WO2007033417A1

WO2007033417A1 - A marketing information distribution system

Info

Publication number: WO2007033417A1
Application number: PCT/AU2006/001378
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mario Girardo
Original assignee: Fastforward Services Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-09-20
Filing date: 2006-09-20
Publication date: 2007-03-29
Also published as: AU2005100807A4; AU2005211600A1

Abstract

A method for distributing sheets of text-based information, e.g. a real estate marketing newsletter, which includes producing a video wherein consecutive frames of the video correspond to consecutive ones of the sheets of text- based information. The video may be recorded onto a suitable media such as a DVD or video tape for subsequent playback on a frame by frame basis in order that the sheets of text-based information may be read. In one embodiment the video is broadcast by television into remote regional areas where Internet access may be limited. A user can record the video and may step through consecutive video frames using the 'still freeze' function which is available on standard video playback units. The video frames may be broadcast at 25 frames per second for PAL format and 30 frames per second for NTSC.

Description

A MARKETING INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a systehn for distributing marketing information. While the present invention finds particular application to a method and system for distributing information sheets in respect of real estate it will be realized that it might also be used wherever there is a need to readily distribute a large volume of readable information to a mass audience.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Real estate companies often make use of a periodical marketing newsletter to promote the properties for sale that they have on their books. Such marketing newsletters are text-based in that they consist primarily of pages of readable text interspersed with pictures of the properties. Typically marketing newsletters of this type are issued on a monthly basis and are freely given away from the real estate companies' local offices. Usually such marketing newsletters are not readily available much further a field unless specifically ordered, which is time consuming. It will be realized that when the real estate market is particularly active the number of properties that are turned over becomes large so that it is important for potential purchasers to have up to date information about new properties for sale. This is particularly the case for potential purchasers that are located some distance from the market that they are interested in, such as interstate purchasers.

In part to address this probiem it has become commonplace for real estate agents to advertise their property listings on the Internet. However, not all potential purchasers make use of the Internet. For example, people in remote locations may not have access to wide-band Internet connections so that they are reluctant to use the Internet. Furthermore, people in older age groups who may well be interested in investing in real estate, typically have a lower rate of usage of the Internet. It would be advantageous if there were a method for distributing information such as marketing newsletters that addressed the above described difficulties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for distributing sheets of text-based information, the method including the step of: producing a video wherein consecutive frames of said video correspond to consecutive ones of said sheets of text-based information.

Preferably the method includes transmitting the video to potential readers of the text-based information.

In one embodiment the text-based information comprises real estate marketing information.

Preferably the step of producing the video includes converting each sheet of text-based information to a still image electronic file.

The method may include receiving still image electronic files corresponding to the sheets of text-based information by means of a website.

Preferably the method includes charging a fee for submission of the still image electronic files to the website.

In one embodiment the method includes processing fee payments by means of an e-commerce facility associated with the website.

The step of producing the video will typically include dimensioning said still image electronic files for compatibility with said video. The video may be recorded onto any suitable media such as a video tape or a digital versatile disk (DVD).

Preferably the video is produced to be compatible with any one of NTSC, PAL, SECAM video broadcast standards. The frames may be transmitted at 25 frames per second for PAL format and 30 frames per second for NTSC.

In a preferred embodiment the method includes forwarding the video to a TV Network for broadcast.

The video may be forwarded to the TV Network by electronic file transfer. Alternatively it may be forwarded to the TV Network by passing a DVD or video tape containing the video to the TV Network.

Preferably the method includes a step of broadcasting the video by means of a television transmitter.

In one embodiment frames presenting indexing information are incorporated into the video.

Furthermore, the method may include incorporating an audio track into the video.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a media for reading by a video playback unit, said media bearing video including a plurality of consecutive video frames, said consecutive video frames corresponding to sheets of text-based information. A user may step through the consecutive video frames using the "still freeze" function which is available on many standard video playback units.

The media may be either an optional or magnetic media such as a DVD or a video tape for example. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method including loading a media as described above into a video playback unit; and television broadcasting a signal corresponding to an output from the video playback unit to a prospective audience of the text-based information.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for distributing pages of a magazine, booklet or catalogue, the method including the step of: producing a video wherein ordered frames of said video correspond to similarly ordered ones of said pages.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for distributing a series of pages, the method including the step of: producing a video including frames corresponding to respective ones of said pages. In use, the content of each frame is not readable when the video is played at normal speed, however, the content can be read by viewing frames that each correspond to a page by freezing the video at each corresponding frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

Figure 1 is a block diagram of the entities involved in carrying out an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a flow chart of the steps involved in carrying out a preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in the context of the distribution of real estate marketing material. As previously discussed, the invention is equally applicable to the distribution of other types of text-based information or still images.

Referring now to Figure 1 , a number of separate real estate agencies, 3a,... , 3n each forward one or more still images 2a,... , 2n to a web-server 7 by means of Internet 9. Web-server 7 provides a web-site 5 to which each of the separate real estate agencies are able to log on. According to the preferred embodiment web-site 5 and web-server 7 are e-commerce equipped in order to facilitate a payment from each of the real estate agencies 3a,... , 3n for the submission of the still images. In the presently described embodiment each of the still images comprises a marketing information sheet for a property for sale, or a page from a real estate marketing newsletter. In the present embodiment the images are each in JPEG electronic file format and are each

720 x 576 pixels which corresponds to the size of a single PAL format video frame. The PAL frames may be transmitted at 25 frames per second.

The JPEG format image files may be produced in a number of ways. For example, they could be generated by processing a desktop publisher or word processing file or alternatively they could simply be produced by scanning a paper document.

The JPEG images 2a,... , 2n are forwarded from web-server 7 to a workstation 6. Workstation 6 processes images 2a,..., 2n by means of a video production software package, such as DVD Authoring package 4. Suitable DVD Authoring software packages include Final Cut and Adobe Premier for example. Authoring software 4 is set to produce a video, e.g. a video format file such as an AVI or MPEG file, wherein consecutive frames of video correspond to consecutive ones of JPEG images 2a,..., 2n. In the PAL video format there are 25 frames per second so that a minute of video footage contains 60 x 25 = 1500 real estate marketing information sheets.

It will be realized that in some embodiments workstation 6 and web-server 7 may comprise one and the same hardware platform and indeed the web- authoring process may be automated from the receipt of the JPEG images.

In the preferred embodiment the video file created by DVD authoring package 4 is written to a suitable media such as DVD disc 8, or a video tape, which is then passed to a TV Network 10. TV Network 10 includes a video playback unit for playing the DVD (or equivalents the video tape). The output from the playback unit is broadcast via regional stations 12a,...,12L at a predetermined time. Alternatively, the video format file might be uploaded to TV Network 10 by means of electronic file transfer over the Internet. It is envisaged that the video be broadcast on a TV network having stations that reach into relatively remote areas where Internet access may be somewhat limited.

Potential purchasers of real estate 14a,...14m are then able to record the transmission on their home-based DVD recorders or video recorders 16a,... , 16m. The recorded transmission is then reviewed by setting the DVD or Video recorder to playback on a frame-by-frame basis. Consequently the potential purchasers 14a,..., 14m are able to step through consecutive frames in order to read each of the information sheet images 2a,.., 2n at their leisure on screens 18a,...,18m. In one embodiment each of the frames includes a free phone call number that may be dialed to access an information center in order to obtain more information about each particular property. In this manner, the agent absorbs the cost of any users who contact the free call number.

Some televisions and monitors support a viewing system known as "screen within a screen". In such a system a small rectangle of the viewing area displays a different picture to that of the remaining area. The video file created by the DVD authoring package may be created taking into account that the frames of the video file may be played back using the small viewing area of the screen within a screen system so that adequate readability of the information in each frame of the video file is provided.

The frames of the video may include an SMS or e-mail contact address, and the agent may be charged a fee for each user who contacts them via these methods. Once contacted, the agent is typically provided with the user's contact details and may contact the user in response to the received SMS or e-mail.

In one embodiment, each frame includes a website address so that the user can access the internet to obtain further details about the property. A unique property identifier would also be included in the frame to facilitate finding the property details on the website.

It will be realized that because of the relatively high frame rate a very large number of information sheets can be distributed in a short time, e.g. 1500/minute as explained previously.

Of course, when viewed in real time the video will appear as a flickering series of discontinuous frames. Consequently, it may be preferred to superimpose a message in a portion of the video screen instructing the viewer to record the video and replay it frame-by-frame. Furthermore, an audio track of a spoken voice issuing similar instructions may also be included.

From a commercial perspective, it is envisaged that real estate companies pay a fee to a central agency to incorporate their marketing newsletters into the video. As previously discussed, the fee may be paid by e-commerce transaction over website 5. The central agency also organises the production of the video and liases with the TV station to have it broadcast.

Many variations and further embodiments of the invention are possible. For example, the embodiment of the invention previously described has referred to the PAL video format which has a frame rate of 25 fps and a corresponding JPEG still image size of 720 x 560 pixels. Those skilled in the art will understand that the DVD authoring package 4 might equivalent^ be set to master video for either the NTSC system, which is used in North America, or the SECAM system, which is used in France and other parts of Europe.

Furthermore, where marketing newsletters from different companies of different parts of the country are compiled to form the information video then one or more index screens might be included in the video. The index screens would advise how many frames, or seconds of real time video, ahead particular segments of information start. For example, the index page might advise that the segment for the Sydney real estate market commences 300 frames ahead and for the Melbourne real estate market, 600 frames ahead.

Figure 2 is a flowchart of the major steps of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention. At box 20 the content pages of a real estate marketing newsletter, or other content, is converted into still images, e.g. the appropriately dimensioned JPEG images depicted as items 2a,..,2n of Figure 1. At box 22 the still images are compiled to produce a video format electronic file with each still image corresponding to a frame of the video. At box 24 any frames containing indexing information, as previously discussed, are incorporated into the video. At box 26 an audio track is incorporated into the video.

The video is then distributed to end users preferably by television broadcast as previously described but also possibly by mailing out a DVD or videotape authored from the video file. The video may also be made available for viewing over the Internet by posting it on website 5 for example.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS: 10

1. A method for distributing sheets of text-based information, the method including the step of: producing a video wherein consecutive frames of said video correspond to consecutive ones of said sheets of text-based information.

2. A method according to claim 1 , including transmitting the video to potential readers of the text-based information:

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the text-based information comprises real estate marketing information.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of producing the video includes converting each sheet of information to a still image electronic file.

5. A method according to claim 1 , including receiving still image electronic files corresponding to the sheets of text-based information by means of a website.

6. A method according to claim 5, including charging a fee for submission of the still image electronic files to the website.

7. A method according to claim 6, including processing fee payments by means of an e-commerce facility associated with the website.

8. A method according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the step of producing the video includes dimensioning said still image electronic file for compatibility with said video.

9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims including recording the video onto media such as a video tape or a DVD.

10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the video is produced to be compatible with any one of NTSC, PAL, SECAM video broadcast standards.

11. A method according to any one claim 1 and claims 3 to 10, including forwarding the video to a TV Network for broadcast.

12. A method according to claim 11 , including forwarding the video to the TV Network by electronic file transfer.

13. A method according to claim 11 , including forwarding the video to the TV Network by passing media containing the video to the TV Network.

14. A method according to any one of the preceding claims including a step of broadcasting the video by means of a television transmitter.

15. A method according to any one of the preceding claims including a step of incorporating frames presenting indexing information into the video.

16. A method according to any one of the preceding claims including a step of incorporating an audio track into the video.

17. A media for reading by a video playback unit bearing video including a plurality of consecutive video frames, said consecutive video frames corresponding to sheets of text-based information.

18. A media according to claim 17 comprising a DVD.

19. A media according to claim 17, comprising a video tape.

20. A method for distributing text-based information including the steps of: loading a media according to any one of claims 17 to 19 into a video playback unit; and television broadcasting a signal corresponding to an output from the video playback unit.

21. A method substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 and/or Figure 2.

22. A method for distributing pages of a magazine, booklet or catalogue, the method including the step of: producing a video wherein ordered frames of said video correspond to similarly ordered ones of said pages.

23. A method for distributing a series of pages, the method including the step of: producing a video including frames corresponding to respective ones of said pages.