System and process for incorporating, retrieving and displaying an enhanced flash movie

• US 20030145338A1
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Act Incorporated, ACTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: ACTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Harrington, Jeffrey M.
• Application Number:
  US10/354,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20030145338A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/136
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 Content authoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital

Abstract

A system and process for incorporating, retrieving and displaying an Enhanced Flash Movie (EFM) is provided. One embodiment of the system utilizes an URI decoder to extract from a combined signal an address identifying a provider of an EFM. The EFM may provide a Flash Movie, a Movie Player and at least one trigger, wherein the trigger provides a mean value pair data structure having a variable segment and a value segment. The trigger identifies when and from whom Enhanced Content related to the Flash Movie is available for presentation to the client via a client device with a Flash enabled Web browser. In another embodiment, a direct connection between a client device and a provider of an EFM is utilized to obtain the EFM. The EFM and/or the Enhanced Content related to a Flash Movie provided with the EFM may also be obtained directly from a computer readable medium.

Claims

1. A system for presenting Enhanced Content related to a Flash Movie provided in an Enhanced Flash Movie (EFM) comprising:

a means for receiving an EFM, wherein the EFM includes at least one Flash Movie;

a Web browser, connected to the means for receiving an EFM, for presenting the Flash Movie, obtaining Enhanced Content related to the EFM and presenting the Enhanced Content.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for receiving an EFM further comprises an URI decoder, whereupon receiving a combined signal containing a programming signal and at least one address identifying a provider of an EFM, the URI decoder obtains the at least one address from the combined signal and provides the address to the Web browser;

whereupon receipt of the address, the Web browser obtains the EFM from a location identified by the address.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a presentation device, connected to the URI decoder, for presenting the programming signal.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the presentation device further comprises at least one of an audio sound system, video system, television, computer monitor, headset, virtual reality system, tactile sensory system, home theater system, personal data assistant, set top box, and a gaming system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for receiving an EFM further comprises a communications link established between a provider of the EFM and the Web browser.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the communications link further comprises at least one established via a connection over an Internet, intranet, extranet, serial network, parallel network, digital network, analog network, wireless link, wired link, or a combination of any of the preceding.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for receiving an EFM further comprises at least one of a magnetic drive and an optical drive, and the EFM is provided on a data storage medium readable by at least one of the magnetic drive and the optical drive.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the system further comprises a data storage device and at least one of the EFM and the Enhanced Content is retrieved, by the at least one of a magnetic and an optical drive, from the data storage medium and saved in the data storage device.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the system further comprises a communications link for requesting and receiving Enhanced Content related to the Flash Movie from an Enhanced Content provider.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the EFM further comprises at least one trigger, wherein the trigger includes a second address and an indication of when the second address is to be utilized;

the second address identifying at least one provider of Enhanced Content that relates to the EFM.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one trigger is provided in the first frame of a Flash Movie, wherein the Flash Movie is provided with the EFM.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the trigger is implemented by a Movie Player.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the Movie Player further comprises:

a control layer, which enables a client, via the Web browser, to control the presentation of a Flash Movie provided with the EFM;

a timing and frame counting layer, in communication with the control layer, wherein the timing and frame counting layer receives an indication from the control layer when the Flash Movie is initiated and tracks the number of each frame being presented in a Flash Movie;

a scripting layer, in communication with the control layer and the timing and frame counting layer, which provides a repository for the trigger.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the Movie Player further comprises a data structure that is provided with the EFM.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the Movie Player further comprises a data structure that is built into the Web browser and wherein the EFM includes at least one trigger that is extracted by the Movie Player from the EFM and deposited into the scripting layer.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one trigger relates to a live Temporal Signal.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one trigger is executed based upon a command received from an external source.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the external source further comprises a producer controlling the Flash Movie from a server.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one trigger includes a program code.

20. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one trigger includes an event.

21. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one trigger is executed based upon time.

22. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one trigger is executed based upon a reference to a predetermined event.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the system further comprises a data storage device, accessible by the server, for storing the EFM.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the EFM Encoding System generates the EFM by inserting at least one trigger into the first frame of a Flash Movie.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the trigger further comprises a mean value pair further comprising a variable and a value, wherein the variable identifies a trigger and the value segment further comprises a reference indicating when during the Flash Movie to utilize an address also provided in the value segment of the mean value pair.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the address provided in the value segment of the mean value pair includes an URI identifying at least one provider of Enhanced Content.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one communications link further comprises a communications link established utilizing at least one of the Internet, an intranet, a serial connection, an analog connection, a digital connection, a private network and a public network.

A system for providing an EFM to a client device comprising:

a means for providing a programming signal;

a means for encoding a programming signal into a Flash Movie;

a mean for providing at least one segment of Enhanced Content;

a means for combining the programming signal which has been encoded into a Flash Movie and at least one trigger into an Enhanced Flash Movie, wherein each of the at least one trigger includes an address identifying a provider of the at least one segment of Enhanced Content and an indication of when to utilize the address in relation to a presentation of the programming signal encoded into a Flash Movie; and

a means for providing the Enhanced Flash Movie to a client device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the means for encoding a programming signal into a Flash Movie utilizes an audio and/or video to Flash compiling software application.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the means for providing the Enhanced Flash Movie to a client device further comprises a server.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the computer readable medium further comprises at least one of a compact disc, a digital versatile disc, a super audio compact disc, a magnetic tape, a floppy disc, a memory card, a flash card, a magnetically readable medium, and an optically readable medium.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the data structure is implemented via at least one Web browser.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein at least one of the at least one segment of Enhanced Content and the Flash Movie is stored in a data storage device.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the data storage device is located local to a Web browser utilized by a client device to present the Flash Movie.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the data storage device is located remote to a Web browser utilized by a client device to present the Flash Movie.

40. The Enhanced Flash Movie of claim 38, wherein the trigger further comprises a mean value pair further comprising a variable and a value.

42. The Enhanced Flash Movie of claim 40, wherein the address of the mean value pair identifies a location from which at least one segment of Enhanced Content may be retrieved.

23. A system for providing, to at least one client device, an EFM and Enhanced Content related to a Flash Movie provided with the EFM comprising:

a server for obtaining an EFM requested by at least one client device and providing the EFM to the at least one client device; and

at least one network connection, between the at least one client device and the server, facilitating the communication of the request and the providing of the EFM;

whereupon establishment of the at least one network connection between the server and the at least one client device and whereupon receipt by the server of the request, the server obtains and provides the requested EFM to the at least one client device.

25. The system of claim 23,wherein the EFM is provided to the server and stored in the data storage device by and EFM Encoding System.

29. A system for presenting Enhanced Content related to an EFM comprising:

a server which provides, to a client device, an EFM comprising a Flash Movie and at least one trigger;

an Enhanced Content provider which provides at least one segment of Enhanced Content related to the Flash Movie; and

at least one communications link between at least one of the Enhanced Content provider and the client device, the Enhanced Content provider and the server, and the server and the client device;

whereupon receiving the Flash Movie, the trigger and the EFM, the client device determines when, in relation to the presentation of the Flash Movie, to utilize an address provided with the trigger in order to retrieve the at least one segment of Enhanced Content related to the Flash Movie and present the at least one segment of Enhanced Content to the client device.

33. A computer readable medium providing a data structure configured to present Enhanced Content related to a program encoded in Flash comprising:

a Flash Movie further comprising a Flash encoded programming signal;

a Flash Movie layer further comprising an application layer for presenting the Flash Movie;

at least one trigger providing an address and a reference to the Flash Movie, wherein the address identifies a provider of Enhanced Content and the reference identifies when, in relation to the presentation of the Flash Movie, the address is to be utilized to obtain from the provider at least one segment of Enhanced Content; and

a Movie Player layer, wherein the Movie Player layer controls the presentation of the Flash Movie, implements the at least one trigger and obtains the at least one segment of Enhanced Content identified by the at least one trigger.

39. An apparatus for presenting an Enhanced Flash Movie comprising:

a controller for controlling the presentation of the Flash Movie;

a timing and frame counter, in communication with the controller, for determining a current frame count of the Flash Movie as it is being presented; and

a script generator, which receives the current frame count from the timing and frame counter, provides a holding location for at least one trigger and implements at least one trigger when the current frame count equals a triggered frame number.

41. The Enhanced Flash Movie of claim 39, wherein the value segment of the mean value pair further comprises an address and a reference to a certain frame of the Flash Movie as being a triggered frame, and the timing and frame counter counts each frame presented in the Flash Movie and utilizes the address provided in the trigger and associated with the triggered frame when the frame count determined by the timing and frame counter equals the reference frame specified in the trigger.

43. The Enhanced Flash Movie of claim 39, wherein the Enhanced Flash Movie is provided on at least one medium selected from the group consisting of a computer workstation, a personal data assistant, a Flash player, a television, a set top box, a home theater system, an audio system, a gaming system, and a video presentation system.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein the mean value pair data structure is encoded into a Flash Movie as a trigger.

44. A computer readable medium providing a mean value pair data structure for specifying when, during the presentation of a Flash Movie, to utilize at least one address identifying a provider of at least one segment of Enhanced Content comprising:

a variable segment identifying a trigger;

a value segment, further comprising;

a reference, indicating when to utilize an address provided in the value segment of a mean value pair data structure; and

the address providing at least one identification of a provider of Enhanced Content;

whereupon the occurrence of a predetermined event specified by the reference, the at least one address provided in the value segment is utilized to contact the provider of Enhanced Content and provide the at least one segment of Enhanced Content to a client.

46. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform a method for providing Enhanced Content related to a Flash Movie during a presentation of the Flash Movie, the method comprising:

receiving an Enhanced Flash Movie further comprising a Flash Movie, a Movie Player and at least one trigger, wherein the at least one trigger further comprises a mean value pair data structure including a variable segment and a value segment;

establishing a Movie Player layer, wherein the Movie Player layer further comprises a control layer, a Flash Movie layer, a timing and frame counting layer and a scripting layer;

loading the Flash Movie into the Flash Movie layer;

identifying the at least one trigger provided in the Flash Movie and placing the at least one identified trigger into the scripting layer;

monitoring the frame count of the Flash Movie as the Flash Movie is presented; and

implementing the at least one trigger when a frame number specified in a reference provided in the value segment equals the current frame count;

whereupon implementing the trigger the Movie Player utilizes information provided in the value segment to identify a provider of Enhanced Content, establish a connection with the provider and obtain at least one segment of Enhanced Content from the provider.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the EFM further comprises a Movie Player.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the Movie Player further comprises instructions for displaying, controlling and presenting at least one of an advertisement layer and a chat layer.

52. The process of claim 50, wherein the step of loading the EFM into the Web browser, further comprises:

configuring the Web browser for Flash formatted content;

loading a Movie Player;

generating a symbol designating a location on the Web browser for the Flash Movie to be presented;

fetching the Flash Movie from the EFM;

loading the Flash Movie into the Web browser at the symbol;

stopping the Flash Movie at a first frame of the Flash Movie;

determining whether the first frame contains any triggers; and

when the first frame does contain at least one trigger, propagating a scripting layer with each trigger.

53. The process of claim 50, wherein the step of implementing a trigger when a triggered frame occurs in the Flash Movie further comprises:

utilizing the address provided in the value segment to identify the at least one provider of Enhanced Content related to the Flash Movie;

establishing a connection with the provider at the at least one address;

obtaining at least one segment of Enhanced Content from the provider; and

presenting the at least one segment of Enhanced Content obtained from the provider to the client via the Web browser.

54. The process of claim 52, wherein the at least one segment of Enhanced Content obtained from the provider is presented to the client in an Enhanced Content layer provided on the Web browser.

56. The process of claim 54, wherein the device providing an EFM further comprises a server.

57. The process of claim 54, wherein the device providing an EFM further comprises a computer readable medium, wherein the EFM is obtained from the computer readable medium via a device configured to access the computer readable medium.

58. The process of claim 56, wherein the device configured to access the computer readable medium further comprises at least one of an optical drive, when the computer readable medium further comprises at least one of a compact disc, a digital video disc, a super audio disc, and an optically readable medium, and a magnetic drive, when the computer readable medium further comprises at least one of a floppy disc, a hard disc, a memory card, a flash memory, and a magnetically readable medium.

59. The process of claim 54, wherein the device providing an EFM further comprises a data storage device.

60. The process of claim 54, wherein the device providing an EFM further comprises a data storage device.

47. A method in a computer system for providing Enhanced Content related to a Flash Movie, comprising:

providing an EFM comprising a Flash Movie and at least one trigger, wherein the trigger further comprises a variable segment and a value segment;

establishing a communications link between a client device and a provider of Enhanced Content identified in a value segment of at least one trigger, when a condition specified in a reference provided in the value segment is satisfied; and

providing at least one segment of Enhanced Content to the client device upon establishing of the communications link between the client device and the provider of Enhanced Content;

wherein the at least one segment of Enhanced Content provided is related to at least one frame of the Flash Movie provided with the EFM.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the Movie Player further comprises instructions for displaying, controlling and presenting the Flash Movie and the at least one segment of Enhanced Content related thereto, by:

generating, on a client device, a Movie Player layer;

wherein the Movie Player layer further comprises;

a control layer;

a timing and frame counting layer, in communication with the control layer; and

a scripting layer, in communication with the control layer; and

generating, on a client device, a Flash Movie layer;

wherein the control layer enables a client to control at least one of the presentation of the Flash Movie and the at least one segment of Enhanced Content, the timing and frame counting layer determines when during the presentation of the Flash Movie to utilize a trigger and to retrieve the at least one segment of Enhanced Content, and the scripting layer provides a repository for the trigger.

51. A process for providing Enhanced Content related to a Flash Movie provided in conjunction with a programming signal comprising:

(a) receiving a combined signal, wherein the combined signal further comprises a programming signal and at least one address identifying a provider of an EFM related to the programming signal;

(b) separating the at least one address from the combined signal;

(c) providing the programming signal to a presentation device for presentation to at least one client;

(d) providing the at least one address separated from the combined signal to a Web browser;

(e) establishing a connection between the Web browser and a server identified by the at least one address;

(f) receiving, from the server and at the Web browser, the EFM;

wherein the EFM further comprises a Flash Movie, a Movie Player and at least one trigger, wherein the trigger further comprises a mean value pair data structure further comprising a variable segment specifying a trigger and a value segment providing a reference for when to utilize an address provided in the value segment and the address identifying at least one provider of Enhanced Content related to the Flash Movie;

(g) loading the EFM into the Web browser;

(h) presenting, with the Web browser, the Flash Movie;

(i) monitoring a frame count of the Flash Movie as it is presented;

(j) determining when a triggered frame will occur in the Flash Movie;

(k) implementing a trigger when a triggered frame occurs in the Flash Movie;

(l) repeating steps (h) to (k) until at least one of the Flash Movie ends and the presentation of the Flash Movie is terminated.

55. A process for providing Enhanced Content related to a Flash Movie comprising:

(a) establishing a connection between the Web browser and a device providing an EFM;

(b) receiving from the device and at the Web browser, the EFM;

wherein the EFM further comprises a Flash Movie, a Movie Player and at least one trigger, wherein the trigger further comprises a mean value pair data structure further comprising a variable segment specifying a trigger and a value segment further comprising a reference indicating when to utilize an address provided in the value segment, and the address providing at least one identification from where at least one segment of Enhanced Content related to the Flash Movie can be obtained by the Web browser;

(c) loading the EFM into the Web browser;

(d) presenting, with the Web browser, the Flash Movie;

(e) monitoring a frame count of the Flash Movie as it is presented;

(f) determining when a triggered frame will occur in the Flash Movie;

(g) implementing a trigger when a triggered frame occurs in the Flash Movie;

(h) repeating steps (d) to (g) until at least one of the Flash Movie ends and the presentation of the Flash Movie is terminated.