Method and system for managing and distributing digital media

• US 20060271683A1
• Filed: 08/07/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications Management LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Theplatform For Media, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Olson, Andrew, Ramaley, Alan, Sonnad, Rahul, Blaine, Ian, Sodt, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,812,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1108 Web based protocols, e.g. webRTC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A system and method that integrates a plurality of media service systems offering different multimedia services such as media storage, syndication, delivery, and billing services. The system and method also provides automated file transcoding. In embodiment, a method of the present invention includes receiving a plurality of physical media files, organizing the plurality of physical media files so that different bit-rates and formats of a single source material are organized into a media database entity, receiving user specified delivery settings for the distribution of the physical media file, generating a release database entity storing the delivery settings of the physical media file, generating an address indicating the storage location of the release, and transmitting the address to a remote computing device.

Claims

1. In a networked computing environment comprising a managing server and a plurality of remote computing devices, a method for managing the distribution of digital media wherein the method comprises:

receiving from a first remote computing device a request for a transfer of a media file;

generating an instruction set indicative of a location address of the media file by the use of a database, wherein the database architecture comprises a plurality of media entities and a plurality of release entities, relating the request to the location address of the media file; and

transmitting an instruction set to the first remote computing device, wherein the instruction set is configured to allow the remote computing device to receive the media file from a second remote computing device associated with the location address of the media file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the instruction set for the transfer of the media file includes each media entity identifying a relationship among one or more media files that share a common input source and storing data attributes regarding the one or more media files that share a common input source, and each release entity identifying a relationship between the received request and the media file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the instruction set for the transfer of the media file instructs the second remote computing device to download the media file to the first remote computing device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the instruction set for the transfer of the media file instructs the second remote computing device to stream the media file to the first remote computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a master media file having a first bit-rate;

determining a number of media files that can be derived from the master media file;

generating at least one derivative file from the master media file, wherein the derivative file has a second bit-rate;

storing the derivative file in a database; and

distributing the derivative file to a second remote computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the instruction set for the transfer of the media file being based upon a user selection of service providers for the respective media services instructs the second remote computing device to download the media file to the first remote computing device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a database entity being created that is related to a media entity, stores specific delivery settings for the specific media entity, and relates a specific media file to the media entity.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a database entity being created receives from a specific service provider, individualized delivery settings associated for a specific database entity.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a server applies automated transcoding to the media file relating to a specific media entity.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, storing the instruction set on a computer readable-medium.

11. In a networked computing environment comprising a managing server and a plurality of remote computing devices, a method for managing the distribution of digital media wherein the method comprises:

receiving from a first remote computing device a request for a transfer of a media file;

generating an instruction set indicative of a location address of the media file by the use of a database, wherein the database architecture comprises a plurality of media entities and a plurality of release entities, relating the request to the location address of the media file; and

transmitting an instruction set to the first remote computing device, wherein the instruction set is configured to allow the remote computing device to receive the media file from a second remote computing device associated with the location address of the media file.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the instruction set for the transfer of the media file being based upon a user selection of service providers for the respective media services instructs the second remote computing device to download the media file to the first remote computing device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the instruction set for the transfer of the media file being based upon a user selection of service providers for the respective media services instructs the second remote computing device to download the media file to the first remote computing device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a database entity being created that is related to a media entity, stores specific delivery settings for the specific media entity, and relates a specific media file to the media entity.