Method and apparatus for storage and playback of programs
First Claim
1. A method for use by a playback apparatus for playing back from a data storage including a media feature and a media advertisement, the method comprising:
- obtaining the media feature from the data storage;
obtaining playback criteria, wherein the playback criteria specify a sequence in which the media advertisement is to be presented in conjunction with a playback of the media feature;
selecting available media advertisements from a plurality of media advertisements using an availability time period stored with each of a plurality of media advertisements in the data storage, wherein the plurality of media advertisements do not include the media feature;
selecting the media advertisement from the available media advertisements in accordance with the obtained playback criteria;
obtaining the selected media advertisement from the data storage; and
playing back the selected media advertisement and the media feature in accordance with the obtained playback criteria.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for playback of programs and other works recorded on random access storage media. One embodiment of the invention relates to random access storage media such as a DVD (“digital versatile disk” or “digital video disk”) used to distribute motion pictures and other audio/video programs or works. The invention involves a manner of utilizing secondary storage space of the storage media not used by the primary program being distributed to store secondary programs such as movie trailers and product advertisements, and to present the secondary programs to the user in a topical and interesting manner. In one embodiment, storage space of a random access storage medium such as a DVD is allocated to a number of variously sized programs or program portions called “chapters.” In one embodiment, each primary and secondary program constitutes a separate chapter. In this embodiment, each time the primary chapter is played, the DVD playback device plays a limited selection of secondary chapters before and/or after the primary chapter. In one embodiment, the sequence of secondary chapters played back varies each time the DVD is played. In this manner, as a viewer repeatedly views the DVD over time, a large variety of promotional material can be presented to the viewer without overburdening the viewer with overly-long sequences of promotions and trailers. In addition, because the sequence of trailers changes each time the DVD is viewed viewer interest is maintained.
28 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for use by a playback apparatus for playing back from a data storage including a media feature and a media advertisement, the method comprising:
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obtaining the media feature from the data storage; obtaining playback criteria, wherein the playback criteria specify a sequence in which the media advertisement is to be presented in conjunction with a playback of the media feature; selecting available media advertisements from a plurality of media advertisements using an availability time period stored with each of a plurality of media advertisements in the data storage, wherein the plurality of media advertisements do not include the media feature; selecting the media advertisement from the available media advertisements in accordance with the obtained playback criteria; obtaining the selected media advertisement from the data storage; and playing back the selected media advertisement and the media feature in accordance with the obtained playback criteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A player for playing back programs from a data, the player comprising:
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an access unit for obtaining a media feature and a media advertisement from the data storage; a control unit comprising a computer processor for controlling an operation of the player; a readable program code stored in a non-transitory medium configured to cause the computer processor to; obtain the media feature from the data storage; obtain playback criteria, wherein the playback criteria specify a sequence in which the media advertisement is to be presented in conjunction with a playback of the media feature; select available media advertisements from a plurality of media advertisements using an availability time period stored with each of a plurality of media advertisements in the data storage, wherein the plurality of media advertisements do not include the media feature; select the media advertisement from the available media advertisements in accordance with the obtained playback criteria; obtain the selected media advertisement from the data storage; and playback the selected media advertisement and the media feature in accordance with the obtained playback criteria. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for use by a playback apparatus for playing back a first program and a plurality of second programs, the method comprising:
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obtaining the first program; reading a clock count of a clock counter of the playback apparatus; converting the clock count to a value modulo a number of the plurality of second programs; applying the value to obtain one of the plurality of second programs for a playback of the first program; playing back the first program; and playing back the one of the plurality of second programs. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification