Digital entertainment service platform

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an open business platform that provides an end-to-end solution for managing, distributing, and / or retailing digital media assets from various content suppliers. In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides an integrated system that permits media content suppliers to deposit their media assets with the system where they are prepared by a content management system for distribution to consumers via a secure distribution system. The media content suppliers may then track and control the use of their media assets through a subscriber management system for managing consumer accounts, a licensing server for issuing licenses restricting the use of media content, and a royalty reporter for determining and reporting royalties to the various content suppliers.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 947,592, filed Sep. 5, 2001, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 280,653, filed Mar. 30, 2001, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND [0002] The digitization of media content (e.g., movies, music videos, educational content, television shows, live events, advertising, literary works, audio programs, and other media assets) is becoming more and more common with the advent of technology that allows content suppliers to derive revenues from these assets in a digital marketplace. There is a cost for entry into the digital space that requires infrastructure and processes to effectively manage and distribute various forms of media content, particularly over high bandwidth channels of communication (e.g., digital cable, Internet protocol, and satellite). Content suppliers are not traditionally equipped to handle these requirements. They would benef...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention provides content suppliers with a digital service platform for remotely depositing its media assets, managing its media assets using business rules to control the distribution of and revenue generated from the media assets, and tracking consumer usage of its media assets to assist in consumer marketing decisions. Providers of digital services (such as multiple cable system operators (MSOs) or website operators; also referred to herein as “content users”) seek to offer their customers a wide variety of compelling and diverse content. Because the present invention is an open platform designed to support multiple content suppliers, it allows consumers to access content in an aggregated manner similar to that of a traditional brick and mortar store. The present invention provides these content users with an integrated platform for managing and distributing such content to consumers. The present invention further enables the content user to offer consumers content choices grouped by understandable and desirable genres and categories. For example, the “New Releases” section of an online site could contain titles from all the major movie studios, not just a subset specific to one or two movie studios owning the content. Moreover, the present invention can support channels (e.g., Disney®, Discovery®) if the content user wishes to enable such groupings.

Problems solved by technology

There is a cost for entry into the digital space that requires infrastructure and processes to effectively manage and distribute various forms of media content, particularly over high bandwidth channels of communication (e.g., digital cable, Internet protocol, and satellite).

Content suppliers are not traditionally equipped to handle these requirements.

There is also a problem on the content user side.

One issue facing content users is that consumers want to enter online “malls” or stores that allow them to browse and purchase a wide variety of content choices.

This presents unique challenges to content users wishing to develop and sell compelling digital services to these consumers.

This consumer expectation is a problem for online site builders, for example, in that an online site dedicated to the sale of movies or music must be content rich and diverse.

While many content owners are looking to build an online entertainment site that is branded and full of their content, such sites are fundamentally too abstract, segmented, and potentially uninteresting to online consumers.

In addition, many content suppliers are not skilled in the art of digitizing and managing content for diverse digital service platforms (e.g., cable set-top box and satellite platforms).

Traditional brick and mortar establishments typically do not sell media content in digital form and have not dealt with issues such as encoding, encryption and license tracking.

Other issues regarding media content distribution, such as streaming and digital downloading, also provide significant barriers to entry for content suppliers not adept at delivering media content electronically to the consumer.

Finally, the aggregation of compelling and diverse media content often requires licenses from numerous content suppliers who impose restrictions on the use of their media content.

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