Distributed Video Content Management and Sharing System

• US 20080189617A1
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panopto, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Syracuse University
• Inventors: Nadzan, Scott, Fudge, Michael A., Sedore, Christopher, Daley, James, Patterson, Jeremy, Kostadinov, Boyan, Covell, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,262,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system which enables cooperative rich media content management, sharing, and publishing across a distributed set of Web sites, Web servers, and media servers based on control information in an online database. Media files are housed on any number of heterogeneous media repositories. The system of the present invention is used for managing, sharing, and publishing rich media content including video, images, animations, audio, etc. Authorized viewers access media files through dynamically generated content and media links embedded on Web sites. Content administrators publish media entries to any number of such distributed Web sites, and can set viewer permissions for individual video entries when published on specific Web sites. Content administrators can also dynamically establish media sharing and access relationships.

Claims

1. A media content management system comprising:

a. a plurality of remote Web servers interconnected to a network, each of said plurality of remote Web servers maintains a Web site comprising at least one Web page;

b. a shared central media server interconnected to the network, wherein said shared central media server includes a plurality of media files, each of said plurality of media files is administered by a department through a departmental content administrator;

c. a control database interconnected to the network, wherein said control database includes a plurality of data parameters associated with each of said plurality of media files on said shared central media server comprising at least a first and second data parameter, wherein said first data parameter comprises media file meta-data content associated with each of said plurality of media files on said shared central media server, and wherein said second data parameter indicates which of said departmental content administrators has a permission associated with which of said plurality of media files on said shared central media server and with said associated media file meta-data content; and

d. a shared central Web server interconnected to said shared central media server and to said control database comprising Web application software, wherein said Web application software is adapted to implement at least one of said plurality of data parameters associated with each of said plurality of media files on said shared central media server.

2. The media content management system of claim 1, further comprising a dedicated remote media server including a plurality of media files, each of said plurality of media files on said dedicated remote media server is administered by one of said departments through a departmental content administrator, and wherein said dedicated remote media server is interconnected to one of said remote Web servers and to said control database.

3. The media content management system of claim 2, wherein said control database includes a plurality of data parameters associated with each of said plurality of media files on said dedicated remote media server comprising at least a first and a second data parameter, wherein said first data parameter comprises media file meta-data content associated with each of said plurality of media files on said dedicated remote media server, and wherein said second data parameter indicates which of said departmental content administrators has a permission associated with which of said plurality of media files on said dedicated remote media server and with said associated media file meta-data content.

4. The media content management system of claim 3, wherein said one of said remote Web severs comprises Web application software, wherein said Web application software of said one of said remote Web severs is adapted to implement at least one of said plurality of data parameters associated with each of said plurality of media files on said dedicated remote media server.

5. The media content management system of claim 1, further comprising a dedicated central media server including a plurality of media files, each of said plurality of media files on said dedicated central media server is administered by one of said departments through a departmental content administrator, and wherein said dedicated central media server is interconnected to said shared central Web server.

6. The media content management system of claim 5, wherein said control database includes a plurality of data parameters associated with each of said plurality of media files on said dedicated central media server comprising at least a first and a second data parameter, wherein said first data parameter comprises media file meta-data content associated with each of said plurality of media files on said dedicated central media server, and wherein said second data parameter indicates which of said departmental content administrators has a permission associated with which of said plurality of media files on said dedicated central media server and with said associated media file meta-data content.

7. The media content management system of claim 6, wherein said Web application software is adapted to implement at least one of said plurality of data parameters associated with each of said plurality of media files on said dedicated central media server.

8. The media content management system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface interconnected to the shared central Web server adapted to receive information defining said at least one of said plurality of data parameters associated with at least one of said plurality of media files on said shared central media server.

9. The media content management system of claim 7, further comprising a user interface interconnected to the shared central Web server adapted to receive information defining said at least one of said plurality of data parameters associated with at least one of said plurality of media files on said dedicated central media server.

10. The media content management system of claim 4, further comprising a user interface interconnected to said one of said remote Web severs adapted to receive information defining said at least one of said plurality of data parameters associated with at least one of said plurality of media files on said dedicated remote media server.

11. The media content management system of claim 1, wherein said permission comprises a sharing permission indicating which of said departmental content administrators is authorized to share which of said media files on said shared central media server and said associated media file meta-data content with which of said other departmental content administrators.

12. The media content management system of claim 11, wherein said permission further comprises a publish permission indicating which of said departmental content administrators with a share permission is authorized to provide access to which of said associated media file meta-data content on which of said at least one Web page.

13. The media content management system of claim 11, wherein said permission further comprises a publish permission indicating which of said departmental content administrators with a share permission is authorized to provide access to which of said media files on said shared central media server and said associated media file meta-data content on which of said at least one Web page.

14. The media content management system of claim 1, wherein said permission comprises a copy permission indicating which of said departmental content administrators is authorized to obtain control of a copy of which of said media files on said shared central media server and said associated media file meta-data content.

15. The media content management system of claim 1, wherein said permission comprises a transfer permission indicating which of said departmental content administrators is authorized to obtain control of which of said media files on said shared central media server and said associated media file meta-data content.

16. The media content management system of claim 4, wherein said permission comprises a sharing permission indicating which of said departmental content administrators is authorized to share which of said media files on said dedicated remote media server and said associated media file meta-data content with which of said other departmental content administrators.

17. The media content management system of claim 16, wherein said permission further comprises a publish permission indicating which of said departmental content administrators with a share permission is authorized to provide access to which of said associated media file meta-data content on which of said at least one Web page.

18. The media content management system of claim 16, wherein said permission further comprises a publish permission indicating which of said departmental content administrators with a share permission is authorized to provide access to which of said media files on said dedicated remote media server and said associated media file meta-data content on which of said at least one Web page.

19. The media content management system of claim 4, wherein said permission comprises a copy permission indicating which of said departmental content administrators is authorized to obtain control of a copy of which of said media files on said dedicated remote media server and said associated media file meta-data content.

20. The media content management system of claim 4, wherein said permission comprises a transfer permission indicating which of said departmental content administrators is authorized to obtain control of which of said media files on said dedicated remote media server and said associated media file meta-data content.

21. The media content management system of claim 7, wherein said permission comprises a sharing permission indicating which of said departmental content administrators is authorized to share which of said media files on said dedicated central media server and said associated media file meta-data content with which of said other departmental content administrators.

22. The media content management system of claim 21, wherein said permission further comprises a publish permission indicating which of said departmental content administrators with a share permission is authorized to provide access to which of said associated media file meta-data content on which of said at least one Web page.

23. The media content management system of claim 21, wherein said permission further comprises a publish permission indicating which of said departmental content administrators with a share permission is authorized to provide access to which of said media files on said dedicated central media server and said associated media file meta-data content on which of said at least one Web page.

24. The media content management system of claim 7, wherein said permission comprises a copy permission indicating which of said departmental content administrators is authorized to obtain control of a copy of which of said media files on said dedicated central media server and said associated media file meta-data content.

25. The media content management system of claim 7, wherein said permission comprises a transfer permission indicating which of said departmental content administrators is authorized to obtain control of which of said media files on said dedicated central media server and said associated media file meta-data content.

26. The media content management system of claim 1, further comprising at least one Web browser connected to the network, wherein said control database further includes a third data parameter associated with at least one of said plurality of media files on said shared central media server, wherein said third data parameter indicates which of said at least one Web browser has a permission associated with which of said plurality of said media files on said shared central media server and with said associated media file meta-data content, and wherein said web application software is adapted to implement said third data parameter associated with at least one of said plurality of media files on said shared central media server.

27. The media content management system of claim 26, wherein said permission comprises a read permission indicating which of said at least one Web browser is authorized to have access to which of said associated media file meta-data content.

28. The media content management system of claim 26, wherein said permission comprises an execute permission indicating which of said at least one Web browser is authorized to have access to which of said media files on said shared central media server and said associated media file meta-data content.

29. The media content management system of claim 3, further comprising at least one Web browser connected to the network, wherein said control database further includes a third data parameter associated with at least one of said plurality of media files on said dedicated remote media server, wherein said third data parameter indicates which of said at least one Web browser has a permission associated with which of said plurality of said media files on said dedicated remote media server and with said associated media file meta data content, and wherein said Web application software of said one of said remote Web servers is adapted to implement said third data parameter associated with at least one of said plurality of media files on said dedicated remote media server.

30. The media content management system of claim 29, wherein said permission comprises a read permission indicating which of said at least one Web browser is authorized to have access to which of said associated media file meta-data content.

31. The media content management system of claim 29, wherein said permission comprises an execute permission indicating which of said at least one Web browser is authorized to have access to which of said media files on said dedicated remote media server and said associated media file meta-data content.

32. The media content management system of claim 5, further comprising at least one Web browser connected to the network, wherein said control database further includes a third data parameter associated with at least one of said plurality of media files on said dedicated central media server, wherein said third data parameter indicates which of said at least one Web browser has a permission associated with which of said plurality of said media files on said dedicated central media server and with said associated media file meta data content, and wherein said web application software is adapted to implement said third data parameter associated with at least one of said plurality of media files on said dedicated central media server.

33. The media content management system of claim 32, wherein said permission comprises a read permission indicating which of said at least one Web browser is authorized to have access to which of said associated media file meta-data content.

34. The media content management system of claim 32, wherein said permission comprises an execute permission indicating which of said at least one Web browser is authorized to have access to which of said media files on said dedicated central media server and said associated media file meta-data content.

35. A media security module interconnected to a network for controlling access to a plurality of media files stored in a media server comprising:

a. a module for writing an authorization ticket to a control database upon receiving a request from a Web browser to access at least one of said plurality of media files, wherein said authorization ticket includes at least one data parameter indicating media file access authorization information respecting said Web browser;

b. a module for checking said authorization ticket to determine if the requesting Web browser has been authorized to access said at least one of said plurality of media files; and

c. a module for providing access to said at least one of said plurality of media files if it is determined that said Web browser has been authorized to access said at least one of said plurality of media files.

36. A media management service comprising:

a. a plurality of media servers interconnected to a network, wherein each of said media servers are adapted to include at least one media file;

b. a control database interconnected to the network, wherein said control database includes a plurality of data parameters associated with each of said plurality of media files comprising at least a first and a second data parameter, wherein said first data parameter comprises media file meta-data content associated with each of said plurality of media files, and wherein said second data parameter indicates control information associated with each of said plurality of media files;

c. a Web server interconnected to each of said media servers and to said control database comprising Web application software, wherein said Web application software is adapted to upload each of said media files onto at least one of said media servers and implement at least one of said plurality of data parameters associated with each of said plurality of media files.

37. The media management service of claim 36, wherein said control information comprises information selected from the group consisting of moving said at least one media file and said associated media file meta-data content between at least two of said plurality of media servers, copying said at least one media file and said associated media file meta-data content between at least two of said plurality of media servers, and deleting said at least one media file and said associated media file meta-data content from said at least one of said media servers.