System and method for generating and distributing personalized media

Abstract

Personalized media is generated by obtaining a master clip having predefined insert points, obtaining an insert clip, seamlessly merging the insert clip into the selected master clip to generate a personalized media clip with undetectable transitions between spliced clips. An insert clip is utilized for purposes of adding variables such as a name, place, time, gender, product name or any other desirable information to a master clip. Dynamic context data may be added and transmitted to a client playback device. This distribution process may be in real-time or asynchronous until requested. The playback device may use the clip for ring tone, ringback tone or voice message or any other purpose. Although the contents of the master clip and/or the insert clip may use any voice including the originator's voice, celebrity voices or the voices of celebrity impersonators may be utilized. The master clip and insert clip may be seamlessly merged using uncompressed or compressed data in given formats.

1 . A system for generating and distributing personalized media comprising: 
 an insert clip comprising personalized media;    a master clip comprising an insertion point;    a network interface;    a computer coupled with said network interface wherein said computer further comprises a memory device comprising said insert clip and said master clip;    a playback device wherein said playback device is identified to said computer with an identifier selected from the group consisting of RFID, credit card number, ANI and DNIS; and,    a process executing on said computer wherein said process is configured to combine said insert clip with said master clip at said insertion point to create a personalized media clip with seamless splicing at said insertion point wherein said personalized media clip is created for said playback device.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said playback device is configured to ring with said personalized media clip.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said personalized ring media clip comprises a celebrity voice.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said playback device is configured to ringback with said personalized media clip.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said personalized ring media clip comprises a celebrity voice.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said insert clip and said master clip comprise compressed media and wherein said process is further configured to create said output clip via compressed seamless splicing at said insertion point.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said compressed media comprises a format selected from the group consisting of MP3, OGG, Flash and video data.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a context clip comprising context information wherein said master clip further comprises a second insertion point and wherein said computer is further configured to combine said context clip with said master clip at said second insertion point with undetectable transitions at said second insertion point.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said context information is selected from a group comprising time, date, location and temperature information.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said insert clip, said master clip and said context clip comprise a celebrity voice.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said playback device is selected from a group consisting of a browser, PDA, cell phone, GPS receiver, slot machine, loyalty card reader, credit card reader, ATM machine, kiosk, toy, digital cable set-top box, hotel door and personal computer.  
   
   
       12 . A method for generating and distributing personalized media comprising: 
 obtaining an insert clip comprising personalized media;    obtaining a master clip comprising an insertion point;    coupling a computer coupled with a network interface wherein said computer further comprises a memory device comprising said insert clip and said master clip;    coupling a playback device with said network;    identifying said playback device to said computer with an identifier selected from the group consisting of RFID, credit card number, ANI and DNIS; and,    executing a process on said computer wherein said process is configured to combine said insert clip with said master clip at said insertion point to create a personalized media clip with seamless splicing at said insertion point wherein said personalized media clip is created for said playback device.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising ringing said playback device with said personalized media clip.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said personalized ring media clip comprises a celebrity voice.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising providing a ringback to said playback device comprising said personalized media clip.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said personalized ring media clip comprises a celebrity voice.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 compressing said insert clip; and,    compressing said master clip for seamless splicing before said executing said process configured to combine said insert clip with said master clip.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 obtaining a context clip and obtaining a context insert point,    blending said context clip seamlessly with said media clip at said context insert point.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 formatting said media clip for said playback device and transmitting said media clip to said playback device.    
   
   
       20 . A system for generating and distributing personalized media comprising: 
 means for obtaining an insert clip comprising personalized media;    means for obtaining a master clip comprising an insertion point;    means for coupling a computer coupled with a network interface wherein said computer further comprises a memory device comprising said insert clip and said master clip;    means for coupling a playback device with said network;    means for identifying said playback device to said computer with an identifier selected from the group consisting of RFID, credit card number, ANI and DNIS; and,    means for executing a process on said computer wherein said process is configured to combine said insert clip with said master clip at said insertion point to create a personalized media clip with seamless splicing at said insertion point wherein said personalized media clip is created for said playback device.