BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a prior art movie distribution system;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a movie studio-based digital content network distribution system;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of two way communication between a movie studio system and a distribution partner through a proxy module;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the two-way distribution system of FIG. 2 connected to plural consumer devices through a home gateway;
FIG. 5A is a block diagram illustrating the communication path for movie studios to receive empirical data from a user device through the proxy module;
FIG. 5B is a block diagram illustrating insertions of appropriate advertisements in digital content provided from a studio to a user device;
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a movie studio or content source in the system of FIGS. 1 to 5;
FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a proxy system in the system of FIGS. 1 to 5;
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a distribution partner in the system of FIGS. 1 to 5;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a network distribution system;
FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of a content distribution system including a movie theater;
FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of a consumer movie selection guide when several different movie theater companies in a neighborhood are linked to the system of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of an entertainment content distribution system including a gaming network;
FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a content distribution system in which a plurality of movie studios provide content over an application service provider to various distribution partners or access networks;
FIG. 14 illustrates a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 13 to include an advertisement auction system;
FIG. 15 illustrates a modification of the system of FIG. 13 in which web sites and peer-to-peer (P2P) sites also provide content over the content distribution system or network, in addition to movie studios or content creation sites;
FIG. 16 illustrates a link between a P2P site and a content owner in the system of FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a possible organization of infrastructure in an embodiment of a community content distribution network with cross links at all levels so that access is provided to a wide variety of content;
FIG. 18 is a more detailed block diagram of the community content distribution network of FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is an example of an extended program guide (EPG) for the community network of FIGS. 17 and 18;
FIG. 20 illustrates a possible method for offering different community lists to consumers;
FIG. 21 illustrates a two screen model for a consumer in the community network of FIGS. 18 and 19;
FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a possible method of purchasing items over the distribution networks of the previous embodiments;
FIG. 22A illustrates opposite faces of a smart cart which may be used for purchase as illustrated in FIG. 22;
FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system for inserting targeted advertisements in content distributed over a network;
FIG. 24 illustrates a remote control unit with individual viewer buttons;
FIG. 25 illustrates a modified content distribution system with targeted advertisement insertion in which a movie studio is linked to one or more social networks;
FIG. 26 illustrates an embodiment of an interactive advertisement system;
FIG. 27 illustrates a remote control unit for use with the system of FIG. 26;
FIG. 28 illustrates an alternative remote control unit;
FIG. 29 illustrates a modification of the system of FIG. 25 which includes covert data collection;
FIG. 30 illustrates use of the profile generator module of FIG. 25 to insert targeted advertisements in content provided to a selected profile group;
FIG. 31 illustrates a schematic pyramid block diagram of functions executed by one embodiment of a studio in the network systems of the previous embodiments;
FIG. 32 is a block diagram of network functions in the network distribution system of any of the previous embodiments;
FIG. 33 is a block diagram of a multi-rights system which may be provided as part of a movie studio in any of the previous embodiments;
FIG. 34 is a block diagram illustrating operation of the multi-rights system of FIG. 33;
FIG. 35 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps in creating a Windows media digital rights management file in the system of FIG. 34;
FIG. 36 is a more detailed explanation of some of the steps in FIG. 35;
FIG. 37 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a financing system for funding of projects created under the direction of the studio in any of the preceding embodiments;
FIG. 38 is a flow diagram of the steps in a movie financing method using the system of FIG. 37;
FIG. 39 is a chart illustrating analytics used in one embodiment of the system of FIGS. 37 and 38; and
FIGS. 40A and 40B illustrate modifications of the system of FIG. 37.
Patent Application
20070220575
