User interfaces for web-based video player

• US 9,438,956 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2015
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, Christoform, Rajaraman, Shivakumar, Schrock, Jasson, Wang, Virginia
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, MUSHFIKH I
• Application Number:
  US14/823,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20150350739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 725 37- 61
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• 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 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system, method and various user interfaces enable association of advertising content with requested shared video content for access via a web-based video player. Advertising content is provided selectively in conjunction with playback of video content. Selection of how and where advertising is displayed is based on a flexibly managed balance between providing sufficiently noticeable opportunities to access advertising information and preserving a satisfying viewer experience in watching requested video content.

Claims

1. A method for providing video content, comprising:

transmitting, to a video hosting service, a user request for video content;

presenting the requested video content in a web-based video player;

responsive to completing playback of the requested video content, presenting a post-roll presentation of advertising in a first display area of the web-based video player;

responsive to completing playback of the requested video content, presenting in a second display area of the web-based video player, a graphical element that periodically and automatically updates to identify different recommended videos related to the video content requested by the user; and

responsive to completing playback of the requested video content, presenting in a third display area of the web-based video player, an interface button for replaying the video content requested by the user, the interface button when selected, causing the request video content to replay from its beginning,

wherein the third display area is adjacent to the first display area.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to presenting the post-roll presentation of advertising, displaying a frame of the post-roll presentation of advertising together with a play button; and

wherein presenting the post-roll presentation of advertising in the post-roll advertising window occurs responsive to user selection of the play button.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a user control for skipping the post-roll presentation of advertising; and

skipping the post-roll presentation of advertising in response to user selection of the control for skipping the post-roll presentation of advertising.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to presenting the requested video content, loading a representative frame of the requested video content to the video playback window;

superimposing a pre-roll advertising window on the video playback window; and

presenting pre-roll advertising in the pre-roll advertising window.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting, in a mid-roll advertising window superimposed on the video playback window during presentation of the requested video content, a first user control to initiate a mid-roll presentation of advertising in the mid-roll advertising window and a second user control to skip the mid-roll presentation of advertising and continue presentation of the requested video content in the video playback window, wherein the mid-roll advertising window is removed from display responsive to selection of the second user control.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the mid-roll advertising window is translucent such that the representative frame displayed within the video playback window is at least partially visible behind the mid-roll advertising window.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising sliding the mid-roll advertising window into the video playback window.

8. The method of claim 5, further including displaying an indicator showing temporal placement and duration of the mid-roll presentation of advertising relative to the video content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the post-roll presentation of advertising in the post-roll advertising window further includes displaying a progress indicator indicating remaining time of the post-roll presentation of advertising.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting, together with the post-roll presentation of advertising in the web-based video player, a graphical element that when selected, enables a user to share the video with a different user.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting in the second display area comprises:

presenting a banner in the second display area that identifies a first recommended video; and

after a predetermined amount of time, changing the banner in the second display area to identify a second recommended video.

11. A video hosting server comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed cause the processor to perform steps comprising;

presenting requested video content in a web-based video player;

responsive to completing playback of the requested video content, presenting a post-roll presentation of advertising in a first display area of the web-based video player;

responsive to completing playback of the requested video content, presenting in a second display area of the web-based video player, a graphical element that periodically and automatically updates to identify different recommended videos related to the video content requested by the user; and

responsive to completing playback of the requested video content, presenting in a third display area of the web-based video player, an interface button for replaying the video content requested by the user, the interface button when selected, causing the request video content to replay from its beginning,

wherein the third display area is adjacent to the first display area.

12. The video hosting server of claim 11, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further stores instructions that when executed causes the processor to perform steps including:

prior to presenting the post-roll presentation of advertising, displaying a frame of the post-roll presentation of advertising together with a play button; and

wherein presenting the post-roll presentation of advertising in the post-roll advertising window occurs responsive to user selection of the play button.

13. The video hosting server of claim 11, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further stores instructions that when executed causes the processor to perform steps including:

presenting a user control for skipping the post-roll presentation of advertising; and

skipping the post-roll presentation of advertising in response to user selection of the control for skipping the post-roll presentation of advertising.

14. The video hosting server of claim 11, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further stores instructions that when executed causes the processor to perform steps including:

prior to presenting the requested video content, loading a representative frame of the requested video content to the video playback window;

superimposing a pre-roll advertising window on the video playback window; and

presenting pre-roll advertising in the pre-roll advertising window.

15. The video hosting server of claim 11, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further stores instructions that when executed causes the processor to perform steps including:

presenting together with the post-roll presentation of advertising in the web-based video player, a graphical element that when selected, enables a user to share the video with a different user.

22. The video hosting server of claim 11, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further stores instructions that when executed causes the processor to perform steps including:

presenting a banner in the second display area that identifies a first recommended video; and

after a predetermined amount of time, changing the banner in the second display area to identify a second recommended video.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for providing video content, the instructions when executed causing a processor to perform steps comprising:

transmitting, to a video hosting service, a user request for video content;

presenting the requested video content in a web-based video player;

responsive to completing playback of the requested video content, presenting a post-roll presentation of advertising in a first display area of the web-based video player;

responsive to completing playback of the requested video content, presenting in a second display area of the web-based video player, a graphical element that periodically and automatically updates to identify different recommended videos related to the video content requested by the user; and

responsive to completing playback of the requested video content, presenting in a third display area of the web-based video player, an interface button for replaying the video content requested by the user, the interface button when selected, causing the request video content to replay from its beginning,

wherein the third display area is adjacent to the first display area.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, the instructions when executed further causing the processor to perform steps including:

prior to presenting the post-roll presentation of advertising, displaying a frame of the post-roll presentation of advertising together with a play button; and

wherein presenting the post-roll presentation of advertising in the post-roll advertising window occurs responsive to user selection of the play button.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, the instructions when executed further causing the processor to perform steps including:

presenting a user control for skipping the post-roll presentation of advertising; and

skipping the post-roll presentation of advertising in response to user selection of the control for skipping the post-roll presentation of advertising.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, the instructions when executed further causing the processor to perform steps including:

prior to presenting the requested video content, loading a representative frame of the requested video content to the video playback window;

superimposing a pre-roll advertising window on the video playback window; and

presenting pre-roll advertising in the pre-roll advertising window.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, the instructions when executed further causing the processor to perform steps including:

presenting together with the post-roll presentation of advertising in the web-based video player, a graphical element that when selected, enables a user to share the video with a different user.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, the instructions when executed further causing the processor to perform steps including:

presenting a banner in the second display area that identifies a first recommended video; and

after a predetermined amount of time, changing the banner in the second display area to identify a second recommended video.