING COMPANY; CAPSTAR TX, LLC; CITICASTERS CO.; CITICASTERS LICENSES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.; IHEARMEDIA + ENTERTAINMENT, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL INVESTMENTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049149/0773 →
RELEASE OF THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 035109/0168 Recorded May 10, 2019
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: AMFM RADIO LICENSES, LLC; CAPSTAR RADIO OPERATING COMPANY; CAPSTAR TX, LLC; CITICASTERS CO.; CITICASTERS LICENSES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.; IHEARMEDIA + ENTERTAINMENT, INC.; AMFM TEXAS BROADCASTING, LP; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049149/0714 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2019
From: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049067/0800 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2019
From: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049067/0606 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2019
From: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 049079/0814 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 27, 2015
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035109/0168 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 21, 2014
From: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 034026/0037 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 15, 2014
From: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL INVESTMENTS, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 034008/0027 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2012
From: THUMBPLAY RINGTONES LLC
To: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 028375/0180 →