Systems and methods for managing and distributing media content

• US 20070198349A1
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FreeWheel Media Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visible World Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Weite, David, Niemeijer, Gerrit, Haberman, Seth
• Granted Patent: US 7,900,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• 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: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a media content management application that allows a user to customize, assemble, distribute, and track one or more versions of media content based on semantic criteria is provided.

Claims

1. A method for ordering commercials that are provided to an audience by a content provider, the method comprising:

presenting a plurality of advertisement campaigns to a user, wherein the plurality of advertisement campaigns includes at least one customizable advertisement campaign that is selectable by the user;

receiving instructions from the user to assemble a first version of a completed commercial and a second version of the completed commercial using the plurality of advertisement campaigns;

presenting the user with a preview of the first and second versions of the completed commercial prior to transmitting at least one of the first and second versions of the completed commercial to the content provider;

in response to receiving ordering instructions from the user, transmitting at least one of the first and second versions of the completed commercial to one or more content providers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of advertisement campaigns includes at least one non-customizable advertisement campaign.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the preview is presented in a first format, and wherein the first and second versions of the completed commercial are transmitted to the one o more content providers in a second format.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first format is a media format capable of being transmitted over the Internet, and wherein the second format is one of:

a videotape, a DVD, a CD, a high definition format, a standard definition format, an MPEG-2 format, an MPEG-4 format, a media format, and a media resolution.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the preview is transmitted to the user over the Internet, and wherein the first and second versions of the completed commercial are physically delivered to the one or more content providers in a format selected from the group consisting of:

a videotape, a DVD, a CD, a high definition format, a standard definition format, an MPEG-2 format, an MPEG-4 format, a media format, and a media resolution.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the user with a purchasing recommendation based on ordering information associated with the user, wherein the purchasing recommendation includes at least one of:

a recommended advertisement campaign, a recommended non-customizable advertisement campaign, a recommended customizable advertisement campaign, a recommended completed commercial, and recommended media segments.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a notification to the user of the number of times that the first version and the second version of the completed commercial have been ordered.

8. A method for purchasing commercials for content providers, the method comprising:

assembling a first version of a commercial, wherein the assembling of the first version comprises inserting one or more media segments into an advertisement campaign in response to instructions from a user;

storing the first version of the commercial in a storage device;

assembling a second version of the commercial prior to transmitting the first version of the commercial to a content provider, wherein the assembling of the second version comprises inserting one or more media segments into the advertisement campaign in response to other instructions from the user;

storing the second version of the commercial in the storage device;

retrieving the first version and the second version of the commercial stored in the storage device; and

presenting the user with an opportunity to purchase at least one of the first version and the second version of the commercial.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising storing a plurality of assembled commercials in the storage device until the user purchases at least one of the assembled commercials.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising presenting the user with a preview of the first and second versions of the commercial prior to presenting the user with an opportunity to purchase the at least one version and the second version of the commercial.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

presenting the preview in a media format capable of being transmitted over the Internet; and

in response to receiving an instruction from the user to purchase the at least one of the first version and the second version of the commercial, delivering that version to a recipient in a different format than the preview presented to the user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the different format is one of:

a videotape, a DVD, a CD, a high definition format, a standard definition format, an MPEG-2 format, an MPEG-4 format, a media format, and a media resolution.

13. A system for ordering commercials that are provided to an audience by a content provider, the system comprising:

a processor at least partially executing a media content management application that is configured to;

present a plurality of advertisement campaigns to a user, wherein the plurality of advertisement campaigns includes at least one customizable advertisement campaign that is selectable by the user;

receive instructions from the user to assemble a first version of a completed commercial and a second version of the completed commercial using the plurality of advertisement campaigns;

present the user with a preview of the first and second versions of the completed commercial prior to transmitting at least one of the first and second versions of the completed commercial to the content provider;

in response to receiving ordering instructions from the user, transmit at least one of the first and second versions of the completed commercial to one or more content providers.

14. A system for purchasing commercials for content providers, the system comprising:

a processor at least partially executing a media content management application that is configured to;

assemble a first version of a commercial, wherein the assembling of the first version comprises inserting one or more media segments into an advertisement campaign in response to instructions from a user;

store the first version of the commercial in a storage device;

assemble a second version of the commercial prior to transmitting the first version of the commercial to a content provider, wherein the assembling of the second version comprises inserting one or more media segments into the advertisement campaign in response to other instructions from the user;

store the second version of the commercial in the storage device;

retrieve the first version and the second version of the commercial stored in the storage device; and

present the user with an opportunity to purchase at least one of the first version and the second version of the commercial.