Automated video-preroll method and device

• US 10,104,436 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2010
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beachfront Media, LLC
• Original Assignee: Beachfront Media, LLC
• Inventors: Sinton, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Andrea
• Application Number:
  US12/710,291
• Time in Patent Office: 3,158 Days
• Field of Search: 715723, 709231
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists

Abstract

We disclose a technology implemented on a computer that automates sequential display of messages, typically videos, which appear on a user'"'"'s display screen in the same place or in overlapping areas of a single window in a browser. In particular, this relates to displaying a message that arbitrarily may be in a different format than a requested video, with the first message programmed to appear before or after the requested video in substantially the same area of the user'"'"'s display screen where the requested video will appear or has appeared. The message and the requested video are sequenced without any need to match formats or players used.

Claims

1. A method of automating sequencing of a requested video and a supplemental video that may be in different data formats and shown by a computer using different players, the method including:

generating and storing in computer memory a program code that defines at least two HTML containers on a web page of substantially the same size and position in which requested video content and supplemental video content are programmed to be shown, such that

one HTML container is defined to show the supplemental video content in a first format using a first video-capable player;

another HTML container is defined to show the requested video in a second format using a second video-capable player that is a different instantiation than the first player'"'"'s instantiation;

for pre-roll, the one HTML container is the first HTML container and for post-roll, the one HTML container is the second HTML container;

video content in the first HTML container is initially visible;

video content in the second HTML container is initially not visible; and

configuring a first trigger in the program code to enable visibility of the second HTML container, such that when the first trigger is satisfied, the second HTML container becomes visible and the first HTML container is behind the second HTML container or becomes not visible; and

responsive to a request to view the requested video, sending the program code to the requester via a network, with separate links to the requested video and the supplemental video content in the two HTML containers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second HTML containers are substantially the same size if a larger of the first and second HTML containers has an area in a range of 101 to 120 percent of an area of a smaller HTML container.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second HTML containers are substantially the same size if a larger of the first and second HTML containers has an area in a range of 101 to 125 percent of an area of a smaller HTML container.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second HTML containers are substantially the same size if a larger of the first and second HTML containers has an area in a range of 101 to 150 percent of an area of a smaller HTML container.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein neither of the first and second HTML containers cover more than half of a web page area of the web page on which the HTML containers are positioned.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the HTML container for the supplemental video content has a size and position that leaves video selection controls and user response choices exposed on a web page on which the HTML container are positioned.

7. The method of claim 1, further including dynamically specifying in the program code the link to the requested video, responsive to the receiving the request.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first trigger is a timer value.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the requested video and the supplemental video use separately loaded player codecs to decode and display the different formats.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the requested video and the supplemental video use two instances of a single player to decode and display the requested and supplemental videos.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the timer value is delivered with the program code.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the timer value accessible to the program code, when run, from a source of a first video to play.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the first trigger is detection of the end of running a first video to play.

14. The method of claim 1, including:

generating the program code, further including defining a third HTML container that shows content in a third format using a third player;

setting a second timer value to enable visibility of the third HTML container after the second timer expires; and

delivering said program code, further including delivering the second timer.

15. The method of claim 14, further including dynamically determining at least one of the first and the second timer values, after receiving the request and dynamically specifying the links to the requested video, a first message video, and a second message video, all responsive to receiving the request from the user.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the HTML containers are defined by HTML <

div>

tags and contain other HTML elements.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the program code either enables visibility of the second HTML container by modifying a display attribute of the second HTML container or hides the first HTML container by modifying a display attribute of the first HTML container.

16. A server that serves code adapted to display a requested video and a supplemental video that may be in different data formats and shown by a computer using different players, the server including:

a processor,

memory,

a first module in the memory and running on the processor that generates program code that defines at least two HTML containers, such that

a first HTML container is defined to show the supplemental video in a first format using a first player;

a second HTML container is defined to show a requested video in a second format using a second player;

the first HTML container is initially visible;

the second HTML container is initially not visible; and

the first and second HTML containers are coded to appear in generally the same area of a display monitor and in a same browser window when viewed by a requester;

the program code further including a first trigger to enable visibility of the second HTML container, such that when the first trigger is satisfied, the second HTML container becomes visible and the first HTML container is at least partially covered by the second HTML container or becomes not visible; and

a second module adapted to send the program code to the requester via a network, with separate links to the requested video and to the supplemental video in the two HTML containers.

17. A method of displaying a requested video and a supplemental video that may be in different data formats and shown by a computer using different players, the method including:

requesting a video from a server via a network;

receiving, storing in computer memory, and executing a program code that defines at least two HTML containers, one of the HTML containers programmed to show the requested video and an other of the HTML containers programmed to show a supplemental video, such that

a first HTML container is defined to show video content in a first format using a first player;

a second HTML container is defined to show video content in a second format using a second player;

the first HTML container is initially visible;

the second HTML container is initially not visible; and

the first and second HTML containers are coded to display on a web page in substantially the same size and position;

wherein the program code further includes a first trigger to enable visibility of the second HTML container, such that when the first trigger is satisfied, the second HTML container becomes visible and the first HTML container is behind the second HTML container or becomes not visible;

displaying the requested video and the supplemental video content using the program code.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first trigger is a timer value.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the requested video and the supplemental video are in different formats and use separate players to decode and display the different formats.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the HTML containers are defined by HTML <

div>

tags and contain other HTML elements.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the program code either enables visibility of the second HTML container by modifying a display attribute of the second HTML container or hides the first HTML container by modifying a display attribute of the first HTML container.

20. A user'"'"'s computer for receiving code adapted to display a message and a requested video and a supplemental video, the user'"'"'s computer including:

a processor,

memory,

a program code in the memory and running on the processor that defines at least two HTML containers, such that

a first HTML container is defined to show content in a first format using a first player;

a second HTML container is defined to show video content in a second format using a second player;

the first HTML container is initially visible;

the second HTML container is initially not visible; and

the first and second HTML containers are coded to appear in overlapping areas of a display monitor when viewed;

wherein the program code further includes a first trigger to enable visibility of the second HTML container, such that when the first trigger is satisfied, the second HTML container becomes visible and the first HTML container is behind the second HTML container or becomes not visible;

a module adapted

to invoke a first link in the program code to retrieve the requested video;

to invoke a second link in the program code to retrieve the supplemental video; and

to display the requested video and the supplemental content, using the program code.