AU2007100610A4 - Improved business method for sale and delivery of scheduled media air time - Google Patents

Description

O Description

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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION oINNOVATION PATENT 0Improved business method for sale and delivery of scheduled media air time 0The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best omethod of performing it known to me: This invention is a novel method for sale and delivery of scheduled media air time.

Media air time is either audio or video media content delivered to the customer.

Scheduled media is media content delivered to an advertised schedule.

Scheduled air time is currently only available over broadcast or cable television or radio. Neither the broadcast nor cable channels provide an interface by which the general public may book air time and submit media for scheduled delivery. These traditional channels source their media content from commercial suppliers. The general public play no active role in the supply or programming of the media content.

Furthermore, for the free to air model, revenues are sourced from advertisers who are distinct from the suppliers of the channel content. Separate management is required for sourcing the advertising content and the entertainment content.

User provided content is traditionally only available in an on demand format, over the internet. On demand means that the audience has to search and select the item of media content they wish to view or listen to. For audience members who require continuous viewing listening without user input, the current services are inadequate.

This invention provides a channel by which the general public can provide content that can be delivered in a scheduled format. The same interface and management system is used for both users who provide entertainment content and users who provide advertising content. The invention provides for continuous viewing listening without the need for user interaction.

The invention works as follows: Rather than cable or wireless transmission, the invention uses the internet as the delivery channel. It also uses the internet as the communications channel for the submission of content by the end users, the scheduling of that content by the end users, and the provision schedule information to the audience.

The invention maintains a computerised system that is connected to the internet. This computerised system delivers the content by a broadcast streaming mechanism.

Broadcast streaming is an established method of mass dissemination of content over the internet. The stream is continuous. The computerised system serves a principle web page containing a media player application that renders the stream. As the computerised system serves the media content as an independent stream it can be rendered by any device with a suitable embedded media player and an internet connection. Examples include mobile phones but also include televisions with embedded browsers or internet refrigerators. The stream is engaged immediately upon the user browsing to the principle web page and continues to play indefinitely without user interaction. The computerised system also serves schedule information as a web-page. Similarly the computerised system provides a web based interface for the general public that allows them to up-load media content from their location anywhere in the world to the computerised system's data-store. Further, the computerised system provides an interface that allows the end user to schedule their submitted content. The invention uses an algorithm to determine availability of scheduled slots to a given user. The complexity of the algorithm is a function of the level of demand for a specific schedule time slot. In the simplest case this algorithm is that the first user to request a specific slot for their submitted content will get that slot. The content is then advertised in the schedule as being broadcast at the scheduled time. The algorithm becomes more complex where demand exceeds supply for scheduled slots. In these cases additional factors are taken into account.

These include anticipated number of viewers at the given time slot, the result of vetting of the content, audience feedback of previous content supplied by the user, amount paid by the user or the amount paid to the user and the result of moderation of the content.

Content may be moderated. Content submitted by end users for broadcast may be previewed by a knowledgeable person and categorised depending on its suitability for broadcast on the channel. Whether or not a piece of content is allocated a schedule slot may depend on this categorisation. In one instance of the invention the audience may only have access to the channel after providing proof they are of a certain age. In this instance, content categorised by the moderator as suitable only for people above that age may still be scheduled and broadcast.

Content may be vetted. Content submitted by end users for broadcast may be previewed by a knowledgeable person and categorised depending on whether the content is a commercial promotion. Whether or not a piece of content is allocated a schedule slot may depend on this categorisation. In one instance of the invention, commercial promotions require payment of a fee before being scheduled.

By using the vetting method, the invention is able to use the same interface for both commercial advertisers and end users providing their own content. As content is provided in advance of broadcast it can be vetted and if deemed to be a commercial promotion there is time for a commercial arrangement to be made with the provider before the content is aired.

In a further instance of the invention, for a given piece of popular content where revenue is generated through third party advertising, a revenue share mechanism is in place where this revenue is shared with the provider of the content. Revenue associated with the broadcast of a given piece of content cab be via hyper-link clickthroughs on margin advertising or sale of air time immediately before, immediately after, or during the broadcast of the given piece of media content.

In a further instance of the invention, the stream is rendered by a proprietary media player, such as Flash, so that it is not possible to capture and copy the stream.

In a further instance of the invention, media content is uploaded to the computer 0 O system via other channels that the web interface provided. This includes mobile phones via MMS, as attachments to emails and physically submitted content on media storage devices.

Va) In a further instance of the invention, the computer system also serves a principle web page and or WAP page suitable for rendering on a mobile phone.

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0To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the oaccompanying drawing which shows one example of the invention: Figures 1 through 4 show an example of an implementation of the invention.

In this instance the invention is for the delivery of scheduled video media.

Figure 1 depicts a screen shot of the principle internet web page that is used for the delivery of scheduled video media content. The media stream is screened on a Flash media player The schedule is displayed for reference A login (13) is provided for registered users. Here multiple channels exist and links to the other channels are provided (14).

Figure 2 depicts the user interface web page, here the Add Video tab selected. This web page provides the functionality for the user to upload a video file from their computer to the invention's computerised system. A form is provided for the user to provide information about the video including a user categorisation of the video.

The user then schedules a slot for the content at some point in the future here only free schedule slots are available for the user to choose from. There is an option not to schedule the video but to simply keep it stored for future use. A list of the user's uploaded videos are displayed (23) with a code indicating their status after moderation and vetting: X indicates that it has not yet been assessed, A indicates it has been assessed as advertising material, N indicates that it has been assessed as nonadvertising material, G indicates that it has been assessed as suitable for broadcast while R indicates that a restriction has been placed on it. The user's videos that have been confirmed for broadcast are displayed in a schedule The user can preview their own videos on demand using the web-browser media player Figure 3 depicts the user interface web page again, but with the My Profile tab selected. Here the user enters their personal details (31) and also their payment details New users are required to fill this section out before proceeding to other pages.

Figure 4 depicts the user interface web page again but with the Video Detail tab selected. This is similar to the Add Video tab, but simply displays information (41) pertaining to the video selected in the user's previously uploaded video list (42).

Information collected through these user interface web pages is transmitted to the invention's computerised system. A knowledgeable person has access to uploaded videos and moderates and vets the videos and set's their status which is then reflected on the user's video list in Figure 2. Based on the vetting and moderation the content is then automatically scheduled. Content deemed as advertising is referred to a sales person who contacts the user to negotiate a fee. Some slots are reserved for fee paying users only. These are indicated on the list of available slots in figure 2.

Claims (4)

1. A method of delivery of scheduled media simultaneously to a mass audience via 0the internet, this delivery being by a media stream which is then rendered via an oembedded client side application suitable for display on computer screens and mobile phones, where the media content can be supplied by the general public via an internet oweb interface or mobile phone MMS or physical delivery or email.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the media is delivered in a continuous stream without user interaction.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the media content is specifically video media.

4. The method of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein an internet web interface for the provision of media content by the general public is also used for the provision of media content that is of a commercial promotion nature. A charge is then payable by the user for scheduling of their uploaded media content that is categorised as a commercial promotion during a vetting pre-view. The method of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein revenue generated in association with a specific piece of media content being streamed is shared with the provider of the content.