GB2541695A

GB2541695A - Method, computer and system for communicating digital media

Info

Publication number: GB2541695A
Application number: GB1515163.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon James Alex; Maude David; James Nolan Martin; Edwin Livsey Paul
Original assignee: Blue Owl Network Ltd
Current assignee: Blue Owl Network Ltd
Priority date: 2015-08-26
Filing date: 2015-08-26
Publication date: 2017-03-01
Also published as: WO2017032968A1; GB201515163D0

Abstract

Described is a computer, a method and a system for communicating digital media. The method and system receive at the computer, from a second computer, digital media and profile information. There is also received at the computer, from a third computer, a request to communicate the digital media. The request comprises recipient information associated with an intended recipient. The method and system determine, the first computer, whether the recipient information complies with the profile information. If the recipient information complies with the profile information, a communication, comprising the digital media, is sent from the computer, via a communications server, to the intended recipient. The communication is sent from an account of the third computer that is registered with the communication server.

Description

METHOD, COMPUTER AND SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING DIGITAL MEDIA

Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a method, system and computer for communicating digital media. More particularly, the invention relates to a method, system and computer for communicating digital media, via a communications server, to an intended recipient.

Background of the Invention [0002] It is sometimes desired to distribute digital media, such as a digital image. The digital media to be distributed may be provided from a provider computer system, which may be a computer system of an author of the digital media, to a distributor computer system which is arranged to communicate the digital media to one or more usually a plurality of intended recipients.

[0003] However since the digital media is stored at the distributor computer system it may be altered by the distributor computer system. For example the digital media may be cropped or edited by the distributor computer system prior to distribution. Thus the distributed digital media may not be as provided by the provider computer system. The digital media may be distributed by the distributor computer system by various communication methods, such as email.

[0004] It is an aim of embodiments of the invention to overcome one or more problems of the prior art. It is an aim of embodiments of the invention to provide method of communicating digital media in which a distributor computer system is prevented from modifying digital media.

Suinmary of the Invention [0005] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a computer-implemented method of communicating digital media, comprising: receiving, at a first computer from a second computer, digital media and profile information; receiving, at the first computer from a third computer, a request to communicate the digital media, the request comprising recipient information associated with an intended recipient; determining, at the first computer, whether the recipient information complies with the profile information; and sending, if the recipient information complies with the profile information, via a communication server, a communication from the first computer to the intended recipient comprising the digital media, wherein the sending is from an account of the third computer that is registered with the communication server.

[0006] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a computer adapted to: store digital media and profile information received from a second computer; store a received request to communicate the digital media, the request being sent from a third computer and the request comprising recipient information associated with an intended recipient; determine whether the recipient information complies with the profile information; and send a communication, if the recipient information complies with the profile information, wherein the communication is via a communication server, and wherein the communication is to the intended recipient and comprises the digital media, and wherein the communication, is sent from an account of the third computer that is registered with the communication server.

[0007] According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a system adapted to perform the method steps of first aspect of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0008] For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods and processes according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system for communicating digital media in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of components of a first computer of the system of figure 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a flow chart of a computer-implemented method 300 of communicating digital media in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating further processes of the computer-implemented method of figure 3 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments [0009] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be practised. It is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout. Furthermore, terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that module, circuit, device components, structures and method steps that comprises a list of elements or steps does not include only those elements but may include other elements or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such module, circuit, device components or steps. An element or step proceeded by "comprises ...a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements or steps that comprises the element or step.

[00010] Referring now to Fig. 1 there is illustrated a schematic block diagram of a system 100 for communicating digital media in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system 100 includes a first computer 102 arranged to be in communication with both a second computer 104A and a third computer 106A.

[00011] There are also one or more communications servers 108A, 108B, 108C (and optionally others) and a plurality of recipient devices including a first recipient device IlOA, a second recipient device IlOB and an recipient device HOC. At least one of the communications servers 108A to 108C allows for the first computer 102, and the third computer 106A, to communicate with the recipient devices IlOA, HOB, HOC typically over the internet, via a telecommunications network or by a combination of internet routing and telecommunications network coupling. Also, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that each of the communication servers 108A to 108C are typically one of an email server, messaging gateway server, telephone messaging server or a banner advertising server.

[00012] The recipient devices HOA, HOB, HOC are for example personal computers, mobile devices such as cellular telephones, notepads or personal digital assistants as will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. These recipient devices HOA, HOB, HOC are also arranged to be in communication with the first computer 102 via a a network 120 such as, for example, the internet or telecommunications infrastructure or a combination of both the internet and telecommunications infrastructure .

[00013] As shown the system 100 may also include a fourth computer 10 6B and a fifth computer 10 6C (and optionally others) arranged to be in communication with the first computer 102. Also, at least one of the communications servers 108A to 108C allow for the fourth computer 106B and a fifth computer 106C to communicate with the recipient devices HOA, HOB, HOC typically over the internet. Furthermore, the the system 100 may also include a sixth computer 104B and a seventh computer 104C (and optionally others) arranged to be in communication with the first computer.

[00014] Referring to Figure 2 there is illustrated a schematic block diagram of components of the first computer 102 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The first computer 102 includes a processor 202 and a memory unit 2 04 that typically comprises both a Read Only Memory (ROM) 206 and a Random Access Memory (RAM) 208. There is also a transceiver 210 and a user interface 212 examples of which include one or more of a keypad, a conventional display screen, a touch screen and a mouse. The memory unit 204 is coupled by an address and data bus 220 to the processor 202. The transceiver 210 and a user interface 212 are also coupled to the processor 202 by respective interconnects 230, 240.

[00015] The first computer 102 is adapted, by a program stored in the ROM 206, to store digital media and profile information received from a product owner's computer such as the second computer 104A, the sixth computer 104B or the seventh computer 104C. In operation, the processor 202 detects that the digital media and the profile information are being received by the transceiver 210 and therefore stores the digital media and the profile information in the RAM 208.

[00016] The first computer 102 is adapted, by the program stored in the ROM 206, to store in the RAM 208 a first request to communicate the digital media. This request, for example, is typically sent from an affiliate's computer such as the third computer 106A and the request comprises recipient information associated with an intended recipient. However, the request may be sent from any affiliate's computer such as the fourth 106B or fifth computer 106C. Thus, in operation, the processor 202 detects that the first request has been received by the transceiver 210 and therefore stores the first request in the RAM 208.

[00017] The program in the ROM 206 then instructs the processor 202 to determine whether the recipient information complies with the profile information. In this regard, the recipient information complies with the profile information when there is a match of at all feature of the profile information with all features of the recipient information. For example, consider the following profile information which includes the features: age range between 20 and 30/ gender male; location UK; income above £30,000 PA; and has a clean driving license. Thus, if recipient information included: age 25; gender male; location UK; income £31,000 PA; and has a clean driving license, then the recipient information complies with the profile information. However, if for instance, the recipient information included a field/feature of income £18,000 PA the recipient information would not comply with the profile information.

[00018] In another example the recipient information complies with the profile information when there is a match of at least one feature of the profile information with at least one feature of the recipient information. For example, consider the following profile information which includes the features: age range over 40; and income above £30,000 PA. Then if the recipient information included either a field/feature of income £60, 000 PA or age 60, then the recipient information would comply with the profile information.

[00019] If the recipient information complies with the profile information the first computer 102 sends a communication, via the transceiver 210, to the intended recipient at one of the recipient devices IlOA to HOC. The communication comprises the digital media and is sent from an account of the affiliate's computer (i.e. the third computer 106A) that is registered with one of the communication servers 108A to 108C.

[00020] The first computer 102 is also programmed so that it is adapted to store an association of the recipient information with the profile information. Also, the first computer 102 is adapted to store in the RAM 208, the recipient information and filter settings including capping requirements. These filter settings may include a suppression list of potential recipient details, unsubscribed recipient details. Also, the filter capping requirements may include a maximum number of communications with a potential recipient per unit of time (e.g. per day) and/or per campaign; time of day ranges for sending a communication; and the valid period of time valid period of time for communicating the digital media (expiry date of campaign).

[00021] The program in the ROM 206 also provides for instructing for the processor 202 to store a received second request to communicate the digital media. This second request comprises second recipient information associated with a second intended recipient. The program in the ROM 206 also provides for instructing the processor 202 to determine whether the second recipient information has a stored association with the profile information. If second recipient information has a stored association with the profile information, the first computer 102 sends to the second intended recipient a communication comprising the digital media.

[00022] The first computer 102 is adapted to store in the RAM 208 a number of times the recipient associated with the recipient information has received the communication along with other data associated with the above filter settings. Also, the first computer 102 is arranged to receive and process further requests such as a second request comprising the second recipient information associated with a second intended recipient. Hence, in one embodiment, when the first computer 102 receives the second request to communicate the digital media, the processor 202 determines: a) whether the second recipient information is associated with the profile information; and b) whether the filter settings have been met, and if met, the first computer 102 sends a communication to the second recipient comprising the digital media.

[00023] Referring to Figure 3 there is illustrated a flow chart of a computer-implemented method 300 of communicating digital media in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. By way of example only, the method 300 will be described with reference to the system 100 in which the method 300 is initiated at a start block 305. At a block 310 there is performed receiving, at the first computer 102 from the second computer 104A, the digital media and profile information. Examples of the profile information include information indicative of one or more of an age range, a geographic location and a gender of intended recipients. Further examples of the profile information include information indicative of a valid period of time for communicating the digital media. Furthermore, examples of the digital media include one or more of images, website links, advertising campaigns and video clips.

[00024] At block 310 the receiving, at a first computer 102 from a second computer 104A, the digital media and profile information is for example performed by the second computer logging 104A onto a website of the first computer 102. Thereafter, the digital media and profile information are loaded onto the first computer 102 from commands received from the second computer 104A. At block 310 there may also be received, from the second computer 104A, the filter settings including the capping requirements. These filter settings may include a suppression list of potential recipient details, unsubscribed recipient details. Also, the filter capping requirements may include a maximum number of communications with a potential recipient per unit of time (e.g. per day) and/or per campaign; time of day ranges for sending a communication; and the valid period of time valid period of time for communicating the digital media (expiry date of campaign).

[00025] At a block 315 there is performed receiving, at the first computer 102 from the third computer 106A, a request to communicate the digital media. This request comprises the recipient information associated with an intended recipient. The process of receiving at block 315 includes the third computer 106A performing the steps of logging onto a website of the first computer 102 and accessing the digital media and profile information.

[00026] At a block 320 the method 300 determines, at the first computer 102, whether the recipient information complies with the profile information. In this embodiment there is also determined if the filter settings including the capping requirements have been met. If the recipient information complies with the profile information and the filter settings have been met, the method 300 performs a sending process of block 325. However, if at block 320 it is determined that the recipient information does not comply with the profile information or that the filter settings (for the specific request)have not been met, the request to communicate the digital media is rejected at a block 340 and the requesting third computer 106A is notified of the rej ection.

[00027] When the sending process of block 325 is performed, a communication comprising the digital media is sent from the first computer 102 to the intended recipient at one of the recipient devices IlOA to HOC. More specifically, the sending of the digital media is from an account of the third computer 106A that is registered with one of the communication servers 108A to 108C. In this example, the communication comprises an associated identifier that identifies the third computer 106A as an initiator of the communication. Also, the communication may include tracking information for providing the first computer 102 with information indicative of the recipient having accessed a URL associated with the third computer 106A. From the above it will be apparent that the sending at block 325 of the communication, from the first computer 102, to the intended recipient devices IlOA to HOC is only performed when filter settings for the request have been met.

[00028] At a receiving block 330 there is performed receiving at the first computer 102 the response from the intended recipient by means of, for example, the first recipient device IlOA via the network 120. This is possible because the communication sent at block 325 included associated return contact details for routing the response from the intended recipient to the first computer 102. Next, at a forwarding block 335, the method 300 forwards the received response from the first computer 102 to the second computer 104A. After completion of either block 335 or block 340 the method 300 goes to a storing block 350 shown in figure 4.

[00029] Referring to figure 4 there is illustrated further processes performed by the method 300 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. At the storing block 350 there is performed a process of storing, at the first computer 102, an association of the recipient information with the profile information. In one embodiment the storing includes storing information indicative of a number of times the recipient associated with the recipient information has received the communication of the digital media .

[00030] At a receiving block 355 there is performed a process of receiving, at the first computer 102, a second request to communicate the digital media, wherein the second request comprises second recipient information associated with a second intended recipient. Then, at an options block 360, it is determined which of two filter options have been prior input, by the second computer 104A or from the user interface 212, and stored In the RAM 208. If option 1 has been stored then a determining block 365 provides for determining, at the first computer 102, whether the second recipient information is associated with the profile information (i.e. has a stored association).

[00031] If the is no stored association determined at the determining block 365 or if at the options block 360 it is determined that option 2 has been stored, a determining block 370 determines whether the filter settings for the requested communication have been met (which includes a limitation of the maximum number of times the communication has been sent to the intended recipient). If it is determined that the filter setting have been met then at a block 375 a communication comprising the digital media is sent from the first computer to the second intended recipient. After block 375 the method terminates at an end block 385. However, if at block 365 it is determined that the is a stored association, or if at block 370 it is determined that the filter settings for the requested communication have not been met, then the request to communicate the digital media is rejected at a block 365. The requesting computer is thus notified of the rejection and the method 300 then terminates at the end block 380.

[00032] From the above it will be apparent that the sending at block 375 of the communication, from the first computer 102, to the second intended recipient devices IlOA to HOC is only performed when filter settings for the request have been met.

[00033] In one embodiment the second request received at block 355 is from the third computer 106A. Also, the sending of the communication, at block 375, to the second intended recipient is from the account of the third computer 106A that is registered with one of the communication servers 108A to 108C. However, in other embodiments the second request received at block 355 is from the fourth of fifth computer 106B or 106C. In this regard, the sending of the communication, at block 375, to the second intended recipient is from the respective account of the fourth or fifth computer 106B or 106C registered with one of the communication servers 108A to 108C.

[00034] Typically, the method 300 may also include receiving at the first computer 102 password details of the account of the third computer 106A that is registered with one of the communication servers 106A to 106C. These password details allow the first computer 102 to send communications to the intended recipient from the account of the third computer that is registered with one of the communication servers 106A to 106C.

[00035] Advantageously the present invention at least alleviates the problem associated with unauthorized modifying and distributing of digital media in a distributed computer systems.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of communicating digital media, comprising: receiving, at a first computer from a second computer, digital media and profile information; receiving, at the first computer from a third computer, a request to communicate the digital media, the request comprising recipient information associated with an intended recipient; determining, at the first computer, whether the recipient information complies with the profile information; and sending, if the recipient information complies with the profile information, via a communication server, a communication from the first computer to the intended recipient comprising the digital media, wherein the sending is from an account of the third computer that is registered with the communication server.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising: storing, at the first computer, an association of the recipient information with the profile information; receiving, at the first computer, a second request to communicate the digital media, the second request comprising second recipient information associated with a second intended recipient; and determining, at the first computer, whether the second recipient information has a stored association with the profile information, and if not, sending a communication from the first computer to the second intended recipient a communication comprising the digital media.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second request is from the third computer.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sending a communication to the second intended recipient is from the account of the third computer that is registered with the communication server.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second request is from a fourth computer.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sending a communication to the second intended recipient is from an account of the fourth computer that is registered with a second communication server.

7. The method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the sending of the communication, from the first computer, to the intended recipient of the communication comprising the digital media is only performed when filter settings for the request have been met.

8. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the sending the communication, from the first computer, to the second intended recipient the communication comprising the digital media is only performed when filter settings for the request have been met.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the filter settings include a suppression list of potential recipient details, and wherein the method comprises: determining, at the first computer, whether the suppression list comprises at least a portion of the received recipient information and, if so, not sending the communication to the intended recipient.

10. The method claimed in any preceding claim comprising receiving at the first computer password details of the account of the third computer that is registered with the communication server.

11. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication has an associated return contact details for routing a response from the intended recipient to the first computer.

12. The method claimed in claim 11 comprising: receiving at the first computer the response from the intended recipient; and forwarding the response from the first computer to the second computer.

13. The method claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the communication comprises an associated identifier that identifies the third computer as an initiator of the communication.

14. The method claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the communication server is one of an email server, messaging gateway server, telephone messaging server or a banner advertising server.

15. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the profile information comprises information indicative of one or more of an age range, a geographic location and a gender of intended recipients.

16. The method of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the filter settings comprise information indicative of a valid period of time for communicating the digital media.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising, in response to receiving the request to communicate the digital media, determining whether the request is received during the valid period of time and, if so, communicating the digital media.

18. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the communication comprises tracking information for providing the first computer with information indicative of the recipient having accessed a URL associated with the third computer.

19. The method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the receiving, at a first computer from a second computer, the digital media and profile information is characterised by the second computer logging onto a website of the first computer and thereafter loading digital media and profile information onto the first computer from commands received from the second computer.

20. The method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the receiving, at the first computer system from a third computer system, a request to communicate the digital media includes the third computer performing the steps of: logging onto a website of the first computer; and accessing the digital media and profile information.

21. A computer adapted to: store digital media and profile information received from a second computer; store a received request to communicate the digital media, the request being sent from a third computer and the request comprising recipient information associated with an intended recipient; determine whether the recipient information complies with the profile information; and send a communication, if the recipient information complies with the profile information, wherein the communication is via a communication server, and wherein the communication is to the intended recipient and comprises the digital media, and wherein the communication, is sent from an account of the third computer that is registered with the communication server.

22. The computer as claimed in claim 21, wherein the computer is adapted to: store an association of the recipient information with the profile information; store a received second request to communicate the digital media, the second request comprising second recipient information associated with a second intended recipient; and determine whether the second recipient information has a stored association with the profile information, and if not, the computer sends a communication to the second intended recipient a communication comprising the digital media.

23. The computer as claimed in claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the computer is adapted to: determine whether filter settings for the request have been met, and if met, sending the communication to the intended recipient a communication comprising the digital media.

24. The computer as claimed in claim 22, wherein the computer is adapted to send the communication to the second intended recipient of the communication comprising the digital media only when filter settings for the request have been met.

25. The computer as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the filter settings include suppression list of potential recipient details, and the computer is adapted to: determine, whether the blacklist comprises at least a portion of the received recipient information and, if so, not the computer sends the communication to the intended recipient.

26. A system adapted to perform the method steps as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20.

27. A computer-implemented method of communicating digital media substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying figures.

28. A computer substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying figures.

29. A system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying figures.