Method of sharing multi-media content among users in a global computer network

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for sharing multi-media content among a plurality of users in a computer network comprises creating a plurality of user accounts, each of said user accounts corresponding to one of the plurality of users, and having a plurality of interactive features including a first feature that permits the user to upload the multi-media content to the computer network; forming a user network including one or more of the plurality of user accounts in communication with one or more other user accounts and to the uploaded multi-media content via the computer network; categorizing the uploaded multi-media content in accordance with the subject matter of the uploaded multi-media content; organizing the uploaded multimedia content in a competitive format; and establishing a hierarchy for the uploaded multi-media content within the competitive format as a function of a competitive measurement system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 generating, by the one or more processors, a user network comprising a plurality of user accounts in communication with one another, wherein each user account relates to a user from of a plurality of users;   associating, by the one or more processors, the multi-media content with a particular user account, from the plurality of user accounts, and with characteristics data;   determining, by the one or more processors, a category for the multi-media content based on at least one of the user data and the characteristics data;   organizing, by the one or more processors, the multi-media content in a competitive format based on the category of the multi-media content;   providing, by the one or more processors, the multi-media content to one or more users, from the plurality of users, in accordance with the competitive format;   receiving, by the one or more processors, feedback from the one or more users regarding the multi-media content that has been provided;   establishing, by the one or more processors, a hierarchy for the multi-media content within the competitive format as a function of a competitive measurement system; and   displaying the hierarchy for the multi-media content.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein characteristics data includes at least one of content format, genre, length, language, and regional identification. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein organizing the multi-media content in a competitive format is further based on identification of a region for the multi-media content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: providing, by the one or more processors, a user interface for the one or more users to select regional content for the competitive format. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the competitive format includes a plurality of competitive rounds. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the competitive measurement system comprises assigning one or more points to the multi-media content based on the feedback from the one or more users. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one user, from the one or more users, is not a participant in the competitive format. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the multi-media content to one or more users further comprises the one or more users accessing the multi-media content from a multi-media server. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 generating, by the one or more processors, a user network comprising a plurality of user accounts in communication with one another, wherein each of the user accounts corresponds to one or more of a plurality of users;   receiving, by the one or more processors, a plurality of multi-media entries from the plurality of users;   associating, by the one or more processors, each multi-media entry with a user account, from the plurality of user accounts;   organizing, by the one or more processors, the multi-media entries in a competitive format based on categories of the multi-media entries;   receiving, by the one or more processors, feedback from one or more users with respect to one or more multi-media entries, wherein the feedback for one multi-media entry is independent of the feedback with respect to another multi-media entry;   establishing, by the one or more processors, a ranking of the multi-media entries within the competitive format as a function of the feedback; and   displaying the ranking of the multi-media entries.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 associating, by the one or more processors, each multi-media entry with characteristics data that includes at least one of content format, genre, length, language, and regional identification; and   determining, by the one or more processors, a category for the multi-media content based on at least one of the user data and the characteristics data.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: providing, by the one or more processors, a user interface for the users to select a competitive format for regional content. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein organizing the multi-media entries in a competitive format is based on a region of the multi-media entry. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the competitive format includes a plurality of competitive rounds. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least one user, from the one or more users, is not a participant in the competitive format. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the competitive format is configured to end only upon reaching a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         16 . A method for sharing multi-media content among a plurality of users in a computer network comprising:
 creating a plurality of user accounts, each of the user accounts corresponding to one of the plurality of users, and having a plurality of interactive features including a first feature that permits the user to upload the multi-media content to the computer network;   forming a user network including one or more of the plurality of user accounts in communication with one or more other user accounts and to the uploaded multi-media content via the computer network;   categorizing the uploaded multi-media content in accordance with the subject matter of the uploaded multi-media content;   organizing the uploaded multi-media content in a competitive format; and   establishing a hierarchy for the uploaded multi-media content within the competitive format as a function of a competitive measurement system;   wherein the competitive measurement system comprises;   enabling the users to rate one of a plurality of multimedia content for each one of a plurality of competitive rounds; and   ranking a position in the hierarchy for the uploaded multimedia content based on ratings of the users.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing a user interface for the users to access the user accounts within the user network, the user interface including a first interactive area for selecting from the uploaded multi-media content and a second interactive area for viewing the selected multi-media content. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the user interface includes a third interactive area for displaying one or more product advertisements. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first time period comprises a first round in a plurality of rounds in a competition.