Multi-story visual experience

• US 9,851,868 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2014
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Elmieh, Baback
• Primary Examiner(s): Belousov, Andrey
• Application Number:
  US14/513,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20160026344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 715719, 715720, 715776, 715781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8541 involving branching, e.g. to different story endings

Abstract

Techniques and apparatuses enabling multi-story visual experiences are described. These techniques and apparatuses enable a user to view multiple storylines through their view selections. By so doing, a user may enjoy either or both of the stories without sacrificing the storytelling experience or a user'"'"'s ability to determine a manner in which to engage with the stories.

Claims

1. A method performed by an apparatus, the method comprising:

presenting, through a display, a visual experience capable of telling multiple stories, the visual experience in moving visual form and including at least a first story and a second story, the first story being an authored first series of first events and the second story being an authored second series of second events, the authored first series of first events and the authored second series of second events sharing an inflection event connecting plots of the first story and the second story; and

receiving a view selection and, when the view selection presents an inflection view including the inflection event;

determining, based on information about the visual experience or prior viewing of the visual experience, that an event of the first series of events of the first story or an event of the second series of events of the second story has not been presented; and

in response to determining, presenting the determined first event or the determined second event.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual experience includes context views, and responsive to receiving view selections that present the context views, ceasing to progress through the authored first series or the authored second series.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving the view selection includes receiving the view selection from a mobile media-consumption device on which the visual experience is presented and through orientation sensors including a camera or an accelerometer.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the view selection received from the mobile media-consumption device orients the display on which the visual experience is presented, the orienting effective to select to alter or maintain views on the display.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the inflection event is visually identical in a first story view and a second story view.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the inflection event is not visually identical in a first story view and a second story view.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving another view selection attempting to move from a last-presented view of the authored first or second series and, responsive to the other view selection, presenting another of the authored first or second series at a last-viewed event or at an event immediately following the last-viewed event of the other of the authored first or second series.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the authored first and second series of events are human-authored and fixed in both order and number.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual experience is annotated sufficient to permit identification of the view selection.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein presenting the visual experience of moving visual form includes presenting a movie, a television program, or computer-generated animation.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein presenting the determined first event or the determined second event includes presenting an event that occurs prior to the inflection event.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising returning to the inflection view after presenting the determined first event or the determined second event.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein presenting the first determined event includes presenting a beginning event of the first series of events or presenting the second determined event presents a beginning event of the second series of events.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining that the event of the first series or the event of the second series has not been presented is based on a condition assigned by an author of the first series or the second series.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a display;

one or more computer processors; and

one or more computer-readable storage devices comprising processor-executable instructions that, responsive to execution by the one or more computer processors, cause the apparatus to;

present, through the display, a visual experience capable of telling multiple stories, the visual experience in moving visual form and including at least a first story and a second story, the first story being an authored first series of first events and the second story being an authored second series of second events, the authored first series of first events and the authored second series of second events sharing an inflection event connecting the plots of the first story and the second story; and

receive a view selection and, when the view selection presents an inflection view including the inflection event;

determine, based on information about the visual experience or prior viewing of the visual experience, that an event of the first series of events of the first story or an event of the second series of events of the second story has not been presented; and

in response to the determination, present the determined first event or the determined second event.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the visual experience in moving visual form is presented as a movie, a television program, or computer-generated animation.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the determined first event or the determined second event includes an event that occurs prior to the inflection event.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the determined first event or the determined second event includes a beginning event of the first series or a beginning event of the second series, respectively.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to return back and present the inflection view of the inflection event after presenting the determined first event or the determined second event.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the determination is based, at least in part, on a condition assigned by an author of the first series or the second series.