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`PATENT
`
`Attorney Docket No. STRATOS.00lA
`Date: September 13, 2001
`Page 1
`
`ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`
`WASHINGTON, D.C. 20231
`
`ATTENTION: BOX PATENT APPLICATION
`
`Sir:
`
`Transmitted herewith for filing is the patent application of
`
`Inventor(s): Kelly M. Christensen, Barry D. Thomas and Thomas J. Smyth
`
`For:
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORDERING AND DELIVERING MEDIA CONTENT
`
`Enclosed are:
`
`(X)
`
`Specification in 26 pages.
`
`(X)
`
`3 sheet(s) of drawings.
`
`(X)
`
`Return prepaid postcard.
`
`CLAIMS AS FILED
`
`NUMBER
`FILED
`
`NUMBER
`EXTRA
`
`RATE
`
`FEE
`
`FOR
`
`Basic Fee
`
`Total Claims
`
`Independent Claims
`
`H:\DOCS\LWH\LWH-6189.DOC:jk
`091301
`
`26
`
`- 20
`
`8
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`3=
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`6 X
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`5 X
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`If application contains any multiple dependent claims( s ), then add
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`FILING FEE TO BE PAID
`AT A LATER DATE
`
`$1218
`
`(X)
`
`Please use Customer No. 20,995 for the correspondence address.
`
`$710
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`$18
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`$80
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`$270
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`$710
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`$108
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`$400
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`$NIA
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`?27zV~
`
`Lee W. Henderson Ph.D.
`Registration No. 41,830
`Attorney of Record
`
`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1024, 0001
`
`
`
`Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
`
`Intellectual Property Law
`
`Assistant Commissioner for Patents
`Washington, D.C. 20231
`
`620 Newport Center Drive
`Sixteenth Floor
`Newport Beach, CA 92660
`Tel 949-760-0404
`Fax 949-760-9502
`www.kmob.com
`
`Lee W. Henderson, Ph.D.
`
`CERTIFICATE OF MAILING BY "EXPRESS MAIL"
`
`Attorney Docket No.
`
`STRATOS.00lA
`
`Applicant(s)
`
`Christensen, et al.
`
`For
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORDERING
`AND DELNERING MEDIA CONTENT
`
`Attorney
`
`Lee W. Henderson Ph.D.
`
`"Express Mail"
`Mailing Label No.
`
`EL846184523US
`
`Date of Deposit
`
`September 13, 2001
`
`I hereby certify that the accompanying
`
`Specification in 26 pages; 3 sheets of drawings; Return Prepaid Postcard
`
`are being deposited with the United States Postal Service "Express Mail Post Office to
`Addressee" service under 3 7 CFR 1.10 on the date indicated above and are addressed to the
`Assistant Commissioner for Patents, Washin ton, D.C. 20231.
`
`H:\DOCS\LWH\LWH-6190.DOC:jk
`091301
`
`San Diego
`619-235-8550
`
`San Francisco
`415-954-4114
`
`Los Angeles
`310-551-3450
`
`Riverside
`909-781-9231
`
`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1024, 0002
`
`
`
`STRATOS.00lA
`
`PATENT
`
`5
`
`10
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORDERING AND DELIVERING MEDIA
`
`CONTENT
`
`Reference to Related Application
`
`The present patent application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional
`
`Application No. 60/232,333, filed September 13, 2000, titled "SYSTEM AND
`
`METHOD FOR ORDERING AND DELIVERING MEDIA CONTENT," the content
`
`of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
`
`Background of the Invention
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`This invention relates to electronic purchasing systems, and more particularly to
`
`providing electronic purchasing in response to AM/FM radio broadcast.
`
`15
`
`Description of the Related Art
`
`From the early days of FM broadcast transmission, stations have included
`
`ancillary signals such as background music or reading services for the blind along with
`
`a main carrier signal. The idea of transmitting data along with the main carrier signal
`
`caught on, and now many broadcast radio services either transmit an ancillary data
`
`20
`
`signal or are developing a method to do so. The most current and widely used data
`
`transmission standard is the United States Radio Broadcast Data Systems ("RBDS")
`
`standard.
`
`The RBDS standard, published by the National Radio Systems Committee and
`
`sponsored by the Electronics Industry Association and the National Association of
`
`25
`
`Broadcasters, describes a system for broadcasting a variety of program-related
`
`information on a subcarrier of a standard FM broadcast channel. The RBDS standard
`
`teaches a system for transmitting station identification and location information, as well
`
`as time, traffic and miscellaneous other information.
`
`The RBDS standard was designed to allow stations to send information such as
`
`30
`
`call letters, station format, traffic alerts and scrolling text messages to compatible
`
`radios.
`
`-1-
`
`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1024, 0003
`
`
`
`Many stations installed RBDS encoders through a program encouraged by the
`
`FCC in the early 1990's that provided encoders at no charge. Radio stations that did not
`
`participate in this "RBDS Roll-Out" can still obtain encoders at competitive prices.
`
`RBDS encoders generate what is known as a "subcarrier" that modulates along
`
`5
`
`with an FM station broadcast signal and can be demodulated by special decoders. The
`
`RBDS uses a subcarrier frequency of 57khz. Commercially available RBDS encoders
`
`usually accept information via either serial or parallel data ports and format the
`
`information into the appropriate RBDS block type.
`
`The RBDS data signal is a specially encoded text stream containing up to 32
`
`10
`
`repeating data "groups" transmitting at 1187.5 bits/second. The RBDS data signal does
`
`not require inclusion of all potential data group blocks of both repeating and unique
`
`data. One embodiment includes using one of several groups that are designed for data
`
`transmission functions.
`
`An RBDS data group is composed of 4 blocks, each divided by checkwords used
`
`15
`
`for error correction. Block 1 is a 4-digit Program Identification code (PI) which is
`
`derived from the transmitting station's call letters. Block 2 includes a 4-bit type code
`
`and a 1-bit group version code which identifies the type of information the data group
`
`contains. This block also contains a 1-bit code that identifies the transmitting station as
`
`one that broadcasts traffic information, followed by a 5-bit Program Type (PTY) code
`
`20
`
`which describes the current program or format being broadcast by the station (Rock,
`
`Oldies, Talk, News, etc.). Information contained in Blocks 3 and 4 are dependent on the
`
`codes included in Block 2. Blocks 3 and 4 provide two 16-bit data slots where specific
`
`information can be sent to the special receiver.
`
`For example, RBDS Group types 2A, use blocks 3 and 4 to transmit a 64-
`
`25
`
`character text message known as RadioText (RT). This appears on RBDS-enabled
`
`radios as a scrolling message which some stations use to identify the song or program
`
`being broadcasted. Other group types use these blocks to identify alternate frequencies
`
`where the same programming can be available, in-house station text messages, or
`
`Emergency Alert System (EAS) communication messages. An extensive description of
`
`30
`
`the RBDS standard is available through the National Association of Broadcasters and
`
`the National Radio Systems Committee.
`
`-2-
`
`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1024, 0004
`
`
`
`A similar standard used in Europe is the European Radio Data Service (RDS).
`
`Broadcasters using the RBDS standard can distribute information to a large
`
`number of users. However, the standard does not allow individual users to respond to
`
`the broadcast information.
`
`5
`
`Currently, users listening to the radio or watching television may particularly
`
`like a song or program that they would like to purchase. While stations using
`
`RBDS/RDS may provide a user with the station call letters or the name of the song
`
`currently being broadcast, the user has no way to purchase the media at that point.
`
`Instead, the user must write down or remember the identifying information and then go
`
`10
`
`to a store or online retailer to purchase the media. Not only is this inconvenient, but the
`
`user may forget the name of the song or not be able to find a store that sells the song.
`
`Additionally, the information provided by the radio station may not be enough to
`
`sufficiently identify the song. For example, the user may have the song title, but not the
`
`artist name, album name, or other necessary identifying information. Some material,
`
`15
`
`such as editorial news broadcasts or live events, may not be available for purchase or
`
`may be difficult to find. Radio stations often have fund raising drives or listener
`
`surveys that require a listener to call the station or respond within a limited time. These
`
`same problems also apply to television and other forms of broadcast media.
`
`20
`
`Summary of the Invention
`
`The present invention solves these and other problems by providing a system
`
`that allows an individual user to respond to a data broadcast. In one embodiment, an
`
`Automatic Purchase System (APS) provides a radio broadcast listener with the ability to
`
`conveniently purchase media content such as music or speech while listening to the
`
`25
`
`radio. Additionally, the user can respond to items in the radio broadcast such as
`
`advertisements, fund raising drives such as those conducted by public radio, or
`
`interactive listener polls during the broadcast.
`
`In one embodiment, the user establishes a "Creative content" purchasing account
`
`with a wireless carrier. In one embodiment, a personal URL (web address) is assigned
`
`30
`
`to the user to allow the user, for example, to monitor account activity, enable or disable
`
`APS software downloads, display premiums offered by sponsors, and manage and track
`
`-3-
`
`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1024, 0005
`
`
`
`content or APS purchases using a Technology Enabled Radio (TER) or a personal
`
`computer.
`
`In one embodiment, the user makes routing choices between the TER or the web
`
`account for content. In one embodiment, the user selects the compression type, such as
`
`5
`
`MP3, RA, Liquid Audio etc.
`
`In one embodiment, each broadcaster has an RBDS/RDS or similar technology
`
`enabled server onsite to, for example, generate RBDS/RDS or equivalent code for
`
`inclusion in the broadcast, validate and route purchase information to the user's wireless
`
`carrier for billing, monitor online sales transactions for data mining, or route validated
`
`10
`
`purchases to licensed creative content providers.
`
`In one embodiment, radio hardware can include, for example, RBDS/RDS or
`
`equivalent decoder capability (e.g., in an internal chip with APS code); flash card slot
`
`and recording ability; or storage of multiple items such as artist name, song title, IP
`
`address of creative content provider, and time stamp for delayed purchase ( e.g., in an
`
`15
`
`internal chip with APS code).
`
`In one embodiment, the system uses the RBDS/RDS to send a data stream in
`
`combination with a broadcast signal for identifying music or speech content available
`
`for purchase. A broadcast organization participating in the APS system is able to
`
`respond to requests for purchases placed by users who either click a button or issue a
`
`20
`
`voice command to the radio at the time of the content was broadcast, at a later time by
`
`scrolling through the playlist stored in the APS module in the radio then selecting one or
`
`more items for purchase from the list stored in the radio, or by accessing a private web
`
`account via the Internet and downloading content to the personal computer. In one
`
`embodiment, purchases are made by saving requests for selected items for purchase on a
`
`25
`
`flash card or storage technology and transferring that data to a personal computer for
`
`purchase through the Internet at a later time.
`
`Data such as song title and artist, author or publisher and the IP address for the
`
`location where the digital version of the content is stored, can be transmitted using the
`
`RBDS/RDS data stream. A reference number representing song title and artist, author
`
`30
`
`or publisher and the IP address for the location where the digital version of the content
`
`is stored can also be employed for ease of implementation. This reference number can
`
`-4-
`
`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1024, 0006
`
`
`
`reside in a lookup table to be accessed by the APS server software on a Data Server
`
`located at the broadcast site, a remote site or both for purposes of redundancy.
`
`Transmission of purchase requests from a Technology Enabled Radio (TER) is provided
`
`via wireless transmission, or by accessing the Internet using a personal computer or
`
`5
`
`through a cellular or wireless phone. In one embodiment, activity of each sale using the
`
`above system is tracked for the purposes of aggregating data or "Data Mining" for sale
`
`to interested parties such as trade publications and record companies.
`
`Portable radios can come equipped with a voice interface or a purchase button, a
`
`flash card or storage device and a port for connecting the radio to the personal computer
`
`10
`
`such as a 9 pin serial, USB or wireless networking technology.
`
`Brief Description of the Drawings
`
`Figure 1 illustrates an electronic purchasing system with a radio station that
`
`broadcasts information to individual radio receivers.
`
`15
`
`Figure 2 illustrates a radio receiver that includes an automatic purchasing system
`
`module.
`
`Figure 3 illustrates a television adapter that includes an automatic purchasing
`
`system module.
`
`20
`
`Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
`
`The present invention solves various problems in the prior art by providing a
`
`system that allows an individual user to respond to a data broadcast.
`
`In one
`
`embodiment, an Automatic Purchase System (APS) provides a radio broadcast listener
`
`with the ability to conveniently purchase media content such as music or speech while
`
`25
`
`listening to the radio. Additionally, the user can respond to items in the radio broadcast
`
`such as advertisements, fund raising drives such as those conducted by public radio, or
`
`interactive listener polls during the broadcast.
`
`One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that there are various forms of
`
`media that can be broadcast. Where a specific type of media is used in the following
`
`30
`
`examples, it is for demonstration purposes only and the examples should not be limited
`
`-5-
`
`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1024, 0007
`
`
`
`in that regard. Some examples of the various types of media can include music, songs,
`
`speech, text, video, etc.
`
`Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a system that allows a user to respond to a
`
`data broadcast. Fig. 1 shows a radio station 140 that broadcasts information to a radio
`
`5
`
`receiver 100. The radio receiver 100 has a control interface 116 that allows a user to
`
`initiate a purchase of music or products based on the radio station broadcast.
`
`The terms RBDS/RDS are used throughout this document, but it should be
`
`understood other data standards can also be used.
`
`In one embodiment, the radio
`
`receiver 100 comprises a Radio Frequency (RF) Demodulator Section 102, a
`
`10
`
`RBDS/RDS Decoder 106, a RBDS/RDS function control interpreter 104, an audio
`
`demodulator amplifier section 108, a scrolling display 110, an Internet Download
`
`Director 112, a local memory device 114 and the control interface 116. Additionally,
`
`the receiver 100 provides for audio output by transmitting an audio signal 128 from an
`
`audio demodulator amplifier section 108 to the speaker 118.
`
`15
`
`In one embodiment, the RF Demodulator Section 102 splits the signal into an
`
`audio signal and a data signal, with the data signal provided to the RBDS/RDS decoder
`
`106 and the audio signal provided to the audio demodulator amplifier section 108. The
`
`RBDS/RDS decoder 106 parses the data signal from the RF Demodulator Section 102
`
`and transmits the data to the RBDS/RDS Function Controller 104, the Scrolling Display
`
`20
`
`110, and the Internet Download Director 112.
`
`The RBDS/RDS Function Controller 104 handles codes 124 sent using the
`
`RBDS/RDS standard. The codes 124 can, for example, include a Program Service
`
`name (PS), a Program Type (PTY), a Program Identification (PI), a Traffic Program
`
`(TP), a Traffic Announcement (TA), etc.
`
`25
`
`In one embodiment, the data is converted to an audio signal played on one or
`
`more speakers for the user to hear. A 64 character radio text message can be transmitted
`
`in five seconds under the RBDS standard, where a Type 2A group with 4 characters is
`
`transmitted 3.2 times a second.
`
`In one embodiment, a pointer to an Open Application Data (OAD) group is
`
`30
`
`transmitted in a Type 3A group. The pointer, 16 message bits and 16 bit identifier
`
`(AID) are transmitted once a second.
`
`-6-
`
`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1024, 0008
`
`
`
`In one embodiment, an OAD group with 37 usable bits is transmitted once a
`
`second during the broadcast of a "tagged" program. The OAD group can contain, for
`
`example, a song or commercial campaign identification.
`
`In one embodiment, the scrolling display 110 receives display data 122 from the
`
`5
`
`RBDS/RDS Decoder 106. The display data 122 can include information such as the
`
`program service name and program type, or it can include radio text information or
`
`messages displaying purchase options.
`
`Additionally, the RBDS/RDS Decoder 106 provides data to the Internet
`
`Download Director 112 that includes instructions for the location of downloadable
`
`10
`
`audio. For example, a radio station 140 can broadcast data regarding the current song
`
`that is playing, such as the song name, artist, album name, and year the song was
`
`recorded. The radio station 140 can also broadcast information providing a location
`
`where the song, editorial news broadcast, collection of songs, or other program material
`
`can be downloaded or purchased, and the purchase price for the song.
`
`15
`
`In one embodiment, a user can place an order to download a song using the
`
`control interface 116. The control interface 116 provides a download command signal
`
`126 to the Internet Download Director 112. The Internet Download Director 112 can
`
`then provide download instructions such as, for example, the location of the file for
`
`download and the security procedures required for access. The download information is
`
`20
`
`then transmitted over, for example, a wireless internet connection 156 to the
`
`authentication and billing system 152. The authentication and billing system 152
`
`verifies the customer information and determines whether the customer account can be
`
`debited for the cost of the order. The authentication and billing system 152 then
`
`provides an approval signal 168 indicating whether the purchase was approved. The
`
`25
`
`approval signal 168 is transmitted to the purchase database server 150.
`
`Once the purchase is approved, the purchase database server 150 provides
`
`purchase and download authorization to the download server 154. The download server
`
`154 can then transmit the requested material over a network connection 158. In one
`
`embodiment, the material is transmitted using a wireless internet connection directly to
`
`30
`
`the radio receiver 100. In another embodiment, the material is made available to a
`
`personal computer. In one embodiment, the material is sent using traditional mail or
`
`-7-
`
`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1024, 0009
`
`
`
`parcel services. The download server 154 also communicates with the audio database
`
`and encoding server 144 to provide available sound database information 164.
`
`The radio station 140 includes a radio automation or CD playback system 142,
`
`an audio database/encoding server 144, an FM transmission system 146 and a
`
`5
`
`RBDS/RDS encoder 148. The radio automation or CD playback system 142 can extract
`
`information about songs or a radio program from the station playlist or by extracting
`
`information encoded on a CD or a CD-ROM. The playlist information is provided to
`
`the audio database and coding server 144. The playlist information can include the song
`
`title, artist, cut or other information. The audio database/encoding server 144 matches
`
`10
`
`the information sent from the radio automation system 142 with information in the
`
`database. If there is an audio file available for download, the database/encoding server
`
`144 formats the download information and sends it to the RBDS/RDS encoder 148.
`
`Corresponding information is uploaded to the purchase database server 150.
`
`The RBDS/RDS encoder 148 transmits the RBDS/RDS information using the
`
`15
`
`57khz RBDS/RDS subcarrier 170 to the FM transmission system 146. The RBDS/RDS
`
`subcarrier signal 170 is mixed by the FM transmission system 146 with the FM
`
`baseband program signal 172 and any other subcarriers. The FM transmission system
`
`146 then transmits an FM RF signal 162 which is received by the radio receiver 100.
`
`As shown in Fig. 1, a radio station 140, using either a standard radio automation
`
`20
`
`system for tracking of music content which is being broadcast, or a data-enabled audio
`
`player, broadcasts audio material and synchronously sends RBDS/RDS or similar data
`
`to an APS server 144 that assigns a unique identifier to each specific broadcast segment
`
`or song.
`
`The APS server 144 compares the broadcast segment identifier with a database
`
`25
`
`150 of audio available for purchase. If the broadcasted audio is available, the APS
`
`server 144 incorporates station call letter information, and an audio download location
`
`such as IP address and a file name into a data stream that is inserted into a radio
`
`station's broadcast using RBDS/RDS or similar technology.
`
`The information
`
`identifying the audio selected by the listener or user is routed to the APS Data Server
`
`30
`
`and passed on to the location where a digital version of the audio content is stored and
`
`available for transfer to the end user. The user's radio receiver 100 receives and
`
`-8-
`
`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1024, 0010
`
`
`
`recognizes the encoded RBDS/RDS or other data and presents it on the radio display
`
`110 notifying the user that the audio is available for purchase.
`
`If the user elects to purchase the audio content or responds to an ad or "pledge"
`
`drive, a request including the station's data and the user's cell phone or wireless
`
`5
`
`Electronic Serial Number (ESN) or other identifier, such as a credit card number,
`
`combined with the audio content information is issued by the radio and passed via the
`
`cellular or wireless phone transmission to the APS Data Server and finally routed to the
`
`source server at the record company, publisher or licensed content provider. If a "good"
`
`connection is not available using the wireless connection, or the user does not have a
`
`10
`
`wireless account, the information can be stored on the internal flash card or other
`
`storage device 114 in the radio for transfer to a personal computer at a time of the user's
`
`choosing.
`
`Each server typically records the purchase or response information. The storage
`
`server 154 at a source location then uploads the requested audio to the routing address
`
`15
`
`associated with the user's cell phone account identifier. The user's receiver 100 then
`
`saves the audio on internal memory or a removable memory device or holds the audio
`
`content until the user chooses to download it using the Internet.
`
`One embodiment includes the use of several group types reserved for "open data
`
`applications" by the RBDS/RDS standard. These groups were designed for use with
`
`20
`
`data applications and are readily available for use.
`
`Fig. 2 shows one example of a technology enabled radio 200. The radio 200
`
`includes a module 202 for the Automatic Purchase System. In one embodiment, the
`
`APS provides relatively quick delivery of the purchased material. In one embodiment,
`
`quick delivery is provided by wireless transmission such that the user can receive the
`
`25
`
`purchased material while traveling. In one embodiment, the system also provides
`
`delayed delivery, when, for example: the user so chooses; the user does not have a
`
`wireless account; or the user cannot obtain a good signal with a wireless connection for
`
`transmission.
`
`In one embodiment, the radio 200 contains an APS module 202 configured to
`
`30
`
`store identifier data 204, to provide security functions, and to assist in routing selections
`
`made by the user (using either a voice command issued to voice recognition technology
`
`-9-
`
`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1024, 0011
`
`
`
`214 contained in the radio or by the press of a button 212 on the radio interface). In one
`
`embodiment, the APS module 202 is a proprietary microchip ( or portion of a microchip)
`
`that implements the radio receiver-side functions of the APS. In one embodiment, the
`
`APS module 202 is a software module that runs on a processor in the radio 200.
`
`5
`
`The audio content can also be "tagged" for delayed purchase at a later time by
`
`scrolling through the playlist 208 stored in the APS module 202 on the radio 200 and
`
`presented on the external display 210 of the radio 200. The user can then select one or
`
`more items for purchase from the list presented on the display 210 (stored in the APS
`
`module 202 in the radio). In one embodiment, the selected items are transmitted using a
`
`10
`
`wireless transmitter 218 such as a wireless telephone. In another embodiment, a user
`
`can store the playlist 208 on removable memory 220 that is readable by a personal
`
`computer 240. The user can then access a private web account via the Internet for
`
`downloading the content to the personal computer 240. At this point, the user can
`
`transfer the downloaded content to a storage device 242 such as, for example, a flash
`
`15
`
`card or CD-ROM.
`
`Non-automotive or portable radios containing the APS module 202 can also
`
`include either a voice interface 214, an interactive button 212, or both, to enable
`
`listener-selection of broadcast material ( or for responding to advertisements, fund
`
`raising drives, or any other interactive event). A port 216 such as a 9-pin serial port, a
`
`20
`
`USB port, or any other port designed to provide connectivity between the radio 200 and
`
`a personal computer 240 can also be integrated into the radio 200 for the purposes of
`
`transferring the selection list from the APS module 202 to software in a personal
`
`computer 240 or other device. APS software running on the personal computer 240 is
`
`configured to recognize an embedded security code enabling purchase of the selected
`
`25
`
`material via the Internet, or respond to an advertisement or fund raising drive. Wireless
`
`technology, such as, for example, BlueTooth and the like, can also be used for the
`
`purposes of transferring the selection data between devices.
`
`Automotive radios equipped with the APS module 202 and associated
`
`technologies can use a wireless interface 218 to send a purchase request (or interactive
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`30
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`response) complete with a user Electronic Serial Number (ESN), WIN identifiers, and
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`routing information such as artist and song title derived from the RBDS/RDS data string
`
`-10-
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`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1024, 0012
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`
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`accompanying the associated broadcast. The purchase request and routing information
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`can then be directed to an APS server 260 for processing, billing approval, and delivery
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`of the content to a particular location ( such as the user's flash card or storage technology
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`in the radio 200 or a personal account web URL), as requested by the user.
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`5
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`The flash card or storage technology 220 in the automotive radio offers the user
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`a second option. The user can select content for purchase using the interactive voice
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`technologies 214 or the button interface 212 to select broadcast content for purchase. If
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`that user does not have a wireless phone, or does not have a good connection with a
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`wireless phone connected to the radio, then the content selections can be stored on the
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`10
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`flash card or storage technology 220 for later use.
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`In one embodiment, the APS polls the wireless network until a good connection
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`is obtained, at which point the selection data is transferred for completion of the
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`transaction. In cases where the user cannot obtain a good connection or the user does
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`not have a wireless account, the flash card or storage technology 220 can later be
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`15
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`removed by the user and inserted into a personal computer 240. The routing
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`information for each selection stored on the flash card or storage technology 220 is
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`passed to the APS download software running on the user's personal computer 240.
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`Once the user has an active connection to the Internet, the APS download software
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`allows the user to purchase the selected content and download it to a personal computer
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`20
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`240 as long as the content was tagged with the proper security codes obtained from the
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`APS module 202 in the radio 200.
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`Using this system, the user can respond to a live broadcast radio advertisement
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`to qualify for coupons, premiums or other sponsor-offered rewards. This system can
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`also be applied to pledge drives employed by public radio stations, allowing listeners to
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`25
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`pledge money while driving or listening to a portable radio. The system can also be
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`used for listener polls where the broadcaster can obtain quick responses from listeners to
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`new music, speech content or general questions such as a talk show format. In each
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`case, the user/listener can respond by pressing a "Respond" button 212 on the radio 200.
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`On a voice-enabled radio 200, the user/listener can order content or provide responses
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`30
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`by voice commands.
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`-11-
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`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1024, 0013
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`
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`The user can also receive offers or hyperlinks posted on a personal web site
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`presenting premiums such as discounted tickets (to events for the artists or writers for
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`which they purchased content), suggestions of purchase for related artists or music
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`genres, record company club offerings, or other premiums. Associated books, magazine
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`5
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`articles, merchandise and event information can also be posted for the user to purchase
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`using the APS. Hyperlinks can also be present for content not available on the radio but
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`provided either through partnerships with existing digital content providers or content
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`owners who have made direct arrangements for digital distribution through the APS
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`web site.
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`10
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`Billing for the purchase of content and user-identification can be managed
`
`through the user's wireless phone account or the user can establish an account at an APS
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`web site. Content purchased can be directed to Technology-Enabled Radios (TERs), or
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`receivers using a wireless-telephone transmission, and stored on a flash card. Purchase
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`content can also be directed to a personal web page assigned to the user upon creation of
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`15
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`a specific account. The user can access the account over the Internet, and the user can
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`download purchased content to a personal computer.
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`In order to protect the purchased content from piracy, vanous access-rights
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`controls and copy-protections can be provided. In one embodiment, the user is allowed
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`to copy purchased content to a CD or flash card one time only (unless additional
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`20
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`licenses are purchased). Additional licenses can be purchased within the APS download
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`software or in the user's web account by the click of a button or through using a third(cid:173)
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`party software package enabled with the APS security keys such as the ESN and WIN
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`numbers from a wireless account.
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`Each sales transaction can be monitored by an APS server located at each
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`25
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`participating radio station, by an Internet-based APS server, or both. The data collected
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`through "data mining" of sales transactions can be sold to companies interested in
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`tracking demographic information and music sales such as record companies and trade
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`publications.
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`In one embodiment, personal information regarding the users is not
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`disclosed.
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`30
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`In one embodiment, the system includes one or more of the following features:
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`1. The user establishes a "Creative content" purchasing account with a wireless carrier.
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`-12-
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`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1024, 0014
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`
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`2. A personal URL (web address) is assigned to the user to:
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`• Monitor account activity
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`• Enable or disable APS software downloads
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`• Display premiums offered by sponsors
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`5
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`• Manage & track content or APS purchases using a TER or a personal computer.
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`• User makes routing choice between the TER or the web account for content
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`• User makes selection of compression type: MP3, RA, Liquid Audio etc.
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`3. Each broadcaster has an RBDS/RDS or similar technology enabled server onsite to:
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`• Generate RBDS/RDS or equivalent code for inclusion in the broadcast
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`10
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`• Validate and route purchase information to the user's wireless carrier for billing
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`• Monitor online sales transactions for data mining
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`• Route validated purchase to licensed creative content providers
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`4. Radio hardware can include:
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`• RBDS/RDS or equivalent decoder capability ( e.g., in an internal chip with APS
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`15
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`code)
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`• Flash card slot and recording ability (Optional)
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`• Storage of multiple items including: artist name, song title, IP address of
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`creative content provider, and time stamp for delayed purchase ( e.g., in an
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`internal chip with APS code)
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`20
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`In one embodiment, the syste