System and method for computer network-based enterprise media distribution

• US 20040128198A1
• Filed: 12/12/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: In-Store Broadcasting Network LLC A Delaware Limited Liability Corporation
• Original Assignee: In-Store Broadcasting Network LLC A Delaware Limited Liability Corporation
• Inventors: Powell, Robert H., Register, Linwood, Landon, Michael D.
• Application Number:
  US10/735,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20040128198A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/133 Protocols for remote procedure calls [RPC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The present invention features an enterprise media distribution system or network-based in-store media broadcasting system comprising one or more, and preferably, a plurality of business chains, each business chain comprising a plurality of business locations; a media distribution platform or framework comprising one or more client player devices placed at each business location, each of the client player devices being independently supported and in communication with an internal audio/visual system installed and existing within in the respective business locations; independent customizable media broadcasts supported on each of the client player devices and comprising audio, visual, and/or informational media content thereon that may be specific to each of the particular business locations in which the client player device(s) is/are located; a chain network having at least one chain server, such as updating and caching servers, for servicing each respective business chain, said chain server in communication with each client player device in the respective business chain; a central server system comprising one or more central servers in communication with each of the chain servers in each business chain; a network configuration connecting each client player device to the chain servers to provide an exchange of information between the two; and a network configuration connecting the chain servers to the central server system to provide an exchange of information between the two.

Claims

1. An enterprise media distribution system comprising:

a system administration team;

a plurality of business chains, each comprising a plurality of facilities at respective business locations;

an enterprise media distribution platform or framework managed by the system administration team comprising;

one or more client player devices placed at each business location, each of the client player devices being independently supported and in communication with an internal audio/visual system installed in the facility at the respective business location;

an independent customizable media broadcast supported on each of the client player devices and comprising audio, visual, and/or informational media content thereon that may be specific to each of the particular business locations in which the client player device(s) is/are located;

a chain network system having at least one chain server servicing the business chain, said chain server in communication with each client player device in operation in the business chain by way of a network configuration facilitating the exchange of information between the client player devices and the chain server; and

a central server system comprising one or more central servers in communication with the chain servers by way of a computer network configuration facilitating the exchange of information between the chain and central servers.

2. The enterprise media distribution system of claim 1, wherein said customizable media broadcast comprises media selected from the group consisting of, audio data, video data fed to video screens located at a business location, advertisements, announcements, and other informational content.

3. The enterprise media distribution system of claim 1, wherein said chain server comprises an updating server.

4. The enterprise media distribution system of claim 1, wherein said chain server comprises a caching server.

5. An in-store media broadcasting system comprising:

a central server having a data layer;

a chain server having a data layer, wherein the chain server is connected to the central server via a computer network;

a client player device having a presentation layer for use in providing and controlling a customizable media broadcast, the client player device in communication with the chain server; and

an interface layer that selectively interacts with the data layer and the presentation layer, wherein control over the broadcast is experienced locally at the client player device.

6. A method for establishing an enterprise media distribution system for broadcasting media at one or more business locations existing within a business chain, said method comprising:

equipping a business chain with at least one chain server operable within a chain server system, said chain server operated and managed by business chain personnel;

connecting, via a computer network, said chain server to a central server system comprising at least one central server to facilitate the exchange of information between the chain server and the central server, said central server comprising broadcast data retrievable by said chain server;

connecting one or more client player devices located at respective remote business chain locations to said chain server system via a computer network to facilitate the exchange of broadcast and broadcast-related data between said chain server and said client player devices;

causing each of said client player devices to communicate with the chain server to exchange broadcast and broadcast-related data, said client player devices capable of running independent, customizable in-store media broadcasts.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said chain server system comprises a local area network or business Intranet.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said customizable in-store media broadcast is controlled substantially by said chain server.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said customizable in-store media broadcast is controlled substantially by said client player device.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said chain server comprises an updating server.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein said chain server comprises a caching server.