U.S. patent application number 12/404125 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-22 for system and method for management and distribution of multimedia presentations.
This patent application is currently assigned to PumpOne, LLC. Invention is credited to Declan Condron, Craig Schlossberg.
Application Number | 20090265649 12/404125 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41202149 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090265649 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schlossberg; Craig ; et
al. |
October 22, 2009 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF MULTIMEDIA
PRESENTATIONS
Abstract
A system for delivery of content-based products. The system
includes a content library which provides advanced interfaces for
adding, manipulating, arranging and storing multimedia
presentations, and for interacting with rich multimedia
presentations.
Inventors: |
Schlossberg; Craig; (New
York, NY) ; Condron; Declan; (New York, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP
2101 L Street, N.W., Suite 1000
Washington
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
PumpOne, LLC
New York
NY
|
Family ID: |
41202149 |
Appl. No.: |
12/404125 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11567728 |
Dec 6, 2006 |
|
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12404125 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/769 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 2220/12 20130101;
G06Q 30/02 20130101; G06Q 30/0621 20130101; G06Q 30/0601
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/769 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/048 20060101
G06F003/048 |
Claims
1. A three component visual interface for selecting one or more
objects from a library of objects, wherein each object in the
library comprises at least two attributes, the interface
comprising: a filter component having a display for selecting a
plurality of attributes; a filtered library display for displaying
objects in the library comprising the selected attributes; an
ordered assembly display for displaying a specified set of objects
in a specified order, wherein the objects and the order are
specified by dragging objects from the filtered library display and
dropping them in the ordered assembly display; and wherein the
filter component, at least a portion of the filtered library
display that displays objects in the library comprising the
selected attributes and at least a portion of the ordered assembly
display are concurrently visible.
2. A three component visual interface for selecting one or more
objects from a library of objects, wherein objects in the library
comprises a first hierarchical attribute and a second hierarchical
attribute, and wherein the second hierarchical attribute is lower
in a hierarchy than the first hierarchical attribute, the interface
comprising: a filter component having a display for selecting a
first hierarchical attribute and a second hierarchical attribute; a
filtered library display for displaying objects in the library
comprising the selected first and second hierarchical attributes;
an ordered assembly display for displaying a portion of the
contents of the library in a specified order, wherein the order is
specified by dragging objects from the filtered library display and
dropping them in the ordered assembly display; and wherein the
filter component, at least a portion of the filtered library
display that displays objects in the library comprising the
selected attributes and at least a portion of the ordered assembly
display are concurrently visible.
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser.
No. 11/567,728 filed Dec. 6, 2006, the entire disclosure of which
is incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] This application includes material which is subject to
copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the
facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it
appears in the Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but
otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates in general to the field of
multimedia content generation and assembly, and in particular to
systems and methods for assembly and delivery of multimedia objects
or elements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Technology has provided increasingly sophisticated tools
that allow a content consumer to experience multimedia
presentations. A typical consumer has access to interactive
multimedia experiences via numerous devices. A user may have
experiences with interactive multimedia presentation devices that
present one or more of images, video, sound or text. As computing
technology has become more ubiquitous, consumers have begun to hear
and see the output of electronic media files in many new places.
Some of these places include for example the consumer's home,
office, and vehicle.
[0005] In addition to the revolution that has brought the
experience of multimedia to the consumer via numerous devices,
there has been a similar revolution in the creation and capture of
images, sounds, text and video for media presentations. While many
content capture tools continue to require expensive equipment and
sophisticated training, simple tools to capture or create media
such as images, videos, text and sounds have become available to
users.
[0006] While simple tools to capture media have become available,
tools to combine media such as images, video, and audio files in
order to generate and modify multimedia presentations have remained
expensive and difficult to use. Management of multimedia
presentations requires expensive equipment and training for
administrators and users.
[0007] Since the advent of the Internet the notion of content and
presentation creation and distribution has evolved. In music
production, video production, and text creation, it is now accepted
that content creation includes not only recording images,
animation, video, and sound, but also may include the arrangement
and annotation of pre-existing content or the combination of
pre-existing content and newly generated content. Unfortunately,
the tools that are available for presentation creation have not
advanced to the stage of allowing individuals to efficiently create
rich and customizable multimedia presentations.
[0008] In the context of content generated to support an
interactive presentation experience, the generation of multimedia
presentations including interrelated and customizable content may
greatly improve the experience of the content consumers. A
presentation creator is a person or entity that generates a
presentation for guiding the experience of a presentation consumer.
Often the presentation creator is also the presenter of the
presentation. In such cases, the presentation creator is available
for guiding the presentation consumer's experience. This guidance
may be provided in a variety of forums, for example in an in-person
meeting, via video conference, an internet session, audio
conference or via other means that allow the presenter to respond
to situations, questions, and other opportunities for an
interactive experience on the part of the presentation consumer.
Sessions involving the ability of the presenter to respond to such
presentation consumer interactions will be referred to herein as
live sessions.
[0009] Frequently, the presenter does not or cannot attend live
sessions with the presentation consumer. This may be due, for
example, to issues such as the cost of bringing the presenter
together with the presentation consumer, schedule conflicts between
the presenter and the individual who wishes to experience the
presentation, travel on either the presenter's or the presentation
consumer's part, etc. In cases in which a live session between the
presenter and the presentation consumer are not possible, the
presenter sometimes provides the presentation consumer with verbal,
written, drawn or other information on one or more sessions that
the presentation consumer may experience without the presence of
the presenter.
[0010] The typical result of the presenter's inability to attend a
live session with the presentation consumer (or group of consumers)
is a mixture of frustration on the presenter's part regarding the
presenter's effort to create and deliver the presentation in a
timely, efficient, and clear manner. The presentation consumer must
then experience the presentation that is assembled from a multitude
of poorly integrated media, for example: written notes, emails,
sketches, photos images, and the like. Often when the presentation
consumer has to attempt to understand the presenter's instructions
and intentions without the benefit of the presenter's presence and
the interactivity that the presenter's presence provides the
presentation consumer also experiences similar frustration.
Presenters lack tools that enable them to conveniently create
interactive presentations that presentation consumers may utilize
outside of live sessions. Presentation consumers thus lack an easy
to use and follow solution.
[0011] In addition to the difficulties of providing interactivity
efficiently to presentation consumers, there are additional
difficulties for a presenter who wishes to monetize his or her
presentations. When such a presenter is limited in his or her
ability to present interactive presentations outside of live
sessions, he or she is typically income limited. That is, a
presentation professional's income is usually limited to the number
of presentation hours that can be provided in a day, multiplied by
the number of days in the week, weeks in the month, and months of
the year. While the intention of the presentation professional is
to improve the experience of his or her presentation consumers,
they are essentially "stuck" with a cap on his or her income based
on his or her ability to provide live sessions.
[0012] Tools to distribute multimedia files remain difficult to
customize and lack the flexibility necessary to provide a strong
presentation experience to presentation consumers. Presentation
creators interested in sharing multimedia files typically lack
distribution tools. Multimedia presentation distribution is
performed in a variety of manners, including emailing files,
posting media files on web sites or bulletin boards, or simply
using postal mail to send digital files recorded on CD, DVD, flash
card or similar file storage technology.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] An aspect of the disclosed system and method is directed
towards providing software that allows a presentation creator to
create and modify presentations in a sophisticated manner. This
aspect allows a presentation creator to create presentations that
are composed of multimedia elements (such as text, images, sound,
video, animation, or other multimedia) and to specify the
relationships, meta-data, organization, and overall presentation of
the content in order to generate highly sophisticated and flexible
presentations. Presentations and the associated multimedia elements
may be added to content libraries that may be further combined to
make more sophisticated multimedia presentations. The term
presentation should be understood to refer to multimedia elements
and the software and meta-data used to assemble and present
them.
[0014] Presentations or programs stored in the content library may
be delivered to individuals through a variety of means, including
for example one of more of the following delivery means: via a
network, via a recordable medium, via a software network, and other
presentation delivery means. Presentations or programs may be
provided to a content consumer in a variety of file formats. The
presentations may be provided to content consumers on any device
that are capable of receiving the content from the server.
[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, presentation and programs stored
in the content library provided are designed by the presentation
creator. These presentations or programs may include a variety of
types of presentations, for example, instructions on how to perform
an action or actions, advice on a course of action, entertainment,
and other presentation content. The presentations or programs may
be customized in a variety of ways; the customization may include,
for example, the order in which the content should be experienced,
the form of the presentation, and the images, videos, animations,
audio content, and instructional tips within the presentation and
program.
[0016] Certain embodiments of the invention are directed towards a
user interface for the creation of a multimedia presentation. The
user interface may provide a presentation creator with the ability
to combine media elements such as audio, video, animation, text,
images, and other media into rich multimedia objects. The rich
multimedia objects may be stored and manipulated in a hierarchical
content library that provides support for efficient location and
manipulation of the content. The user interface may provide access
to the content library and presentation editing software.
[0017] In accordance with some embodiments, a content distribution
model allows a content creator, content manager, content publisher,
or content distributor to coordinate, control, and monetize the
distribution of multimedia content. Presentations may be created
and customized within the content library.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a relationship tree illustrating the
relationship between multimedia elements, multimedia objects and
multimedia sets according to some embodiments of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary
embodiment in which content is added to the library, created and
accessed by a consumer and/or a content host.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a graphical representation illustrating an
exemplary embodiment of a user interface for the assembly of
multimedia objects into a presentation.
[0021] FIG. 4 shows a graphical representation illustrating an
exemplary embodiment of a user interface for selection and viewing
of the content making up a presentation.
[0022] FIG. 5 shows a graphical representation illustrating an
exemplary embodiment of a multimedia object which may be included
in a presentation.
[0023] FIG. 6 shows a graphical representation illustrating an
exemplary embodiment of a multimedia object including an overlay
with associated text.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Specific embodiments of the invention now will be described
more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which embodiments of the invention are shown. However, this
invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set
forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the
scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
[0025] It also will be understood that, as used herein, the term
"comprising" or the term "comprises" is open-ended, and includes
one or more stated elements, steps or functions without precluding
one or more unstated elements, steps or functions. It should be
understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected"
or "coupled" to another element, it may be directly connected or
coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be
present.
[0026] The present invention is described below with reference to
block diagrams and operational illustrations of methods and devices
to create, modify, and use multimedia presentations. It is
understood that each block of the block diagrams or operational
illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams or
operational illustrations, may be implemented by means of analog or
digital hardware and computer program instructions. These computer
program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general
purpose computer, special purpose computer, ASIC, or other
programmable data processing apparatus, such that the instructions,
which execute via the processor of the computer or other
programmable data processing apparatus, implements the
functions/acts specified in the block diagrams or operational block
or blocks. In some alternate implementations, the functions/acts
noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the
operational illustrations. For example, two blocks shown in
succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or
the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order,
depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0027] As used herein, the term multimedia element refers to a
digital object that may be processed by a digital processing
apparatus in order to generate one or more of the following types
of output from a digital processing apparatus examples of such
output: sound, graphics, text, animation, video, or images. The
term multimedia object refers to a computer readable file or
program that is comprised of a combination of one or more
multimedia elements. FIG. 1 illustrates the relationship between
multimedia elements 110, multimedia objects 120, and multimedia
modules 130. Multimedia elements 110 are combined to create
multimedia objects 120; multimedia objects 120 are further combined
to create multimedia modules 130. In some embodiments, multimedia
objects 120 may include multimedia elements 110 of the same or
different types. In some embodiments multimedia modules 130 may
include combinations of different types of multimedia objects 120
and multimedia elements 110. As used herein the term interactive
should be understood to refer to the capability of a system, device
or set of computer instructions to respond to user input.
[0028] As used herein, the term content creator refers to an
individual, a set of individuals or an entity that creates content
in the system. Content creation may include, for example, uploading
content into a content library. Content creation may include, for
example, editing or manipulating content that is pre-existing in
the library. Content creation may include, for example,
re-arranging content that exists in the content library. Moreover,
content creation may include a combination of each of the
above-listed activities. The term content creator should also be
understood to be used interchangeably with the term presentation
creator inasmuch as a presentation creator may perform any of the
roles ascribed to the content creator above. The term content
manager and the term presentation manager should also be understood
to be used interchangeably and to correspond to an individual,
individuals or an entity that is involved with the management of
the content library. Content managers and presentation managers
may, for example, manage the distribution of content. Content
managers and presentation managers may, for example, manage the
revenue received in association with the distribution of content.
Content managers and presentation managers may, for example, manage
other administrative functions of the content library, such as
access, report generation, and the like.
[0029] An embodiment of the invention includes a content library
and an associated user interface. The content library consists of a
computer including a database or equivalent data storage software
and associated processing, disk, networking, memory, and user
interface for storing, organizing, accessing and managing digital
multimedia objects. The user interface allows actors with access to
the content library to upload, download, modify, and otherwise
interact with the content library. These actors may include various
parties who interact with the content and presentations or programs
that are stored in the content library. The actors may be, for
example, any one of or a combination of: a content creator, an
entity responsible for uploading content to the content library, a
content librarian who has administrative access to the content
library, an individual who modifies features of content, an
individual who is interested in purchasing or accessing content or
programs or presentations stored in the content library.
[0030] The content library further comprises a database for storing
information related to the multimedia objects stored therein. This
database maintains information related to the stored content as
well as information related to the accessing of the content in the
form of presentations that may include combinations or multimedia
objects, multimedia elements, and related information.
[0031] FIG. 1 shows the relationship between media elements (such
as images, animation, video, sound, or other media files), that may
be assembled into multimedia objects that contain one or more media
elements. As the files are assembled into a multimedia presentation
by the content creators, annotations may be added to the assembly
in the form of text, or other multimedia objects. The multimedia
objects may be further assembled into multimedia modules. The
multimedia modules may be edited to create content presentations.
The editing of the multimedia modules may, for example, include
adding multimedia elements such as text, graphics, animation, video
or other multimedia to the modules. An exemplary editing process
may include adding a textual or graphical overlay to each
multimedia object in the presentation. The editing of the
multimedia modules may include changing the time order or spatial
relationship in which the multimedia objects will be presented to
the content consumer. These presentations may then be stored and
edited. Once the presentations have been committed to the content
library they may be made available for sale, download, or
interaction by content consumers.
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart according to certain
embodiments of the invention. A presentation creator may interact
with the content library that includes a library of multimedia
elements 211. In some embodiments, a content creator may create
multimedia objects from multimedia elements as in step 212. The
step 212 of creating multimedia objects may include for example,
adding one or more multimedia elements to the library, editing
multimedia elements that are stored in the library or adding
related content such as metadata to the library. The step of
creating multimedia modules 213 may include for example associating
two or more multimedia objects together to create multimedia
modules that may be presented to content consumers.
[0033] In the case that a presentation exists in the content
library, either because the content has just been created or
because the content existed prior to the content creator's current
session with the content library, the content creator or producer
may proceed to step 221 wherein the content presentation is
assembled into a deliverable. This step may be performed by the
content creator, the content producer or, the content consumer, or
by the system itself in an automated manner. This step may include,
for example, determining the spatial and temporal relationships
among the elements, objects and modules of the presentation. This
step may also include adding additional content to the
presentation, such as an overlay on the presentation images,
animation, video or audio. This step of adding additional content
may, for instance, be used by a third party to add branding to the
presentation. For example, where the module is a fitness
presentation, a personal trainer can perform this step to add his
branding to a presentation before making it available to his
clients for sale via download or viewing/display on the system
using, e.g., a web browser.
[0034] In order to access a presentation via the content library,
an entity such as a content consumer, a content host, or a third
party applying his brand to the content, may interact with the
content library to download or view a presentation. This step 222
of delivery of content may include transmitting the content to a
transferable medium such as a CD, DVD, or other recordable medium.
This step may also include transmitting the presentation over a
network such as the internet. The step of delivery of content may
involve transferring content directly to content consumers. In the
case wherein content is delivered directly to consumers, the
content library may collect payment from the content consumer. In
certain cases, the content library may transmit some or all of the
payment collected from the content consumer to the element owners
215.
[0035] In some cases a host or content distributor may perform a
step 233 of accessing the content library in order to distribute
content to the content consumers 231. In the case where the content
is a fitness presentation, for example, this step may be performed
by a content distributor such as a gym owner or personal trainer
who distributes his branded fitness presentation to gym patrons. In
certain embodiments, content distributors may collect all or a
portion of the revenue generated from content consumers accessing
the content via the content library. All or a portion of the
revenue collected for a presentation may be transmitted to the
content library itself. In certain embodiments some or all of the
revenue collected for a presentation may be split, as in step 232,
between content creators and element owners; see step 215. In other
embodiments, revenue is generated using a subscription model
wherein users are charged a fee on a regular basis, e.g., monthly
or annually, for access to the system. In further embodiments,
access to the system is sold organizations for the benefit of their
members. For example, in an embodiment wherein the system contains
content relating to exercise and fitness, revenue can be generated
via subscriptions by gyms which, in turn, provide access to the
system to their members as a benefit of membership. Revenue can
further be generated by bulk sales of subscriptions to resellers,
which in turn sell the service at retail or wholesale.
[0036] FIG. 3 shows an example illustrating an embodiment of a user
interface for the assembly of multimedia modules based on the
ordered assembly of multimedia objects. The content presentation
creator or content producer can perform a search by typing text
into a search field 340 of the interface or by selecting
pre-existing lists based on the content metadata. The results 330
of this search or selection are multimedia objects that are
displayed in the results window 320. Note that this user interface
also allows the user to filter the results of the search using a
second filter drop down 345 and a third filter drop down 350. In
the case wherein the user selects a filter for the search results
330 displayed in the results window 320, the results displayed will
be limited to those results that are consistent with the
user-selected filter. For example, if the user selects a filter
"male" from the filter drop down 350, the results displayed in the
results window will only include those results that are appropriate
for males. In some embodiments the filter may comprise restrictions
such as language, skill level, or other criteria for the selection
of multimedia content. The user may use the search and filter
functions to identify a set of multimedia objects 330 that appear
in the results window 320. In the case wherein the user is a
content creator or content producer who is selecting content in
order to create a multimedia presentation, the user may select
multimedia objects, which are shown in this example on the right
side of the screen, to be dragged and dropped onto the content
assembly window 301. Note that the content assembly window 301
includes position numbers 310 onto which the multimedia objects may
be dragged. The position numbers 310 correspond to the order in
which the multimedia objects 330 dragged onto the content assembly
window will be experienced by the content consumer. Once the
content creator or content producer has selected a position number
310 to associate with the multimedia object, the content creator or
content producer may use their user input device to "drop" the
multimedia object onto that square in order to associate the
multimedia object with that place in the order of the presentation
experience. The position numbers 310 are used to determine the time
ordering of the content consumer experience of the presentation.
When a new multimedia object is dragged to a position in the
assembly window 301 that is between two filled position numbers,
objects which were placed downstream from such position are bumped
to a new position to make room for such insertion. Multimedia
objects can be deleted from the assembly window by dragging the
objects and dropping them outside the assembly window 301. After
placement of media objects onto positions in the assembly window
301, the objects can be repositioned in a like manner, e.g., by
dragging and dropping objects from one position to another within
the assembly window 301.
[0037] An embodiment of the invention includes a multimedia
presentation creation and editing interface that allows a
presentation creator to interact with a content library. This
interface may be realized via software that runs on a computer such
as a laptop, server computer, personal computer, personal digital
assistant (PDA), and other device capable of programmatic
interactivity. In an embodiment of this interface, the interface
may provide access to a content library that runs on the same
computing device as the interface software. In another embodiment
of this interface, the interface software may run on a computing
device and communicate via a network or other connection with a
separate computing device on which the content library runs.
Multiple libraries can be simultaneously accessed, and such
libraries may reside on multiple computers and/or computers on
multiple networks.
[0038] A user interface for the creation of a presentation
according to the invention may support interaction with the content
library for several actors. Each of these actors may have unique
access or action rights in terms of their ability to interact with
the content stored in the content library. For example, an
individual interested in purchasing may have access restricted to
complete prebuilt presentations, while a content creator may be
provided access which is not so-restricted.
[0039] The interface allows the presentation creator to examine a
subset of the media stored in the library and to select specific
media elements to be arranged in a particular order. Note that each
media element may be edited, for example, by adding or altering the
text in the presentation, altering or adding images, altering or
adding audio files or altering or adding other media content. It
should further be noted that the presenter of the presentation and
the audience for the presentation may be one and the same person.
For example, the system may be used by an athlete to create a
custom workout presentation for his own consumption. The system may
be designed so as to be configurable such that objects are
dynamically associated with multimedia objects depending upon the
user profile of the particular user who has logged into the system.
For example, where a user who is a member of particular gym (which
subscribes to the system) is logged into the system, that gym's
logo may be overlayed on or otherwise associated with each element
in the content library when such element is displayed to the user.
Thus, when user A who is a member of gym X is logged in, the images
or other multimedia content in the content library appear with the
logo of gym X overlayed thereon, but when a user B who is a member
of gym Y is logged in, those same images/content appear with the
logo of gym Y overlayed thereon.
[0040] FIG. 4 shows an example illustrating the system's user
interface for creating one or more new multimedia objects and
associating with such objects the hierarchical metadata which
permits the objects to be operated upon by the filters discussed
above with reference to FIG. 3. In this example, the objects to be
created are exercise instruction slides. The system first presents
the user with an Exercise Categories window 410 which prompts the
user to select a pre-existing category, or create and select a new
category, to be associated with his new object(s). Once the
category for the object(s) has been selected, an Exercise
Sub-Categories window 420 is additionally displayed. The Exercise
Sub-Categories window 420 prompts the user to select a pre-existing
subcategory, or create and select a new subcategory, to be
associated with his new object. Once the subcategory for the
object(s) has been selected, an Exercise List window 430 is
additionally displayed. The Exercise List window 430 prompts the
user to select an exercise name, or create and select a new
exercise name, to be associated with his new object(s).
[0041] Once the exercise name for the new object has been selected,
an Exercise Details window 440 is additionally displayed. This
window displays the new objects, which in this example are a "male"
exercise image and a "female" exercise image. The "male" image will
have the following metadata associated with it: Category:Strength,
Sub-Category:Legs, Exercise:BW Split Squat, and Gender:Male. The
"female" image will have the following metadata associated with it:
Category:Strength, Sub-Category:Legs, Exercise:BW Split Squat, and
Gender:Female. Browse buttons are provided for each exercise image
and each tip image to allow the user to browse a multimedia
library, either on his local machine or a remote machine, to select
a multimedia element for use in the object. In this example, an
image of a male performing a split squat exercise has been selected
for the "male" object and an image of a female performing a split
squat exercise has been selected for the "female" object.
Alternative tip images can be associated with each object using the
Exercise Details window. In this example, each object has
associated with it a tip image comprising the exercise image with
instructional text overlayed thereon. Tip images are discussed in
further detail below.
[0042] In certain embodiments of the invention, an actor's
experience using the interface may be governed by permissions
associated with their account or profile. An actor with the
appropriate permissions may create new categories for
classification of content, while an actor with another set of
permissions may, for example, only be able to view content in the
content library.
[0043] The multimedia object may be given a name for later access
from the library by an actor with the appropriate permissions to
access it. Among the actors with permission to access or modify
content in the library, may be, for example, the actor who added it
to the system, which may or may not be the presentation
creator.
[0044] The multimedia object may have one or more files or other
electronic information attached to it. Depending on the specifics
of the multimedia object or presentation, the actor may be able to
choose from multiple modes of interacting (e.g. editing, listening,
viewing, or any other interaction appropriate to the multimedia
object type or form) with the content. In one embodiment, for
example, the content may include meta-data that labels the content
as person-type specific; that is, the content is tagged as being
more appropriate for a certain type of content consumer. In one
embodiment of the invention, a given multimedia object will have
one or more different types of objects stored for a level in the
hierarchy. When an actor or content consumer requests access to
that multimedia object, the specific details of the object returned
from the content library may differ depending on the type
associated with the request. An exemplary instance of such a type
is a presentation or multimedia object illustrating the steps
required to perform a physical exercise, such as a pull-up exercise
performed on a chin-up bar. Depending on the gender of the content
consumer the presentation may include images of a female or a male
performing the steps of the exercise. A presentation may separately
store the multimedia objects associated with the male and female
exercise presentations, but each gender specific presentation will
be classified within the hierarchical storage system under, for
example, the classification physical fitness, pull-up. In an
exemplary embodiment, the content provided may include content
relating to a diet program. Such content may be customized to meet
the unique dietary, health or fitness needs of the content
consumer.
[0045] The multimedia objects created as part of the presentation
may, for example, be images that are assembled from the media
elements by the content creator. Included within the multimedia
objects may be elements such as images, links to video, graphical
or textual overlays, or links to other multimedia content contained
within the library or accessible through other sites or network
locations available through the network.
[0046] An example of a multimedia element that may be included in a
multimedia object is a tip file. Tip files are optionally added to
the multimedia objects as clickable links. When a user selects or
clicks a link, text or an alternative image appears, for example in
the form of a popup window, the text or image including information
pertinent to the object. An example would be text providing
additional information on the image or other multimedia elements
included in the presentation.
[0047] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a multimedia object resulting from
assembly of multimedia elements according to certain embodiments of
the invention. Boxes 500 and 600 are visual boxes containing
multimedia elements that make up the multimedia object. FIG. 5
includes a Show Tip Image button 510 which, when selected, causes
the Tip Image from an associated Tip File to be displayed. An
exemplary Tip Image associated with the multimedia object shown in
FIG. 5 is illustrated in FIG. 6. Note that FIG. 5 includes multiple
images 520 and 522 as well as text 530 and other associated
multimedia elements making up the multimedia object. The Tip image
630 can be displayed in an overlay fashion over an underlying
multimedia element 620 when the "Show Exercise Image" button 610 is
depressed.
[0048] Each multimedia object may also be associated with one or
more companion multimedia objects. In an embodiment of the content
library that includes a presentation detailing the steps of a
physical fitness workout, for example, each multimedia file or
files associated with a particular exercise may have a
corresponding instructional tip file or files. The tip file or
files may be added separately but are typically associated in the
content library catalog with the multimedia files of the
exercise.
[0049] In one embodiment of the invention, the content library
software runs on a processor that is part of a computer that is
local to the content creator, for instance a laptop, personal
computer, or personal digital assistant (PDA). In another
embodiment, the content library software runs on a remote server,
while the user interface to the content assembly and editing
library is provided over a network to a device local to the content
creator.
[0050] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the assembled
multimedia presentations may be stored in a content library, or
multiple libraries, that allows the content creators to upload the
presentations to a site that is accessible over the network. The
content library stores the multimedia presentation in a manner that
allows the content creator or other authorized individual to
manipulate the multimedia elements that make up the presentation.
The manipulation of the multimedia elements in the content library
allows the content to be easily customized in order to meet the
needs of the content consumer or content distributor. Examples of
manipulations that the content library allows includes, but are not
limited to: re-arranging multimedia objects in the presentations,
changing the audio or video or animation or other multimedia
components of the presentation, varying the language of the text or
audio of the presentation, varying the specific parameters of a
multimedia element (such as for example an image file) within a
multimedia presentation, and other efforts to create variations
that cause the content to be optimized for a particular consumer or
distributor.
[0051] The content library achieves the customizability by storing
each multimedia element (for example image, video, animation, text,
and audio) individually within the storage associated with the
content server. The content library also stores meta-data
corresponding to the order and relationship of the images within
the presentation. The storage architecture allows for fast and easy
customization of the presentations. In addition, the flexibility
inherent in this architecture allows for simple replacement of
multi-media element when convenient.
[0052] An embodiment of the invention includes a software module or
software modules within the content library that support the
ability of presentation creators and presentation managers to
monetize presentations by providing them with the ability to make
presentations commercially available. In an embodiment of the
invention, a presentation creator or presentation manager may
register with a system that provides access to the content library
in order to create a presentation utilizing the content in the
library or to upload an existing presentation. In either case,
further customization may be added to registered content. The
presentation creator or presentation manager may also upload
information describing product offerings or other related
information, such as biography information, information regarding
the presentation philosophy of the presentation manager, e.g., the
trainer. Once the content is registered as available to content
consumers, the consumers may access it via the content library. The
presentation can become detached from the system as a stand-alone
download, file, movie, printout, etc., or may be made available for
viewing online via the system. In some embodiments the content
consumers may be charged a fee for access to the content. In some
embodiments the fee may be dependent in on the specifics of the
presentation accessed. For example, in the case in which a
customized version of a presentation is accessed, the content
consumer may be charged a different rate for including certain
specific content in the presentation or for requesting the
presentation in a particular format or order.
[0053] In some embodiments of the invention, the fees charged to
access the content library may be provided to the content creator
in an electronic format. In some embodiments of the invention, fees
charged to content consumers may be distributed among one or more
parties, for example, a part of the income derived from providing
access to a presentation may be provided to a party that makes the
content library available and a part of the income derived from the
fee may be provided to the content creator or other parties
involved in the creation or distribution of the presentation.
[0054] In some embodiments advertising material may be included in
the content library. In particular, the content library manager or
presentation creator may include advertising content in
presentation itself or in the content library user interface. The
advertising content may include for example multimedia objects as
well as clickable links that would allow a content consumer to
acquire additional information regarding an advertised product or
products.
[0055] In some embodiments, advertising material can be customized
based on the content included in the presentation. In some
embodiments, advertising material is customized based on the
interest of the content consumers. The advertising material may be
included as multimedia elements or multimedia objects within the
presentation. In some embodiments advertising may be overlaid on
the images or video in the presentation.
[0056] In some embodiments, advertisers can pay for advertising
material to be included in presentations accessed via the content
library. The advertisers may provide advertising content to be
included in the content library. This content is registered with
the content library as associated advertiser who has provided
content. The content library maintains a record of the registered
content for use administrative actions including, for example
tracking content usage. This advertising content may include:
images, video or other types of multimedia elements to be inserted
into presentations accessed via the library. The content library
may collect information regarding the inclusion of content in
presentations or the accessing of the advertising content included
in the library. In some embodiments the advertisers may pay for
content to be included in the library. In other embodiments, the
content library will track the inclusion of advertising content
included in the presentations. Based on the information regarding
the content access the advertisers may receive an invoice to
provide revenue to the administrators of the content library.
[0057] In some embodiments the advertising content included in the
presentation will be specifically targeted at the interests of the
content consumers. In certain embodiments, the content library will
maintain a database of registered content consumers. The profile
information may include demographic information, information on
interests, information on content and advertising that has been
previously accessed and other information that can be useful in the
targeting of advertising to a consumer.
[0058] In certain embodiments of the invention content may be
delivered to content consumers through a variety of formats
depending on the content consumers needs. Devices that may access
presentations or programs received from the content library may
include for example one or more of the following devices that are
capable of presenting media elements: personal computers, laptop
computers, personal digital assistants, mp3 players, mobile
telephones, and other devices that may provide interactive
presentation experiences. The multimedia modules or presentations
may be transmitted directly to such devices without the necessity
of user-prompted downloading or synchronizing, via transmission
mediums such as wireless networks, wired networks, cellular
networks, Bluetooth, and other data transmission means.
[0059] In some embodiments content providers may register specific
content, which may be one or more of the following content types:
multimedia elements, multimedia objects, multimedia modules, and
presentations. The content registration information may be stored
in a database in the content library. The content registration
information may be used, for example, to determine the distribution
of revenue associated with content access. Content providers who
register with the content library may receive a part of the revenue
collected from content consumers. Note that the content library may
register information associated with a particular organization of
content included in the presentation. This registration information
may be used to distribute revenue associated with access to the
presentation to individuals or entities who registered content
organization.
[0060] An exemplary implementation of the invention provides a
presentation including fitness instruction on a computing device
such as a laptop, personal computer, mobile phone or portable media
player. Sequential still training photos with workout instructions
overlaid thereon are displayed on the computing device. Still
images may be accompanied by multimedia content for example:
background music, audio instruction, or video.
[0061] The presentation comprises multiple fitness training
modules; each module including multimedia content--for example
multiple high-resolution image or video exercises. Each training
module may include multiple workouts. The set of training modules
comprising a fitness program for use by a content consumer
interested in improving his or her physical fitness training
techniques. The training modules may include, for example, video,
animation, still images, text, or similar content appropriate to
communicating the training material. The training modules may
include for example workout instructions overlaid upon each image.
Each trainer module may have, for example, between 9 and 50
exercises.
[0062] Each training module associated with an exercise may include
content illustrating or explaining positions in the exercise. For
example, a training module may include content describing or
illustrating starting positions and end positions for an exercise.
The module shows the content consumer details of the exercise, for
example the body part to be exercised, the exercise name, and the
proper form for performing the exercise.
[0063] Image exercises may include usage tips that guide the user
through the steps of the exercise. When the images are sequentially
displayed, the tips may guide the user through each step of the
exercise program.
[0064] Trainer modules may be provided for each of several
different workout routines, including, e.g., an abdominal workout,
cardiovascular workout, Pilates, yoga, or other types of physical
fitness training. Each trainer module that is downloaded from the
content library is downloaded in a format appropriate to the device
that will be used for viewing the content. For example, for some
viewing devices the presentation may be provided from the content
library as a collection of JPEG formatted images. The user may use
commercial off-the-shelf software, such as iPhoto available from
Apple Computer of Cupertino, Calif., to transfer images to the
portable media player. Other software, such as Microsoft Windows
XP, Adobe Photoshop Album, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Palm OS
software, etc., may be used. The trainer modules may be transmitted
in the form of a compressed file which is downloadable from an
online store for a fee or saleable on media such as CD-ROM. After
downloading a module and, if necessary, decompressing the images
therein into a folder on the user's computer, the user may
synchronize the computer with the portable media player to transfer
the contents of the folder to the portable media player.
Alternatively, the module may be directly transmitted to a user's
device without the need for downloading or synchronization.
[0065] Certain embodiments of the invention may work in conjunction
with commercially available handheld portable media players such as
the iPod or, iPod nano from Apple Computer of Cupertino, Calif.,
the Handspring Treo available from Palm, Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif.,
or the Blackberry Color available from Research In Motion of
Ontario, Canada. The user may move from one exercise to the next
using the "next" button, scroll wheel, or the like, on the portable
media player until he has finished the workout. In order to give
variation to the user's workout, the user may customize a trainer
module by changing the order of the exercise images or even
combining multiple trainer modules. In alternative or additional
embodiments, an automated timed slideshow or video tutorial may be
provided.
[0066] Certain embodiments of the invention may also include a
system and method for providing professional personal trainers with
the ability to create their own trainer modules. These training
modules may be monetized by providing an interface to collect
revenue. This interface may be associated with the download of a
presentation or media element, or other access to content stored in
or linked with the content library Once the personal trainer has
signed up for this service via a commercial web site, the trainer
may create a page describing the product offering. Such a site may
include a biography of the trainer; information on the trainer's
training philosophy, and the like. Such a page could itself contain
multimedia elements such as sound, video, animation, images, and
other information. The trainer may go to a Creation Store section
of the online store and choose from different body parts (Abs,
Biceps, Triceps, Chest, etc.). When he or she chooses a body part,
a set of standard images (for men/women) display. The personal
trainer drags and drops the images they want in the trainer module.
They may, for example be interacting with an of the user interface
area that allows them to create the trainer's own customized
trainer module. They may upload an image, choose from different
instructions available in the content library or otherwise
customize or assemble a multimedia presentation. A newly created
customized trainer module may then be submitted to administrators
of the online store for approval. Once approved, the customized
trainer module may be placed on the online store for the personal
trainer's clients/potential clients to buy or download. Revenue
from such sales may be split between the personal trainer and the
administrators of the online store.
[0067] In an embodiment of the invention a content library is
provided that stores a plurality of content elements, where content
elements should be understood to include for example,
presentations, multimedia objects, and multimedia elements such as
video, animation, image, text, audio or other multimedia files. The
content library may also include an interface that provides for an
entity to add content elements to the content library and for
combining multimedia elements into multimedia objects or other
content elements. The content library may also provide an interface
for selecting one or more presentations comprised of content
elements and for creating a product comprising at least the
presentation comprised of content elements. The content library may
also compromise modules that are capable of assembling a
deliverable corresponding to a selected product. Where the
deliverable may include for example multimedia elements and
multimedia objects which may or may not be included in the selected
presentation. The content library may also include an interface
that allows a content consumer to order and receive the deliverable
in a format appropriate to the device that they wish to use to
access the presentation.
[0068] In an embodiment of the invention a user interface is
provided that allows a user to select one or more multimedia
elements or multimedia objects from a content library. The selected
multimedia elements or multimedia objects typically having one or
more associated attributes or meta-data. The user interface
providing an interface to select a filter for filtering the
contents of the content library. Where the filter is provided to
filter content based on one or more attributes of the content in
the library. The user interface a providing a display for viewing
the output of the filter. The user interface including an arranging
or ordered assembly tool that allows a user to register in the
content library an order that the multimedia objects or contents
will be experienced by a content consumer. The registration of the
order of experience may be done for example by dragging and
dropping images or icons associated with the content onto an area
of a window. Note that in an embodiment of the invention, the
output of the filter may be visible to the user and available to be
dragged onto the arranging or ordered assemble tool.
[0069] In an embodiment of the invention is a media construction
system. The media construction system available to construct
presentations for presentation to content consumers. The
presentations are comprised of a set of media objects. The media
objects that are comprised of a set of media elements, where media
elements should be understood to mean for example images, audio,
video, animation, olfactory or other multimedia files that may be
accessed and stored electronically. The system includes a library
for the storage of presentations, multimedia objects, and
multimedia elements. The library including software to support the
creation of presentations. The creation of presentations including
the selection of one or more multimedia objects and a definition of
a relationship between one or more multimedia objects. The library
also including storage for storing the presentations defined in
terms of selected multimedia objects and relationships associated
with a presentation.
[0070] In an embodiment of the invention is a media construction
system. The media construction system available to construct
presentations for presentation to content consumers. The
presentations are comprised of a set of media objects. The media
objects that are comprised of a set of media elements, where media
elements should be understood to mean for example images, audio,
video, animation, olfactory or other media files that may be
accessed and stored electronically. The system includes a library
for the storage of presentations, multimedia objects, and
multimedia elements. The library including software to support the
creation of presentations. The creation of presentations including
the selection of one or more multimedia objects and a definition of
a relationship between one or more multimedia objects. The library
also including storage for storing the presentations defined in
terms of selected multimedia objects and relationships associated
with a presentation.
[0071] In certain embodiments of the invention, the customization
provided by the content library and its user interface may be used
to focus presentations to the specific needs of a content consumer
or consumers. Once a presentation has been created in the content
library, it may be delivered to a content consumer either directly
or through an intermediary. The ability to provide interactive
presentations through intermediaries may allow content creators
additional opportunity to monetize their presentation skills as
well as creating new opportunities for other agents in the chain of
providing presentation to receive reimbursement for the
efforts.
[0072] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in
form and details may be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
[0073] In the drawings and specifications, there have been
disclosed embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms
are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only
and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention
being set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *