Method and System for Implementing Collaboration and Crowd-Sourced Distribution on a Content Management System

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for delegating permissions of a content provider for a content item to a delegate. In a graphical interface, a content selection input is configured to receive a selection of a content item from a plurality of content items to be delegated. A delegate selection input is configured to receive an identification of a delegate to which the permissions are to be assigned. The interface includes a plurality of permissions assignment inputs, where a permissions assignment input identifies a particular action and is configured to receive a selection of a permission type for the particular action. The identified delegate is permitted to perform the particular action according to the selected permission type for the selected content item.

1 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for commanding one or more data processors to execute instructions for generating a graphical interface for delegating permissions of a content provider for a content item to a delegate, the user interface comprising:
 a content selection input configured to receive a selection of a content item from a plurality of content items for which permissions are to be delegated;   a delegate selection input configured to receive an identification of a delegate to which the permissions are to be delegated; and   a plurality of permissions assignment inputs, wherein a permissions assignment input identifies a particular action and is configured to receive a selection of a permission type for the particular action;   wherein the identified delegate is permitted to perform the particular action according to the selected permission type for the selected content item.   
     
     
         2 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the permission type is selected from a plurality of permission types that include non-exclusive, exclusive, none, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The user interface of  claim 1 , further comprising an effective dates input, wherein the effective dates input identifies a start date and an end date between which the delegated permissions are effective. 
     
     
         4 . The user interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a revocability input, wherein the revocability input identifies whether the content provider is permitted to rescind permissions delegated using the user interface. 
     
     
         5 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the permissions assignment input further includes a reserve indicator, wherein a selected reserve indicator maintains permission for the content provider to perform the particular action. 
     
     
         6 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the particular action is a view reports action, wherein the view reports action provides data about the content item to the delegate, wherein the data about the content item is not accessible to users that have not been delegated permissions for the view reports action. 
     
     
         7 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of permissions assignment inputs are associated with actions that include: a view reports action, a revenue share action, a resell offerings action, a manage offerings action, a cross-promote action, a cross-sell action, or an edit content description action. 
     
     
         8 . The user interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a geographic area selection input, wherein the geographic area selection input is configured to receive a selection of one or more geographic areas, wherein the delegate is permitted to perform or not perform the particular action in the one or more selected geographic areas. 
     
     
         9 . The user interface of  claim 1 , further comprising an activate input, wherein a delegated permission is saved in draft form when the activate input is deselected, and wherein the delegated permission is enforced when the activate input is selected. 
     
     
         10 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein delegated permissions are additive or non-additive. 
     
     
         11 . The user interface of  claim 10 , wherein for additive delegated permissions, delegates having an additive permission assigned in a non-exclusive manner retain the additive permission when another delegate is delegated the additive permission in an exclusive manner;
 wherein for non-additive permissions, delegates having a non-additive permission assigned in a non-exclusive manner lose the non-additive permission when another delegate is delegated the non-additive permission in an exclusive manner.   
     
     
         12 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the content item is a video download, streaming video, a physical video copy, an audio download, streaming audio, a physical audio copy, an image, a game, a physical book, or an electronic book. 
     
     
         13 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the permission to perform the particular action according to the selected permission type for the selected content item is provided to the delegate as an offer;
 wherein the delegate is permitted to perform the particular action according to the selected permission type for the selected content item upon receiving an acceptance of the offer.   
     
     
         14 . The user interface of  claim 13 , wherein the particular action is promoting the selected content item, wherein the offer includes an incentive term for the delegate performing the particular action. 
     
     
         15 . The user interface of  claim 14 , wherein the incentive term offers a portion of revenue to the delegate for transactions originating from delegate marketing, promotion, sale, rental, or licensing of the selected content item. 
     
     
         16 . The user interface of  claim 13 , wherein the delegate selection input is configured for identification of multiple delegates, wherein the offer is provided to the multiple delegates for acceptance. 
     
     
         17 . The user interface of  claim 16 , wherein acceptance of the offer is received from one or more of the multiple delegates. 
     
     
         18 . The user interface of  claim 16 , wherein the offer is provided to a class of potential delegates. 
     
     
         19 . The user interface of  claim 18 , wherein the class is a particular influencer class or an all users class. 
     
     
         20 . The user interface of  claim 13 , wherein a counter offer is received from the delegate, and wherein the counter offer is provided to the content provider for acceptance or further counter offer. 
     
     
         21 . The user interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a delegate offer display, wherein a particular delegate offers to perform the particular action according to particular terms, wherein the offer from the particular delegate is provided to the content provider, wherein the particular delegate is permitted to perform the particular action according to the particular terms upon receiving an acceptance of the offer from the content provider. 
     
     
         22 . The user interface of  claim 21 , wherein a counter offer is received from the content provider, and wherein the counter offer is provided to the particular delegate for acceptance or further counter offer. 
     
     
         23 . A computer-implemented method of delegating permissions of a content provider for a content item to a delegate, comprising:
 receiving a selection of a content item from a plurality of content items for which permissions are to be delegated;   receiving an identification of a delegate to which permissions are to be delegated; and   receiving a selection of a permissions type for a particular action;   generating a permission delegation data structure, wherein the permission delegation data structure includes:
 a content item field that identifies the selected content item; 
 a delegate field that identifies the identified delegate; and 
 a permission data field identifies the permissions type associated with the particular action; and; 
   enforcing the delegated permission according to the permission delegation data structure, wherein the identified delegate is permitted to perform the particular action according to the selected permission type for the selected content item.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the permission type is selected from a plurality of permission types that include non-exclusive, exclusive, and none. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising receiving an effective date input, wherein the effective date input identifies a start date and an end date between which the delegated permissions are effective. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising receiving a revocability input, wherein the revocability input identifies whether the content provider is permitted to rescind permissions delegated using the user interface. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising receiving a reserve indicator, wherein a selected reserve indicator maintains permission for the content provider to perform the particular action. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising receiving a geographic area selection input, wherein the geographic area selection input identifies one or more geographic areas, wherein the delegate is permitted to perform or not perform the particular action in the one or more selected geographic areas. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein delegated permissions are additive or non-additive. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein for additive delegated permissions, delegates having an additive permission assigned in a non-exclusive manner retain the additive permission when another delegate is delegated the additive permission in an exclusive manner;
 wherein for non-additive permissions, delegates having a non-additive permission assigned in a non-exclusive manner lose the non-additive permission when another delegate is delegated the non-additive permission in an exclusive manner.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the permission to perform the particular action according to the selected permission type for the selected content item is provided to the delegate as an offer;
 wherein the delegate is permitted to perform the particular action according to the selected permission type for the selected content item upon receiving an acceptance of the offer.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the particular action is promoting the selected content item, wherein the offer includes an incentive term for the delegate performing the particular action. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the incentive term offers a portion of revenue to the delegate for transactions originating from delegate marketing, promotion, sale, rental, or licensing of the selected content item. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein multiple delegates are identified, wherein the offer is provided to the multiple delegates for acceptance. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein acceptance of the offer is received from one or more of the multiple delegates. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the offer is provided to a class of potential delegates. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the class is a particular influencer class or an all users class. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a counter offer is received from the delegate, and wherein the counter offer is provided to the content provider for acceptance or further counter offer. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein a particular delegate offers to perform the particular action according to particular terms, wherein the offer from the particular delegate is provided to the content provider, wherein the particular delegate is permitted to perform the particular action according to the particular terms upon receiving an acceptance of the offer from the content provider. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein a counter offer is received from the content provider, and wherein the counter offer is provided to the particular delegate for acceptance or further counter offer. 
     
     
         41 . A computer-implemented system for delegating permissions of a content provider for a content item to a delegate, the system comprising:
 one or more data processors;   a computer-readable memory encoded with instructions for commanding the one or more data processors to execute steps that include:   receiving a selection of a content item from a plurality of content items for which permissions are to be delegated;   receiving an identification of a delegate to which permissions are to be delegated; and   receiving a selection of a permissions type for a particular action;   generating a permission delegation data structure, wherein the permission delegation data structure includes:
 a content item field that identifies the selected content item; 
 a delegate field that identifies the identified delegate; and 
 a permission data field identifies the permissions type associated with the particular action; and; 
   enforcing the delegated permission according to the permission delegation data structure, wherein the identified delegate is permitted to perform the particular action according to the selected permission type for the selected content item.