1. A method of accessing media data in bites, the method comprising: receiving a request from a client to access a media item, and determining an address of the requested media item (120), wherein the address indicates a location where the media item is stored; determining an identification number of a piece of the media item selected by the client; updating the address of the media item (140) by combining the address with the identification number of the piece of the media item selected by the client; valuating the piece of the media item selected by the client, and sending a valuated price to the client; and providing access to the requested media item using the updated address of the media item when a payment for the valuated price is received from the client.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein combining the address with the identification number comprises appending the identification number to the end of the address.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: presenting a media access menu to the client to determine whether the request to access a media item is to access it in pieces or as a whole.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein presenting a media access menu comprises presenting overviews of the pieces to the client.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the overviews of the pieces are presented to the client in at least one of thumbnails, snippets, or other summaries of the pieces.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein valuating the piece of the media item comprises: setting a first price for accessing each piece of the media item; and setting a second price for accessing all pieces of the media item, wherein the second price is adjusted depending on a number of the pieces of the media item which has been purchased each at the first price.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: offering remaining pieces of the media item to the client at a discount when a total price for the number of the pieces of the media item is equal to or greater than the second price.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein valuating the piece of the media item comprises offering the pieces of the media item at a discount to the client participating in a subscription service or loyalty program.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing access to the requested media item comprises: delivering the entire media item; tracking a playback progress through the media item; and charging only for the pieces of the media item which have been played.

10. A media access controller (300), comprising: a media access map (310) to receive a media access request for a media item from a client device, and to output an address for the requested media item; a processor (330) to receive the address of the media item and generate a media access menu which is presented to the client device to enable the client device to select a piece of the media item to access; a combiner (320) to update the address of the media item by combining the address with a selection of the piece of the media item from the client device; a valuator to valuate the piece of the media item selected by the client, and to send a valuated price to the client device; and an access interface (350) to provide access to the requested piece of the media item using the updated address of the media item when a payment for the valuated price is received from the client device.

11. The media access controller (300) of claim 10, wherein the media access menu comprises a series of inquiries to determine whether the media access request is to access the media item in pieces or as a whole.

12. The media access controller (300) of claim 10, wherein the media access menu comprises an overview presentation to present overviews of the pieces of the media item to the client device.

13. The media access controller (300) of claim 12, wherein the overviews of the pieces of the media item are presented to the client device in at least one of thumbnails, snippets, or other summaries of the pieces.

14. The media access controller (300) of claim 10, wherein the access interface comprises a tracking unit configured to deliver the entire media item to the client device, track a playback progress through the media item, and charge only for the pieces of the media item which have been played.

We Claim:
1. A method of accessing media data in bites, the method comprising:
receiving a request from a client to access a media item, and determining an address of the requested media item (120), wherein the address indicates a location where the media item is stored;
determining an identification number of a piece of the media item selected by the client;
updating the address of the media item (140) by combining the address with the identification number of the piece of the media item selected by the client;
valuating the piece of the media item selected by the client, and sending a valuated price to the client; and
providing access to the requested media item using the updated address of the media item when a payment for the valuated price is received from the client.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein combining the address with the identification number comprises appending the identification number to the end of the address.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
presenting a media access menu to the client to determine whether the request to access a media item is to access it in pieces or as a whole.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein presenting a media access menu comprises
presenting overviews of the pieces to the client.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the overviews of the pieces are presented to the client in at least one of thumbnails, snippets, or other summaries of the pieces.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein valuating the piece of the media item comprises:
setting a first price for accessing each piece of the media item; and setting a second price for accessing all pieces of the media item,

wherein the second price is adjusted depending on a number of the pieces of the media item which has been purchased each at the first price.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:
offering remaining pieces of the media item to the client at a discount when a total price for the number of the pieces of the media item is equal to or greater than the second price.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein valuating the piece of the media item comprises
offering the pieces of the media item at a discount to the client participating in a subscription service or loyalty program.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing access to the requested media item comprises:
delivering the entire media item;
tracking a playback progress through the media item; and
charging only for the pieces of the media item which have been played.
10. A media access controller (300), comprising:
a media access map (310) to receive a media access request for a media item from a client device, and to output an address for the requested media item;
a processor (330) to receive the address of the media item and generate a media access menu which is presented to the client device to enable the client device to select a piece of the media item to access;
a combiner (320) to update the address of the media item by combining the address with a selection of the piece of the media item from the client device;
a valuator to valuate the piece of the media item selected by the client, and to send a valuated price to the client device; and
an access interface (350) to provide access to the requested piece of the media item using the updated address of the media item when a payment for the valuated price is received from the client device.
11. The media access controller (300) of claim 10, wherein the media access menu comprises

a series of inquiries to determine whether the media access request is to access the media item in pieces or as a whole.
12. The media access controller (300) of claim 10, wherein the media access menu comprises
an overview presentation to present overviews of the pieces of the media item to the client device.
13. The media access controller (300) of claim 12, wherein the overviews of the pieces of the media item are presented to the client device in at least one of thumbnails, snippets, or other summaries of the pieces.
14. The media access controller (300) of claim 10, wherein the access interface comprises
a tracking unit configured to deliver the entire media item to the client device, track a playback progress through the media item, and charge only for the pieces of the media item which have been played.