System and method for delivering geographically-related media content

• US 20060117350A1
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stallworth, F. David
• Application Number:
  US09/884,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20060117350A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/266 Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

A system and method for delivering media content, including a plurality of local producers and a channel producer (such as a cable network). The plurality of local producers is located in a specific geographic terrain and produces content related to that terrain. The channel producer receives the content from the local producers, aggregates the content into a program line-up, and transmits the program line-up within and outside of the geographic terrain. The system and method can further include a media provider (such as a cable or satellite television operator, or a multiple system operator) to which the channel producer delivers the program line-up for transmission to areas within and outside of the specific geographic terrain. Examples of specific geographic terrain include coastal terrain, mountain terrain, and desert terrain. The present invention also includes methods for advertising and for generating revenue based on content related to a specific geographic terrain.

Claims

1. A system for delivering media content comprising:

(a) a producer producing content related to a specific type of geographic terrain; and

(b) a channel producer that receives the content, aggregates the content into a bundle of content, and transmits the bundle of content within and outside of the specific type of geographic terrain, the bundle of content having a full schedule of programming, the bundle of content having diverse subject matter with all the content related to the geographic terrain.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a media provider in communication with the channel producer, wherein the channel producer transmits the bundle of content within and outside of the specific type of geographic terrain by transmitting the bundle of content to the media provider.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the media provider is one of a cable television operator, a satellite television operator, a multiple system operator, and a television network having a group of local television station affiliates.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the media provider distributes the bundle of content to a national audience.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the channel producer is one of an over-the-air broadcast network, a cable network, an internet service provider, a website, and a television network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the specific type of geographic terrain is one of a coastal terrain, a mountain terrain, and a desert terrain.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the channel producer produces additional programs related to the specific type of geographic terrain and includes the additional programs in the bundle of content.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the content is audio content and the channel producer is one of a radio station, a website, and a network of radio stations.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the content is audio content and video content, and the channel producer is one of an over-the-air broadcast television network, a satellite network, a website, an internet service provider, and a cable network.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the content is audio content, video content, and data content, and the channel producer is at least one of a computer network content provider, a website, and an internet service provider.

11. A method for delivering media content comprising the steps of:

receiving content related to a specific type of geographic terrain having a distinguishable physical feature;

aggregating the content into a bundle of content, the bundle of content having a full schedule of programming, the content having diverse subject matter with all the content related to the geographic terrain; and

transmitting the bundle of content to an audience within and outside of the specific type of geographic terrain.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the content is at least one of audio content, video content, and data.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the specific type of geographic terrain is one of a coastal terrain, a mountain terrain, and a desert terrain.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of transmitting the bundle of content comprises broadcasting audio content using one of a radio station, the internet, a website, and a network of radio stations.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of transmitting the bundle of content comprises broadcasting audio content and video content using one of an over-the-air broadcast television, a satellite network, the internet, and a cable network.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of transmitting the bundle of content comprises delivering audio content and video content from a cable network to one of a cable television operator, a satellite television operator, the internet, and a multiple system operator, and

wherein the one of the cable television operator, the satellite television operator, the internet, and the multiple system operator broadcasts the audio content and the video content.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of transmitting the bundle of content comprises transmitting audio content, video content, and data using a computer network content provider, a website, and the internet.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the bundle of content only contains content relating to the distinguishable physical feature.

19. A system for delivering media content comprising:

(a) a channel producer receiving content related to a specific type of geographic terrain; and

(b) the channel producer aggregating the content into a bundle of content and transmitting the bundle of content within and outside of the specific type of geographic terrain, wherein the bundle of content presents a full schedule of programming having diverse subject matter, with all the content related to the geographic terrain.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the channel producer transmits the bundle of content within and outside of the specific type of geographic terrain by delivering the bundle of content to a media provider for bundling with other content into a package of channels.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the specific type of geographic terrain is one of a coastal terrain, a mountain terrain, and a desert terrain.

22. A system for delivering media content comprising:

(a) a producer located in coastal terrain and creating content related to the coastal terrain;

(b) a channel producer in communication with the producer and receiving the content, the channel producer aggregating the content into a bundle of content having a full schedule of programming, the bundle of content having diverse subject matter, yet all the content related to the geographic terrain; and

(c) a media provider in communication with the channel producer and receiving the bundle of content, and the media provider transmitting the bundle of content within and outside of the coastal terrain.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the channel producer is one of an over-the-air broadcast network, a cable network, a website, and internet service provider, and a television network.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the media provider is one of a cable television operator, a satellite television operator, a multiple system operator, a website, an internet service provider, and a television network having a group of local television station affiliates.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the coastal terrain comprises at least one of seashores, shorelines, waterways, lakes, rivers, and bays.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the content related to the coastal terrain comprises at least one of a marine news program, a coastal history program, a coastal real estate program, and a coastal seafood program.

27. A system for delivering media content over a global computer network comprising:

(a) a computer network content provider receiving content related to a specific type of geographic terrain; and

(b) the computer network content provider aggregating the content into a bundle of content and transmitting bundle of content within and outside of the specific type of geographic terrain, the bundle of content having a fill schedule of programming with diverse subject matter, yet all the content related to the geographic terrain.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein computer network content provider is a web site.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the computer network content provider distributes the bundle of content via a computer network.

30. A method for advertising comprising the steps of:

(a) producing programs relating to a specific type of geographic terrain;

(b) aggregating the programs into a program line-up;

(c) televising the program line-up as a channel; and

(d) advertising products and services related to the specific type of geographic terrain on the channel.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the specific type of geographic terrain is one of a coastal terrain, a mountain terrain, and a desert terrain.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the products and services include one of a marine equipment company, a boat company, a commercial fishing company, a sport fishing service, a water sports equipment company, a water resort, a coastal retirement community, and a coastal real estate company.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the channel is one of an over-the-air network channel, a cable network channel, and a satellite network channel.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of advertising comprises integrating an advertisement for the products and services into one of the programs.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the advertisement is one of an infomercials and a product placement.

36. A method for generating revenue for a channel producer and local media producers comprising the steps of:

(a) creating programs, at the local media producers, that relate to a specific type of geographic terrain;

(b) producing a channel, at the channel producer, that televises the programs;

(c) providing the channel producer with the programs of the local media producers at no cost to the channel producer;

(d) providing the local media providers with portions of advertising time on the channel at no cost to the local media providers;

(e) selling, at the local media providers, the portions of advertising time; and

(f) selling, at the channel producer, other portions of advertising time on the channel to advertisers selling products related to the specific type of geographic terrain.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the specific type of geographic terrain is one of a coastal terrain, a mountain terrain, and a desert terrain.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of creating programs comprises a local media provider creating a block of programming related to a specific type of geographic terrain, and wherein the block of programming relates to the community in which the local media provider is located.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the portions of advertising are one of commercial spots, infomercials, and product placements within the block of programming.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the method further comprises the step of receiving at the channel producer a payment for televising the block of programming, wherein the payment is from the local media producer.

41. A method for generating revenue for a channel producer and a local media producer comprising the steps of:

(a) creating a block of programming, at a local media producer, that relates to a specific type of geographic terrain;

(b) producing a channel, at the channel producer, that televises only programs related to the specific type of geographic terrain;

(c) televising the block of programming on the channel;

(d) selling advertising that is televised with the block of programming;

(e) receiving revenue for the advertising; and

(f) sharing the revenue between the channel producer and the local media provider.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the advertising is one of a commercial spot, an infomercials, and a product placement.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the specific type of geographic terrain is one of a coastal terrain, a mountain terrain, and a desert terrain.

44. A method for delivering media content to viewers and for interacting with the viewers, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

creating content related to a specific type of geographic terrain having a distinguishable physical feature;

aggregating the content into a bundle of content, the bundle of content having a full schedule of programming with diverse subject matter, yet all the content related to the geographic terrain;

transmitting the bundle of content to the viewers within and outside of the specific type of geographic terrain; and

receiving communications from the viewers that initiate activities related to the specific type of geographic terrain.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the specific type of geographic terrain is one of a coastal terrain, a mountain terrain, and a desert terrain.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein receiving the communications comprises receiving communications from the viewers through one of a telephone network, a cable network, and a computer network.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein receiving the communications comprises receiving the communications via a web site.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein the activities include one of ordering advertised products;

ordering products related to a program being broadcast;

requesting and receiving information about a program being broadcast;

providing comments, questions, or suggestions regarding a program being broadcast;

requesting more programming relating to a program or to a location in the specific type of geographic terrain;

providing feedback regarding a program being broadcast;

accessing streaming video; and

ordering products related to the specific type of geographic terrain.