System And Method For Concurrently Downloading Digital Content And Recording To Removable Media

Abstract

A method, system and program product to simultaneously download and burn digital media files via the Internet, including audio, video, video games and other digital content and data, onto removable storage media on personal computer burners. Large media files can be downloaded by pushing files or portions of files to computer memory and simultaneously downloading and burning files selected by a user. Once a file is burned to disc, it is then deleted from the computer's memory. A lossless compression scheme is used for audio files to decrease file size, making the downloading process faster and requiring less hard drive space. Content files other than audio are downloaded and burned through the same one-step process, without using a lossless compression scheme. An alternative method delays the start of the burn process to ensure that the downloaded files are written continuously to the removable storage media.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 426,488, filed Jun. 27, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 694,332, filed Jun. 27, 2005.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to digital media and, more specifically, to digital media distribution, including music, video, video games and other digital content.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Digital downloading of media has become a widely accepted consumer practice and is now a viable way for businesses and individuals to distribute music, movies and other digital media and data files. However, personal computer storage limitations and significant downloading time have inhibited the downloading of large media files in their original format. In current practice, digital content, particularly audio, is often compressed in order to decrease files to manageable sizes, thus degrading the quality of the media. As a result,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Enables consumers to obtain original-quality media products directly on removable media without significant hard drive storage, allowing for efficient and convenient distribution of larger, higher-quality digital content.

Problems solved by technology

However, personal computer storage limitations and significant downloading time have inhibited the downloading of large media files in their original format.

In current practice, digital content, particularly audio, is often compressed in order to decrease files to manageable sizes, thus degrading the quality of the media.

As a result, consumers purchasing digital files often must purchase an inferior product as compared to purchasing the product in its original form as a physical media product.

However, by compressing the audio, the files lose fidelity, and the ultimate result is an audio file with inferior sound quality when compared to the original audio product.

Consumers are also restricted by digital rights management (DRM) algorithms embedded in most currently distributed digital music, which limit playback to certain portable hardware.

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