Method, system, and computer program product for producing and distributing enhanced media

• US 20030001880A1
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Armbruster, David A., McAllister, Benjamin, Holtz, Alex, Tingle, Keith Gregory, Couch, William H., Snyder, Robert J., Hoeppner, Charles M., LaRocque, Marcel
• Application Number:
  US10/208,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20030001880A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/07 characterised by processes or methods for the generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• 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 21/4622 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 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/268 Signal distribution or switching

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product are provided to edit and encode enriched multimedia productions for live, delayed, or on-demand web casts or other distribution. The present invention is configured to operate independent of the system platform and media format. Hence, the present invention has the ability to operate with any type of manual or automated video production system. The multimedia production is produced according to an electronic show rundown. The rundown includes instructions for encoding the production for webcasting. In an embodiment, the multimedia is produced and broadcast over conventional channels simultaneously with a live or delayed web cast. The web cast material is edited, fragmented, tagged and/or archived during the simulcast. In another embodiment, the multimedia is produced and archived for on-demand web cast. Auxiliary information is added to enhance the multimedia production. Auxiliary information includes web sites, extended video segments, related media productions, advertisements, and the like. During pre-production, production, or post-production, auxiliary information can be altered or deleted for web casts. The encoding process permits the enriched multimedia to be partitioned, cataloged, and indexed for personalized viewing over the Internet. A user can select one or more events from a menu of categorized media productions, determine an order for viewing, and receive a seamless assembly of productions.

Claims

1. A method of editing and distributing media throughout a network, comprising the steps of:

(1) receiving media from a production, wherein said production comprises one or more elements of a story;

(2) editing association of auxiliary information with said story; and

(3) enabling display of said media and said auxiliary information at one or more media clients.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(4) deliverying said production over one or more television mediums.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (3) and step (4) occur substantially at the same time.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein step (3) and step (4) occur substantially at the same time as producing said production.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(4) converting said media into one or more packets.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein step (2) comprises the step of:

(a) adding a header to at least one of said one or more packets to associate said auxiliary information with said story.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein step (2) comprises the step of:

(a) associating an address to the location of said auxiliary information to associate said auxiliary information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein step (2) further comprises the step of:

(b) specifying said address in a header appended to at least one of said one or more packets.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

(5) formatting said one or more packets for transport to said one or more clients.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein step (5) comprises the step of:

(a) formatting said one or more packets for compliance with a TCP over IP protocol suite.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein step (5) comprises the step of:

(a) formatting said one or more packets for compliance with an HTTP protocol.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein step (5) comprises the step of:

(a) formatting said one or more packets for compliance with a RTP protocol.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(4) transmitting said media and said auxiliary information to said one or more clients.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein step (4) comprises the step of:

(a) transmitting said media and said auxiliary information over a computer network to said one or more clients.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein step (4) comprises the step of:

(a) transmitting said media and said auxiliary information to said one or more clients over a least one of an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network, and the global Internet.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein step (2) comprises the step of:

(a) associating auxiliary information with a corresponding element of said story.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

(4) receiving a request from a client for one or more elements of said production.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

(5) transmitting instructions enabling presentation of one or more elements identified in said request to occur concurrently with a corresponding associated auxiliary information.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

(4) storing instructions for displaying said auxiliary information, wherein said auxiliary information corresponds with the element being displayed on one or more clients.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

(4) formatting said encoded media for transport to one or more clients over the global Internet.

17. A method of editing encoded media, comprising the steps of:

(1) receiving encoded media representing a production;

(2) modifying association of auxiliary information to one or more elements of said production; and

(3) storing said encoded media such that elements of said production are retrievable.

22. A computer data signal embodied in a transmission medium, comprising:

a first code segment including instructions for displaying one or more stories; and

a second code segment including instructions for displaying auxiliary information corresponding to at least one story, such that said auxiliary information is displayed concurrently with a corresponding story.

23. The computer data signal according to claim 22, further comprising:

a third code segment including instructions for transmitting to an enhanced media server a request for additional auxiliary information.

24. The computer data signal according to claim 22, further comprising:

a third code segment including instructions for displaying auxiliary information corresponding with an element of said at least one story, such that said auxiliary information is displayed concurrently with a corresponding element.

25. The computer data signal according to claim 22, wherein said auxiliary information includes at least one of extended media, an URL address, an opinion poll, an email address, statistics, graphics, a text document, or an advertisement.

26. The computer data signal according to claim 22, further comprising:

a third code segment including instructions for requesting a customizable selection of one or more stories and/or one or more elements of a story.

28. The computer program product according to claim 27, wherein said third means is adapted to enable said display to occur at substantially the same time as a broadcast of said media over another distribution medium.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

fourth means for receiving a request from a client for one or more elements of said production.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

fifth means for transmitting instructions enabling presentation of one or more elements identified in said request to occur concurrently with a corresponding associated auxiliary information.

27. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having control logic embedded in said medium for causing a computer to edit and/or distribute media, said control logic comprising:

first means for causing the computer to receive media from a production, wherein said production comprises one or more elements of a story;

second means for causing the computer to associate auxiliary information with said story; and

third means for causing the computer to enable display of said media and said auxiliary information at one or more enhanced media clients.

29. A system for editing encoded media, comprising:

first means for receiving encoded media representing a production;

second means for modifying association of auxiliary information to one or more elements of said production; and

third means for storing said encoded media such that elements of said production are retrievable on an on-demand basis.

32. A method of transmitting information within a communications network, comprising the steps of:

(1) accessing one or more topics corresponding to a user profile;

(2) assembling a media production matching the one or more topics; and

(3) enabling display of the media production to the user.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein step (1) further comprising the step of:

(a) receiving the one or more topics from the user.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein step (1) further comprising the step of:

(a) inferring the one or more topics from psychographic data.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein step (1) further comprising the step of:

(a) parsing a calendar to identify the one or more topics.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein step (2) further comprising the step of:

(a) setting a user-specified duration of the media production.

37. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of:

(a) enabling formatting of the media production to match formats specified by the user.

38. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of:

(a) transmitting a media production related to traffic and/or weather during a commute of the user.

39. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of:

(a) enabling display of the media production at a time designated by the user.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein step (2) further comprises the step of:

(a) selecting video, documents, web links, audio feeds, or commercial offers to assemble the media production.

41. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having control logic embedded in said medium for causing a computer to transmit media productions, said control logic comprising:

first means for causing the computer to access one or more topics corresponding to a user profile;

second means for causing the computer to assemble a media production matching the one or more topics; and

third means for causing the computer to send the media production to the user.

42. The computer program product according to claim 41, further comprising:

fourth means for causing the computer to determine the one or more topics from psychographic data.