US20170069007A1 - Providing Subscription Content Using Hosted Media Profile - Google Patents

Abstract

A method, system, GUI, apparatus, and machine-readable media for enabling a customer to access information associated with a hosted user profile via a third party information source are provided. A customer may request information associated with a user profile via a mechanism provided by a third party information source via, for example, a mobile communications device. The customer may be enabled to access the information associated with the hosted user profile and an account associated with the customer may be updated to reflect the access. An account associated with the user may be updated to show the transaction and a statement regarding transactions associated with the user profile may be prepared and presented to the user.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS
• The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120 as a continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 12/417,580 entitled “Method, System, and Graphic User Interface for Enabling a Customer to Access Information Associated with a Hosted User Profile,” filed Apr. 2, 2009, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for all purposes.
BACKGROUND
• Field of Invention
• This invention relates to a method, system, graphic user interface (GUI), apparatus, and machine-readable media for enabling a customer to access information associated with a hosted user profile via a third party information source.
• Discussion of Related Art
• Current media file downloading sources such as iTunes™ and Rhapsody™ offer customers the ability to purchase and download media files. Typically, these downloading sources receive media files from a recording industry representative and not from a user or artist. Once received, a media file may then be processed and uploaded to a website hosted by the downloading source so that they may be viewed and/or purchased by one or more customers. In this way, a user or artist is denied direct access to the downloading source. The lack of direct access to a downloading source causes considerable delay in the time it takes for a media file to get to market. This delay may, in turn, cost the user or artist valuable opportunities and financial benefits. Additionally, the lack of direct access to a downloading source denies a user or artist direct control over a media file they generate or to which they are otherwise associated.
• Other websites, like MySpace.com™ and YouTube.com™, enable users to upload media content that may later be viewed by other users of the website. However, this content is not available for download and/or purchase by a viewing user.
SUMMARY
• A method, system, graphic user interface (GUI), apparatus, and machine-readable media for enabling a customer to access information associated with a hosted user profile via a third party information source are provided. Exemplary third party information sources include a third party website, a third party short message service (SMS)/multimedia messaging service (MMS) gateway, and/or a wireless application protocol (WAP) site.
• According to one embodiment, a customer may be provided with a mechanism to access the hosted user profile via the third party information source through, for example, a personal or mobile computing device. The user profile may hosted on, for example, a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, and a WAP site. In some cases, the mechanism may be a link or widget that is included on a page displayed by the third party information source. In one embodiment, the mechanism may be provided via a plurality of third party information sources.
• A user profile may include information. In some cases, the information may be a media file. Exemplary media files include an MP3 file, a graphic file, a ringtone file, a document file, a game file, a wallpaper file, and a music file. In one embodiment, the information may be a subscription to, for example, information made periodically available on the hosted user profile. In another embodiment, the user profile may be associated with a user account. A user account may include information relating to the transferring of monetary funds to and/or from the user.
• A customer may request access to the user profile via, for example, activating or selecting the mechanism. The customer may be provided access to the user profile in response to the request. The customer may then request to access information associated with a hosted user profile. The customer may enter personal information and this information may be used to associate the customer with a customer account. The customer account may be updated to reflect the requested to access the information and other transactions. In some embodiments, updating a customer account may include charging the customer account an amount of money and receiving payment.
• A customer may be enabled to access the requested information. In some embodiments, accessing the information may include downloading the information. One or more transactions may then be cataloged. A user's account may be updated to, for example, indicate a customer's information access. Updating a user account may include, for example, issuing or receiving an electronic funds transfer and/or a paper check that may be, for example, transferred from a payment received by the entity hosting the user profile.
• A statement may be prepared for the user. This statement may include information regarding various transactions related to the user profile, information associated with the user profile, and/or a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, and a WAP site likehost website48, SMS/MMS gateway52, andWAP site50, respectively including the status or cost of a transaction, and/or any credit due, or debt owed, by the user. In embodiments where a plurality of mechanisms are provided to a user, the statement may include information associated with each of the plurality of mechanisms. The statement may then be provided to the user.
• Systems and apparatus for executing the method may include a network and a server computer system. The network may be enabled to facilitate communication between a user, a customer, and a server computer system. The server computer system, may be enabled to provide the customer with a mechanism to access the hosted user profile, wherein the user profile includes information, is associated with a user account, and is hosted on at least one of a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, and a WAP site. The system may also be enabled to receive a request to access the user profile from a customer via the mechanism, provide the customer with access to the user profile, receive a request to access information associated with a hosted user profile, receive personal information from the customer, and associate the customer with a customer account based on the received personal information. The system may be further enabled to update the customer account to indicate the requested access to the information, enable the customer to access the information update the user account to indicate the customer's access to the information, prepare, and provide a statement for the user based on the updated user account information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
• The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:
• FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a network system in which aspects of the invention are manifested, consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating a network system enabled to update a user and/or customer account, consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 1C is a block diagram illustrating a network system enabled to update a user and/or customer account, consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of a computer system, consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 3 is a screenshot of a page showing an exemplary GUI for providing a user with a mechanism to access a user profile and/or information associated with a user profile, consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 4 is a screenshot of an exemplary GUI for providing a user with a statement of activity regarding the user profile, consistent with an embodiment of the present invention; and
• FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating anexemplary process500 for enabling a customer to access information associated with a hosted user profile via a third party information source, consistent with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a network system10 for enabling a customer to access a media file uploaded by a user to a hosted user profile.System100 includes a user computer system24, a usermobile system32, the Internet30, a short message service (SMS)/multimedia messaging service (MMS)network40, a wireless application protocol (WAP)network38, aserver computer system22, awebsite48, a SMS/MMS gateway52, aWAP site50, an application programming interface (API)52, atranscoding service54, a subscription andpurchase management system56, a content delivery platform andcontent management system46, afile server42, a file database44, anadministrator58, athird party user60, andcommunication links62.
• User computer system24 may communicate withserver computer system22 via a web site, such asweb site48, over a network, such asInternet30. Usermobile device32 may communicate with a SMS/MMS gateway, such as SMS/MMS gateway52 via, for example an SMS/MMS network such as SMS/MMS network40. Usermobile device32 may also communicate with a WAP site such asWAP site50 via aWAP network38 such asWAP network38.
• Server computer system22 may include a file store in the form offile server42 and a data store in the form of file database44. File database44 may store one or more media files and/or libraries of media files. A library of media files stored by file database44 may include media files imported directly from, for example, a media distribution company or a record label like Sony Music™ or Universal Studios™. File database44 may be in communication withfile server42.API52 may be a set of instructions, protocols, methods, and/or functions that enablesystem100 to perform a request from any of the components ofsystem100.
• Content delivery platform andmanagement system46 may, for example, classify and/or index media files such as ringtones (reduced media content), full-track content, games, wallpaper, graphics, MP3 s, and media files using one or more categories. Content delivery platform andmanagement system46 may provide information to a customer regarding a media file based on, for example, its classification and/or indexing. Media files to be indexed may be from, for example, a file server such asfile server42. Indexed media files may be stored in, for example, a structured manner that may enable accessing the media file and/or downloading the indexed media file to a website likewebsite48, a WAP site likeWAP site50, a SMS/MMS gateway like SMS/MMS gateway52, and/or a transcoding service like transcodingservice54. Indexed media files may be stored in a database like file database44.
• Subscription andpurchase management system56 may include instructions that may enable the managing of subscriptions to, for example, a host website, a user profile, and/or a media file. Subscription andpurchase management system56 may also include instructions that may enable the managing of the purchase of a subscription and/or access to a media file. Subscription andpurchase management system56 may enable the updating of a customer account to indicate, for example, the customers access of a website likewebsite48, a WAP site likeWAP site50, a SMS/MMS gateway like SMS/MMS gateway52, a user profile, or a media file. Subscription andpurchase management system56 may also enable providing a customer with access to a good or service when the customer communicates with, for example, a website likewebsite48, a WAP site likeWAP site50, a SMS/MMS gateway like SMS/MMS gateway52.
• Transcoding service54 may prepare communication suitable for transmission overinternet30,WAP network38, and/or SMS/MMS network40.Administrator58 may be any administrator ofserver computer system22 and may provide instructions to one or more components ofserver computer system22.Third party user60 may be any third party not in communication with to thewebsite48, SMS/MMS gateway52 andWAP site50.Third party user60 may be enabled to accessAPI52 via, for example, a widget, API, or link external toserver computer system22.
• Communication between one or more components ofsystem100 may be made via a communication link likecommunication link62. Communication links62 may be any appropriate communication link and may be wired or wireless.
• FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating anetwork system101 enabled to update a user and customer account.System101 may include file database44, subscription andpurchase management system56, content delivery platform andcontent management system46, afinancial institution130, andcommunication links62. File database44 may include, for example, a user information module105, a user account module110, acustomer information module115, acustomer account module120, and amedia file125.
• Financial institution130 may be any entity capable of conducting financial transactions such as an electronic or paper funds transfer. Exemplary financial institutions include banks, credit card companies, and PayPal™.Financial institution130 may be able to access, withdraw, and/or deposit funds related to user account110 and/orcustomer account120.Financial institution130 may also be able to update a user account module110 and/orcustomer account module120 to reflect, for example, a transaction.
• User information module105 may include information regarding a user. Exemplary information includes login information such as a password and user identification and/or a user profile and/or information associated with a user profile and/or media file. A user profile may include, for example, information regarding the user's interests, a musical group that he or she belongs to, a genre of art that he or she contributes to, and/or information regarding media files he or she has uploaded to the user profile. User information module105 may be in communication with, for example, user account module110 and/ormedia file module125.
• User account module110 may include, for example, information regarding an account the user has with a host website, SMS/MMS gateway, and/or WAP site such aswebsite48, SMS/MMS gateway52, and/orWAP site50. Information included in user account module110 may be, for example, a list of media files uploaded to user information module105, the status of the uploaded media files, how many customers accessed his or her profile and/or uploaded media file, a statement prepared for the user, and any credit or debit account balance owed or due to the user. User account module110 may be in communication with, for example, user information module105.
• Customer information module115 may include information regarding a customer. A customer may be any individual and/or entity requesting access to a media file. Exemplary information includes login information such as a password and user identification and/or a customer profile. A customer profile may include, for example, information regarding his or her interests, a genre of art that they contribute to, and/or information regarding media files he or she has uploaded to the user profile.Customer information module115 may also include information regarding media files access and/or downloaded by the customer and/or a service or periodically issued media file that the customer subscribes to.Customer information module115 may be in communication with, for example,customer account module120 and/ormedia file module125.
• Customer account module120 may include information regarding an account the user has with a host website, SMS/MMS gateway, and/or WAP site such aswebsite48, SMS/MMS gateway52, and/orWAP site50.Customer account module120 may also include an accounting of the number of media files accessed by and/or downloaded tocustomer information module115, the status of an accessed/downloaded media file, the media files and/or user profiles he or she has accessed, a statement prepared for the customer, and any credit or debit account balance owed, or due to, the customer.
• Media file module125 may include one or more media files uploaded by a user to his or her profile. A media file uploaded to media file125 may be accessed/downloaded by a customer via, for example,customer information module115. Exemplary media files include an MP3 file, a graphic file, a ringtone file, a document file, a game file, and a music file.Media file module125 may be accessed by, for example, user information module105, and/orcustomer information module115.
• A user and/or customer may communicate with file database44, user information module105, user account module110,customer information module115,customer account module120, and/or media file125 via, for example,website48, SMS/MMS gateway52, and/orWAP site50 over communication links62.
• FIG. 1C is a block diagram illustrating anetwork system150 enabled to update a user and customer account.System150 may include file database44, subscription andpurchase management system56, content delivery platform andcontent management system46,API52,financial institution130, acustomer information module115, acustomer account module120, andcommunication links62. File database44 may include, for example, user information module105, user account module110, andmedia file125.
• Customer information module115 may communicate withAPI52 overcommunication link62. This communication may include a request to, for example, access a user profile or access a media file.API52 may be enabled to communicate with content delivery platform andcontent management system46. This communication may include, for example, the request to, for example, access a user profile or access/download a media file and a response to the request. Content delivery platform andcontent management system46 may be in communication with subscription andpurchase management system56. This communication may relate to a subscription and/or payment required from the customer to access a requested profile and/or media file. Subscription andpurchase management system56 may be in communication withcustomer account module120 and/orfinancial institution130 in order to, for example, execute the payment for access a requested profile and/or media file. Once executed,customer account module120 and/or user account module110 may be updated to reflect the transaction.
• FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the exemplary form of acomputer system200 within which a set of instructions for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, may be executed. In alternative embodiments, the machine may operate as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.
• Theexemplary computer system200 includes a processor202 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both), a main memory204 (e.g., read only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) or Rambus DRAM (RDRAM), etc.), and a static memory206 (e.g., flash memory, static random access memory (SRAM), etc.), which communicate with each other via abus208.
• Thecomputer system200 may further include a video display210 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). Thecomputer system200 may also include an alpha-numeric input device212 (e.g., a keyboard or touch screen), a cursor control device214 (e.g., a mouse), adisk drive unit216, a signal generation device218 (e.g., a speaker), and anetwork interface device220.
• Thedisk drive unit216 includes a machine-readable medium222 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions224 (e.g., software) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The software may also reside, completely or at least partially, within themain memory204 and/or within theprocessor202 during execution thereof by thecomputer system200, themain memory204 and theprocessor202 also constituting machine-readable media.
• The software may further be transmitted or received over a network228 via thenetwork interface device220. Exemplary networks includeInternet30, SMS/MMS network40, andWAP network38.
• While machine-readable medium224 is shown in an exemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present invention. The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic media, and carrier wave signals.
• The GUis ofFIGS. 3 and 4 may be generated, displayed, and managed by any system and/or apparatus enabled to generate them and communicate with a user and/or a customer such assystems10,100,150, and/or200.
• FIG. 3 is a screenshot of a page showing anexemplary GUI300 for providing a user with a mechanism to access a user profile and/or information associated with a user profile.GUI300 may be provided and/or displayed by, for example, a third party web site, SMS/MMS gateway, and/or WAP site.GUI300 includes awidget310 and three exemplary buttons; an I'm afan button315, a grab itbutton320, and aringtones button320. A customer may access and/or request access to a user profile and/or information associated with a user by selecting on or more ofbuttons315,320, and/or325.
• FIG. 4 is a screenshot of a page showing anexemplary GUI400 for providing a user with a statement of activity regarding the user profile.GUI400 may be displayed to a user upon selection of thereports tab405. The name or title of the user profile may be displayed in heading410.
• A user may select a reporting view under a reporting view heading415. Selecting a reporting view enables a user to view information related to a source of data associated with their user profile. For example, a user may have mechanisms for accessing their user profile available on various platforms or websites, such as mySpace.com, FaceBook.com, and/or a personal website. A user may wish to view information related to only one of these platforms. In this case, he or she would select the one of exemplary reporting views ptrx425, thpcampid430, and thpcid435, wherein each of these reporting views is associated with a different platform or website. Upon selection of a reporting view, information regarding activity related to the selected platform or website may be displayed. When a user desires to view information related to all of the platforms or websites associated with their user profile, he or she may select thesummary reporting view420. Following this selection, a summary of all activity related to the user profile may be displayed as shown inFIG. 4.
• A user may also select a manner of sorting the data shown on a report. For example,GUI400 shows a sorting option of “by dates”440. Other exemplary sorting options include sorting by day, week, month, or most recent activity. Optionally, one ormore text boxes440 may be displayed wherein a user may enter a date or date range for information to be shown in a statement or report. A user may select or “click on,” for example, abutton445 shown on the GUI to apply the selected sorting option to the data provided on the statement or report.
• Exemplary information showing activity and/or transactions regarding a user profile may be provided in table450. Table450 may include one or more headings that may refer to a category of information. Exemplary categories include the date, volume of traffic, and/or the number of new/existing subscriptions, and/or downloads. Information related the category and the user profile may be provided on the table under the appropriate heading.
• FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating anexemplary process500 for enabling a customer to access information associated with a hosted user profile via a third party information source. Exemplary third party information sources include a third party website, a third party SMS/MMS gateway, and/or a third party WAP site. A, GUI, apparatus, machine-readable media, and/or a system such assystems100,101,150, and200 may performprocess500.
• Instep505, a customer may be provided with a mechanism to access the hosted user profile via the third party information source through, for example, a personal or mobile computing device. Exemplary mobile communication devices include a mobile telephone and PDA. The user profile may be hosted on, for example, a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, and a WAP site likewebsite48, SMS/MMS gateway52, andWAP site50, respectively. The mechanism may be, for example, a link or a widget that is included on a page displayed by the third party information source. An exemplary mechanism is shown inFIG. 3. The mechanism may be provided via, for example, a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, and a WAP site, such as, a user's website or a commercially available site like mySpace.com™ or FaceBook.com™.
• The user profile may include information. In some cases, the information may be a media file. Exemplary media files include an MP3 file, a graphic file, a ringtone file, a document file, a game file, a wallpaper file, and a music file. In one embodiment, the information may be a subscription to, for example, information made periodically available on the hosted user profile and/or entity hosting the user profile.
• In one embodiment, the user profile may be associated with a user account. A user account may include information relating to, for example, a user or administrator of the user profile, and/or information or media files associated with the user profile. A user account may include information relating to the transferring of monetary funds to and/or from the user.
• Monetary funds may be transferred from the user account, for example, as payment for services rendered by the entity hosting the user profile. Monetary funds may be transferred to the user account as a credit from the entity hosting the user profile for fees collected from customers who accessed information from the hosted user profile. In some embodiments, the mechanism may be provided via a plurality of third party information sources.
• In step510, a request to access the user profile may be received from a customer via, for example, the mechanism. An exemplary method for receiving the request may include selecting, by the user, the mechanism by clicking on it with a mouse.
• Instep515, the customer may be provided with access to the user profile. This access may be enabled by a content delivery platform and content management system like content delivery platform andcontent management system46 via, for example, a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, and a WAP site likewebsite48, SMS/MMS gateway52, andWAP site50. Instep520, a request to access information associated with a hosted user profile may be received via, for example, a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, a WAP site likewebsite48, SMS/MMS gateway52, andWAP site50.
• In step525, personal information may be received from the customer via, for example, a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, and/or a WAP site likewebsite48, SMS/MMS gateway52, and/orWAP site50, respectively. Personal information received from the customer may include, for example, the customer's name, email address, billing information, login information, and/or a password. The customer may then be associated with a customer account based on the received personal information using, for example, a subscription and purchase management system, such as subscription andpurchase management system56 and/or a financial institution like financial institution130 (step530). In some cases, the customer may have a previously existing customer account and may be associated with this account based on the received customer information. In other cases, a new customer account may be generated for the customer using the received personal information.
• Instep535, a customer account may be updated to reflect the requested to access the information. In some embodiments, updating a customer account may include charging the customer account an amount of money and receiving payment. A customer account may be, for example, an account with a bank, a utility provider, a mobile communications provider, a telecommunications provider, a lending institution, and an electronic commerce institution, wherein the account is associated with the customer. A customer account may be resident in, for example, a file database like file database44 and/or a customer account module, likecustomer account module120. Updating the customer account may be performed by, for example, a subscription and purchase management system, such as subscription andpurchase management system56 and/or a financial institution likefinancial institution130. To update a customer's account, a payment for accessing the requested media file may be transferred from a customer and/or customer account. Updating the customer account may include, for example, an electronic funds transfer, or a credit card, debit card, or PayPal™ transaction.
• In step540, a customer may be enabled to access the requested information via, for example, a content delivery platform and/or content management system such as content delivery platform andcontent management system46 or a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, and/or a WAP site such aswebsite48, SMS/MMS gateway52, and/orWAP site50, respectively. In some embodiments, accessing the information may include downloading the information.
• Instep545, one or more transactions ofprocess500 may be cataloged usmg, for example, a content delivery platform and content management system like content delivery platform andcontent management system46.
• In step550, a user's account may be updated to, for example, indicate a customer's information access. A subscription and purchase management system, such as subscription andpurchase management system56 and/or a financial institution likefinancial institution130 may be used to update the user's account. Updating a user account may include, for example, issuing or receiving an electronic funds transfer and/or a paper check that may be, for example, transferred from a payment received by the entity hosting the user profile.
• In step555, a statement may be prepared for the user using, for example, a subscription and purchase management system, such as subscription andpurchase management system56 and/or a financial institution likefinancial institution130. This statement may include information regarding various transactions related to the user profile, information associated with the user profile, and/or a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, and a WAP site likehost website48, SMS/MMS gateway52, andWAP site50, respectively including the status or cost of a transaction, and/or any credit due, or debt owed, by the user. In embodiments where a plurality of mechanisms are provided to a user, the statement may include information associated with each of the plurality of mechanisms. In step560, the statement may be provided to the user via, for example, the content delivery platform and content management system. An exemplary statement provided to a user is shown inFIG. 4. Following step560,process500 may end.
• While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative and not restrictive of the current invention, and that this invention is not restricted to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described since modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.

Claims (20)

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:

maintaining, on a server computer system including at least one processor:

a user information module configured to maintain information associated with a hosted user profile of a user;

a user account module coupled to the user information module, the user account module configured to maintain information associated with one or more media files available through the hosted user profile;

a media file module configured to receive and store an upload of the one or more media files available through the hosted user profile;

a customer information module configured to maintain information regarding a customer, including subscription information indicating that particular media files of the one or more media files available through the hosted user profile media files are accessible to the customer;

receiving, from a third party website, a customer request for access to requested media files of the one or more media files available through the hosted user profile, wherein the customer request is associated with the customer;

determining, based on the subscription information, that the customer associated with the customer request has a subscription associated with the hosted user profile entitling the customer to access the requested media files; and

in response to the determining, enabling the customer to access the requested media files through the hosted user profile using a content delivery platform.

2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising:

updating information included in a user account, using the user account module, to include updated user account information indicating that the customer was enabled to access the requested media files via the at least one of a plurality of third-party information sources.

3. The method ofclaim 2, further comprising:

receiving a user selection indicating a selection by a user of one or more selected third-party information sources of the plurality of third-party information sources; and

providing the user with a hosted user profile activity statement.

4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more media files include at least one of an MP3 file, a graphic file, a ringtone file, a document file, a game file, a wallpaper file, or a music file.

5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the server computer system is further configured to:

periodically issue a media file to the customer based on the subscription information.

6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the server computer system is further configured to:

maintain a customer account module, the customer account module configured to maintain information about a customer account associated with at least one of a plurality of third-party information sources.

7. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising:

providing reports to both the customer and the user related to access to the hosted user profile by the customer.

8. A system comprising:

a processor;

memory coupled to the processor;

a program of instructions to be stored in the memory and executed by the processor, the program of instructions including:

at least one instruction to maintain a user information module configured to maintain information associated with a hosted user profile of a user;

at least one instruction to maintain a user account module coupled to the user information module, the user account module configured to maintain information associated with one or more media files available through the hosted user profile;

at least one instruction to maintain a media file module configured to receive and store an upload of the one or more media files available through the hosted user profile;

at least one instruction to maintain a customer information module configured to maintain information regarding a customer, including subscription information indicating that particular media files of the one or more media files available through the hosted user profile media files are accessible to the customer;

at least one instruction to maintain receive, from a third party website, a customer request for access to requested media files of the one or more media files available through the hosted user profile, wherein the customer request is associated with the customer;

at least one instruction to determine, based on the subscription information, that the customer associated with the customer request has a subscription associated with the hosted user profile entitling the customer to access the requested media files; and

at least one instruction to enable the customer to access the requested media files through the hosted user profile using a content delivery platform, in response to the at least one instruction to determine.

9. The system ofclaim 8, further comprising:

at least one instruction to update information included in a user account, using the user account module, to include updated user account information indicating that the customer was enabled to access the requested media files via the at least one of a plurality of third-party information sources.

10. The system ofclaim 9, further comprising:

at least one instruction to receive a user selection indicating a selection by a user of one or more selected third-party information sources of the plurality of third-party information sources; and

at least one instruction to provide the user with a hosted user profile activity statement.

11. The system ofclaim 8, wherein the one or more media files include at least one of an MP3 file, a graphic file, a ringtone file, a document file, a game file, a wallpaper file, or a music file.

12. The system ofclaim 8, further comprising:

at least one instruction to periodically issue a media file to the customer based on the subscription information.

13. The system ofclaim 8, further comprising:

at least one instruction to maintain a customer account module, the customer account module configured to maintain information about a customer account associated with at least one of a plurality of third-party information sources.

14. The system ofclaim 8, further comprising:

at least one instruction to provide reports to both the customer and the user related to access to the hosted user profile by the customer.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions configured to be stored in a memory and executed by a processor, the program of instructions including:

at least one instruction to maintain a user information module configured to maintain information associated with a hosted user profile of a user;

at least one instruction to maintain a user account module coupled to the user information module, the user account module configured to maintain information associated with one or more media files available through the hosted user profile;

at least one instruction to maintain a media file module configured to receive and store an upload of the one or more media files available through the hosted user profile;

at least one instruction to maintain a customer information module configured to maintain information regarding a customer, including subscription information indicating that particular media files of the one or more media files available through the hosted user profile media files are accessible to the customer;

at least one instruction to maintain receive, from a third party website, a customer request for access to requested media files of the one or more media files available through the hosted user profile, wherein the customer request is associated with the customer;

at least one instruction to determine, based on the subscription information, that the customer associated with the customer request has a subscription associated with the hosted user profile entitling the customer to access the requested media files; and

at least one instruction to enable the customer to access the requested media files through the hosted user profile using a content delivery platform, in response to the at least one instruction to determine.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium ofclaim 15, wherein the program of instructions further comprises:

at least one instruction to update information included in a user account, using the user account module, to include updated user account information indicating that the customer was enabled to access the requested media files via the at least one of a plurality of third-party information sources.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium ofclaim 16, wherein the program of instructions further comprises:

at least one instruction to receive a user selection indicating a selection by a user of one or more selected third-party information sources of the plurality of third-party information sources; and

at least one instruction to provide the user with a hosted user profile activity statement.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium ofclaim 15, wherein the program of instructions further comprises:

at least one instruction to periodically issue a media file to the customer based on the subscription information.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium ofclaim 15, wherein the program of instructions further comprises:

at least one instruction to maintain a customer account module, the customer account module configured to maintain information about a customer account associated with at least one of a plurality of third-party information sources.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium ofclaim 15, wherein the program of instructions further comprises:

at least one instruction to provide reports to both the customer and the user related to access to the hosted user profile by the customer.

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