Digital entertainment service platform

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an open business platform that provides an end-to-end solution for managing, distributing, and/or retailing digital media assets from various content suppliers. In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides an integrated system that permits media content suppliers to deposit their media assets with the system where they are prepared by a content management system for distribution to consumers via a secure distribution system. The media content suppliers may then track and control the use of their media assets through a subscriber management system for managing consumer accounts, a licensing server for issuing licenses restricting the use of media content, and a royalty reporter for determining and reporting royalties to the various content suppliers.

1 . A method for managing and marketing digital media content supplied by media content suppliers to consumers, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing the media content suppliers electronic access to a digital media content service platform for permitting the media content suppliers to supply media content to the digital media content service platform;    offering the media content to consumers in accordance with business rules governing the use of the media content; and    providing the media content to the consumers through an electronic commerce fulfillment system.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing step includes the sub-step of shipping the media content to the consumers.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing step includes the sub-step of providing a hard good to the consumers.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the hard good includes a digital disc.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of associating metadata with the media content supplied by at least one of the content suppliers.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said offering step includes the sub-steps of determining whether a consumer making a request for selected media content is permitted to use the selected media content and issuing a license to the consumer making the request upon a determination that the consumer is permitted to use the selected media content.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the license issued includes a decryption key program for decrypting media content that is encrypted.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the license issued expires after a selected interval of time.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of offering the media content includes offering media content that is offered for only a selected interval of time.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of offering the media content including interactive content.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media content is offered over a plurality of different types of client platforms.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the client platforms include any one of cable set top box, Internet web site, direct broadcast satellite, and wireless cell phone.  
     
     
         13 . A method for managing and marketing digital media content supplied by media content suppliers to consumers, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing the media content suppliers electronic access to a digital media content service platform for permitting the media content suppliers to supply media content to the digital media content service platform;    offering the media content to consumers in accordance with business rules governing the use of the media content; and    delivering the media content to the consumers through a user interface with the digital media content service platform.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of associating metadata with the media content supplied by at least one of the content suppliers.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said offering step includes the sub-steps of determining whether a consumer making a request for selected media content is permitted to use the selected media content and issuing a license to the consumer making the request upon a determination that the consumer is permitted to use the selected media content.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the license issued includes a decryption key program for decrypting media content that is encrypted.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the license issued expires after a selected interval of time.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said step of offering the media content includes offering media content that is offered for only a selected interval of time.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said step of offering the media content including interactive content.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the media content is offered over a plurality of different types of client platforms.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the client platforms include any one of cable set top box, Internet web site, direct broadcast satellite, and wireless cell phone.