Method of and apparatus for describing, promoting, publishing, aggregating, distributing and accessing live content information

Abstract

A live content information system is used to register, promote and distribute true live content, pseudo-live content and on-demand content. The live content information system associates a registration number with the content. The live content is integrated into an overall presentation that includes auxiliary content. Snapshots or a portion of the content is integrated into a promotional viewer and distributed to advertise the content. The live primary content and auxiliary content are integrated and distributed within a live content viewer. The live primary content and auxiliary content are distributed from the appropriate sources to be displayed at the end user's computer system within the live content viewer. The live content information system also allows a producer of live content to be connected to one or more sponsors who will pay money for sponsoring the distribution of live content. The live content information system also allows live content to be quickly and easily interchanged between a producer of the live content and a partner such as a syndicator, distributor, affiliate and sponsor.

1 - 104 . (canceled) 
     
     
         105 . A method, comprising:
 while a live content stream is being broadcast via the Internet from a content source:
 receiving, at a live content information system, a portion of live content from the live content stream, wherein the received portion of the live content is less than the entirety of the live content stream; and 
 distributing information to a plurality of web sites accessible via the Internet, wherein the distributed information is usable to display the received portion of live content at the web sites, and wherein the distributed information is selectable to access, in real time, the live content stream from the content source. 
   
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein said receiving a portion of live content includes receiving a portion of live content that is less than the entirety of the stream and is selected by a producer of the live content. 
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein the live content stream includes video data, and wherein said receiving a portion of live content includes receiving a portion of video data that is less than the entirety of the video data included in the live content stream. 
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein the live content stream includes video data having a first frame rate, and wherein said receiving a portion of live content includes receiving a portion of video data having a second frame rate that is lower than the first frame rate. 
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein the live content stream includes chat data, and wherein said receiving a portion of live content includes receiving a portion of chat data that is less than the entirety of the chat data included in the live content stream. 
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 105 , further comprising:
 sending a notification of availability of the live content stream via an email message.   
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 105 , further comprising:
 sending a notification of availability of the live content stream to one or more telephones.   
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein said distributing information includes distributing a computer program that is downloadable from one or more of the plurality of web sites to display the received portion of live content. 
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein the content source is a web site. 
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein the live content stream includes audio content and video content. 
     
     
         115 . A computer system comprising:
 a processor; and   memory storing program instructions that are executable by the computer system, using the processor, to cause the computer system to:   receive, while a live content stream is being broadcast via the Internet from a content source, a portion of live content from the live content stream, wherein the received portion is less than the entirety of the live content stream; and   distribute, while the live content stream is being broadcast via the Internet from the content source, information to a plurality of web sites accessible via the Internet, wherein the distributed information is usable to display the received content at the web sites, and wherein the distributed information is selectable to access, in real time, the live content stream from the content source.   
     
     
         116 . The computer system of  claim 115 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to cause the computer system to send a notification of availability of the live content stream via an email message. 
     
     
         117 . The computer system of  claim 115 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to cause the computer system to send a notification of availability of the live content stream to one or more telephones. 
     
     
         118 . The computer system of  claim 115 , wherein the program instructions are executable to cause the computer system to distribute a computer program that is executable to display the received portion of live content. 
     
     
         119 . A method comprising:
 while a live content stream is being broadcast, a computer system receiving a selection indicating a portion of the live content stream, wherein the indicated portion is less than the entirety of the live content stream;   the computer system transmitting the indicated portion to a live content information system; and   in response to receiving an indication that the indicated portion has been selected at a client system, the computer system causing the live content stream to be transmitted to the client system.   
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein said causing the live content stream to be transmitted to the client system includes causing the live content stream to be transmitted from the computer system to a system that is distinct from the live content information system. 
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein said receiving a selection indicating a portion of the live content stream includes receiving a selection of video data from a producer of the live content. 
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein the live content stream includes video data having a first frame rate, and wherein said transmitting the indicated portion includes transmitting a portion of the video data having a second frame rate that is lower than the first frame rate. 
     
     
         123 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein the live content stream includes chat data, and wherein said transmitting the indicated portion includes transmitting a portion of the chat data that is less than the entirety of the chat data included in the live content stream. 
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein the live content stream includes audio data, and wherein said transmitting the indicated portion includes transmitting a portion of the audio data that is less than the entirety of the audio data included in the live content stream.