Methods for transmitting multimedia files and advertisements
First Claim
1. A method comprising transmitting in a streaming session from a server first streaming data to a data storage medium of a device having a multimedia player, the first streaming data comprising a first advertising-sponsored content portion and an associated first obligatory advertising portion, the first streaming data having a play sequence with the first obligatory advertising portion designated to precede the first advertising-sponsored content portion, upon the server detecting that the playing of all or part of the first obligatory advertising portion is attempting to be avoided by the multimedia player, the server sends to the device a message with data storage medium control information for the purpose of inhibiting the first advertising-sponsored content portion stored in the data storage medium from being played by the multimedia player;
- wherein the server maintains a time variable whose value is responsive to multimedia player navigation messages received in the server, the time variable capable of assuming a first value associated with a start time of the first obligatory advertising portion and a second value associated with an end time of the first obligatory advertising portion, the time variable being used by the server to determine when all or a part of the first obligatory advertising portion is attempting to be avoided by the multimedia player;
wherein the server determines that all or a part of the obligatory advertising portion is attempting to be avoided by the multimedia player upon receiving a fast-forward, skip, or like navigation message from the multimedia player when the time variable has a value between the first value and the second value; and
wherein the server inhibits the first advertising-sponsored content portion stored in the data storage medium from being played by the multimedia player by sending a message to the multimedia player indicating that the first advertising-sponsored content portion has expired.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one implementation a method of transmitting a file having an advertising portion and a requested portion different from the advertising portion is provided. The method includes receiving a request to transmit the file, via a streaming protocol allowing non-sequential access, transmitting the advertising portion of the file, receiving a request to transmit a portion of the requested portion of the file prior to completing transmitting the advertising portion of the file, completing the transmission of the advertising portion of the file, and transmitting the requested portion of the file. In another implementation a method of transmitting streaming data from a server to the data storage medium of a device having a multimedia player is provided. The streaming data having at least one advertising-sponsored content portion and at least one associated obligatory advertising portion. Upon the server determining that the playing of all or part of the obligatory advertising portion is attempting to be avoided by the multimedia player, the server sends to the multimedia player or device a message with data storage medium control information for the purpose of inhibiting the advertising-sponsored content portion stored in the data storage medium from being played by multimedia player.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method comprising transmitting in a streaming session from a server first streaming data to a data storage medium of a device having a multimedia player, the first streaming data comprising a first advertising-sponsored content portion and an associated first obligatory advertising portion, the first streaming data having a play sequence with the first obligatory advertising portion designated to precede the first advertising-sponsored content portion, upon the server detecting that the playing of all or part of the first obligatory advertising portion is attempting to be avoided by the multimedia player, the server sends to the device a message with data storage medium control information for the purpose of inhibiting the first advertising-sponsored content portion stored in the data storage medium from being played by the multimedia player;
- wherein the server maintains a time variable whose value is responsive to multimedia player navigation messages received in the server, the time variable capable of assuming a first value associated with a start time of the first obligatory advertising portion and a second value associated with an end time of the first obligatory advertising portion, the time variable being used by the server to determine when all or a part of the first obligatory advertising portion is attempting to be avoided by the multimedia player;
wherein the server determines that all or a part of the obligatory advertising portion is attempting to be avoided by the multimedia player upon receiving a fast-forward, skip, or like navigation message from the multimedia player when the time variable has a value between the first value and the second value; and
wherein the server inhibits the first advertising-sponsored content portion stored in the data storage medium from being played by the multimedia player by sending a message to the multimedia player indicating that the first advertising-sponsored content portion has expired. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- wherein the server maintains a time variable whose value is responsive to multimedia player navigation messages received in the server, the time variable capable of assuming a first value associated with a start time of the first obligatory advertising portion and a second value associated with an end time of the first obligatory advertising portion, the time variable being used by the server to determine when all or a part of the first obligatory advertising portion is attempting to be avoided by the multimedia player;
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14. A method comprising transmitting in a streaming session from a server first streaming data to a data storage medium of a device having a multimedia player, the first streaming data comprising a first advertising-sponsored content portion and an associated first obligatory advertising portion, the first streaming data having a play sequence with the first obligatory advertising portion designated to precede the first advertising-sponsored content portion when played by the multimedia player, the first obligatory advertising portion having a start time T1 and the first advertising-sponsored content portion having a start time T2, start time T1 and start time T2 each having an association with a normal play time of the obligatory advertising portion and advertising-sponsored content portion, respectively, when played by the multimedia player, the server maintaining a time variable that changes in response to multimedia player navigation messages received in the server so that the time variable maintains a known relationship with start time T1 and start time T2, the server maintaining a record derived from the time variable that comprises a value associated with the most advanced normal play time moment of the first streaming data by the multimedia player during the streaming session;
- wherein the server sends to the device a message with data storage medium control information for the purpose of inhibiting the first advertising-sponsored content portion stored in the data storage medium from being played in the multimedia player when the server receives a fast-forward, skip, or like navigation message when the time variable indicates a normal play time moment of the first streaming data that is before start time T2; and
wherein the message indicates that the first advertising-sponsored content portion has expired. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- wherein the server sends to the device a message with data storage medium control information for the purpose of inhibiting the first advertising-sponsored content portion stored in the data storage medium from being played in the multimedia player when the server receives a fast-forward, skip, or like navigation message when the time variable indicates a normal play time moment of the first streaming data that is before start time T2; and
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26. A method comprising:
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transmitting from a first server first streaming data to a data storage medium of a device having a multimedia player, the first streaming data comprising an advertising-sponsored content portion, transmitting from a second server second streaming data to the data storage medium, the second streaming data comprising an obligatory advertising portion associated with the advertising-sponsored content portion, the first server and/or second server communicating with the device using a communications protocol that enables the first server and/or the second server to regulate, at least in part, the accessibility of at least part of the data storage medium by the multimedia player; and upon detecting in the first server or the second server that the playing of all or part of the obligatory advertising portion is attempting to be avoided by the multimedia player, the first server or second server inhibits the advertising-sponsored content portion stored in the local memory from being played by the multimedia player;
wherein the second server maintains a time variable value that is responsive to multimedia player navigation messages received in the server, the time variable capable of assuming a first value associated with a start time of the first obligatory advertising portion and a second value associated with an end time of the first obligatory advertising portion, the time variable being used by the server to determine when all or a part of the first obligatory advertising portion is attempting to be avoided by the multimedia player when a navigation message from the multimedia player is received in the second server; and
wherein the first server or second server inhibits the advertising-sponsored content portion stored in the data storage medium from being played in the multimedia player by sending a message to the device indicating that the advertising-sponsored content portion has expired. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A method comprising transmitting in a streaming session from a server first streaming data to a data storage medium of a device having a multimedia player, the first streaming data comprising a first advertising-sponsored content portion and an associated first obligatory advertising portion, the first streaming data having a play sequence with the first obligatory advertising portion designated to precede the first advertising-sponsored content portion, upon the server detecting that the playing of all or part of the first obligatory advertising portion is attempting to be avoided by the multimedia player, the server sends to the device a message with data storage medium control information for the purpose of inhibiting the first advertising-sponsored content portion stored in the data storage medium from being played by the multimedia player;
- wherein the server maintains a time variable that is responsive to multimedia player navigation messages received in the server, the time variable capable of assuming a first value associated with a start time of the first obligatory advertising portion and a second value associated with the start time of the advertising-sponsored content portion, the time variable being used by the server to determine when all or a part of the first obligatory advertising portion is attempting to be avoided by the multimedia player; and
wherein the server inhibits the first advertising-sponsored content portion stored in the data storage medium from being played by the multimedia player by sending a message to the multimedia player indicating that the first advertising-sponsored content portion has expired.
- wherein the server maintains a time variable that is responsive to multimedia player navigation messages received in the server, the time variable capable of assuming a first value associated with a start time of the first obligatory advertising portion and a second value associated with the start time of the advertising-sponsored content portion, the time variable being used by the server to determine when all or a part of the first obligatory advertising portion is attempting to be avoided by the multimedia player; and
Specification