Method and apparatus for storage and playback of programs recorded on random access storage media

• US 20050232612A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Hillis, W. Daniel, Lambert, Robert E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,474,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/250
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 Television signal processing therefor

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for playback of programs and other works recorded on random access storage media. One embodiment of the invention relates to random access storage media such as a DVD (“digital versatile disk” or “digital video disk”) used to distribute motion pictures and other audio/video programs or works. The invention involves a manner of utilizing secondary storage space of the storage media not used by the primary program being distributed to store secondary programs such as movie trailers and product advertisements, and to present the secondary programs to the user in a topical and interesting manner. In one embodiment, storage space, of a random access storage medium such as a DVD is allocated to a number of variously sized programs or program portions called “chapters.” In one embodiment, each primary and secondary program constitutes a separate chapter. In this embodiment, each time the primary chapter is played, the DVD playback device plays a limited selection of secondary chapters before and/or after the primary chapter. In one embodiment, the sequence of secondary chapters played back varies each time the DVD is played. In this manner, as a viewer repeatedly views the DVD over time, a large variety of promotional material can be presented to the viewer without overburdening the viewer with overly-long sequences of promotions and trailers. In addition, because the sequence of trailers changes each time the DVD is viewed viewer interest is maintained.

Claims

1-44. -44. (canceled)

45. A method for playing back a first set of data and a plurality of a second sets of data recorded on a random access storage medium comprising:

obtaining a first set of data comprising a media feature and a plurality of second sets of data comprising a plurality of media advertisements, wherein said first set of data and said plurality of second sets of data are recorded on a random access storage medium;

obtaining playback criteria from said random access storage medium;

applying said playback criteria to obtain a subset of said plurality of second sets of data for playback with said first set of data, wherein said subset of said plurality of second sets of data is variable for each playback of said first set of data; and

playing back said subset of said plurality of second sets of data and said first set of data in accordance with said playback criteria.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein said playback criteria specify a number of said plurality of second sets of data to select for playback.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein said playback criteria include playback time period for one or more of said plurality of second sets of data.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein said playback criteria specify that a subset of said plurality of second sets of data is to be played back a predetermined number of times.

49. The method of claim 45 wherein said playback criteria specifies viewer characteristics.

50. The method of claim 45 wherein said playback criteria specifies that an indicated number of said subset of said plurality of second sets of data are to be played back prior to playing back said first set of data.

51. The method of claim 45 wherein said playback criteria is supplemented with a second playback criteria provided by a playback device used to play back said first set of data and said plurality of second sets of data.

52. The method of claim 45 wherein said plurality of second sets of data comprise portions of said playback criteria.

53. The method of claim 45 wherein said subset of said plurality of second sets of data are pseudo randomly selected.

54. A random access storage medium comprising:

a first set of data prerecorded on a random access storage medium, said first set of data comprising a media feature;

a plurality of second sets of data prerecorded on said random access storage medium, said plurality of second sets of data comprising a plurality of media advertisements; and

playback criteria encoded on said random access storage medium, said playback criteria identifying a subset of said plurality of second sets of data to be played back in conjunction with each play back of said first set of data, wherein said subset of said plurality of second sets of data is variable for each playback of said first set of data.

55. The storage medium of claim 54 wherein said playback criteria specifies a number of said plurality of second sets of data to select for play back.

56. The storage medium of claim 54 wherein said playback criteria specifies a period of time.

57. The storage medium of claim 54 wherein said playback criteria specifies that one or more of said plurality of second sets of data is to be played back a predetermined number of times.

58. The storage medium of claim 54 wherein said playback criteria specifies viewer characteristics.

59. The storage medium of claim 54 wherein said playback criteria specifies that an indicated number of said plurality of second sets of data are to be played back prior to playing back said first set of data.

60. The storage medium of claim 54 wherein a portion of said plurality of second sets of data comprise portions of said playback criteria.

61. The storage medium of claim 54 wherein said storage medium comprises a DVD.

62. A player for playing back programs recorded on random access storage media, said player comprising:

a storage medium access unit for retrieving data from a random access storage medium;

a control unit comprising a computer processor for controlling operation of said storage medium access unit;

computer processor readable program code configured to cause said computer processor to;

retrieve from said random access storage medium information identifying a first set of data and a plurality of second sets of data stored on said storage medium, wherein said first set of data comprises a media feature and said plurality of second sets of data comprise a plurality of media advertisements;

retrieve playback criteria stored on said storage medium; and

select a subset of said plurality of second sets of data and said first set of data from said storage medium according to said playback criteria, wherein said subset of said plurality of second sets of data is variable for each playback of said first set of data.

63. The player of claim 62 further comprising a pseudo random number generator for generating a number used for selecting said subset of said plurality of second sets of data.

64. The player of claim 62 wherein said random access storage medium comprises a DVD.

65. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer processor usable medium having computer processor readable program code embodied therein for playing back a media feature embodied in a first set of data recorded on a random access storage medium, said storage medium further comprising a plurality of media advertisements embodied in a plurality of second sets of data, said program code comprising;

computer processor readable program code configured to cause a computer processor to determine playback criteria applicable to said storage medium; and

computer processor readable program code configured to cause a computer processor to select and play back a subset of said plurality of second sets of data according to said playback criteria in conjunction with playing back said first set of data, wherein said subset of said plurality of second sets of data is variable for each playback of said first set of data.

66. The article of manufacture of claim 65 wherein said playback criteria specifies a number of second sets of data to select for play back.

67. The article of manufacture of claim 65 wherein said playback criteria specifies a period of time.

68. The article of manufacture of claim 65 wherein said playback criteria specifies that a set of data of said plurality of second sets of data is to be played back a predetermined number of times.

69. The article of manufacture of claim 65 wherein said playback criteria specifies viewer characteristics.

70. The article of manufacture of claim 65 wherein said playback criteria specifies that an indicated number of second sets of data are to be played back prior to playing back said first set of data.

71. The article of manufacture of claim 65 wherein a first portion of said playback criteria is provided by a playback device used to play back said sets of data.

72. The article of manufacture of claim 65 wherein a second portion of said playback criteria is recorded on said storage medium.

73. The article of manufacture of claim 65 wherein a portion of said plurality of second sets of data comprise portions of said playback criteria.

74. The article of manufacture of claim 65 further comprising computer processor readable program code configured to cause a computer processor to pseudo randomly generate a number used to select said subset of said plurality of second sets of data.

75. A method for playing back media work recorded on a random access storage medium comprising:

receiving an instruction from a user to play a first media work;

obtaining a set of selection criteria comprising at least one input criterion other than said user'"'"'s instruction to play said first media work;

selecting a set of second media works from a plurality of media works stored on said random access storage medium using said selection criteria; and

playing back said first media work and said said set of second media works.

76. The method of claim 75 wherein said instruction comprises a play instruction to play a feature film stored on said random access storage medium.

77. The method of claim 75, wherein said second set of media works comprises one or more advertisements.

78. The method of claim 75 wherein obtaining said set of selection criteria comprises generating a number for selecting a media work portion from said random access storage medium.

79. The method of claim 75 wherein obtaining said set of selection criteria further comprises obtaining topical information.

80. The method of claim 78 wherein obtaining said topical information comprises obtaining a category from a plurality of categories describing at least an age, a sex and one or more viewing habits.

81. The method of claim 75 wherein obtaining said set of selection criteria comprises obtaining date information.

82. The method of claim 81 wherein obtaining said date information comprises obtaining a start date for playing back said set of second media works.

83. The method of claim 81 wherein obtaining said date information comprises obtaining an end date for playing back said set of second media works.

84. The method of claim 75 wherein obtaining said set of selection criteria further comprises obtaining sequence criteria for playing back said set of second media works with respect to said first media work.

85. The method of claim 75 wherein selecting said set of second media works further comprises pseudo-randomly selecting at least one second media work.

86. The method of claim 75 wherein selecting said set of second media works further comprises selecting a plurality of second media works having a cumulative length below a viewer dissatisfaction threshold.

87. A system for playing back media comprising:

a random access storage medium storing a first media work and a plurality of second media works;

an input device configured to receive a user'"'"'s instruction to play said first media work;

a control unit configured to obtain a set of selection criteria comprising at least one input criterion other than said user'"'"'s instruction, and to select from said plurality of second media works based on said set of selection criteria; and

an output device having a media component configured to play at least one of said first media work and said plurality of second media works under the control of said control unit.

88. The system of claim 87 wherein said plurality of second media works comprises one or more advertisements.

89. The system of claim 87 wherein said control unit is configured to generate a number for selecting one or more of said second media works from said random access storage medium.

90. The system of claim 87 wherein said control unit is configured to obtain topical information.

91. The system of claim 90 wherein said control unit is configured to obtain a category from a plurality of categories describing at least an age, a sex and one or more viewing habits.

92. The system of claim 87 wherein said control unit is configured to obtain a start date for playing back said set of second media works.

93. The system of claim 87 wherein said control unit is configured to obtain an end date for playing back said set of second media works.

94. The system of claim 87 wherein said control unit is configured to obtain one or more sequence criteria for playing back said set of second media works with respect to said first media work.