Method and system for producing and administering a web-cast event

• US 20040032424A1
• Filed: 04/29/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Florschuetz, Alan Scott
• Application Number:
  US10/415,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20040032424A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/748
• 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: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method for providing a graphical, development interface through which clients can develop a web-cast event, including a multi-media web-cast player. The system and method also dynamically generating the web-cast player using the selections of the client. During the development process, the client selects various user perceptible attributes for the web-cast player, uploads and manages content, schedules and creates events and otherwise manages the development and production of web-cast events. Production software operating on a server system remote from the client dynamically generates the web-cast event and communicates the event to a plurality of end users, who interact with the player.

Claims

1. A method for permitting the development of an event by a client, the method comprising:

a) displaying a development interface on a client computer;

b) receiving scheduling information for the event from the client;

c) receiving one or more selections of user-perceptible attributes of a player for use with the event from the client;

d) receiving content uploaded from the client computer for use with the event;

e) receiving an indication from the client to identify a type of streaming media for use with the event; and

f) receiving an indication from the client to include one or more functional features in the event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the client can design the event using either a freeform approach or a wizard approach.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises receiving at least a title for the event, a link to the event, and a date when the event will occur.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the link is a uniform resource locator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-perceptible attributes comprise a player structure and a player skin, and step (c) comprises:

receiving a selection of the player structure from the client; and

receiving a selection of the player skin from the client.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the player structure comprises at least a streaming media window.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the player structure comprises at least an image window.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the image window displays slides.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the player structure comprises at least a browser window.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the player structure comprises controls to run the player.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the player skin defines a graphical look of the player.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the player skin is defined by a theme.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the theme comprises a plurality of images positioned so as to define the graphical look of the player.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the theme comprises a plurality of colors.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein a directory on a centralized, content management system is associated with the client and the method further comprises:

storing the scheduling information in the directory;

storing the selections of the user-perceptible attributes in the directory;

storing the content uploaded from the client computer in the directory;

storing the type of streaming media in the directory; and

storing the indication of the functional features in the directory.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of steaming media is a live video feed.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of steaming media is a live telephony feed.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of steaming media is a live audio feed.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of steaming media is pre-encoded media.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the functional feature indicated by the client is an animated graphics display.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the functional feature indicated by the client is a slide display.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the functional feature indicated by the client is a registration form.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the functional feature indicated by the client is a poll.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the functional feature indicated by the client is a questionnaire.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the functional feature indicated by the client is a survey.

26. A method of designing and controlling a web-cast event, the method comprising:

(a) prompting a client to input information related to user-perceptible attributes of the web-cast event;

(b) storing the information in an event directory associated with the client;

(c) generating a web-cast player to be displayed on a computer device of the end user using the stored information in response to a request from the end user to receive the web-cast event;

(d) streaming a media feed through a media window in the web-cast player; and

(e) delivering content through a content window in the web-cast player.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the media feed is live.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the media feed is archived.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the media window is embedded in the web-cast player.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the content window is an image window and the content is an image.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the content window is a browser window and the content is a web page.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the request comprises the end user clicking a link having an event identifier embedded therein and step (c) further comprises:

accessing the event directory associated with the event identifier;

retrieving the stored user-perceptible attributes; and

populating generation software with design properties associated with the stored user-perceptible attributes.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the generation software uses a dynamic hypertext mark-up language to generate the web-cast player.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the generation software uses a cascading style sheet technology to generate the web-cast player.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the event identifier is associated with a stream identifier and step (d) further comprises:

accessing the event directory associated with the event identifier;

retrieving the one or more streams associated with the stream identifier; and

deliver the stream to the media window in the web-cast player.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising arranging the one or more streams into a playlist.

37. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

prompting the client to select content to be pushed to the web-cast player;

generating a reference file comprising properties of the selected content;

passing the reference file to the media feed;

encoding the reference file into the media feed; and

updating the web-cast player based upon the properties stored in the reference file.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the properties comprise a name identifier, a type identifier, and a location identifier.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the name identifier points to the selected content.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the type identifier indicates characteristics of the selected content.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the location identifier indicates a location in the web-cast player to include the selected content.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the selected content is an image and the location identifier indicates an image window.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the selected content is a web page and the location identifier indicates a browser window.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein the web-cast player is updated in real-time.

45. A system for the design and administration of a web-cast event, the system comprising:

a centralized, server system interconnected via a public network to one or more clients and end users;

a development component stored on the server system for prompting the clients to select user-perceptible attributes of a player and to upload content associated with the web-cast event;

a generation component stored on the server system for generating the player and communicating the content to end users; and

a live event administration component stored on the server system for allowing the client to administer the web-cast event.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the development component displays a graphical interface on a computer of the client.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the user-perceptible attribute is a structure of the player.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the user-perceptible attribute is a skin of the player.

49. The system of claim 45, wherein the user-perceptible attribute is a functional feature to be included in the player.

50. The system of claim 45, further comprising an interaction component for enabling the end user to interact with the web-cast event.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the interaction component enables one or more of the end users to answer a question.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the interaction component returns results to the end users.

53. The system of claim 45, wherein the server system is operative with the live event administration component to:

receive an instruction from the client to push content;

generate a reference including information for the content;

encode the reference in a media stream being delivered to the player; and

update the player using the reference.