System and method for distribution and redistribution of electronic content

摘要

A system and method for enabling the recordation of electronic content that has been published via a network, such as the Internet, so that the electronic content may be stored, retrieved, shared, and manipulated by individual users. Furthermore, the system and method of the present invention enable the content publisher of the electronic content to analyze activity associated with its storage and sharing.

主权项

1. A method for an electronic content storage system to enable access to electronic content via a browser mechanism connected to an electronic network, the method comprising:
receiving, from a browser mechanism, a request to access electronic content associated with a user account maintained at an electronic content storage server, the electronic content storage server maintaining a content identifier indicating a content publisher server maintained by a content publisher and the electronic content being stored at the content publisher server, the electronic content storage server having configured the electronic content to include an embedded computer code that enables the electronic content to be accessed and tracked via the electronic content storage server, whereby the electronic content includes a video, an image, or textual data that is associated with the user account for later retrieval; communicating the content identifier to the browser mechanism, thereby enabling the browsing mechanism to:
access the content publisher server; andaccess the electronic content indicated by the content identifier; logging, at the electronic content storage server, electronic content tracking data associated with the electronic content indicated by the content identifier, wherein the electronic content tracking data includes: a quantity of times the electronic content is stored by separate user accounts at the electronic content storage server, a time and date the electronic content is associated with the user account, data regarding a user that associated the electronic content with the user account, a quantity of times the electronic content is shared between users of the electronic content storage server, and data regarding a user that shared the electronic content; determining, at the electronic content storage server, electronic content usage data, wherein the electronic content usage data indicates the quantity of users that have viewed and the quantity of users that have not yet viewed the electronic content via the electronic content storage server; and communicating the electronic content tracking data and the electronic content usage data to the content publisher.