System and method for open distribution of digital media

• US 9,846,864 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey C. Anderson
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey C. Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reagan, James A
• Application Number:
  US12/578,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20110087886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,989 Days
• Field of Search: 705 50- 79
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for open digital media distribution. According to one embodiment, a system is provided which performs the operations of: creating a profile (e.g., artist or label profile) based on an input from a first party; receiving a digital media upload from the first party, wherein the digital media upload contains media content and the first party has a property interest in the media content; receiving from the first party an assignment of a payment account to the digital media upload, such that money from sales relating to the digital media upload is deposited into the payment account; receiving from the first party a sales parameters associated with the digital media upload; presenting through a computing device the digital media upload for sale to a second party; and selling the digital media upload to the second party through a computing device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of user-controlled digital media distribution, the method being implemented on a computer system that includes one or more physical processors, the method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface configured to receive user-controlled account information via a client computing device to be uploaded onto a digital media distribution platform hosted on a digital media distribution server, the user information including profile information and payment information specifying where both payments and proceeds from purchases and distribution of the digital media shall be withdrawn and deposited;

receiving, over a network, digital media information, the digital media information relating to a digital media owned by a user and associated with a user-controlled account;

generating a digital rights management tool within the graphical user interface of the user-controlled account of the user having a property interest in the digital media, configured to receive one or more distribution parameters, to control the terms and conditions associated with the distribution of the digital media, and to be adjustable in real-time,

presenting, within the digital rights management tool, a selectable public distribution authorization indicator, the selectable public distribution authorization indicator including the option to allow the public to distribute the digital media according to the current settings of the distribution parameters;

generating one or more user-controlled web-based digital media stores configured to be populated with the digital media associated with the related user-controlled accounts;

presenting the digital media via a user-controlled web-based digital media store on the digital media distribution platform on the client computing device accessed by the second user via a user-controlled account;

generating a promotional tool, the promotional tool including a plug-in coupled to the user-controlled web-based digital media store and configured to allow the digital media store to be embedded into additional platforms, additional platforms including social networks and other websites;

presenting the digital media via the promotional tool on a client computing device;

responsive to meeting the one or more adjustable distribution parameters, effectuating the distribution of the digital media to a second user via the second user-controlled account;

responsive to the selectable public distribution authorization indicator being set to allow distribution by the public, enabling a third user to present the digital media in the third user'"'"'s web-based digital media store accessed by the third user via the third user-controlled account;

responsive to a fourth user meeting the one or more adjustable distribution parameters, effectuating the distribution of the digital media to the fourth user via a user-controlled account;

providing social networking functionality to allow for interaction between the users;

obtaining statistical information related to distribution activities associated with the digital media;

analyzing user preferences, patterns, and feedback obtained by the statistical information; and

presenting the statistical information instantaneously to the users, both collectively and individually.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations further include allocating proceeds from the distribution of the digital media to the payment accounts of the first and third users.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more adjustable distribution parameters include;

rules that govern the distribution of the digital media and a distribution fee to be paid to the third user upon the distribution of the digital media.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the input from the user having the property interest in the digital media comes from answers provided to a questionnaire.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations further include adding the digital media to a digital media library.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations further include collecting a distribution payment from the fourth user according to the distribution parameters.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations further include creating a digital profile for each user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the statistical information is utilized to provide users with relevant information regarding the digital media.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations further include assisting users in locating the digital media content.

10. A system for user-controlled digital media distribution, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions to;

provide a graphical user interface configured to receive user-controlled account information via a client computing device to be uploaded onto a digital media distribution platform hosted on a digital media distribution server, the user information including profile information and payment information specifying where both payments and proceeds from purchases and distribution of the digital media shall be withdrawn and deposited;

receive, over a network, digital media information, the digital media information relating to digital media owned by a user and associated with a user-controlled account;

generate a digital rights management tool within the graphical user interface of the user-controlled account of the user having a property interest in the digital media, configured to receive one or more distribution parameters, to control the terms and conditions associated with the distribution of the digital media, and to be adjustable in real-time,

present, within the digital rights management tool, a selectable public distribution authorization indicator, the selectable public distribution authorization indicator including the option to allow the public to distribute the digital media according to the current settings of the distribution parameters;

generate one or more user-controlled web-based digital media stores configured to be populated with the digital media associated with the related user-controlled accounts;

present the digital media via a user-controlled web-based digital media store on the digital media distribution platform on the client computing device accessed by the second user via a user-controlled account;

generate a promotional tool, the promotional tool including a plug-in coupled to the user-controlled web-based digital media store and configured to allow the digital media store to be embedded into additional platforms, additional platforms including social networks and other websites;

present the digital media via the promotional tool on a client computing device;

responsive to meeting the one or more adjustable distribution parameters, effectuating the distribution of the digital media to the second user via the second user-controlled account;

responsive to the selectable public distribution authorization indicator being set to allow distribution by the public, enabling a third user second user to present the digital media in the third user'"'"'s web-based digital media store accessed by the third user via the third user-controlled account;

responsive to a fourth user meeting the one or more adjustable distribution parameters, effectuating the distribution of the digital media to the fourth user via a user-controlled account;

provide social networking functionality to allow for interaction between the users;

obtain statistical information related to sale and distribution activities associated with the digital media;

analyze user preferences, patterns, and feedback obtained by the statistical information; and

present the statistical information instantaneously to the users, both collectively and individually.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further include transferring proceeds from selling the digital media to the payment account.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more adjustable distribution parameters include;

rules that govern the distribution of the digital media and a distribution fee to be paid to the third user upon the distribution of the digital media.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the input from the user having the property interest in the digital media comes from answers provided to a questionnaire.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further include adding the digital media to a digital media library.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further include collecting a distribution payment from the fourth user according to the distribution parameters.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further include creating a digital profile for each user.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the statistical information is utilized to provide users with relevant information regarding the digital media.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further include assisting users in locating the digital media.

19. A computer-implemented method of user-controlled digital media distribution, the method being implemented on a computer system that includes one or more physical processors, the method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface configured to receive user-controlled account information via a client computing device to be uploaded onto a digital media distribution platform hosted on a digital media distribution server, the user information including profile information and payment information specifying where both payments and proceeds from purchases and distribution of the digital media shall be withdrawn and deposited;

receiving, over a network, digital media information, the digital media information relating to a digital media owned by a user and associated with a user-controlled account;

generating a digital rights management tool within the graphical user interface of the user-controlled account of the user having a property interest in the digital media, configured to receive one or more distribution parameters, to control the terms and conditions associated with the distribution of the digital media, and to be adjustable in real-time,

presenting, within the digital rights management tool, a selectable public distribution authorization indicator, the selectable public distribution authorization indicator including the option to allow the public to distribute the digital media according to the current settings of the distribution parameters;

generating one or more user-controlled web-based digital media stores configured to be populated with the digital media associated with the related user-controlled accounts;

presenting the digital media via a user-controlled web-based digital media store on the digital media distribution platform on the client computing device accessed by the second user via a user-controlled account;

generating a promotional tool, the promotional tool including a plug-in coupled to the user-controlled web-based digital media store and configured to allow the digital media store to be embedded into additional platforms, additional platforms including social networks and other websites;

responsive to the second user meeting the one or more adjustable distribution parameters, effectuating the distribution of the digital media to the second user;

generating a plug-in coupled to the web-based digital media store and configured for presenting the digital media within the second user'"'"'s web-based digital media store;

presenting the digital media via the promotional tool on a client computing device;

responsive to meeting the one or more adjustable distribution parameters, effectuating the distribution of the digital media to a second user via the second user-controlled account;

responsive to the selectable public distribution authorization indicator being set to allow distribution by the public, enabling a third user to present the digital media in the third user'"'"'s web-based digital media store accessed by the third user via the third user-controlled account;

responsive to a fourth user meeting the one or more adjustable distribution parameters, effectuating the distribution of the digital media to the fourth user via a user-controlled account;

providing social networking functionality to allow for interaction between the users;

obtaining statistical information related to distribution activities associated with the digital media;

analyzing user preferences, patterns, and feedback obtained by the statistical information; and

reporting the statistical information instantaneously to the users, both collectively and individually.