Remote personalization method

Abstract

A method of producing a personalized data file includes the steps of providing a message comprising at least one word to a person present at a site on a network and specifying a first data file, and producing a personalized data file by digitally combining the first data file and the message. The message is prepared by the person to whom the message was provided prior to being digitally combined with the first data file.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of producing a personalized data file, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a message comprising at least one word to a person present at a site on a network and specifying a first data file, and    b) producing a personalized data file by digitally combining the first data file and the message, wherein the message is prepared by the person to whom the message was provided in step a) prior to being digitally combined with the first data file.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in step a) the message is provided to the person over a network.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in step a) the first data file is specified by accessing a menu.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in step a) the first data file comprises at least one image.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the first data file comprises a photographic image.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein in step b) the message is written by the person using a device which produces a data file corresponding to the message, and wherein the data file so produced is digitally overlaid on the photographic image.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the first data file is a video file comprising a plurality of frames.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein in step b) the message is written by the person using a device which produces a data file corresponding to the message, and wherein the data file so produced is digitally overlaid on at least one of said plurality of frames.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in step a) the first data file is a selected from the group consisting of a graphic file and a text file.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in step a) the message comprises a script comprising dialog to be read by the person and the first data file is a video file.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein in step b) the dialog is read by the person and recorded to produce an audio file and wherein the audio file is digitally combined with the video file.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the personalized data file is provided to a user over a network.  
     
     
         13 . A method of producing a recorded performance, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a script to at least one person present at a site on a network, the script comprising dialog and directions for action, and    b) recording a performance of the script by the at least one person.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein in step a) the script is provided to a plurality of persons present at the site, and wherein in step b) the script is performed by the plurality of persons.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the performance is subject to a record-keeping requirement and wherein information pertaining to the performance in accordance with the record-keeping requirement is combined with the recorded performance.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the recorded performance is provided to a viewer over a network.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a premium is charged to a user providing the message in step a).  
     
     
         18 . A personalized data file produced by the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         19 . A recorded performance produced by the method of  claim 13 .  
     
     
         20 . A system for producing a personalized data file, the system comprising: 
 a) means for accessing a site on a network,    b) means for providing a message to a person present at the site on the network,    c) means for selecting a data file,    d) means for enabling a person present at the site on the network to prepare the message, and    e) means for combining the message prepared in step d) with the data file to produce a personalized data file.