Media content creating and publishing system and process

• US 6,976,028 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2001
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Pictures Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Thai, Holly, Mannarino, Michael F., Shmelev, Alex, Manaster, Jacob S., Byer, John Jeffrey, Newby, Rodney C., Schneider, Andrew, Dayley, Marlowe J., Fenton, Nicholas W., Springer, Wendy
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Uyen
• Application Number:
  US09/906,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20020194195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 707/102, 719/217, 719/218, 719/219, 719/310, 719/331, 345/748, 345/749, 715/700, 715/762, 715/748, 715/749, 715/764, 715/765, 715/810, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219
• US Class Current: 715/700
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/447 Temporal browsing, e.g. timeline
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/914 Video
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/916 Audio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/922 Communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A system and process for creating, editing, uploading, storing, sharing, and publishing media content. The system and process occurs within an online environment including one or more user network devices and one or more server network devices connected by a communications link to the one or more user network-enabled devices. The process includes providing access to digital assets and media creating and editing tools via a website. A website user may incorporate the digital assets into media content created or edited by the user by utilizing the media creating and editing tools. The user may then upload an store this personalized media content to storage space provided to the user by the website. The user may also “publish” this personalized media content to a user showcase page on the website. Users may share their personalized media content with other users via a share page on the website.

Claims

1. A user interface for use with a broadband creativity platform system, comprising:

at least one media creating and editing tool for enabling a first user to create a plurality of personalized media content items;

a storage device for storing said plurality of personalized media content items;

a first user-selectable operator for selecting ones of said stored personalized media content item;

a graphic display having a display area including a plurality of sub-areas for association with said selected ones of said personalized media content items;

a second user-selectable operator, cooperatively operated with said first user-selectable operator and positioned on said plurality of sub-areas for populating the sub-areas of the display area with links to said selected ones of said stored plurality of personalized media content items;

wherein the links populated in said display area may be activated by a third user-selectable operators, which, when selected by the operator, link said selected ones of said stored plurality of personalized media content items to a media player programmed for playing the selected ones of said plurality of personalized media content items in user-perceptible form.

2. The user interface recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one server network device, the at least one server network device being programmed to provide the user interface; and

at least one user network device communicatively coupled to the server network device via a network, the at least one user network device being programmed to access the user interface.

3. The user interface recited in claim 2, wherein the network comprises the Internet and the user interface comprises a website.

4. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein the personalized media content items comprises at least one of a media content item created by the first user and a media content edited by the first user.

5. The user interface recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of website pages for performing at least one of facilitating downloading of media content items, facilitating downloading of media content creating and editing tools, and facilitating downloading of digital asset packs.

6. The user interface recited in claim 5, further comprising a user-selectable operator for sending a media content item via e-mail.

7. The user interface recited in claim 5, further comprising at least one user-selectable feature link for linking the user to at least one of related pages, related poppers, or related websites.

8. The user interface recited in claim 5, wherein the plurality of website pages further comprise genre pages, genre zone pages, media content creating and editing tool pages, media content tool and asset pack download pages, showcase pages, manage showcase pages, share pages, and manage share pages.

9. The user interface recited in claim 5, further comprising a plurality of user-selectable operators for at least one of moving between the plurality of website pages, choosing an “

experience”

option, choosing a “

create”

option, choosing a “

connect”

option, choosing a “

favorites”

option, choosing a “

log in”

option, choosing a “

search”

option, choosing a “

graphical guide”

option, choosing a “

settings”

option, choosing an “

about”

option, choosing a “

shop”

option, and choosing a “

help”

option.

10. The user interface recited in claim 9, wherein the user-selectable operator for choosing an “

experience”

option further comprises user-selectable operators for choosing at least one of an “

action”

genre option, a “

comedy”

genre option, a “

drama”

genre option, a “

music”

genre option, and a “

science fiction”

genre option.

11. The user interface recited in claim 10, wherein the user-selectable operators for choosing at least one of an “

action”

genre option, a “

comedy”

genre option, a “

drama”

genre option, a “

music”

genre option, and a “

science fiction”

genre option each further comprise user-selectable operators for choosing a genre “

zone”

page.

12. The user interface recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of website pages for performing at least one of facilitating creating and editing of the media content items, facilitating uploading of the media content items, facilitating storing and managing of the media content items, facilitating display of the media content items, facilitating searching of the media content items, facilitating browsing of the media content items, and facilitating sharing of the media content items.

13. The user interface recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one promotional area is located on a user showcase page associated with the first user.

14. The user interface recited in claim 13, wherein the user showcase page associated with the first user is accessible to the second user.

15. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein the media player comprises a pop-up window for playing the media content item.

16. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one user-selectable operator comprises a user-selectable promote image.

17. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one user-selectable operator comprises a user-selectable text link.

18. The user interface recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one display area for displaying a user-selected photo.

19. The user interface recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one display area for displaying at least one of a user-selected audio clip and a user-selected video clip.

20. The user interface recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one display area for displaying an advertisement.

21. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one media creating and editing tool allows the first user to create the personalized media content items off-line.

22. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one media creating and editing tool allows the first user to create the personalized media content items on-line.

23. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein the personalized media content items comprises audio and video content items.

24. The user interface recited in claim 23, wherein the first user incorporates a media segment into personalized media content items.

25. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein the personalized media content items include elements not previously created.

26. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein the personalized media content items include elements that are not themselves media content items.

27. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein the personalized media content items include at least one element that is not itself a media content item.

28. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein the personalized media content items is not a copy of a previously existing content item.

29. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein at least some of the personalized media content items are different from any previously existing content item.

30. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said personalized media content items is an original work of art.

31. The user interface recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said personalized media content items is a first original having no pre-existing identical content.

32. A system for enabling a user to publish a personalized media content item on a user interface, the system comprising:

at least one server network device communicatively coupled to at least one user network device via a network, the at least one server network device being programmed to provide the user interface and the at least one user network device being programmed to access the user interface;

at least one media creating and editing tool for use by the user in creating a plurality of personalized media content items;

a storage device for storing the plurality of personalized media content items;

a first template, the first template comprising a first plurality of slots, each of said first plurality of slots programmed for receiving a link to at least one of the stored plurality of personalized media content items; and

at least one user-selectable operator programmed for enabling the user to populate the first plurality of slots so that each slot is populated by at least one of a plurality of links to link to at least one of the stored plurality of personalized media content items, said first plurality of populated slots defining a first area on a user showcase display page corresponding to a first plurality of stored personalized media content items;

a second template, the second template comprising a second plurality of slots, each of said second plurality of slots programmed for receiving a link to at least one of the stored plurality of personalized media content items; and

said user-selectable operator programmed for enabling the user to populate the second plurality of slots so that each of the second plurality of slots is populated by at least one of a plurality of links to link to at least one of the stored plurality of personalized media content items, said second plurality of populated slots defining a second area on the user showcase display page corresponding to a second plurality of stored personalized media content items;

wherein each of said first and second user areas is selectable for activating the playing of the corresponding first and second plurality of personalized media content items by at least another user selectable operator in a user-perceptible form.

33. The system recited in claim 32, wherein the network comprises the Internet and the user interface comprises a website.

34. The system recited in claim 33, wherein the at least one server network device is further programmed to display the user showcase display page to a plurality of user network devices communicatively coupled to the server network device via the network.

35. The system recited in claim 32, wherein the each of said personalized media content items comprises at least one of a media content item created by the user and a media content edited by the user.

36. The system recited in claim 32, further comprising a media player programmed for playing ones of the personalized media content items in a user-perceptible form.

37. The system recited in claim 36, wherein the link is user-selectable for linking ones of the media content items to the media player.

38. The system recited in claim 32, wherein the storage device is associated with the server network device.

39. The system recited in claim 32, wherein the at least one user-selectable operator comprises a pulldown box for displaying to the user a list of personalized media content items stored on the storage device and enabling the user to select ones of said personalized media content items from the list and to populate the at least one slot with a link to the selected ones of said personalized media content items.

40. The system recited in claim 32, wherein the link comprises a user-selectable promote image.

41. The system recited in claim 40, wherein the user-selectable promote image comprises a digital photo.

42. The system recited in claim 40, wherein the user-selectable promote image comprises a graphic image.

43. The system recited in claim 40, further comprising a user-selectable operator for selecting the user-selectable promote image from a list of images.

44. The system recited in claim 43, wherein user-selectable operator for selecting the user-selectable promote image comprises a pulldown box for displaying to the user a list of images and enabling the user to select an image from the list and to populate the at least one slot with the selected image.

45. The system recited in claim 32, wherein the link comprises user-selectable text.

46. The system recited in claim 32, further comprising a free text entry box for entering information about the personalized media content items.

47. The system recited in claim 46, wherein the information comprises the name of the personalized media content items.

48. A publishing system including a user interface, comprising:

at least one server network device, the at least one server network device being programmed to provide the user interface; and

at least one user network device communicatively coupled to the server network device via a network, the at least one user network device being programmed to access the user interface, said network device communicatively coupled to a first and second user;

said user interface comprising;

a plurality of digital assets, the plurality of digital assets being accessible to a user for incorporation into a media content item;

at least one media creating and editing tool, the at least one media creating and editing tool being accessible to a user for incorporating at least one of the plurality of digital assets into the media content item, so that the media content item becomes a personalized media content item;

a storage area for storing the personalized media content item; and

a first user-selectable operator for selecting ones of said stored personalized media content items;

a graphic display having a display area including a plurality of sub-areas for association with said selected ones of said personalized media content items;

a second user-selectable operator, cooperatively operated with said first user-selectable operator and positioned on said plurality of sub-areas for populating the sub-areas of the display area with links to said selected ones of said stored plurality of personalized media content items;

wherein the links populated in said display area may be activated by a third user-selectable operators, which, when selected by the operator, link said selected ones of said stored plurality of personalized media content items to a media player programmed for playing the selected ones of said plurality of personalized media content items in user-perceptible form;

wherein said first user creates, stores and displays the personalized media content item and said second user, different from said first user, is enabled to play the personalized media content item through said network device in a user-perceptible form by actuation of said third user selectable operator.

49. The user interface recited in claim 48, wherein the plurality of digital assets comprise at least one of digital video, digital audio, digital photos, digital graphics, digital text and digital animation.

50. The user interface recited in claim 48, wherein the plurality of digital assets comprise asset packs.

51. The user interface recited in claim 48, wherein the at least one media creating and editing tool comprises on-line media content creating and editing software.

52. The user interface recited in claim 51, wherein the on-line media content creating and editing software runs in a tool popper window.

53. The user interface recited in claim 48, wherein the network comprises the Internet and the user interface comprises a website.

54. The user interface recited in claim 53, wherein the display area comprises a website showcase page.

55. The user interface recited in claim 53, further comprising a plurality of tool application website pages for creating and editing media content.

56. The user interface recited in claim 55, wherein at least one of the plurality of tool application website pages comprises at least one of a pre-defined template and a timeline.

57. The user interface recited in claim 56, wherein the timeline comprises media content containers populated by the user with media content segments.

58. The user interface recited in claim 57, wherein the media content segments are video segments.

59. The user interface recited in claim 57, wherein the media content segments are audio segments.

60. The user interface recited in claim 53, further comprising a download tool page for downloading to the user network device at least one of media creating and editing tools and digital assets.

61. The user interface recited in claim 60, wherein the download tool page comprises a digital asset and media creating and editing tool list for listing digital assets and media creating and editing tools available to the user for download.

62. The user interface recited in claim 61, wherein the download tool page further comprises user-selectable tabs for providing information about at least one of the digital assets and the media creating and editing tools.

63. The user interface recited in claim 62, wherein the information comprises at least one of a listing of contents, a description, a credit, a summary, a copyright notice, and a tutorial.

64. The user interface recited in claim 60, wherein the download tool page further comprises a “

download all”

operator for downloading at least one of all digital assets and all media creating and editing tools.

65. The user interface recited in claim 60, wherein the download tool page further comprises a “

preview all”

operator for previewing at least one of all digital assets and all media creating and editing tools.

66. The user interface recited in claim 65, wherein at least one of all digital assets and all media creating and editing tools are previewed within a media popper.

67. The user interface recited in claim 60, wherein the download tool page further comprises a “

related links”

section for linking the user to related areas of the website.

68. The user interface recited in claim 67, wherein the related links section comprises at least one of an “

experience related link,”

a “

create related link,”

a “

connect related link,” and

a “

buy related link.”

69. An electronic media content creating and publishing process, comprising:

creating and editing a plurality of personalized media content items utilizing at least one media creating and editing tool operated by a first user;

storing said plurality of personalized media content items in a storage device;

selecting, using a first user-selectable operator ones of said stored personalized media content items;

providing a graphic display having a display area including a plurality of sub-areas for association with said selected ones of said personalized media content items;

providing a second user-selectable operator, cooperatively operated with said first user-selectable operator and positioned on said plurality of sub-areas, and populating the sub-areas of the display area with links to said selected ones of said stored plurality of personalized media content items;

activating by a third user-selectable operator the links populated in said display area, which, when selected by the operator, link said selected ones of said stored plurality of personalized media content items to a media player programmed for playing the selected ones of said plurality of personalized media content items in user-perceptible form;

providing a showcase page creating tool to enable said first user to create a showcase display page serving as an interface accessible by a second user, remote from said first user, said showcase display page containing said third user-selectable operator and links populated in said display area;

displaying said showcase display page to said second user;

wherein said second user, upon selection of said third user selectable operator, activates links to said selected ones of said personalized media content items for playing said selected ones of said personalized media content items in a form perceptible to said second user.

70. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 69, wherein said creating and editing step includes providing media creating and editing tools to the first user to enable the first user to access the media creating and editing tools on website pages displayed to the first user.

71. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 69, wherein storing the first user'"'"'s personalized media content items comprises storing the first user'"'"'s personalized media content items in a storage device associated with a website.

72. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 69, wherein said showplace display page is displayed on a web site.

73. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 69, wherein storing the first user'"'"'s personalized media content items comprises providing the first user with a “

manage storage space”

website page to which the user uploads and stores the user'"'"'s personalized media content items.

74. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 73, wherein providing the first user with a “

manage storage space”

website page from which the first user may upload the first user'"'"'s personalized media content items further comprises providing the first user with an “

upload”

user-selectable operator on the “

manage storage space”

website page for uploading a media content file selected from a directory listing of media content files.

75. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 74, wherein uploading a media content file selected from a directory listing of media content files further comprises entering information about the media content file to be uploaded.

76. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 75, wherein entering information about the media content file to be uploaded further comprises entering at least one of information about the author of the media content, information describing the media content, searchable keywords within the media content, feature type of the media content, feature sub-type of the media content, genre of the media content, and sub-genre of the media content.

77. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 69, wherein said creating and editing step includes supplying digital assets to said first user to enable said first user to access the digital assets on a website through website pages displayed to the first user.

78. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 69, further comprising providing access to the first user'"'"'s personalized media content items on a website using a “

share manager”

page and displaying a directory list of media content files designated as “

shared.”

79. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 78, wherein providing access to the first user'"'"'s personalized media content items on a website “

share manager”

page further comprises providing “

download”

user-selectable operators associated with the listed media content files, the “

download”

user-selectable operators being selectable for initiating downloading of a media content file associated with the “

download”

user-selectable operator.

80. The electronic media content creating and publishing process recited in claim 79, wherein initiating downloading of a media content file associated with the “

download”

user-selectable operator comprises downloading the media content file to a user network device of the second user.

81. A process for enabling a user to publish a media content item on a user interface, the process comprising:

supplying to the user at least one media creating and editing tool for use by the user in creating a plurality of personalized media content items;

providing to the user a storage area for storing the plurality of personalized media content items;

displaying to the user a first template, the first template comprising a first plurality of slots, each slot of said first plurality of slots programmed for receiving a link to the at least one of a first plurality of stored personalized media content items; and

displaying to the user a second template, the second template comprising a second plurality of slots, each slot of said second plurality of slots programmed for receiving a link to the at least one of a second plurality of stored personalized media content items; and

providing to the user at least one user-selectable operator programmed for enabling the user to populate the first and second plurality of slots, each with a corresponding link to one of said first and second plurality of personalized media content items;

providing a user showcase display page having a first and second display area corresponding respectively to said first and second plurality of slots;

selecting from said user showcase display page at least one of said first and second display areas to activate a link to at least one of said corresponding first and second plurality of personalized media content items for activating the playing of the selected plurality of personalized media content items in a user-perceptible form.

82. The process recited in claim 81, wherein the user interface comprises an Internet website.

83. The process recited in claim 82, wherein said user showcase display page further comprising at least one promotional area.

84. The process recited in claim 82, wherein providing said user showcase display page includes displaying said user showcase display page to a plurality of users of the website.

85. A computer readable program stored on a storage medium which, when executed on said computer causes said computer to perform the steps of:

creating and editing a plurality of personalized media content items utilizing at least one media creating and editing tool operated by a first user;

storing said plurality of personalized media content items in a storage device;

selecting, using a first user-selectable operator ones of said stored personalized media content items;

providing a graphic display having a display area including a plurality of sub-areas for association with said selected ones of said personalized media content items;

providing a second user-selectable operator, cooperatively operated with said first user-selectable operator and positioned on said plurality of sub-areas, and populating the sub-areas of the display area with links to said selected ones of said stored plurality of personalized media content items;

activating by a third user-selectable operator the links populated in said display area, which, when selected by the operator, link said selected ones of said stored plurality of personalized media content items to a media player programmed for playing the selected ones of said plurality of personalized media content items in user-perceptible form;

providing a showcase page creating tool to enable said first user to create a showcase display page serving as an interface accessible by a second user, remote from said first user, said showcase display page containing said third user-selectable operator and links populated in said display area;

displaying said showcase display page to said second user;

wherein said second user, upon selection of said third user selectable operator, activates links to said selected ones of said personalized media content items for playing said selected ones of said personalized media content items in a form perceptible to said second user.

86. The computer readable program as recited in claim 85, wherein said creating and editing step includes providing media creating and editing tools to the first user to enable the first user to access the media creating and editing tools on website pages displayed to the first user.

87. The computer readable program as recited in claim 86, wherein said creating and editing step includes incorporating downloaded digital assets into media content utilizing downloaded media creating and editing tools.

88. A user interface for use with a broadband creativity platform system, comprising:

means for enabling a first user to create a personalized media content items;

means for storing said plurality of personalized media content items;

means, utilizing a first user-selectable operator, for selecting ones of said stored personalized media content items;

means for displaying a graphic display having a display area including a plurality of sub-areas for association with said plurality selected ones of said personalized media content items;

means, utilizing a second user-selectable operator, cooperatively operated with said first user-selectable operator and positioned on said plurality of sub-areas, for populating the sub-areas of the display area with links to said selected ones of said stored plurality of personalized media content items;

means, utilizing a third user selectable operator, for activating the links populated in said display area, which, when selected by the operator, link said selected ones of said stored plurality of personalized media content items to a media player programmed for playing the selected ones of said plurality of personalized media content items in user-perceptible form.

89. The user interface recited in claim 88, further comprising:

means for providing at least one server network device, the at least one server network device being programmed to provide the user interface; and

means for providing at least one user network device communicatively coupled to the server network device via a network, the at least one user network device being programmed to access the user interface.

90. The user interface recited in claim 89, wherein the network comprises the Internet and the user interface comprises a website.

91. The user interface recited in claim 88, wherein the personalized media content items comprises at least one of a media content item created by the first user and a media content edited by the first user.

92. The user interface recited in claim 88, further comprising means for performing at least one of facilitating downloading of at least some of said personalized media content items, facilitating downloading of media content creating and editing tools, and facilitating downloading of digital asset packs.

93. The user interface recited in claim 92, further comprising means for sending personalized media content items via e-mail.

94. The user interface recited in claim 92, further means for linking the user to at least one of related pages, related poppers, or related websites.

95. The user interface recited in claim 88, further comprising means for performing at least one of facilitating creating and editing of the media content items, facilitating uploading of at least some of said personalized media content items, facilitating managing of the personalized media content items, facilitating display of the personalized media content items, facilitating searching of the personalized media content items, facilitating browsing of the personalized media content items, and facilitating sharing of the personalized media content items.