Automated content scheduler and displayer

• US 8,606,820 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robocast, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Robocast, Inc.
• Inventors: Torres, Damon
• Primary Examiner(s): WILSON, KIMBERLY LOVEL
• Application Number:
  US13/495,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20120259699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 707/687
• US Class Current: 707/795
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/07 Guided tours
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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

Abstract

A method for providing content via a communications network on a user'"'"'s computer, obtained from a plurality of resources in a organized arrangement, is provided. The method includes creating a show structure of nodes, each node identifying a resource from a plurality of accessible resources, at least some of which are network accessible resources. Without requiring user input, a plurality of the network accessible resources identified by a corresponding node, are automatically accessed. Content corresponding to each of the accessed resources are automatically presented through the user'"'"'s computer in accordance with the show structure. Interactively variable duration information is provided, representing the duration that the content corresponding to the resource is presented so as to enable a user to vary the duration. Advertisement content is presented to the user in connection with the automatic presentation of the content through the user'"'"'s computer.

Claims

1. A method for providing content providing a communications network on a user'"'"'s computer, obtained from a plurality of resources in an organized arrangement comprising the steps of:

creating a show structure of nodes, each node identifying a resource from a plurality of accessible resources, at least some of which are network accessible resources;

without requiring user input, automatically accessing a. plurality of said network accessible resources identified by a corresponding node;

causing content corresponding to each of said accessed resources to be automatically accessed and presented through said user'"'"'s computer in accordance with said show structure such that during said presentation of at least some of said content from said accessed resources, at least some of said other network accessible resources are being accessed;

providing interactively variable duration information, representing the duration that said content corresponding to said resource is presented so as to enable a. user to vary said duration; and

causing advertisement content to be presented to said user in connection with said automatic presentation of said content through said user'"'"'s computer.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step of providing interactively variable duration information further comprises the step of providing interactively variable duration information for each of said accessed resources, representing the duration within which a corresponding content to said resource is presented.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said interactively variable duration information is displayed to the user.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3, wherein said display of said interactively variable duration information to the user occurs during presentation of said content.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a play bar to enable the user to vary said duration that said content is being presented.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of providing control buttons to enable the user to vary said duration that said content is being presented.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said control buttons provide for at least pause, fast forward and rewind functions to be applied to said content being presented.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of providing control buttons to enable the user to affect the presentation of said advertising content.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said control buttons provide for at least skipping of said advertisement content being presented.

10. A method for providing content via a communications network on a user'"'"'s computer, obtained from a plurality of resources in an organized arrangement comprising the steps of:

creating a show structure of nodes, each node identifying a resource from a plurality of accessible resources, at least some of which are network accessible resources;

without requiring user input, automatically accessing a plurality of said network accessible resources identified by a corresponding node;

causing advertisement content to be presented to said user in connection with said automatic presentation of said content through said user'"'"'s computer;

causing content corresponding to each of said accessed resources to be automatically accessed and presented through said user'"'"'s computer in accordance with said show structure after said presentation of said advertisement content such that during said presentation of at least some of said content from said accessed resources, at least some of said other network accessible resources are being accessed; and

providing interactively variable duration information, representing the duration that said content corresponding to said resource is presented so as to enable a user to vary said duration.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said step of causing advertisement content to be presented to said user includes determining said advertisement content based on a user profile.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said le includes past actions taken by said user.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein advertisement content is presented in a persistent content window during said presentation of said content corresponding to at least one of said accessed resources.

14. A method for providing content via a communications network on a user'"'"'s computer, obtained from a plurality of resources in an organized arrangement comprising the steps of:

creating a show structure of nodes, each node identifying a resource from a plurality of accessible resources, at least some of which are network accessible resources;

without requiring user input, automatically accessing a plurality of said network accessible resources identified by a corresponding node;

causing content corresponding to each of said accessed resources to be automatically accessed and presented through said user'"'"'s computer in accordance with said show structure such that during said presentation of at least some of said content from said accessed resources, at least some of said other network accessible resources are being accessed;

causing advertisement content to be presented to said user in connection with said automatic presentation of said content through said user'"'"'s computer, wherein said show structure of nodes includes at least one node identifying a resource corresponding to an advertisement content; and

providing interactively variable duration information, representing the duration that said content corresponding to said resource is presented so as to enable a user to vary said duration.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said advertisement content is video content.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said advertisement content is displayable content.

17. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said at least one node identifying a resource corresponding to an advertisement content comprises a URL.

18. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said at least one node identifying a resource corresponding to an advertisement content is dynamically inserted into said show structure of nodes.

19. A system for providing an automatic presentation of content on a user'"'"'s computer, obtained from a plurality of resources in an organized arrangement, said system comprising:

a hardware server configured to provide a show structure of nodes, each node identifying a resource from a plurality of accessible resources, at least some of which are network accessible resources;

said hardware server further configured to cause advertisement content to be accessed and presented to said user in connection with said automatic presentation of said content through said user'"'"'s computer; and

after said presentation of said advertisement content, said hardware server further configured to cause content corresponding to a plurality of said nodes to be automatically accessed and presented to said user in accordance with said show structure without requiring user input, such that during said presentation of at least some of said content from said accessed resources, at least some of said other network accessible resources are being accessed, said hardware server further configured to provide interactively variable duration information, representing the duration that said content corresponding to said resource is presented so as to enable a user to vary said duration.

20. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said advertisement content presented to said user includes advertisement content based on a user profile.

21. A system as claimed in claim 20, wherein said profile includes past actions taken by said user.

22. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein advertisement content is presented in a persistent content window during said presentation of said content corresponding to at least one of said accessed resources.