Contextual linking and out-of-band delivery of related online content

• US 20080159715A1
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fuasaro, Eddie, Van Flandern, Michael W., Poling, Daniel L.
• Application Number:
  US11/649,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20080159715A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/124
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4784 receiving rewards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02

Abstract

Content availability online is declaratively or dynamically associated with the presentation of media from a primary media source. The online content is delivered out-of-band with respect to the primary media source for seamless playback alongside the primary content. Traditional media presentation through broadcast television or prerecorded music or video may be extended with new content offerings dynamically delivered using commodity Internet technology either in advance or in real time. Such bonus content may include related video clips and information, cross promotional content, purchase opportunities, extended commercials, and interactive experiences. Particular ancillary content can be personalized per consumer based on their past usage habits.

Claims

1. A system for providing ancillary content in conjunction with playback of primary media content comprising

a media identification module that recognizes an identifier of the primary media content;

a storage repository that stores bonus content delivered out-of-band from the primary media content;

a declarative link list, delivered out-of-band from the primary media content, that associates particular bonus content with the primary media content as the ancillary content;

a look-up module that uses the identifier to discover a storage location of the ancillary content from the declarative link list and accesses the ancillary content from the storage repository; and

a playback module that generates a user interface that presents the ancillary content accessed by the look-up module in conjunction with the primary media content.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising

a query module that uses the identifier to dynamically search for additional ancillary content at remote locations via a network and receives a non-declarative link identifying a remote location of the additional ancillary content.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein

the look-up module uses the non-declarative link to retrieve the additional ancillary content discovered at one or more of the remote locations by the query module;

and wherein

the playback module is further adapted to present the additional ancillary content in conjunction with the primary media content.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising

a compilation module that receives declarative link information related to ancillary content from the contextual look-up module and creates a notification list identifing the ancillary content available within the bonus content;

and wherein

the playback module further presents the notification list in conjunction with the primary media content.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising

a compilation module that receives declarative link information related to ancillary content and non-declarative link information from the query module and creates a notification list combining the declarative link information and non-declarative link information identifying the ancillary content available;

and wherein

the playback module further presents the notification list in conjunction with the primary media content.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the look-up module is adapted to access the ancillary content in response to user input selecting desired ancillary content from the notification list.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the look-up module is adapted to access the ancillary content in response to user input selecting desired ancillary content from the notification list.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reception module that receives the bonus content and the declarative link list as a package via a network connected with the system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the look-up module is adapted to consider user profile information to discover and access the ancillary content from the storage repository.

10. A system for linking ancillary content to playback of primary media content comprising

an association module that associates identifiers of the primary media content with declarative links to bonus content as related declarative links;

a catalog that stores the related declarative links;

a packaging module that combines the bonus content and the related declarative links as a package of ancillary content; and

a delivery module that transmits the package to a consumer system out-of-band from a delivery of the primary media content.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising

an aggregation module that combines a plurality of the related declarative links into a single declarative link file that is combined in the package.

12. The system of claim 10 further comprising a receiving module for receiving the bonus content within the system.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising

an authoring tool that allows a user to author the declarative links by combining location information and notification information regarding a particular piece of bonus material as a particular declarative link.

14. A method for providing ancillary content in conjunction with playback of primary media content, the method comprising

recognizing an identifier of the primary media content;

receiving bonus content out-of-band from the primary media content;

receiving, out-of-band from the primary media content, a corresponding declarative link list that associates particular bonus content with the primary media content to be the ancillary content;

storing the bonus content in a repository;

storing the declarative link list in the repository;

discovering a storage location of the ancillary content from the declarative link list by using the identifier;

accessing the ancillary content from the storage repository; and

generating a user interface for presenting the accessed ancillary content in conjunction with the primary media content.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising

searching remote locations via a network by using the identifier to find additional ancillary content;

and

receiving a non-declarative link identifying a remote location of the additional ancillary content;

retrieving the additional ancillary content by using the non-declarative link to access the remote location; and

presenting the additional ancillary content in conjunction with the primary media content.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising

creating a notification list combining information from the declarative link list and the non-declarative link identifying the ancillary content available;

and

presenting the notification list in conjunction with the primary media content.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the accessing operation further comprises

selecting particular ancillary content based upon user input in response to the notification list.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising

receiving a collection of bonus contest and the declarative link list as a package.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the discovering operation further comprises

considering user profile information to select particular ancillary content from the storage repository.

20. A computor-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computor process implementing the method of claim 14.