Media acquisition, processing and distribution system for the internet

• US 20040128697A1
• Filed: 12/15/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lupercal LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Admission Licensing LLC
• Inventors: Lewis, Scott M., Fried, Robin T., Wood, Lisa T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,313,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/115
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• 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 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

The present invention, generally speaking, provides a broad-based solution for acquisition, processing and distribution of media objects including pictures (images), movies, videos, graphics, sound clips, etc via the Internet or the like. And specifically, it is a solution to such systems for use in applications wherein there are multiple originators of media objects that will be viewed in multiple web sites having different viewing requirements. A browser-based Aprepare and post@ tool prepares and submits media objects from inside a standard browser to a remote server. A Media Acquisition, Processing and Distribution (MAPD) system receives these media objects, processes them to meet specific requirements, and delivers them for integration into remote databases. MAPD system services include media object submission, processing, hosting and mirroring. The hosting service delivers a media object URL to a remote database, allowing the media object to be requested and served by the media object server. The mirroring service delivers the actual media object to multi-point remote databases to be stored and served by the customer.

Claims

1. A media acquisition, processing and distribution system enabling a plurality of media object originators to upload one or more media objects through a web page interface for viewing within a plurality of destination web sites having different media object viewing requirements, comprising:

submission means for each of said plurality of media object originators to associate one or more media objects with a media object identifier on a locally viewable web page and for uploading the one or more media objects to at least one remote server;

storage means for storing information that defines the media object viewing requirements for each of the destination web sites;

first processing means for processing the one or more media objects on said at least one remote server in accordance with the media object viewing requirements of said each of the destination web site; and

viewing means for enabling the processed one or more media objects to be viewable in each destination web site.

2. The media acquisition, processing and distribution system of claim 1 further comprising a second processing means for processing the one or more media objects in accordance with the media object viewing requirements before uploading the one or more media objects to said at least one remote server.

3. The media acquisition, processing and distribution system of claims 1 or 2 wherein said viewing means comprises a mirroring means for sending processed the one or more media objects to one or more remote locations for viewing within the destination web sites.

4. The media acquisition, processing and distribution system of claims 1 or 2 wherein said viewing means comprises a hosting means for sending information concerning the location of the processed the one or more media objects for viewing within the destination web sites.

5. The media acquisition, processing and distribution system of claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein said media objects include still images and said second processing means includes means for resizing the still images in accordance with the associated media object viewing requirements.

6. The media acquisition, processing and distribution system of claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein said the one or more media objects include still images and said second processing means includes means for converting the file format of the still images in accordance with the associated media object viewing requirements.

7. The media acquisition, processing and distribution system of claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein said the one or more media objects include video images and said second processing means includes means for encoding the video images in accordance with the associated media object viewing requirements.

8. The media acquisition, processing and distribution system of claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein said the one or more media objects include still images and said first processing means includes means for resizing the still images in accordance with the associated media object viewing requirements.

9. The media acquisition, processing and distribution system of claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein said the one or more media objects include still images and said first processing means includes means for converting the file format of the still images in accordance with the associated media object viewing requirements.

10. The media acquisition, processing and distribution system of claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein said the one or more media objects include video images and said first processing means includes means for encoding the video images in accordance with the associated media object viewing requirements.

11. The media acquisition, processing and distribution system of claim 2 wherein:

said media objects include still images;

said first and second processing means include means for resizing the still images;

said first processing means includes means for determining a maximum still image size required for all of the destination web sites and for resizing the still images to be no larger than this maximum size; and

said second processing means includes means for further resizing the still images in accordance with the media object viewing requirements of said each destination web site.