Method and apparatus for efficient, entertaining information delivery

• US 20050044569A1
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NTECH Properties, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NTECH Properties, Inc.
• Inventors: Marcus, Dwight
• Application Number:
  US10/874,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20050044569A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/738 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/306 using TV related infrastructures external card used for payment with client device H04N21/4185
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for efficient, entertaining information delivery. In one embodiment, information is partitioned into clips. Clips are selected for a user packaged together for presentation to the user in an entertaining manner. In one embodiment, the clips are selected and packaged together in accordance with a template. In another embodiment, information about the user is used to select clips. In one embodiment, a user presented with a stream of information comprised of clips of information assembled for the user. The user may select a clip to retrieve additional information related to the clip. In one embodiment, the selected clip is a portion of a program (e.g., a television show, a movie, a song, an advertisement, etc.) and the additional information is a larger clip of the program and/or the entire program.

Claims

1. A method of delivering information comprising:

selecting a plurality of clips;

arranging said plurality of clips into a stream of information;

presenting said stream of information to a user;

determining a first clip wherein said first clip is associated with a second clip wherein said second clip is part of said stream of information and wherein said second clip is selected by said user; and

delivering said first clip to said user.

2. A method of financing delivery of information comprising:

selecting a plurality of clips;

arranging said plurality of clips into a stream of information;

presenting said stream of information to a user;

determining a first clip wherein said first clip is associated with a second clip wherein said second clip is part of said stream of information and wherein said second clip is selected by said user;

securing payment; and

delivering said first clip to said user.

3. A method of claim 2 wherein said method of securing comprises:

debiting an account associated with said user.

4. A method of claim 2 wherein said method of securing comprises:

packaging said first clip with information from an advertiser; and

receiving payment from said advertiser.

5. A method of compensating a content provider comprising:

selecting a plurality of clips wherein a first clip of said plurality of clips is generated by said content provider;

arranging said plurality of clips into a stream of information;

presenting said stream of information to a user;

determining a second clip wherein said second clip is associated with a third clip wherein said third clip is part of said stream of information and wherein said third clip is selected by said user;

securing payment;

delivering said second clip to said user; and

compensating said content provider out of said payment.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said first clip is a voice.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said first clip is a logo.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein said first clip is a song.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein said first clip is a likeness.

10. An information delivery system comprising:

a selection unit configured to select a plurality of clips;

an arranging unit configured to arrange said plurality of clips into a stream of information;

a presentation unit configured to present said stream of information to a user;

a determiner configured to determine a first clip wherein said first clip is associated with a second clip wherein said second clip is part of said stream of information and wherein said second clip is selected by said user; and

a delivery unit configured to deliver said first clip to said user.

11. An information delivery financing system comprising:

a selection unit configured to select a plurality of clips;

an arranging unit configured to arrange said plurality of clips into a stream of information;

a presentation unit configured to present said stream of information to a user;

a determiner configured to determine a first clip wherein said first clip is associated with a second clip wherein said second clip is part of said stream of information and wherein said second clip is selected by said user;

a payment securing unit configured to secure payment; and

a delivery unit configured to deliver said first clip to said user.

12. An information delivery financing system of claim 11 wherein said payment securing unit comprises:

a debiting unit configured to debit an account associated with said user.

13. An information delivery financing system of claim 11 wherein said payment securing unit comprises:

a packaging unit configured to package said first clip with information from an advertiser; and

a payment receiving unit configured to receive payment from said advertiser.

14. A content provider compensation system comprising:

a selection unit configured to select a plurality of clips wherein a first clip of said plurality of clips is generated by a content provider;

an arranging unit configured to arrange said plurality of clips into a stream of information;

a presentation unit configured to present said stream of information to a user;

a determiner configured to determine a second clip wherein said second clip is associated with a third clip wherein said third clip is part of said stream of information and wherein said third clip is selected by said user;

a payment securing unit configured to secure payment;

a delivery unit configured to deliver said second clip to said user; and

a compensation unit configured to compensate said content provider out of said payment.

15. The content provider compensation system of claim 14 wherein said first clip is a voice.

16. The content provider compensation system of claim 14 wherein said first clip is a logo.

17. The content provider compensation system of claim 14 wherein said first clip is a song.

18. The content provider compensation system of claim 14 wherein said first clip is a likeness.

19. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein configured to deliver information, said computer program product comprising;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to select a plurality of clips;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to arrange said plurality of clips into a stream of information;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to present said stream of information to a user;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to determine a first clip wherein said first clip is associated with a second clip wherein said second clip is part of said stream of information and wherein said second clip is selected by said user; and

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to deliver said first clip to said user.

20. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein configured to finance information delivery, said computer program product comprising;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to select a plurality of clips;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to arrange said plurality of clips into a stream of information;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to present said stream of information to a user;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to determine a first clip wherein said first clip is associated with a second clip wherein said second clip is part of said stream of information and wherein said second clip is selected by said user;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to secure payment; and

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to deliver said first clip to said user.

21. A computer program product of claim 20 wherein said computer readable code configured to cause a computer to secure comprises:

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to debit an account associated with said user.

22. A computer program product of claim 20 wherein said computer readable code configured to cause a computer to secure comprises:

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to package said first clip with information from an advertiser; and

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to receive payment from said advertiser.

23. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein configured to compensate a content provider, said computer program product comprising;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to select a plurality of clips wherein a first clip of said plurality of clips is generated by said content provider;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to arrange said plurality of clips into a stream of information;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to present said stream of information to a user;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to determine a second clip wherein said second clip is associated with a third clip wherein said third clip is part of said stream of information and wherein said third clip is selected by said user;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to secure payment;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to deliver said second clip to said user; and

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to compensate said content provider out of said payment.

24. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein said first clip is a voice.

25. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein said first clip is a logo.

26. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein said first clip is a song.

27. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein said first clip is a likeness.

28. A method of delivering information comprising:

selecting a plurality of clips;

arranging said plurality of clips into a stream of information;

presenting said stream of information to a user in accordance with user selection of one of said clips.

29. An information delivery financing system comprising:

a selection unit configured to select a plurality of clips;

an arranging unit configured to arrange said plurality of clips into a stream of information;

a presentation unit configured to present said stream of information to a user in accordance with users selection of one clips; and

a payment securing unit configured to secure payment.