Patent Publication Number: US-2019174202-A1

Title: System and method for an interactive live streaming media platform to limited subscribers

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates generally to the field of live streaming video online to multiple users. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Online sites typically allow video to be uploaded, but the content owner loses their property rights in the video. The streaming sites also do not offer a comprehensive solution for the content owner to pre-schedule and monetize live and on-demand streaming, as opposed to the streaming service making revenue from advertising. The content owners do not get the privilege to choose the ads that run during their program. 
     Channel owners who manage live streaming often make a wild guess while gauging live stream bandwidth and pre-purchase bandwidth based on an estimate. At times due to high or low demand for the type and quality of content offered by the channel owner, viewers either under subscribe or oversubscribe for the streaming service. The channel owner does not have a predictive mechanism to gauge reasonable bandwidth usage. Often times due to over subscription the bandwidth spikes resulting in bad or choked delivery for the end users. For under subscribed services the pre purchased bandwidth usage will go unused but paid for. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     In an online streaming service embodying the invention, the service would allow a content owner to retain their property rights in the video produced and uploaded by the channel owner. 
     In accordance with the invention, the streaming service would allow a content owner to monetize live events by charging different fees to viewers based on the amount of time they want access, the type of content, and various other factors. 
     In a method embodying the invention, the channel owners can gauge usage based on pre subscription and viewer interest by tracking click rates and subscription confirmation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The figures illustrate the invention by way of example, and not limitation. Life references indicate similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a system including one embodiment of a live and on-demand streaming platform for multiple users. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a system including one embodiment of a live and on-demand streaming platform that broadcasts audio and video for multiple users and can display content on multiple devices and accept content from multiple devices. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a user interface for one embodiment of the live and on-demand streaming platform. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a system including one embodiment of a live and on-demand streaming platform that broadcasts audio and video for multiple users, where the users can view different channels, as well as create multiple channels. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a system including one embodiment of a split screen chat window and live stream broadcast. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure is best understood with reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein. Various embodiments are discussed below with reference to the figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed descriptions given herein with respect to the figures are simply for explanatory purposes as the methods and systems may extend beyond the described embodiments. For example, the teachings presented and the needs of a particular application may yield multiple alternative and suitable approaches to implement the functionality of any detail described herein. Therefore, any approach may extend beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. 
     References to “one embodiment,” “at least one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “one example,” “an example,” “for example,” and so on indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in an embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned herein are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
     It is also noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “and”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the claims, the terms “first,” “second”, and so forth are to be interpreted merely as ordinal designations they shall not be limited in themselves. Further, the use of exclusive terminology such as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of any claim element is contemplated. Also, it is contemplated that any element indicated to be optional herein may be specifically excluded from a given claim by way of a “negative” limitation. Finally, it is contemplated that any optional feature of the inventive variation(s) described herein may be set forth and claimed independently or in combination with any one or more of the features described herein. 
     
       FIG. 1 
     
       FIG. 1  illustrates a system including one embodiment of a live and on-demand streaming platform for multiple users that allows users to watch live and on-demand, videographers to record games and livestream them, and allows organizations to create, manage and control their channels and so control the content and users who participate in this process. 
     This paragraph lists the elements of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  includes a system with multiple parts: a subscriber  101 , a subscriber  102 , a subscriber  103 , a live and on-demand streaming platform  104 , a channel owner  105 , a videographer  106 , a scheduler  107 , a recording  108 , a live stream broadcast  109 , a channel  110  and an ad sponsor  111 . Various elements of  FIG. 1  have now been listed. 
     Channel Management 
     This paragraph describes some interconnections between the elements of  FIG. 1 . The channel owner  105  will register to the live and on-demand streaming platform  104 . The channel owner  105  creates a dedicated channel  110 . The channel owner  105  sets up channel branding, tiered subscription, and payment for the dedicated channel  110 . The channel owner  105  sets up schedules for single or multiple concurrent live streaming. The channel owner  105  either invites a videographer  106  to the live stream broadcast  109  of channel  110 , or the channel owner  105  assigns a videographer  106  to the live stream broadcast  109  of channel  110 . The channel owner  105  can invite an ad sponsor  111  to put an ad on the channel  110 . The channel owner  105  can also accept or reject an offer to put an ad on the channel  105  from the ad sponsor  111 . The channel owner  105  can invite a subscriber  101  to join the channel  110 . The channel owner  105  can also accept or reject a request from a subscriber  101  to join the channel  110 . The channel owner  105  has content ownership rights depending on the type of service that they register for. The live stream broadcast  109  is uploaded on channel  110  as recording  108  if the channel owner  105  decides to make it available on-demand for subscribers who pay. 
     The live stream broadcast  109  or recording  108  can include, but is not limited to, a game, news, live event, performance, business activities, professional activities or general activities. 
     Subscription 
     The subscriber  101  registers on the live and on-demand streaming platform  104 . The subscriber  101  registers to the invited channel or requests to join a channel  105 , and if accepted, pays based on their desired level from tiered subscription. The subscriber  101  can also invite other subscribers  102  and  103  to join the channel  105  at any time, including during the live stream  109 . Subscriber  101  can also pay for subscribers  102  and  103  if subscriber  101  wants. The subscriber  101  can watch the recording  108  of the live stream  109  at any time for as long as they have paid for access to the live stream  109  on channel  110 . The subscriber  101  select other subscribers to the live stream broadcast  109  and chat with them in either a public or private group chat. The subscriber  101  can provide ratings of the live stream broadcast  109  or recording  108  through a rating widget. The subscriber  101  can provide comments on the live stream  109  or recording  108  through a public comment widget. The subscriber  101  can also share a link to the live stream  109  or recording  108  on social media, and any person who clicks on the link will have to become a subscriber to the channel  105  before being allowed to watch the live stream broadcast  109  or recording  108 . 
     The subscriber  101  would pay based on the duration of the event they want to view. For example, a day pass is good for live stream viewing for a day, and a tournament pass is good for live stream viewing for 4 or 5 days, depending upon the tournament or event. These passes are exemplary, and do not limit the possible passes that may be available. 
     The subscriber  101  also has the option to register as a stream viewer to view all streams broadcasted by a channel owner. 
     Ad Sponsorship 
     The ad sponsor  111  either requests to place an ad on channel  110  that the channel owner  105  accepts, or the ad sponsor  111  accepts an invitation from the channel owner  105  to put an ad on channel  110 . Then the ad sponsor  111  registers as an ad sponsor for the channel  110 . Then the ad sponsor  111  uploads the content of the ad. The ad sponsor can accept or reject other invitations from other channels to run the uploaded ad. The ad sponsor can also restrict streaming of their ads to channels in which their competitor ad is streaming. The ad sponsor who participates in the channel ads is typically in support of the channel and their broadcasting content. 
     Stream Service 
     The live and on-demand streaming platform  104  is able to pre-calculate bandwidth for a single channel based on the preregistration, subscription and click rates, and assign desired bandwidth for the channel. The live and on-demand streaming platform  104  will send reminder notification to subscribers when the live streaming is about to begin. 
     Broadcasting 
     A videographer  106  can register on the live and on-demand streaming platform  104 . A moderator makes sure the videographer  106  is qualified to film live events and can assign videographer  106  to a channel  110 . The videographer can make himself or herself available to be assigned, or the videographer  106  can only accept invitations. 
     A videographer  106  accepts an invitation from a channel owner  105  to film the live stream broadcast  109  of a channel  110 . Alternatively, the videographer  106  may be assigned by a channel owner  105  to film the live stream broadcast  109  of a channel  110 . Then the videographer  106  register as a channel administrator for channel  110 . On the day of the event, the videographer  106  records the game and broadcasts the live stream broadcast  109  on the live and on-demand streaming platform  104  using a broadcasting tool. 
     The videographer  106  may have multiple cameras assembled in the field or event area, which broadcast multiple streams to the broadcasting tool. The videographer  106  is able to switch between streams intermittently from various cameras, and sends out a single live stream broadcast  109  for broadcasting. The live stream broadcast  109  consists of audio and video. Some examples of the audio include, but are not limited to: live commentary, background music, or generic audio captured during the event. The live stream broadcast  109  is recorded as recording  108  for future use on channel  110  if the channel owner  105  authorizes it. The videographer  106  is able to start and stop the live stream broadcast  109  at certain points in the event, for example half time, break time or some other gap in time in the event. During these gaps, ads are run that the channel owner  105  has chosen from the ad sponsor  111 . Multiple advertisements are lined up and streamed one after the other during the gap time. The videographer  106  is able to stop the advertisements and start the live stream broadcast  109  once the gap time is over. 
     The videographer  106  uses a score widget on channel  110  to broadcast the score of the game, if the event is a game. The channel  110  has a rating widget which a subscriber  101  can use to rate the quality of the live stream broadcast  109  or recording  108 . The videographer  106  can use an announcement widget on the channel  110  to make announcements relevant to the event. 
     Only subscribers to channel  110  can view the Recording  108  or live stream broadcast  109 , no one else is able to view the Recording  108  or live stream broadcast  109 . Casual visitors to the live and on-demand streaming platform  104  will be able to watch a short preview of each channel broadcast, but to watch the full stream they have to subscribe and pay. 
     The live and on-demand streaming platform  104  is viewable on several devices, including but not limited to, a computer, a TV, a set top box connected to a TV, or a game console connected to a TV, or a smart TV, or a web TV, or a tablet, or a smart phone. 
     
       FIG. 2 
     
       FIG. 2  illustrates a system including one embodiment of a live and on-demand streaming platform that broadcasts audio and video for multiple users and can display content on multiple devices and accept content from multiple devices. 
     This paragraph lists the elements of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  includes a system with multiple parts: a subscriber  201 , a viewing device  202 , a live and on-demand streaming platform  203 , a broadcasting tool  204 , and a device for inputting content  205 . Various elements of  FIG. 2  have now been listed. 
     This paragraph describes some interconnections between the elements of  FIG. 2 . The subscriber  201  views live or recorded content from a viewing device  202 . The viewing device  202  displays the live and on-demand streaming platform  203 . The device for inputting content  205  records content and sends that content to a broadcasting tool  204 . The broadcasting tool  204  is able to add brands and other visual information to the live stream or recording, after which the broadcasting tool  204  sends the possibly modified content to the live and on-demand streaming platform  203 . 
     The viewing device  202  includes any device with a processor and a storage area. Some examples include but are not limited to, a computer, a TV, a set top box connected to a TV, or a game console connected to a TV, or a smart TV, or a web TV, or a tablet, or a smart phone. 
     The streaming and organizing service  203  can be either on a freemium model or a tiered subscription model. The live and on-demand streaming platform  203  can utilize one or more interactive widgets, such as the symbols for Facebook, Twitter, chat balloons, a heart, or an arrow, but is not limited to this list. 
     The broadcasting tool  204  can include, but is not limited to, Studio Pro Broadcaster, Branding Tools and Subscription Tools. 
     The device for inputting content  205  can include, but is not limited to, a video camera, a tripod standing video camera, a close circuit video camera, a personal video camera, a professional video camera with high quality sound intake, an aerial camera such as a camera attached to a drone, a mobile phone, a computer, or a tablet computer. 
     
       FIG. 3 
     
       FIG. 3  illustrates a user interface for one embodiment of the live and on-demand streaming platform. 
       FIG. 3  shows what one embodiment of the system&#39;s channel page would look like. 
     This paragraph lists the elements of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  includes a system with multiple parts: a search engine  301 , a view count  302 , a recent video  303 , a recent video  304 , a recent video  305 , a recent video  306 , a chat count icon  307 , an account link  308 , a live stream link  309 , a live stream link  310 , a live stream link  311 , a future live stream link  312 , a future live stream link  313 , a future live stream link  314 , a live stream  315 , a widget  316 , a widget  317 , a widget  318 , a widget  319 , a watchlist icon  320 , and a fanflag icon  321 . 
     View count  302  displays how many subscribers are viewing the live stream  315 . 
     Recent videos  303 ,  304 ,  305 , and  306  show recordings that were former live streams, and are now available on-demand. 
     Chat count icon  307  shows the number of ongoing chats about live stream  315  within the streaming audio and video system. When a user clicks on chat count icon  307  it opens a chat window, which can be moved to either the left side or right side of the screen. This chat window is depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
     Account link  308  shows the subscriber&#39;s username and a link to their account, where they can add or remove themselves as subscribers to different channels. 
     Live stream links  309 ,  310 , and  311  show links to other live streams that the user has subscribed to and might click on to view. 
     Future live stream links  312 ,  313  and  314  show links to live streams that have not yet started, that will be available at a certain point in the future. 
     Live stream  315  shows the event itself, live, directly from the videographer at the event, broadcast through the streaming audio and video system. 
     Widgets  316 ,  317 ,  318  and  319  are each a link to a different integration app that lets the user a link to the Live Stream  315  in the respective social media platform. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, Widget  316  would be a link to share the Live Stream  315  on Facebook, Widget  317  would be a link to share the Live Stream  315  on Twitter, Widget  318  would be a link to share the Live Stream  315  on Instagram, and Widget  319  would be a link to share the Live Stream  315  on Gmail. Each of widgets  316 ,  317 ,  318 , and  319  will also share a preview of the Live Stream  315  and prompt for subscription at the end of the preview. 
     When a user clicks on Watchlist icon  320 , the live stream  315  is added to the user&#39;s watchlist, such that the user will get reminders about the upcoming and live schedule. The reminders will be both in emails and when the user logs into the live and on-demand streaming platform. 
     When a user clicks on the fanflag icon  321 , the user is supporting their favorite team, as in one of the teams competing in the live stream or on-demand video, if there is a team. The user will then be made available of other live stream broadcasts that involve their team, and will be offered the opportunity to subscribe to those live stream broadcasts. 
     An additional widget that is not illustrated is called “Q &amp; A for Quiz”. A channel owner can include the “Q and A for Quiz” widget, which tests the user on various facts relevant to the event if they click on the widget. 
     An additional widget that is not illustrated is called the voting widget. A channel owner can include the voting widget which allows users to vote on the event when they click on the widget; 
     An additional widget that is not illustrated is called the “breaking news” widget. A channel owner can include a “breaking news” widget in order to broadcast news about the event or the subject generally when the subscriber clicks on the widget. 
     An additional widget that is not illustrated is called the “fan flag” widget. A channel owner can include a fan flag widget, which allows the user to support their favorite team, as in one of the teams competing in the live stream or on-demand video, if there is a team. The user will then be informed of other live stream broadcasts that involve their team, and will be offered the opportunity to subscribe to those live stream broadcasts. 
       FIG. 3  also illustrates a method in which the live streaming service measures subscribers and click rates. Click rates are the total subscriptions plus the number of people who have watched the preview without subscribing to the channel. The live streaming service then provides the number of subscribers and click rates to the channel owner. The live streaming service then provides the necessary bandwidth to accommodate subscribers of the channel based on the number of subscribers and the click rates, so that the live streamed video is of good quality, and does not pixelate due to a lack of bandwidth. 
     
       FIG. 4 
     
       FIG. 4  illustrates a system including one embodiment of a live and on-demand streaming platform that broadcasts audio and video for multiple users, where the users can view different channels, as well as create multiple channels. 
     This paragraph lists the elements of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  includes a system with multiple parts: a video streaming service  401 , a user  402 , a user  403 , a user  404 , a moderator  405 , a channel  406  and a channel  407 . 
     A user  402  can create a channel on the video streaming service  401 . This channel can be viewed by other users, such as user  403 , if user  403  subscribes to the channel and if user  402  allows user  403  to subscribe to the channel. User  402  can create multiple channels such as channels  406  and  407 , which each have different sets of users that are subscribed to the channels. User  402  can also subscribe to multiple channels, so they can view multiple channels. If user  404  has created a channel  407  and user  402  wants to watch it, then user  402  subscribes to user  404 &#39;s channel  407  and watches the live stream when it is broadcast, or on-demand at a later time. 
     Users can also comment on social media about a live stream or on-demand video being played from the live video streaming service  401 . They can share the website link to the video through any number of social media options. 
     The video streaming service  401  has a moderator, which can eliminate channels if the channels have content that the moderator does not approve of. Users can also report to the moderator if they want to complain about a channel&#39;s content. 
     Once a user  402  creates a channel  406 , they have the option to accept an advertisement that will play on their channel  406  during half time, break time, pre event or post event times. 
     A user is limited to viewing one live stream or on-demand recording across channels at a time, so as to better manage bandwidth. The moderator  405  manages bandwidth per channel by analyzing the subscribers to the live stream on the channel, subscribers to the channel, as well as the click rates of the channel. 
     
       FIG. 5 
     
       FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of a split screen chat window  501  and live stream broadcast  502 . The invite button  503  allows a user to invite other users to the chat window  501 . The text box  504  allows users to enter text or emojis into the text box  504  and display them on the chat window  501 . The rating tool  506  allows users to rate the live stream broadcast  502 . The rating display  507  shows the average rating of the live stream broadcast  502  from all users. The chat window can be moved from the left side to the right side, and vice versa. 
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, the present invention is described in more detail with reference to examples. However, the following examples are intended to illustrate the invention, and the scope of the invention is not limited to these examples. The examples can be properly corrected and modified by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention. 
     Example 1 
     The embodiment described in  FIG. 1  along with the user interface described in  FIG. 3  is the best mode of the invention.