Personal video channel system

• US 20020056119A1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael W. Moynihan
• Original Assignee: Michael W. Moynihan
• Inventors: Moynihan, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US09/747,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20020056119A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/26603 for automatically generating descriptors from content, e.g. when it is not made available by its provider, using content analysis techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method and system for a company, group or individual to easily and advantageously transfer multimedia files to a central server where they can be readily accessed by others on the network. In accordance with an embodiment of the present system, users can create and publish multimedia to a wide audience in seconds, a task that formerly might have taken weeks or, indeed, been impossible to achieve. Once the multimedia is published, an embodiment of the present system further provides integrated tools to manage, publicize, edit, charge for and control access to the multimedia. Elements comprising an embodiment of the present system include the Personal Producer software, Media Mogul software, V-Mail software, Personal Channels, Business Channels, Personal Stores and other software.

Claims

1. A method of managing multimedia files on a communications network, comprising the steps of:

uploading multimedia files to a central server configured to broadcast multimedia over said network;

indexing said multimedia files according to descriptive information to categorize said multimedia files by subject; and

organizing said multimedia files on user'"'"'s personal video channel, wherein said user can password-protect said multimedia files, and edit and administer said user'"'"'s personal video channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of setting prices to view said multimedia files by viewers, and collecting a fee when a viewer views said multimedia files on said personal video channel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said multimedia files are pay-per-view programs and wherein the step of collecting debits an account of said viewer when said viewer views a pay-per-view program on said user'"'"'s personal video channel and credits an account of said user.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of transmitting comments of said viewer to said central server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said personal video channel supports e-commerce activities to enable said user to market and sell goods and services on said personal video channel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said personal video channel supports video mail so as to permit said user to publicize said personal video channel and hold pay-per-view or invitation-only screenings.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said personal video channel supports video chat so as to permit viewers to hold discussions about said personal video channel and to share multimedia files.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said multimedia files represent videos and said videos can be edited remotely.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of measuring the viewership of said multimedia.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of indexing such videos by a verbal word spoken by a user, such that each video can be searched and edited in accordance with a verbal command or instruction.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising a measuring module for measuring the viewership of said multimedia.

11. A system for managing multimedia files on a communications network, comprising:

a central server for storing uploaded multimedia files from users over said network and for broadcasting said multimedia files over said network;

an indexer for indexing said multimedia files according to descriptive information to categorize said multimedia files by subject; and

a personal video channel for organizing said multimedia files by a user, wherein said user can password-protect said multimedia files, and edit and administer said user'"'"'s personal video channel.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a pricing module for setting prices to view said multimedia files by viewers, and a collecting module for collecting a fee when a viewer views said multimedia files on said personal video channel.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said multimedia files are pay-per-view programs and wherein the collecting module debits an account of said viewer when said viewer views a pay-per-view program on said user'"'"'s personal video channel and credits an account of said user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said central server is operable to receive comments from said viewer.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said personal video channel supports e-commerce activities to enable said user to market and sell goods and services on said personal video channel.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said personal video channel supports video mail so as to permit said user to publicize said personal video channel and hold pay-per-view or invitation-only screenings.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said personal video channel supports video chat so as to permit viewers to hold discussions about said personal video channel and to share multimedia files.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said multimedia files represent videos and said videos can be edited remotely.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the indexer is operable to index said videos by a verbal word spoken by a user, such that each video can be searched and edited in accordance with a verbal command or instruction.