On-line data distribution and broadcast system

• US 20010042251A1
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Earth Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Christopher D. Sloop, Robert S. Marshall
• Inventors: Marshall, Robert S., Sloop, Christopher D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,831,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

Information from a database containing weather and sports information is customized to the needs of specific broadcaster customers in an editing procedure that is remote in location from the customers. Selected information is formatted and integrated with suitable graphics in the editing procedure to produce a plurality of individualized data streams that are ready for on-air broadcast. Those data streams are transmitted to an Internet web site for on-call customer access, and a customer may then broadcast the data stream as it is received from the web site.

Claims

1. A method for merchandising information to broadcast customers comprising:

establishing a database to store and to organize said information and to maintain it current through input of information as it becomes available;

selecting that information which is to be provided to each broadcast customer;

editing said selected information to produce one or more individualized data streams, an assigned data stream for each customer, each said data stream being ready for on-air broadcast;

establishing an Internet web site and transmitting said data streams to that web site;

providing means that allow each broadcast customer to access its assigned data stream through said web site; and

transmitting said assigned data stream to the customer.

2. The method of

claim 1

wherein said editing is performed at a single location that is remote from the location of the broadcast customers.

3. The method of

claim 2

wherein said editing includes integration of the selected information with suitable graphics.

4. The method of

claim 1

wherein said merchandised information comprises sports data and weather information.

5. The method of

claim 4

wherein said selected information includes scores and schedules of contests within the customer'"'"'s marketing area.

6. The method of

claim 4

wherein said selected information includes weather data form sites within the customer'"'"'s marketing area.

7. The method of

claim 4

wherein said editing includes integration of weather and sports information to provide a game-time forecast of weather conditions at a specific game site.

8. The method of

claim 1

wherein said editing is performed at a location that is remote from the location of the broadcast customers, and includes a selection by the customer of information to be included within its data stream.

9. The method of

claim 8

wherein said assigned data stream is transmitted to the customer upon the command of that customer.

10. The method of

claim 8

wherein said editing includes selection by the customer of advertising material that is integrated with said selected information in the assigned data stream.

11. The method of

claim 8

wherein each data stream is different from all other data streams.

12. The method of

claim 8

wherein said information is proprietary to the seller.

13. The method of

claim 8

wherein the customer broadcaster is allowed web site access only to its assigned data streams.

14. The method of

claim 8

wherein said information is edited to produce a data stream in real time.