Patent ID: 8082255

Claim:
A process for creating a melded visual image to accompany a delivery of digital content, the process comprising: storing a first collection of digital content in a first memory device accessible to a first computer system; storing a first image data set containing at least a first digital image associated with the first collection of digital content in a second memory device accessible to the first computer system; storing a second collection of digital content in a third memory device accessible to the first computer system; storing a second image data set containing at least a second digital image associated with the second collection of digital content in a fourth memory device accessible to the first computer system; storing a first digital representation of a first placement image associated with a first rule for selecting digital content deliveries as eligible to include the first placement image; recognizing that a planned delivery of the first collection of digital content is eligible under the first rule to include the first placement image; delivering to a first communication network, the first collection of digital content with a first melded data set containing a digital representation of a first melded visual image comprising a combination of the first digital image and the first placement image, the first melded data set delivered in a first format which allows at least one class of player devices capable of using the first collection of digital content to display the first melded visual image in association with the first collection of digital content; recognizing that a planned delivery of the second collection of digital content is eligible under the first rule to include the first placement image; and delivering to a second communication network, the second collection of digital content with a second melded data set containing a digital representation of a second melded visual image comprising a combination of the second digital image and the first placement image, the second melded data set delivered in a second format that may be the same as the first format and which allows at least one class of player devices capable of using the second collection of digital content to display the second melded visual image in association with the second collection of digital content.