Methods, systems, and processes for the design and creation of rich-media applications via the internet

• US 7,000,180 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rich Media Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: Balthaser Online Incorporated
• Inventors: Balthaser, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Sanjiv
• Application Number:
  US09/779,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20020004755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 715/500.1, 715/501.1, 715/530, 707/102
• US Class Current: 715/240
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

Rich-media applications are designed and created via the Internet. A host computer system, containing processes for creating rich-media applications, is accessed from a remote user computer system via an Internet connection. User account information and rich-media component specifications are uploaded via the established Internet connection for a specific user account. Rich-media applications are created, deleted, or modified in a user account via the established Internet connection. Rich-media components are added to, modified in, or deleted from scenes of a rich-media application based on information contained in user requests. After creation, the rich-media application is viewed or saved on the host computer system, or downloaded to the user computer system via the established Internet connection. In addition, the host process monitors the available computer and network resources and determines the particular component, scene, and application versions, if multiple versions exist, that most closely match the available resources.

Claims

1. A method for users to create and maintain a rich-media application on said host website via the Internet comprising:

creating a user account;

accessing a user account; and

viewing available options for creating rich-media applications,

wherein said accessing a user account comprises one or more of the following;

accessing account information;

creating a new rich-media application;

modifying an existing rich-media application; and

accessing statistics from an existing rich-media application;

wherein accessing a user account comprises modifying an existing rich-media application and wherein said modifying an existing rich-media application comprises one or more of the following;

accessing account information;

accessing rich-media application information;

accessing rich-media application specification information;

saving said rich-media application;

closing said rich-media application;

deleting said rich-media application;

publishing said rich-media application;

previewing said rich-media application;

accessing components used in the construction of said rich-media application;

accessing component-editing graphical user interfaces; and

accessing a scene of said rich-media application; and

wherein said modifying an existing rich-media application comprises publishing said rich-media application and wherein said publishing said rich-media application comprises downloading said rich-media application from said host computer to the user'"'"'s remote computer system.

2. method for users to create and maintain a rich-media application on said host website via the Internet comprising:

creating a user account;

accessing a user account; and

viewing available options for creating rich-media applications,

wherein said accessing a user account comprises one or more of the following;

accessing account information;

creating a new rich-media application;

modifying an existing rich-media application; and

accessing statistics from an existing rich-media application;

wherein accessing a user account comprises modifying an existing rich-media application and wherein said modifying an existing rich-media application comprises one or more of the following;

accessing account information;

accessing rich-media application information;

accessing rich-media application specification information;

saving said rich-media application;

closing said rich-media application;

deleting said rich-media application;

publishing said rich-media application;

previewing said rich-media application;

accessing components used in the construction of said rich-media application;

accessing component-editing graphical user interfaces; and

accessing a scene of said rich-media application; and

wherein said modifying an existing rich-media application comprises accessing said scene of said rich-media application and wherein said accessing said scene of said rich-media application comprises one or more of modifying said scene of said rich-media application;

inserting a new scene into said rich-media application;

editing scene information for said scene of said rich-media application;

deleting said scene from said rich-media application;

reordering said scene in said rich-media application; and

selecting said scene from said rich-media application.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said accessing said scene of said rich-media application comprises modifying said scene of said rich-media application and wherein said modifying said scene of said rich-media application comprises one or more of the following:

editing a selected rich-media component;

deleting a selected rich-media component;

undoing the previous modification to a selected rich-media component; and

saving said scene of said rich-media application.

4. The computer process of claim 3, wherein said modifying said scene of said rich-media application comprises editing a selected rich-media component and wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises;

selecting said selected rich-media component from a hierarchical list of folders and rich-media components;

closing graphical user interfaces used to edit non-selected rich-media components;

opening a graphical user interface used to edit said selected rich-media component; and

editing said selected rich-media component by means of said graphical user interface.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said modifying said scene of said rich-media application comprises editing a selected rich-media component and wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing one or more of the following:

the display of said rich-media component;

the volume of said selected rich-media component;

the link between said selected rich-media component and an associated menu entry;

the text field of said selected rich-media component;

the layout of said selected rich-media component;

the size of said selected rich-media component;

the transparency of said selected rich-media component;

the timing of said selected rich-media component;

the rotation of said selected rich-media component;

the color of said selected rich-media component;

the level of said selected rich-media component; and

the position of said selected rich-media component.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said display of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said display of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the following:

selecting an introduction animation;

selecting a loop animation; and

selecting an exit animation.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said editing said display of said selected rich-media component comprises selecting a loop animation and wherein said selecting a loop animation comprises one or more of the following:

playing said loop animation a selected number of times;

playing said loop animation no times; and

playing said loop animation continuously.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said editing said level of said selected rich-media component comprises modifying the level of said selected rich-media component by means of an ordered list representing the relative level of all components in the current scene and wherein said ordered list representing the relative level of all components in the current scene comprises one or more of the following:

a list of all components in said current scene ordered by the depth of the components;

a means of toggling the visibility of each component; and

a means of toggling the ability to modify the depth of each component.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said volume of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said volume of said selected rich-media component comprises modifying the volume of said selected rich-media component by means of one or more of the group consisting of:

a slider bar;

a textual input field;

an up-volume button; and

a down-volume button.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said link between said selected rich-media component and said associated menu entry and wherein said editing said link between said selected rich-media component and said associated menu entry comprises one or more of the following:

selecting the style of said associated menu entry;

creating said link between said selected rich-media component and said associated menu entry; and

selecting the uniform resource locator of said associated menu entry.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said layout of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said layout of said selected rich-media component comprises;

selecting a component type; and

selecting from all preset and uploaded components matching said selected rich-media component'"'"'s component type.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said text field of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said text field of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more from the group consisting of:

selecting a layout for said text field;

selecting a font for the selected text;

selecting a font size for the selected text;

selecting a font color for the selected text; and

selecting an alignment for said text field.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said size of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said size of said selected rich-media component comprises:

modifying the size of said selected rich-media component by means of a slider bar;

modifying the size of said selected rich-media component by means of a textual input field;

modifying the size of said selected rich-media component by means of corner handles;

modifying the size of said selected rich-media component by means of side handles; and

viewing a display of the current size of said selected rich-media component.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said transparency of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said transparency of said selected rich-media component comprises:

modifying the transparency of said selected rich-media component by means of a slider bar;

modifying the transparency of said selected rich-media component by means of a textual input field; and

viewing a display of the current transparency of said selected rich-media component.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said timing of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said timing of said selected rich-media component comprises:

modifying the timing of said selected rich-media component by means of a textual input field;

modifying the timing of said selected rich-media component by means of a component start marker;

modifying the timing of said selected rich-media component by means of a component end marker;

modifying the timing of said selected rich-media component by means of a life bar; and

viewing a display of the current duration of said selected rich-media component.

16. The method of claim 5, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said rotation of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said rotation of said selected rich-media component comprises:

modifying the rotation of said selected rich-media component by means of a slider bar;

modifying the rotation of said selected rich-media component by means of a textual input field; and

viewing a display of the current rotation of said selected rich-media component.

17. The method of claim 5, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said color of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said color of said selected rich-media component comprises:

modifying the color of said selected rich-media component by means of a slider bar;

modifying the color of said selected rich-media component by means of a textual input field; and

viewing a display of the current color of said selected rich-media component.

18. The method of claim 5, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said level of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said level of said selected rich-media component comprises:

modifying the level of said selected rich-media component by means of a slider bar;

modifying the level of said selected rich-media component by means of an ordered list representing the relative level of all components in the current scene;

modifying the level of said selected rich-media component by means of a textual input field; and

viewing a display of the current level of said selected rich-media component.

19. The method of claim 5, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said position of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said position of said selected rich-media component comprises:

modifying the vertical position of said selected rich-media component by means of a textual input field;

modifying the horizontal position of said selected rich-media component by means of a textual input field;

modifying the position of said selected rich-media component by means of a hit area associated with said selected rich-media component; and

modifying the position of said selected rich-media component by means of a graphical input field.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said editing said position of said selected rich-media component comprises modifying the position of said selected rich-media component by means of a hit area associated with said selected rich-media component and wherein said modifying the position of said selected rich-media component by means of a hit area associated with said selected rich-media component comprises:

moving said selected rich-media component by means of said hit area associated with said selected rich-media component;

placing said selected rich-media component by releasing said hit area associated with said selected rich-media component; and

centering said selected rich-media component on the nearest grid point.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said editing said position of said selected rich-media component comprises modifying the position of said selected rich-media component by means of a hit area associated with said selected rich-media component and wherein said modifying the position of said selected rich-media component by means of a hit area associated with said selected rich-media component comprises:

moving said selected rich-media component by means of said hit area associated with said selected rich-media component;

placing said selected rich-media component by releasing said hit area associated with said selected rich-media component; and

aligning said selected rich-media component to the nearest guide line.

22. A method for users to create and maintain a rich-media application on said host website via the Internet comprising:

creating a user account;

accessing a user account; and

viewing available options for creating rich-media applications;

wherein said accessing a user account comprises one or more of the following;

accessing account information;

creating a new rich-media application;

modifying an existing rich-media application; and

accessing statistics from an existing rich-media application;

wherein said creating a new rich-media application comprises one or more of the following;

accessing account information;

accessing rich-media application information;

accessing rich-media application specification information;

saving said rich-media application;

closing said rich-media application;

deleting said rich-media application;

publishing said rich-media application;

previewing said rich-media application;

accessing components used in the construction of said rich-media application;

accessing component-editing graphical user interfaces; and

accessing a scene of said rich-media application; and

wherein said creating a new rich-media application comprises publishing said rich-media application and wherein said publishing said rich-media application comprises downloading said rich-media application to the user'"'"'s remote computer system from said host computer.

23. A method for users to create and maintain a rich-media application on said host website via the Internet comprising:

creating a user account;

accessing a user account; and

viewing available options for creating rich-media applications,

wherein said accessing a user account comprises one or more of the following;

accessing account information;

creating a new rich-media application;

modifying an existing rich-media application; and

accessing statistics from an existing rich-media application;

wherein said creating a new rich-media application comprises one or more of the following;

accessing account information;

accessing rich-media application information;

accessing rich-media application specification information;

saving said rich-media application;

closing said rich-media application;

deleting said rich-media application;

publishing said rich-media application;

previewing said rich-media application;

accessing components used in the construction of said rich-media application;

accessing component-editing graphical user interfaces; and

accessing a scene of said rich-media application; and

wherein said creating a new rich-media application comprises accessing said scene of a rich-media application and wherein said accessing said scene of a rich-media application comprises one or more of modifying said scene of said rich-media application;

inserting a new scene into said rich-media application;

editing scene information for said scene of said rich-media application;

deleting said scene from said rich-media application;

reordering said scene in said rich-media application; and

selecting said scene from said rich-media application.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said accessing said scene of a rich-media application comprises modifying said scene of said rich-media application and wherein said modifying said scene of said rich-media application comprises one or more of the following:

editing a selected rich-media component;

deleting a selected rich-media component;

undoing the previous modification to a selected rich-media component; and

saving said rich-media application scene.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said modifying said scene of said rich-media application comprises editing a selected rich-media component and wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises:

selecting said selected rich-media component from a hierarchical list of folders and rich-media components;

closing graphical user interfaces used to edit non-selected rich-media components;

opening a graphical user interface used to edit said selected rich-media component; and

editing said selected rich-media component by means of said graphical user interface.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said modifying said scene of said rich-media application comprises editing a selected rich-media component and wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing one or more of the following:

the display of said selected rich-media component;

the volume of said selected rich-media component;

the link between said selected rich-media component and said associated menu entry;

the text field of said selected rich-media component;

the layout of said selected rich-media component;

the size of said selected rich-media component;

the transparency of said selected rich-media component;

the timing of said selected rich-media component;

the rotation of said selected rich-media component;

the color of said selected rich-media component;

the level of said selected rich-media component; and

the position of said selected rich-media component.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said display of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said display of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the following:

selecting an introduction animation;

selecting a loop animation; and

selecting an exit animation.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said editing said display of said selected rich-media component comprises selecting a loop animation and wherein said selecting a loop animation comprises one or more of the following:

playing said loop animation a selected number of times;

playing said loop animation no times; and

playing said loop animation continuously.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said volume of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said volume of said selected rich-media component comprises modifying the volume of said selected rich-media component by means of one or more of the group consisting of:

a slider bar;

a textual input field;

an up-volume button; and

a down-volume button.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said link between said selected rich-media component and said associated menu entry and wherein said editing said link between said selected rich-media component and said associated menu entry comprises one or more of the following:

selecting the style of said associated menu entry;

creating said link between said rich-media component and said associated menu entry; and

selecting the uniform resource locator of said associated menu entry.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said text field of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said text field of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more from the group consisting of:

selecting a layout for said text field;

selecting a font for the selected text;

selecting a font size for the selected text;

selecting a font color for the selected text; and

selecting an alignment for said text field.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said layout of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said layout of said selected rich-media component comprises:

selecting a component type; and

selecting from all preset and uploaded components matching said selected rich-media component'"'"'s component type.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said size of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said size of said selected rich-media component comprises:

modifying the size of said selected rich-media component by means of a slider bar;

modifying the size of said selected rich-media component by means of a textual input field;

modifying the size of said selected rich-media component by means of corner handles;

modifying the size of said selected rich-media component by means of side handles; and

viewing a display of the current size of said selected rich-media component.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said transparency of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said transparency of said selected rich-media component comprises:

modifying the transparency of said selected rich-media component by means of a slider bar;

modifying the transparency of said selected rich-media component by means of a textual input field; and

viewing a display of the current transparency of said selected rich-media component.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said timing of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said timing of said selected rich-media component comprises:

modifying the timing of said selected rich-media component by means of one or more textual input fields;

modifying the timing of said selected rich-media component by means of a component start marker;

modifying the timing of said selected rich-media component by means of a component end marker;

modifying the timing of said selected rich-media component by means of a life bar; and

viewing a display of the current timing of said selected rich-media component.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said rotation of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said rotation of said selected rich-media component comprises:

modifying the rotation of said selected rich-media component by means of a slider bar;

modifying the rotation of said selected rich-media component by means of a textual input field; and

viewing a display of the current rotation of said selected rich-media component.

37. The method of claim 26, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said color of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said color of said selected rich-media component comprises:

modifying the color of said selected rich-media component by means of a slider bar;

modifying the color of said selected rich-media component by means of a textual input field; and

viewing a display of the current color of said selected rich-media component.

38. The method of claim 26, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said level of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said level of said selected rich-media component comprises:

modifying the level of said selected rich-media component by means of a slider bar;

modifying the level of said selected rich-media component by means of an ordered list representing the relative level of all components in the current scene;

modifying the level of said selected rich-media component by means of a textual input field; and

viewing a display of the current level of said selected rich-media component.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said editing said level of said selected rich-media component comprises modifying the level of said selected rich-media component by means of an ordered list representing the relative level of all components in the current scene and wherein said ordered list representing the relative level of all components in the current scene comprises one or more of the following:

a list of all components in said current scene ordered by the depth of the components;

a means of toggling the visibility of each component; and

a means of toggling the ability to modify the depth of each component.

40. The method of claim 26, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises editing said position of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said position of said selected rich-media component comprises:

modifying the vertical position of said selected rich-media component by means of a textual input field;

modifying the horizontal position of said selected rich-media component by means of a textual input field;

modifying the position of said selected rich-media component by means of a hit area associated with said selected rich-media component; and

modifying the position of said selected rich-media component by means of a graphical input field.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said editing said position of said selected rich-media component comprises modifying the position of said selected rich-media component by means of a hit area associated with said selected rich-media component and wherein said modifying the position of said selected rich-media component by means of a hit area associated with said selected rich-media component comprises:

moving said selected rich-media component by means of said hit area associated with said selected rich-media component;

placing said selected rich-media component by releasing said hit area associated with said selected rich-media component; and

centering said selected rich-media component on the nearest grid point.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said editing said position of said selected rich-media component comprises modifying the position of said selected rich-media component by means of a hit area associated with said selected rich-media component and wherein said modifying the position of said selected rich-media component by means of a hit area associated with said selected rich-media component comprises:

moving said selected rich-media component by means of said hit area associated with said selected rich-media component;

placing said selected rich-media component by releasing said hit area associated with said selected rich-media component; and

aligning said selected rich-media component to the nearest guide line.

43. A computer process allowing a user to interactively create and maintain a rich-media application on a host website via the Internet comprising:

allowing the creation of a user account;

allowing access to a user account; and

displaying available options for creating rich-media applications,

wherein said allowing access to a user account comprises one or more of displaying user account information;

allowing said user to create a new rich-media application;

allowing said user to modify an existing rich-media application; and

displaying statistics from an existing rich-media application;

wherein said allowing access to a user account comprises displaying statistics from an existing rich-media application and

wherein said displaying statistics from an existing rich-media application comprises one or more of the following;

displaying a weekly session log, displaying a server activity log;

displaying a record of user accesses for a published rich-media application;

analyzing said weekly session log;

analyzing said server activity log; and

analyzing said record of user accesses for said published rich-media application.

44. A computer process allowing a user to interactively create and maintain a rich-media application on a host website via the Internet comprising:

allowing the creation of a user account;

allowing access to a user account; and

displaying available options for creating rich-media applications,

wherein said allowing access to a user account comprises one or more of displaying user account information;

allowing said user to create a new rich-media application;

allowing said user to modify an existing rich-media application; and

displaying statistics from an existing rich-media application; and

wherein said allowing access to a user account comprises allowing said user to modify an existing rich-media application and wherein said allowing said user to modify an existing rich-media application comprises one or more of the following;

providing account information;

providing rich-media application information;

providing rich-media application specification information;

allowing said user to save said rich-media application;

allowing said user to close said rich-media application;

allowing said user to delete said rich-media application;

allowing said user to publish said rich-media application;

allowing said user to preview said rich-media application;

providing access to components used in the construction of said rich-media application;

providing component-editing graphical user interfaces; and

allowing said user to access a scene of said rich-media application.

45. The computer process of claim 44, wherein said allowing said user to modify an existing rich-media application comprises allowing said user to publish said rich-media application and wherein said allowing said user to publish said rich-media application comprises:

downloading said rich-media application from said host computer to said user'"'"'s remote computer system.

46. The computer process of claim 44, wherein said allowing said user to modify an existing rich-media application comprises allowing said user to access a scene of said rich-media application and wherein said allowing said user to access a scene of said rich-media application comprises one or more of the following:

modifying said scene of said rich-media application;

inserting a new scene of said rich-media application;

editing scene information of said rich-media application;

deleting said scene of said rich-media application;

reordering said scene in said rich-media application; and

selecting said scene of said rich-media application.

47. The computer process of claim 46, wherein said allowing said user to access a scene of said rich-media application comprises modifying said scene of said rich-media application and wherein said modifying said scene of said rich-media application comprises one or more of the following:

editing a selected rich-media component;

deleting a selected rich-media component;

undoing the previous modification to a selected rich-media component; and

saving said scene of said rich-media application.

48. The computer process of claim 47, wherein said modifying said scene of said rich-media application comprises editing a selected rich-media component and wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises:

selecting said selected rich-media component from a hierarchical list of folders and rich-media components;

closing graphical user interfaces used to edit non-selected rich-media components;

opening a graphical user interface used to edit said selected rich-media component; and

editing said selected rich-media component by means of said graphical user interface.

49. The computer process of claim 47, wherein said modifying said scene of said rich-media application comprises editing a selected rich-media component and wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

an editor configured to edit the display of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the volume of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the link between said selected rich-media component and an associated menu entry;

an editor configured to edit the text field of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the layout of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the size of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the transparency of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the timing of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the rotation of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the color of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the level of said selected rich-media component; and

an editor configured to edit the position of said selected rich-media component.

50. The computer process of claim 49, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the display of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit said display of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the following:

a displayer configured to display an introduction animation;

a displayer configured to display a loop animation; and

a displayer configured to display an exit animation.

51. The computer process of claim 50, wherein said editor configured to edit said display of said selected rich-media component comprises a displayer configured to display a loop animation and wherein said displayer configured to display a loop animation comprising one or more of the following:

a player configured to play said loop animation a selected number of times;

a player configured to play said loop animation no times; and

a player configured to play said loop animation continuously.

52. The computer process of claim 49, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the volume of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the volume of said selected rich-media component comprises the group consisting of one or more of the following methods for modifying the volume;

a slider bar;

a textual input field;

an up-volume button; and

a down-volume button.

53. The computer process of claim 49, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the link between said rich-media component and an associated menu entry and wherein said editor configured to edit the link between said rich-media component and said associated menu entry comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

an obtainer that obtains the style of said associated menu entry;

a developer that develops said link between said rich-media component and said associated menu entry; and

an obtainer that obtains the uniform resource locator of said associated menu entry.

54. The computer process of claim 49, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the text field of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the text field of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

a menu for selecting a layout for said text field;

a menu for selecting a font for the selected text;

a menu for selecting a font size for the selected text;

a menu for selecting a font color for the selected text; and

a menu for selecting an alignment for said text field.

55. The computer process of claim 49, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the layout of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the layout of said selected rich-media component comprises:

a menu for selecting a component type; and

a graphical display of all preset and uploaded components matching said selected rich-media component'"'"'s component type.

56. The computer process of claim 49, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the size of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the size of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

a slider bar for modifying said size of said selected rich-media component;

a textual input field for modifying said size of said selected rich-media component;

corner handles for modifying the size of said selected rich-media component;

side handles for modifying the size of said selected rich-media component; and

a display of the current size of said selected rich-media component.

57. The computer process of claim 49, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the transparency of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the transparency of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

a slider bar for modifying said transparency of said selected rich-media component;

a textual input field for modifying said transparency of said selected rich-media component; and

a display of the current transparency of said selected rich-media component.

58. The computer process of claim 49, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the timing of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said timing of said selected rich-media component comprises:

one or more textual input fields for modifying said timing of said selected rich-media component;

a component start marker for modifying the timing of said selected rich-media component;

a component end marker for modifying the timing of said selected rich-media component;

a life bar for modifying the timing of said selected rich-media component by means of; and

a display of the current duration of said selected rich-media component.

59. The computer process of claim 49, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the rotation of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the rotation of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

a slider bar for modifying said rotation of said selected rich-media component;

a textual input field for modifying said rotation of said selected rich-media component; and

a display of the current rotation of said selected rich-media component.

60. The computer process of claim 49, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the color of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the color of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

a slider bar for modifying said color of said selected rich-media component;

a textual input field for modifying said color of said selected rich-media component; and

a display of the current color of said selected rich-media component.

61. The computer process of claim 49, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the level of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the level of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

a slider bar for modifying said level of said selected rich-media component;

an ordered list representing the relative level of all components in the current scene for modifying said level of said selected rich-media component;

a textual input field for modifying said level of said selected rich-media component; and

a display of the current level of said selected rich-media component.

62. The computer process of claim 61, wherein said editor configured to edit the level of said selected rich-media component comprises an ordered list representing the relative level of all components in the current scene for modifying said level of said selected rich-media component and wherein said ordered list representing the relative level of all components in the current scene comprises one or more of the following:

a list of all components in said current scene ordered by the depth of the components;

a means of toggling the visibility of each component; and

a means of toggling the ability to modify the depth of each component.

63. The computer process of claim 49, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the position of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the position of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

a textual input field for modifying the vertical position of said selected rich-media component;

a textual input field for modifying the horizontal position of said selected rich-media component;

a hit area for modifying the position of said selected rich-media component; and

a graphical input field for modifying said position of said selected rich-media component.

64. A computer process allowing a user to interactively create and maintain a rich-media application on a host website via the Internet comprising:

allowing the creation of a user account;

allowing access to a user account; and

displaying available options for creating rich-media applications,

wherein said allowing access to a user account comprises one or more of displaying user account information;

allowing said user to create a new rich-media application;

allowing said user to modify an existing rich-media application; and

displaying statistics from an existing rich-media application; and

wherein said allowing access to a user account comprises allowing said user to create a new rich-media application and wherein said allowing said user to create a new rich-media application comprises one or more of the following;

providing account information;

providing rich-media application information;

providing rich-media application specification information;

allowing said user to save said rich-media application;

allowing said user to close said rich-media application;

allowing said user to delete said rich-media application;

allowing said user to publish said rich-media application;

allowing said user to preview said rich-media application;

providing access to components used in the construction of said rich-media application;

providing component-editing graphical user interfaces; and

allowing said user to access a scene of said rich-media application.

65. The computer process of claim 64, wherein said allowing said user to create a new rich-media application comprises allowing said user to publish said rich-media application and wherein said allowing said user to publish said rich-media application comprises:

downloading said rich-media application to said user'"'"'s remote computer system from said host computer.

66. The computer process of claim 64, wherein said allowing said user to create a new rich-media application comprises allowing said user to access a scene of said rich-media application and wherein said allowing said user to access a scene of said rich-media application comprises one or more of the following:

modifying said scene of said rich-media application;

inserting a new scene of said rich-media application;

editing scene information of said rich-media application;

deleting said scene of said rich-media application;

reordering said scene in said rich-media application; and

selecting said scene of said rich-media application.

67. The computer process of claim 66, wherein said allowing said user to access a scene of said rich-media application comprises modifying said scene of said rich-media application and wherein said modifying said scene of said rich-media application comprises one or more of the following:

editing a selected rich-media component;

deleting a selected rich-media component;

undoing the previous modification to a selected rich-media component; and

saving said scene of said rich-media application.

68. The computer process of claim 67, wherein said modifying said scene of said rich-media application comprises editing a selected rich-media component and wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises:

selecting said selected rich-media component from a hierarchical list of folders and rich-media components;

closing graphical user interfaces used to edit non-selected rich-media components;

opening a graphical user interface used to edit said selected rich-media component; and

editing said selected rich-media component by means of said graphical user interface.

69. The computer process of claim 67, wherein said modifying said scene of said rich-media application comprises editing a selected rich-media component and wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

an editor configured to edit the display of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the volume of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the link between said selected rich-media component and an associated menu entry;

an editor configured to edit the text field of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the layout of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the size of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the transparency of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the timing of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the rotation of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the color of said selected rich-media component;

an editor configured to edit the level of said selected rich-media component; and

an editor configured to edit the position of said selected rich-media component.

70. The computer process of claim 69, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the display of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit said display of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the following:

a displayer configured to display an introduction animation;

a displayer configured to display a loop animation; and

a displayer configured to display an exit animation.

71. The computer process of claim 70, wherein said editor configured to edit said display of said selected rich-media component comprises a displayer configured to display a loop animation and wherein said displayer configured to display a loop animation comprising one or more of the following:

a player configured to play said loop animation a selected number of times;

a player configured to play said loop animation no times; and

a player configured to play said loop animation continuously.

72. The computer process of claim 69, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the volume of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the volume of said selected rich-media component comprises the group consisting of one or more of the following methods for modifying the volume;

a slider bar;

a textual input field;

an up-volume button; and

a down-volume button.

73. The computer process of claim 69, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the link of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the link between said rich-media component and said associated menu entry comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

an obtainer that obtains the style of said associated menu entry;

a developer that develops said link between said rich-media component and said associated menu entry; and

an obtainer that obtains the uniform resource locator of said associated menu entry.

74. The computer process of claim 69, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the text field of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the text field of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

a menu for selecting a layout for said text field;

a menu for selecting a font for the selected text;

a menu for selecting a font size for the selected text;

a menu for selecting a font color for the selected text; and

a menu for selecting an alignment for said text field.

75. The computer process of claim 69, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the layout of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the layout of said selected rich-media component comprises:

a menu for selecting a component type; and

a graphical display of all preset and uploaded components matching said selected rich-media component'"'"'s component type.

76. The computer process of claim 69, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the size of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the size of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

a slider bar for modifying said size of said selected rich-media component;

a textual input field for modifying said size of said selected rich-media component;

corner handles for modifying the size of said selected rich-media component;

side handles for modifying the size of said selected rich-media component; and

a display of the current size of said selected rich-media component.

77. The computer process of claim 69, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the transparency of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the transparency of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

a slider bar for modifying said transparency of said selected rich-media component;

a textual input field for modifying said transparency of said selected rich-media component; and

a display of the current transparency of said selected rich-media component.

78. The computer process of claim 69, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the timing of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editing said timing of said selected rich-media component comprises:

one or more textual input fields for modifying said timing of said selected rich-media component;

a component start marker for modifying the timing of said selected rich-media component;

a component end marker for modifying the timing of said selected rich-media component;

a life bar for modifying the timing of said selected rich-media component by means of; and

a display of the current duration of said selected rich-media component.

79. The computer process of claim 69, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the rotation of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the rotation of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

a slider bar for modifying said rotation of said selected rich-media component;

a textual input field for modifying said rotation of said selected rich-media component; and

a display of the current rotation of said selected rich-media component.

80. The computer process of claim 69, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the color of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the color of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

a slider bar for modifying said color of said selected rich-media component;

a textual input field for modifying said color of said selected rich-media component; and

a display of the current color of said selected rich-media component.

81. The computer process of claim 69, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the level of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the level of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

a slider bar for modifying said level of said selected rich-media component;

an ordered list representing the relative level of all components in the current scene for modifying said level of said selected rich-media component;

a textual input field for modifying said level of said selected rich-media component; and

a display of the current level of said selected rich-media component.

82. The computer process of claim 81, wherein said editor configured to edit the level of said selected rich-media component comprises an ordered list representing the relative level of all components in the current scene for modifying said level of said selected rich-media component and wherein said ordered list representing the relative level of all components in the current scene comprises one or more of the following:

a list of all components in said current scene ordered by the depth of the components;

a means of toggling the visibility of each component; and

a means of toggling the ability to modify the depth of each component.

83. The computer process of claim 69, wherein said editing a selected rich-media component comprises an editor configured to edit the position of said selected rich-media component and wherein said editor configured to edit the position of said selected rich-media component comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

a textual input field for modifying the vertical position of said selected rich-media component;

a textual input field for modifying the horizontal position of said selected rich-media component;

a hit area for modifying the position of said selected rich-media component; and

a graphical input field for modifying said position of said selected rich-media component.