INTERACTIVE VIDEO

• US 20130097643A1
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Stone, Brian, Johnson, Jerry, White, Matthew, Atkins, Joshua Whitney Samuels
• Application Number:
  US13/275,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20130097643A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/61
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/47 involving branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible scenarios at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/632 by branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible story developments at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8541 involving branching, e.g. to different story endings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 involving timestamps for synchronizing content

Abstract

Embodiments are disclosed that relate to providing an interactive video viewing experience. For example, one disclosed embodiment includes receiving an interactive video program that comprises a first video segment and one or more branch video segments that each corresponds to a branch along a decision path. The method includes pre-buffering a transition portion of a corresponding branch video segment for each possible user input of one or more possible user inputs along the decision path. The method includes sending the first video segment to a display device and, based upon an actual user input, branching from the first video segment to a transition portion of a branch video segment that corresponds to the actual user input.

Claims

1. In a computing device, a method of providing an interactive video viewing experience, the method comprising:

receiving an interactive video program comprising a first video segment, and also comprising one or more branch video segments that each corresponds to a branch along a decision path of the interactive video program;

for each possible user input of a set of one or more possible user inputs along the decision path, pre-buffering a transition portion of a corresponding branch video segment;

sending the first video segment to a display device; and

based upon an actual user input received that corresponds to a selected possible input from the set of one or more possible user inputs, branching from the first video segment to a transition portion of a branch video segment that corresponds to the actual user input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the corresponding branch video segments that includes a pre-buffered transition portion occurs within a node depth of the decision path.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a size of the transition portion of each of the corresponding branch video segments based upon a number of the possible user inputs along the decision path.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the actual user input comprises inaction.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the actual user input matches a target input, then branching from the first video segment to a transition portion of a first target input branch video segment; and

if the actual user input does not match the target input, then branching from the first video segment to a transition portion of a second target input branch video segment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the actual user action comprises a gesture performed by the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein if the gesture comprises a first gesture variation, then the method further comprising branching from the first video segment to a transition portion of a first gesture variation branch video segment;

and

if the gesture comprises a second gesture variation, then the method further comprising branching from the first video segment to a transition portion of a second gesture variation branch video segment.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving input from a user input device that senses the actual user input.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the user input device comprises a depth sensor.

10. In a computing device, a method of providing an interactive video viewing experience, the method comprising:

receiving a first digital video layer and a second digital video layer, the second digital video layer being complimentary to the first digital video layer;

receiving metadata that comprises blending information for blending the second digital video layer with the first digital video layer based upon a possible user input;

sending the first digital video layer to a display device;

receiving an actual user input;

based upon the actual user input, rendering a composite frame of image data in a manner specified by the metadata, the composite frame of image data comprising data from a frame of the second digital video layer that is blended with data from a frame of the first digital video layer; and

sending the composite frame of image data to the display device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising synchronizing the first digital video layer, the second digital video layer and the metadata.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein first digital video layer comprises pre-recorded linear video.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving one or more additional digital video layers, each of the additional digital video layers being complimentary to the first digital video layer;

receiving metadata that comprises blending information for blending a selected additional digital video layer from the one or more additional digital video layers with the first digital video layer based upon the actual user input; and

wherein the composite frame of image data comprises data from a frame of the selected additional digital video layer that is blended with data from a frame of the first digital video layer.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the second digital video layer comprises one or more of first additional content and a link to second additional content.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein an element in the second digital video layer comprises a visual effect applied to an element in the first digital video layer.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the blending information of the metadata comprises one or more of information related to a user position, information related to a blending effect, information related to a timing of a user action, and information related to variations of the user action.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the actual user input comprises user inaction.

18. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon and executable by a computing device to provide an interactive video viewing experience, the instructions being executable to:

receive a first digital video layer;

receive a second digital video layer that is complimentary to the first digital video layer;

receive metadata defining how to render a composite frame of image data based upon a user input received at a user input device, the composite frame of image data comprising data from a frame of the second digital video layer that is blended with data from a frame of the first digital video layer;

render the composite frame of image data; and

provide the composite frame of image data to a display device.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions are executable by the computing device to synchronize the first digital video layer, the second digital video layer and the metadata.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions are executable by the computing device to:

receive one or more additional digital video layers, each of the additional digital video layers being complimentary to the first digital video layer;

receive metadata that comprises blending information for blending a selected additional digital video layer from the one or more additional digital video layers with the first digital video layer based upon the actual user input; and

wherein the composite frame of image data comprises data from a frame of the selected additional digital video layer that is blended with data from a frame of the first digital video layer.