Multimedia communication system and method
Inventors
Greer, Neil • Blank, Bennett • Depew, Bryan
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12450627-B2
Publication Date
2025-10-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for creating, editing, sharing and distributing high-quality, media-rich web-based communications. The communications are created in a layered fashion that integrates user-selected text, colors, background patterns, images, sound, music, video, or other media. The systems and methods are used to generate, edit, broadcast, and track electronic presentations, brochures, advertisements (such as banner advertisements on highly trafficked media websites), announcements, and interactive web pages, without the need for the user to understand complex programming languages.
Core Innovation
The invention dynamically generates a multimedia communication by storing a project object in a network-accessible media repository, where the project object includes at least one slide with predefined design layers. Each slide comprises a background layer, a main content layer, and a foreground layer, and each design layer stores one or more types of media assets, with each media asset associated with metadata defining properties including size or format.
A thin client GUI provides graphical user interface controls for assigning media assets to content containers within the design layers. Real-time integration is coordinated across the design layers via a slide layer interface that comprises a collection of pointers implemented in a programming language and/or commands, and the assigned media assets are integrated according to predefined rules stored in the project object or template.
The integrated media assets are interpreted by a project viewer module to serialize a renderable multimedia data structure compatible with a plurality of distribution formats. The renderable multimedia data structure is converted into the plurality of distribution formats, with each format dynamically adjusted based on recipient device characteristics including screen size or bandwidth constraints, and the converted multimedia communication is distributed to a plurality of recipients via a communication network with tracking and real-time metadata-driven propagation to derivative multimedia communications.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00008, clm-00017, and clm-00023. Across these independent claims, the inventive features consistently cover a network-accessible layered project/template model, GUI-based assignment, real-time cross-layer integration via a slide layer interface, serialization into a renderable multimedia data structure for multiple distribution formats, recipient-device optimized conversion, and distribution with tracked recipient interactions and real-time metadata-driven propagation of changes.
Layered slide project object with metadata for media assets
The method stores a project object in a network-accessible media repository where each slide comprises predefined design layers including a background layer, a main content layer, and a foreground layer, and each design layer stores one or more media assets selected from images, text, audio, and video, with each media asset associated with metadata defining properties including size or format.
GUI-based assignment of media assets to content containers
A graphical user interface is provided for assigning, based on user input, one or more of the media assets to content containers within the design layers.
Real-time integration across design layers via slide layer interface pointers and predefined rules
Via a slide layer interface comprising a collection of pointers, real-time communication between the design layers integrates the assigned media assets according to predefined rules stored in the project object or template.
Renderable multimedia data structure serialization for compatibility with distribution formats
A renderable multimedia data structure is generated based on the project object and the integrated media assets and serialized for compatibility with a plurality of distribution formats.
Recipient-characteristic optimized conversion for each distribution format
The renderable multimedia data structure is converted into the plurality of distribution formats, where each distribution format is dynamically adjusted based on recipient electronic device characteristics including screen size or bandwidth constraints to optimize rendering.
Network distribution with real-time metadata-driven propagation of changes to derivative communications
The converted multimedia communication is distributed to a plurality of recipients via a communication network, and changes are propagated in real-time to derivative multimedia communications using metadata-driven rules.
The inventive coverage combines a layered project/template model with GUI-guided assignment, real-time pointer-based cross-layer integration using predefined rules, serialization into a renderable multimedia data structure, dynamic conversion into multiple distribution formats optimized by recipient screen size or bandwidth constraints, and distribution with real-time metadata-driven propagation of changes to derivative multimedia communications.
Stated Advantages
Dynamically generate multimedia communications by integrating assigned media assets according to predefined rules stored in the project object or template.
Optimize rendering for each recipient device by dynamically adjusting each distribution format based on screen size or bandwidth constraints.
Propagate changes in real-time to derivative multimedia communications using metadata-driven rules.
Track recipient interactions and provide feedback based on recipient interactions.
Documented Applications
Dynamically generating, editing, broadcasting, and tracking multimedia communication for distribution to a plurality of recipients via a communication network.
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