Methods of enhancing media content narrative

• US 7,669,128 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intension Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intension Incorporated
• Inventors: Bailey, Christopher A., Rozner, William John
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo; Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran; Tuyetlien T
• Application Number:
  US11/687,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20070220583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 715/719, 725/735, 725/35, 725/37
• US Class Current: 715/719
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

In a method of enhancing a viewer'"'"'s experience of a video program, a plurality of selectable alternative video program scenes are provided for a video program being viewed on a display. The selectable alternative program versions are pre-rendered video scenes. A user is prompted to select at least one of the selectable alternative video program scenes for viewing.

Claims

1. A method of enhancing a viewer'"'"'s experience of a video program, comprising:

providing a plurality of selectable alternative video program scenes for a video program being viewed on a display, the selectable alternative video program scenes being pre-rendered video scenes that are displayed on a portion of the display as a plurality of selectable elements in a multiple column by multiple row navigation grid, the navigation grid formatted so that each row represents a sub-chapter of the plurality of selectable elements that are common to all columns and each column represents a chapter having designated sub-chapters therein that are tied to the respective chapter;

prompting a user to select one or more of the plurality of selectable elements in the navigation grid;

storing the user selections from the navigation grid as a digital scene selection file; and

loading the digital scene selection file to replay the video program as modified with the one or more video program scenes corresponding to the one or more selectable elements selected from the navigation grid on the display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectable alternative video program scenes are different editing cuts of the same video program scene.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectable alternative video program scenes include video scenes associated with one or more remakes of an original video program.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectable alternative video program scenes are associated with different educational levels.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the selectable alternative video program scenes are associated with different prices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectable alternative video program scenes include at least one of an animated option and a live-action option.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectable alternative video program scenes are associated with different demographics.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectable alternative video program scenes are associated with different movie ratings based on content provided within the selectable alternative video program scenes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein prompting includes displaying an advertisement.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the advertisement is displayed during the prompting step in proximity to the navigation grid of selectable alternative video program scenes.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user scene selection in response to the prompting; and

tuning to one of a plurality of broadcasted digital signals based on the user scene selection, the plurality of broadcasted digital signals corresponding to the plurality of selectable alternative video program scenes.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the broadcasted digital signals are broadcasted over one or more of a cable channel, an internet channel, a wireless channel and a satellite channel.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the digital scene selection file to at least one other user.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the selected program scenes is displayed to the user in a given sequence.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the given sequence is user designated.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the given sequence corresponds chronologically to the sequence in which the user selected the selected program scenes.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the given sequence corresponds to a default sequence of selectable elements within the navigation grid.