Providing multiple degrees of context for content consumed on computers and media players
First Claim
1. A method for organizing media content and related contextual information and experiences, the method comprising the steps of:
- logically surrounding a first content item with a first halo comprising a plurality of context objects, the first content item representing an item of entertainment, the context objects being contextually related to the first content item and representing at least one of media content, information, data, or an interactive experience for a user of the device, the context objects being displayable on a display screen on the device;
supporting one or more user controls for interacting with the context objects in the first halo so that manipulating the one or more controls enables navigation between the first content item and the context objects in the first halo, wherein the manipulating comprises pulling a context object into focus, the context object being simultaneously displayed with the first content item and stacked on top of the first content item; and
enabling interaction with a context object by the user to facilitate control over a user experience supported by the device,wherein a selection of a context object in the first halo causes the selected context object to morph into a second content item, and also causes a further step of dynamically generating a second halo surrounding the second content item and comprising a plurality of context objects, the context objects in the second halo being contextually related to the second content item, andfurther wherein a user'"'"'s interactions with the device are tracked, stored and used to determine context objects likely to be accessed by the user, wherein such determined context objects are generated in at least one of the first halo and second halo.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Multiple degrees of context for media content that is consumable on computing platforms including PCs and personal media players is provided by logically organizing context objects into halos that surround each piece of consumable content. The context objects represent information and experiences that are contextually associated with media content to enable users to easily discover content and experiences that they will find interesting in a rich and personal manner. As a user navigates from a content item to a context object in the halo, the context object itself morphs into content that is then surrounded by a new halo of context objects to which the user may navigate. The organization of media content and information into halos enables an effective contextual paradigm that cuts across strict hierarchical structures to allow the user experience to be much more seamless and free-flowing.
63 Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A method for organizing media content and related contextual information and experiences, the method comprising the steps of:
-
logically surrounding a first content item with a first halo comprising a plurality of context objects, the first content item representing an item of entertainment, the context objects being contextually related to the first content item and representing at least one of media content, information, data, or an interactive experience for a user of the device, the context objects being displayable on a display screen on the device; supporting one or more user controls for interacting with the context objects in the first halo so that manipulating the one or more controls enables navigation between the first content item and the context objects in the first halo, wherein the manipulating comprises pulling a context object into focus, the context object being simultaneously displayed with the first content item and stacked on top of the first content item; and enabling interaction with a context object by the user to facilitate control over a user experience supported by the device, wherein a selection of a context object in the first halo causes the selected context object to morph into a second content item, and also causes a further step of dynamically generating a second halo surrounding the second content item and comprising a plurality of context objects, the context objects in the second halo being contextually related to the second content item, and further wherein a user'"'"'s interactions with the device are tracked, stored and used to determine context objects likely to be accessed by the user, wherein such determined context objects are generated in at least one of the first halo and second halo. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7)
-
-
5. A personal media player, comprising:
-
a display screen configured for rendering text and graphics; user controls; a digital media processing system interfacing with the display screen to render a GUI showing one or more content items; and memory bearing computer-readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors in the personal media player i) implement the GUI on the display screen, the GUI arranged for displaying a plurality of context objects that are logically populated within a plurality of halos, each of the halos surrounding a content item to provide contextual meaning to the content item, and ii) enable the user controls to be manipulated by the user to navigate to context objects that are displayable on the display screen, wherein the manipulating comprises pulling a context object into focus, the context object being simultaneously displayed with the first content item and stacked on top of the first content item, wherein said memory bearing computer-readable instructions, when executed by one or more processors in the personal media player, are operable such that a selection of a context object in a first halo, the first halo surrounding a first content item, causes the selected context object to become a second content item, and also causes a further step of dynamically generating a second halo surrounding the second content item and comprising a plurality of context items, the context objects in the second halo being contextually related to the second content item, and further wherein a user'"'"'s interactions with the device are tracked, stored and used to determine context objects likely to be accessed by the user, wherein such determined context objects are generated in at least one of the first halo and second halo. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification