System and method for transmission of telescopic advertising

• US 8,122,143 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MONKEYmedia, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MONKEYmedia, Inc.
• Inventors: Gould, Eric Justin, Strickland, Rachel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M
• Application Number:
  US12/941,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20110055419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-203, 709217-231, 382/254
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/44 Decoders specially adapted therefor, e.g. video decoders which are asymmetric with respect to the encoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8541 involving branching, e.g. to different story endings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/87 Regeneration of colour television signals H04N9/80 takes precedence

Abstract

One aspect of the invention is a method for playing a stored content providing a plurality of segments which collectively contains the stored content, each segment has using first terminus and a second terminus with the content having a temporal flow from the first terminus to the second terminus. At least one segment is associated with a plurality of links to other segments. The method includes playing at least one segment with the temporal flow, determining whether a content expansion is desired prior to reaching the second terminus. If the content expansion is desired, then linking to an expansion segment and playing the expansion segment. If the content expansion is not desired, then linking to a continuing segment and playing the continuing segment. The method includes an additional link from the expansion segment to the continuing segment such that the continuing segment is played after the expansion segment has been played. Other aspects of the invention include other methods for playing stored content, for capturing and playing content, capturing segment and linkage descriptions, storage devices of the segment content, storage mechanisms referencing the continuous media content by segments and linkages and apparatus for capturing and playing continuous media content.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting a promotional expansion comprising expansion content, one or more interactive elements and machine-executable expansion instructions to an audio and/or video player playing a main content continuous play media stream comprising:

a. transmitting to a player an expansion cue that invites a user to elect presentation of a promotional expansion during playing of a main content continuous play media stream, that changes in appearance when a user has elected presentation of said promotional expansion, and that triggers the player to;

i. interrupt play of the main content stream at a main content stream decision point that is at most a small amount of time after the user has elected presentation of the promotional expansion;

ii. present the promotional expansion in temporal continuity with the main content stream, wherein said triggering the player to present the promotional expansion comprises triggering the player to (x) present for display expansion content, (y) execute expansion instructions and (z) present for display a transition during the passage of time from playing the main content stream to presenting for display the expansion content; and

iii. prepare to play a continuing portion of the main content stream after the promotional expansion with temporal continuity, wherein the player is prepared to start playing a continuing portion of the main content stream at a main content stream time point offset by at most a small amount of time from the main content stream decision point; and

b. transmitting to the player the expansion content comprising audio, video, still images and/or text and the expansion instructions comprising machine-executable instructions relating to one or more interactive elements allowing for user input.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio and/or video player is a television receiver, a set top box, a disk player or a general purpose computer.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the promotional expansion is transmitted via cable.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the promotional expansion is transmitted via satellite.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the promotional expansion is transmitted via wireless transport.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the promotional expansion is transmitted over a computer network.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the expansion cue is auditory, visual and/or tactile.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the expansion cue is an overlay or is otherwise integrated with the main content stream.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said transition comprises playing a portion of the main content simultaneously with playing a portion of the expansion content.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the prominence of said portion of the main content is gradually reduced as the transition plays.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said portion of the content of the main content comprises audio content and said portion of expansion content comprises visual content.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein transmitting the expansion content begins after transmitting the expansion cue.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said triggering the player further comprises triggering the player to automatically play the continuing portion of the main content stream after the promotional expansion with temporal continuity.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the offset is greater than zero.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein after the expansion content is no longer being presented, a few seconds at most of the main content stream is repeated.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein after the expansion content is no longer being presented, a few seconds at most of the main content stream is skipped.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein after the expansion content is no longer being presented, no portion of the main content stream is repeated and no portion of the main continuous play media content stream is skipped.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the expansion cue comprises highlighting associated with a discernible entity.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the expansion cue is one of a plurality of expansion cues in an expansion cue container.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the user election does not necessitate pushing of a button.

21. A method of transmitting a promotional expansion comprising expansion content, one or more interactive elements and machine-executable expansion instructions to an audio and/or video player playing a main content continuous play media stream comprising transmitting to the player:

a. expansion instructions comprising machine-executable instructions relating to one or more interactive elements allowing for user input;

b. a portion of expansion content comprising audio, video, still images and/or text for archival on the player'"'"'s writable content store; and

c. an expansion cue that invites a user to elect presentation of a promotional expansion during playing of a main content continuous play media stream, that changes in appearance when a user has elected presentation of said promotional expansion, and that triggers the player to;

i. interrupt play of the main content stream at a main content stream decision point that is at most a small amount of time after the user has elected presentation of the promotional expansion;

ii. present the promotional expansion in temporal continuity with the main content stream, wherein said triggering the player to present the promotional expansion comprises triggering the player to (x) present for display the expansion content, (y) execute the expansion instructions and (z) present for display a transition during the passage of time from playing the main content stream to presenting for display the expansion content; and

iii. prepare to play a continuing portion of the main content stream after the promotional expansion with temporal continuity, wherein the player is prepared to start playing a continuing portion of the main content stream at a main content stream time point offset by at most a small amount of time from the main content stream decision point.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the audio and/or video player is a television receiver, a set top box, a disk player or a general purpose computer.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the promotional expansion is transmitted via cable.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the promotional expansion is transmitted via satellite.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the promotional expansion is transmitted via wireless transport.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the promotional expansion is transmitted over a computer network.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the expansion cue is auditory, visual and/or tactile.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the expansion cue is an overlay or is otherwise integrated with the main content stream.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said transition comprises playing a portion of the main content simultaneously with playing a portion of the expansion content.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the prominence of said portion of the main content is gradually reduced as the transition plays.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said portion of the content of the main content comprises audio content and said portion of expansion content comprises visual content.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein transmitting the expansion content begins before transmitting the expansion cue.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said triggering the player further comprises triggering the player to automatically play the continuing portion of the main content stream after the promotional expansion with temporal continuity.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the offset is greater than zero.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein after the expansion content is no longer being presented, a few seconds at most of the main content stream is repeated.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein after the expansion content is no longer being presented, a few seconds at most of the main content stream is skipped.

37. The method of claim 32 wherein after the expansion content is no longer being presented, no portion of the main content stream is repeated and no portion of the main content stream is skipped.

38. The method of claim 32 wherein the expansion cue comprises highlighting associated with a discernible entity.

39. The method of claim 32 wherein the expansion cue is one of a plurality of expansion cues in an expansion cue container.

40. The method of claim 32 wherein the user election does not necessitate pushing of a button.

41. A transmission system for transmitting a promotional expansion comprising expansion content, one or more interactive elements and machine-executable expansion instructions to an audio and/or video player playing a main content continuous play media stream, the system configured with the capability to:

a. transmit to a player an expansion cue that is capable of inviting a user to elect presentation of a promotional expansion during playing of a main content continuous play media stream, that is capable of changing in appearance when a user has elected presentation of said promotional expansion, and is capable of triggering the player to;

i. interrupt play of the main content stream at a main content stream decision point that is at most a small amount of time after the user has elected presentation of the promotional expansion;

ii. present the promotional expansion in temporal continuity with the main content stream, wherein said triggering the player to present the promotional expansion comprises triggering the player to (x) present for display expansion content, (y) execute expansion instructions and (z) present for display a transition during the passage of time from playing the main content stream to presenting for display the expansion content; and

iii. prepare to play a continuing portion of the main content stream after the promotional expansion with temporal continuity, wherein the player is prepared to start playing a continuing portion of the main content stream at a main content stream time point offset by at most a small amount of time from the main content stream decision point; and

b. transmit to the player the expansion content comprising audio, video, still images and/or text and the expansion instructions comprising machine-executable instructions relating to one or more interactive elements allowing for user input.

42. The system of claim 41 wherein the audio and/or video player is a television receiver, a set top box, a disk player or a general purpose computer.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein the promotional expansion is capable of being transmitted via cable.

44. The system of claim 42 wherein the promotional expansion is capable of being transmitted via satellite.

45. The system of claim 42 wherein the promotional expansion is capable of being transmitted via wireless transport.

46. The system of claim 42 wherein the promotional expansion is capable of being transmitted over a computer network.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the expansion cue is auditory, visual and/or tactile.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the expansion cue is an overlay or is otherwise integrated with the main content stream.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein said transition is capable of comprising playing a portion of the main content simultaneously with playing a portion of the expansion content.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein the prominence of said portion of the main content is capable of gradually reducing as the transition plays.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein said portion of the content of the main content is capable of comprising audio content and said portion of expansion content is capable of comprising visual content.

52. The method of claim 48 wherein the system is configured with the capability to transmit the expansion cue before beginning to transmit the expansion content.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein said triggering the player is further capable of comprising triggering the player to automatically play the continuing portion of the main content stream after the promotional expansion with temporal continuity.

54. The method of claim 52 wherein the offset is capable of being greater than zero.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein after the expansion content is no longer being presented, a few seconds at most of the main content stream is capable of being repeated.

56. The system of claim 54 wherein after the expansion content is no longer being presented, a few seconds at most of the main content stream is capable of being skipped.

57. The system of claim 52 wherein after the expansion content is no longer being presented, no portion of the main content stream is capable of being repeated and no portion of the main content stream is capable of being skipped.

58. The system of claim 52 wherein the expansion cue comprises highlighting associated with a discernible entity.

59. The system of claim 52 wherein the expansion cue is one of a plurality of expansion cues in an expansion cue container.

60. The system of claim 52 wherein the user election does not necessitate pushing of a button.

61. A transmission system for transmitting a promotional expansion comprising expansion content, one or more interactive elements and machine-executable expansion instructions to an audio and/or video player playing a main content continuous play media stream, the system configured with the capability to transmit to the player:

a. expansion instructions comprising machine-executable instructions relating to one or more interactive elements allowing for user input;

b. a portion of expansion content comprising audio, video, still images and/or text for archival on the player'"'"'s writable content store; and

c. an expansion cue that is capable of inviting a user to elect presentation of a promotional expansion during playing of a main content continuous play media stream, that is capable of changing in appearance when a user has elected presentation of said promotional expansion, and that is capable of triggering the player to;

i. interrupt play of the main content stream at a main content stream decision point that is at most a small amount of time after the user has elected presentation of the promotional expansion;

ii. present the promotional expansion in temporal continuity with the main content stream, wherein said triggering the player to present the promotional expansion comprises triggering the player to (x) present for display the expansion content, (y) execute the expansion instructions and (z) present for display a transition during the passage of time from playing the main content stream to presenting for display the expansion content; and

iii. prepare to play a continuing portion of the main content stream after the promotional expansion with temporal continuity, wherein the player is prepared to start playing a continuing portion of the main content stream at a main content stream time point offset by at most a small amount of time from the main content stream decision point.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein the audio and/or video player is a television receiver, a set top box, a disk player or a general purpose computer.

63. The system of claim 62 wherein the promotional expansion is capable of being transmitted via cable.

64. The system of claim 62 wherein the promotional expansion is capable of being transmitted via satellite.

65. The system of claim 62 wherein the promotional expansion is capable of being transmitted via wireless transport.

66. The system of claim 62 wherein the promotional expansion is capable of being transmitted over a computer network.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein the expansion cue is auditory, visual and/or tactile.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein the expansion cue is an overlay or is otherwise integrated with the main content stream.

69. The system of claim 68 wherein said transition is capable of comprising playing a portion of the main content simultaneously with playing a portion of the expansion content.

70. The system of claim 69 wherein the prominence of said portion of the main content is capable of gradually reducing as the transition plays.

71. The system of claim 70 wherein said portion of the content of the main content is capable of comprising audio content and said portion of expansion content is capable of comprising visual content.

72. The method of claim 68 wherein the system is configured with the capability to transmit the expansion cue after beginning to transmit the expansion content.

73. The system of claim 72 wherein said triggering the player is further capable of comprising triggering the player to automatically play the continuing portion of the main content stream after the promotional expansion with temporal continuity.

74. The method of claim 72 wherein the offset is capable of being greater than zero.

75. The system of claim 74 wherein after the expansion content is no longer being presented, a few seconds at most of the main content stream is capable of being repeated.

76. The system of claim 74 wherein after the expansion content is no longer being presented, a few seconds at most of the main content stream is capable of being skipped.

77. The system of claim 72 wherein after the expansion content is no longer being presented, no portion of the main content stream is capable of being repeated and no portion of the main content stream is capable of being skipped.

78. The system of claim 72 wherein the expansion cue comprises highlighting associated with a discernible entity.

79. The system of claim 72 wherein the expansion cue is one of a plurality of expansion cues in an expansion cue container.

80. The system of claim 72 wherein the user election does not necessitate pushing of a button.