Internet-Based System for Interactive Synchronized Shared Viewing of Video Content
First Claim
1. An Internet-based viewing system for interactive synchronized shared viewing of video content, comprisinga viewing system website accessible to viewing customers of said viewing system via the Internet;
- a viewing session selection mechanism accessible to the customers of said viewing system on said website for selecting viewing sessions for transmission by said viewing system to the customers via the Internet, said viewing session selection mechanism including a customer authoring module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to author customized viewing sessions, wherein a customized viewing program includes a play list of video items selected by the customer, said customer authoring module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to include one or more advertisements among the video items in the play lists for customized viewing programs, and a mechanism on said website for customers to include one or more interactive components among the video items in the play lists for customized viewing programs;
a schedule module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to schedule a date and time for transmission by said viewing system of selected viewing sessions, and providing a mechanism on said website for customers to optionally elect to make the selected viewing sessions publicly available on said website to all customers of said viewing system;
an invitation module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to optionally invite one or more specific other customers of said viewing system to view a selected viewing session in synchrony as a shared viewing group, said viewing system operating to automatically transmit electronically an invitation to the specific other customers invited to participate in the shared viewing group;
a notification reply module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to accept or decline invitations to participate in shared viewing groups;
a payment module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to electronically pay a fee for viewing sessions transmitted by said viewing system that the customer has elected to receive;
means for transmitting viewing sessions via the Internet at the scheduled date and time to customers who have paid the fee for the viewing sessions; and
means for synchronizing transmission of viewing sessions among the customers in shared viewing groups while enabling interactive communication between the customers within in the shared viewing groups via the Internet.
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Abstract
Internet-based viewing system for interactive synchronized shared viewing of video content comprises a website accessible to customers of the viewing system and providing mechanisms for the customers to select, author and schedule viewing sessions for transmission by the system, to invite other customers to view selected viewing sessions in synchronicity as a shared viewing group while allowing interactive communication between the customers within the viewing group. The system website provides mechanisms for providers of video content and customers to author viewing programs and makes them available to customers on the system website. Advertisements and/or interactive components may be included in the viewing programs as part of the authoring processes.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An Internet-based viewing system for interactive synchronized shared viewing of video content, comprising
a viewing system website accessible to viewing customers of said viewing system via the Internet; -
a viewing session selection mechanism accessible to the customers of said viewing system on said website for selecting viewing sessions for transmission by said viewing system to the customers via the Internet, said viewing session selection mechanism including a customer authoring module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to author customized viewing sessions, wherein a customized viewing program includes a play list of video items selected by the customer, said customer authoring module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to include one or more advertisements among the video items in the play lists for customized viewing programs, and a mechanism on said website for customers to include one or more interactive components among the video items in the play lists for customized viewing programs; a schedule module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to schedule a date and time for transmission by said viewing system of selected viewing sessions, and providing a mechanism on said website for customers to optionally elect to make the selected viewing sessions publicly available on said website to all customers of said viewing system; an invitation module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to optionally invite one or more specific other customers of said viewing system to view a selected viewing session in synchrony as a shared viewing group, said viewing system operating to automatically transmit electronically an invitation to the specific other customers invited to participate in the shared viewing group; a notification reply module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to accept or decline invitations to participate in shared viewing groups; a payment module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to electronically pay a fee for viewing sessions transmitted by said viewing system that the customer has elected to receive; means for transmitting viewing sessions via the Internet at the scheduled date and time to customers who have paid the fee for the viewing sessions; and means for synchronizing transmission of viewing sessions among the customers in shared viewing groups while enabling interactive communication between the customers within in the shared viewing groups via the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An Internet-based viewing system for interactive synchronized shared viewing of video content, comprising
a viewing system website accessible via the Internet to viewing customers of said viewing system and to providers of video content to said viewing system; -
a viewing session selection mechanism accessible to the customers of said viewing system on said website for selecting viewing sessions for transmission by said viewing system to the customers via the Internet, said viewing session selection mechanism including a pre-packaged viewing program module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to search for and select pre-packaged viewing programs from a pool of pre-packaged viewing programs, wherein said pre-packaged viewing programs each include a play list of video items pre-selected by a provider of video content; a provider authoring module accessible to the providers of video content on said viewing system website and providing a mechanism on said website for providers of video content to author said pre-packaged viewing programs by selecting the video items to be included in the play lists for said pre-packaged viewing programs, said provider authoring module including a mechanism on said website for providers of video content to include one or more advertisements among the video items in the play lists for pre-packaged viewing programs; a schedule module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to schedule a date and time for transmission by said viewing system of selected viewing sessions and providing a mechanism on said website for customers to optionally elect to make the selected viewing sessions publicly available on said website to all customers of said viewing system; an invitation module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to optionally invite one or more specific other customers of said viewing system to view a selected viewing session in synchrony as a shared viewing group, said viewing system operating to automatically transmit electronically an invitation to the specific other customers invited to participate in the shared viewing group; a notification reply module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to accept or decline invitations to participate in shared viewing groups; a payment module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to electronically pay a fee for viewing sessions transmitted by said viewing system that the customer has elected to receive; means for transmitting viewing sessions via the Internet at the scheduled date and time to customers who have paid the fee for the viewing sessions; and means for synchronizing transmission of viewing sessions among the customers in shared viewing groups while enabling interactive communication between the customers within the shared viewing groups via the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An Internet-based viewing system for interactive synchronized shared viewing of video content, comprising
a viewing system website accessible via the Internet to viewing customers of said viewing system and to providers of video content to said viewing system; -
a mechanism for customers on said website to enter into said viewing system personal advertisement preferences for the customer; a viewing session selection mechanism accessible to the customers of said viewing system on said website for selecting viewing sessions for transmission by said viewing system to the customers via the Internet, said viewing session selection mechanism including a pre-packaged viewing program module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to optionally search for and select pre-packaged viewing programs from a pool of pre-packaged viewing programs, wherein said pre-packaged viewing programs each include a play list of video items pre-selected by a provider of video content; a provider authoring module accessible to the providers of video content on said website and providing a mechanism on said website for providers of video content to author said pre-packaged viewing programs by selecting the video items to be included in the play lists for said pre-packaged viewing programs, said provider authoring module including a mechanism on said website for providers of video content to insert one or more placeholders in the play lists for said pre-packaged viewing programs; a customer authoring module accessible to customers on said website and providing a mechanism on said website for customers to optionally author customized viewing programs by selecting the video items to be included in the play lists for the customized viewing programs, said customer authoring module including a mechanism on said website for customers to insert one or more placeholders in the play lists for the customized viewing programs; a schedule module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to schedule a date and time for transmission by said viewing system of selected viewing sessions, and providing a mechanism on said website for customers to optionally elect to make the selected viewing sessions publicly available on said website to all customers of said viewing system; an invitation module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to optionally invite one or more specific other customers of said viewing system to view a selected viewing session in synchrony as a shared viewing group, said viewing system operating to automatically transmit electronically an invitation to the specific other customer to participate in the shared viewing group; a notification reply module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to accept or decline invitations to participate in shared viewing groups; a payment module providing a mechanism on said website for customers to electronically pay a fee for viewing sessions transmitted by said viewing system that the customer has elected to receive; means for transmitting viewing sessions via the Internet at the scheduled date and time to customers who have paid the fee for the viewing sessions wherein, at the time of transmission, said viewing system dynamically replaces each of said placeholders with a relevant video item; and means for synchronizing transmission of viewing sessions among the customers in shared viewing groups while enabling interactive communication between the customers within the shared viewing groups via the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification