Digital entertainment service platform

• US 20050262024A1
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jolly Seven, Series 70 of Allied Security Trust I (Allied Security Trust)
• Original Assignee: Intertainer Incorporated
• Inventors: Schein, Steven M., Headings, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US11/189,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20050262024A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an open business platform that provides an end-to-end solution for managing, distributing, and/or retailing digital media assets from various content suppliers. In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides an integrated system that permits media content suppliers to deposit their media assets with the system where they are prepared by a content management system for distribution to consumers via a secure distribution system. The media content suppliers may then track and control the use of their media assets through a subscriber management system for managing consumer accounts, a licensing server for issuing licenses restricting the use of media content, and a royalty reporter for determining and reporting royalties to the various content suppliers.

Claims

1. A method for managing and marketing digital media content supplied by media content suppliers to consumers, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the media content suppliers electronic access to a digital media content service platform for permitting the media content suppliers to supply media content to the digital media content service platform;

offering the media content to consumers in accordance with business rules governing the use of the media content; and

providing the media content to the consumers through an electronic commerce fulfillment system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step includes the sub-step of shipping the media content to the consumers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step includes the sub-step of providing a hard good to the consumers.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the hard good includes a digital disc.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of associating metadata with the media content supplied by at least one of the content suppliers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said offering step includes the sub-steps of determining whether a consumer making a request for selected media content is permitted to use the selected media content and issuing a license to the consumer making the request upon a determination that the consumer is permitted to use the selected media content.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the license issued includes a decryption key program for decrypting media content that is encrypted.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the license issued expires after a selected interval of time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of offering the media content includes offering media content that is offered for only a selected interval of time.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of offering the media content including interactive content.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content is offered over a plurality of different types of client platforms.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the client platforms include any one of cable set top box, Internet web site, direct broadcast satellite, and wireless cell phone.

13. A method for managing and marketing digital media content supplied by media content suppliers to consumers, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the media content suppliers electronic access to a digital media content service platform for permitting the media content suppliers to supply media content to the digital media content service platform;

offering the media content to consumers in accordance with business rules governing the use of the media content; and

delivering the media content to the consumers through a user interface with the digital media content service platform.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of associating metadata with the media content supplied by at least one of the content suppliers.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said offering step includes the sub-steps of determining whether a consumer making a request for selected media content is permitted to use the selected media content and issuing a license to the consumer making the request upon a determination that the consumer is permitted to use the selected media content.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the license issued includes a decryption key program for decrypting media content that is encrypted.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the license issued expires after a selected interval of time.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of offering the media content includes offering media content that is offered for only a selected interval of time.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of offering the media content including interactive content.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the media content is offered over a plurality of different types of client platforms.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the client platforms include any one of cable set top box, Internet web site, direct broadcast satellite, and wireless cell phone.