Method and Apparatus for Obtaining Digital Objects in a Communication Network

Abstract

A technique for obtaining digital objects (such as songs or video clips) from information providers in data communication networks (such as the Internet); the digital objects being sent through channels (such as Internet radio channels or Internet TV channels) or being otherwise made available. The end-user gains several advantages over techniques supported by the known art. For example, end-users may easily locate desired digital objects, need not be connected during object capture, can be connected through a low speed connection, does not have to have a high capacity computer, can obtain digital objects legally, can receive supplemental information associated with the digital objects, can quickly scan a vast number of digital object having been sent earlier, need not have the required storage space for the digital objects available during object capture, can easily navigate through a multitude of digital object channels, can easily obtain objects with a certain desired quality, can easily obtain objects in a certain desired format, can legally obtain digital objects at no cost and can prove that the digital objects were actually obtained legally.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 017,717, filed Jan. 22, 2008, which claimed priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 886,026, filed Jan. 22, 2007. Both of these earlier applications were entitled “Method and Apparatus for Obtaining Digital Objects in a Communication Network” and are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for obtaining digital objects in a communication network. More specifically, the invention relates to a communication system, which connects to a private or public data communication network (such as the Internet) and provides end-users a means to obtain digital objects (such as audio and video clips). In many jurisdictions the recording of digital objects emanating from certain sources (e.g. Internet radio stations and TV broadcasters) is fully legal as opposed to file-sharing, t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]When the present invention is implemented, a user may enter search criteria, such as song or artist, and then just wait for a while and a legal recording of a song will be obtained automatically. In variants of the invention, the user does not even have to be connected to the Internet during the search and retrieval of the song. This allows end-users a convenient way of obtaining legal copies of music. The invention is not restricted to just music. Instead, end-users may obtain a multitude of different media types such as audio, video, data and text.

[0016]The present invention has numerous benefits and advantages. The invention provides an efficient and effective to search the vast amount of media streams available on the Internet. It also allows users to find digital objects that comport with legal principles of the users' jurisdictions.

[0020]It is yet another object of the invention to provide a media browsing system that is simple to use and time-efficient for the user.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, since the bandwidth of 103, 108, 112 and 122 is limited, the expected time to get a desired object would be substantial, especially if the desired digital object is transmitted with low frequency (for example a user would probably have to wait several years to capture the song “Mary had a little Lamb” on a rock radio station).

However, this would require the user to have prior knowledge of the digital object probabilities distributed over the different channels available from a plurality of information providers, each potentially providing a substantial number of different channels.

Another disadvantage to this system is that the communication link 108 may be slow and with intermittent availability, reducing the user's probability to obtain a desired digital object with full integrity.

Some information providers do not even disclose any (or insufficient to determine triggering of recording) object properties.

Also, if the number of monitored channels K is selected such that it is large (e.g. larger than 1000) the communication overhead may still be substantial, especially if each channel needs to be monitored with short intervals.

Also, when the number of monitored channels K is selected such that it is large (e.g. larger than 1000) the communication overhead may still be substantial, especially if each channel needs to be monitored with short intervals.

One disadvantage with one or several variants of the invention described above is that this solution may only require one digital object to be obtained simultaneously and that the communication link 108 may need to be available and may need certain properties (e.g. throughput).

Also, when the number of monitored channels K is selected such that it is large (e.g. larger than 1000) the communication overhead may still be substantial, especially if each channel needs to be monitored with short intervals.

If they do not match, access may be denied to the recorded Digital Object.

It is noted that this solution would require a significant storage space if the delay time is high.

This may happen especially if searching can be made over a significant time period.

These modifications are often not desired by the end-user.

Firstly, some media senders delay the meta-data so that it will arrive after the corresponding stream already has been started.

Secondly, if the meta-data is not known and is determined by the system, an inherent delay is imposed from the start of the stream to the calculation and matching of a digital signature.

Thirdly, if the media stream may obtained indirectly from other sources including but not limited to FM, AM, TV, Cable TV, Wire, Satellite or DAB.

Fourthly, applications and communication channels necessary to receive the media stream often need a certain set-up time to start, connect, allocate communication resources, allocate storage resources and connect to the stream.

Fifthly, the end of the media stream may not be detected in real time.

Most algorithms are likely to incorporate redundant data at the end of the captured portion.

For example, a user in Italy might not be able to store a TV program broadcasted in France but might be able to just view it, users in Malaysia might be able to stream radio songs but might not be able to save them on local store or make any duplicates, users in Turkey might be able to save radio songs, but in such cases they can only be copied three times.

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