Abstract: User selectable methods are disclosed for paying for programming provided in association with an affiliate network operator. A playtime account is assigned to a user, a tuner or a device to track the cost of programming used and payments to cover the cost thereof. Use of a tuner causes depletion in value of the playtime account. Various means of payment are disclosed including audio/video commercials within the programming, email ads delivered in a separate time and space or situation from the programming, benefits for purchases and survey responses, and subscription fees. A user may select a level of identity in receiving advertising, including anonymous receipt of programming, resulting in a user selectable level of ad targeting. A feature of the invention is to acknowledge the value of a user disclosed identity and to compensate the user in proportion to that disclosure with predictably valuable programming services.

Abstract: A method of near real time assembly of personalized playlists wherein a limited number of broadcast streams of programming content are assembled into a much larger number of unique playlists. The broadcast streams are available to the user by means of the Internet or other wired or wireless data system, from within or without a cooperative network. Component items from the broadcast streams are buffered at or near a user and identified for potential use as substitutes in a base channel selected by the user. The candidate substitute items are not identified to the user unless and until they are actually played in the personalized playlist. A unique personalized playlist is locally assembled for the user from generic publicly available streams while no uniquely originated stream is required. A customizer directs the assembly of the playlist according to one or both of the preferences of the user, and the style of a station that streams a base channel from which the personal playlist may be assembled.

Abstract: A method for searching, selecting, and playing audio program playlists. A station that is affiliated with a network of associated stations provides a top channel of programming which includes a default playlist. An alternate playlist is prepared as each item in the top channel is received by a listener. If the listener reacts to an item of the default playlist in a prescribed manner, the listener is automatically switched to a sidechannel where the alternate playlist is immediately started. The sidechannel is typically personalized based on a user preference that reflects how the top channel or the sidechannel has been modified. The sidechannel maintains the character of the station on whose top channel it is based. A further sidechannel may be created for a user of a station that reflects an alternate user preference at that respective station.

Abstract: A subscription system for the receipt of infotainment content such as audio programming is disclosed. A network operator enables a user to elect to pay a fee or to agree to receive email-advertising messages for continuing permission to access content. If email ads are elected, the ads are sent to the user's email address in a separate time and/or space from the content. The email ads are linked by at least one of subject and occurrence to the user's activities in accessing content. A user ID identifiable to the network operator links the email ads and content accessed by the user. The email ads are sent to a user system that may be disconnected from the system that provides the user's infotainment experience. The email ads may be sent as a single message under a subject heading, or as part of a bundle of ads combined under a single subject heading. Bundled ads are normally individually less costly to advertisers than single ads.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a bidding method used to prioritize advertising and search result listings delivered to users of the Internet and Internet related devices and services. Listing entities such as advertisers bid on lower level target points (key words) at a list service provider. The list service provider defines a set of upper level target points available for correlation to the lower level target points that are the subject of the listing entity's bid. The target points when combined with a value of a bid comprise a handle. When correlated to upper level target points, the value of the combined handles of the lower level target points form the value for the handles of the upper level target points. In this manner, the present invention creates additional meaning and context to a given bid. A listing entity need not discover or select every term that may be useful—the list service provider performs all or some of this correlating service.

Abstract: A method of accounting and payment for audio content played on a user device such as an Internet radio. Requested content is included in a process of message assembly where the content is divided into portions. The portions of content are attached to payment messages, where the value of a payment message and the value of its attached portion of content are similar. The payment message may be either a fee message or an advertising message. The fee message is deducted against a user account in proportion to the value of content that is delivered to the device. This account is credited by subscription payments. The advertising messages are credited to the account in lieu of subscription payments. The user may operate a selecting element of the device to opt for either of advertising or fee messages, thus choosing in real time which type of payment to use for currently playing content.

Abstract: An incentive benefit program compensates users for viewing advertising, participating in surveys and similar activities. A user releases no inherently valuable information, such as an email or home address or credit card number, to any additional entities to receive benefits. The user remains substantially anonymous to the benefit provider, providing an identity for an account that is not directly usable by a third party for contacting the user or for gaining monetarily from the user. Such less valuable account identities may include numbers for programs for frequent flyers, video rental clubs, and grocery discount cards. Third parties that operate these programs may hold inherently valuable information about the user, however since the user already belongs to the program, no additional operators need gain this information. The user need disclose only a relatively non-valuable third party benefits account number to the benefit provider.

Abstract: An incentive benefit program compensates customers for viewing advertising and other activities while conducting business at a host merchant. The compensation is in the form of an immediate discount toward goods and/or services at the host merchant. The discount may be a reduction in the customer's bill, or additional product from the merchant. For example a customer may respond to ads on a display terminal of a gasoline pump while dispensing gas. The customer can then immediately receive additional gas or a reduced cost for the gas dispensed. A user releases no inherently valuable information, such as an email or home address or credit card number, to any entities to receive benefits. The user remains anonymous to the benefit provider and others. According to the invention a customer easily obtains benefits anonymously while the host merchant earns loyalty from such minimally identified customers.