PAYMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WEB-BASED VIDEO EDITING SYSTEM
A payment system for use with a web-based video editing system is provided. The payment system includes: a purchase subsystem configured to: receive a user request for a data-right combination; create a binding indicative of the data-right combination; and provide the binding for purchase by the user; and a preview subsystem configured to provide a preview of data of the data-right combination prior to the user purchasing the binding.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/897,559, filed on Jan. 26, 2007, which is incorporated by reference as if set forth in full herein. This application is also related to the co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/897,552, filed on Jan. 26, 2007, titled “Video Downloading and Scrubbing System and Method” (Atty. docket no. 58745), U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/897,558, filed on Jan. 26, 2007, titled “Real Time Online Video Editing System and Method” (Atty. docket no. 58746), U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/897,544, filed on Jan. 26, 2007, titled “System and Method for Editing Web-Based Video” (Atty. docket no. 58981), U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/898,201, filed on Jan. 29, 2007, titled “Image Editing System and Method” (Atty. docket no. 58744), U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/913,204, filed on Apr. 20, 2007, titled “Image Editing System and Method” (Atty. docket no. 59717), and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/915,427, filed on May 1, 2007, titled “System and Method for Flow Control in Web-Based Movie Editing System” (Atty. docket no. 59323), the entire contents of each of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to payment systems, and more particularly, to a payment system and method for web-based video editing systems.
In some embodiments of the system, one or more client computers are configured to transmit information to and receive information from the server. In some embodiments, each of the client computers is configured to send a query for information and the server is configured to respond to the query by sending the requested information to the client computer. In some embodiments, one or more of the client computers is configured to transmit commands to the server and the server is configured to perform functions in response to the command.
In some embodiments, each of the client computers is configured with an application for displaying multimedia on the graphical user interface of the client computer. The application may be Adobe Flash® or any other application capable of displaying multimedia.
The connection manager is configured to determine the condition of the server and perform asynchronous messaging to one or more of the client computers over the dedicated open socket connection. In some embodiments, the content of the messages is indicative of the state of the server.
The server is configured to receive requests from one or more of the client computers and perform functions in response to the received requests. The server may perform any number of functions typically performed in the server of a web-based video editing system. The server may also provide a payment system for the web-based video editing system.
In some embodiments, the payment system 140 is executed on the server. In other embodiments, the payment system is executed on a computer that is remote from but in communication with the server. The payment system may be configured to allow a user to purchase rights to use data that the user selects, preview a video containing the data before purchase, track the usage of data, and prevent access to data.
In some embodiments, the user purchase request received by the purchase subsystem includes the identity of the user, the data that the user tentatively desires to purchase, and the type of rights for which the user would like to use the data. The combination of the data that the user tentatively desires to purchase and the type of rights for which the user would like to use the data is sometimes referred to as a data-right combination. The user purchase request also includes information indicative of the amount or duration of use for which the user is requesting in the case that they are requesting a data-right combination. For example, a user purchase request may be a request for publication rights to a selected video for use in three interactive videos. Alternatively, a user purchase request may be a request for publication rights to a selected video for unlimited interactive videos, but only viewable during a specific 30 day period. In some embodiments, a user purchase request does not include the type of rights for which the user would like to use the data, but rather a default type of rights or a type of rights contained in user settings is used.
The data may be stored in the editing system server (not shown), the purchase subsystem memory 214 or at a remote location connected to the network of
There may be any number of rights that a user can select for the selected data, including, but not limited to, watch rights, audition rights, poll participation rights, publication rights and performance rights. Watch rights include the right to drag data into an interactive video and view the data in conjunction with other data associated with the video. Audition rights include the right to view a low resolution version of the data alone or in conjunction with other data associated with an interactive video. Poll participation rights include the right to participate in or construct a poll. Publication rights include the right to publish data on the Internet thereby allowing an entire set of video editing system users to view the interactive video creating by one of the system users. Performance rights include the right to perform and have data captured and used in an interactive video. In some embodiments, the user can purchase performance rights to have the user's webcam data captured and used in an interactive video.
The purchase subsystem is configured to create a binding between the user identity, the data-right combination and the amount or duration of the data-right combination. In some embodiments, the purchase subsystem stores information indicative of the binding in the memory. In various embodiments, the binding includes information indicative of the identity of the data. The subsystem may create multiple bindings associated with a particular user.
The subsystem provides to the user a price for the one or more bindings without requiring the user to purchase any of the bindings. The price for each binding may vary according to the data-right combination and the amount or duration of the data-right combination associated with the binding. In some embodiments, the purchase subsystem transmits to the user a running cost total of all bindings that the user has created that the user has not purchased. The running cost total may include data that the user has generated and that is free to the user. In many embodiments, the data-right combination that allows the binding to be used/viewed solely in the development of a work, such as a video, by the user has a price of zero. Accordingly, the user can determine the price for purchasing, publishing, or saving an interactive video while composing the video and before actually purchasing, publishing or saving any of the data of the video.
In some embodiments, the user can select one or more advertisements that can appear in the video. The advertisements may be any number of types of data including, but not limited to, video, audio, still picture, poll, or the like. In some embodiments, selecting an advertisement to appear in an interactive video reduces the running cost total of the one or more bindings. Accordingly, advertisers can subsidize the user cost to create interactive videos.
In some embodiments, the purchase subsystem includes functionality for providing an online store through which the user can purchase the one or more bindings. The online store may be any number of suitable online stores well known to those skilled in the art.
In some embodiments, a listing of the contents of each binding is displayed to the user upon the user transmitting a request for the listing. In some embodiments, a listing of the prices for the data in an interactive video is displayed to the user upon the user transmitting a request for the listing. The listing may display the prices for all data in the video including data that may be free. In some embodiments, data that the user personally creates such as a personal photo album is free. The user may transmit a request for the listing of contents or prices in any number of ways, including, but not limited to, moving a cursor over the running total associated with the one or more bindings.
In some embodiments, the purchase subsystem may also store, update or delete the binding in memory 214.
The preview subsystem 420 includes a processor 422, memory 424 and computer code product including instructions stored on the memory and adapted to cause the processor, and thereby the preview subsystem, to generate information for providing a video editor; and provide a preview of data selected by a user and for which the purchase subsystem creates a binding. The preview subsystem computer code is also adapted to provide the preview without requiring the user to have already purchased the binding.
Further, the preview may be provided before the video is published or otherwise shared with other system users or saved by the user. The preview subsystem may display the data alone or in conjunction with other data in the interactive video.
In other embodiments, the payment system for use with a web-based video editing system includes a purchase subsystem configured to receive a user request for a data-right combination, create a binding indicative of the data-right combination, and provide the binding for purchase by the user. The payment system also includes a preview subsystem configured to provide a preview of data of the data-right combination prior to the user purchasing the binding.
In some embodiments, the received information also includes information for formatting and displaying a video editor on the graphical user interface. The user may select an indicator indicative of data or an advertisement and place it into the editor.
The graphical user interface is configured to display in the editor 440 an interactive video upon an indicator of data or an advertisement being placed into the editor. The interactive video is updated when any content is added to or removed from the editor.
In other embodiments, the received information also includes an indicator 480 that can be activated to create an online store through which the user can purchase the data. The received information also includes a running total 485 of any data or advertisements placed into the editor. The running total may be updated when any content is added to or removed from the editor.
In some embodiments, the graphical user interface displays in various sections of the screen: indicators for one or more data for which a user can request a data-right combination, indicators for one or more available advertisements, and indicators for user generated data. The interface also displays an editor for viewing selected data, a running total of all data and advertisements in the editor and advertisements as a video, and displays an indicator for an online store.
The preview request is a request to preview selected data associated with a binding created by the purchase subsystem. The preview subsystem transmits 520 information indicative of the data to be previewed. The received information is processed 530 to display a visual and/or audio representation of the data. The information may be processed according to any of a number of methods well known to those skilled in the art. The processed information is displayed at a graphical user interface of a communication device. The communication device may be the communication device from which the user requested the data-right combination or another communication device.
In some embodiments, the preview subsystem displays an indicator of data and the user can select the indicator and cause the preview to begin. The user can select the indicator in any number of ways including, but not limited to, dragging and dropping the indicator into the editor of the preview subsystem. The user can preview the data alone or in combination with other portions of an interactive video shown in the editor. The user can place the data into the location of interest a timeline associated with the video. The preview subsystem displays the data and/or the updated interactive video. In various embodiments, the preview subsystem can automatically update the interactive video to provide a synchronized audio-visual preview of selected data.
In some embodiments, the purchase subsystem transmits the price information for the data and any advertisements being previewed.
In some embodiments, an online store such as that described with reference to
The purchase subsystem is configured to receive and process user purchase requests. With reference to
The usage tracking subsystem is configured to track a user's usage of data-right combinations and determine whether a user request to use a data-right combination is valid. The usage tracking subsystem may also be configured to receive a system user request for data and determine whether the request is valid or invalid. The usage tracking subsystem may also be configured to evaluate the content of an interactive video and determine if requested data is part of the content of an interactive video.
The usage tracking subsystem includes a processor 622, memory 624 and computer code product including instructions stored on the memory and adapted to cause the processor, and thereby the usage tracking subsystem, to track the user's usage and determine if the request is valid; determine whether a system user's request for data is valid or invalid, and, in some embodiments, evaluate the content of an interactive video.
The memory 624 may also be configured for storing information indicative of the user's purchased data-rights combinations and amounts of such.
In some embodiments, the usage tracking subsystem is configured to track a user's usage of a data-right combination by assigning each user's binding a counter having a value indicative of the amount of the purchased data-right combination. The subsystem is configured to decrease the value of the counter when the user uses the data-right combination and increase the value of the counter when the user purchases additional uses of the data-right combination.
In some embodiments, the usage tracking subsystem is configured to determine whether a request to use a data-right combination is valid by evaluating the value of the counter. If the value of the counter is indicative of remaining uses of a data-rights combination, the usage tracking subsystem determines that the user use request is valid. Otherwise, the subsystem determines that the use request is invalid.
In some embodiments, the usage tracking subsystem is also configured to generate information indicative of whether the request is determined to be valid or invalid.
In some embodiments, the usage tracking subsystem 620 is also configured to transmit to the purchase subsystem 610 information indicative of whether the request is determined to be valid or invalid. The purchase subsystem may be configured to allow the user to purchase one or more additional uses of the requested data-right combination in response to receiving information from the usage tracking subsystem indicative of an invalid user use request.
In some embodiments, the usage tracking subsystem is configured to determine if a request for data from a system user is valid or invalid. A system user is a user on the video editing system that is attempting to view data associated with another user. The data may be data that has been created by another user. For example, the data may be another user's photo album that has been marked private by the user. Additionally, the system user may be attempting to view a video created by another user but requesting data that is not included in the video.
In some embodiments, the usage tracking subsystem tracks usage of data-right combinations of one or more users by assigning a counter having an initial value to a user binding. The initial may be indicative of the amount of the data-right combination associated with the binding. The subsystem decreases the value of the counter when the user uses the data-right combination and increases the value of the counter when the user purchases additional uses of the data-rights combination.
In some embodiments, the usage tracking subsystem determines whether the request is valid by comparing the requested data-right combination to the purchased data-right combination. If the requested data-right combination has not been purchased, the request is invalid. For example, if the user requests to publish a selected .mp3 file but has only purchased audition rights for the .mp3 file, the request is invalid.
In other embodiments, the usage tracking subsystem determines whether the request is valid by evaluating the value of the counter associated with the data-rights combination to determine if any purchased uses of the data-right combination remain.
If there are remaining purchased uses, the usage tracking subsystem generates information indicative of the user's right to use the data-right combination. The video editing system server (not shown) may perform operations to transmit the data indicative of the requested data-right combination to a communication device at which the user is located for display of the data.
If there are no remaining uses of the data-right combination, the use request is determined to be invalid and the usage tracking subsystem may generate information indicative of the invalid use request. In some embodiments, the purchase subsystem sends information to the user requesting that the user purchase the data-right combination. In other embodiments, the interactive video for which the user is requesting the data will not publish.
The security subsystem 830 includes a processor 832, memory 834 and computer code product including instructions stored on the memory and adapted to cause the processor, and thereby the security subsystem, to prevent access by a user to data when the user is not entitled to view the data.
In some embodiments, the security subsystem prevents access to data that a user requests when the usage tracking subsystem determines that the request is invalid as described with reference to
In some embodiments, the security subsystem 830 of the payment system is configured to receive information from the usage tracking subsystem 820 when the usage tracking subsystem determines that a request is invalid. The information is indicative of the identity of the user and the corresponding data to which to prevent access.
In some embodiments, the purchase subsystem of the payment system is configured to receive a data-right request and create a binding. The usage tracking subsystem is configured to track the data-right combination use of one or more users. The usage tracking subsystem is configured to receive a request to use a data-right combination. The usage tracking subsystem is configured to determine if the request is valid or invalid. The security subsystem is configured to prevent access to the requested data if the request to the usage tracking subsystem is determined to be invalid.
Claims
1. A system comprising:
- a server connected to a network;
- a first client communications device connected to the network, wherein the client communications device is in communication with the server;
- a second client communications device connected to the network, wherein the client communications device is in communication with the server;
- media storage connected to the server, the media storage including media elements that are used in a video production, the media elements including at least one protected media element that has rights data associated with the protected media element indicative of usage rights available for the protected media element; and
- production storage connected to the server, the production storage including a set of production instructions that define a video production that includes all or a portion of one or more of the media elements;
- the server comprises a video editing subsystem that is configured to: receive, from the first client communications device, selections indicative of media elements and commands indicative of how the media elements indicated by the selections are to be combined into a client video production, wherein the media elements indicated by the selections include at least one protected media element; send, to the first client communications device, data allowing temporary playing on the client communication device of the client video production based on the selections and commands received from the client communications device; send, to the first client communication device, data indicative of usage rights available for purchase through the client communications device of the at least one protected media element; receive, from the first client communication device, instructions for the purchase of a purchased usage right set including at least some usage rights available for purchase for each of the at least one protected media element; and send, to the second client communication device, data allowing playing on the second client communication device of the client video production; according to the purchased usage right set.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the server includes the media storage.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the server includes the production storage.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the server includes the media storage and the production storage
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first communication device comprises a plurality of client communication devices.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first client communications device comprises a graphical user interface.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the client communications device comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a personal computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a phone, and a video player.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the network is the Internet.
9. A method using a server connected to a network, media storage connected to the server, the media storage including media elements that are used in a video production, the media elements including at least one protected media element that has rights data associated with the protected media element indicative of usage rights available for the protected media element, production storage connected to the server, the production storage including a set of production instructions that define a video production that includes all or a portion of one or more of the media elements, a first client communications device connected to the network, wherein the client communications device is in communication with the server, and a second client communications device connected to the network, wherein the second client communications device is in communication with the server, the method comprising:
- the server receiving, from the first client communications device, selections indicative of media elements and commands indicative of how the media elements indicated by the selections are to be combined into a client video production, wherein the media elements indicated by the selections include at least one protected media element;
- the server sending, to the first client communications device, data allowing temporary playing on the client communication device of the client video production based on the selections and commands received from the client communications device;
- the server sending, to the first client communication device, data indicative of usage rights available for purchase through the client communications device of the at least one protected media element;
- the server receiving, from the first client communication device, instructions for the purchase of a purchased usage right set including at least some usage rights available for purchase for each of the at least one protected media element; and
- the server sending, to the second client communication device, data allowing playing on the second client communication device of the client video production; according to the purchased usage right set.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the server includes the media storage.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the server includes the production storage.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the server includes the media storage and the production storage
13. The method of claim 9 wherein the first communication device comprises a plurality of client communication devices.
14. The method of claim 9 wherein the first client communications device comprises a graphical user interface.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the first client communications device comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a personal computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a phone, and a video player.
16. The method of claim 9 wherein the network is the Internet.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 28, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 31, 2008
Inventors: Andrew Gavin (Pacific Palisades, CA), Scott Shumaker (Los Angeles, CA)
Application Number: 12/021,287
International Classification: G06Q 20/00 (20060101);