System and method of email streaming digital video for subscribers

• US 20070288574A1
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Christoph Niemann, Daren Koster
• Original Assignee: Christoph Niemann, Daren Koster
• Inventors: Niemann, Christoph, Koster, Daren
• Application Number:
  US11/309,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20070288574A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast

Abstract

A video email system and service for subscriber composed of (1) video email software residing on a subscriber'"'"'s electronic device (110); (2) a server maintained by a provider to manage each subscriber'"'"'s account and to stream the video on demand to an email recipient (120); and (3) a recipient computer capable of translating a pre-determined video file format and receiving email using any standard email program (130). The service enables a subscriber using the video email software to send a digital video made with any camera and converted by the pre-determined video file format to a recipient having a standard email program through the service provider'"'"'s server. The server receives the video and sends a gateway email to the recipient with a frame for viewing the video. The server streams the video to the recipient upon demand of the recipient.

Claims

1. A video electronic mail system wherein a provider delivers digital video email service for subscribers comprising,

(a) video email software residing on a subscriber'"'"'s electronic device so that the software

enables transfer of a digital video file in a pre-determined video file format from the subscriber'"'"'s electronic device to provider'"'"'s server,

regulates subscriber'"'"'s payment to the provider for streaming the digital video file to subscriber'"'"'s designated recipient and

permits the subscriber to designate the number of times the video can be viewed by the recipient;

(b) a server maintained by the provider to

manage each subscriber'"'"'s account,

receive the emailed digital video file from subscriber,

send a email message to the recipient'"'"'s email account with a frame for viewing a streaming video file, and

stream the video on demand of the recipient; and

,

(c) an electronic device accessible by the recipient wherein said electronic device has an operating system capable of translating a video file in the pre-determined video file format and receiving email.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the pre-determined video file format is selected from a group consisting of Advanced Systems Format (ASF), Windows Media Video (WMV), Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG), Audio-Video Interleaved (AVI), and QuickTime.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the subscriber'"'"'s electronic device is selected from a group consisting of a computer, a digital camera, and a cell phone.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic device accessible by the recipient is selected from a group consisting of a computer, a digital camera, and a cell phone.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the video email software further enables the subscriber to add a text message.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the subscriber'"'"'s payment to the provider would entitle the use of the video email services based on a measurement selected from a group consisting of the number of videos actually sent, the length of video, the size of the video file, and unlimited viewing over a specific period of time.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the video email software establishes a connection to the video camera to transfer the video to the subscriber'"'"'s electronic device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the video email software provides video editing tools.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the video email software enables the subscriber to designate how many times the video may be viewed by the recipient.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the video email software enables the subscriber to choose a frame from the available choices for delivery to a recipient.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the video email software stores the video file in subscriber'"'"'s electronic device.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the server

enables the video to be streamed to the recipient inside the frame when the recipient'"'"'s email program permits such action, and

permits the recipient to select a direct link to the video file on the server for initiating streaming of the video to a separate video viewing program on the electronic device accessible by the recipient when the recipients email program does not permit viewing inside the frame.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the server further manages the deletion of the subscriber'"'"'s video file pursuant to directions from subscriber.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the video email software further enables converting a digital video file of a format other than the pre-determined format into a digital video file of the pre-determined format.

15. A method of using the system of claim 14 comprising the steps of,

(a) subscribing to the digital video email service from the provider wherein subscribing includes providing registration information to the provider so as to enable the acquisition of the video email software from the provider and further includes purchasing credits from the provider for sending streaming video emails;

(b) obtaining the provider'"'"'s video email software;

(c) installing the video email software on subscriber'"'"'s electronic device;

(d) converting the video to the pre-determined format using the software;

(e) addressing an email using the video email software to a recipient having a standard email program wherein addressing includes attaching the video to the email; and

,

(f) sending the video email using the video email software wherein said video email will thereupon be received by the server, wherein the server sends a gateway email to the recipient with a frame for viewing the video and wherein the server streams the video to the recipient when the recipient opens the email on the electronic device accessible by the recipient and indicates readiness to receive the email.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the gateway email indicates how many times the recipient is authorized to view the video.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein addressing an email includes choosing a frame design for the gateway email from the available choices for delivery to a recipient.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein addressing an email includes adding a text message to the recipient.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the gateway email includes the text message from the subscriber.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein addressing an email includes choosing whether or not to allow the recipient to download the video file subsequent to receiving the streamed video.

21. A method of using the system of claim 1 comprising the steps of,

(a) subscribing to the digital video email service from the provider wherein subscribing includes providing registration information to the provider and purchasing credits from the provider for sending streaming video emails;

(b) addressing an email using the video email software to a recipient having a standard email program wherein addressing includes attaching the video to the email; and

,

(c) sending the video email using the video email software wherein said video email will thereupon be received by the server, wherein the server sends a gateway email to the recipient with a frame for viewing the video and wherein the server streams the video to the recipient when the recipient opens the email on the electronic device accessible by the recipient and indicates readiness to receive the email.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the gateway email indicates how many times the recipient is authorized to view the video.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein addressing an email includes choosing a frame design for the gateway email from the available choices for delivery to a recipient.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein addressing an email includes adding a text message to the recipient.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the gateway email includes the text message from the subscriber.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein addressing an email includes choosing whether or not to allow the recipient to download the video file subsequent to receiving the streamed video.