Method and system for enhancing local media content with remote auxiliary content

• US 20040133518A1
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Confluent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Confluent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Dryall, Steven
• Application Number:
  US10/337,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133518A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A computer-based method of enhancing primary media content at a computer-readable storage medium local to a network terminal begins by retrieving from the storage medium a reference to a remote content server. The terminal then transmits over a network to the remote content server a request for auxiliary content, and downloads the requested auxiliary content over the network to the terminal. The downloaded auxiliary content is associated with the primary media content and comprises one of an electronic ticket, an event schedule and auxiliary media content. The terminal also receives configuration data defining a presentation format for the auxiliary content, and renders the downloaded content in accordance with the defined presentation format.

Claims

1. A computer-based method of enhancing local media content, comprising the steps of:

at a network terminal retrieving from a local computer-readable storage medium a reference to a remote content server, the local storage medium including primary media content;

transmitting over a network to the remote content server a request for auxiliary content; and

downloading the requested auxiliary content over the network to the network terminal, the downloaded auxiliary content being associated with the primary media content and comprising one of an electronic ticket, an event schedule and auxiliary media content.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the local storage medium includes a media identifier associated with the primary media content, the retrieving step comprises loading into a memory of the network terminal a computer program stored on the local storage medium, the computer program including the reference to the remote content server, and the transmitting step comprises the steps of with the computer program (i) validating an authenticity of the storage medium, and (ii) forwarding the media identifier to the remote content server in accordance with the validation step.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the forwarding step comprises the steps of with the computer program opening an encrypted communications channel with the remote content server, and forwarding the media identifier to the remote content server over the encrypted communications channel.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the downloading step comprises the steps of receiving from the remote content server configuration data defining a presentation format for the requested auxiliary content, and rendering the downloaded auxiliary content at the network terminal in accordance with the defined presentation format.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the downloaded content is received in a format for storage at the network terminal.

6. A computer-readable medium carrying processing instructions for a computer which when executed by the computer cause the computer to perform the steps of:

retrieving from a local computer-readable storage medium a reference to a remote content server, the local storage medium including primary media content;

transmitting over a network to the remote content server a request for auxiliary content; and

downloading the requested auxiliary content over the network to the computer, the downloaded auxiliary content being associated with the primary media content and comprising one of an electronic ticket, an event schedule and auxiliary media content.

7. The computer-readable medium according to claim 6, wherein the local storage medium includes a media identifier associated with the primary media content, the retrieving step comprises loading into a memory of the network terminal a computer program stored on the local storage medium, the computer program including the reference to the remote content server, and the transmitting step comprises the steps of with the computer program (i) validating an authenticity of the storage medium, and (ii) forwarding the media identifier to the remote content server in accordance with the validation step.

8. The computer-readable medium according to claim 7, wherein the forwarding step comprises the steps of with the computer program opening an encrypted communications channel with the remote content server, and sending the media identifier to the remote content server over the encrypted communications channel.

9. The computer-readable medium according to claim 8, wherein the downloading step comprises the steps of receiving from the remote content server configuration data defining a presentation format for the requested auxiliary content, and rendering the downloaded auxiliary content at the network terminal in accordance with the defined presentation format.

10. The computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the downloaded content is received in a format for storage at the computer.

11. A computer-based method of enhancing local media content, comprising the steps of:

from a network terminal transmitting over a network to a remote content server a request for auxiliary content, the network terminal having local access to primary media content;

at the network terminal receiving over the network the requested auxiliary content, and configuration data defining a presentation format for the received auxiliary content, the received auxiliary content being associated with the primary media content and comprising one of an electronic ticket, an event schedule and auxiliary media content; and

rendering the received auxiliary content at the network terminal in accordance with the defined presentation format.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the primary media content is stored on a local storage medium, the local storage medium including a media identifier associated with the primary media content, the transmitting step comprises the steps of loading into a memory of the network terminal a computer program stored on the local storage medium, and with the computer program (i) validating an authenticity of the storage medium, and (ii) forwarding the media identifier to the remote content server in accordance with the validation step.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the forwarding step comprises the steps of with the computer program opening an encrypted communications channel with the remote content server, and sending the media identifier to the remote content server over the encrypted communications channel.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the computer program includes a reference to the remote content server, and the opening step comprises opening the communications channel with the remote content server associated with the reference.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the receiving step comprises downloading the auxiliary content in a format for storage at the network terminal.

16. A computer-readable medium carrying processing instructions for a computer which when executed by the computer cause the computer to perform the steps of:

from the computer transmitting over a network to a remote content server a request for auxiliary content, the computer having local access to primary media content;

at the computer receiving over the network the requested auxiliary content, and configuration data defining a presentation format for the received auxiliary content, the received auxiliary content being associated with the primary media content and comprising one of an electronic ticket, an event schedule and auxiliary media content; and

rendering the received auxiliary content at the computer in accordance with the defined presentation format.

17. The computer-readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the primary media content is stored on a local storage medium, the local storage medium including a media identifier associated with the primary media content, the transmitting step comprises the steps of loading into a memory of the computer a computer program stored on the local storage medium, and with the computer program (i) validating an authenticity of the storage medium, and (ii) forwarding the media identifier to the remote content server in accordance with the validation step.

18. The computer-readable medium according to claim 17, wherein the forwarding step comprises the steps of with the computer program opening an encrypted communications channel with the remote content server, and sending the media identifier to the remote content server over the encrypted communications channel.

19. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the computer program includes a reference to the remote content server, and the opening step comprises opening the communications channel with the remote content server associated with the reference.

20. The computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the receiving step comprises downloading the auxiliary content in a format for storage at the computer.

21. A removable computer-readable medium comprising:

a media partition including primary media content, the primary media content comprising at least one of an audio presentation, a video presentation and a multimedia presentation; and

a program partition including processing instructions for a computer which when executed by the computer cause the computer to;

transmit over a network to a remote content server a request for auxiliary content associated with the primary media content;

receive over the network the requested auxiliary content, and configuration data defining a presentation format for the received auxiliary content, the received auxiliary content comprising one of an electronic ticket, an event schedule and auxiliary media content; and

render the received auxiliary content in accordance with the defined presentation format.

22. The removable computer-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the program partition includes a media identifier associated with the primary media content, the transmitting step comprises the steps of loading the processing instructions into a memory of the computer, and in accordance with the processing instructions (i) validating an authenticity of the computer-readable medium, and (ii) forwarding the media identifier to the remote content server in accordance with the validation step.

23. The removable computer-readable medium according to claim 22, wherein the forwarding step comprises the steps of opening an encrypted communications channel with the remote content server, and sending the media identifier to the remote content server over the encrypted communications channel.

24. The removable computer-readable medium according to claim 23, wherein the program partition includes a reference to the remote content server, and the opening step comprises opening the communications channel with the remote content server associated with the reference.

25. The removable computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein the receiving step comprises downloading the auxiliary content in a format for storage at the computer.

26. A computer-based method of providing enhanced local media content, comprising the steps of:

at a content server receiving from a network client a request for content auxiliary to primary media content, the primary media content being stored locally to the network client;

transmitting to the network client configuration data defining a presentation format for rendering of the requested auxiliary content by the network client; and

facilitating downloading of the requested auxiliary content over the network to the network client in a format for retention by the network client, the downloaded auxiliary content being associated with the primary media content and comprising one of an electronic ticket, an event schedule and auxiliary media content.

27. A computer-based method of enhancing local media content, comprising the steps of:

loading from a local computer-readable storage medium into a memory of a network terminal a computer software module carrying processing instructions for the network terminal, and a reference to a remote content server, the local storage medium including primary media content;

with the processing instructions transmitting over a network to the remote content server a reference to the primary media content;

at the network terminal receiving over the network from the remote content server configuration data defining a presentation format for a virtual terminal, and a reference to an auxiliary content database;

with the processing instructions rendering the virtual terminal at the network terminal;

downloading from the auxiliary content database the requested auxiliary content to the network terminal in a format for retention on the network terminal, the downloaded auxiliary content being associated with the primary media content and comprising one of an electronic ticket, an event schedule and auxiliary media content; and

with the processing instructions rendering the received auxiliary content on the virtual terminal.

28. A removable computer-readable medium comprising:

a media partition including primary media content, the primary media content comprising at least one of an audio presentation, a video presentation and a multimedia presentation; and

a program partition including a computer software module carrying processing instructions for a computer and a reference to a remote content server, the processing instructions when executed by the computer causing the computer to;

transmit over a network to the remote content server a reference to the primary media content;

at the computer receive over the network from the remote content server configuration data defining a presentation format for a virtual terminal, and a reference to an auxiliary content database;

render the virtual terminal at the network terminal;

download from the auxiliary content database the requested auxiliary content to the network terminal in a format for retention on the network terminal, the downloaded auxiliary content being associated with the primary media content and comprising one of an electronic ticket, an event schedule and auxiliary media content; and

render the received auxiliary content on the virtual terminal.