Systems and methods for semantic editorial control and video/audio editing

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SEMANTIC EDITORIAL CONTROL

AND VIDEO/AUDIO EDITING

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application

No. 60/686,612, filed on June 8, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of media creation and editing, and more particularly towards systems and methods for the generation, customization, and distribution of media content using semantic criteria.

Background of the Invention

[0003] Media content is created with the goal of having the content viewed, listened to, or otherwise received by a target audience. The target audience could be, for example, the entire world, a single nation, a region, a city, a neighborhood, or even a specific individual. However, distributing the desired content and targeting it to the desired audience is a difficult process. It is often difficult to control which consumers receive a specific piece of media content. As a result, a distributor or creator of content might have to provide that content to a larger or smaller area than desired.

[0004] For example, marketers and advertisers have come to rely on demographic solutions to establish patterns and trends about the purchasing habits of their target audience. Marketers and advertisers use the derived information to generate observations relating to their markets, target individuals to different types of offerings, and select appropriate media purchases for advertising. In the case of video advertising media - e.g., video tapes that are mailed, Internet video streams, or broadcast or cable advertising, there are only limited means to produce personalized versions of the advertisements or direct marketing information that directly takes advantage of information available about the target audience. As such, even though companies know a tremendous amount of information about their target audience, the ability to leverage this information has been limited by the fundamentals of the broadcast medium, thus requiring that a like message be sent to all customers.

[0005] In another example, a marketer and/or advertiser may create a general advertising campaign. When a parent company purchases the general campaign from the marketer and/or advertiser, the company generally provides the campaign to their field offices (e.g., a subsidiary organization) for distribution. Each field office typically hires another advertising agency to modify the advertisement based on, for example, the respective market. This process of modifying the advertisement is not only expensive, but the message that the modified advertisement contains may veer from the general campaign that the parent organization desired. In addition, the changes that are made might be made separately, and thus redundantly by the different field offices. This is an expensive and ineffective method of creating and distributing content.

[0006] Accordingly, there exists a need for systems and methods for content management that overcome these and other deficiencies in prior art systems.

Summary of the Invention

[0007] In accordance with the present invention, systems and methods for generating, customizing, and/or distributing media content are provided. In particular, systems and methods that allow users to manage the editing of media content and make decisions relating to the media content based on semantic criteria and other considerations are provided. [0008] Generally speaking, the present invention allows a user (e.g., an advertiser, a marketer, a field office, a subsidiary of a parent company, a cable operator, etc.) to provide semantic criteria that may have associated with it particular metadata characteristics (e.g., male, female, unknown gender, zip code, type of vehicle, age, race, etc.) to the media content management application. For example, the semantic criteria and/or metadata characteristics may relate to an intended audience for the media content. In response, the application extracts the metadata characteristics and performs the necessary functions to generate one or more versions of media content (e.g., an advertisement). These one or more versions of media content are provided to the user. This may be performed by a user that does not have knowledge of professional editing/assembly software, such as editing software developed by Avid Technology, Inc., Final Cut Pro developed by Apple Computer Inc., intelliSpot or other assembly software developed by Visible World, etc. That is, in response to providing semantic criteria and/or metadata characteristics, the media content management application may use one or more of these professional editing/assembly software or software packages or transmit the information to another user (e.g., a Visible World employee) that has knowledge of these professional editing/assembly software or software packages or other software to create one or more versions of the media content that correspond to the metadata characteristics.

[0009] Professional editing/assembly software requires that users be familiar with the editing toolsets of the software as well as the details of the media content, such as the editing points, the sequence of the media segments, how audio segments are married to video segments, how a background audio track is married to video segments, which media segments may be customized and/or replaced, and any other suitable detail relating to the media content. In addition, the professional editing/assembly software requires that the user know the database structure called by the editing/assembly software or how and which metadata has been married to the audio segments, video segments, or any other suitable media segments. The media content management application avoids these difficulties of these professional editing/assembly software packages because the user is provided with an abstraction in the form of semantic controls or semantic criteria. In response to the semantic controls, the semantic controls are translated into functions that may be performed by one of these professional editing/assembly software packages. Thus, the users of the media content management application is not required to have knowledge of the professional editing/assembly software packages or have knowledge of how the media content (e.g., an advertisement) is put together. In addition, the user of the media content management application is not required to have knowledge of the structure of the database accessed by the professional editing/assembly software packages or how and which metadata is associated with media segments stored in the database. [0010] In addition, the media content management application allows the user (e.g., an advertiser) to create a version of media content without having knowledge of media planning and placement, dynamic processing, production, and post-production.

[0011] It should be noted that the user and/or the media content management application are not required to have a database or a special purpose database that assembles the versions of media content. The media content management application. avoids this difficulty by using the editing/assembly software to generate the versions of media content with the appropriate media segments (e.g., portions of audio, portions of video, background audio, voiceovers, images, animations, graphics, etc.) and providing the versions of media content to the user without the need for having and/or maintaining a special purpose database (e.g., an object oriented database with a plurality of media segments, including those media segments not desired by the user). The media segments that relate to the semantic criteria and/or metadata characteristics are used to generate the versions of media content.

[0012] Using this application, the user may order and receive a finished version of the media content. The finished version may be transmitted to a delivery point in any suitable medium (e.g., a videotape, a DVD, a CD, an MPEG-2 format, an MPEG-4 format, a standard definition format, a high definition format, a media format, a media resolution, downloaded, etc.). [0013] In some embodiments, the media content management application may provide the user with additional semantic criteria for tailoring the version of the media content. [0014] In some embodiments, the media content management application may transmit the version of the media content to a delivery point.

[0015] In some embodiments, the media content management application may transmit the version of the media content in a particular delivery format.

[0016] In some embodiments, the media content management application may optimize the cost of the version of the media content. In some embodiments, the media content management application may attach semantic criteria to each version of the media content to allow the user to manage the cost of the versions of the media content. The costs associated with each version of the media content based on the attached semantic criteria may be provided to the user. The user may then select one of the plurality of versions of the media content based at least in part on the cost associated with each version of the media content. [0017] In some embodiments, the attached semantic criteria are one or more of Screen

Actors Guild agreement parameters, compensation agreements with talent personnel, cost of media for the media content, cost of actors, number of weeks required to assemble the versions of the media content, cost of on-camera performers, cost of off-camera performers, cost of extras, cost of voiceovers, cost of musicians, cost of music, cost of delivery, production implications, talent implications, and delivery implications.

[0018] In some embodiments, the attached semantic criteria may be used to recommend one of the plurality of versions of the media content to the user (e.g., based on cost).

[0019] In some embodiments, the media content management application may provide the user with a plurality of delivery options, where the delivery options include a delivery format that is determined using the selected semantic criteria.

[0020] In some embodiments, the delivery format is one of a videotape, a DVD, a CD, a high definition format, a standard definition format, an MPEG-2 format, an MPEG-4 format, a media format, and a media resolution.

[0021] In some embodiments, the media content management application uses the semantic criteria to recommend the delivery format to the user.

[0022] In some embodiments, the media content management application uses the semantic criteria to filter out at least one delivery format to the user from a plurality of delivery formats.

[0023] In some embodiments, the media content management application may allow the user to select at least one delivery format from a plurality of delivery formats for the at least one version of the media content.

[0024] In some embodiments, the media content management application allows the user to select at least one delivery point from a plurality of delivery points for the version of the media content.

[0025] In some embodiments, the at least one delivery point is one of a specific market, a station, an affiliate, a company, a cable interconnect, a headend, a cable operator, and an individual.

[0026] In some embodiments, the media content management application uses the semantic criteria to recommend the at least one delivery point to the user.

[0027] In some embodiments, the media content management application uses the semantic criteria to filter out the at least one delivery point from the plurality of delivery points. [0028] Thus, there has been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0029] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. [0030] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [0031] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and description matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0032] Various objects, features, and advantages of the present invention can be more fully appreciated with reference to the following detailed description of the invention when considered in connection with the following drawing, in which like reference numerals identify like elements.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative media content management system on which a media content management application may be implemented in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. LUU34J FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative workstation and server as provided, for example, in FIG. 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 3 is an illustrative home screen that may be provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 4 is an illustrative customization screen having options for customizing and editing media content that may be provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 5 is an illustrative message template that may be provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 6 is an illustrative schematic of the contents of a media database that may be provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 7 is an illustrative planning screen that may be provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0040] FIGS. 8-10 are illustrative approval screens having options for further customizing one or more versions of media content that may be provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0041] FIGS. 11-14 are illustrative screens for ordering the assembly, production, and delivery of media content that may be provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0042] The following description includes many specific details. The inclusion of such details is for the purpose of illustration only and should not be understood to limit the invention. Moreover, certain features which are well known in the art are not described in detail in order to avoid complication of the subject matter of the present invention. In addition, it will be understood that features in one embodiment may be combined with features in other smbodiments of the invention.

O043] In accordance with the present invention, systems and methods for generating, customizing, and/or distributing media content are provided (hereinafter "the media content nanagement application" or "the application"). In particular, systems and methods that allow users to manage the editing of media content and make decisions relating to the media content based on semantic criteria and other considerations are provided. [0044] Generally speaking, the present invention allows a user (e.g., an advertiser, a marketer, a field office, a subsidiary of a parent company, a cable operator, etc.) to provide semantic criteria that may have associated with it particular metadata characteristics (e.g., male, female, unknown gender, zip code, type of vehicle, age, race, etc.) to the application. For example, the semantic criteria and/or metadata characteristics may relate to an intended audience for the media content. In response, the application extracts the metadata characteristics and performs the necessary functions to generate one or more versions of media content (e.g., an advertisement). These one or more versions of media content are provided to the user. This may be performed by a user that does not have knowledge of professional editing/assembly software, such as editing software developed by Avid Technology, Inc., Final Cut Pro developed by Apple Computer Inc., intelliSpot or other assembly software developed by Visible World, etc. That is, in response to providing semantic criteria and/or metadata characteristics, the media content management application may use one or more of these professional editing/assembly software or software packages or transmit the information to another user that has knowledge of these professional editing/assembly software or software packages to create one or more versions of the media content that correspond to the metadata characteristics.

[0045] Professional editing/assembly software requires that users be familiar with the editing toolsets of the software as well as the details of the media content, such as the editing points, the sequence of the media segments, how audio segments are married to video segments, how a background audio track is married to video segments, which media segments may be customized and/or replaced, and any other suitable detail relating to the media content. In addition, the professional editing/assembly software requires that the user know the database structure called by the editing/assembly software or how and which metadata has been married to the audio segments, video segments, or any other suitable media segments. The media content nanagement application avoids these difficulties of these professional editing/assembly software >ackages because the user is provided with an abstraction in the form of semantic controls or semantic criteria. In response to the semantic controls, the semantic controls are translated into unctions that may be performed by one of these professional editing/assembly software lackages. Thus, the users of the media content management application is not required to have knowledge of the professional editing/assembly software packages or have knowledge of how the media content (e.g., an advertisement) is put together. In addition, the user of the media content management application is not required to have knowledge of the structure of the database accessed by the professional editing/assembly software packages or how and which metadata is associated with media segments stored in the database. [0046] In addition, the media content management application allows the user (e.g., an advertiser) to create a version of media content without having knowledge of media planning and placement, dynamic processing, production, and post-production.

[0047] It should be noted that the user is not required to input all of the necessary metadata characteristics needed to create the one or more versions of the media content. For example, the user may input that the intended audience resides in the zip code "10020." In response, the media content management application may not require that the user know any other information regarding the intended audience in the zip code "10020." The media content management application may obtain the metadata characteristics that correspond to the intended audience from another entity, a database, or any other suitable source. For example, the media content management application may extract from the inputted zip code of "10020" that the intended audience is 60% male and 40% female, 80% have an income level greater than $100,000, and 60% are Caucasian.

[0048] It should also be noted that the user is not required to have a database or a special purpose database that assembles the versions of media content. The media content management application avoids this difficulty by using editing/assembly software to generate the versions of media content with the appropriate media segments (e.g., portions of audio, portions of video, background audio, voiceovers, images, animations, graphics, etc.) and providing it to the user without the need for having and/or maintaining a special purpose database (e.g., an object oriented database with a plurality of media segments, including those media segments not desired by the user). The media segments that relate to the semantic criteria and/or metadata characteristics are used to generate the versions of media content.

[0049] Using this application, the user may order and receive a finished version of the media content. The finished version may be transmitted to a delivery point in any suitable medium (e.g., videotape, DVD, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, standard definition, high definition, downloaded, etc.). [0050] The following FIGS. 1-14 and their accompanying descriptions provide detailed examples of the implementation of the systems and methods of the present invention. [0051] FIG. 1 is a generalized schematic diagram of an illustrative media content management system 100 on which a media content management application may be implemented in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated, system 100 may include one or more workstations 102. Workstations 102 may be local to each other or remote from each other. Workstations 102 are connected by one or more communications links 104 to a communications network 106 that is linked via a communications link 108 to a server 110.

[0052] System 100 may include one or more servers 110. Server 110 may be any suitable server for providing access to the media content management application, such as a processor, a computer, a data processing device, or a combination of such devices. Communications network 106 may be any suitable computer network including the Internet, an intranet, a wide-area network ("WAN"), a local-area network ("LAN"), a wireless network, a digital subscriber line ("DSL") network, a frame relay network, an asynchronous transfer mode ("ATM") network, a virtual private network ("VPN"), or any combination of any of such networks. Communications links 104 and 108 may be any communications links suitable for communicating data between workstations 102 and server 110, such as network links, dial-up links, wireless links, hard-wired links, any other suitable communications links, or a combination of such links. Workstations 102 enable a user to access features of the media content management application. Workstations 102 may be personal computers, laptop computers, mainframe computers, dumb terminals, data displays, Internet browsers, personal digital assistants ("PDAs"), two-way pagers, wireless terminals, portable telephones, any other suitable access device, or any combination of such devices. Workstations 102 and server 110 may be located at any suitable location. In one embodiment, workstations 102 and server 110 may be located within an organization. Alternatively, workstations 102 and server 110 may be distributed between multiple organizations.

[0053] The server and one of the workstations, which are depicted in FIG. 1, are illustrated in more detail in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2, workstation 102 may include processor 202, display 204, input device 206, and memory 208, which may be interconnected. In a preferred embodiment, memory 208 contains a storage device for storing a workstation program for controlling processor 202.

[0054] Processor 202 uses the workstation program to present on display 204 the application and the data received through communications link 104 and commands and values transmitted by a user of workstation 102. It should also be noted that data received through communications link 104 or any other communications links may be received from any suitable source, such as WebServices. Input device 206 may be a computer keyboard, a cursor-controller, dial, switchbank, lever, or any other suitable input device as would be used by a designer of input systems or process control systems.

[0055] Server 110 may include processor 220, display 222, input device 224, and memory 226, which may be interconnected. In a preferred embodiment, memory 226 contains a storage device for storing data received through communications link 108 or through other links, and also receives commands and values transmitted by one or more users. The storage device further contains a server program for controlling processor 220.

[0056] In some embodiments, the media content management application may include an application program interface (not shown), or alternatively, the application may be resident in the memory of workstation 102 or server 110. In another suitable embodiment, the only distribution to workstation 102 may be a graphical user interface ("GUI") which allows a user to interact with the media content management application resident at, for example, server 110. [0057] In one particular embodiment, the media content management application may include client-side software, hardware, or both. For example, the application may encompass one or more Web-pages or Web-page portions (e.g., via any suitable encoding, such as HyperText Markup Language ("HTML"), Dynamic HyperText Markup Language ("DHTML"), Extensible Markup Language ("XML"), JavaServer Pages ("JSP"), Active Server Pages ("ASP"), Cold Fusion, or any other suitable approaches).

[0058] Although the media content management application is described herein as being implemented on a workstation and/or server, this is only illustrative. The application may be implemented on any suitable platform (e.g., a personal computer ("PC"), a mainframe computer, a dumb terminal, a data display, a two-way pager, a wireless terminal, a portable telephone, a portable computer, a palmtop computer, an H/PC, an automobile PC, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant ("PDA"), a combined cellular phone and PDA, etc.) to provide such features,

[0059] It will also be understood that the detailed description herein may be presented in terms of program procedures executed on a computer or network of computers. These procedural descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art.

[0060] A procedure is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. These steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared and otherwise manipulated. It proves convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. It should be noted, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.

[0061] Further, the manipulations performed are often referred to in terms, such as adding or comparing, which are commonly associated with mental operations performed by a human operator. No such capability of a human operator is necessary, or desirable in most cases, in any of the operations described herein which form part of the present invention; the operations are machine operations. Useful machines for performing the operation of the present invention include general purpose digital computers or similar devices.

[0062] The present invention also relates to apparatus for performing these operations. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purpose or it may comprise a general purpose computer as selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. The procedures presented herein are not inherently related to a particular computer or other apparatus. Various general purpose machines may be used with programs written in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove more convenient to construct more specialized apparatus to perform the required method steps. The required structure for a variety of these machines will appear from the description given.

[0063] The system according to the invention may include a general purpose computer, or a specially programmed special purpose computer. The user may interact with the system via e.g., a personal computer or over PDA, e.g., the Internet, an Intranet, etc. Either of these may be implemented as a distributed computer system rather than a single computer. Similarly, the communications link may be a dedicated link, a modem over a POTS line, the Internet and/or any other method of communicating between computers and/or users. Moreover, the processing could be controlled by a software program on one or more computer systems or processors, or ; could even be partially or wholly implemented in hardware.

[0064] Although a single computer may be used, the system according to one or more embodiments of the invention is optionally suitably equipped with a multitude or combination of processors or storage devices. For example, the computer may be replaced by, or combined with, any suitable processing system operative in accordance with the concepts of embodiments of the present invention, including sophisticated calculators, hand held, laptop/notebook, mini, mainframe and super computers, as well as processing system network combinations of the same. Further, portions of the system may be provided in any appropriate electronic format, including, for example, provided over a communication line as electronic signals, provided on CD and/or DVD, provided on optical disk memory, etc.

[0065] Any presently available or future developed computer software language and/or hardware components can be employed in such embodiments of the present invention. For example, at least some of the functionality mentioned above could be implemented using Visual Basic, C, C++ or any assembly language appropriate in view of the processor being used. It could also be written in an object oriented and/or interpretive environment such as Java and transported to multiple destinations to various users.

[0066] Turning now to FIG. 3, an illustrative home screen 300 that may be provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention is displayed. The media content management application is designed to provide users with the ability to efficiently and conveniently create, customize, and/or distribute media content using semantic criteria. This includes, for example, allowing the user to browse through information relating to media content (e.g., which media segments are available, which media segments are new, inventory information, sales information, sales results, offer information, templates available for use, etc.). [0067] As shown in FIG. 3, screen 300 is related to creating, customizing, and/or distributing media content relating to automobiles (e.g., automobile commercials). However, the media content may relate to any other suitable subject, such as, for example, travel, electronics, political campaigns, etc. [0068] Screen 300 includes information relating to campaigns, campaign templates (e.g., a campaign template for a thirty second commercial for multiple vehicles), inventory (e.g., newly delivered cars and the allocation in the Northeast), sales (e.g., third quarter of 2004 sales results, year to date sales results, annual sales reports, etc.), offers (e.g., offers for the months of October and November, end of the year offers, leasing offers, etc.), and updated media content (e.g., new campaign templates available for use, new media content for selection, etc.). [0069] As shown, screen 300 of FIG. 3 is designed to be provided on a computer display (e.g., display 204 of workstation 102 or display 222 of server 110 of FIGS. 1 and 2). However, it should be noted that the format and contents of the screens that follow may be modified to accommodate different platforms, if desired. It should also be noted that some, all, or alternatives to the following screens may be provided to a user of the media content management application in accordance with the present invention.

[0070] The media content management application may be accessed by various users including, but not limited to, an advertiser, a marketer, a user at a field office, a user at a parent company, a user at a subsidiary of the parent company, and a user at a cable operator in order to create, customize, and/or distribute media content. In some embodiments, the media content management application may provide each of these users with different features. For example, an advertiser may be permitted to create a variety of versions of a commercial spot, while a user at a field office may only be permitted to make certain changes to one or more commercial spots. In such an example, the commercial spots created by the advertiser may be customized by other users, but in a way that the overall message does not change. Alternatively, certain users (e.g., an advertiser or a marketer) may be permitted to create and/or customize media content, while other users (e.g., a user at a field office) may be permitted to purchase or receive media content. [0071] The media content management application provides the user with an interface 340 for creating, customizing, and/or distributing media content. As shown in FIG. 3, the "home" button is currently selected in interface 340.

[0072] In some embodiments, the media content management application may allow the user to select to receive media content. For example, the user may be provided with an interface having a plurality of media content. In response to the selection by the user, the media content management application may retrieve the media content from a library of media content and provide the media content to the user. The library of content may be provided to the user in the form of, for example, a list, a database, or any other suitable approach for providing content to the user. Alternatively, the media content management application may provide the user with one or more semantic criteria for creating and/or customizing the media content. Segments (e.g., portions of audio, portions of video, background audio, voiceovers, images, etc.) may be retrieved from the library of content and assembled to create the media content using an editing/assembly software package, an editing/assembly system, or a user that is capable of using the editing/assembly software package or editing/assembly system. The user may preview the content before purchasing it or at any time during or after the selection and creation process. [0073] Referring back to FIG. 3, in response to the user selecting the "preview" button of interface 340, the media content management application provides the user with an illustrative creation screen 400 (FIG. 4). In some embodiments, the media content management application may provide the user with a list of campaigns (e.g., an advertising campaign for automobiles, an advertising campaign for a politician, etc.) or a list of generated media content. In response to selecting a particular campaign or particular media content, the media content management application may provide the user with screen 400 to customize the media content using semantic criteria.

[0074] In some embodiments, the media content management application may provide the user with one or more semantic criteria (e.g., in the form of questions or options) relating to the media content. Using the responses to the semantic criteria, the media content management application provides the user with semantic editorial control. For example, the media content management application may provide the user with one or more abstract questions for information relating to gender, affluence, ethnicity, geography, advertisement style, type of offer, etc. Based on the responses to each of the questions, the media content management application may use an editing/assembly software package to determine which media segments are associated with the responses, retrieve the corresponding media segments, and/or assemble the one or more versions of the media content.

[0075] In one example, the media content management application may provide the user with the question "What is the offer?" In response to the user inputting that a 20% off offer should be conveyed in the media content, the media content management application may perform the routines necessary to create media content that conveys such a message. For example, the media content management application may associate such a response with the media segments relating to 20% off sales offers (e.g., an audio segment describing the offer, a video segment describing the offer, a soundtrack to go along with the offer, disclaimers that are to be displayed along with the offer, how the media segments are sequenced, how the audio segments are married to the video segments, which segments overlap, how the background audio track is married to the video segments, etc.). The media content management application may transmit the semantic criteria to an editing/assembly software package, an editing/assembly system, or a user of the editing/assembly software package or editing/assembly system that constructs a version of the media content for the user.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 4, screen 400 provides the user with a list of semantic criteria 420 relating to the media content to be created. Using screen 400 or any other suitable interface, the media content management application allows the user to manage the editing of media content and make decisions relating to the media content (or version of the media content) based on semantic criteria. Semantic criteria 420 may include, for example, options relating to the style of the advertisement, options relating to the event, options relating to the type of vehicle, options relating to the model of the vehicle, options relating to the offer, options relating to the gender of the target audience (e.g., male or female), options relating to the affluence of the target audience (e.g., income greater than $70,000), options relating to the ethnicity of the target audience (e.g., Caucasian, African- American, Hispanic, Asian, etc.), options relating to the geography of the target audience (e.g., Northeast, South, Europe, Asia, etc.), etc. Any other suitable criteria may also be provided. For example, criteria relating to the target audience's likes and dislikes (e.g., the audience likes sports-related commercials, the audience likes advertisements with dogs in it, etc.) may be provided.

[0077] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the media content management application may allow a user, such as an advertiser, to respond to the questions having semantic criteria. The responses to the semantic criteria (e.g., semantic criteria 420) may be used by the media content management application to perform the necessary functions to generate one or more version of media content. For example, in response to the user indicating that the intended audience has the gender "Male," the media content management application may use this semantic criteria to determine which media segments may be used for constructing the version of the media content. In one example, the media content management application may provide the semantic criteria and/or metadata characteristics (e.g., male) to an editing/assembly software package or a user of the editing/assembly software package. The editing/assembly software package may be used to retrieve media segments relating to the semantic criteria and/or metadata characteristics and assemble one or more versions of the media content.

[0078] Professional editing/assembly software (e.g., editing software developed by Avid Technology, Inc., Final Cut Pro developed by Apple Computer Inc., intelliSpot or other assembly software developed by Visible World, etc.) requires that users be familiar with the editing toolsets of the software as well as the details of the media content, such as the editing points, the sequence of the media segments, how audio segments are married to video segments, how a background audio track is married to video segments, which media segments may be customized and/or replaced, and any other suitable detail relating to the media content. In addition, the professional editing/assembly software requires that the user know the database structure called by the editing/assembly software or how and which metadata has been married to the audio segments, video segments, or any other suitable media segments. It should be noted that the media content management application avoids these difficulties because the user is provided with an abstraction in the form of semantic controls or semantic criteria. In response to the semantic criteria, the semantic criteria are translated into functions that may be performed by one of these professional editing/assembly software packages. In response to providing semantic criteria, the media content management application may use one or more of these professional editing/assembly software packages or transmit the information to another user that has knowledge of these editing/assembly software packages to create one or more versions of the media content that correspond to the metadata characteristics. Thus, the users of the media content management application are not required to have knowledge of the professional editing/assembly software packages or have knowledge of how the media content (e.g., advertisement) is put together. In addition, the user of the media content management application is not required to have knowledge of the structure of the database accessed by the professional editing/assembly software packages or how and which metadata is associated with media segments stored in the database.

[0079] In some embodiments, the media content management application may use the semantic criteria provided by the user to obtain additional information about the intended audience of the version of the media content. For example, the user may input that the intended audience resides in the zip code "10020" in the "Geography" field of FIG. 4. In response, the media content management application may not require that the user know any other information regarding the intended audience in the zip code "10020." The media content management application may obtain the metadata characteristics that correspond to the intended audience from another entity, a database, or any other suitable source. For example, the media content management application may extract from the inputted zip code of "10020" that the intended audience is 60% male and 40% female, 80% has an income level greater than $100,000, and 60% is Caucasian. In another example, the media content management application may retrieve the information from a different source (e.g., from the United States Census Bureau website, from a market demographics website, from a marketing database, etc.).

[0080] In some embodiments, the media content management application may allow the user to indicate whether certain semantic criteria are variables for creating or customizing the media content. As shown in FIG. 4, the user may select "NO" for at least one of the semantic criteria 420. In response, those semantic criteria may not be considered a variable in creating or customizing the media content. For example, in response to the user selecting "NO" for the gender semantic criteria, the media content management application may select default audio and/or video segments from a database that are not directed towards a particular gender (gender neutral or gender unknown).

[0081] Accordingly, in response to the user responding to one or more of semantic criteria 420, the media content management application may assemble media content that the user may preview. In response to selecting a preview button 440, the media content management application may display the version of the media content in a window 460. Using semantic criteria, the media content management application allows user to preview and order finished versions of the media content for delivery.

[0082] It should be noted that the media segments include, for example, graphics (e.g., text, images, background filler, visual objects, visual effects, etc.), video segments, audio segments (e.g., synthesized speech, music, background sounds, etc.), animations, etc. While these media segments used in assembling the one or more versions of the media content may be retrieved from a database, it should also be noted that the user or the media content management application is not required to have a database that assembles the versions of media content. The media content management application avoids this difficulty by using an editing/assembly software package that generates the versions of media content with the appropriate media segments (e.g., portions of audio, portions of video, background audio, voiceovers, images, animations, graphics, etc.) and provides the versions of media content to the user without the need for having and/or maintaining a special purpose database (e.g., an object oriented database with a plurality of media segments, including those media segments not desired by the user). The media segments that relate to the semantic criteria and/or metadata characteristics are used by the editing/assembly software package to generate the versions of media content. [0083] It should be also noted that media segments and other elements may have metadata associated with them in terms of relative or absolute fit with one or more semantic criteria. For example, in response to a price change, the media content management application or an editing/assembly software package may retrieve one or more different pieces of corresponding video segments and one or more different pieces of corresponding audio segments with rules on placement, synchronization of audio with video, and a change in the background music track. In another example, each media segment may have one or more metadata tags associated with it and, in response to receiving semantic criteria with corresponding metadata characteristics, the editing/assembly software package may retrieve media segments having the corresponding metadata characteristics. The semantic criteria may affect how media content is sequenced, the primary audio segments and how it is married to the video segments, the background audio track and how it is married to the video segments, etc..

[0084] It should further be noted that the media content management application may use an editing/assembly software package or any other suitable software to assemble a plurality of versions of the media content that the user may preview, each of which are in accordance with the user's responses to the one or more semantic criteria 420. The user may preview and select one or more of the media content for distribution. In another embodiment, the media content management application may allow the user to select additional options (e.g., options 420) to more narrowly tailor the one or more versions of the media content.

[0085] Alternatively, in some embodiments, the media content management application may provide the user with a variety of media segments that correspond to the semantic criteria for selection by the user to construct the customized version of media content. For example, the media content management application may provide the user with a variety of customized media content, where each has different media segments, and the user may select at least one of the customized media content. In another example, the media content management application may provide the user with a list or a display of media segments, where the user may select one or more of the media segments for incorporation into the resulting customized media content. [0086] FIGS. 5 and 6 show an illustrative message template 500 and the contents 600 of a database that may be provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The message template 500 describes a framework to create and assemble media content for the target audience. The message template may include sequences 520, such as insertable sequences (e.g., insertable audio and/or video media segments) and/or predefined sequences. For example, predefined sequences may be inserted into the message template 500 that do not vary between different versions of the media content. In addition, the message template 500 may include rules for selection and combination of media segments and other resources to generate the media content.

[0087] It should be noted that the message template of the present invention 500 is not limited to orthogonal assembling of media segments. One or more elements of the media content are capable of being controlled and combined using various approaches to provide customized media content. For example, a background scene, such as a geographic landscape, is selected from one database and used as a common background throughout the playback of the media content, while insertable video segments are added to the media content at certain positions. [0088] The design of the message template may be determined using information from the campaign, information from the default message (e.g., non-customized media content), etc. [0089] In response to indications from the user, the media content management application may create media content for a particular market, company, or individual. For example, the media content management application may use an editing/assembly software package to obtain particular media segments and/or media information from one or more databases and assemble media content to be distributed to an audience. It should be noted that the database accessed by the media content management application or the editing/assembly software package may be any suitable storage device for storing advertisement information, audio segments, video segments, sequences, any other suitable media segments, and any other suitable information that may be used to generate media content. The database may be a special media database that is accessed by the media content management application or the editing/assembly software package. The database may be untethered to the media content management application, the editing/assembly software package, the cable operator, the headend, the network provider, and/or any other suitable entity.

[0090] It should be also noted that these sequences and media segments may be stored on high capacity, high speed servers, databases, or any suitable storage device capable of delivering these sequences and media segments in "real time" or "near real time" for production and assembly on the fly.

[0091] Editing/assembly software packages and features for creating personalized messages based on user information are described in, for example, commonly-owned, commonly-assigned

U.S. Patent Application No. 09/545,524, filed April 7, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0092] In some embodiments, the media content management application may also use or attach semantic criteria and/or metadata characteristics to more narrowly tailor or customize the versions of media content.

[0093] Referring to FIG. 7, in response to the user previewing the assembled version of the media content, the media content management application provides the user with an illustrative planning screen 700 that may be provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. As shown in interface 340, the "plan" button is currently selected.

[0094] In some embodiments, the media content management application may provide the user with an opportunity to preview versions of the media content based on selected options, edit and/or customize the media content, and approve media content to be produced. In some embodiments, the media content management application will dynamically calculate the product and delivery costs for the approved media content. The media content management application may provide the user with alternatives and/or optimize the version of media content based on cost. For example, one version of the media content may provide a video clip using an actor, while another version of the media content may provide a video clip using a cartoon character.

Each version of the media content may have a different cost associated with it (for example, due to the cost of hiring an actor or the Screen Actors Guild agreement for on-camera performers associated with the video clip).

[0095] As shown in FIG. 7, the media content management application provides the user with parameters 720 and 725. Parameters 720 and 725 may allow the user to further customize the version of media content based on additional semantic criteria. Based on the parameters selected by the user or by the media content management application, certain additional semantic criteria may be provided to the user for customizing the version of media content. For example, the parameters "Media Plan" and "Zone Data" are provided in FIG. 5. "Zone Data" may relate to demographics for the region the media content is to be transmitted. Accordingly, the parameter "Zone Data" may provide the user with demographics options, such as gender options, income options, ethnicity options, etc.

[0096] In some embodiments, the media content management application allows the user to import parameters from other sources (e.g., parameters 730 and 735). For example, the user may import "Zone Data" parameters 735 from another campaign. In another example, importing "Zone Data" parameters 735 may include retrieving demographic information from a different source (e.g., from the United States Census Bureau website, from a market demographics website, from a marketing database, etc.).

[0097] As shown in FIG. 7, the media content management application provides the user with a listing of programs 740 for each provider (e.g., broadcast programs, cable zones, cable programs, etc.). In response to selecting a provider or type of program, the media content management application may display the listing of programs 740. Each listed program 750 may include program information, such as channel name, broadcast time, title of the program, type of program, and/or any other suitable information. The user may select to associate the customized version of media content to the program 750 by, for example, selecting a check box 765. Upon approval of the media content, the media content may be assembled, produced, and distributed to the appropriate entity for playback during the selected program 750.

[0098] For each selected program to distribute media content, the media content management application may dynamically calculate the associated costs and display the associated costs in cost interface 770. The costs may be an estimate to generate one or more pieces of media content and deliver the media content to the appropriate entities. The costs may include, for example, media costs, production costs, delivery costs, etc. The costs provided in cost interface 770 may allow the user to use the media content management application to optimize the cost of the version of media content. For example, the media content management application provides the user with the opportunity to optimize the cost of the version of media content without having knowledge of the different costs associated with creating and delivering the version of media content (e.g., the user does not need to know of the cost of providing the version of media content into MPEG-2 or MPEG-4, the user does not need to know ot the Screen Actors Uuiid agreement parameters or overriding compensation agreements with specific talent personnel, the user does not need to know of the production implications for generating the version of media content, etc.).

[0099] In some embodiments, the media content management application may allow the user to further customize the version of the media content for the particular program using one or more semantic criteria (e.g., in the form of questions or options). Using the responses to the semantic criteria, the media content management application provides the user with additional semantic editorial control. For example, the media content management application may provide the user with one or more abstract questions for information relating to gender, affluence, ethnicity, geography, advertisement style, type of offer, etc. Based on the responses to each of the questions, the media content management application may transmit the semantic criteria to an editing/assembly software package, an editing/assembly system, or a user of an editing/assembly software package or editing/assembly system to further tailor and/or construct the one or more versions of the media content for the user. By selecting one of the preview buttons 760 of FIG. 7, the media content management application may provide the user with illustrative approval screens 800 of FIG. 8, 900 of FIG. 9, and 1000 of FIG. 10 in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0100] As shown in screens 800, 900, and 1000, the media content management application may provide the user with additional semantic criteria (e.g., the options and information on statistics, demographic information, etc. shown in FIGS. 8-10) for tailoring the version of media content. For example, in approval screen 800 of FIG. 8, the user is provided with category 810 of "Broadcast Programs" and semantic criteria 820 relating to gender, income, and ethnicity. As shown, the media content management application may provide the user with additional semantic criteria. For example, the media content management application may inform the user that Caucasian males with an income of less than $70,000 is the intended audience of the media content. The media content management application may obtain demographic information to determine how the user should further customize the version of the media content. In another example, the media content management application may default to selections based on the demographic information. When the media content management application determines that the region the user is providing the media content to is primarily Caucasian males (e.g., 61% males and 81% Caucasian as shown in FIG. 8), the media content management application may automatically default to those options.

[0101] Using screens 800, 900, 1000, or any other suitable interface, the media content management application allows the user to manage the editing of media content and make decision relating to the media content (or version of the media content) based on semantic criteria. Semantic criteria may include, for example, options relating to the style of the advertisement, options relating to the event, options relating to the type of vehicle, options relating to the model of the vehicle, options relating to the offer, options relating to the gender of the target audience (e.g., male or female), options relating to the affluence of the target audience (e.g., income greater than $70,000), options relating to the ethnicity of the target audience (e.g., Caucasian, African- American, Hispanic, Asian, etc.), options relating to the geography of the target audience (e.g., Northeast, South, Europe, Asia, etc.), etc. Any other suitable criteria may also be provided. For example, criteria relating to the target audience's likes and dislikes (e.g., the audience likes sports-related commercials, the audience likes advertisements with dogs in it, etc.) may be provided.

[0102] Again, professional editing/assembly software (e.g., editing software developed by Avid Technology, Inc., Final Cut Pro developed by Apple Computer Inc., intelliSpot or other assembly software developed by Visible World, etc.) requires that users be familiar with the editing toolsets of the software package as well as the details of the media content, such as the editing points, the sequence of the media segments, how audio segments are married to video segments, how a background audio track is married to video segments, which media segments may be customized and/or replaced, and any other suitable detail relating to the media content. In addition, the professional editing/assembly software requires that the user know the database structure called by the editing/assembly software or how and which metadata has been married to the audio segments, video segments, or any other suitable media segments. It should be noted that the media content management application avoids this difficulty because the user is provided with an abstraction in the form of semantic controls or semantic criteria. In response to the semantic criteria, the semantic criteria are translated into functions that may be performed by one of these professional editing/assembly software packages. In response to providing semantic criteria, the media content management application may use one or more of these professional editing/assembly software packages or transmit the information to another user that has knowledge of these editing/assembly software packages to create and/or tailor one or more versions of the media content that correspond to the metadata characteristics. Thus, the users of the media content management application are not required to have knowledge of the professional editing/assembly software packages or have knowledge of how the media content (e.g., advertisement) is put together. In addition, the user of the media content management application is not required to have knowledge of the structure of the database accessed by the professional editing/assembly software packages or how and which metadata is associated with media segments stored in the database.

[0103] In some embodiments, the media content management application may use such semantic criteria to determine that the user has appropriately targeted the media content. For example, the media content management application may determine that the media content is best suited for Caucasian males with an income level of less than $70,000. In response, the media content management application may place this information along with the other semantic criteria that the user has selected for customizing the version of media content. [0104] In some embodiments, the media content management application may use such information to automatically correct the options selected by the user. For example, based on demographic information or any other suitable targeting or marketing information, the media content management application may adjust the options selected by the user to improve the targeting to the intended audience.

[0105] Referring back to FIG. 8, in response to the user responding to one or more of the additional semantic criteria, the media content management application uses the additional semantic criteria 820 to tailor and customize the version of the media content that the user may preview. Using a button or an interface, such as preview button 830, the user may preview the customized version of the media content in preview window 840. To approve the customized version of the media content, the media content management application provides the user with an approval button 850.

[0106] It should be noted that the additional semantic criteria 820, 920, and 1020 in FIGS. 8-10 may be any suitable criteria. In some embodiments, semantic criteria 820 for broadcast programs may be different than semantic criteria 920 for cable zones. Any suitable semantic criteria for customizing the versions of media content may be provided by the media content management application. [0107] In response to approving one or more versions of the media content, the media content management application may provide the user with the ordering screens shown in FIGS. 11-14.

[0108] Referring to FIG. 11, the media content management application may dynamically calculate the production costs for creating the one or more versions of the media content. The production costs may be based on, for example, the media segments used in the version of the media content, the time required to assemble and produce the media content, etc. As shown in FIG. 11, the media content management application may provide the user with an estimate for producing these customized versions of media content and compare that estimate with the estimated cost for creating customized versions of media content without using the media content management application (e.g., hiring an advertising agency to produce multiple versions of the media content). These estimated production costs are displayed in interface 1120. [0109] In some embodiments, the media content management application may provide the user with the opportunity to optimize the version of media content by cost. Using the ordering screens shown in FIGS. 11-14, the media content management application may attach other metadata with the version of the media content. For example, the ordering screens may provide the user with multiple versions of the media content and provide the user with the metadata associated with each of the versions. One version of the media content may inform the user that a particular actor performs a scene in the media content. That version has associated costs for hiring that actor (e.g., Screen Actors Guild agreement parameters or overriding compensation agreements with specific talent personnel) and other costs related to the particular actor. It should be noted that the media content management application provides the user with these cost estimates without the requiring the user to be familiar with these agreements or associated costs. In addition, the media content management application may allow the user to select a version of the media content based on its associated cost. In response, the media content management application may transmit the cost information, semantic criteria, and/or associated metadata to the editing/assembly software package to assemble the version of the media content. [0110] In some embodiments, the media content management application may itemize the product costs such that the user may be provided with estimates for producing each of the versions of media content. The media content management application may allow the user to select one or more of the itemized costs. These selected costs may be transmitted to an editing/assembly software package, where the selected costs are translated and used to assemble the version of media content. For example, in response to the user approving the cost estimate for an on-camera performer, the editing/assembly software package may interpret the approved cost estimate, retrieve media segments having the on-camera performer (e.g., a video clip that includes the on-camera performer), and assembles the version of the media content. [0111] As shown in FIG. 12, the media content management application may generate an estimate of talent costs associated with generating the one or more versions of media content. Talent costs may include costs associated with hiring on-camera performers, off-camera performers, extras, performers for voiceovers, musicians, etc. These talent costs may be based on, for example, Screen Actors Guild agreement parameters or agreements with specific talent personnel. These talent costs are displayed in interface 1210.

[0112] In some embodiments, the media content management application may provide the user with the opportunity to select and/or optimize delivery options for transmitting the version of media content. That is, without the need for appreciating costs associated with delivering the version of media content, the media content management application allows the user to select a medium for the version of media content, one or more delivery point for the version of media content, etc.

[0113] As shown in FIG. 13, the media content management application may allow the user to select delivery options. The media content management application may allow the user to select from one or more delivery points. These delivery points may include, for example, specific markets (e.g., Northeast, Atlanta, Chicago, etc.), stations and affiliates (e.g., KCNC (CBS) Denver, WABC (ABC) New York, etc.), companies, cable interconnects, types of individuals (e.g., via an e-mail list), or actual individuals for distribution of the media content. [0114] In some embodiments, the media content management application may recommend which delivery points should receive the version of the media content. For example, the media content management application may provide a listing of delivery points that have demographic information corresponding to the targeting information selected for the media content. In another example, the media content management application may use the previously inputted semantic criteria to generate an optimized list of delivery points.

[0115] In some embodiments, the media content management application may use the previously inputted semantic criteria to generate a list of delivery points (where metadata is associated with each delivery point), where the metadata from the listed delivery points matches the metadata characteristics associated with the previously inputted semantic criteria. For example, the media content management application may extract metadata characteristics from the previously inputted semantic criteria. The metadata characteristics may be used by the media content management application to filter a list of available delivery points (e.g., WABC New York or all delivery points in New York have the metadata characteristics of greater than 50% Male and a majority of households have an income of greater than $100,000). [0116] In addition to selecting delivery points, the media content management application may allow the user to select the format that the media content is to be delivered to the delivery point. These formats may include, for example, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, videotape (VHS), DVD, standard definition media (DV, DVCPRO, DVCAM, Uncompressed SD, etc.), high definition media (e.g., HDV, XDCAM HD, DVCPRO HD, Uncompressed HD, etc.), other media formats, other media resolutions, etc. For example, the station KCNC (CBS) Denver may receive the media content in the form of a videotape, while the station WABC (ABC) New York may download the media content from a server or database. In another example, the station KCNC (CBS) Denver may receive the version of media content in standard definition, while the station WABC (ABC) New York may receive the version of media content in high definition and standard definition.

[0117] In some embodiments, the media content management application may optimize the user's selections. For example, the media content management application may determine the media format preferences, requirements, and other information relating to the station that the user has selected to receive the version of media content. The media content management application may determine that WABC (ABC) New York requires that versions of media content be received in both standard definition and high definition. The media content management application may also determine that WABC (ABC) New York prefers that the versions of media content be provided in MPEG-2 format. The media content management application may also determine that WABC (ABC) New York requires that a videotape of the media content be sent to a particular address. Li response to the determinations, the media content management application may pre-select the user's available selections for the particular delivery point (e.g., only standard definition and videotape). Alternatively, the media content management application may prohibit the user from selecting options that are not within the requirements of the delivery point (e.g., the user cannot select standard definition because the particular delivery point only accepts media content in high definition).

[0118] Accordingly, the media content management application provides the user with a number of options for delivering the version of media content with the user having to know about the requirements and/or preferences of a particular delivery point. [0119] Once the media content and delivery points have been selected by the user, the media content management application may provide the user with a confirmation screen 1200. Confirmation screen may request that the user review the campaign plan, customized options, delivery specifications, and other information before ordering that the customized versions of media content be assembled, produced, and delivered to the selected delivery points (confirmation area 1410). The user may also be provided with a total estimated cost area 1420 that displays the estimated media, production, delivery, and total costs associated with assembling, producing, and delivering the customized versions of media content. Upon selecting a "Process Order" button, the order is placed.

[0120] The media content management application provides users with the ability to create or select from a variety of media content that is ready for delivery to an intended audience. [0121] As described hereinabove, the media content management application of the present invention may allow users to generate, customize, and/or distribute media content using semantic criteria. One of ordinary skill would know how to utilize standard algorithms to implement the processes of the present invention based on the information provided in this application. [0122] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0123] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [0124] Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in the foregoing exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of implementation of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.