Interactive data stream

• US 8,683,068 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2008
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gregory J. Clary
• Original Assignee: Gregory J. Clary
• Inventors: Jalili, Reza, Clary, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gillis, Brian J
• Application Number:
  US12/190,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20090182891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,051 Days
• Field of Search: 709/231, 709/217, 705/14.49, 725/61
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355

Abstract

The present invention is geared generally towards the transmission of data, such as images, audio, video, or text, as a continuous stream via a network to recipients. In particular, the present invention relates to enabling the transmission of data to recipients and enabling the recipients to interact and influence the content of the transmission.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a device configured to receive a data stream including content data from a data server, the data server being configured to simultaneously provide the same data stream to one or more other devices for presentation of the same content data by the respective one or more other devices, the content data including audio data for a currently-played song and a plurality of visual elements including image data for the currently-played song and one or more upcoming songs in a queue of songs,

wherein the device is configured to present the content data of the data stream to a user, including being configured to scroll or slide the visual elements arranged in a position on a screen, the image data for the one or more upcoming songs being arranged on the screen in an order the data server is configured to add the respective one or more upcoming songs to the content data to thereby play the respective one or more upcoming songs,

wherein the device is configured to receive an indication of user interaction with the content data of the data stream, the indication including a vote for or against an upcoming song in the queue of songs,

wherein the device is configured to transmit data associated with the user interaction and including the vote, the data server being configured to adjust the content data of the data stream per the user interaction, including the data server being configured to adjust the content data to reorder the image data for the respective upcoming song in the queue of songs or remove the image data for the respective upcoming song in the queue of songs based on the vote from the device and a vote for or against the respective upcoming song from any of the one or more other devices, and

wherein the device being configured to receive the data stream includes being configured to receive the data stream further including the adjusted content data, and being configured to present the content data includes being configured to further present the adjusted content data, the data server being configured to simultaneously provide the same data stream to the one or more other devices for further presentation of the same adjusted content data by the respective one or more other devices.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is one of a computer or a mobile device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the content data further includes one or more of textual data or video data.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to receive an indication of a further user interaction including one or more of image data, textual data, video data or audio data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to receive an indication of a further user interaction including input regarding one or more songs of one or more of the currently-played song or one or more upcoming songs.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to receive an indication of a further user interaction including a request for further information regarding one or more songs of one or more of the currently-played song or one or more upcoming songs.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to receive an indication of a further user interaction including a request to purchase a good or service associated with one or more songs of one or more of the currently-played song or one or more upcoming songs.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to receive an indication of a further user interaction including selection of a visual element different from the visual elements of the content data, the selected visual element including one or more of image data or video data,

wherein the device is configured to transmit data associated with the further user interaction, including being configured to upload the selected visual element, the data server being configured to further adjust the content data of the data stream to add the selected, uploaded visual element to the content data, the further adjusted content data including the uploaded, added visual element.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the device being configured to receive the indication of the further user interaction includes being configured to further receive a location identifier reflecting a geographic location or contact information for the user,

wherein the device being configured to transmit data associated with the further user interaction includes being configured to upload the selected visual element and location identifier or contact information, the data server thereby being configured to adjust the content data of the data stream to add the selected, uploaded visual element and location identifier or contact information to the content data, the adjusted content data including the uploaded, added visual element and location identifier or contact information.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to receive an indication of a further user interaction including a location identifier reflecting a geographic location or contact the information for the user,

wherein the device is configured to transmit data associated with the further user interaction including the location identifier or contact information, the data server being configured to further adjust the content data of the data stream to add the location identifier or contact information to the content data, the further adjusted content data including the added location identifier or contact information.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the content data of the data stream includes information for a plurality of goods or services available for purchase that are associated with one or more songs of one or more of the currently-played song or one or more upcoming songs,

wherein the device is configured to receive the indication of user interaction, the indication including selection of one of the goods or services, and

wherein the device being configured to transmit data associated with the user interaction includes being configured to transmit the selection, the data server thereby being configured to adjust the content data to add a second data stream to include the selected good or service and any other of the goods or services for which the data server receives selection from a predetermined number of the device and the one or more other devices, the second data stream thereby including goods or services designated as being popular goods or services.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the visual elements of the content data include empty advertising space interspersed with other visual elements,

wherein the device is configured to receive an indication of a further user interaction including selection of the empty advertising space,

wherein the device is configured to transmit data associated with the further user interaction including an indication of selection of the empty advertising space, the data server thereby being configured to cause the device to present a prompt to permit the user to input advertising data, and

wherein the device is further configured to receive the advertising data, and transmit the advertising data, the data server thereby being configured to adjust the content data of the data stream to add the advertising data to the content data, the adjusted content data including the added advertising data.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a data server configured to simultaneously provide a data stream including content data to a plurality of devices for presentation of the content data of the data stream to respective users of the devices, the content data including audio data for a currently-played song and a plurality of visual elements including image data for the currently-played song and one or more upcoming songs in a queue of songs,

wherein the data server is configured to provide the data stream for the devices to scroll or slide the visual elements arranged in a position on respective screens, the image data for the one or more upcoming songs being arranged on the respective screens in an order the data server is configured to add the respective one or more upcoming songs to the content data to thereby play the respective one or more upcoming songs,

wherein data server is configured to receive from one of the devices, data associated with a user interaction with the content data of the data stream, the indication including a vote for or against an upcoming song in the queue of songs,

wherein the data server is configured to adjust the content data of the data stream per the user interaction, including being configured to adjust the content data to reorder the image data for the respective upcoming song in the queue of songs or remove the image data for the respective upcoming song in the queue of songs based on the vote from the one of the devices and a vote for or against the respective upcoming song from any other of the devices, and

wherein the data server being configured to provide the data stream further includes being configured to simultaneously provide the data stream further including the adjusted content data to the plurality of devices for further presentation of the adjusted content of the data stream to the users of the respective devices.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the content data further includes one or more of textual data or video data.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data server is configured to receive data associated with a further user interaction including one or more of image data, textual data, video data or audio data.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data server is configured to receive data associated with a further user interaction including input regarding one or more songs of one or more of the currently-played song or one or more upcoming songs.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data server is configured to receive data associated with a further user interaction including a request for further information regarding one or more songs of one or more of the currently-played song or one or more upcoming songs.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data server is configured to receive data associated with a further user interaction including a request to purchase a good or service associated with one or more songs of one or more of the currently-played song or one or more upcoming songs.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein data server is configured to receive data associated with a further user interaction including an uploaded visual element different from the visual elements of the content data, the uploaded visual element including one or more of image data or video data,

wherein the data server is configured to further adjust the content data including being configured to add the uploaded visual element to the content data, the further adjusted content data including the uploaded, added visual element.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data server is configured to receive data associated with a further user interaction including a location identifier reflecting a geographic location or contact information for the user, and

wherein the data server is configured to further adjust the content data including being configured to add the location identifier or contact information to the content data, the further adjusted content data including the added location identifier or contact information.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the data server being configured to further adjust the content data includes being configured to add previously-uploaded image data with the location identifier or contact information, the further adjusted content data including the added, previously-uploaded image data and location identifier or contact information.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable storage medium and computer-readable program code portions being configured to, with a processor, cause an apparatus to at least:

receive a data stream including content data from a data server, the data server being configured to simultaneously provide the same data stream to one or more other devices for presentation of the same content data by the respective one or more other devices, the content data including audio data for a currently-played song and a plurality of visual elements including image data for the currently-played song and one or more upcoming songs in a queue of songs;

direct presentation of the content data of the data stream to a user, including being configured to cause the apparatus to scroll or slide the visual elements arranged in a position on a screen, the image data for the one or more upcoming songs being arranged on the screen in an order the data server is configured to add the respective one or more upcoming songs to the content data to thereby play the respective one or more upcoming songs;

receive an indication of user interaction with the content data of the data stream, the indication including a vote for or against an upcoming song in the queue of songs; and

direct transmission of data associated with the user interaction and including the vote, the data server being configured to adjust the content data of the data stream per the user interaction, including the data server being configured to adjust the content data to reorder the image data for the respective upcoming song in the queue of songs or remove the image data for the respective upcoming song in the queue of songs based on the vote from the device and a vote for or against the respective upcoming song from any of the one or more other devices,

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to receive the data stream includes being configured to cause the apparatus to receive the data stream further including the adjusted content data, and being configured to cause the apparatus to direct presentation of the content data includes being configured to cause the apparatus to further direct presentation of the adjusted content data, the data server being configured to simultaneously provide the same data stream to the one or more other devices for further presentation of the same adjusted content data by the respective one or more other devices.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the content data further includes one or more of textual data or video data.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is caused to receive an indication of a further user interaction including one or more of image data, textual data, video data or audio data.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is caused to receive an indication of a further user interaction, including input regarding one or more songs of one or more of the currently-played song or one or more upcoming songs.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is caused to receive an indication of a further user interaction including a request for further information regarding one or more songs of one or more of the currently-played song or one or more upcoming songs.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is caused to receive an indication of a further user interaction including a request to purchase a good or service associated with one or more songs of one or more of the currently-played song or one or more upcoming songs.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is caused to receive an indication of a further user interaction including selection of a visual element different from the visual elements of the content data, the selected visual element including one or more of image data or video data,

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to direct transmission of data associated with the further user interaction includes being configured to cause the apparatus to direct an upload of the selected visual element, the data server being configured to further adjust the content data of the data stream to add the selected, uploaded visual element of the content data, the further adjusted content data including the uploaded, added visual element.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable storage medium and computer-readable program code portions being configured to, with a processor, cause an apparatus to at least:

direct simultaneous provision of a data stream including content data to a plurality of devices for presentation of the content data of the data stream to respective users of the devices, the content data including audio data for a currently-played song and a plurality of visual elements including image data for the currently-played song and one or more upcoming songs in a queue of songs,

wherein the apparatus is caused to direct provision of the data stream for the devices to scroll or slide the visual elements arranged in a position on respective screens, the image data for the one or more upcoming songs being arranged on the respective screens in an order the data server is configured to add the respective one or more upcoming songs to the content data to thereby play the respective one or more upcoming songs;

receive from one of the devices, data associated with a user interaction with the content data of the data stream, the indication including a vote for or against an upcoming song in the queue of songs; and

adjust the content data of the data stream per the user interaction, including the apparatus being caused to adjust the content data to reorder the image data for the respective upcoming song in the queue of songs or remove the image data for the respective upcoming song in the queue of songs based on the vote from the one of the devices and a vote for or against the respective upcoming song from any other of the devices,

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to direct provision of the data stream further includes being configured to cause the apparatus to direct simultaneous provision of the data stream further including the adjusted content data to the plurality of devices for further presentation of the adjusted content of the data stream to the users of the respective devices.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the content data further includes one or more of textual data or video data.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the apparatus is caused to receive data associated with a further user interaction including one or more of image data, textual data, video data or audio data.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the apparatus is caused to receive data associated with a further user interaction including input regarding one or more songs of one or more of the currently-played song or one or more upcoming songs.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the apparatus is caused to receive data associated with a further user interaction including a request for further information regarding one or more songs of one or more of the currently-played song or one or more upcoming songs.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the apparatus is caused to receive data associated with a further user interaction including a request to purchase a good or service associated with one or more songs of one or more of the currently-played song or one or more upcoming songs.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the apparatus is caused to receive data associated with a further user interaction including an uploaded visual element different from the visual elements of the content data, the uploaded visual element including one or more of image data or video data,

wherein the apparatus is caused to further adjust the content data including the apparatus being caused to add the uploaded visual element to the content data, the further adjusted content data including the uploaded, added visual element.