Process for creating media content based upon submissions received on an electronic multi-media exchange

• US 7,308,413 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2000
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Virtual Creative Artists, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ian Cohen, Kenneth T. Tota, Mark S. Tota, Michael J. Tota, Rick Landsman
• Inventors: Tota, Mark S., Cohen, Ian D., Tota, Michael J., Tota, Kenneth T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarae, C. Michelle
• Application Number:
  US09/565,438
• Time in Patent Office: 2,776 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

In a process for creating media content, media submissions are requested and electronically received from end users and stored in a computer database. The submissions are searched for material to be included in the media content, and cross-checked against the other submissions for originality and timeliness. After the material is selected from one or more submissions, the content is developed and released to an audience for review. The end users whose submission material was included in the released content are rewarded. In one embodiment, third parties are permitted to access and search the submissions on an open exchange. The third parties can bid for rights in submissions on the open exchange. After receiving these bids, they are forwarded to the particular submission'"'"'s end user for acceptance or rejection. Appropriate billing and payment processes are used to bill and pay the parties involved.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented process for storing media content, comprising the steps of:

providing solicited and unsolicited formats for media submissions for inclusion in the media content from a central-controller computer system;

electronically receiving media submissions from end-user interface systems at the central-controller computer system;

storing the submissions in a computer submission database operably linked to the central-controller computer system, the submissions comprising content material;

granting the end user a predetermined number of points for the submission by the central-controller wherein the total is stored in the computer database and displayed via a computer network;

redeeming granted points for entry into sweepstakes and/or the purchase of goods and/or services by the central-controller wherein points are deducted from the user'"'"'s point total stored in the computer database and displayed via a computer network.

2. A process for creating media content based upon submissions received on an electronic multi-media exchange, comprising the steps of:

requesting media submissions for inclusion in the media content electronically receiving the submissions from end users;

storing the submissions in a computer database;

searching the submissions for material to be included in the media content;

selecting material from one or more submissions;

developing the content based in part upon the selected one or more submissions;

granting the end user a predetermined number of points for the submission; and

redeeming granted points for entry into sweepstakes and/or the purchase of goods and/or services.

3. A computer-implemented process for storing media content, comprising the steps of:

providing solicited and unsolicited formats for media submission for inclusion in the media content;

electronically receiving the submissions from end users;

storing the submissions in a computer database, the submissions comprising content material;

granting the end users awards and/or rewards for their submissions; and

redeeming the awards and/or rewards for one or more of cash, entry into contests, entry into sweepstakes, purchase of prizes, and purchase of goods and/or services.

4. The process of claim 3 further comprising:

searching the submissions for material to be included in the media content;

selecting material from one or more submissions; and

developing the content based in part upon the selected one or more submissions.

5. A process for creating media content based upon su missions received on an electronic multi-media exchange, comprising the steps of:

providing solicited and unsolicited formats for media submissions for inclusion in the media content;

electronically receiving the submissions from end users;

storing the submissions in a computer database, the submissions comprising content material;

searching the submissions for material to be included in the media content;

selecting material from one or more submissions;

granting the end users awards and/or rewards for submissions that were selected; and

redeeming the awards and/or rewards for one or more of cash, entry into contests, entry into sweepstakes, purchase of prizes, and purchase of goods and/or services.

6. The process of claim 5 further comprising developing the content based in part upon the selected one or more submissions.

7. The process of claim 5 further comprising rewarding the end user for submissions.

8. A computer-implemented process for storing content material, comprising the steps of:

providing solicited and unsolicited formats for content material submissions;

electronically receiving the submissions from end users;

storing the submissions in a computer database;

entering the end users into a contest for awards and/or rewards for their submissions; and

redeeming the awards and/or rewards for one or more of cash, entry into contests, entry into sweepstakes, purchase of prizes, and purchase of goods and/or services.

9. The process of claim 8 further comprising:

searching the submissions for material to be included in the media a content;

selecting material from one or more submissions; and

developing the content based in part upon the selected one or more submissions.

10. An electronic process for storing content material, comprising the steps of:

providing solicited and unsolicited formats for content material submissions;

electronically receiving the submissions from end users;

storing the submissions in a computer database;

granting the end users awards and/or rewards for their submissions; and

redeeming the awards and/or rewards for one or more of cash, entry into contests, entry into sweepstakes, purchase of prizes, and purchase of goods and/or services.

11. The process of claim 10 further comprising:

searching the submissions for material to be included in the media content;

selecting material from one or more submissions; and

developing the content based in part upon the selected one or more submissions.

12. The process of claim 10, wherein the step of providing further comprises providing one or more electronic submission formats.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein the submission format is an interactive format, the interactive format comprising of both synchronous and asynchronous communications.

14. The process of claim 13, wherein the interactive submission format includes at least one of pre-prepared questions and answers, questionnaires, polls, surveys and games.

15. The process of claim 12, wherein the submission format is an open format.

16. The process of claim 15, including the step of entering a contest after submitting material in the open format.

17. The process of claim 10, wherein the awards and/or rewards further comprise a predetermined number of points for the submission.

18. The process of claim 17, including the step of redeeming granted points for entry into a sweepstakes.

19. The process of claim 17, including the step of redeeming granted points for the purchase of prizes.

20. The process of claim 10, including the step of checking the status of each submission.

21. The process of claim 10, including the step of cross-checking the submissions for originality and timeliness.

22. The process of claim 10, including the step of communicating with end users whom have made submissions.

23. The process of claim 22, including the step of notifying the end user whose submission has been selected.

24. The process of claim 10, including the step of providing intellectual property protection and information services to the end user.

25. The process of claim 10, including the step of adapting the submission material for use in media content.

26. The process of claim 25, including the step of releasing the media content to an audience for review.

27. The process of claim 26, including the step of rewarding the end user of the selected submission material, which was developed into the released content media.

28. The process of claim 26, including the step of rating the released media content.

29. The process of claim 28, including the step of rewarding the end user based upon a high rating of the media content which included the end user'"'"'s material.

30. The process of claim 10, including the step of the end user interfacing with a creator serviced system utilizing a computer network.

31. The process of claim 10, including the step of making the submissions available on an open exchange.

32. The process of claim 31, including the step of permitting third parties to access and search the submissions on the open exchange.

33. The process of claim 32, including the step of receiving bids from third parties for rights to particular submissions on the open exchange.

34. The process of claim 33, including the step of forwarding the bids to the particular submission'"'"'s end user.

35. The process of claim 32, including the step of providing a billing system for use by third parties and end users of the open exchange.

36. The process of claim 10, including the step of providing agency and sales promotional services to the end user.

37. The process of claim 26, including the step of permitting end users to purchase products and services presented within the released content.

38. The process of claim 15, wherein the open format includes chat rooms or instant messaging.

39. The process of claim 24, wherein the providing of intellectual property protection services to the end user that includes a legal support fund or insurance at least partly funded by the end user submitters.

40. The process of claim 31, including the step of requiring security clearance comprising of one or more of passwords or access codes or biometric devices by the host, end users, and third party users.

41. The process of claim 14, including the step of tallying the results of the interactive submission formats.