One click full-screen video system and method

• US 7,792,925 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2001
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Marusich, Daniel, Werner, Robert Douglas, Gilman, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): STRANGE, AARON N
• Application Number:
  US09/813,926
• Time in Patent Office: 3,458 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/206, 709/219, 709/231, 715/730, 715/732, 715/760, 715/779
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/70 of video data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/748 Hypervideo linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object in the context of video distribution systems H04N21/858
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/94 Hypermedia Hyperlinking G06F40/134
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• 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

The present invention provides a method and system for playing full-screen video on a user computer. The method includes displaying in the user interface at the user computer a web page containing at least one link to electronic video file, selecting the link to request the video file, downloading the video file to user computer in response to the request, detecting by the user computer receipt of the video file, opening in the user interface to window of the video player in full-screen mode in response to the detecting, and reading the video file by the player to play the video in the window. A feature of the present invention is that the video player may not have its preferences preset by the user to open in any particular mode. The mode in which the video player opens will be determined by the downloaded video file.

Claims

1. A method for playing full screen video on a user computer comprising:

displaying in a user interface at said user computer a web page containing at least one link to an electronic video file;

selecting said link to request said video file;

downloading said video file to said user computer in response to said request;

detecting by said user computer an initial receipt of said video file, wherein said detecting includes determining a display mode of the video file;

opening in said user interface a window of a video player in full screen mode in response to said detecting;

reading said video file by said player to play said video in said window;

encoding said video file with a header and a plurality of tracks; and

inserting plural instructions into a selected one of said tracks;

wherein said plural instructions are readable by said player so that said player displays information in response to the instructions,

wherein said inserting includes inserting a first instruction relating to additional video content, and displaying information in response to said first instruction which includes playing said additional video content within a viewing screen of said player prior to playing said video.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said detecting includes:

detecting, by a web browser, header information for said video file; and

launching, by said web browser, said player.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opening includes:

detecting, by said player, a flag in header information for said video file; and

opening said window in a mode indicated by said flag.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opening occurs absent user interaction.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said selecting includes:

sending a request from said user computer to a server at which said video file is locatable; and

in response to said request, downloading said video file from said server to said user computer.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reading occurs contemporaneously with said downloading.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 further comprising:

compressing said video file prior to said downloading; and

decompressing said video file contemporaneously with said reading.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising;

reading said instructions by said player; and

displaying in said window information associated with said instructions.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said inserting includes inserting a second instruction relating to at least one additional video, and displaying information in response to said second instruction which includes displaying a button for said additional video.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 further comprising downloading an additional video file corresponding to said additional video to said user computer in response to selecting said button.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said inserting includes inserting a third instruction relating to said video, and displaying information in response to said third instruction relating to said video which includes displaying a button for said video.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said button for said video and said button for said additional video each uniquely identify a respective one of said video and said additional video.

13. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein selecting any of said buttons plays said respective video for said selected button.

14. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inserting includes inserting a second instruction relating to a URL of a selected website, and displaying information in response to said second instruction which includes displaying a link to said website.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said displaying said link to said website includes displaying a hypertext link anchored to said URL.

16. The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said displaying said link to said website includes displaying an icon anchored to said URL.

17. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said displaying information in response to the instructions includes displaying a status indicator which includes displaying a continuously refreshable status bar.

18. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said displaying information in response to the instructions includes displaying a status indicator which includes displaying continuously refreshable hash marks.

19. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inserting includes inserting a second instruction relating to additional video content, and displaying information in response to said second instruction which includes displaying said additional content.

20. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opening includes generating in said window a viewing screen area and a border adjacent at least one edge of said viewing screen, said video being played in said viewing screen.

21. The method as set forth in claim 20 further comprising;

inserting a plurality of digitally encoded instructions into a selected one of said tracks;

reading said instructions by a handler program associated with said player; and

displaying selectively in an area of said viewing screen area and a border adjacent to at least one edge of said viewing screen area said information associated with said instructions.

22. The method as set forth in claim 21 wherein said inserting includes inserting a second instruction relating to a URL of a selected website, and displaying information in response to said second instruction which includes displaying a link to said website within said border.

23. The method as set forth in claim 22 wherein said displaying said link to said website includes displaying a hypertext link anchored to said URL.

24. The method as set forth in claim 22 wherein said displaying said link to said website includes displaying an icon anchored to said URL.

25. The method as set forth in claim 21 wherein said inserting includes inserting a second Instruction relating to a download status of said video, and displaying information in response to said second instruction which includes displaying at least one status indicator within said border.

26. The method as set forth in claim 25 wherein said displaying information in response to the instructions includes displaying a status indicator which includes displaying a continuously refreshable status bar.

27. The method as set forth in claim 25 wherein said displaying information in response to the instructions includes displaying a status indicator which includes displaying continuously refreshable hash marks.

28. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising buffering other ones of said tracks of said video file as it is being received at said user computer while playing said additional content from said selected one of said tracks within said viewing screen.

29. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

reading said plural instructions through a handler program associated with said player; and

monitoring, selectively, a download of said video file in accordance with said plural instructions.

30. The method as set forth in claim 29 wherein said instructions relate to the display size of said video within said window.

31. The method as set forth in claim 29 wherein said instructions relate to download management of said video file.

32. An apparatus in a computer network having a server, at least one web page accessible through said server and a user computer programmed with browser software to display a copy of said web page when connected to said server, the apparatus comprising:

a video file having a header, said header having a mode flag, said video file being identified by a link in said web page, said server downloading said video file to said user computer in response to selection of said link, said browser software detecting said header; and

a video player executable in said user computer, said player being launched in response to said browser detecting said header to receive said video file during downloading thereof, said video player opening in a mode indicated by said mode flag,

wherein said video file is encoded with a plurality of tracks, a selected one of said tracks containing instructions readable by said player,

wherein one of said instructions is a first instruction relating to additional video content, said player in response to said first instruction displaying said additional content, and

wherein said player plays said additional video content within said viewing screen area prior to playing said video.

33. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said mode is a full screen mode.

34. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said video player opening occurs absent user interaction.

35. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said browser software sends a request from said user computer to said server at which said video file is locatable, and in response to said request, said server downloads said video file to said user computer.

36. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said video player reads said video file contemporaneously with said video file being downloaded.

37. The apparatus as set forth in claim 36 wherein when said video file is compressed, said player decompressing said video file contemporaneously with reading said file.

38. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said link is an icon anchored to said URL.

39. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said player displays a status indicator that includes a continuously refreshable status bar.

40. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said player displays a status indicator that includes continuously refreshable hash marks.

41. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said player displays a window that includes a viewing screen area and a border adjacent at least one edge of said viewing screen area, said video being played in said viewing screen area.

42. The apparatus as set forth in claim 41 wherein said instructions are digitally encoded, said player having a handler program to read said instructions said player displaying selectively in said viewing screen area and a border adjacent at least one edge of said viewing screen area, said information associated with said instructions.

43. The apparatus as set forth in claim 42 wherein one of said instructions is a second instruction relating to a URL of a selected website, said player in response to said second instruction displaying a link to said website within said border.

44. The apparatus as set forth in claim 43 wherein said link is a hypertext link anchored to said URL.

45. The apparatus as set forth in claim 43 wherein said link is an icon anchored to said URL.

46. The apparatus as set forth in claim 42 wherein said one of said instructions is a second instruction relating to a download status of said video file, said player in response to said second instruction displaying at least one status indicator within said border.

47. The apparatus as set forth in claim 46 wherein said status indicator is a continuously refreshable status bar.

48. The apparatus as set forth in claim 46 wherein said status indicator is continuously refreshable hash marks.

49. The apparatus as set forth in claim 42 wherein said one of said instructions is a second instruction relating to additional video content, and said player in response to said second instruction playing said additional video content within said viewing screen area.

50. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said player buffers other ones of said tracks of said video file as it is being received at said user computer while playing said additional content from said selected one of said tracks within said viewing screen.

51. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said one of said instructions is a second instruction relating to at least one additional video, said player in response to said second instruction displaying a button for said additional video.

52. The apparatus as set forth in claim 51 wherein an additional video file corresponding to said additional video is downloaded to said user computer in response to selecting said button.

53. The apparatus as set forth in claim 52 wherein one of said instructions is a third instruction relating to said video, said player in response to said third instruction relating to said video displaying a button for said video.

54. The apparatus as set forth in claim 53 wherein said button for said video and said button for said additional video each uniquely identify a respective one of said video and said additional video.

55. The apparatus as set forth in claim 53 wherein selecting any of said buttons plays said respective video for said selected button.

56. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said selected one of said tracks having instructions readable by a handler program associated with said player, said handler program monitoring selectively download of said video file in accordance with said instructions.

57. The apparatus as set forth in claim 56 wherein said instructions relate to a display size of said video within said window.

58. The apparatus as set forth in claim 56 wherein said instructions relate to download management of said video file.

59. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32,

wherein one of said instructions is a second instruction relating to a download status of said video file, said player displaying at least one status indicator in response to said one of said instructions.

60. The apparatus as set forth in claim 59 wherein said player displaying in a window of said viewing screen area, information associated with said instructions.

61. The apparatus as set forth in claim 60 wherein one of said instructions is a second instruction relating to a URL of a selected website, said player displaying a link to said website in response to said second instruction.

62. The apparatus as set forth in claim 61 wherein said link is a hypertext link anchored to said URL.

63. An apparatus for playing full screen video on a user computer comprising:

means for displaying in a user interface at said user computer a web page containing at least one link to an electronic video file;

means for selecting said link to request said video file;

means for downloading said video file to said user computer in response to said request;

means for detecting by said user computer an initial receipt of said video file and determining a display mode of the video file;

means for opening in said user interface a window of a video player in full screen mode in response to said detecting; and

means for reading said video file by said player to play said video in said window,

wherein said video file is encoded with a plurality of tracks, one of said tracks having instructions,

wherein one of said instructions is a first instruction relating to additional video content, said player in response to said first instruction displaying said additional video content, and

wherein said player plays said additional video content within a viewing screen area prior to playing said video.

64. The apparatus as set forth in claim 63 wherein said detecting means includes:

a web browser to detect header information for said video file, said player being launched by said web browser.

65. The apparatus as set forth in claim 63 wherein said opening means occurs absent user interaction.

66. The apparatus as set forth in claim 64 wherein said opening means includes:

a flag in header information for said video file detectable by said player, said player opening said window in the display mode indicated by said flag.

67. The apparatus as set forth in claim 63 wherein said selecting means includes a web browser to send a request from said user computer to a server at which said video file is locatable, in response to said request, said video file being downloaded from said server to said user computer.

68. The apparatus as set forth in claim 63 wherein said reading means reads said video file contemporaneously with said video file being downloaded.

69. The apparatus as set forth in claim 68 wherein when said video file is compressed prior to said video file being downloaded, said player decompressing said video file contemporaneously with reading said video file.

70. The apparatus as set forth in claim 63 wherein one of said instructions is a second instruction relating to a URL of a selected website, said player in response to said one of said second instructions displaying a link to said website.

71. The apparatus as set forth in claim 63 wherein said link to said website is a hypertext link anchored to said URL.

72. The apparatus as set forth in claim 63 wherein said link to said website is an icon anchored to said URL.

73. The apparatus as set forth in claim 63 one of said instructions is a second instruction relating to a download status of said video file, said player in response to said second instruction displaying at least one status indicator, wherein said status indicator is a continuously refreshable status bar.

74. The apparatus as set forth in claim 63 one of said instructions is a second instruction relating to a download status of said video file, said player in response to said second instruction displaying at least one status indicator, wherein said status indicator includes continuously refreshable hash marks.

75. The apparatus as set forth in claim 63 wherein said window includes a viewing screen area and a border adjacent at least one edge of said viewing screen area, said video being played in said viewing screen area.

76. The apparatus as set forth in claim 75 wherein one of said tracks includes a plurality of instructions that are digitally encoded, said player having a handler program to read said instructions to display selectively in said viewing screen area and said border adjacent at least one edge of said viewing, screen area said information associated with said instructions.

77. The apparatus as set forth in claim 76 wherein one of said instructions is a second instruction relating to a URL of a selected website, said player in response to said second instruction displaying a link to said website within said border.

78. The apparatus as set forth in claim 77 wherein said link to said website is a hypertext link anchored to said URL.

79. The apparatus as set forth in claim 77 wherein said link to said website is an icon anchored to said URL.

80. The apparatus as set forth in claim 76 wherein one of said instructions is a second instruction relating to a download status of said video, said player in response to said second instruction displaying at least one status indicator within said border.

81. The apparatus as set forth in claim 80 wherein said status indicator is a continuously refreshable status bar.

82. The apparatus as set forth in claim 80 wherein said status indicator includes continuously refreshable hash marks.

83. The apparatus as set forth in claim 63 wherein said player buffers other ones of said tracks of said video file as it is being received at said user computer while playing said additional content from said selected one of said tracks within said viewing screen area.

84. The apparatus as set forth in claim 63 wherein one of said instructions is a second instruction relating to at least one additional video, and displaying information in response to said second instruction includes displaying a button for said additional video.

85. The apparatus as set forth in claim 84 wherein an additional video file corresponding to said at least one additional video is downloaded to said user computer in response to selecting said button.

86. The apparatus as set forth in claim 85 wherein one of said instructions is a third instruction relating to said video, and displaying information in response to said third instruction includes relating to said video displaying a button for said video.

87. The apparatus as set forth in claim 86 wherein said button for said video and said button for said additional video each uniquely identify a respective one of said video and said additional video.

88. The apparatus as set forth in claim 86 wherein selecting any of said buttons plays said respective video for said selected button.

89. The apparatus as set forth in claim 63 wherein, said player including a handler program to read said instructions, said handler program monitoring selectively download of said video file in accordance with said instructions.

90. The apparatus as set forth in claim 89 wherein said instructions relate to a display size of said video within said window.

91. The apparatus as set forth in claim 89 wherein said instructions relate to download management of said video file.

92. The apparatus as set forth in claim 63,

wherein one of said instructions is a second instruction relating to a download status of said video file, said player in response to said second instruction displaying at least one status indicator.

93. The apparatus as set forth in claim 92, said player reading said instructions to display in said window information associated with said instructions.

105. The medium as set forth in claim 92 wherein displaying said status indicator includes displaying a continuously refreshable status bar.

94. A computer readable medium containing programming which when executed performs the following procedures comprising:

displaying in a user interface at said user computer a web page containing at least one link to an electronic video file;

selecting said link to request said video file;

downloading said video file to said user computer in response to said request;

detecting by said user computer an initial receipt of said video file, wherein said detecting includes determining a display mode of the video file;

opening in said user interface, a window of a video player in full screen mode in response to said detecting;

reading said video file by said player to play a video in said window,

wherein said video file is encoded with a plurality of tracks, one of said tracks having instructions,

wherein one of said instructions is a first instruction relating to additional video content, said player in response to said first instruction displaying said additional video content, and

wherein said player plays said additional video content within a viewing screen area at said window prior to playing said video.

95. The medium as set forth in claim 94 wherein said detecting procedure includes:

detecting by a web browser header information for said video file; and

launching said player through said web browser.

96. The medium as set forth in claim 95 wherein said opening procedure includes:

detecting by said player a flag in said header information for said video file; and

opening said window in the display mode indicated by said flag.

97. The medium as set forth in claim 94 wherein said opening procedure occurs absent user interaction.

98. The medium as set forth in claim 94 wherein said selecting procedure includes:

sending a request from said user computer to a server at which said video file is locatable; and

in response to said request, downloading said video file from said server to said user computer.

99. The medium as set forth in claim 94 wherein said reading occurs contemporaneously with said downloading.

100. The medium as set forth in claim 99 further comprising procedures of:

compressing said video file prior to said downloading; and

decompressing said video file contemporaneously with said reading.

101. The medium as set forth in claim 94 further comprising procedures of:

reading said instructions by said player; and

displaying in said window information associated with said instructions.

102. The medium as set forth in claim 101 wherein said inserting procedure includes inserting a second instruction relating to a URL of a selected website, said displaying in response to said second instruction includes displaying a link to said website.

103. The medium as set forth in claim 102 wherein said displaying said link to said website includes displaying a hypertext link anchored to said URL.

104. The medium as set forth in claim 102 wherein said displaying said link to said website includes displaying an icon anchored to said URL.

106. The medium as set forth in claim 94 wherein displaying said status indicator includes displaying continuously refreshable hash marks.

107. The medium as set forth in claim 94 wherein said inserting procedure includes inserting a second instruction relating to additional video content, and a displaying procedure in response to said second instruction includes displaying said additional content.

108. The medium as set forth in claim 94 wherein said opening procedure includes generating in said window a viewing screen area and a border adjacent at least one edge of said viewing screen area, said video being played in said viewing screen area.

109. The medium as set forth in claim 108, wherein said instructions are digitally encoded, the medium further comprising procedures of:

reading said instructions by a handler program associated with said player; and

displaying selectively in said viewing screen area and said border adjacent at least one edge of said viewing screen area said information associated with said instructions.

110. The medium as set forth in claim 109 wherein said inserting procedure includes inserting a second instruction relating to a URL of a selected website, and a displaying procedure in response to said second instruction includes displaying a link to said website within said border.

111. The medium as set forth in claim 110 wherein displaying said link to said website includes displaying a hypertext link anchored to said URL.

112. The medium as set forth in claim 110 wherein displaying said link to said website includes displaying an icon anchored to said URL.

113. The medium as set forth in claim 107 wherein said inserting procedure includes inserting a second instruction relating to a download status of said video, and a displaying procedure in response to said second instruction includes displaying at least one status indicator within said border.

114. The medium as set forth in claim 113 wherein displaying said status indicator includes displaying a continuously refreshable status bar.

115. The medium as set forth in claim 113 wherein displaying said status indicator includes displaying continuously refreshable hash marks.

116. The medium as set forth in claim 109 wherein said inserting procedure includes inserting a second instruction relating to additional video content, and a displaying procedure in response to said second instruction includes playing said additional video content within said viewing screen.

117. The medium as set forth in claim 94 further comprising a procedure of buffering other ones of said tracks of said video file as it is being received at said user computer while playing said additional content from said selected one of said tracks within said viewing screen.

118. The medium as set forth in claim 110 wherein said inserting procedure includes inserting a third instruction relating to at least one additional video, and a displaying procedure in response to said third instruction includes displaying a button for said additional video.

119. The medium as set forth in claim 118 further comprising a procedure of downloading an additional video file corresponding to said additional video to said user computer in response to selecting said button.

120. The medium as set forth in claim 119 wherein said inserting procedure includes inserting a fourth instruction relating to said video, and a displaying procedure in response to said fourth instruction relating to said video includes displaying a button for said video.

121. The medium as set forth in claim 120 wherein said button for said video and said button for said additional video each uniquely identify a respective one of said video and said additional video.

122. The medium as set forth in claim 120 wherein selecting any of said buttons plays said respective video for said selected button.

123. The medium as set forth in claim 94 further comprising procedures of:

reading said instructions by a handler program associated with said player; and

monitoring selectively a download of said video file in accordance with said instructions.

124. The medium as set forth in claim 123 wherein said instructions relate to a display size of said video within said window.

125. The medium as set forth in claim 123 wherein said instructions relate to download management of said video file.

126. The medium as set forth in claim 94, further comprising:

wherein one of said instructions is a second instruction relating to a download status of said video, said player in response to said second instruction displaying at least one status indicator.

127. An apparatus in a computer network having a server, at least one web page accessible through said server and a user computer programmed with browser software to display a copy of said at least one web page when connected to said server, the apparatus comprising:

a video file having a header and plural tracks, each of said tracks having instructions that are readable so that information in response to the instructions is displayed, said header having a mode flag, said video file being identified by a link in said web page, said web server downloading said video file to said user computer in response to selection of said link, said browser software detecting said header, wherein a first instruction of said instructions relates to additional video content; and

a video player executable in said user computer, said player being launched in response to said browser and detecting said header to receive said video file during downloading thereof, said video player opening in a mode indicated by said mode flag, wherein said video player plays said additional video content within a viewing area prior to playing said video.