Control-based content pricing

• US 8,065,696 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2004
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chapman, Ann E., Scott, Samuel Thomas III, Carle, Kevin T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): STRONCZER, RYAN S
• Application Number:
  US10/805,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20050210498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,804 Days
• Field of Search: 725/8, 725/23
• US Class Current: 725/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

In an implementation of control-based content pricing, a content server distributes media content to a client device in response to a request from the client device to receive the media content. A valuation application allocates a cost to the client device when the media content is distributed to the client device. The content server receives a view control input from the client device that indicates how the media content is to be rendered and the valuation application adjusts the cost according to the view control input and how the media content is to be rendered.

Claims

1. A control-based content pricing system, comprising:

a content server configured to;

distribute a media content to a client device in response to a request from the client device to receive the media content;

distribute an advertisement with the media content by prepending the advertisement to the media content before the media content and the advertisement are distributed to the client device;

receive a view control input from the client device after the media content and the advertisement have been distributed to the client device, the view control input indicating how the media content and the advertisement are to be rendered, wherein the view control input comprises a navigation control selected from a plurality of navigation controls;

an advertisement log located on the content server and configured to track if the advertisement is rendered for viewing by the client device based on the view control input received or a base time-line based on rendering both the media content and the advertisement on the client device; and

a valuation application located on the content server and configured to;

allocate a cost to the client device for the media content that is distributed, wherein the cost is a direct function of a user viewing interaction based on a view control input received during a playback of the media content requested;

adjust the cost allocated for the media content according to the view control input and how the media content was rendered on the client device, wherein each navigation control of the plurality of navigation controls has an associated cost adjustment; and

adjust the cost based on whether the advertisement was rendered for viewing, the cost being adjusted based on the view control input and a base time-line, the base time-line including a media content duration and an advertisement duration.

2. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the media content has a first value associated with a particular property of the media content;

the content server is further configured to receive the view control input as a command to select a second value for the particular property of the media content being rendered; and

the valuation application is further configured to decrease the cost according to a decrease in distribution cost of the media content having the second value for the particular property compared to the media content having the first value for the particular property.

3. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the content server is further configured to receive the view control input as a command to render both the advertisement and the media content for viewing, and wherein the valuation application is further configured to decrease the cost in response to the view control input to render both the advertisement and the media content for viewing.

4. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the content server is further configured to distribute the media content as a first media stream and, in response to the view control input, distribute the media content as a second media stream to render the media content according the view control input, and wherein the valuation application is further configured to adjust the cost based on the second media stream.

5. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the content server is further configured to receive the view control input as a command to end distribution of the media content to the client device, and wherein the valuation application is further configured to decrease the cost in response to a distribution end of the media content.

6. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the content server is further configured to receive the view control input as a command to replay a portion of the media content being rendered, and wherein the valuation application is further configured to increase the cost in response to the replay command.

7. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the content server is further configured to receive the view control input as a command to advance the media content being rendered, and wherein the valuation application is further configured to increase the cost in response to the advance command.

8. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the content server is further configured to:

distribute the media content as a first media stream;

receive the view control input as a command to replay a portion of the media content being rendered; and

distribute the media content as a second media stream to render the media content according the view control input;

wherein the valuation application is further configured to increase the cost based on the second media stream.

9. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the content server is further configured to:

distribute the media content as a first media stream;

receive the view control input as a command to advance the media content being rendered; and

distribute the media content as a second media stream to render the media content according the view control input;

wherein the valuation application is further configured to increase the cost based on the second media stream.

10. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the content server is further configured to:

receive the view control input as a command to render the advertisement for viewing; and

log that the advertisement was rendered for viewing.

11. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the content server is further configured to:

distribute the media content as a first media stream;

receive the view control input as a command to pause distribution of the media content to the client device;

receive a second view control input from a second client device to resume distribution of the media content from a point at which the media content was paused; and

distribute the media content as a second media stream to the second client device, wherein the valuation application is further configured to increase the cost based on the second media stream.

45. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of navigation controls comprises:

a fast-forward command;

a skip ahead command;

a jump to command;

a pause command;

a replay command; and

a slow command.

46. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

a first navigation control of the plurality of navigation controls has an associated first cost adjustment;

a second navigation control of the plurality of navigation controls has an associated second cost adjustment, the second cost adjustment being different from the first cost adjustment; and

the valuation application is configured to adjust the cost allocated for the media content according to the view control input and how the media content was rendered on the client device such that;

if the view control input comprises the first navigation control, the first cost adjustment is used to adjust the cost allocated for the media content; and

if the view control input comprises the second navigation control, the second cost adjustment is used to adjust the cost allocated for the media content.

47. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 2, wherein the particular property includes a display resolution.

12. A digital video content server, comprising:

a valuation application configured to allocate a cost to a client device for distribution of a video content to the client device from the digital video content server, wherein an advertisement is prepended to the video content before the video content and the advertisement are distributed to the client device;

the valuation application further configured to adjust the cost allocated for the video content based on whether or not the advertisement is rendered for viewing by the client device, wherein adjustment of the cost is based on a user viewing interaction that is indicated by a user-selected view control input, and adjustment of the cost is based on a base time-line, the base time-line including a media content duration and an advertisement duration.

13. A digital video content server as recited in claim 12, the valuation application further configured to increase the cost in response to a view control input received from the client device to advance past the advertisement such that the advertisement is not rendered for viewing.

14. A digital video content server as recited in claim 12, the valuation application further configured to decrease the cost in response to a view control input received from the client device to render the advertisement for viewing.

15. A digital video content server as recited in claim 12, the valuation application further configured to decrease the cost in response to a view control input received from the client device to render both the advertisement and the video content for viewing.

16. A control-based content pricing system, comprising:

a client device configured to;

request media content from a content server;

receive the media content with an advertisement from the content server, wherein the advertisement is prepended to the media content at the content server;

initiate rendering the media content;

receive a view control input that indicates how the media content is to be rendered, wherein the view control input comprises a navigation control selected from a plurality of navigation controls; and

communicate the view control input to the content server via a communication control channel, the view control input providing a basis to adjust a cost allocated to the client device for the media content based upon a cost adjustment associated with the selected navigation control, wherein each navigation control of the plurality of navigation controls is associated with a particular cost adjustment, wherein the cost allocated to the client device is adjusted based on whether the advertisement is rendered for viewing, the cost being adjusted based on the control view input and a base time-line, the base time-line including a media content duration and an advertisement duration.

17. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 16, wherein the client device is further configured to:

receive the view control input as a first command to select a first property of the media content being rendered and to receive the view control input as a second command to select a second property of the media content being rendered, and

wherein the valuation application is further configured to decrease the cost according to a decrease in distribution cost of the media content having the first property content compared to the media content having the second property.

18. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 16, wherein the cost allocated to the client device is adjusted to zero if the advertisement is rendered for viewing.

19. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 16, wherein the cost allocated to the client device is increased if the view control input is a command to advance past the advertisement such that the advertisement is not rendered for viewing.

20. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 16, wherein the cost allocated to the client device is decreased if the view control input is a command to render the advertisement for viewing.

21. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 16, wherein the client device is further configured to receive the view control input as a command to replay a portion of the media content being rendered, and wherein the cost allocated to the client device is increased in response to the replay command.

22. A control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 16, wherein the client device is further configured to receive the view control input as a command to advance the media content being rendered, and wherein the cost allocated to the client device is increased in response to the advance command.

23. A television-based system comprising the control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 16, wherein the client device is a television-based receiver configured to receive the media content as digital video.

24. A computing system comprising the control-based content pricing system as recited in claim 16, wherein the client device is a television-enabled computing device configured to receive the media content as digital video.

25. A method using computer instructions stored on a computer-readable medium and executable by a processor, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a client device to receive media content;

distributing the media content to the client device in response to receiving the request, wherein an advertisement is prepended to the media content before the media content and the advertisement are distributed to the client device;

receiving a view control input selected from a plurality of view control inputs;

allocating a cost for the media content that is distributed to the client device when distributing the media content to the client device;

adjusting the cost based on whether the advertisement is rendered for viewing, the cost being adjusted based on the view control input and a base time-line that includes a media content duration and an advertisement duration.

26. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising distributing a reduced resolution media content to the client device in response to receiving the view control input as a first command to select a first property of the media content being rendered and to receive the view control input as a second command to select a second property of the media content being rendered, and wherein the valuation application is further configured to decrease the cost according to a decrease in distribution cost of the media content having the first property compared to the media content having the second property.

27. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein receiving the view control input includes receiving a content navigation input to advance past the advertisement, and adjusting the cost includes increasing the cost based on the advertisement not being rendered for viewing.

28. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein adjusting the cost includes decreasing the cost based on the advertisement being rendered for viewing.

29. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein receiving the view control input includes receiving a command to end distribution of the media content to the client device, and wherein adjusting the cost includes decreasing the cost in response to the distribution end of the media content.

30. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein receiving the view control input includes receiving a command to advance the media content, and wherein adjusting the cost includes increasing the cost in response to the command to advance the media content.

31. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein:

distributing the media content includes distributing a first media stream to the client device;

receiving the view control input includes receiving a command to advance the media content;

adjusting the cost includes increasing the cost in response to the command to advance the media content; and

the method further comprises distributing a second media stream to the client device to render the media content based on the view control input.

32. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein receiving the view control input includes receiving a command to replay a portion of the media content being rendered, and wherein adjusting the cost includes increasing the cost in response to the command to replay the portion of the media content.

33. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein:

distributing the media content includes distributing a first media stream to the client device;

receiving the view control input includes receiving a command to replay a portion of the media content being rendered;

adjusting the cost includes increasing the cost in response to the command to replay the portion of the media content; and

the method further comprises distributing a second media stream to the client device to render the media content based on the view control input.

34. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising logging whether the advertisement is rendered for viewing based on the view control input.

35. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising logging whether the advertisement is rendered for viewing based on the base time-line.

36. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein:

distributing the media content includes distributing a first media stream to the client device;

receiving the view control input includes receiving a command to pause distribution of the media content to the client device;

adjusting the cost includes increasing the cost in response to the command to pause the media content; and

the method further comprises;

receiving a second view control input from a second client device to resume distribution of the media content from a point at which the media content was paused; and

distributing the media content as a second media stream to the second client device.

48. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein:

a first view control input of the plurality of view control inputs has an associated first cost adjustment;

a second view control input of the plurality of view control inputs has an associated second cost adjustment; and

the first cost adjustment is different from the second cost adjustment.

37. A method using computer instructions stored on a computer-readable medium and executable by a processor, the method comprising:

requesting media content on a client device from a content server;

receiving on the client device the media content with an advertisement from the content server, wherein the advertisement is prepended to the media content at the content server;

initiating rendering the media content on the client device;

receiving on the client device, a user-selected view control input selected from a plurality of view control inputs, wherein each view control input of the plurality of view control inputs has an associated cost adjustment such that a first view control input of the plurality of view control inputs has an associated first cost adjustment and a second view control input of the plurality of view control inputs has an associated second cost adjustment, the first cost adjustment being different from the second cost adjustment; and

communicating the user-selected view control input from the client device to the content server to provide a basis to adjust an allocated cost for the client device for receiving the media content, wherein the basis for adjusting the allocated cost is based upon the cost adjustment associated with the user-selected view control input.

38. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein:

receiving the user-selected view control input includes receiving a command to advance past the advertisement such that the advertisement is not rendered for viewing; and

communicating the user-selected view control input includes communicating the command to advance past the advertisement to provide a basis to increase the allocated cost.

39. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein:

receiving the user-selected view control input includes receiving a command to render the advertisement for viewing; and

communicating the user-selected view control input includes communicating the command to render the advertisement to provide a basis to decrease the allocated cost.

40. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein receiving the user-selected view control input includes receiving a command to replay a portion of the media content being rendered, and wherein communicating the user-selected view control input includes communicating the replay command to provide a basis to increase the allocated cost.

41. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein receiving the user-selected view control input includes receiving a command to advance the media content being rendered, and communicating the user-selected view control input includes communicating the advance command to provide a basis to increase the allocated cost.

49. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein:

the first cost adjustment results in an increase in the allocated cost; and

the second cost adjustment results in a decrease in the allocated cost.

50. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein:

the first cost adjustment results in an increase in the allocated cost; and

the second cost adjustment results in a decrease in the allocated cost.

42. One or more memory storage devices storing computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a media content server to:

distribute media content to a client device in response to a request from the client device to receive the media content, wherein an advertisement is prepended to the media content before the media content and the advertisement are distributed to the client device;

receive a view control input from the client device that indicates how the media content is to be rendered;

allocate a cost for the media content that is distributed to the client device when the media content is distributed to the client device, and

adjust the cost according to whether or not the advertisement was rendered for viewing, wherein adjusting the cost is based on the view control input and a base time-line, the base time-line including a media content duration and an advertisement duration.

43. One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 42, further storing computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the media content server to increase the cost in response to a view control input to advance the media content.

44. One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 42, further storing computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the media content server to increase the cost in response to a view control input to replay a portion of the media content.

51. A method comprising:

receiving from a client device, a request for media content;

determining a cost to be charged for delivering the media content;

delivering the media content to the client device, the media content that is delivered including a prepended advertisement;

determining a base time-line that includes a duration associated with the media content and a duration associated with the advertisement;

maintaining a first cost adjustment in association with a first view control and a second cost adjustment in association with a second view control, the first cost adjustment being different from the second cost adjustment;

receiving from the client device, an indication of a user-selected view control to be applied to the media content; and

adjusting the cost to be charged for delivering the media content, the cost being adjusted based on a comparison between a duration over which the media content as it was rendered through the client device and the base time-line and the cost being adjusted based on a cost adjustment associated with the user-selected view control, such that if the user-selected view control is the first view control, the cost is adjusted based on the first cost adjustment and if the user-selected view control is a the second view control, the cost is adjusted based on the second cost adjustment.

52. A method as recited in claim 51, wherein the comparison between the duration over which the media content as it was rendered through the client device and the base time-line results in the cost being increased.

53. A method as recited in claim 51, wherein the comparison between the duration over which the media content as it was rendered through the client device and the base time-line results in the cost being decreased.

54. A method as recited in claim 51, wherein the first cost adjustment is a cost increase and the second cost adjustment is a cost decrease.