System and Method for Media Submission

Abstract

The present invention, generally speaking, provides an improved web-based media submission tool. As with some existing tools, operation of the tool is drag and drop or the user can “click” to browse a directory to select media objects. Unlike existing tools, the tool provides the user an opportunity to confirm the submission, for example by generating a thumbnail image of an image file that has been dragged and dropped. Batch submission is provided for in which a user drags and drops a plurality of images or other media objects. Submission from a web page to a web page is also provided for. The submission tool is configurable to perform a variable amount of intelligent preprocessing on media objects prior to upload. In the case of digital images, the tool can perform sizing and formatting, for example. Information capture is performed with information being uploaded together with the media objects. In an exemplary embodiment, information capture is both user-transparent (e.g., user ID and/or password) and user-visible (e.g., the user can provide captions for media objects). The submission of information about the user and the media objects facilitates automatic integration of the media objects within existing databases.

1 . A client device that pre-processes digital content for subsequent electronic publishing, comprising:
 a receiver that receives pre-processing parameters from a remote device, said pre-processing parameters including a specification of an amount of digital content, said digital content including one or more of image content, video content, and audio content;   an identification component that enables a receipt of an identification of a group of one or more items of digital content for transmission, a collective digital content of said group of one or more items of digital content being limited by said received pre-processing parameters;   a processor that pre-processes said identified group of one or more items of digital content using said received pre-processing parameters, said received pre-processing parameters enabling said client device to place said identified group of one or more items of digital content into a specified form in preparation for publication to one or more devices that are remote from a server device and said client device; and   a transmitter that sends said pre-processed group of one or more items of digital content to said server device for subsequent publishing to said one or more devices that are remote from said server device and said client device.   
     
     
         2 . The client device of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-processing parameters include a specification of a number of items of digital content. 
     
     
         3 . The client device of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-processing parameters include a specification of a maximum number of items of digital content. 
     
     
         4 . The client device of  claim 1 , wherein said identification component enables a receipt of an identification of a plurality of items of digital content. 
     
     
         5 . The client device of  claim 1 , wherein said identification component enables a receipt of a click command at said client device. 
     
     
         6 . The client device of  claim 1 , wherein said processor reduces a file size or compresses said digital content. 
     
     
         7 . The client device of  claim 1 , wherein said processor changes a quality of said digital content. 
     
     
         8 . The client device of  claim 1 , wherein said transmitter sends identifying information for said pre-processed group of one or more items of digital content. 
     
     
         9 . The client device of  claim 1 , wherein said previously received pre-processing parameters enable said device to place said identified group of one or more items of digital content into a specified form in preparation for publication to one or more devices on which said identified group of one or more items of digital content is to be electronically displayed. 
     
     
         10 . The client device of  claim 1 , wherein said processor resizes said digital content. 
     
     
         11 . A client device that pre-processes media objects for subsequent transmission to a remote device, comprising:
 a receiver that receives pre-processing parameters from a remote device, said pre-processing parameters including a specification of an amount of media data;   an identification component that enables receipt of an identification of a group of one or more media objects for transmission, a collective media data of said group of one or more media objects being limited by said received pre-processing parameters;   a processor that pre-processes said identified group of one or more media objects using said received pre-processing parameters, wherein said pre-processing comprises changing a file format of said media object; and   a transmitter that sends said pre-processed group of one or more media objects to a server device.   
     
     
         12 . A client device that pre-processes media objects for subsequent transmission to a remote device, comprising:
 a receiver that receives pre-processing parameters from a remote device, said pre-processing parameters including a specification of an amount of media data;   an identification component that enables a receipt of an identification of a group of one or more media objects for transmission, a collective media data of said group of one or more media objects being limited by said received pre-processing parameters;   a processor that pre-processes said identified group of one or more media objects using said received pre-processing parameters, wherein said pre-processing comprises encoding or otherwise converting said media object; and   a transmitter that sends said pre-processed group of one or more media objects to a server device.   
     
     
         13 . A client device that pre-processes digital content for subsequent electronic publishing, comprising:
 an identification component that enables a receipt of an identification of digital content, said digital content including one or more of image content, video content, and audio content;   a processor that pre-processes said identified digital content at said client device in accordance with one or more pre-processing parameters that are loaded onto said client device by a device separate from said client device to produce pre-processed digital content, said one or more pre-processing parameters enabling said client device to place said digital content into a specified form in preparation for publication to one or more devices that are remote from a server device and said client device;   a retrieval component that retrieves information that is associated with a user, said retrieved information being available to said client device prior to said received identification; and   a transmitter that sends a message from said client device to said server device for subsequent publishing device to said one or more devices that are remote from said server device and said client device, said transmitted message including said pre-processed digital content and said retrieved information.   
     
     
         14 . The client device of  claim 13 , wherein said processor reduces a file size or compresses said digital content. 
     
     
         15 . The client device of  claim 13 , wherein said processor changes a quality of said digital content. 
     
     
         16 . The client device of  claim 13 , wherein said processor pre-processes in accordance with one or more pre-processing parameters that have been previously loaded onto said client device. 
     
     
         17 . The client device of  claim 13 , wherein said processor pre-processes in accordance with one or more pre-processing parameters that have been loaded onto said client device prior to said identification. 
     
     
         18 . The client device of  claim 13 , wherein said processor pre-processes in accordance with one or more pre-processing parameters that have been stored in memory of said client device prior to said identification. 
     
     
         19 . The client device of  claim 13 , wherein said retrieval component retrieves a user identifier. 
     
     
         20 . The client device of  claim 13 , wherein said retrieval component retrieves a password. 
     
     
         21 . The client device of  claim 13 , wherein said retrieval component retrieves in a manner that is transparent to said user. 
     
     
         22 . The client device of  claim 13 , wherein said one or more pre-processing parameters enable said client device to place said digital content into a specified form in preparation for publication to one or more devices on which said digital content is to be electronically displayed. 
     
     
         23 . The client device of  claim 13 , wherein said processor resizes said digital content. 
     
     
         24 . A local device that pre-processes media objects for subsequent transmission to a remote device, comprising:
 an identification component that enables a receipt of an identification of a media object for transmission to said remote device;   a processor that pre-processes said identified media object at said local device in accordance with one or more pre-processing parameters that are loaded onto said local device by a device separate from said client device to produce a pre-processed media object, wherein said pre-processing comprises changing a file format of said media object;   a retrieval component that obtains information that is associated with a user, said retrieved information being available to said local device prior to said received identification; and   a transmitter that sends a message from said local device to said remote device, said transmitted message including said pre-processed media object and said retrieved information.   
     
     
         25 . A local device that pre-processes media objects for subsequent transmission to a remote device, comprising, comprising:
 an identification component that enables a receipt of an identification of a media object for transmission to said remote device;   a processor that pre-processes said identified media object at said local device in accordance with one or more pre-processing parameters that are loaded onto said local device by a device separate from said client device to produce a pre-processed media object, wherein said pre-processing comprises encoding or otherwise converting said media object;   a retrieval component that obtains information that is associated with a user, said retrieved information being available to said local device prior to said received identification; and   a transmitter that sends a message from said local device to said remote device, said transmitted message including said pre-processed media object and said retrieved information.   
     
     
         26 . A system for distributing digital content that is pre-processed by a client device, comprising:
 a transmitter that sends, to a client device, pre-processing parameters for digital content at said client device, said digital content including one or more of image content, video content, and audio content, said pre-processing parameters enabling said client device to place said digital content into a specified form in preparation for distribution to one or more devices that are remote from a server device and said client device;   a receiver that receives, from said client device, a plurality of pre-processed digital content items that have been pre-processed using said pre-processing parameters;   a processor that combines at least two of said plurality of pre-processed digital content items into a presentation; and   a distribution module that sends said presentation to one or more devices that are remote from said server device and said client device.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said pre-processing parameters include a file format for said digital content items. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said pre-processing parameters include a compression ratio for said digital content items. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said pre-processing parameters include a media size or aspect ratio for said digital content items. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said pre-processing parameters include a quality setting for said digital content items. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said transmitter further sends media object identifier code that enables identification of digital content items. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said receiver further receives information associated with said plurality of pre-processed digital content items. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said presentation is animated. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said pre-processing parameters enable said client device to place said digital content into a specified form in preparation for distribution to one or more devices on which said digital content is to be electronically displayed. 
     
     
         35 . A client device for pre-processing digital content for subsequent electronic publishing, comprising:
 an identification component that receives a command that moves a graphical user interface element in a graphical user interface displayed at said client device, said received command enabling selection of digital content, said digital content including one or more of image content, video content, and audio content;   a processor that pre-processes said selected digital content in accordance with one or more pre-processing parameters that are loaded onto said client device by a device separate from said client device to produce pre-processed digital content, said one or more pre-processing parameters enabling said client device to place said digital content into a specified form in preparation for publication to one or more devices that are remote from a server device and said client device;   a display that displays a preview image of said selected digital content, said preview image having a reduced size relative to said selected digital content; and   a transmitter that sends a message that includes said pre-processed digital content to said server device for subsequent publishing to said one or more devices that are remote from said server device and said client device.   
     
     
         36 . A system for publishing digital content that has been pre-processed by a client device, comprising:
 a receiver that receives, from said client device, a pre-processed group of one or more items of digital content that includes one or more of image content, video content, and audio content, wherein a collective digital content of said group of one or more items of digital content is limited by a specification of an amount of digital content, said group of one or more items of digital content being pre-processed in accordance with pre-processing parameters that were loaded onto said client device by a device separate from said client device, said pre-processing parameters enabling said client device to place said identified group of one or more items of digital content into a specified form in preparation for distribution to one or more devices that are remote from a server device and said client device; and   a distributor that sends, by said server device via an electronic network, information based on said pre-processed group of one or more items of digital content to one or more devices that are remote from said server device and said client device.   
     
     
         37 . A system for distributing digital content that has been pre-processed by a client device, comprising:
 a receiver that receives, from said client device, pre-processed digital content that includes one or more of image content, video content, and audio content, and information retrieved by said client device that is associated with a user, said retrieved information being available to said client device prior to an identification of said digital content at said client device, wherein said digital content is pre-processed by said client device in accordance with pre-processing parameters that were loaded onto said client device by a device separate from said client device, said pre-processing parameters enabling said client device to place said digital content into a specified form in preparation for distribution to one or more devices that are remote from a server device and said client device; and   a distributor that sends, by said server device via an electronic network, information based on said pre-processed digital content to one or more devices that are remote from said server device and said client device.   
     
     
         38 . A client device for pre-processing digital content for subsequent electronic distribution, comprising:
 a transfer component that initiates, by said client device, a transfer of digital content from said client device to a server device, said digital content including one or more of image content, video content, and audio content;   a processor that pre-processes said digital content at said client device in accordance with one or more pre-processing parameters, said one or more pre-processing parameters being loaded onto said client device from a device separate from said client device, said one or more pre-processing parameters enabling said client device to place said digital content into a specified form in preparation for publication to one or more devices that are remote from a server device and said client device; and   a transmitter that sends a message from said client device to said server device for subsequent distribution to said one or more devices that are remote from said server device and said client device, said transmitted message including said pre-processed digital content.   
     
     
         39 . The client device of  claim 38 , wherein said pre-processing comprises pre-processing said digital content in accordance with pre-processing parameters that are provided to said client device by said server device. 
     
     
         40 . The client device of  claim 38 , further comprising an identification component that enables a receipt of an identification of said digital content for transmission prior to said pre-processing. 
     
     
         41 . The client device of  claim 38 , wherein said processor reduces a file size or compressing said digital content. 
     
     
         42 . The client device of  claim 38 , wherein said processor resizes said digital content. 
     
     
         43 . The client device of  claim 38 , wherein said processor changes a file format of said digital content. 
     
     
         44 . The client device of  claim 38 , wherein said transmitted message includes identifying information for said digital content. 
     
     
         45 . The client device of  claim 44 , wherein said identifying information is retrieved from storage in said client device. 
     
     
         46 . The client device of  claim 45 , wherein said identifying information includes a file name. 
     
     
         47 . The client device of  claim 45 , wherein said identifying information includes location information. 
     
     
         48 . The client device of  claim 47 , wherein said identifying information includes zip code information. 
     
     
         49 . The client device of  claim 45 , wherein said identifying information includes user information. 
     
     
         50 . The client device of  claim 45 , wherein said identifying information includes information describing said digital content. 
     
     
         51 . A system for distributing digital content that has been pre-processed by a client device, comprising:
 a receiver that receives, from said client device, digital content that has been pre-processed at said client device in accordance with one or more pre-processing parameters that have been loaded onto said client device by a device separate from said client device, said digital content including one or more of image content, video content, and audio content, said one or more pre-processing parameters enabling said client device to place said digital content into a specified form in preparation for distribution to one or more devices that are remote from a server device and said client device; and   a distributor that sends, by said server device via an electronic network, information based on said pre-processed digital content to one or more devices that are remote from said server device and said client device.