Method for creating and exhibiting multidimensional interactive stories

• US 7,444,069 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2003
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Bernsley
• Original Assignee: Mark Bernsley
• Inventors: Bernsley, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chio; Tat Chi
• Application Number:
  US10/461,551
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 386125-126, 386/70, 386/98, 386/108, 386/112
• US Class Current: 386/239
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs

Abstract

A means of creating and means of exhibiting a multi-dimensional production consisting of two or more interrelated stories, story lines or story parts, in audio-visual media, by simultaneously delivering or streaming parallel “tracks” or “channels,” between and among which the viewer(s) can alternate at will to create a variable, interactive audio-visual experience or product. The technology is adaptable to a variety of delivery systems including, but not limited to, commercial broadcast television, pay television (cable and satellite) and theatrical release (i.e., movies in theaters).

Claims

1. A method of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations, comprising:

a. a multi-dimensional production having at least two interrelated stories, storylines or story parts in audio-visual media;

simultaneously delivering parallel tracks to the audience in the course of exhibiting the production, each of which parallel tracks contains a production of one of the at least two interrelated stories, storylines or story parts so that viewing can be alternated among the parallel tracks by the audience at the time of viewing; and

c. each of the tracks delivered in parallel with all of the other tracks so that at all times, each track is sufficiently related to the other tracks so that switching between tracks at any time provides cumulative and logically related content.

2. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least two interrelated stories, storylines or story parts are simultaneously streamed to the viewer in parallel so that any track that at least one viewer sees is selected for viewing for any length of time and the at least one viewer can switch to any other track at any time, said tracks being synergistically related for an enhanced viewing experience.

3. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 1, wherein each and all tracks comprises a complete and independently viewable presentation of a story.

4. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 1, further comprising means to indicate that alternative content is available.

5. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 4, wherein the means to indicate that alternative content is available is a symbol displayed at a location on a viewing screen.

6. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 4, wherein the means to indicate that alternative content is available is a display on a viewing box or media player.

7. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 1, wherein each story is stored on at least one laser readable disk such that each of the plurality of tracks is stored on at least one laser disk and a corresponding laser reader is used to read each respective track.

8. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 7, wherein the parallel tracks are stored on media in a manner allowing for each of such tracks to be read simultaneously with the others at playback by one of a plurality of reading means.

9. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 1, wherein the multidimensional stories are delivered via broadcast television.

10. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the content of each track being coordinated so that all tracks arrive and leave at common scenes in a coordinated timely manner.

11. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 1, wherein the multidimensional stories are delivered via motion pictures or satellite or cable.

12. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 1, wherein each track comprises a story parallel in time to the other tracks but addresses independent space and common event scenes;

or each track comprises a story parallel in time but in a separate dimension.

13. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 12, wherein each separate dimension is either a realtime event or a parallel flashback event.

14. A method of creating a multi-track audio-visual presentation, the presentation comprising a plurality of audio-visual productions exhibited as simultaneous alternative content, the method comprising the steps of:

a. writing a plurality of scripts;

each script being sufficiently related to the other scripts so as to add and contribute to the communication of the single presentation;

each script providing content for one or more of the plurality of audio-visual productions;

each script being written so that each and all of the audio-visual productions remain, during the course of presentation, sufficiently related at all times to each and all other related productions, such that switching by the audience between the productions continues to provide content logically relevant to the overall story and audio-visual experience of which the plurality of scripts and productions are a part; and

b. producing the plurality of audio-visual productions according to the plurality of related scripts;

each production being complete and independently viewable;

each production being related to the other related productions according to the plurality of related scripts in contributing to the presentation;

each production providing simultaneously available alternative content to each and all other related productions during the presentation;

each production having an exhibition time identical to each and all other related productions; and

each production being organized to contain scenes of such length and in such order so that switching by the audience from one point in one production, to the same elapsed time point of any other related production, being parallel portions, continue to provide content logically relevant to and consistent with the overall presentation of which the plurality of scripts and productions are a part.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of storing the plurality of audio-visual productions in one or a plurality of media designed to accommodate access to any and each of the parallel portions of such productions at any time as part of the presentation.

16. A method of exhibiting a multi-track audio-visual presentation, the presentation consisting of a plurality of related, audio-visual productions, each presenting simultaneously available alternative content during the presentation, said method comprising the steps of:

making each and all of parallel portions of the plurality of related audio-visual productions available for exhibition at any time during the presentation;

providing an audience a means of selecting which of the plurality of related audio-visual productions to experience during each and all times during the presentation; and

in response to the audience selection, switching the presentation from the related audio-visual production then being exhibited to the same elapsed time point in the related audio-visual production selected.