Synchronizing digital content

• US 9,760,920 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2012
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audible Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Audible Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Voynow, Gregory I., Story, Jr., Guy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAHGOZAR, OMEED DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US13/552,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,882 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to one or more configured computing systems identifying when decoupled content includes a companion content pair (e.g., a first content and a second content) that can be synchronously or interchangeably presented. Further, aspects of the present disclosure relate to notifying a user of the availability of companion content. Notifications can be displayed to a user at any number of notifications triggers that indicate the user may be interested in acquiring companion content. Further, notifications may correspond to an offer to acquire at least a portion of companion content, such as a trial of the companion content. If a user accepts such an offer, synchronization information may be used to begin presentation of the companion content from a last consumed position of a corresponding first content.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing synchronized content, the computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of one or more computing devices configured with specific executable instructions,

obtaining content synchronization information for synchronizing presentation of a first content of a first format and a second content of a second format, wherein the content synchronization information indicates at least one disparity in substance between the first content and second content, and wherein the first content obtained separately from the second content;

determining that a user has halted consumption of the first content using a consuming computing device;

determining that the user has begun consumption using the consuming computing device of a third content of the second format within a predefined period of time after determining that a user has halted consumption of the first content using the consuming computing device;

transmitting a notification to a computing device associated with the user indicating the availability of the second content, the notification corresponding to an offer to acquire the second content;

receiving an acceptance of the offer by the user;

determining at least a portion of the second content based at least in part on the content synchronization information and a halt position of user within the first content; and

transmitting the determined at least one portion of the second content to the computing device associated with the user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first content comprises an e-book, wherein the second content comprises an audio book corresponding to the e-book, and wherein the third content comprises an audio book that does not correspond to the e-book.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the consuming computing device and the computing device associated with the user are the same device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the second content corresponds to an unconsumed portion of the first content.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the second content corresponds to a trial portion of the second content comprising less than all unconsumed portions of the first content.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the second content is associated with usage restrictions.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the usage restrictions correspond to at least one of a maximum playback time of the second content, a period of time during which the second content is accessible, and maximum number of times a second content can be consumed.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a set of user preferences regarding transmission of notifications to the computing device associated with the user, and

determining that transmitting the notification is in accordance with the set of user preferences.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the context of the device of the user comprises to at least one of:

a location, a speed, a font size, a volume, an output capability, an ambient light level, and an ambient noise level.

9. A system for providing synchronized content, the system comprising:

at least one data store configured to store information regarding a first content that can be synchronized with a second content, wherein the first content is obtained separately from the second content; and

one or more processors configured to;

determine an occurrence of a user notification trigger, wherein the user notification trigger indicates that a user may be interested in acquiring the second content;

in response to the occurrence of the notification trigger, transmit a notification indicating the availability of the second content to the user, the notification corresponding to an offer for at least a portion of the second content;

receive an acceptance of the offer by the user;

obtain content synchronization information for synchronizing presentation of the first content and the second content, wherein the content synchronization information indicates at least one disparity in substance between the first content and second content; and

provide the content synchronization information to a consuming computing device associated the user in order to enable synchronized presentation of the first content and the second content to the user by the consuming computing device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the notification trigger comprises at least one of:

halting consumption of the first content, and beginning consumption of a third content of a format corresponding to the format of the second content;

initiating a format altering function with respect to the first content; and

detecting a change in context of a the consuming computing device associated with the user.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein determination of a notification trigger is based at least in part on at least one of a purchase history of the user, a purchase history rate of the user, the user'"'"'s prior responses to one or more prior notifications, and demographic information regarding the user.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the portion of the second content is determined based at least in part on a last position of consumption of the base content by the user.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein offer is associated with payment of a fee by the user.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the fee corresponds to at least one of a fixed fee, a fee based at least in part on the size of the portion of the second content relative to the entire second content, or a fee based at least in part on an amount of the second content consumed by a user.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive a set of user preferences regarding transmission of notifications; and

determine that transmission of the notification is in accordance with the set of user preferences.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the set of user preferences specify at least one of a location of the user in which notifications may be transmitted, a time during which notifications may be transmitted, and a maximum fee associated with a transmitted notification.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine a time to transmit the notification based at least in part on a calendar of the user.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are included within the consuming computing device associated with the user.

20. A computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium having at least one computer-executable module for providing synchronized content, the at least one computer-executable module comprising:

a companion content notification module configured to;

determine an occurrence of a notification trigger corresponding to a first content, wherein the notification trigger is associated with an offer to acquire at least a portion of a second content that can be synchronized with the first content, and wherein the second content is obtained separately from the first content;

in response to the occurrence of the notification trigger, electronically transmit the offer to the user;

electronically receive an acceptance of the offer by the user;

obtain content synchronization information for synchronizing presentation of the first content and the second content, wherein the content synchronization information indicates at least one disparity in substance between the first content and second content;

provide the content synchronization information to a consuming computing device associated the user in order to enable synchronized presentation of the first content and the second content to the user by the consuming computing device.

21. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 20, wherein the portion of the second content corresponds to a trial portion of the second content associated with a maximum duration of consumption of the portion of the second content by the user.

22. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 20, wherein the notification trigger is determined based at least in part on a set of user preferences.

23. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 20, wherein the portion of the second content is associated with usage restrictions.

24. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 20, wherein the usage restrictions comprise at least one of a maximum playback time of the second content, a period of time during which the second content is accessible, and maximum number of times a second content can be consumed.

25. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 20, wherein the notification trigger comprises at least one of:

halting consumption of the first content, and beginning consumption of a third content of a format corresponding to the format of the second content;

initiating a format altering function with respect to the first content; and

detecting a change in context of the consuming computing device.

26. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 20, wherein the context of the device of the user comprises to at least one of:

a location, a speed, a font size, a volume, an output capability, an ambient light level, and an ambient noise level.

27. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 20, wherein determination of a notification trigger is based at least in part on at least one of a purchase history of the user, a purchase history velocity of the user, the user'"'"'s prior responses to one or more prior notifications, and demographic information regarding the user.