METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING PRICING STRUCTURES AND DELIVERY CHANNELS FOR RIGHTS IN FILES ON A NETWORK

Abstract

Systems and methods have been developed for modifying pricing structures of rights in files on a network. Systems and methods have also been developed for modifying delivery channels of rights in files on a network. The systems and methods may provide multiple sales models, delivery channels and/or pricing structures for rights in files and may select among them based on popularity data associated with files on a network.

Description

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for monitoring and moderating files over a network.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a system implementing a digital marketplace.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of an identification engine.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a bit print generator.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a bit print linker.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a process for creating a bit print from a file.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a cataloging engine.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a link parser.

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a link parser.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a process for cataloging bit prints.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of a process for accessing bit prints and links from a catalog.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of an arbitration engine.

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of a process of determining the rights and usage of a content file.

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of a process for modifying a sales model for a right in a content file.

FIG. 15 illustrates another embodiment of a process for modifying a sales model for a right in a content file.

Claims

1. A method comprising: offering for sale on a publicly accessible network a first right in a first content file, wherein the offering is performed on a per-content-file basis;calculating a popularity index for the first content file, the popularity index based on usage data of the first content file, wherein the usage data are data collected automatically over the publicly accessible network;modifying a subscription to include a second right in a second content file based on a comparison of the popularity index with a threshold, wherein the subscription includes the second right in a plurality of different content files;wherein the first content file is a derivative work of the second content file; andwherein each of the plurality of different content files is different from the first content file and different from the second content file.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: before performing the modifying operation, creating the subscription.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting the subscription, as modified, and the plurality of different content files to a user over the publicly accessible network.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: transmitting the second content file to the user over a publicly accessible network.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting is performed when the user connects a mobile device to the publicly accessible network.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting is performed in response to receiving a one-time fee from the user, and wherein the transmitting is performed once in response to receiving the one-time fee.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising: receiving a periodic fee from the user;wherein the transmitting is performed based on a request from the user to render at least one of the plurality of different content files.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage data of the first content file are data selected from user requests for the first content file, user ratings of the first content file, and user ratings of a different commonly-owned content file.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: creating the threshold based on a moving average of a plurality of popularity indices of the first content file, wherein each of the plurality of popularity indices was calculated before the modifying operation is performed.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: creating the threshold based on usage data of a topical plurality of content files, the topical plurality of content files comprising content files which are cataloged by a community server and which have been determined by the community server to have content similar to the first content file.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: modifying the price of the first right in the first content file based on the comparison of the popularity index with the threshold.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first right and the second right are the same right.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first right is a right to copy to a permanent computer-readable medium, wherein the second right is a right to render from a remote location.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising: presenting for free public use on the publicly accessible network a free right in a display content file, wherein the display content file is different from the first content file and different from the second content file, and wherein the display content file is related to the first content file.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the popularity index is calculated based on usage data of the display content file.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the usage data of the display content file are data selected from user requests for the display content file, user ratings of the display content file, and user ratings of the different commonly-owned content file.

17. A method comprising: offering for sale a right in a content file over a publicly accessible network;calculating a popularity index of the content file, the popularity index based on usage data of the content file, wherein the usage data are data collected automatically over the publicly accessible network;determining whether the popularity index meets a threshold; andif the popularity index meets the threshold, then accepting a first offer to purchase the right in the content file, wherein the first offer is to purchase the right in the content file at a pre-determined price;else, accepting a second offer to purchase the right in the content file, wherein the second offer is to purchase the right in the content file at an arbitrary price.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: presenting a user interface to a first user over a publicly accessible network, the user interface including an arbitrary price interactive element which solicits the second offer to purchase a right in a content file.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein accepting the first offer to purchase the right in the content file comprises: modifying the user interface by including in the user interface a purchase element which may receive offers for sale of the right in the content file at the pre-determined price.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein modifying the user interface comprises: removing the arbitrary price interactive element from the user interface.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising: presenting the user interface, as modified, to a second user different from the first user.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising: receiving the second offer to purchase the right in the content file at the arbitrary price.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising: setting the pre-determined price based on the arbitrary price and based on the popularity index.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising: creating the threshold based on a moving average of a plurality of popularity indices of the content file.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising: creating the threshold based on usage data of a topical plurality of content files, the topical plurality of content files comprising content files which have content similar to the content file.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the usage data of the content file are data selected from user requests for the content file, user ratings of the content file, and user ratings of a different commonly-owned content file.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising: presenting for free public use on the publicly accessible network a free right in a display content file, wherein the display content file is different from the content file, and wherein the display content file is related to the content file.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the popularity index is calculated based on usage data of the display content file.

29. A system comprising: a community server which offers for sale a first right in a first content file on a per-content-file basis on a publicly accessible network;wherein the community server calculates a popularity index for the first content file, the popularity index based on usage data of the first content file, wherein the usage data are data collected automatically over the publicly accessible network;a subscription engine which creates a subscription containing at least one right in each of a plurality of different content files;wherein the subscription engine adds to the subscription a second right in a second content file based on a comparison of the popularity index and a threshold; andwherein the first content file is a derivative work of the second content file.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising: a pricing engine which calculates a price on the per-content-file basis for the first right in the first content file;wherein the community server offers for sale the first right in the first content file at the price.

31. The system of claim 29, further comprising: an accounting engine which receives a fee from a user for the subscription;wherein the community server transmits the subscription to the user based the received fee.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the community server receives a request from the user to render at least one of the plurality of different content files.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein community server transmits the subscription with the plurality of different content files.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the at least one right in each of the plurality of different content files is limited to a period of time.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the accounting engine receives the fee on a periodic basis from the user.