WO1998048363A1

WO1998048363A1 - Custom information delivery system

Info

Publication number: WO1998048363A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/007555
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tyler Peppel
Original assignee: Bandai Holding Corporation
Priority date: 1997-04-22
Filing date: 1998-04-16
Publication date: 1998-10-29
Also published as: AU7119098A

Abstract

A custom information delivery system is provided, in which a customer may select any of several items of content, such as music recordings or videos, for storage on a selected medium, such as a compact disk. The number of such selections, their order of storage on such medium, and transitions between such selection, as well as the medium packaging and accompanying documentary information, may all be determined by the customer when such selections are assembled onto the medium.

Description

CUSTOM INFORMATION DELIVERY SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to information delivery on any of various storage media. More particularly, the invention relates to custom selection, organization, and formatting of information that is accessed electronically and that is distributed for storage on any of various storage media.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Electronic commerce is now a reality. One may purchase goods and services on-line, for example via the Internet, and in particular using a personal computer running a browser program, such as Netscape Navigator, to access the World Wide Web. Such goods and services include books, recorded music, and videos inter alia.

For example, one may browse through a selection of 2.5 million book titles, order the books desired, and have the books shipped to any one or more addresses. One may even select a style of gift wrap if the book is to be a gift (e.g. see http://www.Amazon.com).

One may also browse through a selection of 140,000 compact disk titles, select, and order compact disks in a similar fashion (e. g. see http://www.cdconnection.com). Similar services are provided for videos (e.g. Video On-line Express), CD-ROMs (e.g. CDROMs On-line), and software (e.g. see http://www.testdrive.com). While such services provide the customer with ready and convenient access to published literature, music, and video programming in its issued format, there is as yet no service that allows the customer to order such content in a customized, multimedia format.

Many attempts have been made to distribute content, such as music, in electronic format and on demand. See, for example, C. Freeny, System For Reproducing Information In Material Objects At A Point of Sale Location, U.S. Patent No. 4,528,643 (9 July 1985). However, such systems used a retail distribution metaphor to allow the customer to select items from a local library of content for manufacture into a material object at a point of sale location. While such systems discuss the possibility of on-line distribution, such distribution is necessarily limited in scope by the state of the art at the time such distribution was proposed.

It would be advantageous to provide a distribution scheme that exploited fully the potential of electronic commerce.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a custom information delivery system, in which a customer may select any of several items of content, such as music recordings or videos, for storage on a selected medium, such as a compact disk. The number of such selections, their order of storage on such medium, and transitions between such selection, as well as the medium packaging and accompanying documentary information, may all be determined by the customer when such selections are assembled onto the medium. Such assembled product is referred to herein as a compilation.

The system provides various tools to assist the customer in producing a compilation, such as a medium capacity-filled indicator, as well as reminders and suggestions, such as when capacity remains on the medium at the conclusion of a compilation session.

Further, the system provides unique opportunities to include the customer in a community experience, for example by providing lists of compilations by various artists, experts, and by other customers, as well as various rating services.

Compilations may be assembled by means of a customer implemented search strategy, as executed by a search engine, or by means of predefined categories. Further, each item of content may be accompanied by documentary information and may be sampled prior to its being added to the compilation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a block schematic diagram of a custom information delivery system according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a display showing a radio feature according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a display showing an information delivery system home page according to the invention;

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a display showing an information delivery system Japanese home page according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a display showing a list of featured compilations home page according to the invention;

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of a display showing a celebrity compilation according to the invention; Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of a display showing a list of compilations by category and sub-category according to the invention;

Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of a display showing a critic's compilation according to the invention;

Fig. 9 is a schematic representation of a display showing a selection within a compilation according to the invention;

Fig. 10 is a schematic representation of a display showing a selection within a compilation that includes multi-media content according to the invention;

Fig. 11 is a schematic representation of a display showing a selection that is added to a customer compilation according to the invention;

Fig. 12 is a schematic representation of a display showing a content database search according to the invention;

Fig. 13 is a schematic representation of a display showing a selection located by a content database search according to the invention;

Fig. 14 is a schematic representation of a display showing a mail message according to the invention;

Fig. 15 is a schematic representation of a display showing a list of user compilations according to the invention;

Fig. 16 is a schematic representation of a display showing a user compilation according to the invention;

Fig. 17 is a schematic representation of a display showing a content ordering and transitions according to the invention; Fig. 18 is a schematic representation of a display showing a track segue menu according to the invention;

Fig. 19 is a schematic representation of a display showing a list of track transition sounds according to the invention;

Fig. 20 is a schematic representation of a display showing a series of cover styles according to the invention;

Fig. 21 is a schematic representation of a display showing a title and liner note menu according to the invention;

Fig. 22 is a schematic representation of a display showing a shipping and payment menu according to the invention; and

Fig. 23 is a schematic representation of a display showing a gift menu according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a custom information delivery system, in which a customer may select any of several items of content, such as music recordings or videos, for storage on a selected medium, such as a compact disk. The number of such selections, their order of storage on such medium, and transitions between such selection, as well as the medium packaging and accompanying documentary information, may all be determined by a customer when such selections are assembled onto the medium.

Fig. 1 is a block schematic diagram of an exemplary custom information delivery system according to the invention. The example provided on Fig. 1 is for a distribution system for recorded music and videos. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the system herein described is readily applicable for distribution of other types of content, such as literature compilations, e.g. Best Short Stories of 1990, Favorite Children's Stories, and compilations of magazine articles.

At Step 1 (100), the system captures a customer's play list. The play list may be generated by the customer at a personal computer 10, for example using a browser and the World Wide Web ("WWW") to access a Web server 20; an Internet kiosk 12, for example in a music store or video arcade; or from a paper catalog 15, in which the customer completes an order form 14 and forwards same for entry into the system, for example via facsimile or mail.

At Step 2 (110), the play lists are compiled at the Web server into a database. It should be appreciated that the system herein is described in connection with a client server model, in which the server is a Web server, but that the invention is not limited to a Web server, and that the invention may be implemented in any electronic network.

At Step 3 (120), the play lists are transmitted to a recording center, for example by electronic transfer over a dedicated connection or over the Internet.

At Step 4 (130), the play lists are received at a recording and fulfillment center. The play lists 40 are provided to a CD-R recorder and labeler 42 in the case of distribution on compact disk storage media. It should be appreciated that other media and recording systems may be used within the scope of the invention.

The CD-R recorder writes and labels compact disks based upon the play lists by accessing various library servers 45, 46, 47 to obtain the content necessary to complete the compilation specified by the play lists. The finished compact disk 44 is then packaged in accordance with instruction that accompany the play list. At Step 5 (140), the finished compact disk 50 is mailed to the customer in accordance with the customer's instructions, e.g. via U.S. mail, Federal Express, or UPS.

The invention is now described in connection with a commercial on-line music and video distribution system, referred to herein as My CD. My CD stands for "my custom disk." The system allows the customer to create a custom audio, video, or multi-media compact disk ("CD") through a number of different interfaces, such as using a paper catalog to pick music selections, choosing selections at a kiosk in a retail record store, or choosing selections for the CD from a library that is located on the World Wide Web at the My CD Website.

The My CD Website may be accessed directly or through another Website, for example a music club's Home Page on the Web. When any Website is accessed that provides a link to the My CD Website, one can see the My CD logo. This provides the customer with direct access to the My CD Website, e.g. through any number of music industry home pages and any Internet site that is related to music. One strategy for My CD is to make it available through any number of sources on the WWW. Clicking on a My CD button, for example by pointing to the button with a pointing device and clicking a button on the pointing device, allows the customer to enter the My CD Website.

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a display showing a radio feature according to the invention. When the customer enters the My Cd Website, the customer is presented with a feature of the invention referred to as Radio My CD

200. This feature of the invention is a Web-based real time audio source, such as Real Audio, that provides four channels of music 214 in this example. Such music is organized in different genres, e.g. the Billboard Top 20, Country Sounds, Night Jazz. In the example shown on Fig. 2, Radio My CD is tuned to the Night Jazz channel 215 because that is where he customer left it the last time s/he visited the My CD Website. The customer can adjust the volume with a button 212 at the top of the Radio My CD window, and can also stop and start the music with appropriate control buttons 210. Radio My CD is a window that is independent of the customer's Web browser window and is available to the customer anytime that the customer is at the My CD Website.

Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a display showing an information delivery system home page according to the invention. At the top of the page 230, the customer is greeted with a message 232, such as "Welcome back!" The message may be personalized to include the customer's name and to indicate that the customer is a My CD member, e.g. where the customer has an account that was set up previously on My CD by providing appropriate information, such as customer preferences in music. In the example shown on Fig. 3, My CD knows that the customer is a jazz fan and therefore arranges information at the My CD Website according to the customer's taste in music.

The display also provides the customer with useful news and other information, e.g. that My CD has added a new collection to the My CD database, and that I the customer only two CD's away from a free CD. Finally, the customer is provided with a list of actions and links to other portions of the MY CD Website 234 that may be selected, such as making a compilation ("Make My CD").

The customer may also scroll down the My CD home page to look at the different genres of music that are available. For example, the customer can click on a Rock/Pop/Soul button 231. As a result of selecting this genre of music, the color of the interface changes to indicate that the customer is in another area of the library within the My CD Website. In this example, other genres of music include Jazz, Country, Dance, World Music, and Classical and Musicals.

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a display showing an information delivery system Japanese home page according to the invention. The My CD Website is also a multi-lingual site, I.e. it may be presented in any language. For example, if the customer selects the Japanese language Website, the customer can visit a Japanese version of the My CD Website 240. Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a display showing a list of featured compilations home page according to the invention. The compilations shown on Fig. 5 are found in the Jazz genre because the customer in this example has selected Jazz. The customer has also selected the Make My CD button on the

My CD home page and, as a result, has been transported further into the My CD Web site to produce a compilation.

On the compilation home page, there is a bar 250 across the top of the page that has four buttons: Home 251 , Search 252, Compilations 253, and Help 254.

These buttons are fixed and available at any time while the customer is visiting the My CD Website. In this embodiment of the invention, the buttons are constant and their location never changes. Thus, if the customer needs to get back to the home page, i.e. the origin of the site, the customer can click on Home to do that.

The compilations home page also provides access to My CD compilations 255 and user compilations 255. The My CD compilations appear on the compilations home page. For purposes of the discussion herein, a compilation consists of two or more musical selections, preferably arranged around a theme, such as dinner music, artist of the month, or as specified by a customer. The compilation home page on Fig. 5 shows several compilations created by celebrities. In other words, these compilations provide the celebrities' favorite music grouped according to, for instance, in this case, Desert Island Tracks. That is, if they had only one CD they could take to a desert island, what are the tracks they would choose?

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of a display showing a celebrity compilation according to the invention. By selecting a celebrity compilation on the compilation home page (Fig. 5), the customer can look a little more closely at a particular celebrity's compilation. The page layout shown on Fig. 6 is common throughout this embodiment of invention. On the left of the page the customer is provided with a window that contains information 268 about the celebrity, a photograph of the celebrity, and the music that the celebrity has chosen. The tracks that the celebrity has chosen are displayed in another scrolling window 260. An additional window 264 shows the contents of the customer's CD. This latter window is presently empty because the customer has not chosen any tracks yet. This fact is indicated by a CD capacity filled indicator 266.

The track display window 260 includes a scroll bar 267 that allows the customer to scroll through a list of tracks, where the list is longer than can be displayed in the window all at once. The customer can add the entire compilation to his CD by selecting the "add all to my CD" button 265; or the customer may select individual tracks for inclusion on his CD by selecting an add button, e.g. + button 262, associated with each particular track. The customer can also request the display of information about the track, such as personnel, track length, and a review, by selecting the information button, e.g. the i button 263, associated with each track.

Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of a display showing a list of compilations by category and sub-category according to the invention. The categories shown on the page include Critic's Choice 270, Jazz Eras 274, Popular Miscellany 276,

Cocktail Mixes 278, and Featured Instruments 279. These categories are arbitrarily established and include music that is arranged in pre-existing compilations that have been created around a very wide range of themes. Such themes can include, for example Crime, Pets, Christmas Collection, Holidays, Best Wishes, Milestones, Birthday, Graduation, Signs of the Zodiac, Unusual

Time Signatures, Specific People, Cities, Countries, and Esoterica. The idea is to provide a wide range of pre-made compilations for customers to choose from as they select music that they are interested in.

These themes can be further divided into more specific themes. Thus, each category shown on the page includes subcategories 271 , 272, 273, 277, such as World Jazz, and Jazz Love Songs. Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of a display showing a critic's compilation according to the invention. The critic's choice compilation provides a window 280 that includes a photograph and a biography of the critic. In this example, the track window displays a compilation of the critic's favorite jazz love songs.

As discussed above, the track window includes a + button for each track which may be selected by the customer to the track to the customer's compilation.

Fig. 9 is a schematic representation of a display showing a selection within a compilation according to the invention. As discussed above, the compilation page includes an i or information button associated with each track. Fig. 9 shows such information as provided for a particular track "Meu Menino." The track window at the right indicates that this track has been selected 293 for additional information. The window 290 shown on the left of the page is a scrolling window. The window includes a picture of the cover for the CD from which the selected track comes. The window may also include a button (not shown) that links the customer directly to the record company's Website, the artist's Website, or other Websites that contain information related to the selected track. The window 290 also provides a button 292 that provides the customer with an audio sample of the selected track.

Fig. 10 is a schematic representation of a display showing a selection within a compilation that includes multi-media content according to the invention. In the information window on the left of the page shown on Fig. 8, there is a My CD logo 281 associated the track "Jam Session" which indicates that the track is exclusive to My CD. With regard to Fig. 10, once this track is selected, the track information window 300 on the left side of the page includes an indication 301 that the track is exclusive to My CD. Thus, the only place to obtain that particular track is from the My CD library. The information window 300 also shows that the track available in two versions: an audio version which may be sampled by selecting a button 292, and a video version which may be sample by selecting a button 302. Either the audio version or the video version or both may be added to the customer's compilation by selecting the appropriate track + button (305, 306), as shown in the track window. The video version of the track may be viewed, for example on a multimedia compatible personal computer having a CD ROM drive, or on any other video reproduction device, e.g. laser disk or DVD.

Fig. 11 is a schematic representation of a display showing a selection that is added to a customer compilation according to the invention. In this case, the customer has selected the track "Time After Time" by selecting the + button 312 associated with the track. The My CD window 264 ("My CD So Far") shows that the track 312a has been added to the customer's compilation. This fact is also on the progress bar 266, which indicates that "My CD is now 6% full" 310. The progress bar is an important feature of the invention because it allows the customer to make selections in view of the capacity of the storage medium onto which the selections are recorded. The progress bar is readily implemented by storing a value for the maximum capacity of the storage medium, e.g. 74 minutes for a compact disk, and decrementing that value for each customer selection. The remaining value is then divided by the total capacity to produce a percentage value.as shown on Fig. 11.

The My CD window also includes a message that points out that the customer can rearrange the tracks in his compilation after he finishes compiling the CD. The information window on the left of the page includes liner notes for the track, a quote from a critic, and a list of the personnel who perform on the track. The information window can also provide a list of other recordings by the artist who performs on the track, such that the customer can click a button and link directly from this window to the artist's catalog, from which yet other selections may be made.

Fig. 12 is a schematic representation of a display showing a content database search according to the invention. In this case, the customer has decided to search for other recordings of the song "Time After Time." The information window on the left of the page provides a list 320 of other tracks in the My CD database of the song "Time After Time." These tracks also appear in the track window 322 on the right of the page, from which they may be selected for addition to the customer's compilation and from which the customer may select additional information about each track.

The customer can also perform a generic search by pressing the Search button on the top bar (discussed above). Within the generic search the customer can search the entire My CD catalog, for example in specific categories, limited to songs that made number one on the charts, or the customer can search by such delimiters as artist, group, song, track, album, year, and label. Further, if the customer knows the particular track for which he is searching, the search function provides a field into which the customer enters the information, and the track is then located in the My CD library and displayed in the track window.

Fig. 13 is a schematic representation of a display showing a selection located by a content database search according to the invention. In this case, the customer has selected a tack from the list of "Time After Time" tracks. When the customer accesses this track by selecting the i button associated with the track (see Fig. 12), the interface color scheme changes to the rock and pop color scheme because this track is classified as rock and pop, rather than jazz. The customer in this example adds this track to his compilation. The progress bar 266 indicates that the customer's compilation takes up 11% of the compact disk.

Fig. 14 is a schematic representation of a display showing a mail message according to the invention. The window on the left of the page shows the customer that an E-Mail message 340 has arrived from a friend, who suggests that the customer "check out" his compilation. The friend has just made a compilation and posted it on the My CD Website under user compilations.

Fig. 15 is a schematic representation of a display showing a list of user compilations according to the invention. One of the features of invention allows a customer to post a personal compilation, and other people can access the customer's compilation and use it as a basis for their compilation. User compilations may be selected from the compilations window 255 (Fig. 5), and the system then links the customer to the user compilations page. The user compilations page include a compilations window 350 that shows, in this example, the top new user compilations. That is, these compilations are customer compilations that are particularly popular with other customers. In this way, the invention provides a forum that establishes a community of interest about various musical, motion picture, or literary themes. Further, the system provides customer incentives in the form of rewards for producing a popular compilation. In this example, customer compilations are listed alphabetically by last name. An alphabetic directory 352 is provided for quickly locating a particular customer compilation.

Fig. 16 is a schematic representation of a display showing a user compilation according to the invention. In this example, the customer clicks on "D" (Fig. 15) to locate his friend's compilation. The customer finds his friend's page, and his compilation is called "Downtown Uptempo." The compilation is sown in the track window 260 with information about the compilation shown in the window 362 on the left of the page. The customer has option of sending E-Mail to his friend by clicking on the "Send e-mail" button. Further, the customer can access his friend's home page from this window.

The window also provides a message window 360 that reminds the customer that he can win free CD's for a year by submitting very popular compilations. In this example, the customer scrolls through the list of tracks selected by his friend and decides to add all of these tracks to his compilation by clicking on the "Add all to my CD" button. As a result, the progress bar indicates that the customer's disk is 82% full. If the customer is satisfied with the selections in his compilation, he presses the make My CD button 361 on the lower right of the page. Fig. 17 is a schematic representation of a display showing a content ordering and transitions according to the invention. When the customer selects the Make My CD button, the system links to a page 370 that includes track ordering and transitions options. Track ordering provides the customer with the option of rearranging the order of the tracks in the compilation.

Because the customer's disk is only 82% full, the system provides a window 379 offering a bonus track that relates to the kind of music already chosen for the CD, and suggesting that the customer might want to buy this track at a special discount price. The customer has the option of clicking on a link in the window for more information about the track.

The window includes a listing of tracks the tracks 371 , 372, 373 that were chosen by the customer in the order that they chosen. By clicking on the arrows 376, 377, 378 on the right, the customer can change the order of the tracks and rearrange them to any desired order. On the page, in between tracks, there is a button 374, 375 that provides the customer with an option to change the segue or transition between the tracks. The default transition is shown set at a 3 second pause of silence between each track.

Fig. 18 is a schematic representation of a display showing a track segue menu according to the invention. By clicking on the change button 374, 375 (Fig. 17), for example for tracks three and four, the customer is linked to a page 380 that sets the segue between these tracks. The transition page lists the tracks 381 , 382 and provides a number of options 387, for example by which the customer can change the length of the pause between the tracks, can dissolve between the tracks, can cut from one particular point in one track to a particular point in another, and can also add a sound clip as a transition between the tracks.

Fig. 19 is a schematic representation of a display showing a list of track transition sounds according to the invention. If the customer decides to select sound clip (see Fig. 18), then a link is established to the sound page 390 which provides a menu of possible that can be inserted between tracks, such as sounds from nature, movies, sound effects, famous quotes, and sport sound effects. Most of these are oriented to the idea of a gift CD that one might put together if somebody is traveling or to commemorate a special occasion. The sound effect is selected by clicking on a particular sound effect, for example the sound of a donkey braying. A panel 392 is provided that allows a preview of the sound effect, the panel includes a volume control and operating controls, similar to those of the Radio My CD panel discussed above.

With regard to Fig. 18 again, if they customer decides to select a sound effect, then such selection is made by clicking the OK button 383. The customer can then preview the segue that was created by clicking on the Hear It button 384. The system plays the end of Track 3, next plays the selected sound effect, and then plays the beginning of Track 4. If the customer decides to keep the segue, then the OK button is clicked, and the customer scrolls down through the other tracks to select transitions for those tracks by clicking on the Go to Next Segue button 386. If the customer is satisfied with the segue, he may also apply the segue to all of the tracks in the compilation by clicking on the Apply to Whole CD button 385.

Fig. 20 is a schematic representation of a display showing a series of cover styles according to the invention. The invention offers the customer the option of choosing a cover for his compilation. Various cover styles are presented to the customer on the cover page 400. The default selection for the customer's cover is a grid of thumbnails from each of the CD album covers for the tracks that the customer has chosen.

Fig. 21 is a schematic representation of a display showing a title and liner note menu according to the invention. The customer also has the option of adding a title and liner notes to his compilation while on the cover page 400. The customer can accept a default title and liner notes, or can enter a title from a keyboard or other device in a title field 402, and can enter liner notes in a similar manner in a My CD notes field 404. The fields are set to limit the amount of information that may be entered to assure that such information fits the designated areas in the CD packag.

Once the customer has picked a cover and added liner notes and a title, an OK button is clicked, and the system links the customer to a page requesting shipping and payment information. Fig. 22 is a schematic representation of a display showing a shipping and payment menu according to the invention. On this page 420, the customer is reminded by a message 421 that he is now only one CD away from a free CD. The page also provides fields for entry of information about the customer's account, such as name and address. These fields are automatically filled in if the customer is a My CD member and the information has already been provided to the system. The customer can check this information and revise it if needed. If the customer is paying by credit card, his credit card number is not shown on line. If the customer is nervous about entering a credit card number on the Internet, he can call an 800 number and arrange that transaction.

Fig. 23 is a schematic representation of a display showing a gift menu according to the invention. If this compilation is a gift, the customer can fill in information on a gift page 430 about the recipient. The customer also has the option of adding a gift message to the package. Finally, the customer can specify one of several shipping options. The default shipping method is First Class U.S. Mail. Once the customer has finished navigating each menu, the order is completed and the compilation is manufactured and sent as instructed by the customer.

Although the invention is described herein with reference to the preferred embodiment, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other applications may be substituted for those set forth herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention should only be limited by the Claims included below.

Claims

1. A custom information delivery system for an electronic network, said system comprising: a server connected to said electronic network, said server comprising a content database and a content compilation engine; means with which a customer may access said server to create a compilation by selecting at least two items of content contained within said content database for storage on a storage medium; and means for assigning an order of appearance within said compilation to said at least two items of content.

2. The system of Claim 1 , said means for customer access comprising: a client connected to said electronic network, said client comprising a customer application, wherein said customer access to said server is via said electronic network.

3. The system of Claim 1 , further comprising: means for selecting any of the number of said items of content, their order of storage on said selected medium, and transitions between said items of content as said compilation is assembled by said customer for storage onto said medium.

4. The system of Claim 1 , further comprising: means for selecting any of medium packaging and accompanying documentary information relating to said compilation.

5. The system of Claim 1 , said content comprising any of music recordings, videos, motion pictures, multi-media, and textual material.

6. The system of Claim 1 , said medium comprising any of a compact disk, laser disk, video tape, or a DVD medium.

7. The system of Claim 1 , further comprising: a progress indicator for displaying storage medium capacity relative to said compilation.

8. The system of Claim 1 , further comprising: an alert system for providing said customer with reminders or suggestions during a compilation session.

9. The system of Claim 1 , further comprising: at least one predefined compilation.

10. The system of Claim 9, further comprising: a plurality of predefined compilations; and means for selecting any one or more of said predefined compilations, or portions thereof.

11. The system of Claim 9, further comprising: means for selecting one or more items of content from said compilation.

12. The system of Claim 1 , said content further comprising: accompanying documentary information; and said customer application further comprising: means for selecting and displaying said accompanying documentary information.

13. The system of Claim 1 , further comprising: means for sampling one or more items of content prior to adding said content to said compilation.

14. The system of Claim 1 , wherein said content is organized by genre.

15. The system of Claim 14, further comprising: means within said customer application for indicating a selected genre.

16. The system of Claim 15, said means for indicating comprising a display scheme.

17. The system of Claim 1 , further comprising: an integrated mail system.

18. The system of Claim 1 , said content comprising: links to related information.

19. The system of Claim 1 , said means for assigning further comprising: means for reordering the occurrence of content within said compilation.

20. The system of Claim 1 , said means for assigning further comprising: means for establishing a transition between each item of content in said compilation.

21. The system of Claim 1 , said means for assigning further comprising: means for inserting additional information between said items of content in said compilation.

22. The system of Claim 21 , said means for inserting comprising: means for inserting sounds between tracks on an audio compilation.

23. A custom information delivery system for an electronic network, said system comprising: a server connected to said electronic network, said server comprising a content database and a content compilation engine; means with which a customer may access said server to create a compilation by selecting at least two items of content contained within said content database for storage on a storage medium; and a progress indicator for displaying storage medium capacity relative to said compilation.

24. The system of Claim 23, said means for customer access comprising: a client connected to said electronic network, said client comprising a customer application, wherein said customer access to said server is via said electronic network.

25. The system of Claim 23, further comprising: means for selecting any of the number of said items of content, their order of storage on said selected medium, and transitions between said items of content as said compilation is assembled by said customer for storage onto said medium.

26. The system of Claim 23, further comprising: means for selecting any of medium packaging and accompanying documentary information relating to said compilation.

27. The system of Claim 23, said content comprising any of music recordings, videos, motion pictures, multi-media, and textual material.

28. The system of Claim 23, said medium comprising any of a compact disk, laser disk, video tape, or a DVD medium.

29. The system of Claim 23, further comprising: an alert system for providing said customer with reminders or suggestions during a compilation session.

30. The system of Claim 23, further comprising: at least one predefined compilation.

31. The system of Claim 30, further comprising: a plurality of predefined compilations; and means for selecting any one or more of said predefined compilations, or portions thereof.

32. The system of Claim 30, further comprising: means for selecting one or more items of content from said compilation.

33. The system of Claim 23, said content further comprising: accompanying documentary information; and said customer application further comprising: means for selecting and displaying said accompanying documentary information.

34. The system of Claim 23, further comprising: means for sampling one or more items of content prior to adding said content to said compilation.

35. The system of Claim 23, wherein said content is organized by genre.

36. The system of Claim 35, further comprising: means within said customer application for indicating a selected genre.

37. The system of Claim 36, said means for indicating comprising a display scheme.

38. The system of Claim 23, further comprising: an integrated mail system.

39. The system of Claim 23, said content comprising: links to related information.

40. The system of Claim 23, said means for assigning further comprising: means for reordering the occurrence of content within said compilation.

41. The system of Claim 23, said means for assigning further comprising: means for establishing a transition between each item of content in said compilation.

42. The system of Claim 23, said means for assigning further comprising: means for inserting additional information between said items of content in said compilation.

43. The system of Claim 42, said means for inserting comprising: means for inserting sounds between tracks on an audio compilation.