Customizing Streaming Content Presentation

• US 20110265113A1
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: McDowell, Brian C., Weinberg, Mark J., Malabuyo, Paolo V., Apfel, Darren A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,667,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43074 of additional data with content streams on the same device, e.g. of EPG data or interactive icon with a TV program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/025 Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088

Abstract

Streaming content customization techniques are described. In an implementation, metadata, that is associated with an element, is synchronized with a stream of content that includes the element. The element is configured to accept an input to access related content that provides context for a scene that includes the element. After the related content is output, playback of the stream of content is resumed from the point at which the input was accepted to access the related content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

synchronizing metadata, that is associated with an element, with a stream of content that includes the element, wherein the element is configured to accept an input to access related content that provides context for a scene that includes the element; and

resuming output of the stream of content, after output of the related content, from a point during playback of the stream of content at which an input was accepted to access the related content.

2. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising providing an interface layer that is configured to receive the input to access the related content.

3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the stream of content is obtained from one or more of a cable television system, an online content system, a satellite, an on-demand video system, a digital video disk, or stored in memory.

4. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the related content comprises a flashback.

5. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the related content is included in the stream of content.

6. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the related content is associated with the element by a link included in the metadata.

7. A system comprising:

an interface module configured to receive an input directed to an element that is included in a stream of content to control to which output device the stream of content is to be directed; and

an output module configured to output a portion of the stream of content to an auxiliary output device responsive to receipt of an input, wherein the output module is configured to synchronize the output of the portion of the stream of content with output of at least one other portion of the stream of content to a primary output device.

8. The system as described in claim 7, wherein the portion of the stream of content is not scheduled to be output by the primary output device.

9. The system as described in claim 7, wherein the output module is configured to communicate with a server to provide the portion of the stream content to the auxiliary output device.

10. The system as described in claim 9, wherein the output module is configured to provide a short message service (SMS) number associated with the auxiliary output device to the server.

11. The system as described in claim 7, wherein the auxiliary output device comprises one or more of a mobile phone or a computing system.

12. The system as described in claim 7, wherein the portion of the stream of content comprises audio for a telephone conversation.

13. The system as described in claim 7, wherein the system comprises one or more of a cable television receiver, an online content system, a video game console, a satellite receiver, or a video console.

14. One or more computer-readable media comprising instructions, that responsive to being executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to:

synchronize metadata associated with an element, which is configured to accept an input, with a stream of content that includes the element, wherein the element is configured to control from what perspective the stream of content is to be output; and

output the stream of content from a perspective, responsive to receipt of an input that interacts with the element to select the perspective.

15. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 14, wherein the perspective comprises one or more of a visual perspective from which the stream of content is to be presented.

16. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 14, wherein the perspective comprises one or more of a visual or an audio perspective for a character represented in the stream of content.

17. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 14, wherein the instructions are further executable to cause the computing system to provide an interface layer to receive the input directed to the element.

18. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 14, wherein the stream of content comprises an audio-visual program.

19. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 14, wherein the stream of content comprises one or more of a movie, a television show, or a webcast.

20. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 14, wherein the perspective comprises a camera angle represented in the stream of content.