Method of gathering and utilizing demographic information from request-based media delivery system

• US 6,477,704 B1
• Filed: 06/21/1999
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Cremia
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Cremia
• Inventors: Cremia, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Hai V.
• Application Number:
  US09/337,808
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 725/13, 725/32-33, 725/35-36, 725/46, 725/42, 725/61, 709/217-220, 705/10-14, 345/721
• US Class Current: 725/35
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26233 involving content or additional data duration or size, e.g. length of a movie, size of an executable file
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method of automatically delivering media based on audience requests. The method statistically identifies the most requested media content and assembles a play list from individual media segments in a catalog database. Demographic information gathered from the audience requests is used to dynamically insert commercial media segments into the play list. Demographically linked news and weather updates may also digitally recorded and interspersed between requested media segments.

Claims

1. A method of delivering media content comprising the steps of:

creating a membership database comprising the steps of;

(a) obtaining an array of demographic information from an individual;

(b) assigning said individual a unique membership ID;

(c) storing said membership ID and said array of demographic information in said membership database;

obtaining a request for media content comprising the steps of;

(a) identifying said individual from said unique membership ID;

(b) prompting said individual for selection of a media segment from a catalog database;

(c) associating said media segment and said individual'"'"'s array of demographic information in a request database;

broadcasting media content comprising the steps of;

(a) accessing said request database;

(b) assembling a play list from the most requested media segments in said catalog database based on a predetermined formula; and

(c) executing said play list.

2. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining said array of demographic information from an individual by telephonic means comprising the steps of;

(1) accepting an incoming telephone call from a telephone caller;

(2) prompting said caller to relay an array of demographic information;

(3) associating said array of demographic information with a unique membership ID; and

(4) transmitting said unique membership ID to said telephone caller.

3. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(a) posting one or more form-based interfaces on a data network;

(b) prompting a network user for an array of demographic information;

(c) associating said array of demographic information with an associated membership ID; and

(d) transmitting said membership ID to said network user.

4. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of interspersing a system identifier at predetermined intervals within said play list.

5. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of interspersing one or more public service announcements at predetermined intervals within said play list.

6. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of interspersing one or more individual commercial segments at predetermined intervals within said play list.

7. The method as in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

(a) associating a demographic value with an individual commercial segment;

(b) analyzing said play list for one or more common demographic values of said individuals who requested the media segments in said play list; and

(c) broadcasting said individual commercial segments whose demographic values most closely match said common demographic values of said individuals who requested the media segments in said play list.

8. The method as in claim 7, further comprising the step of recording the number of instances said individual commercial segment is played.

9. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of interspersing one or more prerecorded news updates at predetermined intervals.

10. The method as in claim 9, further comprising the steps of accepting a media upload from an authorized user and inserting said media upload in said play list.

11. The method as in claim 9, further comprising the steps of receiving an analog media segment comprising said prerecorded news update from an authorized user, converting said analog media segment to a digital media segment, and inserting said digital media segment into said play list.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein said analog media segment comprising said prerecorded news update is received telephonically.

13. The method as in claim 9, further comprising the steps of uploading said prerecorded news updates through a network interface from a verified source for insertion into said play list.

14. The method as in claim 9, further comprising the step of time-stamping said news updates wherein out-of-date media segments are not inserted into said play list.

15. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of recording said demographic information associated with said play list into a history file.

16. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of maintaining remote supervision and control over said method of delivering media content via a network connection to a remotely located network operations center.

17. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of offloading said membership-associated functions to a remotely located network operations center.

18. The method as in claim 1, wherein said media content is audio and further comprising the step of broadcasting said play list by radio frequency transmission.