Media predictive consignment

Abstract

A method and system for enhanced electronic delivery and sale of a content item. In order to speed delivery and avoid congestion of a delivery channel, a potential customer is identified and the item delivered prior to solicitation by the customer. Delivery is at a time when communication resources available prior to a critical time of peak demand. Delivery of the item may be enhanced via multicasting. Sale of the item is encouraged through one click context sensitive buying.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is an overview of a first embodiment of a system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is simplified flowchart of the publishing process of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a simplified flowchart of the consuming process of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an overview of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a third embodiment of the present invention including a composite media object having both preloaded, cached and on demand loaded content items;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an embodiment of an algorithm to identify a potential consumer according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an embodiment of an algorithm to forecast a critical time according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an embodiment of a schedule for delivery of a consignment content according to the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for enhanced electronic delivery of a content item comprising the steps of: a) identifying a potential consumer for the content item, andb) delivering a file associated with the content item to said potential consumer unsolicited by said potential consumer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of delivering is according to a priority scheme.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said priority scheme accounts for at least one attribute selected from the group consisting a nature of the content item, an attribute of said potential consumer, a current time, a time of notification, and an expected availability of a bandwidth at a time of notification

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step c) prognosticating an optimal time for notifying said potential consumer of an availability of the content item;

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step c) forecasting a critical time for said step of delivering of the content item and wherein said step of delivering is prior to said critical time.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said critical time is a beginning of a period when said potential consumer is expected to desire the content item.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said critical time is a beginning of a period when a congestion is expected in a delivery channel.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said critical time is associated with a peak in expected demand for the content item.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of: d) sending a second content item associated with the content item to said potential consumer after said critical time.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of forecasting is based on a time of a broadcast associated with the content item.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of identifying is unsolicited by said potential consumer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of delivering includes multicasting.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said file is in a sealed format, and said file is released upon a request by said potential consumer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said request is interpreted as an agreement to pay for the content item.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of: c) sending a datum associated with the content item after said request.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of identifying is based on a historical loyalty of said potential consumer to at least one content selected from the group consisting of performer, a media genre, an author, and a best seller list.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of identifying is based on at least one transient condition selected from the list consisting of a current location of said potential consumer, a current time, a current day, attendance of the potential customer at an event associated with the content item, and a current viewing by said potential consumer of a content associated with the content item.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of identifying is based on at least one predictor selected from the list consisting of an exceptional trend of purchasing by a person associated with said potential consumer, a result of data mining of available parameters and user profiles, a recommendation of a commissioned investigator, and a user generated self-profile.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: c) deleting said file from a storage in response to at least one condition selected from the list consisting of a passing of a period when the potential consumer is expected to desire the content item, passing of a period of an expected congestion in a delivery channel, a change in a status of said potential consumer, and an availability of an alternative content item.

20. A method for a publisher to sell to a consumer a replay of an event, the replay including a portion of a content, the method comprising the steps: a) caching the portion on a device available to the consumer during a broadcast of the content;b) providing the consumer with an interface to request the replay, said request being also an agreement to pay for the replay, andc) releasing the replay to the consumer upon said request.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said caching is in an encrypted format and said step of releasing includes providing the consumer with an encryption key.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said step of releasing includes delivering a content item to the consumer, the replay including both the portion and also said content item.

23. A system to enhance delivery of a content item to a viewing device of a consumer comprising: a) a first algorithm for identifying the consumer prior to solicitation by the consumer;b) a second algorithm for forecasting a critical time for delivery of the content item;c) a local storage associated to the viewing device for storing the content item prior to said critical time.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising: d) a single key by which the consumer communicates a request to buy the content item.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the viewing device and said local storage are co-located.