Compression and remote storage apparatus for data, music and video
View Patent ↗A method for compressing digital content from a source, using a compression scheme selected from a group of available compression schemes, storing the compressed content at a central location, and retrieving the compressed content at a remote location. The method uses the steps of: a) at a remote location, prompting a user for and validating a user name and password; b) at a remote location, reading the source and prompting a user for tracks to be compressed, the user then identifying selected tracks; c) at a remote location, prompting a user for a compression scheme to be used to compress the selected tracks, the user then identifying a selected compression scheme from a group of possible compression schemes; d) at a remote location, compressing the selected tracks using the selected compression scheme; e) transmitting each selected track after compression through a communications link to a central location; f) storing each selected track in a digital content database at a central location; and g) at a remote location, retrieving tracks from the digital content database through a communications link to the central location.
1. A method for compressing digital content from a source, using a compression scheme selected from a group of available compression schemes, storing the compressed content at a central location, and retrieving the compressed content at a remote location, comprising the steps of:
a) at a remote location, prompting a user for and validating a user name and password;
b) at a remote location, reading the source and prompting a user for tracks to be compressed, the user then identifying selected tracks;
c) at a remote location, prompting a user for a compression scheme to be used to compress the selected tracks, the user then identifying a selected compression scheme from a group of possible compression schemes;
d) at a remote location, compressing the selected tracks using the selected compression scheme;
e) transmitting each selected track after compression through a communications link to a central location;
f) storing each selected track in a digital content database at a central location; and
g) at a remote location, retrieving tracks from the digital content database through a communications link to the central location.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of identifying the source and validating the source's identity against an authorization database at the central location.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of prompting the user for the quality of compression to be used with the selected compression scheme.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital content is music.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital content is video.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the source is a compact disc.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the source is a digital video disc.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communications link is the Internet.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of retrieving the digital content further comprises a step of streaming the digital content for replay to a remote location.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of retrieving the digital content further comprises a step of storing the retrieved digital content at the remote location.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of managing the digital content database from the remote location.
12. A method for compressing digital content from a source, using a compression scheme selected from a group of available compression schemes, storing the compressed content at a central location, and retrieving the compressed content at a remote location, comprising the steps of:
a) at a remote location, prompting a user for and validating a user name and password;
b) identifying the source and validating the source's identity against an authorization database at the central location;
c) at a remote location, reading the source and prompting a user for tracks to be compressed, the user then identifying selected tracks;
d) at a remote location, prompting a user for a compression scheme to be used to compress the selected tracks, the user then identifying a selected compression scheme from a group of possible compression schemes;
e) at a remote location, compressing the selected tracks using the selected compression scheme;
f) transmitting each selected track after compression through a communications link to a central location;
g) storing each selected track in a digital content database at a central location; and
h) at a remote location, retrieving tracks from the digital content database through a communications link to the central location.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of prompting the user for the quality of compression to be used with the selected compression scheme.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the digital content is music.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the digital content is video.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the source is a compact disc.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the source is a digital video disc.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the communications link is the Internet.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of retrieving the digital content further comprises a step of streaming the digital content for replay to a remote location.
20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of retrieving the digital content further comprises a step of storing the retrieved digital content at the remote location.
21. The method of claim 12 , further comprising a step of managing the digital content database from the remote location.
22. A method for compressing digital content from a source at a client, using a compression scheme selected from a group of available compression schemes, storing the compressed content at a central server, and retrieving the compressed content at a client, comprising the steps of:
at the client:
a) prompting a user for and validating a user name and password;
b) identifying the source and validating the source's identity against an authorization database at the server;
c) reading the source and prompting a user for tracks to be compressed, the user then identifying selected tracks;
d) prompting a user for a compression scheme to be used to compress the selected tracks, the user then identifying a selected compression scheme from a group of possible compression schemes;
e) compressing the selected tracks using the selected compression scheme;
f) transmitting each selected track after compression through a communications link to the server; at the server:
g) storing each selected track in a digital content database at the server; and at the client:
h) retrieving tracks from the digital content database through a communications link to the server.
23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising the step of prompting the user for the quality of compression to be used with the selected compression scheme.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the digital content is music.
25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the digital content is video.
26. The method of claim 22 , wherein the source is a compact disc.
27. The method of claim 22 , wherein the source is a digital video disc.
28. The method of claim 22 , wherein the communications link is the Internet.
29. The method of claim 22 , wherein the step of retrieving the digital content further comprises a step of streaming the digital content for replay to a client.
30. The method of claim 22 , wherein the step of retrieving the digital content further comprises a step of storing the retrieved digital content at the client.
31. The method of claim 22 , further comprising a step of managing the digital content database from the client.