Media content creating and publishing system and process

• US 20020194195A1
• Filed: 07/13/2001
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Thai, Holly, Mannarino, Michael F., Shmelev, Alex, Manaster, Jacob S., Byer, John Jeffrey, Newby, Rodney C., Schneider, Andrew, Dayley, Marlowe J., Fenton, Nicholas W., Springer, Wendy
• Granted Patent: US 6,976,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/447 Temporal browsing, e.g. timeline
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/914 Video
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/916 Audio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/922 Communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A system and process for creating, editing, uploading, storing, sharing, and publishing media content. The system and process occurs within an online environment including one or more user network devices and one or more server network devices connected by a communications link to the one or more user network-enabled devices. The process includes providing access to digital assets and media creating and editing tools via a website. A website user may incorporate the digital assets into media content created or edited by the user by utilizing the media creating and editing tools. The user may then upload and store this personalized media content to storage space provided to the user by the website. The user may also “publish” this personalized media content to a user showcase page on the website. Users may share their personalized media content with other users via a share page on the website.

Claims

1. A user interface for use with a broadband creativity platform system, comprising:

at least one media creating and editing tool for enabling a first user to personalize a media content item;

at least one user-selectable operator for linking to the personalized media content item;

at least one promotional area; and

a user-selectable operator programmed for populating the at least one promotional area with the at least one user-selectable operator;

wherein the at least one user-selectable operator is selectable for linking the personalized media content item to a media player programmed for playing the personalized media content item in user-perceptible form.

2. The user interface recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one server network device, the at least one server network device being programmed to provide the user interface; and

at least one user network device communicatively coupled to the server network device via a network, the at least one user network device being programmed to access the user interface.

3. The user interface recited in claim 2, wherein the network comprises the Internet and the user interface comprises a website.

4. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein the personalized media content item comprises at least one of a media content item created by the first user and a media content edited by the first user.

5. The user interface recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of website pages for performing at least one of facilitating downloading of media content items, facilitating downloading of media content creating and editing tools, and facilitating downloading of digital asset packs.

6. The user interface recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of website pages for performing at least one of facilitating creating and editing of the media content items, facilitating uploading of the media content items, facilitating storing and managing of the media content items, facilitating display of the media content items, facilitating searching of the media content items, facilitating browsing of the media content items, and facilitating sharing of the media content items.

7. The user interface recited in claim 5, further comprising a user-selectable operator for sending a media content item via e-mail.

8. The user interface recited in claim 5, further comprising at least one user-selectable feature link for linking the user to at least one of related pages, related poppers, or related websites.

9. The user interface recited in claim 5, wherein the plurality of website pages further comprise genre pages, genre zone pages, media content creating and editing tool pages, media content tool and asset pack download pages, showcase pages, manage showcase pages, share pages, and manage share pages.

10. The user interface recited in claim 6, wherein the at least one promotional area is located on a user showcase page associated with the first user.

11. The user interface recited in claim 10, wherein the user showcase page associated with the first user is accessible to the second user.

12. The user interface recited in claim 5, further comprising a plurality of user-selectable operators for at least one of moving between the plurality of website pages, choosing an “

experience”

option, choosing a “

create”

option, choosing a “

connect”

option, choosing a “

favorites”

option, choosing a “

log in”

option, choosing a “

search”

option, choosing a “

graphical guide”

option, choosing a “

settings”

option, choosing an “

about”

option, choosing a “

shop”

option, and choosing a “

help”

option.

13. The user interface recited in claim 12, wherein the user-selectable operator for choosing an “

experience”

option further comprises user-selectable operators for choosing at least one of an “

action”

genre option, a “

comedy”

genre option, a “

drama”

genre option, a “

music”

genre option, and a “

science fiction”

genre option.

14. The user interface recited in claim 13, wherein the user-selectable operators for choosing at least one of an “

action”

genre option, a “

comedy”

genre option, a “

drama”

genre option, a “

music”

genre option, and a “

science fiction”

genre option each further comprise user-selectable operators for choosing a genre “

zone”

page.

15. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein the media player comprises a pop-up window for playing the media content item.

16. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one user-selectable operator comprises a user-selectable promote image.

17. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one user-selectable operator comprises a user-selectable text link.

18. The user interface recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one display area for displaying a user-selected photo.

19. The user interface recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one display area for displaying at least one of a user-selected audio clip and a user-selected video clip.

20. The user interface recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one display area for displaying an advertisement.

21. A system for enabling a user to publish a personalized media content item on a user interface, the system comprising:

at least one server network device communicatively coupled to at least one user network device via a network, the at least one server network device being programmed to provide the user interface and the at least one user network device being programmed to access the user interface;

at least one media creating and editing tool for use by the user in personalizing at least one media content item;

a storage device for storing the at least one personalized media content item;

a template, the template comprising at least one slot programmed for receiving a link to the at least one stored personalized media content items; and

at least one user-selectable operator programmed for enabling the user to populate the at least one slot with the link;

wherein the link is selectable for activating the playing of the at least one stored personalized media content item in a user-perceptible form.

22. The system recited in claim 21, wherein the network comprises the Internet and the user interface comprises a website.

23. The system recited in claim 21, wherein the personalized media content item comprises at least one of a media content item created by the user and a media content edited by the user.

24. The system recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one server network device is further programmed to display to the user on the user interface a user showcase page derived from the template, the user showcase page comprising at least one promotional area corresponding to the at least one slot, the at least one promotional area comprising the link.

25. The system recited in claim 21, further comprising a media player programmed for playing the media content item in a user-perceptible form.26. The system recited in claim 25, wherein the link is user-selectable for linking the media content item to the media player.

27. The system recited in claim 22, wherein the at least one server network device is further programmed to display the user showcase page to a plurality of user network devices communicatively coupled to the server network device via the network.

28. The system recited in claim 21, wherein the storage device is associated with the server network device.

29. The system recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one user-selectable operator comprises a pulldown box for displaying to the user a list of personalized media content items stored on the storage device and enabling the user to select a personalized media content item from the list and to populate the at least one slot with a link to the selected personalized media content item.

30. The system recited in claim 21, wherein the link comprises a user-selectable promote image.

31. The system recited in claim 30, wherein the user-selectable promote image comprises a digital photo.

32. The system recited in claim 30, wherein the user-selectable promote image comprises a graphic image.

33. The system recited in claim 30, further comprising a user-selectable operator for selecting the user-selectable promote image from a list of images.

34. The system recited in claim 33, wherein user-selectable operator for selecting the user-selectable promote image comprises a pulldown box for displaying to the user a list of images and enabling the user to select an image from the list and to populate the at least one slot with the selected image.

35. The system recited in claim 21, wherein the link comprises user-selectable text.

36. The system recited in claim 21, further comprising a free text entry box for entering information about the personalized media content item.

37. The system recited in claim 36, wherein the information comprises the name of the personalized media content item.

39. The user interface recited in claim 38, further comprising:

at least one server network device, the at least one server network device being programmed to provide the user interface; and

at least one user network device communicatively coupled to the server network device via a network, the at least one user network device being programmed to access the user interface.

40. The user interface recited in claim 39, wherein the network comprises the Internet and the user interface comprises a website.

41. The user interface recited in claim 38, wherein the plurality of digital assets comprise at least one of digital video, digital audio, digital photos, digital graphics, digital text and digital animation.

42. The user interface recited in claim 38, wherein the plurality of digital assets comprise asset packs.

43. The user interface recited in claim 38, wherein the at least one media creating and editing tool comprises on-line media content creating and editing software.

44. The user interface recited in claim 43, wherein the on-line media content creating and editing software runs in a tool popper window.

45. The user interface recited in claim 40, wherein the display area comprises a website showcase page.

46. The user interface recited in claim 40, further comprising a plurality of tool application website pages for creating and editing media content.

47. The user interface recited in claim 46, wherein at least one of the plurality of tool application website pages comprises at least one of a pre-defined template and a timeline.

48. The user interface recited in claim 47, wherein the timeline comprises media content containers which may be populated by the user with media content segments.

49. The user interface recited in claim 48, wherein the media content segments are video segments.

50. The user interface recited in claim 48, wherein the media content segments are audio segments.

51. The user interface recited in claim 40, further comprising a download tool page for downloading to the user network device at least one of media creating and editing tools and digital assets.

52. The user interface recited in claim 51, wherein the download tool page comprises a digital asset and media creating and editing tool list for listing digital assets and media creating and editing tools available to the user for download.

53. The user interface recited in claim 52, wherein the download tool page further comprises user-selectable tabs for providing information about at least one of the digital assets and the media creating and editing tools.

54. The user interface recited in claim 53, wherein the information comprises at least one of a listing of contents, a description, a credit, a summary, a copyright notice, and a tutorial.

55. The user interface recited in claim 51, wherein the download tool page further comprises a “

download all”

operator for downloading at least one of all digital assets and all media creating and editing tools.

56. The user interface recited in claim 51, wherein the download tool page further comprises a “

preview all”

operator for previewing at least one of all digital assets and all media creating and editing tools.

57. The user interface recited in claim 56, wherein at least one of all digital assets and all media creating and editing tools are previewed within a media popper.

58. The user interface recited in claim 51, wherein the download tool page further comprises a “

related links”

section for linking the user to related areas of the website.

59. The user interface recited in claim 58, wherein the related links section comprises at least one of an “

experience related link,”

a “

create related link,”

a “

connect related link,” and

a “

buy related link.”

38. A user interface for use with a broadband creativity platform system, comprising:

a plurality of digital assets, the plurality of digital assets being accessible to a user for incorporation into a media content item;

at least one media creating and editing tool, the at least one media creating and editing tool being accessible to a user for incorporating at least one of the plurality of digital assets into the media content item, so that the media content item becomes a personalized media content item;

a storage area for storing the personalized media content item; and

a display area for displaying the personalized media content item in a user-perceptible form;

wherein a first user personalizes, stores and displays the media content and a second user is enabled to play the personalized media content in a user-perceptible form.

60. An electronic media content creating and publishing process, comprising:

supplying digital assets to a user through a user interface;

providing media creating and editing tools to the user on the user interface whereby the user may incorporate the digital assets into the user'"'"'s media content so as to create personalized media content;

providing a showcase page creating tool to the user whereby the user may create a user interface display page for displaying the personalized media content;

uploading and storing the user'"'"'s personalized media content; and

displaying the user'"'"'s personalized media content on the user interface display page;

wherein the user interface display page may be displayed to other users of the user interface.

61. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 60, wherein supplying digital assets to a user through a user interface comprises enabling the user to access the digital assets on a website through website pages displayed to the user.

62. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 60, wherein providing media creating and editing tools to the user on the user interface comprises enabling the user to access the media creating and editing tools on website pages displayed to the user.

63. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 60, wherein uploading and storing the user'"'"'s personalized media content comprises providing the user with a “

manage storage space”

website page from which the user may upload and store the user'"'"'s personalized media content.

64. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 60, wherein uploading and storing the user'"'"'s personalized media content comprises storing the user'"'"'s personalized media content in a storage device associated with the website.

65. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 60, wherein displaying the user'"'"'s personalized media content on the user interface display page comprises displaying the user'"'"'s personalized media content on a website user showcase page.

66. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 63, wherein providing the user with a “

manage storage space”

website page from which the user may upload the user'"'"'s personalized media content further comprises providing the user with an “

upload”

user-selectable operator on the “

manage storage space”

website page for uploading a media content file selected from a directory listing of media content files.

67. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 66, wherein uploading a media content file selected from a directory listing of media content files further comprises entering information about the media content file to be uploaded.

68. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 67, wherein entering information about the media content file to be uploaded further comprises entering at least one of information about the author of the media content, information describing the media content, searchable keywords within the media content, feature type of the media content, feature sub-type of the media content, genre of the media content, and sub-genre of the media content.

69. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 61, further comprising sharing the user'"'"'s personalized media content with the other user'"'"'s of the website.

70. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 69, wherein sharing the user'"'"'s personalized media content with the other users of the website comprises providing access to the user'"'"'s personalized media content on a website “

share manager”

page.

71. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 70, wherein providing access to the user'"'"'s personalized media content on a website “

share manager”

page comprises displaying a directory list of media content files designated as “

shared.”

72. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 71, wherein providing access to the user'"'"'s personalized media content on a website “

share manager”

page further comprises providing “

download”

user-selectable operators associated with the listed media content files, the “

download”

user-selectable operators being selectable for initiating downloading of a media content file associated with the “

download”

user-selectable operator.

73. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 72, wherein initiating downloading of a media content file associated with the “

download”

user-selectable operator comprises downloading the media content file to the user network device of the selecting user.

74. A process for enabling a user to publish a media content item on a user interface, the process comprising:

supplying to the user at least one media creating and editing tool for use by the user in personalizing at least one media content item;

providing to the user a storage area for storing the at least one personalized media content item;

displaying to the user a template, the template comprising at least one slot programmed for receiving a link to the at least one stored personalized media content item; and

providing to the user at least one user-selectable operator programmed for enabling the user to populate the at least one slot with the link;

wherein the link is selectable for activating the playing of the at least one stored personalized media content item in a user-perceptible form.

75. The process recited in claim 74, wherein the user interface comprises an Internet website.

76. The process recited in claim 75, further comprising displaying to the user on the website a user showcase page derived from the template, the user showcase page comprising at least one promotional area corresponding to the at least one slot, the at least one promotional area comprising the link.

77. The process recited in claim 75, wherein displaying to the user on the website a user showcase page further comprises displaying the user showcase page to a plurality of users of the website.

79. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 78, wherein incorporating the digital assets into media content utilizing media creating and editing tools comprises incorporating the digital assets into the user'"'"'s media content utilizing on-line media creating and editing tools.

80. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 79, wherein incorporating the digital assets into media content utilizing media creating and editing tools comprises incorporating downloaded digital assets into media content utilizing downloaded media creating and editing tools.

78. An electronic media content creating and publishing process, comprising:

accessing digital assets and media creating and editing tools through a user interface on a website;

incorporating the digital assets into media content utilizing media creating and editing tools so as to create personalized media content;

accessing a showcase page creating tool whereby a website display page may be created for displaying the personalized media content;

uploading and storing the personalized media content; and

displaying the personalized media content on the website display page;

wherein the website display page may be displayed to other users of the website.