Title materials embedded within media formats and related applications

• US 10,192,234 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2007
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: API Market, Inc.
• Original Assignee: API Market, Inc.
• Inventors: Collins, Kevin, Roever, Stefan, Wray, Kevin, Clark, Alex F., Ginter, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Casey, Alexis M
• Application Number:
  US11/940,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20080205850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,093 Days
• Field of Search: 705 51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for enabling actionable content by embedding title materials corresponding to digital bearer instruments in digital media.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating access to digital content in a network using one or more computing devices, comprising:

embedding, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a portion of a first digital bearer instrument or a reference to the first digital bearer instrument in a first digital media object, the first digital media object having a media format and representing first digital content, the first digital bearer instrument representing a right relating to the first digital content, the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument being embedded in the first digital media object such that playback of the first digital content by media players not configured to recognize or process the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument is not inhibited, the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument also being embedded in the first digital media object such that media players configured to recognize and process the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument can recognize and process the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument;

embedding, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a portion of a second digital bearer instrument or a reference to the second digital bearer instrument in a second digital media object, the second digital media object having the media format and representing second digital content, the second digital bearer instrument representing a right relating to the second digital content, the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument being embedded in the second digital media object such that playback of the second digital content by media players not configured to recognize or process the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument is not inhibited, the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument also being embedded in the second digital media object such that media players configured to recognize and process the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument can recognize and process the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument;

transmitting, by at least one of the one or more computing devices via the network, the first digital media object to a first media player operating on a first client device, the first media player being configured to recognize and process the media format, the first media player not being configured to recognize or process the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument;

receiving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices via the network, a notification from the first client device that the first digital content was downloaded or streamed by the first media player of the first client device;

transmitting, by at least one of the one or more computing devices via the network, the second digital media object to a second media player operating on a second client device, the second media player being configured to recognize and process the media format, the second media player also being configured to recognize and process the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument;

receiving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices via the network, at least one notification from the second client device, the at least one notification from the second client device representing that the second digital content was downloaded or streamed by the second media player, the at least one notification from the second client device also representing that an automatic action was taken by the second media player based on processing of the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument;

retrieving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, the second digital bearer instrument in response to the at least one notification from the second client device; and

redeeming, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, the right relating to the second digital content by processing the second digital bearer instrument.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the media format comprises a text format, an audio format, a video format, an image format, or an animation format.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the media format is extensible, and wherein the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument is embedded in an extension to the second digital media object.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the media format includes a feature unrelated to the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument, and wherein the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument is embedded in the second digital media object using the feature.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the media format defines an end of a file, and wherein the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument is appended to the end of the file of the second digital media object.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one notification from the second client device corresponds to an interaction with a user interface object presented on a display of the second client device, presentation of the user interface object resulting from the processing of the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument by the second media player.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the right relating to the second digital content may be redeemed multiple times, the method further comprising facilitating storage of the second digital media object for later redemption of the right relating to the second digital content.

8. A system for facilitating access to digital content in a network, comprising:

memory; and

one or more processors configured, using the memory, to;

embed, by at least one of the one or more processors, a portion of a first digital bearer instrument or a reference to the first digital bearer instrument in a first digital media object, the first digital media object having a media format and representing first digital content, the first digital bearer instrument representing a right relating to the first digital content, the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument being embedded in the first digital media object such that playback of the first digital content by media players not configured to recognize or process the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument is not inhibited, the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument also being embedded in the first digital media object such that media players configured to recognize and process the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument can recognize and process the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument;

embed, by at least one of the one or more processors, a portion of a second digital bearer instrument or a reference to the second digital bearer instrument in a second digital media object, the second digital media object having the media format and representing second digital content, the second digital bearer instrument representing a right relating to the second digital content, the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument being embedded in the second digital media object such that playback of the second digital content by media players not configured to recognize or process the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument is not inhibited, the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument also being embedded in the second digital media object such that media players configured to recognize and process the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument can recognize and process the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument;

transmit, by at least one of the one or more processors via the network, the first digital media object to a first media player operating on a first client device, the first media player being configured to recognize and process the media format, the first media player not being configured to recognize or process the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument;

receive, by at least one of the one or more processors via the network, a notification from the first client device that the first digital content was downloaded or streamed by the first media player of the first client device;

transmit, by at least one of the one or more processors via the network, the second digital media object to a second media player operating on a second client device, the second media player being configured to recognize and process the media format, the second media player also being configured to recognize and process the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument;

receive, by at least one of the one or more processors via the network, at least one notification from the second client device, the at least one notification from the second client device representing that the second digital content was downloaded or streamed by the second media player, the at least one notification from the second client device also representing that an automatic action was taken by the second media player based on processing of the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument;

retrieving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, the second digital bearer instrument in response to the at least one notification from the second client device; and

redeem, by at least one of the one or more processors, the right relating to the second digital content by processing the second digital bearer instrument.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the media format comprises a text format, an audio format, a video format, an image format, or an animation format.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the media format is extensible, and wherein the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument is embedded in an extension to the second digital media object.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the media format includes a feature unrelated to the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument, and wherein the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument is embedded in the second digital media object using the feature.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the media format defines an end of a file, and wherein the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument is appended to the end of the file of the second media digital object.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one notification from the second client device corresponds to an interaction with a user interface object presented on a display of the second client device, presentation of the user interface object resulting from the processing of the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument by the second media player.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the right relating to the second digital content may be redeemed multiple times, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to facilitate storage of the second digital media object for later redemption of the right relating to the second digital content.

15. A computer program product for facilitating access to digital content in a network, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer program instructions stored therein, the computer program instructions being configured such that, when executed by one or more computing devices, the computer program instructions cause the one or more computing devices to:

embed, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a portion of a first digital bearer instrument or a reference to the first digital bearer instrument in a first digital media object, the first digital media object having a media format and representing first digital content, the first digital bearer instrument representing a right relating to the first digital content, the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument being embedded in the first digital media object such that playback of the first digital content by media players not configured to recognize or process the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument is not inhibited, the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument also being embedded in the first digital media object such that media players configured to recognize and process the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument can recognize and process the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument;

embed, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a portion of a second digital bearer instrument or a reference to the second digital bearer instrument in a second digital media object, the second digital media object having the media format and representing second digital content, the second digital bearer instrument representing a right relating to the second digital content, the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument being embedded in the second digital media object such that playback of the second digital content by media players not configured to recognize or process the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument is not inhibited, the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument also being embedded in the second digital media object such that media players configured to recognize and process the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument can recognize and process the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument;

transmit, by at least one of the one or more computing devices via the network, the first digital media object to a first media player operating on a first client device, the first media player being configured to recognize and process the media format, the first media player not being configured to recognize or process the portion of the first digital bearer instrument or the reference to the first digital bearer instrument;

receive, by at least one of the one or more computing devices via the network, a notification from the first client device that the first digital content was downloaded or streamed by the first media player of the first client device;

transmit, by at least one of the one or more computing devices via the network, the second digital media object to a second media player operating on a second client device, the second media player being configured to recognize and process the media format, the second media player also being configured to recognize and process the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument;

receive, by at least one of the one or more computing devices via the network, at least one notification from the second client device, the at least one notification from the second client device representing that the second digital content was downloaded or streamed by the second media player, the at least one notification from the second client device also representing that an automatic action was taken by the second media player based on processing of the portion of the second digital bearer instrument or the reference to the second digital bearer instrument;

retrieve, by at least one of the one or more computing devices via the network, the second digital bearer instrument in response to the at least one notification from the second client device; and

redeem, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, the right relating to the second digital content by processing the second digital bearer instrument.