Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090063293 | Dynamic Presentation of Location-Specific Information - Improved approaches to allow a portable electronic device to dynamically present location-specific information while the portable electronic device is at a predetermined location are disclosed. In one embodiment, the portable electronic device has a display that can display the location-specific information and has wireless capabilities for use in receiving the location-specific information from the server. The location-specific information can, for example, augment other information that is to be presented on the display. In one embodiment, the location-specific information can be information pertaining to a media item being played in an establishment, such as a store, where the portable electronic device is located. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063301 | Digital Asset Delivery to Different Devices - Improved approaches to electronically deliver digital assets to appropriate electronic devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user can purchase access rights to one or more digital assets from an online digital asset store, and then the one or more digital assets can be electronically delivered to one or more electronic devices associated with the user. Advantageously, different types of digital assets can be delivered to different electronic devices of the user, whereby limited resources of the different electronic devices can be used in a more intelligent manner. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063652 | Localized Media Content Delivery - Improved approaches to make data available locally at business establishments are disclosed. In one embodiment, data anticipated to be soon to be requested by patrons of a particular business establishment can be pre-loaded to a local server provided at the particular business establishment. By pre-loading data that is anticipated to be soon to be requested by patrons of the particular business establishment, local network access traffic and congestion at the retail establishment can be reduced. The improved approaches are particularly well suited for media content data that is likely to be requested by patrons at business (e.g., retail) establishments. Advantageously, patrons can get rapid download of media content data associated with one or more media items that the patrons have purchased from an online media store. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063660 | SYNCHRONIZATION AND TRANSFER OF DIGITAL MEDIA ITEMS - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for synchronizing and transferring digital media items. One or more media items are received, from a network operating environment, at a first device. A first media database on the first device, including metadata associated with the media items, is synchronized with a second media database on a second device. The one or more media items are moved from the first device to the second device. The one or more media items are copied from the second device to the first device. | 03-05-2009 |
20090064056 | Graphical User Interface with Location-Specific Interface Elements - Improved approaches to allow a portable electronic device to dynamically present location-specific information while the portable electronic device is at a predetermined location are disclosed. In one embodiment, the portable electronic device has a display that can display the location-specific information and has wireless capabilities for use in receiving the location-specific information from the server. The location-specific information can, for example, augment other information that is to be presented on the display. In one embodiment, the location-specific information can be information pertaining to a media item being played in an establishment, such as a store, where the portable electronic device is located. | 03-05-2009 |
20090144153 | Techniques for acquiring a set of digital media assets - Techniques to facilitate acquiring a media set, or a related series, of digital media assets from an on-line media store are disclosed. A user can view various media sets that have been listed as available for purchase from the on-line media store. A user can choose to purchase a particular media set even though some or all digital media assets to be included in the particular media set are not yet available. Subsequent to the purchase of the particular media set, the digital media assets of the particular media set can be delivered to the user once the digital media assets become available. Since the monitoring is computerized and the delivery is electronic, once digital media assets becomes available, delivery can be automatically processed. | 06-04-2009 |
20100107090 | REMOTE LINKING TO MEDIA ASSET GROUPS - Improved approaches to access information concerning media asset groups are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first web page can include a user-selectable control that, upon selection, can request information on a particular media asset group from a remote media asset web server. In response to the request, the remote media asset web server can return a second web page containing the information on the particular media asset group. | 04-29-2010 |
20100185655 | Re-Download Management of Previously Acquired Digital Media Assets - Improved techniques that enable users to download digital media assets are disclosed. According to one aspect, digital media assets that a user has acquired from a remote media repository can be authorized for download multiple times. This, for example, allows a user to subsequently re-downloaded digital media assets that the user previously acquired. In one embodiment, digital media assets that a user previously downloaded to a user client device from a remote media repository can be made available to the user for subsequent re-download. Advantageously, a remote media repository can, in effect, provide users with a remote backup for previously acquired digital media assets. | 07-22-2010 |
20100235254 | Application Products with In-Application Subsequent Feature Access Using Network-Based Distribution System - An improved system, device and method for accessing locked (secured) features of digital products with assistance from a product distribution site are disclosed. In one embodiment, a digital product can be submitted to a product distribution site for network-based distribution. The digital product can be initially provided such that it provides base functionality but contains one or more locked features that, if unlocked, can supplement the base functionality. If the digital product that has been submitted is approved, the digital product becomes available at the product distribution site such that users can search, browse and purchase the digital product. Once the digital product has been purchased, download and installed on a user's computing device, the user is able to utilize the digital product. However, since the digital product itself includes one or more locked features, the user is not able to utilize such features until a subsequent purchase is performed. Advantageously, the subsequent purchase can be invoked from the digital product. In doing so, the digital product interacts (directly or indirectly) with a remote server (e.g., the product distribution site) to purchase access or usage for one or more of the locked features within the digital product. Once access or usage for the one or more locked features has been purchased, the one or more locked features within the digital product can be unlocked and thereafter utilized. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235889 | APPLICATION PRODUCTS WITH IN-APPLICATION SUBSEQUENT FEATURE ACCESS USING NETWORK-BASED DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - An improved system, device and method for accessing features of digital products with assistance from a product distribution site are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user of a client device may have previously acquired rights or permissions to access one or more supplemental features of one or more digital products (e.g., application programs). Typically, a user would purchase an application program and then sometime later also purchase supplemental features for use with the application program. In one implementation the supplemental features can be purchased using the application program with the assistance of a remotely located product distribution server. Sometime thereafter, in some cases, the user desires to make use of such previously acquired one or more supplemental features on another client device. For example, the user may wish or need to transfer from a former client device to a new client device. As another example, the user may wish to utilized (e.g., share) such previously acquired one or more supplemental features with another client device associated with the user, such as another client device within user's account. | 09-16-2010 |
20110184880 | Subscription Renewals for Digital Content - Subscriptions for digital products including digital content are disclosed. A subscription for a digital product can provide digital content to subscribers for a period of time. In one embodiment, a subscription for a digital product can be purchased from an online store, and then a subscriber can receive digital content associated with the subscription. The subscription may require renewal if the subscription is to be continued. A subscription server can be provided to manage renewal of subscriptions, including payment of subscription renewal fees, so that subscriptions can be renewed and thus continued. Receipts for payments can be electronically distributed so that, upon renewal, digital content providers for subscriptions can verify that a given subscriber has renewed a particular subscription for a digital product. | 07-28-2011 |
20120022931 | On-Line Bulk Acquisition of Digital Products - Techniques and systems for acquisition of digital assets in a bulk fashion are disclosed. In one embodiment, upon accessing an online store, a digital asset and a quantity to be acquired (e.g., purchased) can be identified. In some cases, a discounted cost for acquisition of the quantity of the digital asset can be permitted, provided the quantity is sufficient. After payment of the discounted cost, a set of redeemable codes can be electronically provided. Each of the redeemable codes can be thereafter redeemed for acquisition of the digital asset. | 01-26-2012 |
20120137376 | RE-DOWNLOAD MANAGEMENT OF PREVIOUSLY ACQUIRED DIGITAL MEDIA ASSETS - Improved techniques that enable users to download digital media assets are disclosed. According to one aspect, digital media assets that a user has acquired from a remote media repository can be authorized for download multiple times. This, for example, allows a user to subsequently re-downloaded digital media assets that the user previously acquired. In one embodiment, digital media assets that a user previously downloaded to a user client device from a remote media repository can be made available to the user for subsequent re-download. Advantageously, a remote media repository can, in effect, provide users with a remote backup for previously acquired digital media assets. | 05-31-2012 |
20120233031 | Intelligent Delivery and Acquisition of Digital Assets - Improved techniques and systems for delivery and acquisition of digital assets are disclosed. The techniques and systems are especially suitable and useful for delivering digital assets (e.g., media assets) that are available for acquisition and electronic delivery from online stores to electronic devices. In accordance with one aspect, when a digital asset is acquired form an online store via an electronic device associated with a user, the digital asset can be arranged for delivery to a number of other of electronic devices also associated with the user. It will be appreciated that the digital asset can be delivered and acquired without requiring explicit user input or instruction in accordance with another aspect. Other aspects of the techniques and systems include customization of configuration and user interfaces that are provided to facilitate acquisition of digital assets in a more efficient manner. | 09-13-2012 |
20120271894 | Method and System for Sharing Information About Media Items - A method for sharing information between users of a media management application is disclosed. In one embodiment, a server computer receives a media information share request, retrieves artist or album information according to the media information share request, constructs a media message form, and sends the completed media message form to the client computer. The server computer then receives a completed media message form from a client computer, constructs a media message containing artist or album information according to the media message form, extracts a list of e-mail addresses from the media message form, and sends a media message to at least one e-mail address in the list of e-mail addresses. | 10-25-2012 |
20120311081 | Management of Network-Based Digital Data Repository - Improved techniques and systems for storage, delivery and acquisition of digital assets are disclosed. The techniques and systems are suitable and useful for storing, delivering and accessing digital assets (e.g., media assets) that have been acquired from online stores. The techniques and systems are also suitable and useful for storing, delivering and accessing digital assets that have been acquired from other than from online stores. Regardless, the digital assets become accessible from a network-based digital data repository (e.g., cloud data storage) via electronic devices (e.g., user devices) and thus usable by the electronic devices. The digital assets can include media assets and/or non-media assets. | 12-06-2012 |
20120323944 | MANAGEMENT OF NETWORK-BASED DIGITAL DATA REPOSITORY - Improved techniques and systems for storage, delivery and acquisition of digital assets are disclosed. The techniques and systems are suitable and useful for storing, delivering and accessing digital assets (e.g., media assets) that have been acquired from online stores. The techniques and systems are also suitable and useful for storing, delivering and accessing digital assets that have been acquired from other than from online stores. Regardless, the digital assets become accessible from a network-based digital data repository (e.g., cloud data storage) via electronic devices (e.g., user devices) and thus usable by the electronic devices. The digital assets can include media assets and/or non-media assets. | 12-20-2012 |
20140164240 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NETWORK-BASED ALLOWANCE CONTROL - Methods and systems for network-based allowance control are disclosed. A user creates an allowance in association with a recipient account such that funds are available in the recipient account for use by a recipient for the purchase of goods over a network (e.g., Internet). Specifically, by creating an allowance, a user initiates a periodic (recurring) transfer (i.e., credit) of an amount of money (i.e., funds) to the recipient account. This money may then be used by the recipient for the purchase of goods over the network. The recipient account may be related to a parent account as a sub-account, enabling the user of the parent account to monitor purchases made by the recipient, as well as limit the items that can be purchased by the recipient. | 06-12-2014 |