SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING ELECTRONICALLY DELIVERED INFORMATION CHANNELS

• US 20090319356A1
• Filed: 06/20/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenneth C. Spitzer, Robert J. Dunphy
• Original Assignee: Kenneth C. Spitzer, Robert J. Dunphy
• Inventors: Spitzer, Kenneth C., Dunphy, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,478,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.250
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• 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

Systems and methods for managing electronically delivered information channels are provided. A selection of non-textual category data and a plurality of subscriber interest category data are received from a subscriber. Content associated with the non-textual category data and content associated with the subscriber interest category data are identified. The systems and methods can create a subscriber channel associated with the subscriber. The subscriber channel is configured to provide the content associated with both the non-textual category data and the subscriber interest category data to the subscriber. Through the subscriber channel, the content associated with the non-textual category data can be provided to the subscriber in a first format configured for display on a first device. At substantially the same time, through the subscriber channel, the content associated with the subscriber interest category data to the subscriber in a second format configured for display on a second device can be provided.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for managing electronically delivered information channels, comprising:

receiving, from a subscriber, a selection of non-textual category data and a plurality of subscriber interest category data;

identifying content associated with the non-textual category data and content associated with the subscriber interest category data;

creating a subscriber channel associated with the subscriber and configured to provide the content associated with both the non-textual category data and the subscriber interest category data to the subscriber;

providing, through the subscriber channel, the content associated with the non-textual category data to the subscriber in a first format configured for display on a first device; and

substantially simultaneously providing, through the subscriber channel, the content associated with the subscriber interest category data to the subscriber in a second format configured for display on a second device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber channel comprises a plurality of subchannels, comprising:

identifying a plurality of formats compatible with the first device; and

providing one of the subchannels to the first device in the first format, wherein the first format is selected from one of the plurality of formats.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, comprising:

providing, through the subscriber channel, the content associated with the non-textual category data to a plurality of users in the first format; and

substantially simultaneously providing, through the subscriber channel, the content associated with the subscriber interest category data to the plurality of users in the second format.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 3, wherein the content associated with the non-textual category data includes an audio data file, further comprising:

executing the audio data file on the first device.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 4, comprising:

substantially simultaneously providing, through the subscriber channel, the content associated with the subscriber interest category data to the subscriber and to the plurality of users in the first format; and

embedding the content associated with the subscriber interest category data within the audio data file.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein the content associated with the subscriber interest category data is provided to a webpage, further comprising:

displaying the webpage on the second device.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying content associated with the non-textual category data and content associated with the subscriber interest category data comprises:

receiving the content associated with the selection of non-textual category data and the content associated with the subscriber interest category data from at least one database.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving, from a plurality of users, a plurality of user interest category data; and

providing, to one of the plurality of users, the content associated with the non-textual category data responsive to an evaluation of the subscriber interest category data and the user interest category data.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 8, comprising:

linking, in a social network, the subscriber and at least one of the plurality of users.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 9, comprising:

identifying a plurality of user channels, each associated with one of the plurality of users; and

providing at least one of the plurality of user channels to the subscriber.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 10, comprising:

receiving a request to link the subscriber with a user associated with at least one of the user channels.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection of non-textual category data comprises receiving data identifying at least one of a music genre, an artist, a video, and a song.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 12, wherein receiving the selection of the subscriber interest category data comprises receiving data identifying at least one of a news category, a sports category, an entertainment category, a current event category, a professional interest, and a hobby.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 13, comprising:

evaluating the selection of non-textual category data and the subscriber interest category data to generate advertising data; and

providing an advertisement to at least one of the subscriber and the plurality of users based at least in part on the advertising data.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

providing the content associated with the non-textual category data further comprises;

providing at least one of a song, an audio news broadcast associated with the song, and an audio advertisement associated with the song; and

wherein

substantially simultaneously providing the content associated with the subscriber interest category data further comprises;

providing at least one of a video of an artist singing the song, text of lyrics of the song, and a video advertisement.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 1, comprising:

providing an advertisement to at least one of the first device and the second device.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first format includes an audio format and wherein the second format includes at least one of a text format and a video format.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection of non-textual category data and the subscriber interest category data, identifying content associated with the non-textual category data and content associated with the subscriber interest category data, creating the subscriber channel, providing the content associated with the non-textual category data, and substantially simultaneously providing the content associated with the subscriber interest category data are performed at least in part by a processor, and wherein the method is implemented at least in part in a program stored in a computer readable medium and executed by the processor.

19. In a computer network, a channel personalization engine, comprising:

a data storage unit configured to store non-textual category data and subscriber interest category data associated with the subscriber;

the channel personalization engine configured to identify content associated with the non-textual category data and content associated with the subscriber interest category data;

the channel personalization engine further configured to generate a subscriber channel associated with the subscriber, the subscriber channel configured to include the content associated with the non-textual category data and the content associated with the subscriber interest category data;

the channel personalization engine configured to provide, via the subscriber channel, the content associated with the non-textual category data in a first format to the subscriber; and

the channel personalization engine further configured to provide, via the subscriber channel, is the content associated with the subscriber interest category data in a second format to the subscriber.

20. The channel personalization engine of claim 19, wherein the channel personalization engine is configured to provide, via the subscriber channel, the content associated with the non-textual category data to a plurality of users in the first format;

and wherein

the channel personalization engine is further configured to provide, via the subscriber channel, the content associated with the subscriber interest category data to the plurality of users in the second format.

21. The channel personalization engine of claim 19, wherein the channel personalization engine is configured to receive a plurality of user interest category data provided by a user;

and wherein

the channel personalization engine is further configured to provide to the user, via the subscriber channel, the content associated with the non-textual category data responsive to an evaluation of the subscriber interest category data and the user interest category data.

22. The channel personalization engine of claim 19, wherein the subscriber channel comprises a plurality of subchannels, and wherein the channel personalization engine is configured to identify a plurality of formats compatible with the first device and to provide one of the subchannels to the first device in the first format, wherein the first format includes one of the plurality of formats.

23. The channel personalization engine of claim 19, wherein the channel personalization engine is configured to access the data storage unit and to identify, via the computer network, the content associated with at least one of the non-textual category data and the content associated with the subscriber interest category data.

24. The channel personalization engine of claim 19, wherein the channel personalization engine is configured to access the data storage unit and to retrieve the content associated with at least one of the non-textual category data and the content associated with the subscriber interest category data.

25. The channel personalization engine of claim 19, wherein the first format includes an audio format, and wherein the second format includes a visual format.

26. The channel personalization engine of claim 19, wherein the content associated with the non-textual category data includes at least one of a music file, a video file, a news data file, and an advertisement file, and wherein the content associated with the subscriber interest category data includes at least one of a news category, a sports category, an entertainment category, a music category, a current event category, a professional category, and a hobby.

27. The channel personalization engine of claim 19, wherein the channel personalization engine is configured to substantially simultaneously transmit, via the subscriber channel, the content associated with the non-textual category data in the first format to a first device, and the content associated with the subscriber interest category data in the second format to a second device.

28. The channel personalization engine of claim 27, wherein the first device includes a portable audio device, and wherein the second device includes at least one of a computer and a personal digital assistant.

29. The channel personalization engine of claim 27, wherein content associated with the non-textual category data and the content associated with the subscriber interest category data include data having common subject matter.

30. The channel personalization engine of claim 29, wherein the content associated with the non-textual category data includes a song, and wherein the content associated with the subscriber interest category data includes at least one of lyrics to the song, a video of an artist singing the song, a news article about a genre of music that includes the song, and an advertisement associated with the song.