Method and apparatus for browsing using multiple coordinated device sets

• US 8,161,172 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2009
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Convergent Media Solutions LLC (Strategic Intellectual Solutions, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Teleshuttle Tech2 LLC
• Inventors: Reisman, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): HOANG, HIEU T
• Application Number:
  US12/553,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20090320073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 719227-229
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/15 Synchronised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/426 Receiver side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2358 for generating different versions, e.g. for different recipient devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25 Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/4143 : embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 : Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 : User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• 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 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4358 : for generating different versions, e.g. for different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440263 : by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 : Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/4668 : for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47208 : for requesting near-video-on-demand content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 : involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 : Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/85 : Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 : using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 : Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8583 : by creating hot-spots
• 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 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods for navigating hypermedia using multiple coordinated input/output device sets. Disclosed systems and methods allow a user and/or an author to control what resources are presented on which device sets (whether they are integrated or not), and provide for coordinating browsing activities to enable such a user interface to be employed across multiple independent systems. Disclosed systems and methods also support new and enriched aspects and applications of hypermedia browsing and related business activities.

Claims

1. A method for operating a computer to support a presentation of link-related resources at a second device set in conjunction with a presentation of a continuous media resource at a media player associated with a first device set, comprising:

accessing, via the computer, state data that include continuous media resource identity data and time position data elements associated with the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set; and

maintaining at the computer, a current time position, based at least in part on the continuous media resource identity data and time position data elements of the accessed state data, wherein the maintaining is responsive to a passage of time during the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set, and wherein the maintaining a current time position further facilitates determining, based on entry of respective starting resource time scopes, when to present link related resources at the second device set in real time synchronicity with the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set;

adjusting, at the computer, the current time position responsive to a user time shift command that facilitates time-shifting of the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set;

determining, at the computer, based at least in part on the continuous media resource identity data element of the state data when in real time the adjusted time position enters respective starting resource time scopes associated with a first link related resource and a second link related resource;

facilitating, at the computer, presentation, at the second device set of the first link related resource, synchronized in real time, in response, at least in part, to the determining when in real time the starting resource time scope associated with the first link related resource has been entered based at least in part on the time-shifting of the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set; and

facilitating at the computer, presentation, at the second device set, of the second link related resource, synchronized in real time, in response, at least in part, to the determining when in real time the starting resource time scope associated with the second link related resource has been entered based at least in part on the time-shifting of the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set,

wherein the computer is independent of the first device set, and wherein the first and second link related resources are enhancement content resources associated with and different from the continuous media resource and comprise further links to Internet protocol services, and wherein the second device set comprises a second computer that (1) is independent of the first device set and (2) facilitates Internet protocol communications to support actuating the further links to the Internet protocol services.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the state data is used, at least in part, at the computer, to identify the respective first and second link related starting resources.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device set is configured with a navigation control to select the computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the media player is one of a browser and an interactive television viewing system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selected navigation actions at the computer target the first device set.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device set comprises one of a television, a television plus set-top box, a television plus media gateway/server, a digital video recorder, a personal computer acting as a television, and a personal computer acting as a media gateway/server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer comprises one of a personal computer acting as a media gateway/server, a personal computer, a remote control device relying on intelligence in another device, an independent remote control device, a personal data assistant, a tablet, a touchpad, an Internet appliance, and a wireless phone.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first link related resource that the computer facilitates presentation of at the second device set is an ending resource for a link activated at the first device set.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the ending resource comprises enhancement content associated with the continuous media resource.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a session relating to television viewing is presented at the first device set, continuation of the session is facilitated by the computer, and the enhancement content resources are associated with the session.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first link related resource that the computer facilitates the presentation of at the second device set relates to a starting resource presented at the media player that is one of 1) a resource containing links as outbound arcs, 2) a resource associated with external third-party arcs, 3) a resource containing coding other than links that specifies associations to other resources that give the effect of links, and 4) a resource associated with external coding that specifies associations to other resources that give the effect of links.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein coordination between the first device set and the computer is effected using at least one communications path a) from the first device set to the computer directly, or b) from the first device set to the computer via an intermediate gateway system serving both.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device set and the computer are independently provisioned.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device set employs at least one of an internet protocol, a digital television, an Internet, a cable system, a satellite system, a broadcast system, a mobile device, and a digital versatile disk player.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein coordination of the state data between the first device set and the computer after the accessing is supported at a granularity corresponding to the identity, time-position and presentation state of a browsed resource, wherein the presentation state is one of (a) a state of user input to a transaction entry form, (b) a cookie, and (c) a further state element of an associated server session.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein an interactive television session is presented at the first device set, and the computer is one of a personal computer, a personal data assistant, a tablet computer, a remote control device, and a mobile phone.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating, at the computer, moving the presentation of a third link related resource associated with the continuous media resource from the second device set the first device set, wherein the third link related resource is presented at the first device set when in real time a respective starting resource time scope associated with the third link related resource has been entered .

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the state data is communicated from a browser instance at the first device set to a browser instance at the—

computer-at the time of the accessing.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the state data is used at the computer to identify a browsing resource for browsing.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the browsing resource is used as a hyperlink starting resource with one of a designated set of third-party arcs to determine a hyperlink ending resource for traversal at the computer.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the state data comprises a current time.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the accessing is performed when a program change event occurs.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

acquiring information of the identity of a resource associated with a session presented at the media player; and

employing the information to determine a source for enhancement resources related to the session presented at the media player.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessing and the maintaining at the computer are deferred until the occurrence of an event, wherein the event is at least one of a user action at the computer and an arrival of a scheduled time.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of links are applied using a clock-based event driver at one of the first and second device sets to give the effect of a trigger stream.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of links are requested on demand from a user device set, and are applied using a clock-based event driver at a remote server to give the effect of a trigger stream.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the time-shifting is performed in conjunction with use of an on-demand distribution service.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the time-shifting is performed in conjunction with use of a recording device at a viewer'"'"'s location.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of links each having different and non-overlapping time scopes with reference to the continuous media resource are obtained in advance of the entry of any one of their respective time scopes during the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device set is a media player-type device set and the second device set is a computer-type device set.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device set is a computer-type device set and the second device set is a media player-type device set.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein coordination between the first device set and the computer is effected using at least one communications path that links one of a) a local control system serving one of the first device set and the computer, b) a local control system serving both the first device set and the computer, f) a remote control system serving one of the first device set and the computer, and d) a remote control system serving both of the first device set and the computer.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer is independent of the second computer.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer is a remote server and is independent of the second computer.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer is the second computer.

36. A processor-implemented method of facilitating presentation of link-related resources on a second device set as an enhancement to a presentation of a continuous media resource on a first device set, the method comprising:

accessing, via the processor, state data that include continuous media resource identity data and time position data associated with the presentation of the continuous media resource on the first device set;

maintaining, via the processor, a current time position, based at least in part on the continuous media resource identity data and time position data elements of the accessed state data, responsive to a passage of time during the presentation of the continuous media resource on the first device set, and wherein the maintaining a current time position further facilitates determining, based on entry of respective starting resource time scopes, when to present link related resources at the second device set in real time synchronicity with the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set;

adjusting, via the processor, the current time position responsive to a user time shift command that facilitates time-shifting of the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set;

determining, via the processor, based at least in part on the continuous media resource identity data element of the state data when in real time the adjusted time position enters respective starting resource time scopes associated with a first link related resource and a second link related resource;

facilitating, via the processor, presentation, at the second device set, of the first link related resource, synchronized in real time, in response, at least in part, to the determining when in real time the starting resource time scope associated with the first link related resource has been entered based at least in part on the time-shifting of the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set; and

facilitating, via the processor, presentation, at the second device set, of the second link related resource, synchronized in real time, in response, at least in part, to the determining when in real time the starting resource time scope associated with the second link related resource has been entered based at least in part on the time-shifting of the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set;

wherein the computer is independent of the first device set, and wherein the first and second link related resources are enhancement content resources associated with and different from the continuous media resource and comprise further links to Internet protocol services, and wherein the second device set comprises a second computer that (1) is independent of the first device set and (2) facilitates Internet protocol communications to support actuating the further links to the Internet protocol services.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the presentation of the first and second link related resources corresponds to the presentation of respective content of respective ending resources.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the state data and the facilitating of the presentation of the first and second link related resources are all associated with a user identity associated with a single user.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the first device set is configured with a navigation control to enable user selection of the second device set.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the navigation control is also configured to indicate that a third link related resource that the computer facilitates presentation of at the second device set comprises an ending resource for a link activated at the first device set.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the navigation control is configured to cause presentation of a resource at the second device set to be the same as a resource that is currently presented at the first device set.

42. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

converting the first and second related resources-from a format suitable for presentation at the first device set into a format suitable for presentation at the second device set.

43. The method of claim 36, wherein the second device set includes a browser.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the browser is a web browser.

45. The method of claim 36, wherein selected navigation actions at the second device set target the first device set.

46. The method of claim 36, wherein the first device set includes a member of the group consisting of a television, a television plus set-top box, a television plus media gateway/server, a digital video recorder, a personal computer acting as a television, and a personal computer acting as a media gateway/server.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the second device set includes a member of the group consisting of a personal computer, a remote control device relying on intelligence in another device, an independent remote control device, a personal data assistant, a tablet computer device, a touchpad, an Internet appliance, and a wireless phone.

48. The method of claim 36, wherein the state data is obtained at least in part using a member of the group consisting of an audio recognition technique, a video recognition technique, and a closed caption recognition technique.

49. The method of claim 36, wherein the first device set is a television-type device set presenting a video content of the continuous media resource, the second device set is a computer-type device set, and the second link related resource is an ending resource associated with the video content of the continuous media resource.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein a user is enabled to target some enhancement content resources to the first device set, and other enhancement content resources to the second device set.

51. The method of claim 36, wherein at least some of the state data is accessed from a member of the group consisting of the first device set and a remote server.

52. The method of claim 36, wherein an interactive television session is associated with the first device set.

53. The method of claim 36, wherein the state data further includes identification and authentication information for use in establishing a session with a remote server.

54. The method of claim 36, wherein the state data further comprises at least one member of the group consisting of a current path, a history list, a cookie, a set of forms contents, and a defined remote session state record.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the state data further comprises at least user identification and user authentication information, and wherein the user identification and user authentication information establishes a continuing identity across the first and second device sets.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein a cookie is sent to a remote server from each of the first and second device sets in order to maintain a respective remote session with the server.

57. The method of claim 36, wherein at least one multiuser collaboration feature is supported.

58. The method of claim 36, wherein at least one of the first and second link related resources comprises a resource that supports provisioning of a social networking service to a community of users.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the social networking service includes a member of a group consisting of a chat service, an instant messaging (IM) service, and a real-time communication service for the community of users.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the social networking service includes a member of a group consisting of a bulletin board service, a Weblog service, and an asynchronous communication service for the community of users.

61. The method of claim 36, wherein the accessing occurs during an intermediate step in a remote session comprising the processing of a transaction with a remote server, and the accessing is performed in such a manner as to maintain continuity of the remote session.

62. The method of claim 58, wherein the social networking service comprises a real-time communications service for a community of users that is restricted to particular users of a community identified as members of a buddy list group.

63. The method of claim 58, wherein the social networking service comprises a real-time communications service for a community of users that is restricted to particular users identified as being located in a designated locale.

64. The method of claim 36, wherein at least one preference is established that specifies a default targeting of links to at least one of the first and second device sets, and the default targeting is specified in terms of a member of the group consisting of a type of starting resource, a type of ending resource, a metadata attribute of a starting resource, a metadata attribute of an ending resource, a link attribute, an application category, and a navigation mode.

65. The method of claim 36, wherein the first and second link related resources are provided by a third party independently of a provider or broadcaster of the continuous media resource.

66. The method of claim 36, wherein the continuous media resource is augmented with a member of the group consisting of:

1) links as outbound arcs and,

     2) coding other than links that specifies associations to other resources that give the effect of links.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the continuous media resource is distributed along with associated third party arcs.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein an independent association is made with third-party link arcs that are sourced separately from the continuous media resource.

69. The method of claim 66, wherein the coding other than links includes a member of the group consisting of a menu structure having a defined graph structure, a transaction request form having a defined address for transaction submission, and a selectable content element having a defined address for related action.

70. The method of claim 36, wherein the second link related resource is presented on a defined display subunit of the second device set, the display subunit comprising one of a screen area, a pane, a frame, a window, a picture-in-picture region, a physical subunit, a virtual subunit, and a relevant presentation context.

71. The method of claim 36, wherein at least one of the first and second link related resources are obtained from a member of the group consisting of a persistent storage device and a communication channel.

72. The method of claim 36, wherein actions on the first and second device sets are coordinated using a member of the group consisting of a) a communication path from the first device set to the processor, and b) a communication path from the first device set to the processor via an intermediate gateway system.

73. The method of claim 36, wherein at least one of internet protocol, digital television, Internet, cable, satellite, broadcast, mobile, and digital versatile disk is employed.

74. The method of claim 36, wherein the first link related resource is defined in accordance with a member of the group consisting of:

a hypertext markup language, an extensible markup language, an extensible markup language linking language, Motion Picture Experts Group specifications, advanced television enhancement forum specifications and a synchronized multimedia integration language.

75. The method of claim 36, wherein the second device set is selected based upon a member of the group consisting of a) one or more link attributes used to control the targeting of navigation using a single device set, and b) one or more link attributes specific to presentation using multiple device sets.

76. The method of claim 36, wherein the second device set is selected based upon a member of the group consisting of a) a new presentation context, b) a replacement presentation context that loads the presentation of an ending resource in the same context in which the presentation of a starting resource was loaded, c) an embedded presentation context that loads the presentation of an ending resource in place of a starting resource.

77. The method of claim 36, wherein the second link related resource is presented on a member of the group consisting of a screen area, a pane, a frame, a window, and a picture-in-picture region.

78. The method of claim 75, wherein the one or more link attributes specific to presentation using multiple device sets comprise at least one of extensible markup language linking language attributes, hypertext markup language attributes, extensible hypertext markup language attributes, and synchronized multimedia integration language attributes.

79. The method of claim 36, wherein at least one of the first and second link resources are specified in accordance with a member of the group consisting of extensible markup language linking language actuate attributes hypertext markup language attributes equivalent to extensible markup language linking language actuate attributes, and extensible hypertext markup language attributes equivalent to extensible markup language linking language actuate attributes.

80. The method of claim 36, the method further comprising:

automatically presenting a third link related resource at a third device set when it is determined that the current time position has entered a starting resource time scope associated with the third link related resource, and when it is determined that the third device set is selected for presentation of one or more link related resources based upon a selection that is a member of the group consisting of a user action at the time of selection, user preferences established prior to the time of selection, and a link attribute that indicates that the third link related resource is to be presented on the third device set.

81. The method of claim 36, the method further comprising:

automatically presenting a third link related resource at the first device set when it is determined that the current time position has entered a starting resource time scope associated with the third link related resource, and when it is determined that the first device set is selected for presentation of one or more link related resources based upon a selection that is a member of the group consisting of a user action at the time of selection, user preferences established prior to the time of selection, and a link attribute that indicates that the third link related resource is to be presented on the first device set.

82. The method of claim 36, wherein the second device set is selected from among alternative device sets of varying form factors, wherein link related resources presented at the second device set are altered to provide presentation adaptations needed to adapt the link related resources to the form factor of the second device set.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein the presentation adaptations relate to at least one of display parameters and input device parameters.

84. The method of claim 36, wherein the accessing maintains user state at the first device set.

85. The method of claim 36, wherein the presentation of a first link related resource at the second device set maintains remote server state for a remote server that was associated with the first device set at the time of the accessing.

86. The method of claim 36, wherein the accessing is triggered at a loading of a content resource.

87. The method of claim 36, wherein the accessing is triggered at a traversal of a link.

88. The method of claim 36, wherein the accessing is triggered at an intermediate state in the presentation of the continuous media content resource.

89. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

moving the presenting of a third link related resource associated with the continuous media resource from the computer to the first device set, wherein the third link related resource is presented at the first device set when in real time a respective starting resource time scope associated with the third link related resource has been entered.

90. The method of claim 36, wherein the accessing is triggered by activating the second device set.

91. The method of claim 36, wherein the method is employable by browser processes differing by one of different software code and different hardware architectures.

92. The method of claim 36, wherein the automatic presentation of the second link related resource is further triggered by navigation to a triggering resource.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein the triggering resource is a resource belonging to a category pre-defined to cause triggering.

94. The method of claim 92, wherein the triggering resource is a resource containing a specific attribute specifying a trigger.

95. The method of claim 93, wherein the category pre-defined to cause triggering is one of a navigation level, a content type, and an activity type.

96. The method of claim 36, wherein

the first device set provides user identification information corresponding to a user;

and

the second device set provides user identification information corresponding to the user.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein user authentication information is provided by both of the first and second device sets.

98. The method of claim 36, wherein the state data is used at the second device set to identify a resource for browsing at the second device set.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein the first link related resource is used as a hyperlink starting resource with one of a designated set of third-party arcs for traversal to a hyperlink ending resource at the second device set.

100. The method of claim 36, wherein the state data further comprises information related to a browsing session for browsing enhancement content related to the continuous media resource.

101. The method of claim 36, wherein the automatic presentation of the second link related resource is further triggered by a signal generated in response to a user action.

102. The method of claim 36, wherein a further accessing action is performed when a program change event occurs at the first device set.

103. The method of claim 36, wherein the first device set initiates a transfer of the state data to the second device set.

104. The method of claim 36, wherein the state data is requested by the second device set.

105. The method of claim 36, wherein the state data is derived by the second device set by observing one or more aspects of the continuous media resource as it is presented on the first device set, the method further comprising:

using the resource identity data to determine a source for enhancement resources related to the continuous media resource as presented at the first device set.

106. The method of claim 36, wherein the maintaining is responsive to a pause command initiated at the first device set.

107. The method of claim 36, wherein a subsequent accessing, maintaining and determining at the second device set changes to reflect a change of the identity of the continuous media resource currently presented at the first device set after the accessing.

108. The method of claim 36, wherein the accessing of state data by the second device set continues as further browsing interactions occur at the first device set.

109. The method of claim 36, further comprising facilitating providing of indications of the presence of currently available link related resources to be presented in accordance with starting resource time scopes in the presentation at the first device set of the continuous media resource.

110. The method of claim 109, wherein the indications are presented at the first device set.

111. The method of claim 110, wherein the indications are presented prior to the accessing.

112. The method of claim 111, wherein the accessing is triggered by the actuation of one of the link indications.

113. The method of claim 109, wherein the indications are presented at the second device set.

114. The method of claim 36, wherein the continuous media resource is a starting resource for at least one link.

115. The method of claim 36, wherein the first device set actuates at least one link.

116. The method of claim 36, wherein the second device set actuates at least one link.

117. The method of claim 36, wherein the facilitating presentation of at least one of the first and second link related resources at the second device set continues independently of further browsing interactions at the first device set until the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set is ended or time-shifted.

118. The method of claim 36, wherein the facilitating presentation at the second device set of at least one link related resource comprises facilitating presentation of an indication of a link for user actuation.

119. The method of claim 36, wherein the facilitating presentation at the second device set of at least one link related resource comprises facilitating presentation of a link related resource automatically when its specified starting resource time scope is active.

120. The method of claim 36, wherein the determining is performed, via the processor, using a clock-based event driver to give the effect of a trigger stream.

121. The method of claim 36, wherein the respective starting resource time scopes are requested on demand as a linkbase, and the determining is performed, via the processor, using a clock-based event driver at a remote server to give the effect of a trigger stream.

122. The method of claim 36, wherein said time-shifting is performed in conjunction with use of an on-demand distribution service.

123. The method of claim 36, wherein said time-shifting is performed in conjunction with use of a recording device at a viewer'"'"'s location.

124. The method of claim 36, wherein a plurality of links each having different and non-overlapping time scopes with reference to the continuous media resource are obtained in advance of the entry of any one of their respective time scopes during the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set.

125. The method of claim 36, wherein a starting resource presented to the first device set comprises a resource associated with external third-party arcs.

126. The method of claim 36, wherein a starting resource presented to the first device set comprises a resource containing coding other than links that specifies associations to other resources that give the effect of links.

127. The method of claim 36, wherein a starting resource presented to the first device set comprises a resource associated with external coding that specifies associations to other resources that give the effect of links.

128. The method of claim 36, wherein coordination between the device sets is effected using communications paths that links from the first device set via an intermediate gateway system serving both.

129. The method of claim 36, wherein coordination between the device sets is effected using communications paths that link a local control system serving one of the device sets.

130. The method of claim 36, wherein coordination between the device sets is effected using communications paths that link a local control system serving both of the device sets.

131. The method of claim 36, wherein coordination between the device sets is effected using communications paths that link a remote control system serving one of the device sets.

132. The method of claim 36, wherein coordination between the device sets is effected using communications paths that link a remote control system serving both of the device sets.

133. The method of claim 36, wherein the respective starting resource time scopes each comprise at least a designated time scope starting time position.

134. The method of claim 133, wherein the respective starting resource time scopes each further comprise a designated time scope ending time position.

135. The method of claim 36, wherein the determining is affirmative if and only if the current time position is within an interval bounded by a respective starting resource time scope starting time position and a respective starting resource time scope ending time position.

136. The method of claim 36, wherein the user time shift command comprises one of pause, fast-forward, rewind, replay, restart, and skip forward.

137. The method of claim 36, wherein the accessing via the processor is initiated in response to a user input at the first device set.

138. The method of claim 36, wherein the accessing via the processor is initiated in response to a user input at the second device set.

139. The method of claim 36, further comprising authenticating, via the processor, that the first and second device sets are both associated with a common authorized user.

140. The method of claim 36, wherein the user time shift command comprises the initiation of on-demand play of a continuous media resource.

141. The method of claim 36, wherein actions on the first and second device sets are coordinated using a member of the group consisting of a) a local control system serving both the first and second device sets;

b) a remote control system serving both the first and second device sets;

c) a communication path that couples the first and second device sets via an intermediary gateway system serving both; and

d) a communication path that couples the first and second device sets via an intermediary gateway system serving one of the first and second device sets.

142. The method of claim 36, wherein the computer is independent of the second computer.

143. The method of claim 36, wherein the computer is a remote server and is independent of the second computer.

144. The method of claim 36, wherein the computer and the second computer are the same.

146. The system of claim 111, wherein the determining is performed, via the processor, using a clock-based event driver at one of the first and second device sets to give the effect of a trigger stream.

147. The system of claim 111, wherein the respective starting resource time scopes are requested on demand as a linkbase and the determining is performed, via the processor, using a clock-based event driver at a remote server to give the effect of a trigger stream.

145. A system for facilitating presentation of link-related resources on a second device set as an enhancement to a presentation of a continuous media resource on a first device set, comprising:

a memory having program code stored therein; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with the stored program code;

wherein the program code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform;

accessing state data that include continuous media resource time position data associated with the presentation of the continuous media resource on the first device set;

maintaining a current time position, based at least in part on the state data, responsive to a passage of time during the presentation of the continuous media resource on the first device set, and wherein the maintaining a current time position further facilitates determining, based on entry of respective starting resource time scopes, when to present link related resources at the second device set in real time synchronicity with the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set;

adjusting the current time position, responsive to a user time shift command that facilitates time-shifting of the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set;

determining when in real time the adjusted time position enters respective starting resource time scopes associated with a first link related resource and a second link related resource;

facilitating presentation, at the second device set, of the first link related resource, synchronized in real time, in response, at least in part, to the determining when the adjusted time position enters respective starting resource time scopes associated with the first link related resource and the second link related resource, when in real time the starting resource time scope associated with the first link related resource has been entered based at least in part on the time-shifting of the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set; and

facilitating presentation, at the second device set, of the second link related resource, synchronized in real time, in response, at least in part, to the determining when in real time the starting resource time scope associated with the second link related resource has been entered based at least in part on the time-shifting of the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set;

wherein the computer is independent of the first device set, and wherein the first and second link related resources are enhancement content resources associated with and different from the continuous media resource and comprise further links to Internet protocol services, and wherein the second device set comprises a second computer that (1) is independent of the first device set and (2) facilitates Internet protocol communications to support actuating the further links to the Internet protocol services.

148. The system of claim 145, wherein said time-shifting is performed in conjunction with use of an on-demand distribution service.

149. The system of claim 145, wherein said time-shifting is performed in conjunction with use of a recording device at a viewer'"'"'s location.

150. The system of claim 145, wherein a plurality of links each having different and non-overlapping time scopes with reference to the continuous media resource are obtained in advance of the entry of any one of their respective time scopes during the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set.

151. The method of claim 145, wherein the computer is independent of the second computer.

152. The method of claim 145, wherein the computer is a remote server and is independent of the second computer.

153. The method of claim 145, wherein the computer and the second computer are the same.

154. A system for facilitating presentation of link-related resources on a second device set as an enhancement to a presentation of a continuous media resource on a first device set comprising:

a first memory having program code stored therein; and

a first processor disposed in communication with the first memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with the stored program code of the first memory;

wherein the stored program code of the first memory, when executed by the first processor, causes the first processor to perform;

accessing state data that include continuous media resource identity data and time position data associated with the presentation of the continuous media resource on the first device set;

maintaining a current time position, based at least in part on continuous media resource identity data and time position data elements of the accessed state data, responsive to a passage of time during the presentation of the continuous media resource on the first device set, and wherein the maintaining a current time position further facilitates determining, based on entry of respective starting resource time scopes, when to present link related resources at the second device set in real time synchronicity with the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set;

adjusting the current time position, responsive to a user time shift command that facilitates time-shifting of the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set;

determining based at least in part on the continuous media resource identity data element of the state data when in real time the adjusted time position enters respective starting resource time scopes associated with a first link related resource and a second link related resource;

a second memory having program code stored therein; and

a second processor disposed in communication with the second memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with the stored program code of the second memory, wherein the second processor is disposed in communication with the first processor;

wherein the stored program code of the second memory, when executed by the second processor, causes the second processor to perform;

facilitating presentation, at the second device set, of the first link related resource, synchronized in real time, in response, at least in part, to the determining when in real time the starting resource time scope associated with the first link related resource has been entered based at least in part on the time-shifting of the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set,

facilitating presentation, at the second device set, of the second link related resource, synchronized in real time, in response, at least in part, to the determining when in real time the starting resource time scope associated with the second link related resource has been entered based at least in part on the time-shifting of the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set,

wherein the computer is independent of the first device set, and wherein the first and second link related resources are enhancement content resources associated with and different from the continuous media resource and comprise further links to Internet protocol services, and wherein the second device set comprises a second computer that (1) is independent of the first device set and (2) facilitates Internet protocol communications to support actuating the further links to the Internet protocol services.

155. The system of claim 154, wherein the determining is performed, via the processor, using a clock-based event driver at one of the first and second device sets to give the effect of a trigger stream.

156. The system of claim 154, wherein the respective starting resource time scopes are requested on demand as a linkbase and the determining is performed, via the processor, using a clock-based event driver at a remote server to give the effect of a trigger stream.

157. The system of claim 154, wherein said time-shifting is performed in conjunction with use of an on-demand distribution service.

158. The system of claim 154, wherein said time-shifting is performed in conjunction with use of a recording device at a viewer'"'"'s location.

159. The system of claim 154, wherein a plurality of links each having different and non-overlapping time scopes with reference to the continuous media resource are obtained in advance of the entry of any one of their respective time scopes during the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set.

160. The method of claim 154, wherein the computer is independent of the second computer.

161. The method of claim 154, wherein the computer is a remote server and is independent of the second computer.

162. The method of claim 154, wherein the computer and the second computer are the same.

163. A system for facilitating presentation of link-related resources on a second device set as an enhancement to a presentation of a continuous media resource on a first device set comprising:

a memory having program code stored therein; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory for carrying-out instructions in accordance with the stored program code;

wherein the program code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform;

accessing state data that include continuous media resource identity data and time position data associated with the presentation of the continuous media resource on the first device set;

maintaining a current time position, based at least in part on continuous media resource identity data and time position data elements of the accessed state data, responsive to a passage of time during the presentation of the continuous media resource on the first device set, and wherein the maintaining a current time position further facilitates determining, based on entry of respective starting resource time scopes, when to present link related resources at the second device set in real time synchronicity with the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set;

adjusting the current time position, responsive to a user time shift command that facilitates time-shifting of the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set;

facilitating presentation, at the second device set, of a first link related resource, synchronized in real time, in response, at least in part, to a determining, of when the adjusted time position enters respective starting resource time scopes associated with the first link related resource and a second link related resource, when in real time the starting resource time scope associated with the first link related resource has been entered based at least in part on the time-shifting of the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set; and

facilitating presentation, at the second device set, of the second link related resource, synchronized in real time, in response, at least in part, to the determining when in real time the starting resource time scope associated with the second link related resource has been entered based at least in part on the time-shifting of the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set,

wherein the computer is independent of the first device set, and wherein the first and second link related resources are enhancement content resources associated with and different from the continuous media resource and comprise further links to Internet protocol services, and wherein the second device set comprises a second computer that (1) is independent of the first device set and (2) facilitates Internet protocol communications to support actuating the further links to the Internet protocol services.

164. The system of claim 163, wherein the first device set actuates at least one link.

165. The system of claim 163, wherein the second device set actuates at least one link.

166. The system of claim 163, wherein the facilitating presentation of at least one link related resource at the second device set continues independently of further browsing interactions at the first device set until the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set is ended or time-shifted.

167. The system of claim 163, wherein the facilitating presentation at the second device set of at least one link related resource comprises facilitating presentation of an indication of a link for user actuation.

168. The system of claim 163, wherein the facilitating presentation at the second device set of at least one link related resource comprises facilitating presentation of a link related resource automatically when its specified starting resource time scope is active.

169. The system of claim 163, wherein the determining is performed, via the processor, using a clock-based event driver at one of the first and second device sets to give the effect of a trigger stream.

170. The system of claim 163, wherein the respective starting resource time scopes are requested on demand as a linkbase and the determining is performed, via the processor, using a clock-based event driver at a remote server to give the effect of a trigger stream.

171. The system of claim 163, wherein said time-shifting is performed in conjunction with use of an on-demand distribution service.

172. The system of claim 163, wherein said time-shifting is performed in conjunction with use of a recording device at a viewer'"'"'s location.

173. The system of claim 163, wherein a plurality of links each having different and non-overlapping time scopes with reference to the continuous media resource are obtained in advance of the entry of any one of their respective time scopes during the presentation of the continuous media resource at the first device set.

174. The method of claim 163, wherein the computer is independent of the second computer.

175. The method of claim 163, wherein the computer is a remote server and is independent of the second computer.

176. The method of claim 163, wherein the computer is the second computer.