Methods and system for distributing information via multiple forms of delivery services

Abstract

A content distribution facilitation system is described comprising configured servers and a network interface configured to interface with a plurality of terminals in a client server relationship and optionally with a cloud-based storage system. A request from a first source for content comprising content criteria is received, the content criteria comprising content subject matter. At least a portion of the content request content criteria is transmitted to a selected content contributor. If recorded content is received from the first content contributor, the first source is provided with access to the received recorded content. The recorded content may be transmitted via one or more networks to one or more destination devices. Optionally, a voice analysis and/or facial recognition engine are utilized to determine if the recorded content is from the first content contributor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A content management and distribution system, comprising:
 a computer system comprising one or more computing devices;   a network interface; and   a computer storage system comprising a non-transitory storage device, said computer storage system having stored thereon executable program instructions that direct the computer system to at least:
 maintain a data store comprising:
 profiles of a plurality of content contributors, including an identification of professions associated with at least a portion of the content contributors, wherein the identified professions for the portion of the content contributors include at least one of the following: athlete, actor, agent, athlete scout, medical expert, or celebrity, and 
 access indicators for the content contributors indicating which content requesters may submit content requests to a given content contributor; 
 
 provide an interface configured to receive a request to be provided to a given content contributor for video and audio content of the given content contributor; 
 identify a first requester accessing the content management and distribution system; 
 based at least on the identity of the first requester, locate in the data store content contributors that the first requester is permitted access to; 
 provide a search user interface enabling the first requester to search for content contributors; 
 receive a search query from the first requester via the search user interface; 
 identify, using a search engine, matching content contributors in response to the search query; 
 provide a listing of the matching content contributors, wherein the listing of the matching content contributors is restricted to those content contributors to whom the first requester is permitted access to; 
 receive a request for new content from the first requester, the content request comprising:
 a selection of a set of content contributors from a user interface that lists, using assigned set identifiers, a plurality of content contributor sets defined by the content requester and/or one or more specifically identified content contributors; 
 a content subject matter specification provided via the content subject matter interface, including a request for video and audio content of a content contributor discussing a first specified subject; and 
 response deadline timing information; 
 
 transmit, using the network interface, at least a portion of the content request, including the content subject matter specification and deadline timing information, to respective applications installed on mobile communication devices of the selected set of content contributors and/or of the one or more specifically identified content contributors, 
 wherein the respective applications are configured to display the request, and at least partly in response to a given contributor providing a first input, prompt the given contributor to capture the requested video and audio content; 
 receive an indication from one or more of the mobile communication devices of the selected set of content contributors and/or of the one or more specifically identified content contributors, that video and audio content is being provided; 
 provide, over a network, the first requester with access to items of content captured by a respective mobile communication device from a camera from one or more content contributors in the selected set of content contributors; and 
 provide a control enabling the first requester to selectively download one or more of the items of content to a system associated with the first requester and a control enabling the first requester to selectively cause one or more of the items of content to be transmitted to a cloud based storage destination specified by the first requester.