AU2005311756A1 - Method and apparatus for automating an interactive consignment sale of multimedia content over a network - Google Patents

Description

WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATING AN INTERACTIVE CONSIGNMENT SALE OF MULTIMEDIA CONTENT OVER A NETWORK FIELD 5 [01] This invention relates to the provision, distribution and sale of multimedia content, such as digital music, movies and graphics on a consignment basis over a network, such as the Internet. BACKGROUND 10 [02] Multimedia distribution systems that are currently in operation generally consist of a combination of content providers that provide multimedia content information, such as audio, video and text data to consumers and service providers that provide services, such as banking or shopping services to consumers. The content and service providers are 15 generally connected, via a digital network, which may be a broadband communication network, such as an integrated services digital network (ISDN) or a cable television (CATV) communication network, or a packet-switched network, such as an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) communication network or the Internet, to consumer terminals, which may include computers, 20 PDAs, set-top boxes televisions and other electronic devices. [03] In such a system, a content provider stores content in a server that is connected to the network and provides access to the server to the consumer terminals. In some cases access to the provider servers is limited to those consumers that pay subscription fees. In other systems, service 25 providers are integrated with the system so that a consumer may purchase selected content and pay at the point of sale. In most cases, these systems are interactive in that a consumer may search and select content to be purchased and in many cases the consumer may preview the material prior to purchasing it. 30 [04] After the content has been purchased, it is downloaded. via the network into the consumer terminal. An example of such a system is an on line music store. A consumer that contacts the store, via the Internet, can

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WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 select and purchase songs that can then be downloaded to the consumer terminal for subsequent presentation to the consumer. [05] In other systems, the consumer may also be able to control interactively, the download of the content. For example, in the case of a 5 video-on-demand (VOD) system, video and audio data is transmitted from a server to a consumer terminal in response to commands generated by the consumer. These commands allow the user to start the download, pause it and restart the download at will. [06] However, conventional systems have several drawbacks. For 10 example, in a conventional system, content providers control, obtain and store the content on the content server. In order to have content placed on a server, a content generator, such as a musician who has recorded a song, must negotiate with the content provider to have that song added to the server. Typically, this involves licensing negotiations between the content 15 generator and the content provider. These licensing negotiations can be difficult and expensive. In some cases, the content provider will not want to deal with the content generator because the provider perceives that the content simply does not have a large enough potential market to warrant its inclusion in the system. 20 [07] Conventional systems are also limited in the type of promotional material that can be displayed for the products that are sold. For example, in order to promote a song or album, a promotional music video is often made that is specific to the song or album and highlights the song. It is desirable for this music video, or at least a portion of the video, be available for viewing by 25 customers at the point of sale. Although some conventional systems are capable of displaying promotional video content at the point of sale, this content is generally limited to "stock" video or animation that is not specific to a particular sale item and is not selectable by the sale item vendor. [08] In addition, conventional systems are often slow. Generally, 30 they require a relatively high-speed connection to the network because large files must be downloaded to display promotional video or animation. Even with a high-speed connection, interaction between customers and servers 2 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 may be slow due to the high volume of information transfer involved at the server or servers. SUMMARY 5 [09] In accordance with the principles of the invention, an on-line consignment sales system displays promotional video or animation content in a pre-defined "timeline" that comprises a series of file "slots." Files in these slots are automatically presented to a consumer in the order defined by the timeline. Segments of the timeline are downloaded either from a consignment 10 server or from other customers, via a file-sharing network, to a customer when the customer desires to view the promotional material. In order to have promotional content included in the system, a consignor purchases space on the timeline and then uploads custom promotional content into the consignment system or chooses stock footage from an array of prerecorded 15 promotional content. The promotional content is fragmented and inserted into the timeline at the position purchased by the consignor. Subsequently, when the timeline segments are downloaded to a consumer, the promotional material will be presented. [10] In addition to uploading or selecting promotional content, the 20 consignor associates consigned items that are available for purchase during the promotional material presentation, so that information describing the items will be displayed, and the items will be available for purchase, while the promotional material is being presented. If the sale items are in digital format, for example a digital audio file, they may also be uploaded to the consignment 25 system where they are stored in a database along with consignor information that associates the sale items with the promotional material. [11] In one embodiment, the consignment system comprises a consignor module, a consignment server and a customer module. The consignor module is located in the consignor's terminal and allows the 30 consignor to establish an account with the consignment server in order to purchase space on the timeline and handles accounting details including payment by the consignor to purchase space and payments to the consignor 3 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 when purchasable items are purchased by consumers. The consignor module also permits the consignor to upload promotional video content to the consignment server and to upload items for sale, if the items are in appropriate format. 5 [12] The consignment server maintains the master copy of the timeline in storage. When promotional content is uploaded, the server formats consigned content, fragments the content and inserts the fragmented content into the appropriate position in the time line. The server also maintains a database of accounting information relating to payments made for 10 purchasing space and for content sold. The server may also maintain a database of digital consigned items that are available for sale, for example digital audio files. The accounting module maintains consignor information that associates the consigned items with the promotional material so that the consigned items will be available for purchase at the time the promotional 15 material is being presented. [13] Finally, the customer module resides in a consumer web browser. The customer module contains a receiver for downloading timeline segments and automatically presenting the promotional information in the timeline slots in the web browser for viewing the information. As the 20 promotional material in each timeline slot is being presented, information describing the consigned items associated with that promotional material is also presented to the customer so that the customer can select an item for purchase, if desired. The customer module also includes conventional sales software that allows purchase of selected consigned items and a file 25 download application for downloading purchased items that are in digital form. [14] In another embodiment, the file size of each file slot on the timeline is relatively small. Consequently, presentation of files on the timeline can start very quickly after download of timeline segments is started. During the presentation of the initial downloaded time line segments, additional 30 timeline segments can be downloaded. This allows the consignment system to progressively display promotional video material eliminating a long wait for the promotional material to load. 4 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 [15] In still another embodiment, as each consumer downloads the current timeline segment, that consumer becomes part of a peer-to-peer file sharing network. Thus, a consumer downloading the current timeline segment may download the timeline segment from another consumer rather 5 than the consignment server. Since the other consumer may be located closer to the downloading consumer, faster connections can be established. If no other consumer with the current timeline segment can be found, the timeline segment can be downloaded from the consignment server. This arrangement also helps to prevent bottlenecks that can develop at the 10 consignment server during heavy download periods and to reduce the bandwidth that is required at the server. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [16] Figure 1 is a block schematic diagram illustrating one 15 embodiment of the consignment system including a consignor module, a consignment server and a customer module. [17] Figure 2 is a more detailed block diagram of the consignment server. [18] Figure 3 is a more detailed block diagram of the consignor 20 module. [19] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the steps in an illustrative process for uploading content for consignment purposes. [20] Figure 5 is a more detailed block schematic diagram of the customer module. 25 [21] Figure 6 is a sample graphical user interface generated by the customer module. [22] Figure 7 illustrates the operation of the illustrative GUI in selecting a preview channel. [23] Figure 8 illustrates the operation of the illustrative GUI in 30 selecting a playlist selection for a list associated with a selected channel button. 5 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 [24] Figure 9 illustrates the structure of an XML control file that is used to set up and control the graphic user interface. [25] Figure 10 illustrates the structure of a media timeline segment. [26] Figure 11 illustrates media playback using the first of the two 5 media players and preloading a subsequent timeline segment. [27] Figure 12 illustrates media playback using the second of the two media players to present the subsequent timeline segment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 10 [28] Figure 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of an on-line consignment system 100 constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. The system 100 comprises a customer module 102, a consignor module 104 and a consignment server 106. The consignment server 106 operates as a conventional web server and provides a repository for digital 15 content that can be generated and transmitted by consignors. Consignment server 106 includes a customer database that stores information regarding each customer account. For each account, this information could include, for example, the customer's login name and password, an account balance, items purchased, payment terms, etc. The consignment server 106 also 20 includes a consignor information and purchasable item database 112. [29] Database 112 stores information regarding each consignor, each piece of promotional material and associated consigned purchasable items that have been added to the system by the consignor. This information might include consignor account information, such as name and address, and 25 a unique consignor ID that has been assigned to the consignor. Accounting tables are also provided in order to track sales of the consigned items. Depending on the industry to which the consignment system is directed, consigned purchasable items could be digital audio files, digital video files, artwork, wearing apparel, physical goods or products or services. 30 Purchasable items that are in digital form, such as digital audio or video files, can also be stored in the database 112. 6 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 [30] For each purchasable item stored in database 112, information such as the location of the content in the database 112, the content title, the associated artist, the media length and the media genre is also stored in the consignor database 112. As indicated schematically by arrow 118, both the 5 customer database and the consignor database are maintained by an accounting engine 116 which interacts with other parts of the system as explained below. Accounting engine 116 hosts automated accounting features that update accounting tables in the customer and consignor databases to accurately capture database transactions between the customer 10 module 102 and the consignor module 104. In addition, copies of consigned digital files can be retrieved from database 112 (as indicated schematically by arrow 130 and downloaded to a customer module by download engine 120. [31] The consignment server 106 also includes a media database 114 that stores the promotional timeline content. Promotional content can be 15 entered into the media database 114, as indicated schematically by arrow 126, by a content converter 124 that converts content received from consignors into a form suitable for presentation. The timeline information stored in database 114 is retrieved as indicated schematically by arrow 128 and published by timeline publisher 122 each time a customer navigates to 20 the web site hosted by server 106. [32] In addition to materials provided by consignors, content and promotional materials can also be provided by the consignment system operator and placed on the consignment server. These materials could be purchased by the consignment system operator for resale and might include 25 well-known song titles and video material. This allows the consignment system operator to generate interest in consigned materials from lesser known artists. [33] As known to those skilled in the art, the particular arrangement of elements shown in Figure 1 could be varied. For example, the content 30 converter 124 might be located in the consignor module 104 instead of the consignment server 106 without affecting the overall operation of the system. In addition, although the consignment server 106 is illustrated as a single 7 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 device, it would be well-known to distribute the functions performed by this device over several machines. This could be done in a variety of ways. Each of the numbered components could run on separate machines, or some of the components could be split across multiple machines. For example, many 5 databases are designed to be run across multiple machines, so that database 110 might be spread across machines in the event that there are a sufficient number of customers to warrant such a configuration. [34] The customer module 102 is a public access media player and a virtual interactive TV tuner that is displayed by a browser-based interface 10 deployed by means of a web browser, such as Internet Explorer, Netscape or other commonly-used web-browser. In order for a customer to view and order the content, the customer module 102 must first be installed on the customer's terminal. The customer module 102 may be downloaded (with or without charge) or installed via an in-store promotional CD-ROM 15 demonstration disk. Typically, the customer module 102 will auto-install when the customer first connects to the web-site hosted by the consignment server 106. Once the customer module 102 is installed on the customer terminal it will remain installed until it is deliberately uninstalled. [35] The customer module 102 includes a sales module 132 which 20 can be implemented with conventional on-line store software that performs various functions, such as customer information privacy encryption, credit verification, shopping cart and check-out services. The sales module 132 interacts, as indicated schematically by arrow 138 via the Internet, with accounting engine 116 in the consignment server 106 to complete a sale of 25 consigned content. A file downloader 134 is provided in order to download purchased digital audio or video files. The downloader 143 interacts, as indicated schematically by arrow 140 with the download engine 120 in the consignment server 106 to retrieve purchased content from the consignor information/purchasable item database 112 and download the retrieved 30 content to the customer module 102. [36] As discussed below, timeline presentation software 136 presents promotional video associated with the items available for purchase 8 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 to order to generate interest in the purchasable content. It presents, in a predetermined manner and as will be discussed below, promotional video segments that have been previously uploaded or selected from stock footage by consignors. The timeline presentation software interacts, as indicated 5 schematically by arrow 146 with the timeline publisher 122 in the consignment server 106 each time a customer starts the customer module software and logs into the consignment website. Alternatively, as discussed below, the timeline presentation software 136 may also obtain segments of the current timeline directly from a peer-to-peer file sharing network 108 as indicated 10 schematically by arrow 142. As previously mentioned, file sharing network 108 can obtain copies of current timeline segments when other customers log onto the consignment server 106 website or request timeline segments from the timeline publisher 122 as indicated schematically by dotted arrow 144. [37] The consignor module 104 allows a content generator to 15 purchase space on the timeline and upload or select promotional video material for insertion into that space. The consignor module may also permit the consignor to upload digital files that are available for purchase. The consignor's module runs on the consignor's terminal and typically would consist of software that was sold in stores or available for on-line download. 20 Each consignor is identified by a consignor ID which represents a pre allocated unit of virtual bandwidth or space on the timeline. Generally, a consignor ID is received at the point of purchase of the consignment module software or downloaded directly from the consignment website by simply purchasing an on-line music sales kit and downloading the kit for direct 25 installation. [38] The consignor module 104 includes an accounting module 152 that allows the consignor to interact with the accounting engine 116 in the consignment server, as indicated schematically by arrow 148. In addition, the consignor module 104 contains a purchasable item transmitter 153 that can 30 be used to upload purchasable items that are in digital format as indicated by arrow 152 to the database 112 under control of the accounting module 152. The items are then placed in a folder assigned to that consignor. In addition, 9 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 the purchasable item transmitter 153 can be used to generate descriptions of the consigned items for storage in database 112, which descriptions are displayed as the associated promotional material is being presented. A promotional content transmitter 154 can select and transmit promotional 5 content generated by the consignor to the content converter 124 in the consignment server 106 as indicated schematically by arrow 150. In some cases the consignor may not have any promotional material to upload. In this case, the content transmitter can be used to select promotional material from material that has been prerecorded and stored on the consignment server. 10 This prerecorded material can be themed or generic. [39] Figure 2 is a more detailed block schematic diagram of the consignment server 106. As shown in Figure 2, consignment server 200 includes a network interface 202 that connects the server to the network. The network interface 202, in turn, interacts with an accounting engine 206 as 15 indicated schematically by arrow 204. The accounting engine, in turn, interacts with the file manager 228 as indicated by arrow 218. By means of this interaction, the accounting engine 206 can update the customer database 230, as indicated schematically by arrow 232, in order to enter new customer information, change existing customer information and maintain any 20 outstanding customer balances and payments. [40] The accounting engine 206 can also update the consignor database via the file manager 228, as indicated schematically by arrow 236, in order to update the consignor's accounting tables when digital purchasable items are downloaded by a customer or when new promotional media or 25 purchasable items are uploaded by the consignor. [41] When a customer makes a purchase, the file manager, under control of the accounting engine 206, can also transfer purchasable items from the consignor information/purchasable item database 234 to the download engine 208 as indicated schematically by arrows 236 and 220. The 30 download engine 208 is responsible for downloading the file via the network interface 202 as indicated by arrow 210 to the customer over the network. 10 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 [42] The timeline publisher 222 is responsible for delivering timeline segments to the network interface 202 as indicated by arrow 216 when a customer logs onto the consignment system and requests a timeline segment, and as will be described below, no other file-sharing customers have the 5 requested timeline segment. Each timeline segment to be sent to a customer is retrieved from the promotional media database 246 as indicated by arrow 242 and provided to the timeline publisher 22 as indicated by arrow 224. [43] In order to receive both promotional content from the consignor, via the network and network interface 202, uploaded promotional content is 10 provided by the network interface 202 as indicated by arrow 212 to file formatter 214. File formatter 214 reformats promotional video files to a predetermined frame rate and frame size. The reformatted promotional video information is provided to a fragmenter 226 that divides the media file into a plurality of files, each of which is the size of a timeline slot. The media file 15 fragments are then transferred to the file manager 228 as indicated by arrow 244. The file manager 228 then stores the fragmented files in the media database 246 and updates the media timeline at the positions purchased by the consignor to point to the stored media file fragments. [44] Consigned purchasable items, such as digital audio or video 20 files, received from a consignor via the network interface 202, are checked for correct file properties by the file formatter 214 and then provided to the file manager 228 as indicated by arrow 225 for storage in the database 234 as indicated by arrow 236. [45] Figure 3 shows a more detailed view of the consignor module 25 104 shown in Figure 1. Consignor module 300 includes a GUI generator 314 that generates a graphic user interface that the consignor uses to establish an account with the on-line consignment system and to upload descriptions of consigned purchasable items. Under control of the GUI generator 314, as indicated by arrow 316, an accounting module 308 interacts with the 30 consignment server via the network. In particular, the accounting module transmits and receives information to and from the network by means of network interface 324 as indicated schematically by arrow 322. This latter 11 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 connection allows the accounting module 308 to establish the aforementioned consignor account at the consignment server, to manage that account and receive reports of the activity concerning content consigned by the consignor. [46] The accounting module 308 also interacts with the file manager 5 310 as indicated by arrow 306 in order to store locally account information, such as passwords. In turn, the file manager 310 interacts with a local storage 302 as indicated schematically by arrow 304 in order to store the information in the local storage 302. [47] The GUI generator 314 also can be used to control a media 10 loader 320 as indicated by arrow 318. The media loader interacts with the file manager 310 in order to select both promotional media files and consigned digital purchasable items for uploading and to retrieve a selected file from local storage 302 and transfer the file to the media loader 320. The media loader as indicated by arrow 312 then uploads the selected file to the 15 consignment server via network interface 324 as indicated schematically by arrow 326. [48] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the steps in an illustrative process performed by the consignment server shown in Figure 2 to process a file uploaded from a consignor module. This process starts in step 400 and 20 proceeds to step 402. As previously mentioned, in step 402, the file formatter 214 checks the uploaded file properties to make sure they are compatible with the on-line consignment system. the checked properties may include the type and size of the file. If the properties are not compatible with the system, then the process proceeds to step 403 where an error is generated and returned to 25 the consignor indicating that the file is improper for use in the on-line consignment system. The process then finishes in step 418. [49] Alternatively, if in step 402, it is determined that the file properties are compatible with the on-line consignment system, the process proceeds to step 404 where a determination is made whether the file is a 30 promotional file or a consigned purchasable item file, such as a digital audio file. If a purchasable item file has been uploaded, then the process proceeds to step 408 where the purchasable item file is transferred to the file manager 12 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 228 as indicated by arrow 225 and stored in the database 234. The process then finishes in step 418. [50] Alternatively, if it is determined in step 404 that the uploaded file is a promotional video file, then the file formatter 214 reformats the file, setting 5 the video frame rate and video size to appropriate values that can be accommodated by the on-line consignment system. [51] In step 410, space for the file is allocated in the promotional media database 246. In particular, space allocation is based on the playback time of the uploaded file. As previously mentioned, the promotional portion of 10 the consignment system is based on a timeline that consists of a sequential chain of timeline slots. Each timeline slot accommodates a file of predetermined size. Since the uploaded file will be fragmented into files of the predetermined size, the length of the media file determines the amount of timeline file space that is required to play back the entire file. Once the 15 timeline space has been determined, that space is allocated in the promotional media database 246. Next, the file formatter 214 fragments the file into fragment files, each of which is of the predetermined timeline slot size. [52] In step 416, the uploaded file fragments are stored in the promotional media database 246. Each timeline slot file has a predetermined 20 location in the promotional media database. When an uploaded file is added, for example, by means of the process set forth in Figure 4, the file fragments will overwrite timeline slot files in the portion of the timeline that has been assigned to the consignor. If these timeline slot files had not previously been assigned to another consignor, these file locations will be blank and 25 overwritten by the new file fragments. Alternatively, if the timeline space had been previously consigned to another consignor, then the new file fragments will overwrite the file fragments previously stored by the other consignor. [53] Next, in step 416, the consignor database is updated with the newly added file properties. These properties could include the location of the 30 uploaded file fragments. For example, the beginning of the timeline might be associated with a unique consignor ID, which is assigned to the consignor during the uploading process. This ID can later be used to locate the 13 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 beginning of the portion of the timeline that is associated with that consignor. Other information that can be added to the consignor database and associated with the consignor ID can include descriptions of the consigned purchasable items that were previously generated and uploaded by the 5 consignor. For example, in the case that the consigned purchasable item is a digital audio file of a song, the descriptive information may include the song title, the media length (playback time), the artist name, album type and media genre. In addition, if the consigned items are digital files, the information can include the location at which associated file has been stored in the consignor 10 information and purchasable item database 234. At this point, the promotional video file is ready for playback when it is selected by a customer using the customer module in conjunction with the web browser. [54] Figure 5 is a more detailed block diagram of a customer module that allows a customer to interact with the consignment server and to view 15 promotional video material and purchase both audio and video items while viewing the promotional material. In one embodiment, the customer module runs in a conventional web browser and connects to the consignment server via the Internet. In this embodiment, the customer module 500 comprises a GUI generator 502 that generates a graphic user interface in the web browser 20 allowing the customer to view promotional material and purchase media selections. In particular, the GUI generator 502 interacts with a command processor 504, as indicated schematically by arrow 506, to select and control playback of a portion of the promotional media timeline. [55] The GUI generator 502 also interacts, as indicated by arrow 25 519, with a sales module 520 in order to allow the customer to purchase selected items. In turn, the sales module 520 connects to the consignment server via network interface 536, as indicated schematically by arrow 534. The sales module 520, together with the accounting engine 206 (Figure 2) in the consignment server, handle the details of an on-line purchase. In 30 particular, as will be hereinafter described, commands embedded in the promotional material, or other information, such as the title of the promotional material, cause the GUI generator 502 and the sales module 520 in 14 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 cooperation with the accounting engine 206 to access the consignor database 112. The accounting engine 206 retrieves descriptive information previously uploaded by the consignor concerning items or services available for purchase and forwards that information to the sales module 520. This 5 information is displayed in the user interface as the promotional material is being presented, thereby allowing a customer to conduct an on-line purchase during the presentation of the promotional materials. On-line sale details handled by the sales module 520 also include selection of the item or service to be purchased, payment options, credit card verification and other on-line 10 banking services. The sales module 520 can also interact with the file manager 516 as indicated by arrow 522 in order to store account information in local storage 518. [56] After a user has selected a digital purchasable item and purchased the selection via the sales module 520, the sales module 520 15 controls a file downloader 526, as indicated by arrow 540, to download the selection, via the network interface 536, as indicated by arrow 532. The file downloader 526 then provides the downloaded file, as indicated by arrow 524, to the file manager 516 for storage on local storage 518. Alternatively, in the case of non-downloadable consignment items, such as CDs, T-Shirts, etc., 20 the sales module 520 could transmit the appropriate identification information to the consignment server and the order can be filled by conventional warehouse facilities. [57] The command processor 504 also interacts with a timeline loader 530 as indicated by arrow 513. When a customer has selected a 25 portion of the timeline for display, the command processor 504 instructs the timeline loader 530 to download the first timeline segment corresponding to the selected timeline portion. The timeline loader 530, as will hereinafter discussed, searches on the Internet, via the network interface 536, as indicated by arrow 538, to locate the requested timeline segment either over a 30 file-sharing network or directly from the consignment server. Once the timeline loader 530 has obtained the requested timeline segment, it is provided, as indicated by arrow 528, to the file manager 516. The file 15 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 manager 516 transfers the timeline segment either to the browser cache 512 for display or to local storage for later display. [58] The command processor 504 also controls media players 509 and 508, as indicated schematically by arrow 510. As will be hereinafter 5 described, under control of commands contained in a timeline segment, the command processor 504 controls media players 508 and 509 to alternately display content in each timeline slot from the browser cache 512, as indicated schematically by arrow 515. [59] Figure 6 is a screen shot of an illustrative graphic user interface 10 used to control the customer module. This graphic user interface is designed to be displayed in a conventional web browser 600. Although Figure 6 shows the Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser, any other conventional browser system could also be used. The exemplary graphic user interface 602 is designed for use with a music consignment system. A similar graphic user 15 interface could be used with other consignment items, such as sports memorabilia, features films, etc. The music consignment graphic user display comprises three separate areas. The left-hand promotional video selection area 604 includes a plurality of "channel" buttons 610-632. Each button, for example button 612, allows a customer to select a particular "channel" or area 20 of promotional material for viewing. Each channel consists of a plurality of playlist selections that are all associated with the selected area. The promotional material associated with each playlist selection can be a variety of video information. Along with traditional music videos, the promotional materials may consist of stored interviews of performers, artists and other 25 people concerned with the content, a live video feed, videos of particular artists performing, etc. [60] The buttons 610-632 may be part of a scrolling list so that additional buttons may be displayed by selecting and dragging the scrollbar thumb 634. In addition, a search mechanism 636 may be provided to allow 30 the customer to search for particular keywords to locate promotional material for a selected media content area. 16 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 [61] As will be described hereinafter, once a customer has selected a media content area, promotional video selections for playlist selections in that area are presented. In particular, when a channel is selected the promotional video for the first playlist selection immediately begins playing. When the 5 promotional material for one playlist selection is finished playing the promotional material for the next playlist selection immediately begins playing. Operation continues in this fashion until the entire timeline has finished playing. The user can also select other playlist selections to cause the system to jump directly to the portion of the timeline associated with that 10 playlist selection. When one promotional video selection is chosen, the first timeline segment for that selection is obtained. If a particular playlist selection has not been purchased by a consignor, the selection is indicated as blank and a blank screen appears in the media display area 640. [62] The center media display section 606 of the graphic user 15 interface 602 contains a display area 640 which displays the promotional videos in the timeline slots for the selected content area. Additional control buttons may also be provided to allow the user to manipulate the displayed video information. Play control buttons 642 allow a promotional video to be played, paused, fast forwarded and rewound in a manner similar to a 20 conventional tape recorder. Playlist advance and retreat buttons 644 and 646 instantaneously move the promotional display to the start of the playlist selection immediately previous and to the start of the playlist selection immediately subsequent to the playlist selection currently playing in the timeline, respectively. 25 [63] An "IDM Weekly" selection button 648 affects that promotional material areas that are displayed in the channel buttons 610-632. In the example illustrated in Figure 6, selecting the "IDM Weekly" button 648 causes the selections illustrated in Figure 6 to appear in the channel buttons 610-632. These selections may consist of live and taped interviews and news stories 30 concerned with music. This gives the customer module a "television" like presentation. 17 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 [64] Alternatively, a music store library button 650 changes the selections available by means of channel buttons 610-632. When the music library button 650 is selected, each channel button is set to a particular group or artist. Selecting a channel button displays album covers assembled by the 5 selected artist or group or songs performed by the selected artist or group. If album covers are displayed, selecting an album cover displays the song titles contained within that album. [65] A "BUY IT" button 652 allows the customer to instantly purchase an item related to the promotional material being presented in the display area 10 640. [66] A "radio" section 654 allows audio selections from the music store library to be played through the computer system speakers. The audio selections can be chosen by a variety of mechanisms including name or title search, genre, etc. 15 [67] The right hand store area 602 of the graphic user interface enables purchase of selected items either while the promotional material is being presented or later. The illustrative user interface uses a shopping cart metaphor which can be generated and maintained using conventional on-line sales software. A key feature of the consignment system is that when a 20 customer has selected a playlist selection and the promotional materials for that playlist selection are displaying in the media display area 640, the consignment items that have been selected by the consignor as available for purchase and associated with the promotional materials that are being displayed appear in the "IN STOCK" window 664. This display of items 25 available for purchase together with the display of the promotional materials for those items provides an optimum sales environment. [68] If the customer has decided to choose an item in the IN STOCK window 664 for possible purchase, that item can be selected and added to the customer's shopping cart by selecting button 666 to add the selected item to 30 the cart. A scrolling list 668 displays items that have been placed in the shopping cart. This list can be scrolled by manipulating scroll bar thumb 670 18 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 and each item contains the same information that is displayed for each playlist selection associated with one of channel buttons 610-632. [69] In order to allow a customer to review his or her potential purchases, selecting an item displayed in the shopping cart list 668 causes 5 the promotional material for that playlist selection to begin displaying in the 'media display area 640 just as if the customer had selected that associated channel button and playlist selection in button list 604. When a user has decided to purchase consignment items, those items can be selected, for example, by checking a check box associated with each selected item and 10 then actuating a "check out" button 672 in order to initiate purchase of the selected items. [70] A further button 660 can be selected by customers who would also like to be consignors. Button 660 initiates a sales sequence that allows a consignor to purchase and download to his computer the consignor module 15 shown in Figure 3. [71] The graphics and other media that comprise the graphic user interface shown in Figure 6 are stored in the consignor database in the consignment server, for example in a media playback file that includes both media content and playback commands. Media playback files that include 20 both media data and playback commands are well-known. Such files might include, for example, SWF files, but other file formats can also be used. The contents of SWF files and the format are specified in an SWF file format specification which can be found on the Internet at URL "openswf.org/spec/SWFfileformat.htm". When the customer module is first 25 started in the customer's computer and logs onto the consignment website, a media playback file containing the images that form the graphic user display is downloaded. In order to reduce downloading time, all downloaded files are kept small, typically in the 17kb-20kb size range. When the media playback file is downloaded, the commands in the playback file set up the screen 30 display in the manner set forth in Figure 6. The media information in the playback file typically includes a small introductory video presentation that then begins playing in the media playback area 640. 19 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 [72] As the introductory video presentation is playing in the playback area 640, a control file is downloaded from the consignment server. This control file may, for example, be an Extended Markup Language (XML) file. As described below, this file establishes the aforementioned "timeline" that 5 controls the playback of the promotional materials and identifies additional files that are downloaded in response to selection of the aforementioned control buttons. The format of this file is illustrated in Figure 9 and will be described in connection with playlist selections and Figures 7 and 8. [73] Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the use of the channel buttons 610-632 10 to select a portion of the media timeline for previewing. In particular, Figure 7 is a schematic view of the selection area 604 and media display area 606 of the graphic user interface 602 shown in Figure 6. Figure 7 illustrates the appearance of the graphic user interface shown in Figure 6 after one channel button, such as button 612 has been selected. When channel button 612 is 15 selected, the previously loaded XML control file as shown in Figure 9 is consulted. Although the file is arranged as an XML file, it is actually accessed by line number, thereby avoiding the necessity of parsing the XML file to select a particular line. Thus, the XML file acts more like a large array. The file 900 is divided into a number of sections 902-912 which identify the 20 locations of the promotional and point of sale materials associated with each channel button. [74] Illustratively, each file section contains twenty lines corresponding to twenty possible channel buttons. Of course, in other implementations, there can be more than twenty, or less than twenty, channel 25 buttons. Each file line, in turn, can contain explanatory text, which, in Figure 9, is an assigned line number, such as line number 914 and the name 916 of a file in the consignment server in which some information associated with that button is stored. The file 900 is indexed as shown by the arrows 918-928 in Figure 9 so that the corresponding lines of each section are read depending 30 on the button selected. [75] When a particular channel button is selected, the corresponding lines in the file sections are consulted and the files identified by those lines 20 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 are located and downloaded. Assuming that channel button 612 is selected, the first line of each file section is selected as indicated by arrows 920-928 (channel button 610 is associated with the initial introductory program that was downloaded with the initial media playback file). The first file to be 5 downloaded is indicated by the XML file line identified by arrow 920 and is a media playback file identified by the file name "AO000001/AOOO0001 O01.swf." The initial "A0000001" corresponds to the consignor ID and indicates the folder in which the media playback file is stored. The remainder of the file name "A0000001_01_.swf' identifies the actual file. This contents of this file 10 might for example, be information for displaying ten playlist selection buttons. [76] When the commands in the downloaded media playback file are executed ten playlist selection buttons 704-722 appear in the channel button selection area 702 of the graphic user interface 700 in place of the channel buttons 610-632. Although only ten buttons are shown in Figure 7, up to 15 twenty buttons can be displayed. Additional buttons may be displayed using the scrollbar 724. Each playlist button represents a set of promotional and point-of sale materials that are associated with that playlist selection. A promotional video associated with the selection can be displayed in the media playback area 730, which has a fixed size with an upper left hand corner 732 20 fixed at a predetermined position in the browser window. The associated point-of-sale materials are simultaneously displayed in the store area 608 of the display 600 (not shown in Figures 7 and 8). These materials might include a song associated with the promotional video is presented and its purchase price, albums, CDs etc. 25 [77] In addition, at this time a new XML control file is also downloaded. This new XML file has the same format as XML file 900 and also contains multiple sections. Each section contains a line that corresponds to one of the playlist selections 704-706. These lines are selected when a user selects one of the playlist selections. 30 [78] When the playlist display shown in Figure 7 appears, a small expander button 734 also appears on the scrollbar 724. When this latter expander button is selected, the XML control file 900 is again consulted and 21 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 the first media playback file in the section 906 is selected (file "A0000001/APLAYLISTOPEN_01.swf") as indicated by arrow 922 and downloaded. This file contains additional playlist information and, when the commands in the file are executed, playlist buttons 704-722 shown in Figure 7 5 are expanded into ten playlist selections 834-852 as indicated in Figure 8. When the playlist selections are displayed, the system displays the descriptive information for each playlist selection from the previously downloaded media playback. Such information can include the content title, playback time, artist name, album, genre, etc. Although in Figure 8, this information is shown 10 displayed across the display screen, the information could also be displayed in the channel button area 802 and viewed by scrolling the channel button area horizontally by means of a scroll button (not shown in Figure 8.) [79] Each of playlist selections 834-852 represents a promotional video clip that has been previously uploaded or selected by a consignor. The 15 length of the clip depends on the size of the promotional file that has been uploaded by the consignor. Typically, promotional video files run about 10-15 seconds in length. When one playlist selection is chosen, for example, selection 834, the new XML file is consulted and a media playback file is downloaded. For example, in the new file, selecting the first playlist selection 20 might cause the first media playback file indicated by arrow 920 to be downloaded. In general, this would correspond to the promotional video in the first timeline slot. When this file is downloaded, the promotional material associated with that point in the timeline begins playback in the media playback area 730. It is important to note that the timeline is continuous, as 25 when one playlist selection is playing, the next playlist selection is automatically downloaded in accordance with the XML control file for the buttons so that it automatically begins playing when the first selection finishes. If the next section in the timeline has not been assigned to a consignor, then a blank screen will appear. Therefore, by using the channel buttons and the 30 playlist selectors, the customer can start playback at any point in the timeline that is desired. 22 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 [80] In addition, after the first promotional video begins playing, the new XML control is consulted and the first file in the next section 908 as indicated by arrow 924 is located and downloaded. This file might contain the aforementioned point-of-sale information which can be displayed in the music 5 store area 602 of the graphic user interface 600 in synchronism with the promotional video being displayed in the graphic presentation area 730. [81] The general mechanism for presenting the promotional materials uses streaming video files with a progressive download. The progressive download allows the system to begin presentation of the file 10 before the entire file is downloaded. In one embodiment, a mechanism that generates a steaming file with progressive downloads for presenting promotional materials by playing back the timeline is illustrated in Figures 10 12. Figure 10 illustrates the structure of the timeline 1000, which is composed of a plurality of frames, where each frame comprises the files associated with 15 one channel button. Accordingly, the playback length of each frame can vary depending on the length of promotional material uploaded by each consignor. Typically, the timeline 1000 would consist of between ten and twenty frames, of which frames 1010-1024 are shown at the frame level 1002. [82] Each frame, in turn, is comprised of a set of playlist selections 20 where each playlist selection is the promotional video content for one playlist selection. Again, the length of each playlist selection would depend on the length of the upload file corresponding to that promotional material. The number of playlist selections per frame is generally determined by the on-line playback system. In the illustrated system, there are ten playlist selections for 25 each channel button. For example, ten selections 1026-1044 are shown at playlist selection level 1004 associated with frame 1016. However, not all playlist selections may contain actual content; those that do not are blank. [83] Each selection, for example, selection 1034 is, in turn, comprised of playback files or timeline slot files at the playback file level 1006. 30 The number of timeline slots for each selection is dependent on the length of the promotional item. At the playback level, each promotional video file is divided into timeline segments and each timeline segment has a 23 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 predetermined number of timeline slots. This predetermined number is dependent on the playback rate for the file. The playback rate is, in turn, dependent on the resolution and other factors of the system. For example, an illustrative playback rate might be fifteen timeline slots presented per second, 5 but other playback rates might be as high as 24 slots per second. Since the timeline is loaded and presented a segment at a time, a small number of slots are included in each segment in order to keep the download time short. An illustrative timeline segment length might be one second. The segment is thus comprised of fifteen slots. 10 [84] Breaking the promotional material into slots in this manner helps to prevent theft of the material because the information in the slots must be reassembled into order to present the promotional material outside of the customer module. In addition, since the file size of each timeline segment is small, one or two segments can be quickly downloaded and playback can 15 begin before the remainder of the segments are downloaded. This allows playback to begin almost instantaneously even if the timeline segments must be downloaded over low bandwidth facilities, such as dial-up telephone lines. [85] Further, in order to help manage system bandwidth, the customer modules are part of a conventional "peer-to-peer file-sharing" 20 network. Such networks are well-known and allow a peer computer to search the network for other peer computers that have local copies of identified data and, once located, to download that data directly from another peer computer. See, for example, Stephanos Androutsellis-Theotokis and Diomidis Spinellis. A Survey of Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Technologies. White paper, Electronic 25 Trading Research Unit (ELTRUN), Athens University of Economics and Business, 2002. For information relating to available peer-to-peer file sharing systems see URL http://www.linuxsecurity.com/docs/Hack-FAQ/data networks/p2p-peer-to-peer-file-sharing.shtml. In the present system, each timeline segment is assigned a unique ID. When a customer has selected a 30 section of the timeline for playback, the timeline loader 530 (Figure 5) uses a peer-to-peer file sharing network to search for a peer computer that has recently downloaded the same timeline segment and presently has this 24 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 timeline segment cached. If the requested timeline segment is located on a peer computer, it is downloaded from that computer. The file sharing network prevents a bottleneck condition that would be caused by downloading all timeline segments from a single server or set of servers and reduces the 5 bandwidth that would otherwise be necessary at the server. If the requested timeline segment cannot be located in a peer computer, then it will be obtained from the consignment server. [86] Each timeline slot file, for example, slot file 1066, includes both media data 1080, for example, a graphic image that will be displayed in the 10 media playback area and commands 1082 that control the timeline playback. In general, these commands 1082 will include commands that cause the media data to be presented in the media playback area as well as commands that will load the next slot file in the timeline. Additional commands in certain timeline slot files will cause the next time line segment to be loaded. It should 15 be noted that the structure of each timeline segment, including the number of timeline slots per segment and the commands in each slot file, is fixed. The only variable between timeline segments is the media data in each slot file. [87] The commands can also be used to retrieve descriptive material for purchasable items or services that are available for purchase during the 20 presentation of the promotional material. As previously described this descriptive material can be retrieved from the consignor database where it has been previously uploaded by the consignor. Alternatively, identifying information such as the title of the promotional material may be used to retrieve the descriptive information. 25 [88] Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the interaction between the timeline files and the two media players 1102 and 1104 contained in the customer module. Figure 11 illustrates the playback of a timeline segment 1100. For simplicity, this timeline segment is shown as having ten timeline slots (arbitrarily labeled 1-10), although as mentioned above, most timeline 30 segments would have 15-24 time slots. During playback, timeline segment 1100 would normally be stored in the browser cache of the web browser in which the customer module is running. As previously mentioned, each time 25 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 slot file contains both media data and commands. The commands would include a command that causes the media data of that file to be displayed by a media player in the media playback area for a predetermined period of time, for example, 1/10 of a second. As shown in Figure 11, the media data portion 5 1110 of timeline slot 2 of timeline segment 1100 has been provided to media player A 1102 as indicated schematically by arrow 1114 and is being presented in the media playback area 1106 as indicated schematically by arrow 1116. After a predetermined period of time, additional commands in the command portion 1112 would cause the command processor 504 (Figure 5) 10 to begin processing timeline slot 3. [89] In addition some timeline slot files contain commands that download the next timeline segment from the network as described above. For example in Figure 11, timeline slot file 2 has commands that, as indicated schematically by arrow 1118, cause the file manager 1108 to load the next 15 timeline segment obtained by the timeline loader (530 in Figure 5) into a cache area that might be located in the RAM memory of the customer computer. When all slot files in the time line segment has been presented, the commands in the last timeline slot file cause the cached timeline segment to be loaded into the browser cache as indicated schematically by arrow 20 1120. The command processor then causes media player B 1104 to begin processing the new timeline segment that has been loaded into the browser cache. [90] The next step in the timeline display process is shown in Figure 12. In this figure, elements that correspond to elements in Figure 11 are 25 given corresponding numbers. For example, media player A 1102 in Figure 11 corresponds to media player A 1202 in Figure 12. Figure 12 illustrates the playback of the next timeline segment 1200 that comprises timeline slots 10 19. As previously mentioned, timeline segment 1200 was loaded into the browser cache at the end of the presentation of timeline segment 1100. As 30 shown in Figure 12, the media data portion 1210 of timeline slot 11 of timeline segment 1200 has been provided to media player B 1202 as indicated schematically by arrow 1214 and is being presented in the media playback 26 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 area 1206 as indicated schematically by arrow 1216. After a predetermined period of time, additional commands in the command portion 1212 would cause the command processor 504 (Figure 5) to begin processing timeline slot 12. 5 [91] In addition, timeline slot file 11 has commands that, as indicated schematically by arrow 1218, cause the file manager 1208 to load the next timeline segment obtained by the timeline loader (530 in Figure 5) into the RAM cache area. When all slot files in the time line segment has been presented, the commands in the last timeline slot file 19 cause the cached 10 timeline segment to be loaded into the browser cache as indicated schematically by arrow 1220. The command processor then causes media player A 1204 to begin processing the new timeline segment that has been loaded into the browser cache. In this manner a new timeline segment is loaded during the playback of a previous timeline segment. In order to 15 provide time for a new timeline segment to be loaded when timeline playback is started, the fist timeline segment to be downloaded can be played twice in succession in order to provide time to download the next timeline segment. [92] A software implementation of the above-described embodiment may comprise a series of computer instructions either fixed on a tangible 20 medium, such as a computer readable media, for example, a diskette, a CD ROM, a ROM memory, or a fixed disk, or transmittable to a computer system, via a modem or other interface device over a medium. The medium either can be a tangible medium, including but not limited to optical or analog communications lines, or may be implemented with wireless techniques, 25 including but not limited to microwave, infrared or other transmission techniques. It may also be the Internet. The series of computer instructions embodies all or part of the functionality previously described herein with respect to the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such computer instructions can be written in a number of programming languages 30 for use with many computer architectures or operating systems. Further, such instructions may be stored using any memory technology, present or future, including, but not limited to, semiconductor, magnetic, optical or other memory 27 WO 2006/060636 PCT/US2005/043582 devices, or transmitted using any communications technology, present or future, including but not limited to optical, infrared, microwave, or other transmission technologies. It is contemplated that such a computer program product may be distributed as a removable media with accompanying printed 5 or electronic documentation, e.g., shrink wrapped software, pre-loaded with a computer system, e.g., on system ROM or fixed disk, or distributed from a server or electronic bulletin board over a network, e.g., the Internet or World Wide Web. [93] Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been 10 disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made which will achieve some of the advantages of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it will be obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art that, in other implementations, various media playback files other than swf files could be 15 used to generate the graphical displays. The order of the process steps may also be changed without affecting the operation of the invention. Other aspects, such as the specific process flow, as well as other modifications to the inventive concept are intended to be covered by the appended claims. [94] What is claimed is: 28

Claims (32)

1. A method for automating an interactive consignment sale of multimedia content over a network, comprising: (a) receiving the multimedia content from a consignor; (b) obtaining promotional content to be associated with the multimedia content; (c) defining a timeline having a series of file slots; (d) fragmenting the promotional content and inserting the fragments into file slots in the timeline at a position purchased by the consignor; and (e) presenting files in the slots in the timeline over the network to a consumer in the order defined by the timeline in response to a request from the consumer.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: (f) presenting information required to purchase the multimedia content to the consumer in synchronism with the presentation of the files in step (e) so that the consumer can purchase the multimedia content while receiving a promotional presentation.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises receiving the multimedia content from the consignor over the network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises obtaining the promotional content from the consignor over the network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises receiving a selection from stock promotional material from the consignor.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) comprises downloading files in the slots in the timeline over the network from a consignment server.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) comprises downloading files in the slots in the timeline over the network from another consumer via a file-sharing network.

8. A method for automating an interactive consignment sale of multimedia content over a network, comprising: (a) receiving over the network a request from a consignor to purchase promotional time, the multimedia content and purchase information necessary for a consumer to purchase the multimedia content; (b) obtaining promotional content to be associated with the multimedia content; (c) fragmenting the promotional content into a plurality of file slots having total duration equal to the promotional time purchased by the consignor; (d) presenting file slot information over the network to a consumer in response to a request from the consumer; and (e) presenting the purchase information to the consumer simultaneously with the file slot information.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein step (b) comprises obtaining the promotional content from the consignor over the network.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein step (b) comprises receiving a selection from stock promotional material from the consignor.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein step (d) comprises downloading file slot information over the network from a consignment server.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein step (d) comprises downloading the file slot information over the network from another consumer via a file- sharing network.

13. A method for automating an interactive consignment sale of multimedia content over a network, comprising: (a) receiving at a consignment server the multimedia content and promotional content to be associated with the multimedia content over the network from a consignor; (b) fragmenting the promotional content and downloading promotional content fragments over the network to a first computer from the consignment server in response to a request from the first computer; (c) storing the downloaded promotional content fragments in the first computer; and (d) in response to a request from a second computer for a promotional content fragment, downloading the promotional content fragment from the first computer.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein step (d) comprises downloading the promotional content fragment from the consignment server when the promotional content fragment is not available from the consignment server.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising: (e) presenting the downloaded promotional content fragments to a consumer at the first computer.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising: (f) receiving from the consignor over the network purchase information necessary for a consumer to purchase the multimedia content; (g) downloading the purchase information to the first computer along with the promotional content fragments; and (h) presenting the purchase information in synchronism with the presentation of the promotional content fragments.

17. Apparatus for automating an interactive consignment sale of multimedia content over a network, comprising: means for receiving the multimedia content from a consignor; means for obtaining promotional content to be associated with the multimedia content; means for defining a timeline having a series of file slots; means for fragmenting the promotional content and inserting the fragments into file slots in the timeline at a position purchased by the consignor; and means for presenting files in the slots in the timeline over the network to a consumer in the order defined by the timeline in response to a request from the consumer.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising: means for presenting information required to purchase the multimedia content to the consumer in synchronism with the presentation of the files by the means for presenting files so that the consumer can purchase the multimedia content while receiving a promotional presentation.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the means for receiving the multimedia content comprises means for receiving the multimedia content from the consignor over the network.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the means for obtaining the promotional content comprises means for obtaining the promotional content from the consignor over the network.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the means for obtaining promotional content comprises means for receiving a selection from stock promotional material from the consignor.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the means for presenting files comprises means for downloading files in the slots in the timeline over the network from a consignment server.

23. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the means for presenting files comprises means for downloading files in the slots in the timeline over the network from another consumer via a file-sharing network.

24. Apparatus for automating an interactive consignment sale of multimedia content over a network, comprising: means for receiving over the network a request from a consignor to purchase promotional time, the multimedia content and purchase information necessary for a consumer to purchase the multimedia content; means for obtaining promotional content to be associated with the multimedia content; means for fragmenting the promotional content into a plurality of file slots having total duration equal to the promotional time purchased by the consignor; means for presenting file slot information over the network to a consumer in response to a request from the consumer; and means for presenting the purchase information to the consumer simultaneously with the file slot information.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the means for obtaining the promotional content comprises means for obtaining the promotional content from the consignor over the network.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the means for obtaining the promotional content comprises means for receiving a selection from stock promotional material from the consignor.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the means for presenting file slot information comprises means for downloading file slot information over the network from a consignment server.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the means for presenting file slot information comprises means for downloading the file slot information over the network from another consumer via a file-sharing network.

29. Apparatus for automating an interactive consignment sale of multimedia content over a network, comprising: means for receiving at a consignment server the multimedia content and promotional content to be associated with the multimedia content over the network from a consignor; means for fragmenting the promotional content and downloading promotional content fragments over the network to a first computer from the consignment server in response to a request from the first computer; means for storing the downloaded promotional content fragments in the first computer; and means operable in response to a request from a second computer for a promotional content fragment, for downloading the promotional content fragment from the first computer.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the means for downloading the promotional content fragment comprises means for downloading the promotional content fragment from the consignment server when the promotional content fragment is not available from the consignment server.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising: means for presenting the downloaded promotional content fragments to a consumer at the first computer.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising: means for receiving from the consignor over the network purchase information necessary for a consumer to purchase the multimedia content; means for downloading the purchase information to the first computer along with the promotional content fragments; and means for presenting the purchase information in synchronism with the presentation of the promotional content fragments.