SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING MEDIA RELATED TO A LOCATION

• US 20100077017A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: SPIEGELMAN, MICHAEL, GHEZZI, NICOLA STEFANO, MARTINEZ, RONALD, HIGGINS, CHIRSTOPHER WILLIAM, KALABOUKIS, CHRIS, DAVIS, MARC ELIOT, PARETTI, CHRISTOPHER T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,281,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

A system and method for distributing media related to a location. The physical location of a media presentation device is received over a network. The physical location of a plurality of end users are identified, via the network, wherein each of plurality of users is associated with a user device capable of storing media files. At least one of the end users is identified who is located in such proximity to the media presentation device that the user can perceive media that presented on the media presentation device. At least one media file that is currently being presented on the media presentation device is identified and transmitted over the network to each of the identified end users.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving the physical location of a media presentation device over a network;

identifying, via the network, the physical location of a plurality of end users, wherein each of plurality of users is associated with a user device capable of storing media files;

identifying at least one of the plurality of end users who is located in such proximity to the media presentation device that the user can perceive media that is presented on the media presentation device;

identifying at least one media file that is currently being presented on the media presentation device;

transmitting, over the network, the at least one media file to the user device of each of the at least one of the plurality of end users.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of:

determining if the at least one of the plurality of end users is eligible to receive a transmission of the at least one media file, wherein if the at least one of the plurality of end users is not eligible, the at least one media file is not transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of end users;

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one of the plurality of end users is eligible to receive a transmission of the at least one media file if the media presentation device is located in a business location and the at least one of the plurality of end users is present in the business location during normal business hours.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one of the plurality of end users is eligible to receive a transmission of the at least one media file if the least one of the plurality of end users is carrying the user device capable of storing media files.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one of the plurality of end users is eligible to receive a transmission of the at least one media file if the least one of the plurality of end users is a subscriber of a media service.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one of the plurality of end users is eligible to receive a transmission of the at least one media file if the at least one of the plurality of end users matches a targeting profile having social, spatial, temporal and topical targeting criteria.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the targeting profile relates to a national brand.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the targeting profile relates to an advertiser.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of:

determining, via the network, if the at least one media file meets at least one filter criteria, wherein if the at least one of the plurality of end users meets the at least one filter criteria, the at least one media file is not transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of end users.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one filter criteria is that the at least one of the plurality of end users has previously perceived a presentation of the at least one media file.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one filter criteria is that the at least one of the plurality of end users has previously perceived a presentation of the at least one media file and has unfavorable reviewed the media file.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one filter criteria is that at least one other user has unfavorably reviewed the media file.

13. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of:

determining, via the network, if at least one content restriction should be applied to the at least one media file, wherein if the at least one content restriction should be applied to the at least one media file, the at least one content restriction is applied to the at least one media file before it is transmitted to the user device of each of the at least one of the plurality of end users.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one content restriction restricts the number of times the media file can be perceived by the end user.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one content restriction restricts the number of times the media file can be presented on the user device of each of the at least one of the plurality of end users.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one content restriction restricts the duration for which the at least one media file can be presented on the user device of each of the at least one of the plurality of end users.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one content restriction restricts the number of times the at least one media file can be shared by each of the at least one of the plurality of end users.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one content restriction is at least one advertisement.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting, over the network, the at least one media file comprises the steps of:

updating, over the network, a playlist on the user device of each of the at least one of the plurality of end users, wherein each playlist is updated to reflect the at least one media file;

transmitting, over the network, the at least one media file to the user device of each of the at least one of the plurality of end users.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one media file is a hyperlink.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one media file is a ringtone.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one media file is selected from the list:

audio, video file.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one media file is selected from the list:

product brochure, service brochure, marketing materials.

24. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for a method comprising the steps of:

receiving the physical location of a media presentation device over a network;

identifying, via the network, the physical location of a plurality of end users, wherein each of plurality of users is associated with a user device capable of storing media files;

identifying at least one of the plurality of end users who is located in such proximity to the media presentation device that the user can perceive media that is presented on the media presentation device;

identifying at least one media file that is currently being presented on the media presentation device;

transmitting, over the network, the at least one media file to the user device of each of the at least one of the plurality of end users.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 comprising the additional step of:

determining if the at least one of the plurality of end users is eligible to receive a transmission of the at least one media file, wherein if the at least one of the plurality of end users is not eligible, the at least one media file is not transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of end users;

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the at least one of the plurality of end users is eligible to receive a transmission of the at least one media file if the media presentation device is located in a business location and the at least one of the plurality of end users is present in the business location during normal business hours.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the at least one of the plurality of end users is eligible to receive a transmission of the at least one media file if the least one of the plurality of end users is carrying the user device capable of storing media files.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the at least one of the plurality of end users is eligible to receive a transmission of the at least one media file if the least one of the plurality of end users is a subscriber of a media service.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 wherein the at least one of the plurality of end users is eligible to receive a transmission of the at least one media file if the at least one of the plurality of end users matches a targeting profile having social, spatial, temporal and topical targeting criteria.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein the targeting profile relates to a national brand.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein the targeting profile relates to an advertiser.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 comprising the additional step of:

determining, via the network, if the at least one media file meets at least one filter criteria, wherein if the at least one of the plurality of end users meets the at least one filter criteria, the at least one media file is not transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of end users.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 32 wherein the at least one filter criteria is that the at least one of the plurality of end users has previously perceived a presentation of the at least one media file.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 32 wherein the at least one filter criteria is that the at least one of the plurality of end users has previously perceived a presentation of the at least one media file and has unfavorable reviewed the media file.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 wherein the at least one filter criteria is that at least one other user has unfavorably reviewed the media file.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 comprising the additional step of:

determining, via the network, if at least one content restriction should be applied to the at least one media file, wherein if the at least one content restriction should be applied to the at least one media file, the at least one content restriction is applied to the at least one media file before it is transmitted to the user device of each of the at least one of the plurality of end users.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the at least one content restriction restricts the number of times the media file can be perceived by the end user.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the at least one content restriction restricts the number of times the media file can be presented on the user device of each of the at least one of the plurality of end users.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the at least one content restriction restricts the duration for which the at least one media file can be presented on the user device of each of the at least one of the plurality of end users.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the at least one content restriction restricts the number of times the at least one media file can be shared by each of the at least one of the plurality of end users.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the at least one content restriction is at least one advertisement.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 wherein the step of transmitting, over the network, the at least one media file comprises the steps of:

updating, over the network, a playlist on the user device of each of the at least one of the plurality of end users, wherein each playlist is updated to reflect the at least one media file;

transmitting, over the network, the at least one media file to the user device of each of the at least one of the plurality of end users.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 wherein the at least one media file is a hyperlink.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 wherein the at least one media file is a ringtone.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 wherein the at least one media file is selected from the list:

audio, video file.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 wherein the at least one media file is selected from the list:

product brochure, service brochure, marketing materials.

47. A system comprising:

a location tracking module that receives, over a network, the physical location of a plurality of media presentation devices and the physical location of a plurality of end users, wherein each of plurality of users are associated with a user device capable of storing media files;

an eligible user identification module that identifies at least one of the plurality of end users who are located in such proximity to at least one of the plurality of media presentation devices that the at least one of the plurality of end users can perceive media that is presented on the at least one of the plurality of media presentation devices;

a location related media identification module that identifies at least one media file that is currently being presented on the at least one of the plurality of media presentation devices;

a media filter module that determines if the at least one media file meets at least one filter criteria, wherein if the at least one of the plurality of end users meets the at least one filter criteria, the at least one media file is not transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of end users by the media delivery module;

a content restriction module that determines if at least one content restriction should be applied to the at least one media file, wherein if the at least one content restriction should be applied to the at least one media file, the at least one content restriction is applied to the at least one media file before it is transmitted to the user device of the at least one of the plurality of end users by the media delivery module;

a playlist update module that updates a playlist on the user device of the at least one of the plurality of end users, wherein the playlist updated to reflect the at least one media file;

a media delivery module that transmits, over the network, the at least one media file to the user device of the at least one of the plurality of end users.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the eligible user identification module determines if the at least one of the plurality of end users is eligible to receive a transmission of the at least one media file, wherein if the at least one of the plurality of end users is not eligible, the at least one media file is not transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of end users by the media delivery module.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein the at least one of the plurality of end users is eligible to receive a transmission of the at least one media file if the media presentation device is located in a business location and the at least one of the plurality of end users is present in the business location during normal business hours.

50. The system of claim 48 wherein the at least one of the plurality of end users is eligible to receive a transmission of the at least one media file if the least one of the plurality of end users is carrying the user device capable of storing media files.

51. The system of claim 48 wherein the at least one of the plurality of end users is eligible to receive a transmission of the at least one media file if the least one of the plurality of end users is a subscriber of a media service.

52. The system of claim 48 wherein the at least one of the plurality of end users is eligible to receive a transmission of the at least one media file if the at least one of the plurality of end users matches a targeting profile having social, spatial, temporal and topical targeting criteria.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the targeting profile relates to a national brand.

54. The method of claim 52 wherein the targeting profile relates to an advertiser.

55. The system of claim 47 wherein the at least one filter criteria is that the at least one of the plurality of end users has previously perceived a presentation of the at least one media file.

56. The system of claim 47 wherein the at least one filter criteria is that the at least one of the plurality of end users has previously perceived a presentation of the at least one media file and has unfavorable reviewed the media file.

57. The system of claim 47 wherein the at least one filter criteria is that at least one other user has unfavorably reviewed the media file.

58. The system of claim 47 wherein the at least one content restriction restricts the number of times the media file can be perceived by the end user.

59. The system of claim 47 wherein the at least one content restriction restricts the number of times the media file can be presented on the user device of each of the at least one of the plurality of end users.

60. The method of claim 47 wherein the at least one content restriction restricts the duration for which the media file can be presented on the user device of each of the at least one of the plurality of end users.

61. The method of claim 47 wherein the at least one content restriction restricts the number of times the at least one media file can be shared by each of the at least one of the plurality of end users.

62. The method of claim 47 wherein the at least one content restriction is at least one advertisement.

63. The system of claim 47 wherein the at least one media file is a hyperlink.

64. The system of claim 47 wherein the at least one media file is a ringtone.

65. The system of claim 47 wherein the at least one media file is selected from the list:

audio, video file.

66. The system of claim 47 wherein the at least one media file is selected from the list:

product brochure, service brochure, marketing materials.