Multimedia marketing and distribution system

Abstract

A central server having a computer readable storage media for storing multimedia material, such as motion pictures and television programming, in digital format is connected to a communications network such as the Internet. Exhibitors, such as theaters and television stations, can access the central server, preview available programming, verifying the ownership of such material, review contract provisions for obtaining and paying for the desired programming, and download the programming along with marketing materials for the program or movie. The central server loads material onto the storage media as its received from producers and owners of such material. In addition, central server retains data retains data regarding requests for material, such as titles requested, who requested such, and where the requestors are located geographically. This information can be used to help producers market their material more economically.

1 . A method of marketing and distributing multimedia, the method comprising:
 a. receiving, by a server, (i) multimedia material and (ii) advertising material from a producer of said multimedia material, said advertising material being associated with said multimedia material, said advertising material comprising audio and/or video components, and said multimedia material comprising a motion picture with accompanying synchronized sound;   b. storing said multimedia material and associated advertising material on a computer readable storage medium;   c. providing a server system accessible over a communication network, said server system accessing said multimedia material and advertising material in a digital format from said computer readable storage medium for transfer of said multimedia material and advertising material in a digital format over said communication network to purchasers;   d. downloading to said purchasers, upon request of said purchasers, over said communication network, said multimedia material and advertising material in a digital format from said server system, said purchasers storing downloaded said multimedia material and advertising material in a digital format.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said advertising material comprises a motion picture with accompanying synchronized sound and a radio commercial. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said advertising material comprises a motion picture trailer or coming attraction motion picture segment with accompanying sound. 
     
     
         4 . The method of marketing and distributing multimedia of  claim 1 , further comprising automatically collecting sales information from purchasers of various items of said multimedia material. 
     
     
         5 . A method of accessing marketing and distributing multimedia, the method comprising:
 a. accessing from a server operated by a producer of the multimedia material and advertising material and storing said multimedia material and associated advertising material on a computer readable storage medium as correlated information in digital format;   b. accessing samples of said correlated information in a digital format from said server system over said communication network to said potential purchasers, said purchasers being linked to the server system through said communication network;   c. downloading the multimedia material and the advertising material, upon request of said purchasers, over said communication network, said correlated information in a digital format corresponding to said multimedia material storing downloaded correlated information in a digital format corresponding to said multimedia material;   d. providing for viewing said correlated information in a digital format corresponding to said advertising material that is associated with said multimedia material to said purchasers from said server system over said communication network, allowing purchasers to perform at least one of market, sell, display said multimedia material, and   e. wherein said purchaser is at least one of an entity that provides the advertising material and multimedia material to users or is a user that downloads the advertising material and multimedia material for viewing.   
     
     
         6 . The method of marketing and distributing multimedia of  claim 5 , wherein receiving multimedia material includes receiving non-digital media selected from the group consisting of celluloid media, printed media, video cassettes, and audio tape. 
     
     
         7 . The method of marketing and distributing multimedia of  claim 6 , comprising digitizing said non-digital media for storage on said computer readable storage medium. 
     
     
         8 . The method of marketing and distributing multimedia of  claim 5 , wherein said server system is accessed over a public communications system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein exhibition of multimedia material is the public showing of a motion picture. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising providing a search function for said multimedia material and said associated advertising material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said advertising material comprises a motion picture with accompanying synchronized sound. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said advertising material comprises a motion picture with accompanying synchronized sound and a radio commercial. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said advertising material comprises a motion picture trailer or coming attraction motion picture segment with accompanying sound. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said advertising material further comprises at least one element of advertising material selected from the group consisting of graphics for a newspaper advertisement, a radio spot, a poster, a coming attractions film segment, and handbills. 
     
     
         15 . The method of marketing and distributing multimedia of  claim 5 , further comprising automatically collecting sales information from purchasers of various items of said multimedia material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of marketing and distributing multimedia of  claim 15 , further comprising providing marketing data based upon actual uses of said multimedia material.