METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING MEDIA CONTENT FOR DISPLAY IN A DESIGNATED AREA

• US 20080177713A1
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Ireland, Alexander Blair, Hadjitarkhani, Abie, Behrens, John Robert, Narimatsu, Nancy Kiyoko, Armstrong, Brooke Allysoun, Muller, Stephen John
• Application Number:
  US12/057,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20080177713A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/156 Query results presentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for methods and systems for providing media content for display in a designated area. An ability of a client to playback media content locally is determined by querying the client over a network. The client includes the designated display area and a content display area. The determining is automatic and initiated by the server. The method includes providing over the network a version of the media content to the client for display in the designated display area. The version of the media content is appropriate for the ability of the client to playback media content locally. The providing is automatic and initiated by the server.

Claims

1. A method for providing media content for display in a designated area, the method comprising:

determining an ability of a client to playback media content locally by querying the client over a network, the client including the designated display area and a content display area, the determining being automatic and being initiated by the server; and

providing over the network a version of the media content to the client for display in the designated display area, the version of the media content appropriate for the ability of the client to playback media content locally, the providing for display in the designated display area being automatic and being initiated by the server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the version of the media content includes providing the media content for automatic display, wherein a type of automatic display is selected from a group including an immediate automatic display, an automatic display according to a predefined schedule, and an automatic display responsive to a display cue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the querying of the client is without sending executable code that persists on the client.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the designated display area is controlled independent of the content display area, wherein the designated displayed area is associated with a control to replay the version of the media content provided for display in the designated display area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the version of the media content comprises rich media content, and wherein the rich media content comprises an advertisement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the ability of the client to playback media content locally includes receiving a response from the client.

7. The method of claim 6, further including comparing, at the server, the response against a predefined schedule including a plurality of media file formats available for the media content, and wherein the predefined schedule comprises a preference ranking of the plurality of media file formats available for the media content.

8. The method of claim 1, further including selecting, at the server, the version of the media content appropriate for the ability of the client to playback the media content locally, wherein the version of the media content comprises a media file in a media file format that is selected from a plurality of media file formats available for the media content.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the media file format is selected from a group of media file formats including a video quality media file format, an audio quality media file format, and a speed of download media file format.

10. A system for providing media content for display in a designated area, the system comprising:

a processor;

control logic in communication with the processor, the control logic to query the client over the network to determine the ability of the client to playback media content, the client including the designated display area and a content display area, the control logic to determine automatically and to initiate the determination; and

a communications interface in communication with the control logic, the control logic to provide the version of the media content, over the network and via the communications interface, to the client for display in the designated display area, the version of the media content appropriate for the ability of the client to playback media content locally, the control logic to initiate and automatically provide the version of the media content for display in the designated display.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control logic is to provide the media content for automatic display at the client, wherein a type of automatic display is selected from a group including an immediate automatic display, an automatic display according to a predefined schedule, and an automatic display responsive to a display cue.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the control logic is to query the client without executable code that persists on the client.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the designated display area is controlled independent of the content display area, and wherein the designated displayed area is associated with a control to replay the version of the media content provided for display in the designated display area.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the version of the media content comprises an rich media file, and wherein the rich media file comprises an advertisement.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the control logic is to receive a response from the client.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the control logic is to compare the response against a predefined schedule that includes a plurality of media file formats available for the media content, and wherein the predefined schedule comprises a preference ranking of the plurality of media file formats available for the media content.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the control logic is to compare the version of the media content appropriate for the ability of the client to playback the media content locally, and wherein the version of the media content comprises a media file in a media file format that is selected from a plurality of media file formats available for the media content.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the media file format is selected from a group of media file formats including a video quality media file format, an audio quality media file format, and a speed of download media file format.

19. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium storing control logic that, when executed by a computer system, causes a first computer system to:

determine an ability of a second computer system to playback media content locally by querying over a network the second computer system, the second computer system including a designated display area and a content display area, the first computer system to automatically determine and to initiate the determination; and

provide a version of the media content over the network to the second computer system for display in the designated display area, the version of the media content appropriate for the ability of the second computer system to playback media content, the provision of the version of the media content to the second computer system for display in the designated display area is automatic and is initiated by the first computer system.

20. A system for providing media content over a network for display in a designated area, the system comprising

a processor;

a first means in communication with the processor, the first means for determining an ability of a client to playback media content locally, the first means for querying the client over the network to determine the ability of the client to playback media content, the client including the designated display area and a content display area, the control logic for determining automatically and for initiating the determination; and

a communications interface in communication with the first means, the first means for providing the version of the media content, over the network and via the communications interface, to the client for display in the designated display area, the version of the media content being appropriate for the ability of the client to playback media content locally, the first means for initiating and for automatically providing the version of the media content for display in the designated display.