692 results about "Interactive content" patented technology

In a broadcasting system, an electronic program guide (EPG) is used to determine what broadcast program is on a given channel at a given time in a given location. With the particular determined broadcast program as an input, timing offset objects defining interactive content related to the determined broadcast program can be retrieved from a timing offsets database. Each timing offset object specifies a time from the beginning of the program, an act to perform at the time, and a reference to interactive content on which to perform the act at the time. With the reference to the interactive content as an input, an interactive application or other interactive content can be retrieved from an interactive content database. The EPG, the timing offsets database, and the interactive content database may be located logically or physically together or separately, and they may be cached locally or referenced from an external source.

A system and method for interaction with television programming uses either existing analog television programming with interactive content transmitted via separate communications channel or digital television with embedded interactive content in conjunction with a powerful viewer interface to provide a fully interactive television experience that is dynamic and personalized to each viewer.

A graphical user interface comprising a main pane, a web button or interactive content button area, an input area, a mini map area, and a three-dimensional view area is disclosed. There are three main view that are displayed (a) three-dimensional perspective view of a virtual three-dimensional space that comprises a plurality of virtual display windows, wherein each of the virtual display windows is allocated a specific position in the space and is associated with a network location identifier of a content provider, or (b) an interactive content view of network content associated with the network location identifier, or (c) a map view comprising a map of the virtual three-dimensional space. Various map display, path generation, and navigation functions are provided. The graphical user interface provides a flexible and intuitive way to navigate a complex three-dimensional virtual space in which web pages or other interactive content are mapped to virtual display windows of virtual buildings in a virtual three-dimensional space.

An interactive entertainment system enables presentation of supplemental interactive content along side traditional broadcast video programs, such as television shows and movies. The programs are broadcast in a conventional manner. The supplemental content is supplied as part of the same program signal over the broadcast network, or separately over another distribution network. A viewer computing unit is located at the viewer's home to present the program and supplemental content to a viewer. When the viewer tunes to a particular channel, the viewer computing unit consults an electronic programming guide (EPG) to determine if the present program carried on the channel is interactive. If it is, the viewer computing unit launches a browser. The browser uses a target specification stored in the EPG to activate a target resource containing the supplemental content for enhancing the broadcast program. The target resource contains display layout instructions prescribing how the supplemental content and the video content program are to appear in relation to one another when displayed. When the data from the target resource is downloaded, the viewer computing unit is responsive to the layout instructions obtained from the target resource to display the supplemental content concurrently with the video content program. Embedding the layout instructions in the supplemental content advantageously places control of the presentation to the content developers. The developers are free to arrange the data and video in any manner they choose.

A navigation interface display system generates a navigation element that organizes television programming data in an easy-to-use manner. The navigation element employs a hierarchical display protocol for a plurality of selection items that represent the various television programs, channels, and / or networks. The hierarchical display scheme displays a limited number of active selection items at a first magnification level and additional active selection items at a second magnification level. In addition, the selection items are displayed on distinctive areas or features of the navigation element, where such features represent different content genres or categories. Subcategories can also be displayed in a hierarchical manner, thus providing additional information related to the content as the magnification level of the navigation element changes.

A system for manually and automatically generating interactive content for integration with television programming uses existing analog or digital television programming that is entirely devoid of interactive content, or can integrate legacy interactive content with fully interactive content generated automatically and / or with authoring tools in order to provide a complete interactive experience to television viewers of current and future television programming.

The present invention is a computer network implemented communication platform that enables senders to send to recipients electronic communications based on one or more selected locations, each location being associated with at least one recipient. The present invention includes validating the senders so as to establish trust with recipients. The platform of the invention provides a map based utility enabling a sender to define the scope of location based communication. The platform also incorporates a change of address procedure that enables the updating of location based records. The system and method provide significant advantages over postal mail and traditional email systems.

A system and method for managing interactive program and commercial content is disclosed. The system includes an interactive enabling device which is coupled for receiving a broadcast stream containing interactive program triggers and interactive commercial triggers for retrieving the interactive program and commercial content. At least one interactive content server is coupled to the interactive enabling device for communicating with an interactive control application in the interactive enabling device. The interactive enabling device executes the interactive control application to manage the retrieval of the interactive program and commercial content from the at least one interactive content server in response to the interactive program and commercial triggers. In addition, the interactive control application includes a gatekeeper function for selectively retrieving interactive program and commercial content in response to recognized interactive program and commercial triggers.

Systems and methods are provided for interactive advertising and program promotion that may attract and maintain user interest. The interactive advertisements may be displayed within interactive television application display screens, such as, an interactive television program guide display screen. A user may be able to select an interactive advertisement and may be presented with interactive content or features that may entice the user to view the advertisement. The interactive content or features may be related or unrelated to the product or service being advertised.

A computer implemented method and system simultaneously distributes content data streams (CDSs) of multiple content formats, for example, live cable television content, gaming content, social media content, user generated content, etc., to one or more computing devices. An interactive content distribution platform (ICDP) receives user selections of the CDSs and the content formats via a graphical user interface (GUI) and receives one or more CDSs in one or more content formats from multiple content sources based on the user selections. The ICDP synchronizes the CDSs by encoding the CDSs into a common data format and adjusting a transmission rate of the CDSs. The ICDP simultaneously transmits and displays the synchronized CDSs in one or more configurable windows on a display screen of each computing device at configurable time instances via the GUI. The ICDP facilitates interactions and initiates transactions between computing devices during the simultaneous display of the synchronized CDSs.

An interactive system provides a video program signal and generates interactive content data to be associated with at least one object within a frame of the video program. The interactive content data is embedded with the object and the object is tracked through a sequence of frames and the interactive content data is embedded into each one of the frames. The program frames with the embedded data are multiplexed with video and audio signals and may be broadcast. A receiver identifies an object of interest and the embedded data associated with the object is retrieved. The embedded data may be used for e-commerce.

Various implementations for managing and providing interactive content are described. One example implementation includes a system having one or more processors, a communication unit, a content management engine, an interactivity module, and a reporting module. The communication unit sends and receives data over a network. The content management engine transmits a first instance of an interactive content dataset via the communication unit to a first client device of a first user for presentation. The interactivity module receives event data describing an interaction with the interactive content dataset from the first client device via the communication unit. The reporting module generates a report describing the interaction by the first user with the interactive content dataset and transmits the report via the communication unit to one or more of the first client device and a second client device of a second user for presentation.

Interactive content preservation and customization technology is placed at the broadcast facility to ensure reliable transmission of the interactive content to a local subsystem. An interactive content code detector detects interactive content codes in the video stream at the broadcast facility. The interactive content code detector is placed in the transmission path before the video stream is transmitted to broadcast facility hardware that may strip out, destroy, corrupt or otherwise modify the interactive content and interactive content codes. Once an interactive content code detector detects a code, an interactive broadcast server determines what action to take, and instructs an data insertion unit accordingly. The interactive content codes or interactive content may be placed in a portion of the video that is guaranteed by the broadcast facility to be transmitted, for example, the closed caption region of the vertical blanking interval.

A method of using conversation state information in a conversational interaction system is disclosed. A method of inferring a change of a conversation session during continuous user interaction with an interactive content providing system includes receiving input from the user including linguistic elements intended by the user to identify an item, associating a linguistic element of the input with a first conversation session, and providing a response based on the input. The method also includes receiving additional input from the user and inferring whether or not the additional input from the user is related to the linguistic element associated with the conversation session. If related, the method provides a response based on the additional input and the linguistic element associated with the first conversation session. Otherwise, the method provides a response based on the second input without regard for the linguistic element associated with the first conversation session.

A text based script file describing enhancements is parsed to produce platform dependent enhancement files that may be employed to produce enhancements on a set top box, enhanced television, or computer display. A script file may be of XML format and a parser may be an XSL translator. A parser may import HTML and Javascript from other applications. A parser may support a media player for emulation to view video and enhancements. Trigger data for rendering enhancements may be formatted into a javascript array. Trigger events may be employed to replace graphic pointers or text values. Multiple parsers, each supporting a specific platform, allow a single script file to be employed across multiple platforms. New platforms or versions of platforms are supported through new or updated parsers.

The present disclosure relates to the measurement of the audience characteristics or demographics which is or can be exposed to displayed interactive content depicted on a screen. The audience can include persons who are engaged in interacting with the interactive content as well as persons who are observers of the interactive content and / or the active participants. The content can include one or more targeted advertisements contained in or associated with interactive content, and can be varied based on the audience characteristics or demographics. The audience characteristics or demographics can be used to accurately charge advertisers for the impressions created by the content displayed and can also or alternatively be used to determine and / or trigger what content is actually displayed.

A method and system for presenting interactive and non-interactive media content to a client computer over a computer network. The system can combine discrete, continuous and interactive media into a single scene that is presented to the client computer. The system allows the presentation to be highly configurable and may therefore customize the presentation for a specific user. User profile information may be stored in an repository associated with the system. This information may be used to customize the presentation to suit the specific needs of a user or to notify the user when a presentation of interest to the user is available. Furthermore, information about a user's interaction with a particular presentation may be stored in the repository so that a presentation can adapt “on-the-fly” to suit the specific needs of a user. In addition, information regarding web services that are available on the Internet may be integrated with other interactive content in a presentation that is provided to a user. The system and method may also utilize an open-source computing platform so that presentations can be transmitted and displayed on a wide variety of client terminals.

A system and method of providing contextual content to an end user viewing a video in a video player in a client is provided. In one embodiment the system and method of provides contextual content via an interactive video skin to an end user viewing a video in a client. These video skin may surround the viewing portal and (1) provide contextual information in the areas outside the video viewing area, (2) embody logic that manipulates the video stream to insert audio, text, graphics, and / or video, (3) interact with third party servers, (4) interact with the user via menus, buttons, and / or graphical widgets, or (5) any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the method may comprise determining contextual data for the end user that comprises one or more of: geographical information of the end user; demographical information of the end user; personal information of the end user, video metadata, and technical data related to the end user's computer or the network to which the computer is connected. Next, the method may include determining advertising content to present to the end user based on the contextual data and presenting the advertising content to the end user concurrently with the video player such as along a periphery of the video player. The advertising content may include a user input mechanism configured to receive information from the end user in which case the method may further include receiving information from the end user via the input mechanism, determining secondary content to present to the user based on the received information, and presenting the secondary content to the end user. The method may also include receiving one or more content elements selected based on the contextual data and supplying the one or more content elements to the video player for integration into the video to thereby customize the video.

A system and method are disclosed for preloading interactive content before it is to be displayed, thereby avoiding any unwanted delays due to download times. According to the invention, ITV data is embedded into the signal at some predetermined time before the corresponding segment will be broadcast. The ITV data is received by the ITV receiver, which then accesses an interactive site (web site or other server) and makes a request for the interactive content. The server determines the location of the content, and the content is then retrieved and transmitted to the ITV receiver. At the appropriate time (e.g., when the corresponding TV segment is being displayed), the content is displayed on the user's display, thereby reliably providing simultaneous display of the segment and corresponding interactive content.

Access to interactive content at a client device through the use of triggers is disclosed. The client device is coupled to a television communication network and receives an encoded broadcast video stream containing at least one trigger. The client device decodes the encoded broadcast video stream and parses the broadcast video stream for triggers. As the broadcast video stream is parsed, the stream is output to a display device. When a trigger is identified, the client device automatically tunes to an interactive content channel. The client device sends a signal indicative of the trigger through the television communication network to the processing office. The processing office can then use the information contained within the trigger signal to provide content to the client device. The content may be interactive content, static content, or the broadcast program stitched with interactive or static content. The user of the client device can then interact with any interactive content.

An automated electronic application delivery system for delivery software applications to client devices for which they were not originally intended for or developed. The applications are run on the particular application environment at the server side, and the content output by the application is capture, encoded, and streamed to the client devices in a way that minimizes latency. User interacts with the content and such interaction data is either mapped to a specific command catered to the application either at the client side or the server side. The mapped command or raw interaction data is then provided to the application over a control channel.

Apparatus for interactive broadcasting comprises: an in step device for determining predetermined times in a broadcast relevant to user interaction; a content insertion device for inserting interactivity content for sending over a network to users for interaction at the predetermined times; and an embedding unit for embedding timing control into the interactive content to ensure that the interactive content is displayed to the users at the predetermined times. The apparatus is useful for providing timely user interaction even via the cellular network. Further refinements include traffic spreading at the application layer, and the use of SMS to provide a user with the URL for initial logging on.

Systems and methods for providing feedback to a user are described. One of the methods includes sending interactive data for rendering on a head mounted display (HMD). The HMD is configured for attachment to a head of a user for playing a game. The method further includes receiving image data associated with a body part of the user while the HMD is worn by the user and the HMD renders interactive content. The method includes tracking a spatial position associated with the body part of the user from the image data of the user. In the method, physical placement of a remote-controlled device at the spatial position associated with the body part of the user is rendered in the HMD as virtual contact with an object in the interactive content.

A system and method of adding hyperlinked information to a television broadcast in which an interactive content icon is used. The broadcast material is analyzed and one or more regions within a frame are identified. Additional information can be associated with a region, and can be transmitted in encoded form, using timing information to identify the frame with which the information is associated. The system comprising a video source and an encoder that produces a transport stream in communication with the video source, an annotation source, a data packet stream generator that produces encoded annotation data packets in communication with the annotation source and the encoder, and a multiplexer system in communication with the encoder and the data packet stream generator. The encoder provides timestamp information to the data packet stream generator and the data packet stream generator synchronizes annotation data from the annotation source with a video signal from the video source in response to the timestamp information. The multiplexer generates a digital broadcast signal that includes an augmented transport stream from the transport stream and the encoded data packets. A receiver displays the annotation information associated with the video signal in response to a viewer request on a frame by frame basis. A viewer can respond interactively to the material, including performing commercial transactions, by using a backchannel that is provided for interactive communication. The interactive content icon can be used to inform a viewer of the presence of hyperlinked information, for teaching the viewer how to use the system, and for informing the viewer about the hyperlinked information.

Techniques for interacting with an online media store to obtain a media asset bundle, such as a digital boxset, are disclosed. These techniques involve, for instance, browsing for a media asset bundle that includes at least one interactive playable media asset, purchasing the media asset bundle, obtaining the media assets contained in the media asset bundle, determining if a presentation request has been made for a media asset in the media asset bundle, and presenting the requested media asset.

Information URLs may be associated with three dimensional objects in a three dimensional virtual environment. When a URL is selected, an overlay web rendering engine renders a web page associated with the URL over the object in the three dimensional virtual environment. The web page may include rich content, interactive content, or any other type of web content supported by the user's local browser and browser plugging. The user may interact with the content in the overlay web rendering engine to obtain successive layers of content or to affect the object in the virtual environment. The web page is rendered with a transparent background so that the three dimensional content of the virtual environment continues to be visible through the web page and provides context for the overlayed content. Information URLs may be used to provide information about objects, Avatars, or the virtual environment itself.

An interactive entertainment system enables presentation of supplemental interactive content along side traditional broadcast video programs, such as television shows and movies. The programs are broadcast in a conventional manner. The supplemental content is supplied as part of the same program signal over the broadcast network, or separately over another distribution network. A viewer computing unit is located at the viewer's home to present the program and supplemental content to a viewer. When the viewer tunes to a particular channel, the viewer computing unit consults an electronic programming guide (EPG) to determine if the present program carried on the channel is interactive. If it is, the viewer computing unit launches a browser. The browser uses a target specification stored in the EPG to activate a target resource containing the supplemental content for enhancing the broadcast program. The target resource contains display layout instructions prescribing how the supplemental content and the video content program are to appear in relation to one another when displayed. When the data from the target resource is downloaded, the viewer computing unit is responsive to the layout instructions obtained from the target resource to display the supplemental content concurrently with the video content program. Embedding the layout instructions in the supplemental content advantageously places control of the presentation to the content developers. The developers are free to arrange the data and video in any manner they choose.

A system and method for integration and synchronization of interactive content with television programming uses existing analog or digital television programming that is entirely devoid of interactive content, or can integrate legacy interactive content with fully interactive content to provide a complete interactive experience to television viewers of current and future television programming that is synchronized to the original television content.