Method and apparatus for browsing using alternative linkbases

• US 7,987,491 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Convergent Media Solutions LLC (Strategic Intellectual Solutions, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Teleshuttle Tech2 LLC
• Inventors: Reisman, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry, Hunter B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Sumaiya A
• Application Number:
  US10/434,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20040031058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,001 Days
• Field of Search: 725/51, 725/86, 725/112, 725/113, 725/25, 725/40
• US Class Current: 725/112
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/15 Synchronised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/426 Receiver side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2358 for generating different versions, e.g. for different recipient devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25 Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 : embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 : Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 : User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• 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 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4358 : for generating different versions, e.g. for different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440263 : by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 : Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 : for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47208 : for requesting near-video-on-demand content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 : involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 : Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/85 : Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 : using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• 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 21/8583 : by creating hot-spots
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods for navigating hypermedia using multiple coordinated input/output device sets. Disclosed systems and methods allow a user and/or an author to control what resources are presented on which device sets (whether they are integrated or not), and provide for coordinating browsing activities to enable such a user interface to be employed across multiple independent systems. Disclosed systems and methods also support new and enriched aspects and applications of hypermedia browsing and related business activities.

Claims

1. A method of supporting browsing implemented by a programmed computer system, comprising:

the programmed computer system determining program context parameters including an identity of a program being presented on a device set and an identified time position in the program;

based at least in part on the determined program context parameters the programmed computer system determining a plurality of third-party links wherein the links are determined to relate to the program and are not distributed with the program;

the programmed computer system determining whether a user is entitled to access the plurality of third-party links;

the programmed computer system granting to the user access to the plurality of third-party links-in the event it is determined that the user is entitled to access-the plurality of third-party links; and

the programmed computer system denying the user access to the plurality of third-party links in the event it is determined that the user is not entitled to access the plurality of third-party links, wherein the entitlement of the user to access the plurality of third-party links is independent of an entitlement of the user to access the program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the starting resource is a continuous media resource.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the continuous media resource comprises video.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the video comprises broadcast video.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the video is presented by a video player at a premises of the user.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the video is sourced from a file at a premises of the user.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the video is streamed from a remote location.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the continuous media resource comprises audio.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the audio comprises music.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of third-party links point to respective ending resources that comprise enhancement content related to the starting resource.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the starting resource comprises a video presentation that includes a sequence of moving images at least one of which includes a user-specifiable image region; and

at least one of the plurality of third-party links points to an ending resource that enables an e-commerce function that facilitates the purchase of a particular item that is shown in the user-specifiable image region in response to a user action specifying the user-specifiable image region.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of third party links are independently determined to refer to the starting resource without cooperation of a provider or distributor of the starting resource.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of third party links are independently determined to refer to the starting resource through a lookup based on identification of the starting resource through the use of a member of the group consisting of an audio recognition technique, a video recognition technique, a recognition of a vertical blanking interval coding or other coding included within a video broadcast signal, a receipt of one or more remote control commands, and a reference to a program identifier or object identifier or item identifier that is distributed with the starting resource.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of third party links are independently determined to refer to the starting resource through a lookup based on an identification of the starting resource using an audio recognition technique.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of third party links are independently determined to refer to the starting resource through a lookup based on an identification of the starting resource using a video recognition technique.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of third party links are independently determined to refer to the starting resource through a lookup based on an identification of the starting resource using a member of a group consisting of a program identifier, an object identifier, and an item identifier.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the programmed computer system includes a first device set, the starting resource is presented on the first device set, and the plurality of third party links are independently determined to refer to the starting resource in response to receipt of commands from a remote control device.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the starting resource is presented on a first device set, and the plurality of third party links are independently determined to refer to the starting resource in response to commands received from a second device set.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a first device set includes a video display and the starting resource comprises video displayed on the video display.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second device set comprises a handheld device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of third party links are independently determined to refer to the starting resource through a lookup based on an identification of the starting resource using an audio recognition technique.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of third party links are independently determined to refer to the starting resource through a lookup based on an identification of the starting resource using a video recognition technique.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of third party links are independently determined to refer to the starting resource through a lookup based on an identification of the starting resource using an audio recognition technique based upon commands remotely received from the handheld device.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of third party links are independently determined to refer to the starting resource through a lookup based on an identification of the starting resource using a video recognition technique based upon commands remotely received from the handheld device.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein an ending resource corresponding to at least one of the plurality of third party links is presented on the second device set.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of third party links includes a link to a portal service that facilitates communications amongst a plurality of users of the portal service.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the plurality of users of the portal service comprise a community of users that communicate with one another regarding topics relevant to the starting resource.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the portal service comprises a social networking site.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the community is self-organizing and self-selecting.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the community is self-organizing and self-selecting.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the starting resource is a continuous media resource that includes video, and the plurality of third party links includes a link to a portal service that facilitates communications amongst a plurality of users of the portal service that are determined to be currently viewing the video.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the video is displayed on a video display of a first device set, and an ending resource corresponding to one of the third-party links is displayed on a display of a second device set.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the ending resource comprises a communication received from one of the plurality of users of the portal service that are determined to be currently viewing the video, and the ending resource is determined without cooperation of a provider or distributor of the starting resource.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the communication comprises an instant message.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the communication comprises a chat message.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the communication comprises a comment, posting, remark, opinion, rating, or evaluation of the video being currently viewed, originated by one of the plurality of the users of the portal service.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the one of the plurality of the users of the portal service is a buddy of a user of the second device set.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the one of the plurality of the users of the portal service is authorized by a user of the second device set to communicate with the user of the second device set.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the communication comprises a weblog.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the portal service comprises a social networking service.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the plurality of users of the portal service that are determined to be currently viewing the video include a subset of users who are authorized by a user of the second device set to communicate with the user of the second device set.

42. The method of claim 1, wherein the starting resource is presented on a first device set, and an ending resource corresponding to one of the third-party links is presented on a second device set.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the ending resource is determined without cooperation of a provider or distributor of the starting resource.

44. A method of supporting browsing implemented by a programmed computer system, and for use in a system in which a starting resource is presented on a first device set, the method comprising:

the programmed computer system determining program context parameters including an identity of the presented starting resource and an identified time position in the presented starting resource;

based at least in part on the determined program context parameters the programmed computer system enabling selection of at least one of a plurality of alternative linkbases that is not distributed with the starting resource, wherein the plurality of the alternative linkbases each include a plurality of links and are independently determined to refer to the starting resource without cooperation of a provider or distributor of the starting resource; and

the programmed computer system enabling actuation of a selected one or more of the plurality of the links included in the selected at least one of the plurality of alternative linkbases to enable presentation of an ending resource on a second device set during a presentation of the starting resource on the first device set, wherein the ending resource presented on the second device set corresponds to a particular selected link that is actuated.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the programmed computer system includes a remote server system, and the enabling selection and the enabling actuation are both implemented on the remote server system accessible to the second device set via a network connection thereto.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the programmed computer system includes the second device set, and the enabling selection and the enabling actuation are both implemented on the second device set.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the programmed computer system includes a remote server system and the second device set, and the enabling selection is implemented on the second device set and the enabling actuation is implemented on the remote server system accessible to the second device set via a network connection thereto.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the particular selected link that is actuated points to an ending resource that provides enhancement content related to the starting resource.

49. The method of claim 44, wherein the second device set includes a plurality of operatively coupled component devices.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the plurality of operatively coupled component devices are located in local proximity to one another at a user'"'"'s premises.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the plurality of operatively coupled component devices are operatively coupled to one another via any one or more members of a group consisting of a wired local area network, a wireless local area network, a wired connection, and a wireless connection.

52. The method of claim 44, wherein at least two of the plurality of alternative linkbases are independently synchronizable with the presentation of the starting resource without the cooperation of the provider or distributor of the starting resource.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising providing a primary linkbase with the cooperation of the provider or distributor of the starting resource.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the primary linkbase is synchronizable with the presentation of the starting resource with the cooperation of the provider or distributor of the starting resource.

55. The method of claim 44, further comprising the programmed computer system providing a primary linkbase with the cooperation of the provider or distributor of the starting resource.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

the programmed computer system receiving from a user a user selection of one of the plurality of alternative linkbases to identify a user-selected alternative linkbase; and

the programmed computer system providing to the user access to both a first set of links drawn from the primary linkbase and a second set of links drawn from the user-selected alternative linkbase.

57. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

the programmed computer system receiving from a user a user selection of one of the plurality of alternative linkbases to identify a user-selected alternative linkbase; and

the programmed computer system providing to the user access to a first set of links drawn from the user-selected alternative linkbase while not providing to the user access to a second set of links drawn from the primary linkbase.

58. The method of claim 44, wherein the starting resource is a continuous media resource.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein at least two of the plurality of alternative linkbases are independently synchronizable with the presentation of the starting resource without the cooperation of the provider or distributor of the starting resource.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the continuous media resource comprises video.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the video comprises broadcast video.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the video comprises a movie.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein the video comprises analog or digital video presented by a media player located at a premises of a user.

64. The method of claim 60, wherein the video is sourced from a file at a premises of a user.

65. The method of claim 60, wherein the video is streamed from a remote location.

66. The method of claim 58, wherein the continuous media resource comprises music.

67. The method of claim 58, wherein the continuous media resource comprises an audio file.

68. The method of claim 44, wherein:

the starting resource comprises a video presentation that includes a sequence of moving images at least one of which includes a user-specifiable image region; and

the particular selected link that is actuated points to an ending resource that enables an e-commerce function that facilitates the purchase of a particular item that is shown in the user-specifiable image region.

69. The method of claim 44, wherein at least two of the plurality of alternative linkbases are independently determined to refer to the starting resource through a lookup based on an identification of the starting resource through the use of a member of the group consisting of an audio recognition technique, a video recognition technique, a recognition of a vertical blanking interval coding or other coding included with a video broadcast signal, a receipt of one or more remote control commands, and a reference to a program identifier or object identifier or item identifier that is distributed with the starting resource.

70. The method of claim 44, wherein the starting resource is a continuous media resource, at least a subset of the plurality of links included within the selected one of the alternative linkbases are transmitted from a remote source to the second device set over time, as a stream that is at least approximately synchronized with the presentation of the starting resource on the first device set, whereby at least one of respective ending resources corresponding to a respective one(s) of the thusly transmitted links are received and presented on the second device set in at least approximate synchronization with the presentation of the starting resource on the first device set as defined by a respective starting resource time scope(s) contained in a respective one(s) of the respective one(s) of the thusly transmitted links.

71. The method of claim 44, wherein the starting resource is a continuous media resource, at least a subset of the plurality of links included within the selected one of the alternative linkbases are transmitted from a remote source to the second device set over time, as a stream that is at least approximately synchronized with the presentation of the starting resource on the first device set, whereby at least one of the thusly transmitted links are received and presented for elective user actuation on the second device set in at least approximate synchronization with the presentation of the starting resource on the first device set as defined by a starting resource time scope(s) contained in a respective one(s) of the at least one of the thusly transmitted links.

72. The method of claim 44, wherein the starting resource is a continuous media resource, at least a subset of the plurality of links included within the selected one of the alternative linkbases are transmitted asynchronously with respect to the presentation of the continuous media resource on the first device set, whereby the thusly asynchronously transmitted links are received prior to respective ones of the thusly asynchronously transmitted links'"'"' time scopes during the presentation of the continuous media resource to which respective ending resources are intended to be synchronized, but at least one of the respective ending resources corresponding to the thusly asynchronously transmitted links are presented on the second device set in at least approximate synchronization with the presentation of the starting resource on the first device set as defined by a starting resource time scope contained in a respective one(s) of the thusly asynchronously transmitted link(s) corresponding to the at least one of the respective ending resources.

73. The method of claim 44, wherein the starting resource is a continuous media resource, at least a subset of the plurality of links included in the selected one of the alternative linkbases are transmitted asynchronously with respect to the presentation of the continuous media resource on the first device set, whereby the thusly asynchronously transmitted links are received prior to respective ones of the thusly asynchronously transmitted links'"'"' time scopes during the presentation of the continuous media resource to which respective ending resources are intended to be synchronized, but at least one of the thusly asynchronously transmitted links are presented for elective user actuation on the second device set in at least approximate synchronization with the presentation of the starting resource on the first device set as defined by a starting resource time scope(s) contained in a respective one(s) of the at least one of the thusly transmitted links.

74. The method of claim 44, wherein the starting resource is a continuous media resource, and at least a subset of the plurality of links included in the selected one of the alternative linkbases are actuated automatically without individual-link user selection in such a manner as to result in the presentation on the second device set of respective ending resources indicated by the thusly automatically actuated links while the continuous media resource is presented on the first device set.

75. The method of claim 44, wherein the starting resource is a continuous media resource, and at least a subset of the plurality of links included in the selected one of the alternative linkbases are presented to a user for actuation, and respective ending resources indicated by the thusly-presented links are presented on the second device set only upon actuation by the user.

76. The method of claim 44, wherein a selection of the selected one of the plurality of alternative linkbase causes a set of links of a primary linkbase to become disabled with respect to a user.

77. The method of claim 44, wherein the enabling selection enables selection of a first alternative linkbase among a choice of at least the first alternative linkbase and a second alternative linkbase, and the selection is made by a user.

78. The method of claim 44, wherein the enabling selection enables selection of a first alternative linkbase among a choice of at least the first alternative linkbase and a second alternative linkbase, and the selection is made automatically by the programmed computer system responsive to information contained in a user profile associated with a user of the second device set.

79. The method of claim 44, wherein a selection of the selected one of a plurality of alternative linkbases is made automatically in accordance with a preconfigured policy.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the starting resource is selected from a plurality of classes of starting resources, and the preconfigured policy is applicable to a specified class of the plurality of classes of starting resources.

81. The method of claim 79, wherein the preconfigured policy is set by a user of the first and second device sets.

82. The method of claim 44, wherein at least two of the plurality of alternative linkbases are independently determined to refer to the starting resource through a lookup based on an identification of the starting resource using an audio recognition technique.

83. The method of claim 44, wherein at least two of the plurality of alternative linkbases are independently determined to refer to the starting resource through a lookup based on an identification of the starting resource using a video recognition technique.

84. The method of claim 44, wherein at least two of the plurality of alternative linkbases are independently determined to refer to the starting resource through a lookup based on an identification of the starting resource using a member of a group consisting of a program identifier, an object identifier, and an item identifier.

85. The method of claim 44, wherein at least two of the plurality of alternative linkbases are independently determined to refer to the starting resource in response to commands received remotely from a user-controlled device.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the starting resource is a continuous media resource presented on the first device set and the user-controlled device comprises the second device set.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein the first device set includes a video display and the continuous media resource comprises video displayed on the video display.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein the second device set comprises a handheld device.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein at least two of the plurality of alternative linkbases are independently determined to refer to the continuous media resource through a lookup based on an identification of the starting resource using an audio recognition technique based upon commands remotely received from the handheld device.

90. The method of claim 88, wherein at least two of the plurality of alternative linkbases are independently determined to refer to the continuous media resource through a lookup based on an identification of the starting resource using a video recognition technique based upon commands remotely received from the handheld device.

91. The method of claim 86, wherein at least two of the plurality of alternative linkbases are independently determined to refer to the continuous media resource through a lookup based on an identification of the starting resource using an audio recognition technique.

92. The method of claim 86, wherein at least two of the plurality of alternative linkbases are independently determined to refer to the starting resource through a lookup based on an identification of the continuous media resource using a video recognition technique.

93. The method of claim 44, wherein at least one of the plurality of links included in the selected one of the alternative linkbases includes a link to a portal service that facilitates communications amongst a plurality of users of the portal service.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein the plurality of users of the portal service include a subset of users who are authorized by a user of the first and second device sets to communicate with the user of the first and second device sets.

95. The method of claim 93, wherein the plurality of users of the portal service comprise a community of users that communicate with one another regarding topics relevant to the starting resource presented on the first device set.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the portal service comprises a social networking site.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the community is self-organizing and self-selecting.

98. The method of claim 95, wherein the community is self-organizing and self-selecting.

99. The method of claim 44, wherein the starting resource is a continuous media resource that includes video, and at least one of the plurality of links included in the selected one of the alternative linkbases includes a link to a portal service that facilitates communications amongst a plurality of users of the portal service that are determined to be currently viewing the video.

100. The method of claim 99, wherein the video is displayed on a video display of the first device set, and the ending resource is displayed on a display of the second device set.

101. The method of claim 100, wherein the ending resource comprises a communication received from one of the plurality of users of the portal service that are determined to be currently viewing the video, and the ending resource is determined without cooperation of a provider or distributor of the starting resource.

102. The method of claim 101, wherein the communication comprises an instant message.

103. The method of claim 101, wherein the communication comprises a chat message.

104. The method of claim 101, wherein the portal service comprises a social networking service.

105. The method of claim 104, wherein the plurality of users of the portal service that are determined to be currently viewing the video include a subset of users who are authorized by a user of the second device set to communicate with the user of the second device set.

106. The method of claim 101, wherein the communication comprises a comment, posting, remark, opinion, rating, or evaluation of the video being currently viewed, originated by one of the plurality of the users of the portal service.

107. The method of claim 101, wherein the one of the plurality of the users of the portal service is a buddy of a user of the second device set.

108. The method of claim 101, wherein the communication comprises a weblog.

109. The method of claim 99, wherein the one of the plurality of the users of the portal service is a buddy of a user of the second device set.

110. The method of claim 44, wherein the ending resource is determined without cooperation of a provider or distributor of the starting resource.

111. The method of claim 44, wherein the ending resource corresponding to the particular selected link that is actuated is provided via a proxy service.

112. The method of claim 44, wherein the first device set is a television.

113. The method of claim 44, wherein the first device set is a personal computer.

114. The method of claim 44, wherein the enabling actuation of a selected one or more of the plurality of the links included in a selected one of the alternative linkbases is deferred to a time subsequent to the presentation of the starting resource on the first device set.

115. The method of claim 44, wherein the enabling presentation of an actuated one or more of the plurality of the links included in a selected one of the alternative linkbases is deferred to a time subsequent to the presentation of the starting resource on the first device set.

116. A method of supporting browsing implemented by a programmed computer system, comprising:

the programmed computer system determining program context parameters including an identity of a presented starting resource and an identified time position in the presented starting resource;

the programmed computer system receiving a request for an ending resource, wherein the request results from traversal of a first link contained in a primary linkbase relating to the presented starting resource which is a continuous media resource and the first link corresponds to a currently presented time segment of the continuous media resource; and

the programmed computer system selecting, based on user-specified criteria, either a) an ending resource specified by the first link or b) an alternative ending resource specified by a second link extracted from a selected one of a plurality of alternative linkbases, wherein the second link has a defined relationship with the first link based at least in part on the determined program context parameters;

wherein the plurality of alternative linkbases are independently provided without cooperation of the provider or distributor of the continuous media resource.

117. The method of claim 116, wherein the programmed computer system includes a remote server system, the receiving the request and the selecting are both implemented on the remote server system, the ending resource is presented on a first device set located at the user'"'"'s premises, the remote server system is accessible to a second device set that is also located at a premises of the user.

118. The method of claim 116, wherein the ending resource is presented on a first device set located at the user'"'"'s premises, the programmed computer system includes a second device set that is also located at a premises of the user, and the receiving the request and the selecting are both implemented on the second device set.

119. The method of claim 116, wherein the ending resource is presented on a first device set located at the user'"'"'s premises, the programmed computer system includes a remote server system and a second device set that is located at the user'"'"'s premises, the receiving the request is implemented on the second device set, the selecting is implemented on the remote server system, and the remote server system is in communication with the second device set via a network connection.

120. The method of claim 116, wherein the ending resource is presented on a first device set located at the user'"'"'s premises, the programmed computer system includes a remote server system and a second device set that is also located at the user'"'"'s premises, and the second device set includes a plurality of operatively coupled component devices.

121. The method of claim 120, wherein the plurality of operatively coupled component devices are located in local proximity to one another at the user'"'"'s premises.

122. The method of claim 121, wherein the plurality of operatively coupled component devices are operatively coupled to one another via any one or more members of a group consisting of a wired local area network, a wireless local area network, a wired connection, and a wireless connection.

123. The method of claim 116, wherein the continuous media resource comprises video.

124. The method of claim 123, wherein the video comprises broadcast video.

125. The method of claim 123, wherein the video comprises a movie.

126. The method of claim 123, wherein the video comprises analog or digital video presented by a media player located at a premises of the user.

127. The method of claim 123, wherein the video is sourced from a file at a premises of a user.

128. The method of claim 123, wherein the video is streamed from a remote location.

129. The method of claim 116, wherein the continuous media resource comprises an audio presentation.

130. The method of claim 129, wherein the audio presentation comprises music.

131. The method of claim 116, wherein the continuous media resource comprises an audio file.

132. The method of claim 116, wherein at least one of the ending resources provides enhancement content related to the continuous media resource.

133. The method of claim 132, wherein:

the continuous media resource comprises a video presentation that includes a sequence of moving images at least one of which includes a user-specifiable image region; and

the alternative ending resource specified by the second link enables an e-commerce function that facilitates the purchase of a particular item that is shown in the user-specifiable image region.

134. The method of claim 116, wherein the alternative ending resource specified by the second link is presented at least in partial synchronization with the currently presented time segment of the continuous media resource.

135. The method of claim 116, wherein the continuous media resource is presented on a first device set and the alternative ending resource specified by the second link is presented on a second device set in at least approximate synchronization with the currently presented time segment of the continuous media resource.

136. The method of claim 135, wherein the first link is transmitted as a part of a stream of links that are transmitted from a remote source over time, and the stream is at least approximately synchronized with a presentation of the starting resource on a first device set.

137. The method of claim 135, wherein the first device set includes a video display and the continuous media resource comprises video displayed on the video display.

138. The method of claim 135, wherein the second device set comprises a handheld device.

139. The method of claim 116, wherein the first link is actuated automatically without individual-link user selection.

140. The method of claim 116, wherein the continuous media resource is presented on a first device set and at least two of the plurality of alternative linkbases are independently determined to refer to the continuous media resource in response to commands received remotely from a user-controlled device.

141. The method of claim 140, wherein the user-controlled device comprises a second device set.

142. The method of claim 116, wherein the alternative ending resource specified by the second link corresponds to a portal service that facilitates communications amongst a plurality of users of the portal service.

143. The method of claim 116, wherein the continuous media resource includes video, and the alternative ending resource specified by the second link corresponds to a portal service that facilitates communications amongst a plurality of users of the portal service that are determined to be currently viewing the video.

144. The method of claim 143, wherein the alternative ending resource specified by the second link further comprises a communication received from one of the plurality of users of the portal service that are determined to be currently viewing the video.

145. The method of claim 144, wherein the communication comprises an instant message.

146. The method of claim 144, wherein the communication comprises a chat message.

147. The method of claim 144, wherein the portal service comprises a social networking service.

148. The method of claim 144, wherein the communication comprises a comment, posting, remark, opinion, rating, or evaluation of the video being currently viewed, originated by one of the plurality of the users of the portal service.

149. The method of claim 144, wherein the one of the plurality of the users of the portal service is a buddy of a user to whom the continuous media resource is presented.

150. The method of claim 143, wherein the portal service provides a weblog.

151. The method of claim 143, wherein the plurality of users of the portal service comprise a community of users that communicate with one another regarding the continuous media resource.

152. The method of claim 116, wherein the alternative ending resource specified by the second link is provided via a proxy service.

153. The method of claim 116, wherein the continuous media resource is presented on a television.

154. The method of claim 116, wherein the continuous media resource is presented on a personal computer.

155. The method of claim 116, wherein the second link is determined to refer to the continuous media resource through a lookup based on an identification of the continuous media resource through the use of a member of the group consisting of an audio recognition technique, a video recognition technique, a recognition of a vertical blanking interval coding or other coding included within a video broadcast signal, a receipt of one or more remote control commands, and a reference to a program identifier or object identifier or item identifier that is distributed with the starting resource.

156. A method of supporting browsing implemented by a programmed computer system, for use in a system in which a presentation of a continuous media resource is provided to a user, the method comprising:

the programmed computer system determining a plurality of program context parameters relating to the presentation of the continuous media resource including a first program context parameter that is an indication of an identity of the continuous media resource and a second program context parameter that is an indication of a current time position of the presentation of the continuous media resource, wherein the first and second program context parameters are separate and distinct and the determining is performed by analyzing the continuous media resource during its presentation without relying upon any links associated with the continuous media resource prior to the determining; and

the programmed computer system dispatching to a server an internet protocol request that includes information that is a function of at least the first and second determined program context parameters, wherein the dispatch is performed automatically during the presentation of the continuous media resource without user intervention.

157. The method of claim 156, wherein the request employs hypertext transfer protocol.

158. The method of claim 156, wherein the request employs simple object access protocol.

159. The method of claim 156, wherein the dispatching is performed by a device at a premises of the user.

160. The method of claim 156, further comprising:

receiving a resource in response to the dispatching, wherein the resource is chosen with reference to one or more of the plurality of program context parameters.

161. The method of claim 156, wherein the plurality of program context parameters include at least one of member of a group consisting of a time zone, a media distribution service identifier, a television channel identifier, a program identifier, a base program identifier, a time-position, a image region identifier, a demographic data, and a user data.

162. The method of claim 156, wherein the programmed computer system includes a remote portal service, and wherein the dispatching is performed by the remote portal service.

163. The method of claim 156, wherein the programmed computer system includes a personal computer under control of the user, and the dispatching is performed by the personal computer.

164. The method of claim 156, wherein the continuous media resource is a television program.

165. The method of claim 156, wherein the presentation of the continuous media resource is provided by a first device set and the programmed computer system includes the first device set.

166. The method of claim 156, wherein the presentation of the continuous media resource is provided by a first device set and the programmed computer system includes a remote server system that provides a remote portal service via a network connection to the first device set.

167. The method of claim 156, wherein the internet protocol request includes the first and second context parameters.

168. The method of claim 156, wherein the dispatching is performed in response to user actuation of a hyperlink.

169. The method of claim 156, wherein the internet protocol request is dispatched in response to a time shift that occurs with respect to the presentation of the continuous media resource.

170. The method of claim 156, wherein the internet protocol request is dispatched in response to a member of the group consisting of a pause command, a play command, a fast forward command, a rewind command, and a trick-play command.

171. The method of claim 156, wherein the internet protocol request is dispatched in response to an indication that the user is interested in receiving further information related to a specific portion of the continuous media resource.

172. The method of claim 156, wherein the continuous media resource comprises a sequence of moving images and the plurality of program context parameters further comprise an indication of an image region within a currently presented image that is of interest to the user.

173. The method of claim 156, wherein the dispatching is performed automatically when an automatic dispatch capability has been selected by the user.

174. The method of claim 156, wherein the second parameter is based on a clock associated with the presentation of the continuous media resource, and the clock is based on one of a real time, a virtual time, or a hypertime.

175. The method of claim 156, wherein the programmed computer system includes a server, the method further comprising:

performing a negotiation between a user device and the server to determine which of the first and second context parameters are allowed to be sent to the server, wherein the negotiation takes into account information privacy policies set by the user and information privacy policies set by the server; and

dispatching to the server a second internet protocol request that includes one or more of the first and second context parameters, wherein the internet protocol request is made in accordance with the negotiation.

176. The method of claim 156, wherein the continuous media resource is a movie.

177. The method of claim 156, wherein the continuous media resource is a video clip.

178. The method of claim 156, wherein the continuous media resource is an audio file.

179. The method of claim 156, wherein the continuous media resource is a video file.

180. The method of claim 156, wherein the second context parameter is determined based upon an analysis of the continuous media resource using an audio recognition technique.

181. The method of claim 156, wherein the second context parameter is determined based upon an analysis of the continuous media resource using a video recognition technique.

182. A method of supporting browsing for use in a system in which a starting resource is presented on a first device set, wherein the method is implemented by a programmed computer system, the method comprising:

the programmed computer system determining program context parameters including an identity of the presented starting resource and an identified time position in the presented starting resource;

based at least in part on the determined program context parameters the programmed computer system enabling selection of at least one of a plurality of alternative linkbases that is not distributed with the starting resource, wherein the alternative linkbases each include a plurality of links and are independently synchronizable with the presentation of the starting resource on the first device set without cooperation of a provider or distributor of the starting resource; and

the programmed computer system enabling actuation of a selected one or more of the plurality of the links included in the selected at least one of the alternative linkbases to enable presentation of an ending resource on a second device set in synchronization with the presentation of the starting resource during the presentation of the starting resource on the first device set.

183. A method of supporting browsing for use in a system in which a starting resource is presented on a first device set, wherein the method is implemented by a programmed computer system, the method comprising:

the programmed computer system determining program context parameters including an identity of the presented starting resource and an identified time position in the presented starting resource;

based at least in part on the determined program context parameters the programmed computer system enabling selection of at least one of a plurality of alternative linkbases that is not distributed with the starting resource, wherein the alternative linkbases each include a plurality of links and are independently synchronizable with the presentation of the starting resource without cooperation of a provider or distributor of the starting resource, and wherein the alternative linkbases are independently determined to refer to the starting resource without the cooperation of the provider or distributor of the starting resource; and

the programmed computer system enabling actuation of a selected one or more of the plurality of the links included in the selected one of the alternative linkbases to enable presentation of an ending resource on a second device set in synchronization with the presentation of the starting resource during the presentation of the starting resource on the first device set.

184. A method of supporting browsing implemented by a programmed computer system, comprising:

the programmed computer system determining program context parameters including an identity of a currently presented starting resource and an identified time position in the currently presented starting resource;

the programmed computer system receiving a request for an ending resource, wherein the request results from traversal of a first link contained in a primary linkbase relating to a the currently presented starting resource;

the programmed computer system selecting, based on user-specified criteria, either a) an ending resource specified by the first link or b) an alternative ending resource specified by a second link extracted from a selected one of a plurality of alternative linkbases, wherein the second link has a defined relationship with the first link based at least in part on the determined program context parameters; and

the programmed computer system enabling presentation of the selected ending resource during the presentation of the currently presented starting resource without cooperation of a provider or distributor of the currently presented starting resource,

wherein the plurality of alternative linkbases are independently provided without the cooperation of the provider or distributor of the currently presented starting resource.

185. The method of claim 184, wherein the programmed computer system includes a remote server system, the receiving the request and the selecting are both implemented on the remote server system, the selected ending resource is presented on a first device set located at a premises of a user, the remote server system is accessible to a second device set that is also located at the user'"'"'s premises.

186. The method of claim 184, wherein the selected ending resource is presented on a first device set located at a premises of a user, the programmed computer system includes a second device set that is also located at the user'"'"'s premises, and the receiving the request and the selecting are both implemented on the second device set.

187. The method of claim 184, wherein the selected ending resource is presented on a first device set located at a premises of a user, the programmed computer system includes a remote server system and a second device set that is located at the user'"'"'s premises, the receiving the request is implemented on the second device set, the selecting is implemented on the remote server system, and the remote server system is in communication with the second device set via a network connection.

188. The method of claim 184, wherein the selected ending resource is presented on a first device set located at a premises of a user, the programmed computer system includes a remote server system and a second device set that is also located at the user'"'"'s premises, and the second device set includes a plurality of operatively coupled component devices.

189. The method of claim 188, wherein the plurality of operatively coupled component devices are located in local proximity to one another at the user'"'"'s premises.

190. The method of claim 188, wherein the plurality of operatively coupled component devices are operatively coupled to one another via any one or more members of a group consisting of a wired local area network, a wireless local area network, a wired connection, and a wireless connection.

191. The method of claim 184, wherein the currently presented starting resource is a continuous media resource.

192. The method of claim 191, wherein the continuous media resource comprises video.

193. The method of claim 192, wherein the video comprises analog or digital video presented by a media player located at a premises of a user.

194. The method of claim 191, wherein the continuous media resource comprises an audio presentation.

195. The method of claim 194, wherein the audio presentation comprises music.

196. The method of claim 184, wherein at least one of the ending resources provides enhancement content related to the starting resource.

197. The method of claim 196, wherein:

the currently presented starting resource comprises a video presentation that includes a sequence of moving images at least one of which includes a user-specifiable image region; and

the alternative ending resource specified by the second link enables an e-commerce function that facilitates the purchase of a particular item that is shown in the user-specifiable image region.

198. The method of claim 184, wherein the alternative ending resource specified by the second link is presented at least in partial synchronization with the currently presented starting resource, and the currently presented starting resource is a continuous media resource.

199. The method of claim 184, wherein the currently presented starting resource is a continuous media resource that is presented on a first device set and the alternative ending resource specified by the second link is presented on a second device set in at least approximate synchronization with a currently presented time segment of the continuous media resource.

200. The method of claim 199, wherein the first link is transmitted as a part of a stream of links that are transmitted from a remote source over time, and the stream is at least approximately synchronized with a presentation of the currently presented starting resource on a first device set.

201. The method of claim 199, wherein the first device set includes a video display and the continuous media resource comprises video displayed on the video display.

202. The method of claim 199, wherein the second device set comprises a handheld device.

203. The method of claim 184, wherein the first link is actuated automatically without individual-link user selection.

204. The method of claim 184, wherein the currently presented starting resource is a continuous media resource that is presented on a first device set and at least two of the plurality of alternative linkbases are independently determined to refer to the currently presented starting resource in response to commands received remotely from a user-controlled device.

205. The method of claim 204, wherein the user-controlled device comprises a second device set.

206. The method of claim 184, wherein the alternative ending resource specified by the second link corresponds to a portal service that facilitates communications amongst a plurality of users of the portal service.

207. The method of claim 184, wherein the currently presented starting resource is a continuous media resource that includes video, and the alternative ending resource specified by the second link corresponds to a portal service that facilitates communications amongst a plurality of users of the portal service that are determined to be currently viewing the video.

208. The method of claim 207, wherein the alternative ending resource specified by the second link further comprises a communication received from one of the plurality of users of the portal service that are determined to be currently viewing the video.

209. The method of claim 208, wherein the communication comprises an instant message.

210. The method of claim 208, wherein the communication comprises a chat message.

211. The method of claim 208, wherein the portal service comprises a social networking service.

212. The method of claim 208, wherein the communication comprises a comment, posting, remark, opinion, rating, or evaluation of the video being currently viewed, originated by one of the plurality of the users of the portal service.

213. The method of claim 208, wherein the one of the plurality of the users of the portal service is a buddy of a user to whom the continuous media resource is presented.

214. The method of claim 207, wherein the portal service provides a weblog.

215. The method of claim 207, wherein the plurality of users of the portal service comprise a community of users that communicate with one another regarding the continuous media resource.

216. The method of claim 184, wherein the alternative ending resource specified by the second link is provided via a proxy service.

217. The method of claim 184, wherein the second link is determined to refer to the currently presented starting resource through a lookup based on an identification of the currently presented starting resource through the use of a member of a group consisting of an audio recognition technique, a video recognition technique, a recognition of a vertical blanking interval coding or other coding included within a video broadcast signal, a receipt of one or more remote control commands, and a reference to a program identifier or object identifier or item identifier that is distributed with the starting resource.