System and method for generating notifications related to new media

Abstract

A method of generating notifications related to availability of new media content is provided. The method includes receiving a notification subscription including a request to monitor for new media content. The method also includes detecting new media content based on the subscription, and if a change is detected, determining an access right and transmitting a notification of the new media content. The metadata of the new media content is used in the subscriptions to determine when to generate notifications. Media content may include media articles, media selections, theatrical media releases, live content, or miscellaneous media sources.

1 . A method of generating a notification related to new media content, a type of the new media content comprising one or more of: a media article for being available at an article dispensing machine, a media selection, a theatrical media release, live content, or a miscellaneous media source; the method comprising:
 receiving a customer notification subscription comprising a notification request to monitor for the new media content based on metadata of the new media content, wherein the metadata of the new media content are stored in a metadata database connected to a processor;   detecting the new media content based on a comparison of metadata specified in the customer notification subscription against the metadata of the new media content;   when the new media content is detected:
 determining an access right to the new media content based on:
 determining whether a subscription package corresponding to a customer includes the new media content, and 
 determining the type of the new media content; 
 
 transmitting the notification of the new media content based on the determined access right, the notification including a current availability of the new media content. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata database comprises the metadata of the new media content, and the metadata of the new media content comprises at least one of a release date, a running time, chapter information, technical details, a format, a peripheral device requirement, number of players, online capability, an actor, a voice actor, a director, a studio, a publisher, a developer, a platform, availability of downloadable content, episode information, a genre, a critic rating, an individualized rating, a parental rating, a description, related content, media artwork, a media still, or a proprietary identification code. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the new media content comprises a change in a current availability, the current availability comprising one or more of in-stock, out-of-stock, coming soon into stock, or leaving soon from stock. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the new media content comprises a change in a viewing availability status, the viewing availability status comprising one or more of available to view, unavailable to view, coming soon to view, or leaving soon from view. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining the access right to the new media content comprises:
 associating a unique customer identifier with a customer subscription at an associated content provider, wherein the customer subscription is stored in a customer profile database connected to the processor; and   determining the viewing availability status of the media selection based on an access permission for the media selection in the customer subscription.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the access right to the new media content comprises determining the viewing availability status of the theatrical media release based on a release date of the theatrical media release; and the notification further comprises the theatrical media release and the viewing availability status of the theatrical media release. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein determining the access right to the new media content comprises determining the viewing availability status of the miscellaneous media source; and the notification further comprises the miscellaneous media source and the viewing availability status of the miscellaneous media source. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the new media content comprises a change in a price status, the price status comprising one or more of a price increase or a price decrease. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the notification comprises one or more of transmitting an electronic mail, transmitting a short message service message, or transmitting an alert on an audio/visual display interface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the media article comprises at least one of a digital video disc, a Blu-Ray disc, or a video game;   the media selection comprises at least one of a video on demand, a streaming video, a downloadable video, a streaming video game, or a downloadable video game;   the theatrical media release comprises at least one of a theatrical film or a theatrical film preview trailer;   the live content comprises a television broadcast or an internet broadcast; and   the miscellaneous media source comprises at least one of a live performance, a television appearance, a print media article, or an internet posting.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the customer notification subscription is stored in a customer profile database connected to the processor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a crawler module in communication with the metadata database, the crawler module for obtaining the new media content. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a data feed connection in communication with the metadata database, the data feed connection for obtaining the new media content. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the notification includes a transaction offer comprising one or more of a reservation offer, a pre-reservation offer, a viewing offer, or a purchase offer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a transaction request in response to the transaction offer, the transaction request comprising a request to access at least one of the media article, the media selection, the theatrical media release, or the miscellaneous media source. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer readable medium for generating a notification related to new media content, a type of the new media content comprising one or more of a media article for being available at an article dispensing machine, a media selection, a theatrical media release, live content, or a miscellaneous media source, the computer readable medium comprising:
 a first code segment for receiving a customer notification subscription comprising a notification request to monitor for the new media content based on metadata of the new media content, wherein the metadata of the new media content are stored on a metadata database connected to a processor;   a second code segment for detecting the new media content based on a comparison of metadata specified in the customer notification subscription against the metadata of the new media content;   when the new media content is detected:
 a third code segment for detecting the type of the new media content; 
 a fourth code segment for determining an access right to the new media content based on:
 determining whether a subscription package corresponding to a customer includes the new media content; 
 
 a fifth code segment for transmitting the notification of the new media content based on the access right, the notification comprising a transaction offer related to the new media content and a current availability of the new media content. 
   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the current availability comprises a viewing availability, and wherein the new media content comprises a change in the viewing availability status, the viewing availability status comprising one or more of available to view, unavailable to view, coming soon to view, or leaving soon from view. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the fourth code segment for determining the access right to the new media content comprises:   a tenth code segment for associating a unique customer identifier with a customer subscription at an associated content provider, wherein the customer subscription is stored in a customer profile database connected to the processor; and   an eleventh code segment for determining the viewing availability status of the media selection based on an access permission for the media selection in the customer subscription; and the notification further comprises the media selection and the viewing availability status of the media selection.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the fourth code segment for determining the access right to the new media content comprises a twelfth code segment for determining the viewing availability status of the theatrical media release based on a release date of the theatrical media release; and   the notification further comprises the theatrical media release and the viewing availability status of the theatrical media release.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the fourth code segment for determining the access right to the new media content comprises a thirteenth code segment for determining the viewing availability status of the miscellaneous media source; and   the notification further comprises the miscellaneous media source and the viewing availability status of the miscellaneous media source.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the new media content comprises a change in a price status, the price status comprising one or more of a price increase or a price decrease.