Systems and methods for distributing targeted multimedia content and advertising

• US 6,950,804 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2001
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pika Media Co.
• Original Assignee: Pika Media Co.
• Inventors: Strietzel, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Garg, Yogesh C.
• Application Number:
  US09/793,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20020120564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,674 Days
• Field of Search: 705/10, 705/14, 705/26, 705/27, 705/75, 707/10, 709/217, 709/218, 709/229, 713/164, 713/176, 715/733, 725/32
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A method of delivering content from a content delivery system to a user'"'"'s terminal over a communication link that provides users with flexibility in determining how to pay for content, one option being to receive targeted advertising with the content. Other options presented to the user involve various methods of paying for limited or unlimited access to the content. Therefore, the status in terms of whether access is free for each available content item relative to each user is tracked using a tracking database.

Claims

1. A method of delivering content from a content delivery system to a user'"'"'s terminal over a communication link, comprising:

receiving a request from a user of the content delivery system to download a content item to the user'"'"'s terminal over the communications link;

checking with a tracking database the status of the content item relative to the user and determining if the user uploaded the content item and access to the content item by the user is free;

in response to the status check in, providing at least two payment options to the user over the communication link after the results of the status check indicate that access to the content item is not free for the user, one of the payment options being the option to receive advertising with the content item in lieu of paying money to receive the content item;

receiving a payment option selection from the user over the communication link;

preparing the content item for download in accordance with the selected payment option, wherein preparation of the content item for downloading includes appending a targeted advertisement to the content item when the user selects to receive advertising as the payment option; and

downloading the prepared content item from the content delivery system to the user'"'"'s terminal over the communications link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement is selected based on personal information relating to the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the other payment option provided to the user is to purchase unlimited access to the content item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the other payment option provided to the user is to pay for a predetermined number of accesses to the content item.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the other payment option provided to the user is to purchase a subscription covering the content item.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the other payment option provided to the user is to purchase the item as a gift for another user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein checking the status of the content item comprises checking one or more status indicators in a tracking database, and wherein updating the status of the content item comprises updating the status indicators in the tracking database relative to the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein updating the status of the content item relative to the user comprises storing an indicating that the user has purchased unlimited access to the content item, paid for a predetermined number of accesses to the content item, purchased a subscription, purchased the content item as a gift, or received advertising with the download on the content item.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising determining if the user is a registered user and, in the event that the user is not a registered user, registering the user, wherein registering the user comprises obtaining and storing personal information relating to this user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein checking the status of the content item comprises determining if the user has previously paid to download the content item a predetermined number of times so that the current access is free.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein checking the status of the content item comprises determining if the user has previously purchased unlimited access to the item.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein checking the status of the content item comprises determining if the content item is covered by a subscription purchased by the user.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein checking the status of the content item comprises determining if the content item is a gift to the user.