Systems and methods for managing and distributing media content

• US 20070192193A1
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FreeWheel Media Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visible World Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Weite, David, Niemeijer, Gerrit, Haberman, Seth
• Granted Patent: US 7,890,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a media content management application that allows a user to customize, assemble, distribute, and track one or more versions of media content based on semantic criteria is provided.

Claims

1. A method for delivering commercials to content providers, the method comprising:

assembling a version of a commercial, wherein the assembling comprises inserting media segments into an advertisement campaign;

presenting delivery options that corresponding to the version of the commercial to the user, wherein the delivery options include at least one of a local content provider, a delivery format, a delivery address, playback options, and a chargeback number;

transmitting the version of the commercial to at least one content provider in accordance with the delivery options selected by the user; and

receiving feedback from the at least one content provider, wherein the feedback includes information relating to the responsiveness to the version of the commercial.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback comprises at least one of:

information relating to the responsiveness of the version of the commercial, information from an audience member regarding the version of the commercial, and information from an advertiser regarding the version of the commercial.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding the feedback to historical information on the user, wherein the historical information comprises at least one of:

previously selected advertisement campaigns, previously selected customization options relating to the advertisement campaigns, previously retrieved media segments, and previously assembled commercial.

4. The method of claim 1, using the feedback to present recommended options to the user for assembling other versions of the commercial, wherein the recommended options include at least one of:

a recommended advertisement campaign, a recommended non-customizable advertisement campaign, a recommended customizable advertisement campaign, a recommended completed commercial, and recommended semantic criteria.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a preview of the assembled version of the commercial prior to transmitting the version of the commercial to the at least one content provider.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the preview is presented in a first format, and wherein the assembled versions of the completed commercial is transmitted to the at least one content provider in a second format.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first format is a media format capable of being transmitted over the Internet, and wherein the second format is one of:

a videotape, a DVD, a CD, a high definition format, a standard definition format, an MPEG-2 format, an MPEG-4 format, a media format, and a media resolution.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the preview is transmitted to the user over the Internet, and wherein the assembled versions of the commercial is physically delivered to the at least one content provider in a format selected from the group consisting of:

a videotape, a DVD, a CD, a high definition format, a standard definition format, an MPEG-2 format, an MPEG-4 format, a media format, and a media resolution.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a notification to the user of the number of times that the assembled version of the commercial has received feedback.

10. A method for delivering commercials to an audience, the method comprising:

providing an assembly component, wherein the assembly component resides at a service provider server;

using the assembly component to automatically assemble a version of a commercial, wherein the assembling comprises inserting media segments from a database into an advertisement campaign;

automatically selecting delivery options for the version of the commercial to the user, wherein the delivery options include at least one of a local content provider, a delivery format, a delivery address, playback options, and a chargeback number;

automatically transmitting the version of the commercial to at least one content provider in accordance with the delivery options;

receiving feedback from the at least one local content provider, wherein the feedback includes information relating to the responsiveness to the version of the commercial;

automatically updating the assembly component based on the received feedback;

instructing the assembly component to assemble an updated version of the commercial; and

instructing the service provider server to transmit the updated version of the commercial to the at least one local content provider.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising adding the feedback to historical information relating to the at least one local content provider, wherein the historical information comprises at least one of:

previously selected advertisement campaigns, previously selected customization options relating to the advertisement campaigns, previously retrieved media segments, and previously assembled commercial.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitting the version of the commercial to the at least one content provider further comprises:

delivering the version of the commercial in a format, wherein the format is one of;

a videotape, a DVD, a CD, a high definition format, a standard definition format, an MPEG-2 format, an MPEG-4 format, a media format, and a media resolution.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the instructing the service provider server to transmit the updated version of the commercial to the at least one local content provider further comprises:

delivering the version of the commercial in a format, wherein the format is one of;

a videotape, a DVD, a CD, a high definition format, a standard definition format, an MPEG-2 format, an MPEG-4 format, a media format, and a media resolution.

14. A system for delivering commercials to content providers, the system comprising:

a processor at least partially executing a media content management application that is configured to;

assemble a version of a commercial, wherein the assembling comprises inserting media segments into an advertisement campaign;

present delivery options that corresponding to the version of the commercial to the user, wherein the delivery options include at least one of a local content provider, a delivery format, a delivery address, playback options, and a chargeback number;

transmit the version of the commercial to at least one content provider in accordance with the delivery options selected by the user; and

receive feedback from the at least one content provider, wherein the feedback includes information relating to the responsiveness to the version of the commercial.

15. A system for delivering commercials to an audience, the system comprising:

a server at least partially executing a media content management application that is configured to;

automatically assemble a version of a commercial, wherein the assembling comprises inserting media segments from a database into an advertisement campaign;

automatically select delivery options for the version of the commercial to the user, wherein the delivery options include at least one of a local content provider, a delivery format, a delivery address, playback options, and a chargeback number;

automatically instruct the server to transmit the version of the commercial to at least one content provider in accordance with the delivery options;

receive feedback from the at least one local content provider, wherein the feedback includes information relating to the responsiveness to the version of the commercial;

automatically assemble an updated version of the commercial based at least in part on the received feedback; and

automatically instruct the server to transmit the updated version of the commercial to the at least one local content provider.