Content distribution systems and methods using digital images

• US 8,769,423 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2012
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beyondvia Technologies
• Original Assignee: Beyondvia Technologies
• Inventors: Grace, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): LONG, ANDREA NATAE
• Application Number:
  US13/365,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20120137229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 715/752, 715/758, 715/847
• US Class Current: 715/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A content distribution system includes a host server communicatively coupled to at least one data store, at least one user, and a network communicatively coupling the at least one user to the host server and the content. The host server includes instructions executable by a processor therein, and in response to such execution causes the host server to: provide sequence of digital images to the at least one user, wherein each of the digital images indicative of content in the at least one data store, and responsive to a selection of one of the digital images, distribute the content to the at least one user.

Claims

1. A content distribution system, comprising:

a host server communicatively coupled to at least one data store;

at least one user; and

a network communicatively coupling the at least one user to the host server and the content;

wherein the host server comprises instructions executable by a processor therein, and in response to such execution causes the host server to;

provide sequence of digital images to the at least one user, wherein each of the digital images indicative of content in the at least one data store;

responsive to a selection of one of the digital images, distribute the content to the at least one user;

manage a library of images for the at least one user, wherein the library comprises a plurality of images for the at least one user to select therefrom to provide the sequence of digital images; and

embed a skin on a new image for the at least one user, wherein the skin provides tracking and analytics of the new image and associated use in content of the content distribution system.

2. The content distribution system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of users comprising the at least one user communicatively coupled to the host server;

wherein, in response to execution of the instructions, the instruction further cause the host server to;

enable the plurality of users to select, view, edit, and redirect the content thereby performing crowd sourcing of the content.

3. The content distribution system of claim 1, wherein the network comprises any of a cable television network, a wireless network, and a wireless television network.

4. The content distribution system of claim 3, wherein the at least one user comprises:

a network interface device communicatively coupled to the host server; and

a device communicatively coupled to the network interface device.

5. The content distribution system of claim 4, wherein, in response to execution of the instructions, the instruction further cause the host server:

display the sequence of digital images on the device; and

providing a click through action based on the at least one user selecting one or more of the sequence of digital images.

6. The content distribution system of claim 4, wherein, in response to execution of the instructions, the instruction further cause the host server:

display the sequence of digital images on the device in addition to displaying the content on the device.

7. The content distribution system of claim 1, wherein, in response to execution of the instructions, the instruction further cause the host server to:

update and provide analytics to the at least one user for the new image and any other images with the skin embedded thereon.

8. A host server in a content distribution network, comprising:

a data store storing a plurality of words and corresponding images in a local visual dictionary;

a network interface communicatively coupling the host server to a network;

a processor communicatively coupled to the data store and the network interface; and

instructions executable by the processor, and in response to such execution causes the processor to;

provide sequence of digital images to at least one user, wherein each of the digital images indicative of content; and

responsive to a selection of one of the digital images, distribute the content to the at least one user;

manage a library of images for the at least one user, wherein the library comprises a plurality of images for the at least one user to select therefrom to provide the sequence of digital images; and

embed a skin on a new image for the at least one user, wherein the skin provides tracking and analytics of the new image and associated use in content of the content distribution system.

9. The host server of claim 8, wherein, in response to execution of the instructions, the instruction further cause the processor to:

enable the at least one user to select, view, edit, and redirect the content.

10. The host server of claim 8, wherein the network comprises any of a cable television network, a wireless network, and a wireless television network.

11. The host server of claim 9, wherein the at least one user comprises:

a network interface device communicatively coupled to the host server; and

a device communicatively coupled to the network interface device.

12. The host server of claim 9, wherein, in response to execution of the instructions, the instruction further cause the processor to:

display the sequence of digital images on the device.

13. The host server of claim 9, wherein, in response to execution of the instructions, the instruction further cause the processor to:

display the sequence of digital images on the device in addition to displaying the content on the television.

14. The host server of claim 8, wherein, in response to execution of the instructions, the instruction further cause the processor to:

update and provide analytics to the at least one user for the new image and any other images with the skin embedded thereon.

15. A content distribution method, comprising:

communicating content to at least one user over a content distribution network;

including sequenced images in the content, wherein each of the sequenced images have a direct correspondence with a plurality of words previously associated with each of the sequenced images such that each of the sequenced images is configured to convey a message represented by the plurality of words to the at least one user;

enabling distribution of the content responsive to the at least one user'"'"'s interaction with the sequenced images; and

tracking the sequenced images based on skins embedded thereon.