Abstract:
An automated system and method for media content post-production, including customer order-based customization, customer approval, transcoding and distribution of the media content to broadcasting sites that disseminate audio, audiovisual or print media.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Patent Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/182,276 filed Jun. 19, 2015, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention pertains generally to the field of audio-visual media content production, including post-production customization and processing and distribution to media broadcasting stations. More particularly, the present invention provides an automated system and method for media content post-production, including customer order-based customization, customer approval, transcoding and distribution of the media content to broadcasting sites that disseminate audio, audiovisual or print media. 
         [0003]    Heretofore, media production and distribution have existed in separate and distinct workflow channels. As an example, advertising production has lacked the ability to be both scalable and customizable, and allow for distribution of “advertising spots.” The term “advertising spot” is a term wisely used and understood in the broadcast advertising industry to mean an advertising commercial of defined length that is aired on broadcast media, including television, radio, web streaming, or the like. 
         [0004]    Broadcast advertising, or commercials, are primary revenue generators for commercial television, radio, websites and other streaming media. Advertisers pay a broadcasting station to broadcast a spot based on multiple considerations, including spot length, the time the spot goes out, which channel it is on, and most importantly, which show is airing at the time the spot is to be aired. Spots can vary in length, some being just 5-10 seconds, others going as long as a whole commercial break. Most spots are either 30 or 60 seconds on television, and 15, 30 or 60 seconds on radio, webcasts or other streaming media. 
         [0005]    A spot airing in the commercial break of a prime time show will be very expensive, whereas spots that air on lesser watched channels after 12:00 A.M. will be much more affordable, with the price of $5 per 1000 viewers being typical. While the cost per viewer may decrease after 12:00 A.M. fewer viewers will see the ad. For a massive audience, a National Football League Super Bowl spot is the way to go, but the cost of just 30 seconds is going to run around $1-$2 million! 
         [0006]    Broadcast media time at broadcasting stations is conventionally purchased by an advertising agency or a media buying agency whose job it is to negotiate the best rates and times for the advertising spots or commercials. 
         [0007]    Prior to being aired, the advertising spot must, of course, be produced. Different production modalities are necessitated by the type of broadcasting medium the advertising spot is intended to air on. Audiovisual advertising spots for broadcast on television, webcasts, cable, or other streaming media, will require both video and audio production. Audio advertising spots, such as radio, streaming audio or the like will require only audio production. Similarly, if the broadcast medium requires high definition (“HD”) video and/or audio, or other sound engineering, that will be part of the production workflow as well. 
         [0008]    When producing an advertisement for broadcast media, it is critical to understand both the format and the medium to ensure that the advertising spot is effectively reaching a desired target audience. 
         [0009]    Radio Advertising: Radio advertising spots are typically purchased with numerous air times in mind. Spots during the top and bottom of the hour are typically more expensive than spots played at the 15-minute marks. Advertisers can select how many times they want their spots to be heard through the course of a day as well as on which shows. Some programs can charge more for an ad spot, depending on their listenership as well as the time of day the show airs. Prime drive time hours between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. are the most expensive, while late-night ad spots are generally cheapest. 
         [0010]    Television Advertising: Television ad spots are very similar in structure to radio advertising. They run at specified times during specified programs. Prime time advertising is 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and these spots can be very expensive. Ads purchased to run during sporting events are the most expensive, while ads purchased to run during late-night television are typically more affordable. Television ad spots are also more expensive to produce than radio spots and require more design time. 
         [0011]    Online Streaming Advertising: There are ad spots in new media as well. Online video sharing sites such as YouTube offer the ability to purchase ad spots within the videos on its sites. These ad spots typically run before a video loads, which the viewer cannot skip or must view for a predetermined period of time. Compared to television advertising spots, they are much more reasonably priced, though one must still spend money to produce the advertising spot. 
         [0012]    Local Cable Advertising: Local cable advertising is a popular option among smaller companies that cannot afford national advertising costs. These advertising spots are just like the ones that would run on satellite or network television, but can only be seen in a specific local area served by the local cable provider. This type of advertising spot is ideal for a company marketing to its local area and can be a very effective means to reach out to the community. Prices are generally much lower than national advertising spots and production quality and levels do not need to be as great as that for national advertising spots. 
         [0013]    Production of a commercial advertising spot has many associated costs, including production costs, talent costs, copying (known in the industry as “dubs”), and post-production costs for editing or redoing sections of the production. 
         [0014]    Production costs may be reduced where pre-produced advertising spots exist. Oftentimes, franchise operators will have access to pre-produced (“canned”) commercials through their franchisor&#39;s advertising support system. A canned commercial will typically have an 8-10 second blank space at the end for “tagging” the franchisee&#39;s local address and contact information. In this way, the franchisees have access to a professionally produced commercial with limited customization and the franchisors have control over the nature, quality and consistency of the advertising. 
         [0015]    Similarly, co-operative advertising (“co-op advertising”) is often used in retail sales where the manufacturers, wholesalers or distributors have professionally pre-produced commercials that have to be used as is or have limited ability for customization by the retailer. 
         [0016]    It will be understood by those skilled in art that the media content production, post-production, media buying and distribution for broadcast as currently implemented requires an advertising purchaser to work with disparate service providers, i.e., production facilities, media buying agents, post-production facilities and broadcasting stations in order to launch a desired ad spot. This results in both time and cost inefficiencies for many advertisers on limited advertising budgets and limits the flexibility of customizing the advertising message delivered. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    It is, therefore, an objective of the present invention to provide a system and method including a single online resource for an advertising spot purchaser to order an advertising spot from a plurality of advertising spot templates, customize the advertising spot template to create a customized advertising spot for the purchaser, manage the workflow of the customized advertising spot, and manage the digital delivery and distribution of the advertising spot to purchaser-designated broadcast media. 
         [0018]    It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a system and method that incorporates a media inventory resource that functions as a media consolidator to enable a media purchaser using the system and method to purchase media directly from a broadcasting source, such as a television station, a network, radio stations, internet streaming services, or the like. The media inventory resource obtains media inventory data from a plurality of broadcasting sources and during an advertising ordering process of the system and method, the purchaser is presented with a plurality of options including, without limitation, type of broadcasting medium, local, regional or national broadcast scope, duration of the advertising medium, cost, and broadcast time slot availability, based upon the obtained media inventory data. Once the purchaser selects the options for selecting the media time slots, the system and method automatically updates the purchasers cart and, upon completion of a checkout routine, executes a commercial payment transaction. 
         [0019]    It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a system and method that incorporates a media targeting resource that processes data pertaining to consumer behavior in response to advertising, and generates a recommended media buy to the advertising purchaser in the inventive system and method based upon purchaser-specified options, including, without limitation, its target audience, flight dates (the air dates for the advertisement), and preferred media channels for the advertisement. Once the purchaser designates the purchaser-specified options and a resulting recommendation, the system and method automatically updates the purchasers cart and, upon completion of a checkout routine, executes a commercial payment transaction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    In the accompanying figures, like elements are identified by like reference numerals among the several preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart illustrating the inventive system for automated media content production, distribution and delivery. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating the inventive method for automated media content production, distribution and delivery. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a sub-system and method for media inventory and media targeting useful with the inventive system and method for automated media content production, distribution and delivery. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a screen capture of a login screen of the inventive system. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a screen capture of a user registration screen of the inventive system. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a screen capture of an end-user license agreement acknowledgment screen of the inventive system. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a screen capture of a broadcast medium selection screen of the system of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a screen capture of a media content selection screen of the system of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a screen capture of an alternative embodiment of a media content selection screen of the system of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a screen capture of a first customization screen for selected media content in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a screen capture of the first customization screen for the selected media content with a first customization option selected in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is a screen capture of the first customization screen for the selected media content with a second customization option selected in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  is a screen capture of the first customization screen for the selected media content with a third customization option selected in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 14  is a screen capture of the first customization screen for the selected media content with a fourth customization option selected in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 15  is a screen capture of the first customization screen for the selected media content with a fifth customization option selected in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 16  is a screen capture of the first customization screen for the selected media content with a sixth customization option selected in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 17  is a screen capture of the first customization screen for the selected media content with a seventh customization option selected in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 18  is a screen capture of the first customization screen for the selected media content with first traffic option selected in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 19  is a screen capture of the first customization screen for the selected media content with a second traffic option selected in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 20  is a screen capture of the first customization screen for the selected media content with a first broadcast station option selected in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 21  is a screen capture of a broadcast station management screen for active ordered media content in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0042]      FIG. 21A  is a screen capture of an embodiment of a broadcast station management screen and broadcast station groupings in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 22  is a screen capture of a shopping cart screen for the selected media as customized by a user in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 23  is a screen capture of a checkout screen for ordering the selected media as customized by a user in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0045]      FIG. 24  is a screen capture of a payment processing screen for ordering the selected media as customized by a user in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0046]      FIG. 25  is a screen capture of an order confirmation screen for the ordered selected media as customized by a user in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0047]      FIG. 26  is a screen capture of an active order screen for user management of active orders of media content for customization, distribution and delivery to broadcast stations in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0048]      FIG. 27  is a screen capture of an active order selected from the active order screen of  FIG. 26  illustrating active order user options in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0049]      FIG. 27A  is a screen capture of an order details screen selected from the active order screen of  FIG. 26  illustrating active order details in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0050]      FIG. 27B  is a screen capture of a traffic screen selected from the active order screen of  FIG. 26  illustrating active order traffic information in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0051]      FIG. 27C  is a screen capture of a market screen selected from the active order screen of  FIG. 26  illustrating active order market information in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0052]      FIG. 27D  is a screen capture of a client screen selected from the active order screen of  FIG. 26  illustrating user or client information in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0053]      FIG. 28  is a flow chart depicting the method of the present invention from the user login/registration screens to the broadcast medium selection in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0054]      FIG. 29  is a flow chart depicting the method of the present invention where a user has selected television as the broadcast medium for the customization, distribution and delivery ordering in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0055]      FIG. 30  is a flow chart depicting the method of the present invention where a user has selected satellite as the broadcast medium for the customization, distribution and delivery ordering in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0056]      FIG. 31  is a flow chart depicting the method of the present invention where a user has selected internet or streaming media as the broadcast medium for the customization, distribution and delivery ordering in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0057]      FIG. 32  is a flow chart depicting the method of the present invention where a user has selected radio as the broadcast medium for the customization, distribution and delivery ordering in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0058]      FIG. 33  is a flow chart depicting the method for shopping cart checkout of an order for the media content in accordance with present invention. 
           [0059]      FIG. 34  is a flow chart depicting the method of active order management in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0060]    The system and method of the present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which reference numerals identify system elements and/or method steps. 
         [0061]    As used herein the following terms have the following meanings: 
         [0062]    “Advertising spot” is a term widely used and understood in the broadcast advertising industry to mean an advertising commercial of defined length that is aired on broadcast media, including television, radio, web streaming, over the internet, or the like. 
         [0063]    “Ad-ID” is the advertising industry standard unique identifier for all commercial assets. The use of Ad-ID helps direct correct assets be delivered to the correct broadcast medium, and ultimately, to the end consumer by providing a central, secure, Web-based source for stakeholders throughout the marketing communications landscape. Ad-ID codes are 12 digits in length, four alpha and eight alphanumeric characters. The first four alpha characters are company identification prefixes. Ad-ID codes are computer generated through a secure, Web-accessible database, located at www.ad-id.org. 
         [0064]    “CODEC” is a concatenated term for “coder-decoder” and is used to describe the functioning of a CODEC. Most audio and video file formats use some sort of compression to reduce their file size. CODECs are used to compress these audio and video files when saving the files and then decompressing or decoding the coded files during file playback. Streaming media is also compressed and decompressed during broadcast of live audio or video over the Internet. 
         [0065]    “Computer(s)” is intended to include servers, including file servers, webservers, database servers and the like, desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, mobile devices or other similar types of devices, including any input devices, display devices or devices that communicate wired or wirelessly therewith. 
         [0066]    “Flight” or “Flighting” is a term in the advertising industry that is used to mean a timing pattern in which commercials are scheduled to run during intervals separated by periods in which no advertising messages appear for the advertised item or service. A period of time during which the messages are appearing is a flight. 
         [0067]    “Rotation” when used in connection with an ad spot or media content is used to mean the scheduling of advertising in the same program or time period on different days each week (horizontal rotation) or throughout a particular day (vertical rotation) in order to increase advertising exposure to different audiences. 
         [0068]    “Transcoding” is the direct analog-to-analog or digital-to-digital conversion of one encoding to another, such as video data files, e.g., Pal, SECAM, NTSC, FLV, MP4, MPEG, etc., audio files, e.g., MP3, WAV, or character encoding, e.g., UTF-8, ISO/IEC 8859. Transcoding effectively translates video, audio or audio video files from one format to a suitable format for playback on different devices. 
         [0069]    “Watch Folder” is a file directory that is periodically polled for new content. 
         [0070]    The system of the present invention may operate on one or more servers at a single site or on more than one server in a distributed environment. In the case of a single server, the system may be run on an online website, such as WORDPRESS, an open source website creation tool written in PHP. PHP is a server-side scripting language that is especially well-suited to web development and is also useful as a general-purpose programming language. Alternatively, the system may be run on another PHP programming framework or PHP compatible programming framework. It is expressly contemplated that other programming frameworks and system architectures, as currently exist or as may hereinafter be developed, may be employed to allow for the operation and functioning of the method of the present invention. 
         [0071]    Turning to  FIG. 1 , the system  10  for production of customized media content, distribution and delivery of the customized media content is depicted. System  10  consists generally of an ordering portal  20  that is accessed by a user  12 . The ordering portal  20  resource is generally a user-accessible graphical user interface (“GUI”) displayed on a computer connected to the Internet and linked to a Uniform Resource Locator or Web address that points to an IP (Internet Protocol) address or a domain name where the ordering portal  20  resource is located. The ordering portal  20  resource, which is more particularly described in  FIG. 2 , also optionally receives data from a media inventory and media targeting system  70 , which is more particularly described in  FIG. 3 . During and after interacting with the user  12  to intake a media order, the ordering portal  20  resource outputs media order data for media order workflow management  30 , where each media order is managed for production customization, media inventory selection, ordering and scheduling and media tracking selection, ordering. The media order workflow management  30  also manages the scheduling, transcoding  60 , distribution and delivery  40  of the media order to each broadcast medium and broadcast station  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  selected and identified in the media order. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description of the system  10  of the present invention is highly general and that it is contemplated that while four broadcast stations are depicted in  FIG. 1 , that at least one of a plurality of broadcast stations, from one to n, where n is an integer greater than 1, may be specified and ordered, depending upon the user-specified broadcast scope of the media order. 
         [0072]    The operation of the ordering portal  20  resource is more specifically illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Ordering portal  20  resource consists generally of an ordering and production portion  80  and a distribution and delivery  40  portion. A media content order is initiated by a user or client  12  accessing and interfacing with a web-site hosted at a URL, such as https://www.spothub.com,  100 . The process of making an media content order is described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 4-32 . Once a media content order is received  102 , a media content order database is updated  150  in the ordering and production portion  80  and a delivery date is saved  104  for fulfillment in the distribution and delivery portion  40 . 
         [0073]    Turning first to the ordering and production portion  80  of the ordering portal  20 , upon updating the media content order database  150 , a communication, such as an email, is sent  152  to the user/client  12  confirming the media content order. The media content order is also sent  154  from the media content order database  150  to media content order fulfillment processing  156 . A notification that the media content order is received at order fulfillment processing  156  is posted to a Reporting database  178  and a communication, such as an email, is sent  152  to user/client  12 . From media content order fulfillment processing  156 , a master file, containing the user-selected media content, and any production customization selected by the purchaser for the media content order, is read, updated if needed, and completed for fulfillment processing  158 . The updated master file is then added to a Quality Control Watch Folder  160  for automated quality control  162  and/or manual quality control  164 . The Reporting database is updated  166  with the quality control status from the automated quality control step  162  and/or the manual quality control step  164 . Once the Reporting database is updated  166 , a communication, such as email, is sent to the client/user for their review and approval  168 . Using the system&#39;s GUI, the client  12  will access the modified media content  170  for approval  172 . If user  12  does not approve the modified media content the system  10  presents a change order form  176  to the client/user, which, when the client/user completes by indicating the changes desired or required and the change order is returned back to the media order fulfillment processing  156  for order fulfillment with subsequent updating of the changed media order master file, updating the watch folder for quality control and quality control processing as described above, until the user/client  12  approves  172  the changed media content. 
         [0074]    Once the user/client  12  approves  172  the changed media content, the changed media content file is sent to a delivery watch folder  174  and the delivery watch folder  174  is updated and is sent to a content agent for transcoding  109  with an appropriate CODEC for each broadcast medium and broadcast station selected by the user/client  12 . 
         [0075]    Returning to the Distribution and Delivery portion  40  of the ordering portal  20 , once the delivery date for the ordered media content is saved  104 , the reporting database is updated with the client requested delivery date  108  and the media content master file is sent for transcoding  109 . Transcoding may be performed using commercially available media workflow resources such as CONTENTAGENT (ROOT6 Technology, London, U.K.), VANTAGE (Telestream, Nevada City, Calif.) or EPISODE (Telestream, Nevada City, Calif.). 
         [0076]    After transcoding  109 , a user order library entry is made  122  in an account management section of the system  10 , updating the status of the ordered media content and the transcoded master file is prepared for delivery  110 . Broadcast stations identified the media content order are read and a stations file for each identified broadcast station is downloaded and the reporting database is updated  114 . The reporting database is also updated with confirmation of delivery to the selected broadcast stations  116 , and a communication, such as email is sent to the client  118  with notification the media content has been delivered to the selected broadcast stations  110 . 
         [0077]    Returning to the order received step  102 , a resource for validating user-selected broadcast stations is provided. Once the order for media content is received  102 , broadcast station IDs (described below) are read from the order and compared to a broadcast station definitions database  106 . When known broadcast station IDs are matched to broadcast station definitions in the broadcast station definition database, the media content order is passed to the reporting database for client-requested delivery date updating  108 . Where, however, an unknown broadcast station ID is present in the media content order  124 , the system communicates, such as by email or other messaging modality, with a trafficker  126  that either places the broadcast station identifier from the media content order with a third party  128  for generation of a broadcast station definition or CODEC or directly obtains the broadcast stations definition or CODEC  130 . The trafficker then coveys  132  the obtained broadcast station definition or CODEC for the broadcast station ID in the media content order to the transcoder where the broadcast station database is updated  116  with the new (previously unknown) broadcast station ID, station definition and CODEC for that broadcast station. 
         [0078]    The media inventory and media targeting sub-system  70  is graphically illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The purpose of the media inventory and media targeting system is to individually or collectively facilitate identification and purchasing of media time from available media inventory and/or targeting the media content delivery to targeted media channels, markets and/or audiences. Media inventory data is acquired  72  from a plurality of broadcast stations, for example stations  1 - 4 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 . The media inventory data, also known in the industry as “avails,” may include, among other things, available time slots, time slot duration, broadcast station, geographical market identification, pricing, distribution plan for the inventory, or like. Media targeting data is also acquired  74  from the broadcast stations, for example stations  1 - 4 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 . The media targeting data may include, among other things market definition, market scope, consumer demographics, geographic market demographics, consumer lifestyle behavior, consumer response rate data, real time sales information or the like. 
         [0079]    The media inventory and media targeting sub-system  70  then assigns pricing to the media inventory data  76  and/or the media targeting data  74 , generates a recommended inventory buy or targeting buy to the client/user  80  based upon user buy preferences  82  and or user buying history received from the ordering portal  20  and the user/client management information retained within system  10 . 
         [0080]    Turning now to  FIGS. 4-27 , the operation of the system  10  and method of the present invention are illustrated with reference to GUI screen shots from an exemplary embodiment of the invention. It is expressly intended and contemplated that the GUI screen shots, the arrangement and selection of the illustrated data fields, menu selections, and the cascading or nesting arrangement of the data fields and screen displays is for purposes of example only and is not intended to limit the nature or scope of the invention. The arrangement and appearance of the data fields, menu selections or the cascading or nesting arrangement of the data fields and screen displays is considered to be variable and within the ordinary skill of one in the art to design and implement consistent with the invention defined in the appended claims. 
         [0081]    The system  10  and method of the invention is initiated by a user accessing and interfacing with a web-site hosted at a URL, in this case https://store.craftww.com, that points to https://craftstore.spothub.com. A login screen  200  is displayed to the user with fields for a username or email address and a password  202  for registered users. For unregistered users, an option to register  204  is presented.  FIG. 5  illustrates a screen shot of a user registration screen  210  having a plurality of registration data fields  212 , including, for example, username, email address, password, password confirmation, first name, last name and a license or authorization number. Other fields, such as, for example, company name, company address, personal address, mailing address, phone numbers, website, social media user names, such as those on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, GOOGLE+, PINTREST, YOUTUBE, etc. may also optionally be included in the registration data fields  212 . Once the required registration data fields  212  are validated by the system  10 , an input button  214  for activating the registration is made active to the user. Activating the input button  214  initiates user registration process in which a user database entry is created and a user database resident on a server is updated with the new user data. 
         [0082]    Once registered, the user is presented with an end user license agreement (“EULA”)  222  on screen  220  and prompted to accept or reject the terms and conditions of the EULA, by activating both an acceptance input button  224  and a cancel input button  226 . In response to user selection of the acceptance input button  224 , the system  10  presents the user with a medium selection screen  230 . In response to a user selection of the cancel input button  226 , the system returns the user to the initial login screen  200  or logs the user out of the system  10  entirely. 
         [0083]    The medium selection screen  230  presents a selection of a plurality of broadcast medium services  236 , in this case television  232  and radio  234 . Each selection may be a hyperlink and/or an input button in the webpage that is selected by the user. It will be understood by those in the art that other broadcast medium services  236  may also be presented for selection by the user, including, without limitation, print, satellite, streaming media, Internet, webcast, podcast or the like. Selection of a particular broadcast medium  232 ,  234 , points to a cascading set of user interface screens presenting the user with a series of customization, ordering and checkout options. For purposes of illustration in the following  FIGS. 8-27 , we assume that the user has selected the television button  232 , however, the operation and method of system  10  is substantially the same regardless of the broadcast medium selected by the user. 
         [0084]    Once the medium selection button  232  is selected by the user, the system  10  presents a media content selection screen  240  to the user. Media content selection screen  240  includes a plurality of media content selection buttons  244 ,  246  and  248 , each representing a pre-produced media content template for an advertising spot and a search resource  241  for entering search criteria to identify particular media content. Associated with each media content selection button are a select options button  245  and a preview button  243 . The select options button  245  cascades to a plurality of customization options presented in other screens to the user. The preview button  243  displays the media content on the users screen for previewing by the user.  FIG. 9  illustrates another embodiment of a GUI screen displaying a plurality of media content selections  252 , each media content having a media content selection buttons button  254 ,  256 ,  258 , with each media content selection button having a select option button  255  and a media content preview button  253 . Like the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 8 , a search resource  251  is provided, as is a main menu selector  259  to navigate the website. 
         [0085]    After selecting a media content selection and activating the select options button  245 , the system invokes a first media content customization screen  300  for the selected media content. The first media content customization screen  300  presents to the user a window  302  with the playable media content selected by the user, and a plurality of user selectable customization options to customize the selected media content. A media content title  304  is displayed, together with a first customization option that prompts the user to select a no customization option  306  or a customization option  308 . An additional customization option is provided to select additional address tags  312  be added to the media content. 
         [0086]    Media traffic options are presented to the user including the flight start date and the flight end date options  314  and an ad rotation  316 . The user specifies the flight start date and end date either by direct entry of dates or by pop-up calendar  354  as illustrated in  FIG. 18 . The ad rotation option  316  may be selected through a drop down list of rotation sequencing options  358  in  FIG. 19 . 
         [0087]    Media delivery options  318  are also presented to the user, which prompt the user to select high definition format or standard definition format. 
         [0088]    Pricing information  320  is calculated on the basis of the media content selected, the user selected options described above and then subtotaled and totaled for the user. Finally, an ordering button  322 , in this case labeled “add to cart” is presented to the user to post the order to the user&#39;s shopping cart for subsequent checkout and purchasing as illustrated and described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 22-25 . 
         [0089]    If the user selects the no customization option  306 , as in  FIG. 11 , the pricing of the media content is displayed in the pricing information field. When activated by the user, the ordering button  322  (not shown in  FIG. 11 ), the order is posted to the shopping cart for subsequent checkout and purchasing. 
         [0090]    When the user selects the customization option  308 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , the system  10  presents a plurality of customization options, including, for example, product pricing option  328 , promotional offer option  330 , financing offer option  332  and address tag option  334 . Each of the plurality of customization options is independently user selectable. Upon selection of each customization option  328 ,  330 ,  332 ,  334 , the pricing information  320  is calculated and displayed to the user  326 . As each customization option is selected, it individually cascades a plurality of customization sub-options related to each customization option  328 ,  330 ,  332 ,  334 . 
         [0091]      FIG. 13  illustrates a plurality of product pricing sub-options  336  that cascade when the product prices option  328  is selected. The plurality of product pricing sub-options  336  may be a plurality of blank fields for user entry, a plurality of drop down lists for user selection, pre-populated fields, each independently selectable by the user, or other similar data field presentations that permit the user to select one or more of the plurality of product pricing sub-options  336 . As illustrated, the product pricing sub-options are user entry fields, and product prices are entered by the user, however, as noted above, it is expressly contemplated that other means of user selected data entry or pre-populated data fields are included in the scope of the present invention. 
         [0092]      FIG. 14  illustrates a promotional pricing sub-option  338  displayed as a user prompt when the user selects the promotional offer option  330 . Again, while a single text entry field  338  is illustrated in the present example that allows a user to enter any desired promotional pricing or promotional offers for customization into the selected media content, plural text entry fields, plural data entry fields, plural pre-populated fields, drop down lists or the like are similarly contemplated as a means for presenting the at least one of a plurality of sub-options  338 . 
         [0093]      FIG. 15  illustrates the media customization screen display  300  with a finance offer sub-option  332  selected by a user. Like the promotional pricing sub-option  338 , above, the finance offer sub-option  332  is presented as a single text entry field  340  for illustration in the present example that allows a user to enter any desired promotional financing offers for customization into the selected media content. Plural text entry fields, plural data entry fields, plural pre-populated fields, drop down lists or the like are similarly contemplated as a means for presenting the at least one of a plurality of sub-options  340 . 
         [0094]      FIG. 16  illustrates the media customization screen display  300  with an address tag sub-option  334  selected by a user. Like the promotional pricing sub-option  338  or the finance offer sub-option  332 , the address tag sub-option  334  is presented as a single text field  336  for illustration in the present example that allows a user to enter any desired address tags for customization into the selected media content. Plural text entry fields, plural data entry fields, plural pre-populated fields, drop down lists or the like are similarly contemplated as a means for presenting the at least one of a plurality of sub-options  336 . 
         [0095]      FIG. 17  illustrates an additional user selectable address card sub-option  342  to the additional address tag option  338 . An address card in the advertising industry is a direct mail advertising piece mailed to households within the advertising spot&#39;s target audience. In the present system, the address card option  342  is user selectable and, when selected, displays the pricing  344  of the address card option  342  and opens a address card data field and prompt  346  for the user to provide information for the address card. While the address card sub-option  342  is shown in  FIG. 17  as a single text entry field that allows a user to enter any desired address card information to the media content order, it will be understood that plural text entry fields, plural data entry fields, plural pre-populated fields, drop down lists or the like are similarly contemplated as a means for presenting the at least one of a plurality of address card sub-options  346 . A second address card sub-option  348  or more address card sub-options  348  may be presented to the user in a cascading manner depending upon which address card sub-options  342 ,  348  are user selected. 
         [0096]    Turning to  FIGS. 18-19 , the media customization screen display  300  is illustrated with the traffic option  350  presented to the user for completion. All media content orders must have a beginning flight date  352  and an ending flight date  356 . The flight start date field  352  and the flight end date field  356  are date fields and may be user entry fields, calendar entry fields with pop-up calendars  354  (as illustrated in  FIG. 18 ) or may be automatically calculated based upon user specification of a beginning flight date  352  and a number of days for the flight to run. Finally, the traffic option  350  includes a rotation sub-option  358  in which the user will specify the rotation scheduling for the media content broadcast. The rotation may again be a text entry field for user entry, or may be a drop-down list of options, as depicted in  FIG. 19 . 
         [0097]      FIG. 20  illustrates the media customization screen display  300  presenting the foregoing sub-options and traffic options, and delivery options  360  for the media content ordered. The delivery option  360 , as noted above, includes sub-options for high definition delivery  362  or standard definition delivery  376 . When the high definition delivery sub-option  362  is selected by the user, a first plurality of station prompts  361  are presented to the user. The first plurality of station prompts  364  for entry of a first station, displays pricing for the first station  366  and then presents a market entry prompt  368  that prompts the user to enter or select a market covered by the broadcast station selected, then prompts the user to enter the broadcast network or station call letters  370  and/or the System Code for a cable network  372 . Again, while each of the market entry prompt  368 , prompt for broadcast network or station call letters  370  and/or the System Code prompt for a cable network  372  are depicted, for illustration, as text entry fields, each of the data fields for each of these prompts may be selected from drop down lists, pre-populated fields, menu-searchable and/or accessible lists, or the like are similarly contemplated as a means for user entry of data into each of the prompted fields. 
         [0098]    Prompts  374  for additional stations  2 -n, with n being an integer greater than 2, for delivery of the media content are also provided, each of which, when selected by the user, cascade market entry prompts  368 , broadcast network/station call letter prompts  370  and/or System Code prompt for a cable network  372 . 
         [0099]    If the user selects the Standard Definition format delivery prompt  376  for delivery of the media content, again a cascade of market entry prompts  368 , broadcast network/station call letter prompts  370  and/or System Code prompt for a cable network  372  is presented to the user as described above. 
         [0100]    Once the user has completed entering all delivery information, the pricing fields  320  are updated and displayed for the user, and the ordering button  322 , in this case labeled “add to cart” is presented to the user to post the order to the user&#39;s shopping cart for subsequent checkout and purchasing as illustrated with reference to  FIGS. 22-25 . 
         [0101]    When the ordering button  322  (labeled “add to cart”) is selected, the system  10  presents a shopping cart screen  450  to the user on the user&#39;s GUI display. Shopping cart screen  450  is constructed with a menu  451  that allow the user to navigate to a plurality of system resources and tally orders in the cart. A current order window  453  displays a table with current order information displayed, including, for example, an Industry Standardized Commercial Identifier (ISCI) code  452 , an identification of the product  454 , the product price  456  and the product order total  458  for the ordered media content. The table in the current order window  453  may also include a link to the ordered media content  462  or an order line item delete button  460  that enables the user to delete the order line item. A coupon entry field  464  and a coupon entry button  466  prompt the user to enter any coupon or discount codes that will alter the pricing of the ordered media content. An update cart button  469  is provided to refresh the table in the current order window  453  when changes to the table in the current order windows  453  are made by the user. 
         [0102]    A cart totals window  468  is updated based upon the pricing in the product pricing field  456  and the product order total field  458  in the table in the current order window  453 , and is updated when the update carton button  469  refreshes the table in the current order window  453 . 
         [0103]    Finally, a checkout button  470  finalizes the order and opens a checkout screen  475  on the users GUI display. Checkout screen  475  prompts the user to enter alphanumeric information into a plurality of billing and delivery fields  476 , including for example, name, address, email address, phone number and delivery date information, and also prompts the user to enter by a text entry into an additional information  478  field, that the user wishes to convey to the system  10  host. 
         [0104]    A payment entry window  480 , that may be part of the checkout screen  475  or may be a cascading screen displayed once required information is entered into the checkout screen  475 , displays ordered media content information table  482  and prompts the user to enter payment information  484 , such as credit card payment information as is known in the art. Finally, a place order button  486  prompts the user to process payment for the order and finalize the order. Once the place order button  486  is selected, an media content order confirmation screen  490  is displayed on the users display GUI displaying media content order information  492  including, for example, fields containing an order number, order date, order pricing, and payment method. The media content order confirmation screen  490  also preferably displays an order detail table  494 , confirming the ISCI, product and pricing totals for the media content order to the user. 
         [0105]    Turning now to  FIG. 21 , a manage stations screen  400  is depicted. The manage stations screen is a resource that reads from a user media content selection the user&#39;s broadcast station selections and the users selected broadcast stations for each media content order. Broadcast station groups  408  are groups of broadcast stations having a user-defined. The user defined relationship may be geographic, as reflected in the city or market names  418 , i.e., Houston, Dallas, Memphis, or Northeast, Midwest, South, Pacific coast, Southern California, or the like. Alternatively, the broadcast station groups  408  may have other orders of relationship, such as broadcast medium type, i.e., television network, streaming media, Internet, radio, cable, satellite, by cost structures, i.e., groupings by cost per unit time, by targeting data, i.e., average response rate, or other such orders of relationship meaningful to the user. 
         [0106]    The manage stations screen  400  presents a navigation menu  402  to the user that contains a current shopping cart order status button and a plurality of media content order fields  404 ,  406 , with each media content order field displaying a single media content order and a broadcast station group  408 . Each broadcast station group  408  is a table or a window with a plurality of broadcast station group selection options  410 ,  412 ,  414 . Once the plurality of broadcast group selection options  410 ,  412 ,  414  are selected/entered by the user for a given selected media content, a variety of other options are also available to the user for review, editing, deletion or selection. 
         [0107]    The additional broadcast station group selection options, may include, for example, a broadcast station group name  417 , which may be a geographical market name, e.g., Houston,  418  or another identifier of a market or group of broadcast stations, a pricing field  420  for the broadcast station group name  417 , an user selectable add option  416 , an edit option  422  and a delete option  424 . The manage stations screen  400 , optionally, may have a pricing summary window or table  406  that includes a plurality of pricing itemization fields  426 ,  428 ,  430 ,  432 , 434 , comprising, for example, a station group sub-total field  426 , a first  428 , a second  430  and a third  432  broadcast station group sub-total fields, each of the plurality of broadcast station group sub-total fields reads pricing data from the pricing field  420  and calculates a total from each of the plurality of media content orders  404 ,  406 . Finally, the pricing summary window or table  406  may have a pricing total field  434  that sums each of the other plurality of fields in the pricing summary window or table  406 . A selection button  408  (labeled, for example, “proceed to card”) finalizes station management and updates the user selections to a user station database (not shown). 
         [0108]    The manage stations  400  screen is independently accessible from a home screen menu  402  and may be accessed by the user to be an entry point for managing the user&#39;s broadcast station groups  408 . Thus, the manage stations functionality will not only read from a given user media content order, but serves a management function for the user to establish, organize, maintain and access the users broadcast station groups  408  for multiple media content orders. 
         [0109]      FIG. 21A  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a broadcast station group that includes a “use end card” field and a user selector  442  wherein the user can select whether to use the ad spot end card for purpose of broadcast station selection with the broadcast station group. The ad spot end card, conventionally, is an address tag or includes address tag information in a static or motion graphic of the ad spot. Selecting the “use end card” option  442  prompts the system to distribute the ad spot within a predetermined set of user-specified broadcast stations within the broadcast station group selected by the user. 
         [0110]      FIGS. 26 and 27  illustrate an active orders screen  500  and an individual active order screen  530 , respectively. The active orders screen  500  may include a navigation menu  502  with a plurality of page navigation buttons that allow the user to move between a plurality of Web-pages on the hosted system  10  site. An order table or window  504  is provided in which a plurality of open orders  503  are displayed, each of the plurality of open orders  505  may include an order identifier  506 , a media content title  508 , a product identifier  514 , an order status indicator  516  and a delivery status  518 . A notes field  512  may, optionally, be provided. The notes field may allow for direct text entry or may be a selectable button  521  that opens a new window (not shown) that prompts the user to enter a textual message to the system  10  operator. 
         [0111]    The product identifier field  514  may be any identification system desire by the system  10  designer or operator, however, it is preferable to that the product identifier  522  conform to the Ad-id/ISCI code conventions discussed above and as illustrated in  FIG. 26 . 
         [0112]    The order status column  516  displays an active order status field  524  for each of the plurality of individual open orders  505 . Each active order status field  524  either receives from or reads from the order database  150  ( FIG. 2 ) the order status and displays the read or received order status information in the order status field  524 . The order status field  524  may be may be a button that hyperlinks to open a new Web-page or window for the individual order status, such as individual order status window  530 , or may be a dynamically labeled hyperlink button, where a text label on the button is dynamically updated based upon the order status read or received from the order database  150  ( FIG. 2 ), the dynamic label may include alphanumeric labels, such as “ordered,” “in process,” “pending,” “completed,” or other such informational indicator of the status of the individual order. 
         [0113]    The delivery status field  518  includes a status indicator  526  for each of the plurality of active orders  530 . The delivery status indicator  526  may be an updatable field that reads order status from an order database  150  ( FIG. 2 ), alternatively, the delivery status indicator  526  may be a button that hyperlinks to open a new Web-page or window for the individual order status, such as individual order status window  530 , or may be a dynamically labeled hyperlink button, where a text label on the button is dynamically updated based upon the order status read or received from the order database  150  ( FIG. 2 ), the dynamic label may include alphanumeric labels, such as “New Order,” “In transition,” “in process,” “pending,” “Client Review,” “Delivered,” or other such informational indicator of the status of the individual order. The delivery status field  518  indicates the delivery status of the commercial associated with the ordered media content identified by the corresponding Ad-id/ISCI code. 
         [0114]      FIG. 27  illustrates the individual active order screen  530 , in this case corresponding to Order ID 4228 from  FIG. 26 . Like the active orders screen  500 , the individual active order screen  530  includes a navigation menu and a primary window or table  541 . Table  541  has sections for the user to access order details  534 , order traffic  536 , order markets  538  and order client  540 , each section displays a window or table having at least one of a plurality of active order status entries  542 . As depicted in  FIG. 27 , order markets are displayed and include a product name  544 , a market identifier  546 , in this case geographical market identifiers such as “Houston, Tex.” and a station identifier  546 , the station identifier containing the call sign for the broadcast station selected in the order, e.g., “KPRC.” A cable identifier  548  and an end card identifier  552  may, optionally, also be provided. 
         [0115]      FIG. 27A  illustrates a screenshot depicting exemplary order details  560  in which an order number  562  assigned to the media content order is displayed, a product name  564  identifies the ordered media content, the AD-ID code  564  for the ordered media content is displayed and a summary of the customization options selected by the user  568 , including, without limitation, a description of the customization option and pricing, are displayed. 
         [0116]      FIG. 27B  illustrates a screenshot depicting exemplary order traffic  570  information in which the order number  564  is displayed, the product name  572 , the start date  574 , the end date  576  and the rotation  578  for the ordered media content are all summarized as traffic data for the user. 
         [0117]      FIG. 27C  is a screenshot depicting the order markets  580  for the selected media content order which includes, for example, the order number  564 , the product name  572 , the market  582 , station  584 , cable, if any,  586  and the end card information  588  from the ad spot, where either the “use end card” option  442  is selected from the manage stations function depicted in  FIG. 21A  or the user specifies otherwise that the end card is to be used for market distribution. 
         [0118]    Finally,  FIG. 27D  is a screenshot depicts order client  590  information and includes ordering client information, such as, the client name or designator  592 , an email address for the user  594 , a user phone number  596  and a billing address  598  for the user. 
         [0119]      FIGS. 28-34  are flowcharts that illustrate the method of the present invention as represented by the series of the screen shots from  FIGS. 4-27 .  FIG. 28  depicts the process represented by  FIGS. 4-7 , in which a user logs in or registers  604  with system  10 , the system  10  validates the user login  604 . A valid user login  604  will cause the ELUA to be presented on the user&#39;s GUI display  608 , whereas an invalid user login  604  will ask the user to register  606 , and upon registration, will present the ELUA screen to the user&#39;s GUI display  608 . If the user agrees to the ELUA  608 , the system presents the select broadcast medium screen  610 , whereas if the user does not agree to the ELUA  608 , the user is returned to the user login/registration screen  602  or logged out of the system  10  entirely. When the select broadcast medium screen is presented  610  on the user&#39;s GUI display, the user is prompted to select from one of a plurality of broadcast medium options, in this case television  612 , internet/streaming  614 , satellite  616  or radio  618 . User selection of one of the broadcast medium options, cascades processing toward a corresponding set of routines depending upon which broadcast medium option is selected. Thus, selection of the television broadcast media option  612 , cascades a TV process  700 , selection of the internet/streaming broadcast media option  614 , cascades the internet/streaming process  800 , selection of the satellite broadcast medium option  616 , cascades the satellite process  900  and selection of the radio broadcast medium option  618 , cascades the radio medium option  1000 . 
         [0120]      FIG. 29  is a depiction of the process flow of media content selection and customization when the TV medium option  700  is selected. A plurality of media content options, including media content  1 ,  702 , media content  2 ,  704  to media content n,  706 , where n is an integer greater than 2, are presented to the user on the users GUI display. The user is prompt to select at least one of the plurality of media content options  702 ,  704 ,  706 . For each of the plurality of media content options  702 ,  704 ,  706  selected by a user, there is a cascade of a plurality of customization options presented to the user on the user&#39;s GUI display. 
         [0121]    For purposes of illustration we assume that the user selects media content  1   702 . A first decisional prompt queries the user to add the media content  1   702  to a list of favorites  708 . If the add to list of favorites is selected, the user database  712  is updated by designating media content  1   702  as a favorite. The user is also presented with a decisional prompt that queries the user to preview  710  media content  1   702  on the user&#39;s GUI. Optionally, the user database  712  may be updated by designating or counting that the media content  1   702  record has been previewed. The number of previews may, optionally, be counted and maintained in the user database  712 . Alternately or sequentially relative to the add to favorites prompt  708  and/or the preview prompt  710 , a third decisional prompt to customize media content  1   702  is given to the user. An affirmative answer to the customize media content  1  prompt  714  cascades a series of media content customization options, denoted Customization Option  1 ,  716 , Customization Option  2 ,  718 , Customization Option  3 ,  720 , Customization Option  4 ,  722  and Customization Option  5 ,  724 , each of which is independently selectable by the user. Optionally, each of the plurality of media content customization options may further cascade a plurality of media content sub-options for that allow for customization of the media content. Each of the plurality of media content customization options, upon selection and updating by the user, update the user order database  726  with the media content customization selections made by the user. A negative user response to the third decisional, i.e., the option to customize the media content, will update the order database  726  with the non-customization option selected by the user. 
         [0122]    Upon completion of the media content customization options, and, if any, the media content customization sub-options, the manage stations function  728  is presented to the user as a screen display on the users GUI, such as depicted in  FIG. 21 . Once the manage stations function  728  is completed by the user, and the user selects the “proceed to cart” button  408  on the manage station screen  400 , and the customization selection data, including all customization options and sub-options, any data input or selected on the manage stations screen  400  from step  728 , are all communicated to the user&#39;s cart  730  for the checkout procedure depicted in  FIG. 33  described hereinafter. 
         [0123]    It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the process for each of media content  2 ,  704 , through media content n  706 , that presents the first, second and third decisional prompts, e.g., add to favorites  740 , preview  742  and customize media content  2 ,  744 , are presented to the user for selection. For each media content  704 ,  706  selected, where the user chooses an affirmative answer to the customize media content  2 ,  744 , prompt, again the cascade of a plurality of media customization options for media content  2  are presented to the user for customization decisions, i.e., Customization Option  1 ,  746 , Customization Option  2 ,  748 , Customization Option  3 ,  750 , Customization Option  4 ,  752  and Customization Option  5 ,  754 , each of which is independently selectable by the user. Thus, the process steps for each media content selection made by the user proceeds in substantially the same manner irrespective of which media content selection the user makes. 
         [0124]    Similarly, as depicted in  FIGS. 30-32 , substantially the same process steps as described above when TV  700  is the selected broadcast medium are followed where other broadcast media are selected,  600 , i.e., satellite  800 , internet/streaming  900  and/or radio  1000 . Accordingly, the above-description of the operation of the media content selection, user database updates, customization options and sub-options, order database update, manage stations and cart updates, is repeated and incorporated with reference to each other broadcast media option presented for user selection. 
         [0125]      FIG. 33  illustrates the checkout process  1000  in accordance with the present invention. As discussed above, as the user enters a media content order by interfacing with a computer to enter an order into the system  10  using the GUI displayed at the user&#39;s display, the shopping cart  1030  is regularly updated. When a user activates each prompt in the GUI on the user&#39;s display, one of a plurality of records in one of a plurality of databases is updated with data corresponding to the user selection at each prompt. As discussed above, the system  10  utilizes at least one of a plurality of databases, including, for example an order database  1120  and a broadcast station database  114  ( FIG. 2 ). A user order is loaded to the shopping cart  1030  by loading records from a user order database  1102  that is updated as the user enters the order by interfacing with the system  10  and the plurality of screens the system  10  presents to the user on the user&#39;s display GUI. Once the shopping cart is complete and displayed on the user&#39;s display GUI, a decisional prompt is displayed to the user to keep shopping for more orders or order customization. A plurality of checkout decisional prompts are displayed on the checkout screen displayed on the user&#39;s GUI, including the keep shopping prompt  1104 , an apply coupon prompt  1108 , a delete order item prompt  1106  and a proceed to checkout prompt  1110 . If the user does not activate the keep shopping prompt  1104 , the apply coupon prompt  1108  or the delete order item prompt  1106  by using his computer to activate the respective prompt, the user must activate the proceed to checkout prompt  1110  in order to advance to the screens or windows for entry of billing information  1112  and entry of payment information  114  each of which prompt the user to enter his/her billing information  1112 , such as billing address, telephone number, email address or other user billing identification information, and payment information  1114 , such as credit card information, check information, online payment service information, such as, for example, PAYPAL or other electronic payment service or method. 
         [0126]    Once the user billing information is entered  1112  and the payment information  1114  is entered and validated by the system  10 , the payment information is processed and upon successful order payment processing an order payment confirmation is generated  1116 , displayed on the user&#39;s GUI and, optionally, communicated to the user, such as by email,  118 . Once the order payment confirmation is generated  116 , the order database is updated  1120  to reflect that the order has been successfully entered and paid for. 
         [0127]    Finally,  FIG. 34  depicts the active order status process  1200  in which active orders  1202  read from the order database  1120 . The active orders are displayed on the user&#39;s GUI and the user may select an order  1204  by interfacing with his/her computer, as illustrated in  FIGS. 26 and 27 . The selected order is then read  1206  from the order database  1120  and displayed on the individual active order status screen or window depicted in  FIG. 27 . A menu of individual order status options are individually selectable by the user interfacing with his/her computer and opening an order details screen or window  1212 , an order traffic status screen or window  1214 , an order market status screen  1216  or an order client screen or window  1218 , each of which displays different data pertaining to at least one of a plurality of active orders made by the user on the user&#39;s GUI, together with prompts to the user to change or delete different aspects of individual user orders, as illustrated in  FIG. 27 . 
         [0128]    While the system and method of the present invention have been described with reference to the above exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that variations in hardware platforms, hardware architecture, software programming language, software framework, coding methodology or the like are contemplated by the present invention, the scope of which is intended to be limited only by the claims appended hereto.