Processing of metadata content and digital content received by a media distribution system

• US 20110296536A1
• Filed: 08/11/2011
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Max Muller, Ricardo Cortes
• Original Assignee: Max Muller, Ricardo Cortes
• Inventors: Muller, Max, Cortes, Ricardo
• Granted Patent: US 8,370,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/30
• 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: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments relate generally to the submission of metadata content and digital content, such as media content, to a media distribution system. The media content can include, for example, audio, video, image, or podcast data. In accordance with one embodiment, a client submitting metadata content can validate the metadata content prior to submission of the metadata content and/or associated media content. A media distribution system receiving metadata content can also validate the metadata content.

Claims

1. An apparatus for electronic submission of digital content for electronic distribution, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, wherein the memory is configured to store computer program code and the processor is configured to execute the program computer code, and

wherein the computer program code includes at least;

computer program code for receiving metadata content from a content provider, the metadata content descriptive of a plurality of data files, each of the plurality of data files including digital content;

computer program code for validating the metadata content if the metadata content conforms to the metadata specification; and

computer program code for preventing the content provider from uploading digital content associated with the metadata content when it is determined that the metadata content is not valid.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code includes at least:

computer program code for identifying a type of digital content contained in at least one of the plurality of data files; and

computer program code for determining whether the content provider is permitted to sell the type of digital content.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program code includes at least:

computer program code for preventing the content provider from uploading digital content when it is determined that the content provider is not permitted to sell the type of digital content.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the type of digital content is video content.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code includes at least:

computer program code for identifying a territory in which the digital content is to be distributed from the metadata content; and

computer program code for determining from one or more contracts whether the content provider is cleared to distribute the digital content in the territory.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the computer program code includes at least:

computer program code for preventing the content provider from uploading the digital content when it is determined that the one or more contracts do not permit the content provider to distribute the digital content in the territory.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code includes at least:

computer program code for identifying a price tier within the metadata content; and

computer program code for determining from one or more contracts whether the price tier is valid.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the computer program code includes at least:

computer program code for preventing the content provider from uploading the digital content associated with the metadata content when it is determined that the one or more contracts do not permit the content provider use the price tier within the metadata content.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata and the digital content are provide as a digital package, and

wherein the computer program code comprises:

computer program code for determining whether the digital package is a valid package.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the computer program code for determining whether the digital package is a valid package comprises:

computer program code for obtaining a vendor identifier from the metadata content; and

computer program code for ascertaining whether the vendor identifier is associated with digital content that has previously been received.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the computer program code for determining whether the digital package is a valid package comprises:

computer program code for identifying a type of digital content contained in at least one of the plurality of data files; and

computer program code for determining whether the content provider is permitted to sell the type of digital content.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the computer program code includes at least:

computer program code for preventing the content provider from uploading at least the digital content when it is determined that the content provider is not permitted to sell the type of digital content.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the computer program code for determining whether the digital package is a valid package comprises:

computer program code for identifying a territory in which the digital content is to be sold from the metadata content; and

computer program code for determining from one or more contracts whether the content provider is cleared to sell the digital content in the territory.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the computer program code includes at least:

computer program code for preventing the content provider from uploading at least the digital content when it is determined that the one or more contracts do not permit the content provider to sell the digital content in the territory.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the computer program code for determining whether the digital package is a valid package comprises:

computer program code for identifying a price tier within the metadata content; and

computer program code for determining from one or more contracts whether the price tier is valid.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the computer program code includes at least:

computer program code for preventing the content provider from uploading at least the digital content associated with the metadata content when it is determined that the one or more contracts do not permit the content provider use the price tier within the metadata content.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the computer program code for determining whether the package is a valid package comprises:

computer program code for checking for existence of one or more of the plurality of data files in the package.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the computer program code comprises:

computer program code for requesting that the digital package be re-submitted when it is determined that the digital package is not a valid package.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the computer program code comprises:

computer program code for storing at least a portion of the digital package when it is determined that the digital package is a valid package.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code comprises:

computer program code for notifying the content provider whether the metadata content is valid, wherein the notification includes an indication of one or more errors in the metadata content when it is determined that the metadata content is not valid.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code comprises:

computer program code for determining whether the content provider is permitted to submit updates to the digital content.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein the updates are pricing updates.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata content includes a sale start date.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the computer program code comprises:

computer program code for ascertaining whether the sale start date begins within a pre-determined period of time from a current date.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code includes at least:

computer program code for determining from one or more contracts whether the content provider is permitted to distribute the digital content; and

computer program code for preventing the content provider from uploading the digital content when it is determined that the one or more contracts do not permit the content provider to distribute the digital content.

26. A method for electronic submission of digital content to a distribution system, comprising:

receiving metadata content from a content provider, the metadata content descriptive of a plurality of data files, each of the plurality of data files including digital content;

determining, by the server device, whether the metadata content is valid by at least evaluating if the metadata content conforms to a metadata specification;

preventing the content provider from uploading digital content associated with the metadata content to the server device when it is determined that the metadata content is not valid; and

subsequently receiving digital content associated with the metadata content when it is determined that the metadata content is valid.

27. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the method comprises:

determining from one or more contracts whether the content provider is permitted to distribute the digital content; and

preventing the content provider from uploading the digital content when it is determined that the one or more contracts do not permit the content provider to distribute the digital content.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein the method comprises:

notifying the content provider indicating whether the metadata content is valid, wherein the notification identifies one or more errors in the metadata content when it is determined that the metadata content is not valid.