570 results about "Electronic media" patented technology

An electronic media distribution system which facilitates the distribution of media to consumers over a network, such as the Internet, while achieving commercial business objectives and protecting the intellectual property rights associated with the media being distributed. The system provides the infrastructure and support for various market participants to engage in buying, selling, finding and distributing music. The system provides an interface for consumers to locate, access and receive musical content over the Internet. The system facilitates continued control over the musical content sent to consumers by dynamically enforcing retailer agreements and restrictions governing the purchase, use, and distribution of the content. The system also provides a service to retailers and distributors in assisting with the management of sales and distribution of music over the Internet. Specifically, the system certifies and distributes retail offers for the content where the offers are dynamically updated by electronic contracts between the retailers and distributors of the music.

Digital Creative Works such as copyrighted electronic media are packaged in a secure electronic format, or CONTAINER, and registered on associated registration server, which serves to provide on-line licensing and copyright management for that Work. Users are connected to the registration server through a computer network or the Internet to enable data transfers and to transact licenses to utilize the media. Packaged electronic media are typically created by an author or derivative user of the work. Once the packaged media is registered on the server, the media is made available for limited use and possible license through an authorization server. This limited use is specified within the minimum permissions data set assigned to each packaged media. Without a license, users are typically permitted to view the packaged media—through a system which unpackages the media—but cannot save, print or otherwise transfer the media without obtaining auxiliary permissions to do so from the authorization server. The electronic media is authenticated through digital signatures and optional encryption.

Disclosed is a method, system, and program for displaying markings to electronic media, such as text, images, video clips, audio clips, etc., in an electronic media file. A marking file includes markings and address information indicating locations of electronic media in the electronic media file to which the markings apply. The marking file is created by receiving marking input entered into a graphical user interface (GUI) window displaying the electronic media on a monitor attached to the computer. The marking file is then stored as a separate file from the electronic media file. The electronic media file and marking file are processed to display the markings indicated in the marking file superimposed on the electronic media from the electronic media file on the monitor.

The present invention is directed to a method and system for managing the inventory level of, and the distribution of, electronic media rental units, including but not limited to videogame discs, musical compact disks, or movie VCD/DVDs. More specifically, preferred embodiments of the present invention forecasts future rental and sales demand for a given electronic media, such as a videogame, prior to the release of that electronic media to the general public. The forecast is based on the pre-release demand of the electronic media in that the future rental and sales demand is estimated from the rental and sales demand of previously released electronic media having similar pre-release demand. Furthermore, the preferred embodiments of the present invention allows registered members of a rental user group to keep rented units of the electronic media for a purchase price, which is dynamically controlled to minimize rental shortage and maximize profits.

A software engine runs in a compatible mode with off-the-shelf word processors, e-mail programs and presentation development software and other document development software. The software engine is used for the security classification of sensitive or national security classified information in electronic and resultant hard copy document formats. The software engine ensures that the individual considers all informational portions of a document, that appropriate document marks are employed, that document marks in their electronic format are persistent and that all necessary information, such as classification guides, standards and security regulations, provided by the organization to classify information is at hand and immediately available. In addition to the document sensitivity or classification determination and marking support, the software engine tracks and controls documents and the electronic media storing documents. It also provides warnings and alarms, ad hoc document security analysis and reporting capability to system security administrators with respect to document or network events or captured information that may be indicative of risk to the information requiring protection. The software also provides the ability for an organization to centrally establish and control a security classification or sensitivity marking hierarchy for automated security classification support.

A system and method for parsing an electronic media database structure to produce tagged data that preserves the content, links, and electronic media structure. In particular, HyperText Markup Language (HTML) data is generated as an Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM) (home page) linked into a relative structure of Web pages to support IETM deployment. An extraction process assesses the functionality associated with each node designated for presentation and builds a virtual Web, based on attributes stored in the IETM database. A series of Web pages with links that hierarchically presents IETM data at run time is produced. The method supports a data warehousing strategy that converts any data type eligible within the relational database. This expands support across multiple types of technical and engineering data. The preferred implementation utilizes a relative addressed pure HTML solution viewable in standard Web browsers. This open system implementation is cross platform and infrastructure independent, requiring no special server software. Retaining the hierarchical structure dictated by the relational database in HTML output enhances the supportability and maintainability of the Web implementation. Updates to this Web implementation can be incrementally applied within the hierarchy (small sections of data) or the entire logical sections of Web data.

A method and system for transferring electronic media information over a public network in such a way as to provide safeguards for inappropriate distribution of copyright or otherwise protected materials are described. The media information is transparently watermarked with a unique ID, such as one generated from X.509 Digital Certificate and public-key cryptography public/private key pairs, such that the information can be identified as belonging to a particular individual. A system and method for monitoring the movement of such watermarked files, positively identifying people who have inappropriately distributed copyright materials over a public network without permission, and taking appropriate enforcement action against such people.

The invention is a digital information display system (10), comprised of an electronically controlled display (20), usually used to display advertising, A video camera (30) is used to detect one or more viewers in the audience who are paying attention (100) to the display (20), and if so which part of the display (30). Based on which part of the display has the viewers attention, the advertising displayed is adjusted in real-time and based on the viewer analysis to promote continued attention from the viewer. It is an advantage of the invention that the display is able to continuously present relevant advertising content, and with reduced delay, to an audience by using its passive observation and analysis capabilities.

The present invention generally relates to the use of physiological monitoring to enable an individualized response, e.g. feedback, recommendations, rewards or guidance to be presented to the individual within the context of electronic media. Specifically, the response is preferably based upon measured physiological data obtained while the individual is not directly involved with the electronic media and is preferably delivered in the context of an electronic game or interactive social activity program.

A gateway is provided for interfacing packet-based phone services with controllers of emergency call centers. For each type of electronic medium to be interfaced, the gateway comprises a specific I/O interface and a specific module such as a protocol stack. The gateway also comprises an auxiliary information gateway application that integrates the I/O interfaces and modules into a logical framework that enables inter-working therebetween. A controller that includes the functionality of the gateway device is also provided. Methods for enabling emergency calls, and more generally for enabling a multi-media session, are also provided.

A device of the same general physical size and shape as a standard audio cassette tape, but which accepts digital information from any of a variety of sources—including for example: Internet transmission, a digital computer, or memory cards (especially digital memory cards)—and plays this digital information through any, for example, standard audio tape cassette player. The device operates by converting the digital representation of the sound into magnetic signals which are presented to the read/write head of the cassette player equipment. The device allows the user of the cassette player to regulate the audio playback using conventional equipment controls such as: START, STOP, REWIND, FAST REWIND, FORWARD, FAST FORWARD, etc. In one exemplary implementation, the device has the same general physical dimensions of a standard audio cassette; at least one digital processor; and a slot into which electronic media such as, for example, memory cards, smart cards having a processor and a memory embodied thereon and other memory media may be inserted. Converter circuitry converts data stored in digital memory to an analog signal which is magnetically coupled to the read head of the equipment. Numerous sensors detect changes in at least one of the tape equipment mechanisms in the audio cassette emulator.

Apparatus and methods for displaying dynamic electronic data are provided for a computer-based display system. The apparatus includes a display, a frame within the display for displaying the data and a measure along a first frame axis for indicating a value of the displayed data. Entity display areas, each containing one entity defined by five data points, are displayed within the frame in non-overlapping, fixed positions along a second frame axis. The five data points include: a current data point, represented by a marker and indicting a current value of the entity in the display, first and second end data points of a first data range relating to the entity, represented by a first range marker, and first and second end data points of a second data range relating to the entity, represented by a second range marker. A label associated with the entities is also displayed in a fixed position with respect to the entity display areas. In one method of the invention, the dynamic data is displayed in sequential frames wherein the current marker and first and second range markers move dynamically within the entity display area to reflect the changing data related to each entity.

The disclosed methods and apparatus relate generally to the electronics media industry, such as cable television (CATV), home shopping services, on-line computer services and computer memory applications. These methods and apparatus allow a user to access and make use of electronic media input and output devices by reference to and/or utilization of standard printed matter, such as magazines, textbooks, or any other printed matter that can be correlated to electronic media.

A media content sharing concept wherein users are able to share highlights or other portions of content with friends. The concept may be used in any number of environments where electronic media, such as but not limited to audio, video, and multi-media, is transferable between a number of users. Bookmarks or other features may be used to facilitate accessing the video clips for subsequent viewing.

Electronic media for teaching others financial principles includes an interactive game that includes a financial lesson. The interactive game may be remotely accessed by users via a network such as the Internet. In certain embodiments the interactive game includes (i) a lesson portion; (ii) a game play portion; and, optionally, (iii) a lesson reinforcement portion. In other embodiments the interactive game includes one or more rewards for successfully completing each interactive game. Such rewards may include a certificate of achievement and/or access to an otherwise inaccessible game.

In the embodiments of the present invention, a system, method and computer useable medium are introduced that increase the efficiency in which a user can interface, through keys prediction, with a system that includes a touch screen display, a computer usable medium; having a computer readable instructions for controlling a computer, a computer processor, and a predictive algorithm. This method provides the user with the ability to quickly identify and select, through the enhanced keys prediction, and display the keys of the cell phone or electronic media. The keys include but are not limited to, icons, numbers, symbols and their combinations. In addition, the computer processor and the predictive algorithm, using the keys that are inputted through the touch screen or keypad, anticipate the icons, numbers and symbols necessary to complete the interface request resulting in increase user efficiency.

Techniques are provided for converting live presentations into electronic media and managing captured media assets for distribution. An exemplary system includes capture devices that capture media assets of live presentations comprising a session, including image data of sequentially presented visual aids accompanying the live presentations and audio data. Each capture device has an interface for real-time image data marking of the image data for identification of individual images and session marking of the image data for demarcation of individual presentations of the session. A centralized device processes the captured media assets and automatically divides the captured media assets into discrete files associated with the individual presentations based on the session markings. An administrative tool manages the processed media assets to produce modified presentations and enables modification of the visual aid images identified by the image data markings. A production device formats the modified presentations for distribution on distribution media.

A method for conveying complex or large amounts of data to a user in a readily understandable fashion. The method includes providing a computerized graphical user interface for displaying information to a user of the method, providing a reference database containing data pertaining to a field of endeavor engaged in by a user of the method, the reference database being stored on an electronic medium in communication with the computerized graphical user interface, streamlining by an automated process the data contained in the reference database such that at least a portion of the data is identified as being that which is pertinent to a problem being addressed by the user, displaying with the computerized graphical user interface at least a portion of the data identified as being that which is pertinent to a problem being addressed by the user, and displaying to the user with the computerized graphical user interface a graphical timeline illustrating a history of the problem being addressed by the user.

A method and system for capturing and distributing electronic media content over a communications network. One or more subscribers capture media about a specific event with the use of a media capture device such as the camera of a mobile phone. The subscriber contacts a central repository and transmits the media content to the repository where the content can be stored, indexed and categorized. The content can be made available to one or more interested third party subscribers such as, for example, news agencies seeking information about the event. A bidding system can be implemented to allow the agency with the highest bid to receive access to the desired content. In return, the subscriber that submitted the content can receive compensation for the submitted content.

A method of reducing or eliminating change in a cash transaction includes receiving a cash payment for an article or a service from a buyer; and crediting at least part of change from the cash payment due the buyer to an account of the buyer over an electronic medium. A system of reducing or eliminating change in a cash transaction includes a merchant terminal that processes a cash payment received from a buyer for an article or a service; a communication device that sends a message over an electronic medium specifying that at least part of change from the cash payment is to be credited to an account of the buyer; and a change credit apparatus that credits the at least part of the change to the buyer's account.