How to Buy and Download Digital Music or Movies Over a Phone Line

This patent describes a method for a customer, referred to as the "second party," to obtain a digital audio or video file from a seller, the "first party." First, the customer electronically transfers money to the seller using a telecommunications line, such as by providing a credit card number over the phone, as described in claims 3 and 6. Next, the seller's digital storage (first memory) connects electronically with the customer's digital storage (second memory) via a telecommunications line. Then, the desired digital audio or video signal is transmitted from the seller's memory to the customer's memory, where it is stored, as detailed in claims 1 and 4. For example, a person could call a service, pay with a credit card, and then have a specific song downloaded directly to their home computer's hard drive.

The clever bit

The novelty was combining electronic payment with the electronic transmission and permanent storage of specific digital media (audio or video) over a telecommunications line, effectively creating a digital 'store' and 'delivery' system before the internet made such services commonplace.

What it does not cover

• ×Does not cover streaming content that is played without being permanently stored on the customer's device.
• ×Does not cover the physical delivery of media, such as mailing a CD or DVD.
• ×Does not cover the distribution of free content where no electronic money transfer occurs.
• ×Does not cover non-digital signals or data that are not specifically audio or video.
• ×Does not cover in-person cash payments or other non-electronic money transfer methods.
• ×Does not cover content transfers that do not use a telecommunications line, such as direct physical connection or local network transfers.