Selecting divergent storylines using branching techniques

• US 20050120389A1
• Filed: 12/01/2003
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boss, Gregory J., McConnell, Kevin C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,784,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/135
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/92 for local area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47205 for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Divergent storylines for media such as movies are selected using branching techniques. Enhancing the “replay value” of a movie may be accomplished by introducing many logical branches in the action and plot during the movie. Consequently, repeat viewing is encouraged by creating a dynamic viewing environment based on the preferences of the current audience. The audience may be polled prior to each logical branch. Votes are then tallied and the logical branch is selected. Viewers may also indicate preferences regarding the movie rating. Consequently, a movie may be rated for children at one viewing and adults at another. Votes or other viewer feedback may be collected by a variety of methods. The privilege of voting for particular storyline branches or other content choices may be provided for free or purchase. Each time a branch in the storyline appears the viewer may then vote to influence the direction taken by the storyline. Multiple opportunities for voting may appear during the movie. Votes may be weighted and purchased based on a variable or flexible cost structure. Purchase of a movie ticket may convey to the viewer the ability to not only view the movie but also influence the outcome of the movie. The ability to influence the outcome of the movie may be closely related to the price of the ticket.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a logical branch in a storyline among a plurality of available storyline branches, based on voters'"'"' votes, comprising:

accumulating the votes from the voters;

calculating a total for the accumulated votes; and

selecting a winning tally that corresponds to a storyline branch, based on the total of the accumulated votes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring the storyline branch to a content branching system.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying the transferred storyline branch.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively excluding votes for a specific storyline branch.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein selectively excluding votes for a specific storyline branch comprises excluding the votes within a predetermined period of time before the specific storyline branch occurs.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if the votes are weighted.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein if the votes are weighted, selectively multiplying the votes by respective weight factors.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if additional votes remain to be accumulated;

and

wherein if additional votes remain to be accumulated, repeating an accumulation of the votes until all the votes have been incremented.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising saving a record of the storyline branch for later replay.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the votes are weighted based on a graduated ticket pricing.

11. A computer program product having instruction codes for selecting a logical branch in a storyline among a plurality of available storyline branches, based on voters'"'"' votes, the computer program product comprising:

a first set of instruction codes for accumulating the votes from the voters;

a second set of instruction codes for calculating a total for the accumulated votes; and

a third set of instruction codes for selecting a winning tally that corresponds to a storyline branch, based on the total of the accumulated votes.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the first set of instruction codes transferring the storyline branch to a content branching system.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising a fourth set of instruction codes for displaying the transferred storyline branch.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising a fifth set of instruction codes for selectively excluding votes for a specific storyline branch.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the fifth set of instruction codes excludes the votes within a predetermined period of time before the specific storyline branch occurs.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising a sixth set of instruction codes for determining if the votes are weighted.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein if the votes are weighted, the first set of instruction codes selectively multiplies the votes by respective weight factors.

18. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising a seventh set of instruction codes for determining if additional votes remain to be accumulated;

and

wherein if additional votes remain to be accumulated, the seventh set of instruction codes repeats an accumulation of the votes until all the votes have been incremented.

19. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising an eight set of instruction codes for saving a record of the storyline branch for later replay.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the eight set of instruction codes weighs the votes based on a graduated ticket pricing.

21. A service for selecting a logical branch in a storyline among a plurality of available storyline branches, based on voters'"'"' votes, the service comprising:

an automatic accumulation of the votes from the voters;

an automatic calculation of a total for the accumulated votes; and

an automatic selection of a winning tally that corresponds to a storyline branch, based on the total of the accumulated votes.

22. The service of claim 21, further comprising a transfer of the storyline branch to a content branching service.

23. The service of claim 22, further comprising a display of the transferred storyline branch.

24. The service of claim 21, further a selective exclusion of votes for a specific storyline branch.

25. The service of claim 24, wherein the selective exclusion of the votes comprises an exclusion of the votes within a predetermined period of time before the specific storyline branch occurs.

26. The service of claim 21, further comprising a determination of whether the votes are weighted.

27. The service of claim 26, wherein if the votes are weighted, the automatic accumulation selectively multiplies the votes by respective weight factors.

28. The service of claim 21, further comprising a determination of whether additional votes remain to be accumulated;

and

wherein if additional votes remain to be accumulated, repeating an accumulation of the votes until all the votes have been incremented.

29. The service of claim 21, further comprising a record of the storyline branch for later replay.

30. The service of claim 26, further comprising a weighting of the votes based on a graduated ticket pricing.