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System and method for providing watch-now functionality in a media content environment

  • US 10,003,840 B2
  • Filed: 12/30/2014
  • Issued: 06/19/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for providing media content including watch-now functionality, the system comprising:

  • a media device including a microprocessor;

    a user interface adapted to display media options corresponding to items of media content, and determine user inputs; and

    a media application running on the media device and including a media play logic adapted to control playback of media content received from a media server, includingduring playback of a media stream that includes a plurality of media content items, either periodically, or upon receiving, at the user interface, a user input indicative of skipping to a next media option for playback, displaying, at the user interface, a prompt to elect to play at least one of an offered advertisement or other sponsor-directed content, in return for a period of extended media play;

    in response to receiving, as a user input, an election by the user to play the offered advertisement or other sponsor-directed content, in return for the period of extended media play, playing the offered advertisement or other sponsor-directed content, including receiving, as part of the media stream, an advertisement or other sponsor-directed content of a first type and duration; and

    following completion of the playing of the offered advertisement or other sponsor-directed content,skipping to the next media option for playback, including streaming the next media content item associated with the media stream,configuring the media play logic for the period of extended media play, andcontinuing to play the media stream according to the period of extended media play;

    otherwise, if no election is received to play the offered advertisement or other sponsor-directed content, in return for the period of extended media play, playing an advertisement or other sponsor-directed content of a second type and duration, skipping to the next media option for playback, including streaming the next media content item associated with the media stream, and configuring the media play logic to play the media stream for a period of regular media play.

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