U.S. patent application number 13/534326 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-09 for method of and system for inserting/overlaying markers, data packets and objects relative to viewable content and enabling live social networking, n-dimensional virtual environments and/or other value derivable from the content.
This patent application is currently assigned to ADDnCLICK, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Larry Fullerton, Wallace Glausi, Teng Lew Lim, Peter Muller, Timothy Noke, Jack D. Robinson. Invention is credited to Larry Fullerton, Wallace Glausi, Teng Lew Lim, Peter Muller, Timothy Noke, Jack D. Robinson.
Application Number | 20130117131 13/534326 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40790333 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130117131 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Robinson; Jack D. ; et
al. |
May 9, 2013 |
METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR INSERTING/OVERLAYING MARKERS, DATA PACKETS
AND OBJECTS RELATIVE TO VIEWABLE CONTENT AND ENABLING LIVE SOCIAL
NETWORKING, N-DIMENSIONAL VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS AND/OR OTHER VALUE
DERIVABLE FROM THE CONTENT
Abstract
A method by which a User can associate selectable Markers, Data
Packets and/or Objects with Content. The Content may generally be
distributed electronically, and the Markers allow for insertion
and/or overlay of Objects when the Content is selected for viewing
by a Viewer. Objects and Data Packets are generally provided by a
User, Promoter, Host, Service, or other entity to convey
information to a Viewer. A Service provides tools and capabilities
to both the User and the Promoter to facilitate their respective
actions according to embodiments of the invention, including
enabling the creation of live social networks (such as those linked
to a specific Service provider, a specific User group, activities
by a specific Promoter, and/or to specific Data Packets) and the
creation of n-dimensional Virtual Environments.
Inventors: |
Robinson; Jack D.;
(Vacaville, CA) ; Muller; Peter; (Woodside,
CA) ; Noke; Timothy; (Los Gatos, CA) ; Lim;
Teng Lew; (Toronto, CA) ; Glausi; Wallace;
(Portland, OR) ; Fullerton; Larry; (New Hope,
AL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Robinson; Jack D.
Muller; Peter
Noke; Timothy
Lim; Teng Lew
Glausi; Wallace
Fullerton; Larry |
Vacaville
Woodside
Los Gatos
Toronto
Portland
New Hope |
CA
CA
CA
OR
AL |
US
US
US
CA
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
ADDnCLICK, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
40790333 |
Appl. No.: |
13/534326 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12004622 |
Dec 20, 2007 |
8316450 |
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13534326 |
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12004392 |
Dec 19, 2007 |
8234218 |
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12004622 |
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09686206 |
Oct 10, 2000 |
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12004622 |
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09749091 |
Dec 26, 2000 |
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09686206 |
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11982707 |
Nov 2, 2007 |
8117281 |
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09749091 |
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11477162 |
Jun 28, 2006 |
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11982707 |
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09686206 |
Oct 10, 2000 |
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12004392 |
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09749091 |
Dec 26, 2000 |
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09686206 |
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11982707 |
Nov 2, 2007 |
8117281 |
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09749091 |
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11477162 |
Jun 28, 2006 |
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11982707 |
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60877891 |
Dec 28, 2006 |
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60918984 |
Mar 19, 2007 |
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60877891 |
Dec 28, 2006 |
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60918984 |
Mar 19, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/14.72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 21/10 20130101;
G06Q 30/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/14.72 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20120101
G06Q030/02 |
Claims
1. A method of associating advertising materials and other
viewer-targeted data with viewable content, comprising: receiving
user registration information from a user; receiving from the user
information identifying an item of content, wherein the content is
imagery viewable at a display device coupled with a network-linked
device; providing to the user a marker comprising device-executable
instructions; providing to the user a device-enabled capability to
associate the marker with a user-selected position relative to a
viewable portion of the content, wherein the associating includes
one or more of: dragging and dropping the marker into a specified
position relative to a selected portion of the content via
device-enabled controls; copying and pasting the marker into
position relative to a selected portion of the content via
device-enabled controls; specifying a position within the content
by data entry via an input/output device; indicating a position
within the content by visibly placing a mouse-controlled cursor or
other similar visible indicator at the position and activating a
corresponding control to select that position; and defining a
visible, user-defined outline at a portion of the content using
device-enabled controls; and receiving from the user data
indicating a user-selected marker position relative to the viewable
portion of the content.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving from the
user registration information for content marked with the marker;
and associating a unique identification with the marked
content.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: assigning one or more
objects to be associated with the marker when a viewer views the
content.
4. The method of claim 2, further comprising: providing to the user
a user-selectable option to receive payment corresponding to viewer
actions relative to the marked content; and receiving from the user
data indicating a selection by the user relative to the provided
option.
5. The method of claim 2, further comprising: providing to the user
an option to specify one or more types of objects to be associated
with the marker in the marked content.
6. The method of claim 2, further comprising: providing to the user
an option to positionally stabilize the marker relative to a
viewable, user-selected pattern within the content imagery, wherein
the positional stabilization is enabled by pattern-recognition
software.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein the marker is configured to be
visible to and selectable by a viewer when the viewer views the
content.
8. The method of claim 3, wherein the marker is configured, when
selected by a viewer of content marked with the marker, to execute
coded instruction corresponding to the object in a
viewer-perceivable manner including one or more of aurally,
visually and tactilely.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the marker with a
viewable portion of the content comprises forming an additional
layer of content overlying, corresponding to, and dynamically
responsive to the imagery of the content.
10. The method of claim 3, further comprising: changing an object
association with the marker from one object to another object based
on the presence of one or both of a viewer-dependent condition and
a viewer-independent condition, wherein: a viewer-dependent
condition is one or more of a viewer location, a viewer gender, a
viewer age, a viewer financial status, and a viewer-expressed
interest; and a viewer-independent condition is one or more of an
expiration of a time period, an arrival of a specified time or
date, a payment by a sponsor, an instruction received from the
user.
11. The method of claim 3, wherein the object is an advertisement
for either or both of a commercial product and a commercial
service.
12. The method of claim 3, further comprising: inserting the object
at the marker in response to content marked with the marker being
selected for viewing by a viewer.
13. The method of claim 2, further comprising: analyzing metadata
of a marker in response to the marked content being selected for
viewing by a viewer; identifying another viewer who is either
concurrently viewing marked content having similar marker metadata
or who has left an instruction to later be connected with a viewer
of marked content having similar marker metadata.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: linking the viewer
and the other viewer into a live, device-enabled social networking
interaction via a data network connection with each of the viewer
and the other viewer.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the linking includes presenting
a virtual environment at a display device of either or both of the
viewer and the other viewer.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: providing at least
one device-enabled method for the viewer and the other viewer to
communicate with each other within the virtual environment.
17. A method of associating advertising materials and other
viewer-targeted data with viewable content, comprising: receiving
user registration information from a user; receiving from the user
information identifying an item of content, wherein the content is
imagery viewable at a display device coupled with a network-linked
device; providing to the user a data packet comprising
device-executable instructions; providing to the user a
device-enabled capability to associate the data packet with a
user-selected position relative to a viewable portion of the
content, wherein the associating includes one or more of: dragging
and dropping the data packet into a specified position relative to
a selected portion of the content via device-enabled controls;
copying and pasting the data packet into position relative to a
selected portion of the content via device-enabled controls;
specifying a position within the content by data entry via an
input/output device; indicating a position within the content by
visibly placing a mouse-controlled cursor or other similar visible
indicator at the position and activating a corresponding control to
select that position; and defining a visible, user-defined outline
at a portion of the content using device-enabled controls; and
receiving from the user data indicating a user-selected data packet
position relative to the viewable portion of the content.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the data packet is configured
to be visibly depicted to and selectable by a viewer when the
viewer views the content.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising: providing to the
user a user-selectable option to specify whether the data packet
will execute spontaneously when a viewer views the content, or
whether the data packet will execute only in response to selection
of the data packet by the viewer, and receiving from the user data
indicating a selection by the user relative to the provided
option.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein the data packet is configured
to cause a message to be sent to the user upon either or both of
spontaneous execution of the data packet and selection of the data
packet by the viewer.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a Continuation of each of, and
claims the benefit of priority to each of, co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/004,622 filed 20 Dec. 2007 and co-pending
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/004,392 filed 19 Dec. 2007,
each of which is in turn a Continuation-in-Part of and claims the
benefit of priority to: [0002] a. U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/686,206 filed 10 Oct. 2000, now abandoned; [0003] b. U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/749,091 filed 26 Dec. 2000, now abandoned;
[0004] c. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/982,707 filed on 2
Nov. 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,117,281 issued 14 Feb. 2012; [0005]
d. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/477,162 filed 28 Jun. 2006,
now abandoned; and claims the benefit of priority to: [0006] e.
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/877,891 filed 28
Dec. 2006, now expired; and [0007] f. U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/918,984 filed 19 Mar. 2007, now expired;
the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein in their
entirety by this reference. The present application also
incorporates herein by this reference the entire disclosures of
each of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/856,404
filed 2 Nov. 2006, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/745,257
filed 20 Dec. 2000 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,051 on 23 Jan.
2007, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/384,606 filed on 27
Aug. 1999 and granted as U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,566 on 22 Apr.
2003.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0008] This invention relates generally to the field of
electronically transmittable information. More particularly, it
concerns supplementing content which is viewable via electronic
devices so that additional informational content is available to
content viewers to enable commerce, brand building, communications,
and social networking, among other things.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Viewable content available today, such as that downloadable
from the internet and/or created and distributed by a wide variety
of sources, generally contains and conveys to viewers a limited
amount of information. As much information as the Content has at
the time of creation, it generally consists of that same amount of
information throughout its existence. Content may be edited from
time to time to create new content, but generally the quantity and
quality of the content remains relatively constant (e.g., static,
unchanging).
[0010] Content creators can generate a revenue stream by the sale,
rental, licensing, or other provision of content to consumers of
content, but a continued revenue stream largely depends upon
continued creation and distribution of new content. Content
creators may also generate some revenue through `product
placement`, in which merchandisers pay content creators to place
their merchandise prominently in content. For example, the Ford
Motor Company and/or Coca-Cola, Inc. may pay a movie producer to
have a main character in a movie drink Coca-Cola branded beverages
and drive a Ford Mustang convertible. However, once the movie is
filmed, edited, and distributed, no more revenue can be obtained
from product placements within that movie content. The content is
static in quality, and has a limited revenue generation curve.
[0011] Viewers also receive only static content, which becomes
uninteresting once viewed one or more times, and may in fact be
uninteresting from the moment of creation. Viewers must search
through a multitude of content sources to find content that is
interesting and relevant to them. Separately, they shop, interact,
gather news, and carry on many other activities, each activity
relatively independent from each other. In this age of
proliferating information, viewers consume tremendous amounts of
time pursuing information that is personally relevant and
interesting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIGS. 1a-1b are block diagrams depicting a plurality of
operations including content upload and registration according to
an embodiment of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting a plurality of
operations including a promoter making objects available for
inserting and/or overlaying according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting a plurality of
operations including inserting and/or overlaying objects according
to an embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting a plurality of
operations including a viewer selecting an object according to
embodiments of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting a plurality of
operations including inserting and/or overlaying attribute relevant
objects according to embodiments of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a block diagram depicting a plurality of
operations including inserting and/or overlaying objects relative
to distributed and/or edited content according to embodiments of
the invention.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a block diagram depicting a plurality of
operations including reviewing content for objectionable material
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a block diagram depicting a plurality of
operations including flagging content according to embodiments of
the invention.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a block diagram depicting a plurality of
operations including applying digital rights management to content
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a block diagram depicting a plurality of
operations including a promoter altering capability for inserting
and/or overlaying objects according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a block diagram depicting a plurality of
operations including a promoter replacing an object with another
object in a stored selection according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a block diagram depicting a plurality of
operations including associating code relevant to a virtual
environment with content according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0024] FIG. 13 is a block diagram depicting a plurality of
operations relevant to a virtual environment according to
embodiments of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 14a is a screen-grab depiction of viewable content
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0026] FIGS. 14b-e are screen-grab depictions of viewable content
including inserted/overlaid objects according to an embodiments of
the invention.
[0027] FIGS. 14f-g are screen-grab depictions of viewable content
including selectable objects in n-dimensional virtual environments
and/or worlds according to an embodiments of the invention.
[0028] FIG. 15 is an iconic system diagram depicting aspects of a
system for creating, distributing, hosting, and/or viewing content
having enhanced informational and/or other value according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0029] FIG. 16 is a block diagram depicting storing historical
information derived from interactions relative to social networks
and/or n-dimensional virtual environments, and uses of such
information, according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0030] FIGS. 17a-s are screen grab depictions of a music
content-based embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] The invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment
involves a system and method by which a User can place selectable
Markers into Content. The Content. may generally be distributed
electronically, and the Markers allow for insertion and/or overlay
of Objects when the Content is selected for viewing by a Viewer.
Objects are generally provided by a Promoter to convey information
to a Viewer. A Service provides tools and capabilities to both the
User and the Promoter to facilitate their respective actions, as
described in detail below. Viewers can be linked concurrently with
other Viewers in live social networks that are created and based
substantially upon the same, similar and/or specific attributes of
Markers, Objects and/or Data Packets included in content. Live
social networks may be linked to a specific Service provider, a
specific User group, activities undertaken by a specific Promoter,
and/or to specific Data Packets.
[0032] For purposes of clarity, general definitions are provided
for some of the terms used throughout this description. These
definitions are not intended to limit the scope of each term, but
only to provide an initial understanding so that the reader can
readily recognize and understand the terms when used herein. Those
having ordinary skill in the art will recognize from the overall
specification that each term has a more expansive scope according
to alternate embodiments than is contained in these brief summary
definitions.
[0033] "Content" includes any viewable content, including images,
whether static (e.g., still photographs, artwork) or non-static
(e.g., video, animation), whether original (e.g., user-created) or
not (e.g., obtained by User from another source), interactive
Content, such as n-dimensional Virtual Environments and
n-dimensional Virtual Worlds, whether electronically transmittable
to a Viewer (e.g., via internet) or transferred to a Viewer on an
electronic storage medium (e.g., a digital video disc (DVD)), audio
or text, that may be viewed on an internet-connected (or
connectable) electronic device. Examples of Content include video,
video games, still images, any motion content, video conference
calls, live video feeds, n-dimensional virtual environments and/or
worlds, etc., blogs, podcasts, and vlogs. Nor should Content be
considered limited to those types listed here, but can encompass
all presently available and/or foreseeable forms of electronic
media and/or content that is or can be visually displayed. Content
including an associated marker and/or data packet may be referred
to as "Marked Content", and can exist as a separate content layer
overlying, corresponding to, and dynamically responsive to a layer
of viewable content.
[0034] A "User" is an entity (e.g., individual, company,
organization, governmental body) that provides Content that may be
accessed and viewed by a Viewer. A User is generally human, but may
include electronic systems or devices designed to perform all or
some subset of the operations that a User performs as described
herein. For example, a User can be a camera or video monitor
coupled with pattern and/or image recognition software for
tracking, monitoring, cataloguing, archiving, and/or reporting
Content. An `n-User` is any User who edits already marked Content,
whether or not the n-User has registered with the Service.
[0035] A "Viewer" accesses Content provided by a User. A Viewer is
generally human, but may include electronic systems or devices
designed to perform all or some subset of the operations that a
Viewer performs as described herein. For example, a Viewer can be a
camera or video monitor coupled with pattern and/or image
recognition software for tracking, monitoring, cataloguing,
archiving, and/or reporting Content. A Viewer may not actually View
Content visually, but may access the Content nonetheless and be
considered a Viewer. Further, identification as a Viewer is not
limited by whether Objects inserted and/or overlaid at Markers
within the Content are viewable, or rather may convey primarily,
partially, or entirely information of some other sensory nature
(e.g., audio). In some embodiments, a Viewer can also be a reader
or a listener.
[0036] A "Promoter" is any entity (e.g., individual, company,
organization, government) with the intent to provide information
and/or content (e.g., brands, products, etc.) to Viewers. A User,
Host and/or a Service can also be a Promoter in some embodiments of
the invention.
[0037] A "Marker" is generally software (e.g., device executable
code) configured to be associated with (e.g., inserted into or
overlaid upon) Content. A Marker may occupy a relatively fixed
position relative to the viewable Content, or it may be associated
with the Content so that the Marker's position is variable relative
to the viewable Content. Markers can be generic shapes and/or
symbols representing an insertion/overlay point for an Object to be
inserted and/or overlaid relative to a Content image. A Marker may
be either visible or invisible to a Viewer when viewing Content. A
unique identification code can be associated with or encoded into
each Marker, and can be used to associate the Marker with
particular Content, Promoters and/or Objects. A Marker can provide
a `placeholder` and/or `insertion/overlay` point in Content for the
placement of one or more Objects.
[0038] An "Object" is any piece of information that a Promoter
wishes viewers to access. Objects can include brand names, brand
objects, messages (audio, visual, text, or links thereto), although
the embodiments are not in any way limited to this partial list.
Objects can include audio or other information that may be either
partially or entirely non-viewable, yet conveys information and/or
data to a viewer. Objects can also be associations, links (e.g.,
hyperlinks), or virtual conduits that link the Viewer to
informational content provided by a Promoter. An Object can also be
a hotspot including data linking a Viewer with other Viewers and/or
social networks. An "Object" can also provide access to an
n-dimensional virtual environment or n-dimensional virtual world
that Viewers can view and/or enter, and that users can be
transported or travel through to other n-dimensional virtual
environments or n-dimensional virtual worlds. Objects can be either
persistent (e.g., permanent) or temporary virtual images, and can
be changed on a computer or on a server. Objects can be changed
remotely (e.g., via the internet) or placed at (e.g., associated
with) a Marker in Content at any time by the source of the Content
(e.g., a User), by a third party, or by a computer program or
computer/internet-based system for placement of Objects. Objects
can be specific to a geographical area where a Viewer is located,
or specifically targeted to the demographics of a Viewer. An Object
may be either visible or invisible to a viewer, and may be a
virtual environment, or may link to a virtual environment. Objects
may also be self-executing (e.g., software code) when Content is
selected for viewing, viewed, stored, or otherwise operated upon by
a Viewer. Therefore, a self-executing Object may not require a
Viewer to select the Object as a prerequisite to obtaining
information from the Object.
[0039] A "Service" provides tools and/or capabilities to a user
enabling the user to associate Markers with Content. A Service also
provides tools and/or capabilities to a Promoter enabling the
Promoter to insert and/or overlay objects at Markers in Content. A
Service can detect and track access to marked Content and Objects
to assign rights to compensation (e.g., payment) to Users,
Promoters, Hosts, the Service, or others. When a Promoter, Host or
other third party is able to perform activities according to
embodiments of the invention, perhaps using tools, capabilities, or
authority provided by the Service, the Promoter, Host or third
party so acting may also be considered `the Service` with regard to
those actions. In general, the tools referred to herein are
primarily or entirely software-based tools configured for execution
on or by a device that can be connected, either directly or
indirectly, to the Internet or another network (e.g., an
internet-linkable or linked device).
[0040] A "Host" is an internet-accessible repository for Content
(e.g., website) at or through which Viewers can access Content
provided by Users. Examples of Hosts could include Google Images,
YouTube, CNN.com, or virtually any other at which viewable Content
may be made available to a Viewer by a User. The number of
potential Hosts is virtually innumerable, and increasing nearly
every day.
[0041] A "Social Network" is a social structure generally
comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes, each of which are
typically, although not exclusively, individuals or organizations.
Social networking can refer to a category of internet applications
that help connect friends, business partners, or other individuals
together using a variety of tools. A "live social network" is a
Social Network in which members engage with each other
concurrently, so interactions in a live social network are
substantially as responsive and real-time as interactions between
people meeting face-to-face.
[0042] "Metadata" is information about data and/or other
information. Metadata is typically structured, encoded data that
describe characteristics of information-bearing entities to aid in
identifying, locating, discovering, assessing, and managing the
described entities. Metadata described herein can also include
"keywords".
[0043] A "Data Packet" is typically a discrete and complete unit of
executable data configured to be associated with and/or relative to
Content. In embodiments, a Data Packet may include compressed or
uncompressed instructional data and/or an audio/video packet and
can be associated with content by an n-User, a Promoter, a Host, a
Service, or by another entity. A Data Packet can be recognized by
software and segregated to reveal compressed or uncompressed
audio/video/instructional/executable data, or an n-dimensional
virtual environment and/or world that Viewers can view and/or
virtually participate within. A Data Packet can also be placed
within, and be used as a portal from one n-dimensional virtual
environment and/or world to another or to other Content. A Data
Packet may subsequently be executed, or stored for later execution,
filing or retrieval, and/or the Data Packets could be viewed on the
screen of a target viewing and/or listening device (e.g. a desktop,
webtop, television, computer, mobile telephone, electronic book,
video game unit, Personal Digital Assistant, radio, internet radio,
a networked device). Data Packets can be self-executing, so that
the data in a packet executes immediately when the Content is
viewed. Alternatively, a data packet may execute at the completion
of a predetermined delay (e.g., predetermine and set by the User)
after a Viewer begins viewing Content. Additionally, a Data Packet
may execute and run in a separate window on a User's device
display, with or without instruction from the viewer. A Data Packet
could enable messages to be placed within Content and to be
retrieved by an n-user.
[0044] A "virtual environment" is a computer simulation of a real
or imaginary environment. A virtual environment may allow people to
enter and interact within n-dimensional computer graphics worlds. A
"virtual world" is a computer-based simulated environment intended
for its users to inhabit and interact via avatars. This habitation
usually is represented in the form of two or three-dimensional
graphical representations of humanoids (or other graphical or
text-based avatars). Some, but not all, virtual worlds allow for
multiple users. An "augmented reality" is the combination of real
world and computer generated data. These 3 terms are. collectively
referred to herein as "Virtual Environment" or "virtual
environment".
[0045] Numerous references to `the Internet` occur throughout this
description. While such references most typically refer to the
World Wide Web, as has become broadly understood and used by the
general public, the embodiments are not so limited. Embodiments of
the invention could function and provide benefits equally or
substantially as well when implemented on or with various limited
access and/or entirely proprietary networks, or other systems of
electronically interconnected devices. Examples of networks
according to alternative embodiments and/or applications could
include Arpanet, proprietary intranet systems, heavily censored
national networks (e.g., as in China), and others. Therefore,
reference to `the internet` herein are to be construed to include
any network with which or within which a service can be
interconnected, or into or from which Content is published,
downloaded, uploaded, or otherwise conveyed between a User and a
Viewer.
[0046] Although much of the Content referred to throughout is
described as Content transmittable via the internet, Content-based
technologies have and continue to rapidly converge. For example,
Content conveyed via television signals can be received by and
displayed on a display means of various devices (e.g., computers),
or can be conveyed over telephone networks via fiber optic systems,
just to name a few examples. Therefore, references to Content and
systems throughout this description are not limited to Content
conveyed primarily or wholly through internet or computer readable
media, but may also include Content conveyed at least in part via
systems typically associated with other purposes (e.g., broadcast,
communications, entertainment, data transfer, navigation).
Virtually any system or network by which Content can be conveyed
between a User and a Viewer, and to, through, or with which a
Service has either a persistent or occasional connection, is also
contemplated within embodiments of the invention. Additionally, a
`display means` herein includes any device or portion thereof
configured to render content visually perceivable by a Viewer
(e.g., liquid crystal display, cathode ray tube, plasma screen,
light emitting diode display, etc.)
[0047] Use of the term `may` (e.g., `may`, `may be`, `may have`)
within this description generally indicates that the described
operation, structure, or other innovative element described is
present in one or more embodiments of the invention, but is not
necessarily present in all embodiments. Therefore, the term `may`
is not indefinite herein, but indicates a condition relevant to at
least a subset of the possible embodiments according to the
applicants' contemplation of the invention.
[0048] Additional terms appear throughout this description, whose
meaning will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art,
based on their usage in context and/or by reference to the
figures.
1) Content Upload and Registration
[0049] FIGS. 1a-1b depict a number of operations according to an
embodiment of the invention. Although these operations are depicted
in series, some individual operations may be omitted, transposed,
or may occur in parallel in alternative embodiments.
[0050] As shown at 102 and 104, a User creates viewable Content,
and uploads the Content to a Host. If the Host is a website, the
User may upload the Content to the Host's servers. Alternatively,
the User may simply create a hyperlink at the Host website that
viewers can select to access the Content located elsewhere. The
User may choose to maintain the Content on an internet-linked
server, computer, or website the User controls, in which case the
User may also be considered a Host.
[0051] If the User broadcasts from his own website, server, or
computer, and wants to use the Service directly, the User can
proceed directly to the operation shown at 110 in FIG. 1A, and
transfer the Content to the Service servers. However, if the User
chooses to use an external host, the Host can ask the User at 106
if he would like to add selectable Objects to the Content by use of
the Service. The User may wish to insert objects for his own
purposes, for example personal messages, pictures, or commentary on
the Content. Alternatively, a Host may also ask if the User would
like to generate revenue from Promoters that will pay to have their
Objects (e.g., brand names, brand objects, or eCommerce links)
associated with the Content through the Service. Generally, the
Host will provide a method by which the User can register their
affirmative or negative answer to the Host's query.
[0052] If the User wants to use the Service, he selects the
provided affirmative option, at 108, and the uploaded Content is
transferred to internet (web) servers under the control of the
Service, as shown at 110. At 112, the Service prompts the User to
register his personal identification data with the Service, and the
User submits the requested data for registration. Such information
may be retained by the Service on user ID servers. User personal
identification data that may be collected includes standard locator
information (e.g., name, address, phone number, email address),
various information related to the User's interests, User
demographic information (e.g., age, sex, place of work, income
level), and frequently visited web sites, although the scope is not
so limited. The Service can use such demographic and other
information to specifically target and provide Promoter
information, products and services to Promoters' targeted groups.
For example, if a shoe company wants to reach or have their
products be marketed to a specific market, such as hikers or
skateboarders, the Service can use demographic information to
direct those products and services to that market. In addition to
information provided by the User in response to the Service
queries, the Service may additionally have tools to identify what
other websites the User has visited, or what videos or audios the
User has downloaded, to enable the Service to build a more detailed
profile of the User's interests.
[0053] The Service queries the User, at 114, to identify the source
or method by which he was referred to the Service. The User will be
given the option to name who (e.g., an individual) or what (e.g.,
company, website, service) introduced him to the Service. This
information will enable the Service to share a portion of any
revenue that is generated from such referral, for at least a
specified time period. Alternatively, if the User's content was
transferred to the Service from a Host, as at 110,, the Service may
recognize the Host as the referral source without querying the
User.
2) Association of Markers and/or Data Packets with Content
[0054] The User will be instructed to review his Content and place
Markers into whatever portion of the viewable Content (e.g., image)
seems appropriate to the User. For example, if the Content is a
video, the User may be instructed to play the video in slow motion,
or at variable speed, and to place Markers at locations in the
video. In general, the User may have a graphical user interface
(GUI) that resides on his computer `desktop`, on a `webtop`, and/or
on the website of the Host to which he has uploaded his Content.
The Service will provide simple `drag and drop` and/or `point and
click` and/or `outlining` tools to place Markers. For example, the
User may use a `mouse` peripheral device to steer a position
indicator on the GUI display to a particular position within the
Content. By clicking a mouse button, the tools provided by the
Service will associate a Marker with the image at the location
selected and indicated by the User. The assigned position of a
Marker spatially with regard to the apparent dimensions of an image
(e.g., 2-n dimensional), and, temporally relative to a beginning or
an end of the content (in the case of non-static content), is
retained by the Service servers for future processing. In an
embodiment, when marking Content created by the User, or Content
for which the User possesses valid rights and/or permission to
alter, the User can directly modify the Content by adding Markers.
However, if the User is not authorized to alter the Content, or
does not wish to alter the Content, association of Markers with
Content creates an additional layer of Content which is separate
from, but is identified to, correlated (perceivably registered) to,
and dynamically responsive to the original Content. In either
situation, the Content with which the Markers are associated with
is referred to herein as "Marked Content".
[0055] The User continues to associate Markers at selected
positions throughout the Content subject to the User's judgment, or
subject to guidelines established by the Service. It will be clear
to those of ordinary skill in the art that while a computer mouse
peripheral device is one means for indicating and selecting
locations for placing Markers, the embodiments are not so limited.
For example, the User may indicate a location for associating a
Marker by touching a handheld stylus, the User's finger, or some
other pointing directly on a touch-sensitive display screen.
Likewise, other systems and devices such as gaze tracking systems,
sip and puff control devices, joystick control devices,
voice-recognition control systems, and numerous others can likewise
be used to indicate a location and associate a Marker with the
Content. In addition, a pattern recognition and/or image
recognition means (e.g., embodied in software, firmware, or
hardware, or a combination thereof) could be used to define, locate
and automatically associate Markers within the Content. For
example, an image recognition program could be used to place a
Marker on every shirt in a video for the subsequent placement of
Objects on those shirts.
[0056] During Marker placement, Markers can be visible to the User,
to aid the User in properly positioning the markers relative to the
Content. For example, Markers can be assigned as 2-dimensional
regions defined and/or delineated by the User using tools similar
to a `telestrator` (commonly used in sportscasts and broadcast
weather reports). By this method, Users define a boundary or
outline, as shown at 1410 in FIG. 14b, corresponding with a
particular viewer-perceivable pattern or object (e.g., a wall,
clothing, a vehicle) in an image, and can choose to associate the
Marker with that pattern. Pattern recognition software can then
track the object pattern as it moves through, past and relative to
other patterns in the Content, and maintain the Marker associated
with the pattern. If for example, the Content is a video, and the
pattern with which a marker is associated is a car, when the car
moves out of the visible range (e.g., viewer-perceivable range,
field of view) in the Content image (e.g., off the display to one
side, or shrinking into the distance), the Marker may likewise
progressively move out of or shrink beyond the visible range. If
the pattern then returns within the visible range of the Content,
the Marker likewise returns. Alternatively, Markers can be
persistent, and remain within the visible range of the Content even
when an associated object or pattern in the Content no longer
appears within the visible range.
[0057] Markers may also have predefined attributes, such as shape,
size, opacity/transparency, or color, which may be either fixed
(not changeable by the User) or which may be User adjustable. Such
attributes can also be adjusted by operation of a pattern
recognition means to maintain a user-perceivable correlation
between viewer-perceivable attributes of the Marker and those of an
associated viewer-perceivable element of the Content (e.g., a
shirt, a bottle, a car, etc.). Markers may be included in the tools
provided by the Service, or they may be available as a part of the
User's or Host's GUI. The Service can also provide Markers with
predetermined attributes corresponding to common items, such as
beverage bottles, signs, or others. Likewise, Users, Promoters, and
others can create new Marker configurations and submit them to a
Service. When those Marker configurations are then used by others,
the creator of the Marker configuration can receive a small royalty
payment. The possibilities are relatively limitless, and new Marker
designs could also be made available to Users at any time as
upgrades and/or revisions to the provided tools. Marker
configurations could also be a revenue source of a Service, in that
Users may pay to use interesting Markers for their Content similar
to how mobile phone users currently pay to download interesting
ring tones for their phones. Users, promoters, or other third
parties could also create interesting markers and provide them to a
Service in exchange for recognition of some kind of consideration.
The Service can then make these Markers available to others to use
and similarly collect a use fee.
[0058] The Service will prompt the User and the User registers the
Marked content, at 118, and at 120, a unique identification is
associated with the Content. This unique identification, among
other things, allows the Service to recognize the Content when a
Viewer selects the Content for viewing. The unique ID also helps
the Service maintain association of Markers, and insertion/overlay
of Objects, both of which may be stored at Service servers (e.g.,
on a hard drive, data storage tape, optical disk, or another data
storage means), with the proper Content, even when the Content
itself resides elsewhere. 100531 The User is then asked, at 122, to
provide and/or define Content-descriptive values, or keywords,
which describe the nature, origin, general theme, or other
characteristics of the Content. These keywords and/or values will
assist search engines (e.g. Google) to place text-based
advertisements with the Content, (which, for example could be
placed at the end of a video clip or displayed beneath it), or vice
versa.
[0059] At 124, the Service prompts the User to suggest which brand
names, brand products, or other Objects would be best to insert
and/or overlay at each Marker in the marked Content. The Service
can also provide a list of brand names, products or other Objects
from which the User can select appropriate choices, including those
submitted to the Service by various Promoters who wish to reach
target audiences through User-marked Content. For example, if the
User suggests using the brand name PEPSI to insert and/or overlay
at a Marker associated with the image of a bottle on a table in the
User's content, the brand PEPSI can be made to appear on the bottle
whenever a Viewer selects the Content for viewing, and the bottle
appears within the visible range in the Content.
[0060] As previously described, pattern recognition software can
recognize the size, shape, color, and other visual characteristics
of a selected object or pattern (e.g., the bottle) in the Content.
The software can also make adjustments to keep the position of the
Marker relative to the position of the bottle relatively constant
in the Content image, as the position of the bottle in the image
changes based on the changing position of the image capture device
(e.g., camera that originally captured the Content image(s))
relative to the bottle. Further, the pattern recognition software
can also make adjustments to the lighting and apparent perspective.
For example, if the bottle is placed upon a table, and the camera
moved in a full 360-degree circle around the bottle while
continuously capturing an image of the bottle, a Marker associated
with the bottle could remain stationary with respect to the bottle
so that it does not move with the movement of the camera.
Therefore, the PEPSI brand Object inserted and/or overlaid at the
Marker would likewise appear to remain stationary with respect to
the bottle. However, if the User prefers, he could alternatively
choose to allow the Marker, and therefore the Object, to move with
the movement of the camera so that the Object remains in view of
the Viewer at all times that the bottle is also in view.
[0061] The User may be able to specify that a single Marker can be
inserted and/or overlaid with plurality of Objects, or with
multiple types of Objects concurrently. Such plural
insertion/overlay may even allow selection of the plurality of
Objects simultaneously. For example, both an audio and a visual
Object (e.g., an .mp3 file and an .mpeg file) can be inserted
and/or overlaid at a Marker. When the Objects are selected by a
Viewer, the image becomes visible to the Viewer, and a music file
or audio message plays at the same time. This is just an example
according to an embodiment, and does not limit the scope or nature
of other embodiments. Alternatively, a Marker may be configured
with this capability by the Service, and does not need to be, or
cannot be altered by the User. According to an embodiment, a User
can place an object at a Marker and lock the Marker to prevent
later placement of any other Object at that Marker. For example, a
User may want to associate a Viewer-text entry field object at a
Marker where Viewers could submit reviews and/or other comments
regarding the associated Content, or where Viewers could create a
Content-relevant e-mail or text message or other message, and send
the message to the User or to another Viewer. The User could place
the corresponding Object at the Marker and set a marker attribute
(e.g., marker parameter) to prevent alteration or removal of the
Object, or placement of any additional Objects at that same
Marker.
[0062] When the User finishes associating Markers with the Content,
or perhaps periodically while associating Markers, the Service may
prompt the User to make adjustments to Markers. For example, a
pattern recognition system provided by a Service may detect
something unusual and flag the User, and may also provide suggested
corrective actions available to the User and relevant to the
detected condition. For example, a User may associate a
bottle-shaped marker with the pattern of a table in a video, and
may designate the Marker to remain persistent regardless the
continued presence of the table pattern. However, in a later
portion of the video, the table has been removed, and is no longer
visible. A pattern recognition system provided by the Service may
detect that the bottle, once apparently sitting on the table, now
appears to be floating in mid-air. Therefore, the Service can
prompt the User to either remove the Marker (e.g., drag it back to
a toolbar), or to move the Marker to another location within the
Content (e.g., onto another table). If the User removes the Marker,
they may opt to remove the Marker from the Content entirely, or
from only a portion of the Content.
[0063] At 126, the User views the marked Content, checking and
adjusting Marker placement for consistency and artistic appearance
as needed. If, for example, a Marker associated with a stationary
object (e.g. a wall) and a Marker associated with a moving object
(e.g. a vehicle) conflict due to a portion of the moving object
crossing in front of (or behind) the stationary object, the User
can specify an appropriate resolution according to depth priority.
For example, the User may be able to designate the Marker
associated with the stationary object as `Background`, while
designating the other Marker as `Foreground`. This can, in an
embodiment, provide a situation where the moving Marker remains
visible and fully selectable when transitioning through the Content
image and across (apparently between the Viewer and) the stationary
Marker. Meanwhile, the stationary Marker is only selectable during
the transition of the moving Marker to the extent that some portion
of it is still visible from behind the moving Marker. Therefore,
Markers can be understood as placeable in one or more layers of
depth relative to content and to one another.
[0064] During this process, the Service may provide the User with
the option to make all or some portion of the Markers visible to
the User for easy reference. The User may be provided with full
discretion to place Markers wherever and however the User desires
within the Content. Alternatively, the Service may provide Marker
placement recommendations, or even guidelines (e.g. style
guidelines) to which the User must generally and/or strictly
adhere.
[0065] When the User is satisfied that all Markers in the Content
are as they should be, the User returns the Content to the Host, at
128. As noted above, this could mean that the User returns the
Content to his own server and/or website, or an external server
and/or website (e.g., YouTube).
[0066] At 130, the Service may then remove the Content from Service
servers, retaining a registry including the unique identification
of the Content (and all relevant User-relative data) and all Marker
data (e.g., type, location within content, user suggestions for
Object insertions/overlays). The markers, however, remain embedded
in the Content in the locations (e.g. positional and/or
chronological locations) and manner designated by the User during
the association operations described above. The Service owns the
Markers, and can charge Promoters for access to the Markers for
placement of Objects that the Promoters want to deliver to the
attention of Viewers of Content.
[0067] In much the same ways as described above with regard to
Markers, a User can alternatively or additionally associate Data
Packets with Content. Rather than providing, for example, an
insertion and/or overlay placeholder for later insertion and/or
overlay of Objects, a Data Packet may include a discrete and
complete unit of executable content data placed relative to the
Content. For example, the data comprising a Data Packet may
represent, and make available to a Viewer when executed, a video,
text and/or audio clip. Examples include but are not limited to
embedding a hidden video, text or audio clip within a video, text
or audio clip--such as a hidden song within the video, a hidden
video within an audio clip wherein the video is selectable when
cued by an audio indication and is viewable on a display or other
viewable means, a hidden audio-video lecture from an instructor
within online course materials, etc.), a result of executed
software code, a personal message, an Internet link (e.g., URL,
URN, URI), an n-dimensional virtual environment and/or an
n-dimensional virtual world that Viewers, readers or listeners can
virtually enter into or move throughout, an automatically
dispatched electronic mail message, an opened telephonic connection
or some other type of data encoded content. Therefore, Data Packets
can deliver to Viewers of Content many of the same types of content
as do Objects (described below). However, the nature and content of
Data Packets generally remain as designated by the User until and
unless the User decides to alter, replace, or remove them, or until
they are altered as an operational result of their intended
function.
[0068] As the examples above should make clear, the ability to
associate Data Packets with or relative to Content is not limited
to only viewable Content. For example, inasmuch as Data Packets may
be self-executing, a Data Packet can be associated with purely
audio Content, and can execute without the need for Viewer
selection of the Data Packet, or even without Viewer recognition of
the presence of the Data Packet prior to execution. Therefore, Data
Packets can be associated with, and provide benefits with, nearly
any kind of underlying Content. As with Marker data, a Service will
receive Data Packet data from a User, a Promoter or Host, and
retain a record of the Data Packet data including characteristics
related to the placement of the Data Packet(s) relative to the
Content.
[0069] A Service would make tools available to Users enabling
placement of Data Packets relative to Content, and allowing the
User to specify how the Data Packets are presented to Users that
access and view the Content. For example, Data Packets may be
embedded into the Content, and may be visually represented to a
Viewer, or may be visually invisible to a Viewer. Data Packets can
be self-executing, so that the data in the packet is executed
immediately when the Content is viewed, or alternatively, execute
at the completion of a predetermined delay (e.g., predetermined and
set by the User) after a Viewer begins viewing Content, or upon
Viewer execution. Alternatively, a Data Packet may execute and run
in a separate window on a User's device display.
[0070] Service provided tools may allow control of playback,
volume, or other Content execution relevant parameters pertaining
to execution of data in the Data Packet, separate from and
simultaneous with similar or other control of the Content, (e.g.,
start, stop, pause, resume, volume, speed, repeat, skip, next,
previous, undo, edit, send, navigate, recall, save, forward,
addressing, block, filter, resize, bookmark, etc.). Execution of
data in a Data Packet may also cause concurrent execution of
viewable Content to be placed on hold (e.g., paused) until
completion of the Data Packet data execution, or until the Viewer
intervenes to exercise control over the execution of the Data
Packet data, the viewable Content, or both.
[0071] A User, Promoter or Host may also provide a Data Packet with
encoding which allows only authorized Viewers to execute the data
in the Data Packet. By this capability, a User, Promoter or Host
can deliver information to only specific Viewers, although the Data
Packets containing the information are placed relative to Content
which is itself viewable to a broad audience of Viewers. For
example, a merchandiser may advertise to all potential customers by
making broadly available Content describing his or her products,
but may also associate a Data Packet with the Content, the Data
Packet including a special discount code for use by preferred
customers or `members`. Generally, a data packet may extent an
invitation to a viewer to engage in a commercial transaction
including but not limited to one or more of comprising one or more
of an announcement regarding a sale, a coupon, a rebate offer, a
consolidated multi-item purchase price offer, a limited time offer,
an exclusive offer, a subscription offer, and a product sample,
although others are anticipated and fall within the scope of one or
more embodiments.
[0072] Codes placed in a Data Packet by a User, Promoter or Host,
or inserted at a Marker by a User, Host, Promoter, Viewer, or other
can also serve to associate Content With other Content similarly
encoded or to associate and link Viewers, readers or listeners to
others on the internet who are simultaneously engaged in the
same/similar internet Content as that of the information or Content
placed in the Data Packet. The Service, acting as a network
`brain`, can establish and maintain associations between Content
related by such codes when an inserted Object/code is selected, or
Data Packet code is executed, by a User, Viewer, or other. A
Service can also construct and maintain a virtual directory of all
interrelated Content via codes associated with the Content via Data
Packets or Markers. Similarly, codes inserted at Markers by
Viewers, Hosts, Promoters, or others can serve to associate some or
all of these various parties with the Content and can be used to
link them to Users, or to link Users to other Users, Viewers, Hosts
or Promoters, and a Service can construct and maintain a virtual
directory of which Viewers, Hosts, Promoters, or others are
associated by codes inserted relative to Content. Alternatively,
and/or simultaneously, other codes can serve to associate various
parties to each other, and/or into a social network related to the
Content, and a Service can construct and maintain a virtual
directory of which Viewers, Hosts, Promoters, or others have been,
are or can be associated and linked together by inserted codes with
Content. A Service can monitor and store chat, other means of
communications and transactions (such as Content file sharing) that
occur in environments (windows, areas, n-dimensional virtual
environments, n-dimensional virtual worlds, etc.) that are created
by these Data Packets.
[0073] The various capabilities for controlling presentation,
execution, availability, Viewer control, or other parameters of
Data Packets may be defined by a User when or prior to associating
Data Packets with Content. Further, a User can in some embodiments,
as a maintenance function, change such parameters, or even remove
previously placed Data Packets at any time after the Data Packets
are associated with Content and/or after the Content is
`published`.
[0074] In a more `open` embodiment, n-Users can associate Data
Packets with Content after publication of the Content by the User.
The ability for n-Users to do so could be controlled by the User
via a setting enabled at some time between Content creation and
publication, or even after Content is published, as a maintenance
capability. In this way, n-Users can, for example, insert Data
Packets which invite subsequent Viewers to connect with (e.g.,
automatically, or selectively at Viewer's discretion) the n-User
for a social interaction. For example, an n-User may wish to gather
information from other Content Viewers relative to a product or
topic presented by the Content. When a subsequent Viewer selects
the Data Packet associated with the Content by the n-User, the
Viewer is invited into an interactive exchange with the n-User
(such as a social networking environment, as described herein), or,
in another example, may be directed to a web-based survey form
placed by the n-User to gather information. One of ordinary skill
in the art will appreciate the great number of beneficial
applications enabled by this and similar embodiments of the
invention disclosed herein.
3) Promoter Designation of Objects for Insertion and/or Overlaying
at Markers
[0075] Referring to FIG. 2 at 202, Promoters having information
that they wish to bring to Viewers' attention can pay the Service
for access to Markers in marked Content. Of course, on occasion,
the Service may also opt to provide access to Markers for no
charge. For example, Promoters may be given access to one or more
markers for a duration, at the discretion of the Service, to
demonstrate how the Service can benefit the Promoter. As another
example, the Service may provide access to Markers above and beyond
what the Promoter pays for as part of a `bonus` to generate
goodwill with the Promoter, or as a public service (e.g., when the
Promoter is a public service organization).
[0076] A Promoter may want to insert/overlay Objects at Markers
associated with specific Content (e.g., a particular video), with
specific types of Content (e.g., video content only), or with
Content of a particular topic or nature (e.g., sporting events). A
Promoter could also wish to insert/overlay Objects with any Markers
having User-defined attributes/values that correspond with the
Promoter's objectives, or that are associated with Content the
Promoter thinks may be viewed by Viewers in his target demographic.
The Promoter can specify which of these options or combinations of
options he wants to use. Of course, other options may be made
available by the Service and offered to Promoters.
[0077] The Promoter, at 204, will identify Objects to be
inserted/overlaid at Markers. Objects can include brands, products,
graphic designs, audio messages, links to a web page (e.g.
URL-defined hyperlink), n-dimensional virtual environments and/or
worlds, other Content, downloadable material (e.g. software),
surveys, order forms, or email. This list is not exclusive,
however, and many other options as will be apparent to those having
ordinary skill in the art. For example, a Promoter may want a brand
name (e.g., `Jam Juice` Energy Drink) to appear in Content relating
to sporting events.
[0078] Objects may also simply consist of associations. Selection
of an association Object can convey a Viewer to Object-linked
information, such as to a website, an-dimensional virtual
environment and/or world, or Content residing on a server.
Association Objects can also be used to convey Viewers to a
utility, such as an email utility, a survey utility, a job
application utility, or countless others as will be apparent to
those of skill in the art. Therefore, Objects are not limited to
text, graphics, or other visible images, but may include
associations through which a Viewer can be linked with nearly any
kind of information.
[0079] The Promoter can then provide and/or define Object-relevant
values and link them with an Object, at 206. Object relevant values
may describe visual attributes of the Object (e.g., size, shape,
color), general contextual attributes (e.g., Object is related to
sports or to a specific sports activity), specific contextual
attributes (e.g., the Object is a bottled beverage), or any number
of other attributes, properties, themes, qualities, or descriptive
terms that can aid in relating Objects to Markers and/or Content to
meet a Promoter's objectives. Promoters can provide/define Object
relevant values which relate an Object to specific Markers, or to
Markers related to a specific Object, brand, or type of Objects by
User suggestion (e.g., as at 124 in FIG. 1b), or to markers in
specific or general classes of Content.
[0080] Alternatively, a Promoter may desire for the insertion
and/or overlay of specific Objects at specific Markers and/or in
specific Content. The Object-relevant values may include, or may
solely consist of such instructions. For example, the Promoter may
also be a User, and may provide Content via a Host and associate
Markers with the Content. In this situation, the Promoter may have
a plan for promoting products to Viewers, and will therefore
designate Objects for insertion/overlay at Markers in the Content
according to that plan. In another instance, a movie studio as
Promoter may want to promote new release movies. Therefore, the
studio may create or cause the creation of Content, and associate
Markers with the Content, into which Markers are inserted/overlaid
Objects consisting of movie posters or links to Movie previews.
These are just a few examples, and do not in any way limit the
scope or nature of the nearly unlimited possible embodiments of the
invention.
[0081] Once the Promoter has provided and/or defined
Object-relevant values for one or more Objects, the Promoter then
provides the Service with access to the Objects, at 208. Providing
access may include providing the Object to the Service for storage
on the Service's server(s), or providing the Service with access to
the Objects on the Promoter's server(s). The Objects may also be
maintained somewhere other than on a server residing at the Service
or the Promoter, but may be maintained at a separate location where
the Objects are accessible to the Service, the Promoter, or
both.
[0082] In embodiments of the invention, `access` may include actual
possession of an original or copy of the Object on a Service server
or a form of storage medium compatible with the form of the Object
(e.g., optical disc, magnetic storage media, photograph, a list).
`Access` may also include constructive possession of an Object
through permission and capability to access an original or copy of
the Object from a server owned by someone or something other than
the Service. Therefore, `providing access` can include informing
the Service of the location of the Object, such as a publicly or
commercially available archive or other source, even if the Service
still must obtain rights to use the Object. Providing access may
involve physically conveying storage. media containing the Object,
uploading or otherwise transferring the Object via an electronic
link, or numerous other methods. In embodiments wherein the
identities of the User, the Host, and the Promoter partially or
fully overlap, the actions involved in or required for providing
the Service with access to Objects may be substantially
streamlined.
4) Activation of Object Insertion/Overlay
[0083] Referring to FIG. 3 at 302, a Viewer accesses a Host, and
selects marked Content from the Host for Viewing. The Content may
be activated and viewed at the Host website (e.g., YouTube) using
tools and capabilities provided to Viewers by or through the Host,
or may be downloaded from the Host to the Viewer for later viewing.
In the latter situation, the Content may be considered `selected
for viewing` when the downloaded Content is later opened (e.g., a
Content file is `run` so that the Content can be viewed) by the
Viewer, rather than when the Content file is downloaded.
[0084] At 304, the Service detects the Viewer's selection of marked
Content. In situations where a Viewer selects the Content for
viewing at the Host website, the Viewer generally is already
connected to the internet. In the situations where a Viewer selects
Content for viewing after downloading a Content file from the Host,
the Viewer may or may not still be connected to the internet. If
the Viewer is not connected to the Internet, selecting the Content
for viewing will cause the Content to initiate/open an Internet .
connection so that the Service can detect the Viewer's selection of
the. Content for Viewing. Alternatively, if connection to the
internet is not currently available, selecting the Content will
establish a queue. At the next subsequent availability of an
internet connection (e.g., the Viewer reconnects the device to a
wired, wireless, or other internet-linked system), the Viewer's
device will establish a connection to the Internet and the Service
will detect Content selections held in the queue: Alternatively,
execution of Content selections in a queue can be scheduled, so
that an internet connection is established on a schedule preset by
the Viewer, rather than automatically when such connection is
available.
[0085] At 306, the Service will recognize the unique Content
identification associated with and/or embedded into the Content at
the time the User registered the Content with the Service. Once the
Service identifies the Content, the Service can then select
Objects, at 308, to insert and/or overlay at the Markers in the
Content. The Service may spontaneously select markers based on
keyword/value relationships as provided by Users (relating to
Markers) and by Promoters (relating to Objects), or may select
Objects based on more firmly prescribed instructions linking
specific (or relatively specific) Markers with specific (or
relatively specific) Objects, as described above.
[0086] At 310, the Service then inserts and/or overlays the Objects
at the Markers in the Content, and at 312, transmits the Content
with the Markers and inserted/overlaid Objects to the Viewer for
viewing. Transmitting the Content may simply involve causing the
Content to begin playing on the Host site or the Viewer's display
(e.g., commencing the playing of a video, game, or other non-static
content, entry into an n-dimensional virtual environment and/or
world), or causing a Content image to appear on the Viewer's
display (e.g. by displaying a photographic image, computer
generated image, or causing a computer to render an image
real-time), although the embodiments are not so limited. Because
Markers can exist in a separate content layer overlying marked
Content, Objects can be inserted at a Marker in the separate
content layer, and simultaneously overly the marked Content. In an
embodiment, therefore, an Object can be both inserted and overlaid
relative to Content.
[0087] The Objects may all be inserted/overlaid into. the Content
prior to the Content becoming viewable by the Viewer.
Alternatively, Objects may be inserted/overlaid progressively as
the Viewer continues to view the Content. This latter situation may
be particularly true when the Content is of an interactive nature,
for example a computer game or an n-dimensional virtual environment
and/or world. In such situations, the Viewer's actions throughout
the game can cause marked portions of Content to appear relatively
randomly (e.g., not according to a pre-determined schedule or
invariable sequence). Therefore, Objects will be inserted/overlaid
`on the fly`, as the game or other activity proceeds, rather than
entirely prior to commencement. This may mean that Objects are
continuously downloaded and inserted/overlaid real time by the
Service throughout game play or other activities, or it may mean
that the Service downloads all Objects that may be
inserted/overlaid at Markers in the Content prior to commencement
of the game or other activity, and the objects are then
inserted/overlaid by the Service as the game or other activity
proceeds. If a single Marker appears repeatedly throughout the
viewed Content, either the same or different Objects can be
inserted at the Marker during each subsequent appearance.
[0088] As mentioned, Content may be selected and downloaded for
later viewing, and later selection, of Objects. Similarly, Data
Packets in Content can also be saved for later access by a Viewer.
Data Packets may contain information for which a connection to the
internet is necessary, or may be fully executable without an
internet connection. In those situations when an internet
connection is necessary (e.g., Data Packets which, when executed,
navigate to a website or other web-based presence, or act to
acquire remote information via the internet), the Data Packets may
be handled similarly to Content with Markers and inserted/overlaid
Objects. Later selection/access of the Data Packet(s) can either
cause an internet connection to be established, or, alternatively,
a queue may be established, or added to, so that the Data Packet(s)
can execute via a later internet connection. Data Packets not
requiring an internet connection can be saved on the Viewer's
device, or on a peripheral storage device, and may be accessed at
either a scheduled time or at the Viewer's leisure. Alternatively,
a Data Packet may self-execute at a later time based upon a
time-based attribute of the information in the Data Packet, pre-set
by the User, the Viewer, or a third-party.
5) Linking Viewers in Social Networks via Analysis of Metadata of
the Markers, the Objects and the Content.
[0089] The Service can perform an analysis of the metadata
description data of Markers, Objects and Content to link Viewers of
the same and/or similar Markers, Objects and/or Content to each
other, in the same or a similar manner as is described in U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/856,404, entitled USING
INTERNET CONTENT AS THE MEANS TO ESTABLISH SOCIAL NETWORKS BY
LINKING INTERNET USERS, SEARCHERS, VIEWERS AND/OR LISTENERS OF THE
SAME AND/OR SIMILAR INTERNET CONTENT TO EACH OTHER VIA A PLATFORM
THAT ENABLES ANY OF THE FOLLOWING IN N-DIMENSIONAL ENVIRONMENTS:
SOCIAL NETWORKING, COMMUNICATIONS, SHARING, CO-BROWSING,
E-COMMERCE, ADVERTISING, SEARCH, HOSTING AND REGISTRY SERVICES,
PUSH AND PULL APPLICATIONS, ANONYMOUS COMMUNICATIONS, AND RICH
PRESENCE, filed Nov. 2, 2006.
[0090] As shown at 1602 in FIG. 16, User files with the Service
Metadata descriptions for types of Objects to be placed in Markers
that the User places in Content.
[0091] As shown at 1604, when a Viewer accesses Content that
contains Markers, the Service downloads relevant Objects into the
Content for that Viewer (based on Viewer attributes/interests). In
addition, and perhaps concurrently in some embodiments, the Service
also analyzes the Metadata descriptors of the Markers and searches
its database of Viewers (e.g., who are currently online or who have
left instructions to be later connected into a live social network
in which another online Viewer is engaged in Content having the
same or similar Metadata descriptors as the Markers). The Service
matches and links the Viewer to other Viewers (who are online at
that moment), and who are viewing Content having the same and/or
similar Metadata descriptors in the Markers in the Content they are
viewing.
[0092] As detailed at 1606, the linking of Viewers who share a
commonality of interests (as defined by the same and/or similar
Metadata of the Markers that are inserted and/or overlaid into
Content), enables new forms of Social Networking, Co-Browsing,
Co-Shopping, E-Commerce, Advertising, Customer Service, and other
beneficial activities.
[0093] In an alternative embodiment, a User can insert a code as a
Data Packet associated with Content, and also associate a Marker(s)
which allows Viewers to insert and/or overlay a code at the
Marker(s). By this method, the Users and/or Viewers can signify
their intent (e.g., availability, willingness, desire) to interact
(e.g., live or otherwise) with other Users and/or Viewers with
regard to the Content. Insertion of a code by a Viewer can act to
allow the Viewer to be linked into an interactive social
environment, either immediately or upon approval by the User or a
moderator, and can notify the User and/or other Viewers that the
Viewer is entering the social environment, whether or not the User
and/or other Viewers are currently interacting in the social
environment. Likewise, inserting their code at a Marker may enable
notification of the Viewer when the User or other Viewers (or
moderator, or others) have entered the social network and are
available for live or other interaction, or upon the occurrence of
some other event related to the Content, such as the revision or
replacement of the Content, or the publication of associated
Content.
[0094] By the above described code insertion capabilities, Viewers
(as well as Users, Promoters, or others) can be linked together to
enable concurrent (e.g. live) and/or later viewing of Content.
During such simultaneous or later viewing (which may alternatively
involve listening to audio content, watching visual content, or
otherwise perceiving other or mixed media Content), Viewers can
concurrently interact with each other and/or with the Content in
real time through a concurrent or otherwise interactive
environment. For example, while geographically separated, a
director and a cinematographer could simultaneously view a sequence
of film with audio and/or video components, and discuss edits to be
made to the film. Using tools provided by a Service, one or both of
them could act as a User or n-User, and insert Markers at various
locations in the Content film, at which either of them could later
insert instructions as Objects for later access by film editors.
Alternatively, instructions could be associated with the Content
film as Data Packets.
[0095] In another embodiment, two or more Viewers can be linked for
concurrent viewing of Content although the Viewers are not
otherwise acquainted. When one of the Viewers selects the Content
for viewing, a Service recognizes codes previously inserted at a
Marker by other Viewers (or a User, or Promoter, or others)
associated with the Content, and links the Viewer with one or more
of the other Viewers, etc., for example in a live social network
with each other. Therefore, the Content can be concurrently
experienced by multiple viewers, who can also interact relative the
Content via an interaction-enabling means (e.g., text, audio, or
other communication means and/or methods) described herein or
otherwise known to those having skill in the art.
[0096] In another embodiment, two or more Viewers can be linked for
simultaneous viewing of Content although the Viewers are not
otherwise acquainted. When one of the Viewers selects the Content
for viewing, a Service recognizes codes previously inserted at a
Marker by other Viewers (or a User, or Promoter, or others)
associated with the Content, and links the Viewer with one or more
of the other Viewers, etc., as in a live social network with each
other in an n-dimensional environment. Therefore, the Content can
be simultaneously experienced by multiple viewers, who can also
interact relative the Content via text, audio, or other
communication methods described herein or otherwise known to those
having skill in the art.
[0097] Objects that are inserted/overlaid into Content can be used
for the purpose of collecting specific information that is being
generated, exchanged, viewed, listened to, or interacted with
within a live social network and/or within an n-dimensional Virtual
Environment. Information gathered from an inserted/overlaid Object
can then be used to create a new live social network and/or
n-dimensional Virtual Environment. For instance, the Object that
has been inserted/overlaid into the Content could be the image of a
CD that, when clicked on, can record onto CD media the audio
content exchanged within the live social network and/or within the
n-dimensional environment. In an embodiment, clicking or selecting
by some other means, the image of the CD object that has been
inserted/overlaid into the Content, or selection of some other
viewer-perceivable indication of code, can launch an analysis of
the melody of audio content (or more generally, can analyze the
qualitative properties of any other type of content being perceived
by a Viewer) that can then be used to create a live social network
and/or an n-dimensional Virtual Environment, as substantially
depicted and described in FIGS. 17a-17s.
[0098] The object that is inserted/overlaid by a Viewer into the
Content could be the image of a DVD that can record onto DVD media
the audio and/or the video Content exchanged within the live social
network or within the n-dimensional environment. In an embodiment,
by clicking or selecting by some other means the image of the DVD
object inserted/overlaid into the Content, could launch an analysis
of the melody of the audio and/or a search for specific images
(using image recognition techniques) to create a live social
network and/or an n-dimensional Virtual Environment from that
information that is captured.
[0099] A Radio Broadcast object or a TV Broadcast object, that has
been inserted/overlaid into the Content, can when clicked on,
broadcast within a live social network and/or within a
n-dimensional virtual environment, and/or through the internet to
other on-line sites and/or applications and/or to off-line
destinations, the content and/or communications gathered or
originating within the live social network and/or the n-dimensional
Virtual Environment. By clicking on or otherwise selecting a
CD/DVD/Radio/TV Object or any other Objects that are
inserted/overlaid within the Content, live social networks and
n-dimensional environments can be created by the means described in
this invention.
[0100] Live Content exchanges between Users, in live social
networks and/or in n-dimensional Virtual Environments that have
been created from Objects inserted/overlaid relative to Content,
could become live Content channel broadcasts (Audio, Video,
Audio-Video) to other Viewers in other online and/or offline
communities. Stored historical information can be broadcast
contemporaneously or later as either live or on-demand channel
broadcasts.
6) Viewer Selection of Objects
[0101] As shown at 402 in FIG. 4, while viewing Content into which
one or more Objects are inserted and/or overlaid, the Viewer can
select an Object. An Object can be indicated and selected by any
device or system ordinarily or specially available to computer
users for indicating and/or selecting items or regions of a
computer display screen or the display screen of any other
electronic device. For example, a Viewer could select an Object by
using a computer mouse, keyboard or keypad, gaze tracking system,
sip and puff control system, or joystick, although this not an
exclusive list and the embodiments are not to be understood as so
limited. If the Viewer views the Content on a touch sensitive or
light sensitive display screen, the Viewer can select an Object
using a stylus, their finger, a laser-pointer, or some other device
or method by which the display recognizes the selection and
associates it with the Object. As shown at 1406 in FIG. 14b, the
Viewer can place a cursor or other indicator on, at, over, within,
or otherwise corresponding to a portion of an image in the Content,
and act to select an Object corresponding to that portion of the
image. The Object itself may be visually perceivable by the Viewer,
or its presence may be detectable only by a Viewer detectable
change in the cursor or other indicator. In embodiments, simply
placing an indicator (e.g., cursor) on, at, over, within, or
otherwise corresponding to an Object is sufficient to select the
Object.
[0102] Alternately, moving an indicator over an Object can cause a
message or other indicator to appear somewhere in a visible portion
of the display device being used by the Viewer, indicating the
presence of an Object. Likewise, moving an indicator over an Object
could generate an audio or other detectible cue to the Viewer that
they can select an Object. For vision impaired users, an audio cue
can also rise and/or fall in tone, volume, or frequency as the
Viewer causes an indicator to increase or decrease in proximity to
an Object.
[0103] At 404, the Service detects the selection and identifies the
Object. In embodiments, this may entail the Service detecting the
selection in real time. In other embodiments, tools and/or
capabilities provided by the Service to a Viewer, Promoter, User,
Host, third-party, or to a device or system controlled and/or
operated by one or more of these entities, and capable of
responding as provided for by the Service, may detect the selection
in real time as a proxy for the Service.
[0104] In one embodiment, shown at 406, the Object selection is
stored so that it can be accessed and reviewed by the Viewer at a
later time. The selection may be stored on a server or some other
storage device or medium at the Service, or it may be stored by any
resident data-storage means (e.g., RAM, hard drive, optical storage
medium, USB connect storage device) of or linked to the device by
which the Viewer accessed and/or viewed the Content. Thus, at some
later time, the Viewer can access stored Object selections, as at
408, and review the data represented by those Objects. This allows
a Viewer to continue the Content viewing experience relatively
uninterrupted by their selections. This may be particularly
advantageous to Viewers that view timing-sensitive Content, such as
interactive computer based games involving other players, or who
otherwise only have limited time to view the Content.
[0105] In another embodiment, shown at 412, the Object selection
concurrently links the Viewer in real time to other n-Viewers who
are concurrently engaged in the same/similar data or context
associated with the Object, thereby creating a live social network
among these linked Viewers.
[0106] Alternatively, as shown at 410, the data associated with a
selected Object can be reviewed by the Viewer substantially
immediately. In such instances, when warranted by the nature of the
data linked to an Object (e.g. viewable data), another window may
open on the Viewer's display screen to display the linked data
(e.g., a web page, picture, video). In the case of non-static
Content, immediate review of the Object-linked data may `pause` the
Content so that the Viewer does not miss any of the Content while
reviewing the linked data. Of course, the option to pause or not
pause the Content during review of Object-linked data could also be
provided as a Viewer selectable option. In another instance
pertaining to immediately viewable Object-linked data, selection of
an Object can terminate viewing of the Content and begin review of
the Object-linked data. This also may be configured as a Viewer
selectable option.
[0107] Object-linked data may be considered `substantially
immediately reviewable` for at least the reasons that delays may be
experienced between the time that a Viewer selects an Object, and
the time that the Object-linked data is presented to the viewer.
Delays may result from transmission, buffering, image rendering,
hardware and/or software limitations, or other similar causes.
However, for the purposes of the embodiments described herein,
Object-linked data may be considered `immediately reviewable` any
time an Object is selected and the Object is not stored for later
review.
[0108] FIGS. 14a-g show embodiments wherein Object-linked data is
immediately viewable by a Viewer. With reference to FIG. 14a, a
Viewer views Content 1402, in this example a skateboarding video,
using a computer program 1404 (e.g., Windows Media Player) adapted
for displaying the Content. In FIG. 14b the Viewer places an
indicator 1406 within the selectable portion of an Object 1408
(e.g., the image of a skateboarder's shirt), and a defined boundary
1410 corresponding to a Marker becomes visible to the Viewer (e.g.,
a line drawn using a telestrator-like tool or capability). Because
an Object is inserted/overlaid at the Marker, the Viewer can select
the Object, and Object-linked informational content 1412 (e.g.,
clothing merchandise) becomes Viewable by the Viewer in a separate
area proximate to the Content 1402. Likewise, as shown in FIG. 14c,
the Viewer can move the indicator to a portion of the Content image
corresponding to another Marker and Object 1414, associated in this
example with a skateboarder's kneepad. When selected, other
Object-linked content (e.g., skateboarding equipment) is
immediately viewable in a separate area of the device display
adjacent to the Content. The Object-linked content typically but
not exclusively includes Promoter-relevant items, such as items
(e.g. merchandise) the promoter offers for sale to viewers.
Therefore, the Viewer can typically select one or more of the
Promoter-relevant items displayed in response to the Viewer's
selection Of an Object 1414. Further, the items themselves can
likewise be selectable. Selecting an item can initiate a commercial
transaction allowing the Viewer to purchase merchandise, can
initiate a communication means (e.g., e-mail, telephonic, instant
message session) with the Promoter or another, can activate a
virtual environment in which, or example, an avatar of the viewer
can try on a t-shirt, or can link the Viewer (e.g., live in real
time) to other Viewers based on metadata associated with the item,
although the embodiments are not so limited.
[0109] In FIG. 14c, the selectable Object is inserted at the
Marker, and is effectively invisible, in that the Content image
(e.g., the kneepad) is visible to the Viewer, and is not obscured
from View by an overlaid visible Object. However, as shown in FIG.
14d, an Object can be overlaid at a Marker so that it is visible to
the Viewer. Here, the visible Object 1418, a logo for a product
(e.g., `Jam Juice`) is overlaid at a Marker associated with a
portion of the Content image corresponding to a flat surface 1420
(e.g., a wall). The visible Object 1418 overlays portions of the
flat surface, obscuring those portions from the Viewer's view. Once
again, moving an indicator 1406 over the Object 1418 and selecting
the Object 1418 causes Object-linked content 1416 (also shown in
FIG. 14c) to be presented in an area of the display screen
proximate to the Content 1402.
[0110] With reference again to FIG. 14b, the image of the
skateboarder's shirt may appear in the original or marked Content
substantially as shown in FIG. 14b, and the Object 1408 may be
inserted so that it is substantially or completely invisible to the
Viewer when viewing the Content. However, it is also possible that
the skateboarder's shirt was another color (e.g., white) in the
original Content, and the User assigned color to the Marker while
or after associating the Marker with the portion of the Content
corresponding with the skateboarder's shirt. Therefore, whenever
and wherever the shirt is visible in the Content, all or a portion
of the shirt appears to be the color assigned to the Marker by the
User.
[0111] Likewise, in embodiments, a visible Object corresponding
closely to an image in Content, such as the skateboarder's shirt
and the Object-linked merchandise 1412 shown in FIG. 14b, can be
overlaid at the Marker. This may be done by matching values,
keywords, or other Content and/or Object relevant information (e.g.
metadata descriptive information) provided by Users and/or
Promoters, respectively. Therefore, throughout the viewing of the
Content, the visible Object overlays and visually replaces a
portion of the viewable Content (e.g., the skateboarder appears to
`wear` the overlaid Object shirt).
[0112] In FIG. 14e, the image of a `coupon` Marker 1422 on an
Object indicates the presence of an overlaid `coupon` Marker. When
the indicator 1406 is either rolled over the `coupon` Marker 1422
or the `coupon` Marker 1422 is clicked on, coupon Objects 1426
appear within the Content 1402 or at other areas of the display.
The Server could have instructions for "coupon ads", configured as
space that vendors could pay to have an advertisement placed
within, such as by placing bids and being awarded access to the
space upon placing the highest bid. In one embodiment, the coupon
ads could be inserted within a "book" in a room or in an area that
is visible to the Viewer so they can be viewed within one location
that is understood to be for coupon ads. The Service could provide
more areas for those who want to "pay" for inclusion in other parts
of the visible areas--e.g., a branded Object that would have an
indicator on it that there's a coupon available for it. The branded
Object could serve as advertising for the brand and the Coupon
Indicator (pictured here as a Star icon) could serve as a means to
access coupons.
[0113] In FIG. 14f, we see that by clicking onto areas of the
Content 1402, a Viewer can elect to view and/or enter an
n-dimensional virtual environment or world 1428, such as to be
linked in a social network with other Viewers who are concurrently
engaged in the same and/or similar Content. For example, FIG. 14F
shows several Viewers who have been put into an n-dimensional
environment or world together and are viewing the same Content, and
these Viewers can communicate with each other, share and exchange
Content files, and engage in other mutual/shared activities.
[0114] In FIG. 14g, coupon Markers (as indicated by the star 1422)
can be placed on or within Content in an n-dimensional environment
and/or world to launch the opening of coupon Objects 1426 that can
be visibly overlaid within the Content or elsewhere in the
display.
[0115] The examples described above should not be taken to imply
that inserted Objects are necessarily invisible while viewing
Content, nor that overlaid objects are necessarily visible while
viewing Content. The visual attributes of visibility or
invisibility can be assigned to both inserted and overlaid Objects
without any necessary limitation of either attribute to either type
of Object placement. Likewise, Objects both visible and invisible
may be inserted or overlaid at Markers, whether those Markers are
visible or invisible. In embodiments, a visible Object may obscure
a portion of a visible Marker.
[0116] In the case of Data Packets associated with Content, the
Data Packets may be either Viewer selectable or automatic (e.g.
self-executing), or may be extractable through a software program
that is designed to filter and extract data within Data Packets.
With regard to Viewer selectability, selection of a Data Packet can
result in any of a number of outcomes. For example, Viewer
selection of a Data Packet may cause the data therein to execute,
such as to play a video and/or audio clip, to display a message, to
link to a webpage, or to cause some other User intended result.
Alternatively, selection of a Data Packet by a Viewer may cause the
Data Packet to be stored at or on a computer readable storage
medium (e.g. a hard disc drive, a USB flash memory drive).
[0117] The data in a Data Packet could include links to web pages
or shared window experiences with the Data Packet originator(s), so
others can communicate with those who have retrieved certain codes
or data from the Data Packets. For example, and to keep the Data
Packets from being so large that they slow down the Content file
downloads, the Data Packet information could be linked to external
servers, web pages, systems or other entities that host web pages,
and/or social networking sites. Such entities could keep records of
all comments, correspondence or posts made into the Content, for
review by all or by certain Data Packet retrievers. In an
embodiment, a hosting entity could return and open in a separate
window, or overlay on top of or associated with the Content, the
messages that people want to leave and share with others who are
viewing that Content. These messages/posts could be advertisements,
communications among friends, invitations to join social networking
groups, or other communication generated at least in part by
exposure to Content, Data Packet information, and/or Objects. In
another embodiment, the information within a Data Packet can be
used to concurrently link the Viewer with one or more others who
are engaged in the same and/or similar metadata as the Data Packet,
or of Content in a live, social link, to communicate and share with
those other Viewer(s).
[0118] As discussed, a User can designate what action is taken upon
Viewer selection of a Data Packet, or a Viewer can so designate. In
a preferred embodiment, the Viewer's designation will have priority
over a User's designation, although in other embodiments a User's
designation may control. Alternatively, the Service can override a
designation of a User, a Host, a Promoter, or perhaps even a
Viewer, such as to resolve a conflict, to prevent damage (such as
by viruses or other sources of potential device or data
corruption), to secure confidential information, to update Service
tools, or for some other purpose.
[0119] Viewer selection of a Data Packet can also cause a
confirmation message to be sent to the originating User, confirming
that the Viewer has received and selected the Data Packet.
According to this embodiment, a Data Packet can provide a valuable
`return receipt confirmation` function, similar to what is
available in tangible postal systems (e.g., United States Postal
Service) and/or email systems, even without utilizing these other
systems.
[0120] In yet another embodiment, upon selecting Content for
viewing, a new `window` may open on a Viewer's device display,
containing a directory (e.g., menu, index) of all Data Packets,
and/or Objects associated with the Content. Display of a `directory
window` allows the Viewer to select Data Packets and/or Objects
individually or in combinations. So selected, the Viewer may be
able to designate and initiate (or schedule initiation of) a
desired activity, such as viewing, storing, responding, navigating
to, forwarding, or other options, with respect to the Data Packets
and/or Objects. When selecting multiple Data Packets or Objects, a
Viewer may choose to initiate an action with respect to each
according to a sequence, as a batched activity, or according to
some other schedule. For example, a Viewer may select one or more
Objects and/or Data Packets from a directory and inspect them for
viruses in a batch process using a computer virus scanning software
program, prior to taking any other actions (e.g., executing,
storing, forwarding) with respect to any of them.
[0121] Data Packets may also be associated with Content to provide
additional information related to the Content itself when selected
by a Viewer. For example, a Data Packet can display, in a separate
window or as text overlying some portion of the Content itself,
information about the actors, setting, director, or some other
aspect of viewable content, such as a short movie clip.
Alternatively, a Data Packet can provide information about various
products depicted in viewable content, allowing a Viewer to
navigate to a website where the User can purchase the products.
[0122] Data Packets can function like `sticky notes` placed in
Content. A Viewer can select a Data Packet, or a Data Packet may
automatically activate when a portion of active Content plays, and
the Data Packet may cause a message to appear, remain temporarily,
and then disappear once again from view. Therefore, Content can be
used as a type of message board and/or reminder tool for Viewers,
through the use of `pop-up` messages delivered by Data Packets
associated with the Content (e.g., as `notes` posted for their
friends to see). Alternatively, Data Packets allowing subsequent
n-User data entry can function as a `visitor register` for Content
Viewers to record their names and/or comments regarding the
Content.
[0123] Data Packets can be particularly useful for providing
confirmation of the occurrence of an activity or affirmation. For
example, distance learning may be accomplished by making available
to a remote Viewer certain educational content. One or more Data
Packets may be associated with the Content by a User, such as an
educational provider, wherein the packets monitor the Viewer's
progress through Content and provide confirmation to the User that
a Viewer viewed the Content. Alternatively, the Viewer may be
prompted by automated `reminder` Data Packets to activate other
Data Packets at the end of a Content section, the activation of
which provides affirmation by the Viewer that they have viewed the
Content. Data Packets can also deliver quizzes to students
regarding material viewed by the student, to monitor and ensure
student comprehension. By these and/or similar embodiments,
providers of distance learning can remotely deliver and confirm
students performance of coursework, and other Users can achieve
similar ends with regard to audiences for their Content.
[0124] Conversely, students, researchers, and others can create
content (e.g., research papers, reports) combining multiple media
forms. For example, a student can create a `base` Content (e.g. a
text report), and associate with the content, at various locations
throughout, Data Packets providing notes, video clips, photographs,
links to websites, invitations to 3-dimensional interactive
exhibits, inquiry submission forms, or other informative materials.
Therefore, a rich and active informational experience emerges from
an otherwise textual report through the use of associated Data
Packets.
[0125] Although it is not repeated with regard to each and every
embodiment herein, Data Packets associated with Content can also
collect and or monitor information regarding Viewers' activities,
and distribute that information to designated entities (e.g., the
Service, the User, a Host, a Promoter, or a third party such as
viewer's parent or teacher, among others). This may be true with
regard to any or all of the embodiments described herein. Data
Packets can also prevent a Viewer from accessing certain Content
without first viewing other Content and/or taking some action. For
example, a Viewer may not be able to view Content without first
viewing a licensing agreement or a copyright warning, and/or
acknowledging having done so.
7) Viewer Attribute-based Insertion/Overlay
[0126] As shown in FIG. 5, embodiments of the invention also
provide for insertion/overlay of Objects at Markers based upon
various attributes of a Viewer. These and related embodiments
provide a high degree of flexibility and effectiveness to, and
increase the revenue generating potential and efficiency of
applications of the embodiments.
[0127] In general, a Viewer accesses a Host, at 502, and selects
marked Content for viewing. As previously described, the Service
can detect the selection of marked Content, and can identify the
Content by its unique identification associated and/or embedded
into the Content during registration by the User. However,
according to an embodiment, the Service also recognizes, at 504,
the geographic location of the Viewer. For example, the Service may
recognize that a Viewer selecting Content for Viewing is located in
Japan. Therefore, at 506, the Service is able to insert and/or
overlay Objects of relevance to Viewers in Japan at Markers in the
selected Content. Further, the Service may have agreements with
Promoters of products, services, or information that the Promoter
wishes to direct toward Viewers in Japan, whether those Promoters
are located in Japan or not. By this embodiment, Promoters can
target information to specific (e.g., cities, provinces) or general
(e.g., countries, regions) geographical areas without the need to
create wholly separate Content for each.
[0128] In another embodiment shown at 508, the Service recognizes
Viewer-specific attributes, and inserts Viewer-relevant Objects at
Markers in the selected Content, at 510. In one instance, the
Viewer may have provided to the Service information about the
Viewer's interests and/or other demographic information pertinent
to the Viewer or to a group with which the Viewer is associated.
This information may have been provided by the Viewer via an
on-line Viewer information survey or other data-collection means
available from the Service. This information (the Viewer-specific
attributes that are provided to the Service) and the
Viewer-relevant Objects that are inserted into the Markers, could
be used by the Service to link Viewers to other Viewers to create
social networks around the commonality of their interests, in the
same or a similar manner as that described in U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/856,404, indicated above.
[0129] The Viewer, while performing internet searches for content
may specify keywords, for example `snowboard`, to guide search
engines (e.g., Google, Ask.com, Yahoo) during a search. Such
keywords can serve as Viewer attributes indicating topics of
interest that the Service can use to insert/overlay Objects of
interest to the Viewer. As in the example given, the Service can
insert/overlay Objects related to snowboarding gear, suppliers,
and/or facilities, just to name a few possibilities.
[0130] In another instance, the Viewer may have provided such
information to the Host as part of a registration process for
access to the Host, and the provided information is made available
to the Service. Due to on-line privacy concerns, such information
frequently may be provided only with the Viewer's consent. Absent
specific consent, Viewer information may be provided to the Service
by a Host in cumulative form, relating to viewers similar in type
to the Viewer, without being specific to or identifying that
individual Viewer. Alternatively, the Viewer's anonymity can be
preserved by the use of neutral tokens as described in Provisional
Patent Application No. 60/856,404, indicated above. In still
another instance, the Viewer may be given the opportunity to
provide information prior to, while, or after viewing the Content.
This information can then be provided to the Service and the
Service can update the Objects inserted/overlaid in the marked
Content, or use the information to select appropriate Objects for
inserting in subsequently selected Content.
[0131] The Service may also have the tools and/or capability to
track a Viewer's on-line habits, such as which sites they visit,
what kinds of music or other items they download, from which
on-line retailers they make purchases, and other such information
which can also constitute `Viewer Attributes`. By such information,
the Service can insert/overlay Objects that are not only relevant
to a Viewer's interests, but which can also change as a Viewer's
interests, as indicated by their habits, also change. in addition,
the Service can use these "Viewer Attributes" to link Viewers to
other Viewers to create social networks around the commonality of
their interests, in the same manner that is described in U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/856,404, indicated
above. This process follows the same or similar steps as in the
embodiment depicted in Figure 16.
[0132] In still another embodiment, the Service can recognize
Viewer and/or Promoter time-relevant attributes at 512, and insert
time-relevant Objects at Markers in Content at 514. For example, a
Promoter may select and specify an Object for insertion/overlay
only after a specified date/time. Therefore, the Object would not
be inserted until after the specified date and/or time. Likewise, a
Promoter may specify a time and/or date after which an Object
should be inserted/overlaid, or some combination of start/end dates
or times, as well as a duration for and an interval between each.
In such situations, the Service can detect the time and/or date
when a Viewer selects Content for viewing. When such time/date
falls within a time/date specified for inserting/overlaying (or
ceasing to insert/overlay) the time-specified Object, the Service
can insert/overlay (or cease to insert/overlay) the Object(s) as
requested by the Promoter.
[0133] The ability to recognize time attributes enables Promoters
to present time-sensitive information to Viewers. For example,
clothing retailers who schedule specific fashions or seasonal
clothing promotions to coincide with the specific times of the year
can provide Viewers with access to information about those products
at the appropriate times. This can include notifying Viewers of
short-duration sales, limited-availability items, special events,
or other time-sensitive or time-limited information.
[0134] Likewise, Viewer-relevant time attributes could relate to
the season and/or time of date at the Viewer's location, enabling a
Promoter to provide information relevant to the Viewer's time-based
needs. In an embodiment, a Viewer may be able to set `alarms` or
other time or date-relevant indicators, such as for birthdays or
anniversaries of friends or family members. A Service could then
detect those indicators, and insert and/or overlay marked Content
Objects relevant to the Viewer's time-based needs. For example,
Objects could include recommended gift items, coupons, personal
messages, reminders, as just a few examples.
[0135] Of course, a Service could likewise recognize both Viewer
and Promoter time-relevant attributes, and meaningfully related
them to provide increased benefit to both the Viewer and the
Promoter. For example, a Promoter may wish to schedule the release
of information to coincide with time-based events at other
locations. The information could be a television broadcast of New
Year's Eve events in New York's Times Square, to be delivered to
each Viewer time zone only after midnight in the time zone.
Therefore, the Promoter could associate time-relevant values with
an Object (e.g., link to a broadcast), and a service will only
insert and/or overlay the Object when a Viewer selects Content for
viewing and the Service detects that it is after midnight where the
Viewer is located, based on, for example, a clock on the Viewer's
computer or other content viewing device.
[0136] According to yet another embodiment, the Service recognizes
attributes of the selected Content at 516, and at 518
inserts/overlays Objects having relevance to the Content attributes
at Markers in the Content. For example, Content-relevant attributes
can be values attributed to the Content by the User during Content
registration. As described earlier, recognizing Content-relevant
attributes allows the Service to insert/overlay sports-related
Objects at Markers associated with sports-related Content. This
increases the relevance of inserted/overlaid Objects with the
underlying Content, and increases the chance that Promoters can
direct information more effectively at Viewers with relevant
interests. That is, Viewers of sports-related Content may be more
likely to buy sports-related products, or be more interested in
sports news, videos, or other sports-relevant, Object-linked
information.
[0137] Thereafter, as seen at 520, the Service can use the Objects
placed at the Markers to link Viewers together into a live social
network, wherein the Viewers are concurrently engaged in Content
having the same and/or similar context, Objects, and/or Object
metadata, for concurrent and live communications.
[0138] One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that
numerous combinations of subsets of the above described embodiments
would also be extremely useful. For example, an airline company may
want to insert an Object only for Viewers in Japan, and only during
the winter, for example to advertise discount flights from Tokyo to
Australia. Therefore, the Service may recognize geographical and
time-relevant attributes of Viewers selecting Content, or of
Content itself, and perhaps Viewer attributes relating to income or
interests, and insert/overlay an Object into marked Content
accordingly. Likewise, the Service could recognize Promoter
attributes, such as may relate to seasonal discounts, room
availability, and/or off-peak pricing. At the same time, however,
Content Viewers in Maine may receive Objects advertising vacation
opportunities in Arizona, as indicated by time, geographical,
Viewer, Promoter and/or other relevant attributes. Other
embodiments likewise include combinations of two or more attribute
types, to specifically target information according to the specific
or general needs of a Promoter.
8) Marker Persistence in Distributed Content (Authorized and
Unauthorized)
[0139] It is almost inherent in the nature of the internet that
Content posted to even a website is frequently copied to other
websites, downloaded by internet users, modified and reposted, and
generally distributed both with and without authorization from the
Content owner. Embodiments of the invention take this transient
nature of Content into account, and provide benefits to Promoters,
Viewers, Users, and the Service despite such occurrences.
[0140] For example, consider a User who posts marked Content at a
Host (e.g., YouTube, Kodak Gallery, MySpace), at 602. The User may
intend for, or expect that, Viewers will download and share the
Content. For example, the Content downloaded by a first Viewer may
be conveyed to a second Viewer, who may convey the Content to a
third Viewer, and so on. Thus, the User has authorized, either by
intent or acquiescence, that the Content be distributed to multiple
Viewers (n-Viewers). In such situations, although the Content may
be copied from the Host and distributed from each n-Viewer to
subsequent n-Viewers, the Markers and unique identification
associated with the Content during Content registration remain
associated with the Content. Thus, each time an n-Viewer selects
the Content for viewing, at 610, the Service detects the selection
at 612, identifies the Content, and inserts/overlays the
appropriate Objects at each Marker in the Content.
[0141] The User may also provide authorization (e.g., express or
implied permission) allowing n-Users to edit Marked content
Therefore, an authorized n-User may edit Content, at 608, by
removing portions, by combining other content into the Content, by
copying portions of the Content into other content, or in other
ways. However, when the edited Content, or other content including
portions of the edited Content are selected by an n-Viewer for
viewing, at 610, the Service will detect the selection. The Service
can then identify the remaining Content, and insert/overlay
appropriate Objects, at 612, at the Markers in the remaining
portions of the Content. The Service is able to identify edited
portions of Content because the unique Content identification, in
embodiments, is included in or with a Marker. The Markers, and an
associated unique identification may be considered linked and/or
`persistent`. Wherever the Marker goes, so goes the unique Content
and/or Marker identifier. As long as an edited portion of Content
retains at least one Marker, the Content remains identifiable by
the Service, and Objects can be inserted/overlaid at the
Marker.
[0142] Likewise, an unauthorized n-User may `rip` Content, at 606.
`Ripping` generally means that the n-User does not have
authorization, either explicitly or impliedly, to copy and/or edit
the Content. In many cases, copying and/or editing the Content may
be prohibited by contract, by law, or by another source of
authority. In such situations, or in others reasonably similar, the
n-User may be described as an unauthorized n-User. Subsequently,
the unauthorized n-User may view the Content himself (as an
n-Viewer), or may redistribute the Content to other n-Viewers.
However, as in the case of an authorized User, when the edited
Content, or other content including portions of the edited Content
are selected by an n-Viewer for viewing, at 610, the Service will
detect the selection, identify the remaining Content, and
insert/overlay appropriate Objects, at 612, at the Markers in the
remaining portions of the Content.
[0143] Generally, a system is anticipated for supplementing
device-accessible, viewer-perceivable content utilizing plural
service providers. Such a system can comprise one or more services
configured to associate objects with markers identified to the
first service. An action of a viewer with respect to content
including a marker (e.g., downloading the content, selecting for
viewing, saving, bookmarking, etc.) causes notification of one or
more such services of the action. In response to the notification,
the service(s) can associate an object with the marker, enabling
the viewer to select or take some other action relative to the
object when perceiving the content.
[0144] In situations where content includes only markers identified
to one service (e.g., registered by or to the service) is acted
upon by a viewer, that marker typically receives association with
one or more objects from only that service. However, when content
includes markers identified to more than one service, each marker
in the content can receive association with objects by whichever
service the marker is identified. Therefore, content can receive
object/marker associations from more than one service in response
to a single action taken by a viewer relative to the content.
[0145] In still another embodiment, content may include one or more
markers obtained from a third party (e.g., perhaps not a `service`,
but rather a provider of custom markers) and identified to one or
more services. When such content is acted upon by a viewer, the
markers can receive association with objects via any of multiple
service providers to whom the markers are identified. Thus, an
embodiment of the invention anticipates a secondary market for
vendors or other providers of custom markers. The markers can then
be registered with one or more services by the vendor or other
provider of the custom markers, by a purchaser or other receiver of
the custom markers, or by a User placing markers into Content.
[0146] As described, although marked Content is distributed and
re-distributed after being transferred to a Host by an original
User, and may also be edited by both authorized and un-authorized
n-Users, the Markers remain persistent in Content. Therefore, each
time the marked Content or portions thereof are selected for
viewing by an n-Viewer, the Service is able to detect the Content
selection, and appropriately insert/overlay Objects at Markers in
the Content (e.g., as relevant to time, geographical location,
supply/demand curves). The n-User who `rips` Content may insert
alternative Markers in the Content and register those alternative
`Markers` with an alternative Host and alternative Service that
will be able to insert/overlay alternative Objects in the `ripped`
Content. The `ripped` Content can allow for insertion of Objects
from the original Host and the original Service in any of the
original Markers that remain in the `ripped` Content and also
insert alternative Objects in the alternative Markers as described
herein, from the alternative Host and the alternative Service.
[0147] Associating Data Packets with Content provides Users with
another method to ensure the persistence of supplemental
informational value in Content. As described, Data Packets
generally carry with them a discrete, complete set of information
enabling a particular function or result. As such, Data Packets can
be excised along with a portion of the original Content by an
n-User, and will generally retain full functionality. Therefore, if
the n-User republishes a portion of Content including a Data Packet
associated with the original Content by the User, the Data Packet
will still function as designated by the User.
[0148] In some embodiments, however, a User may wish to set Data
Packet parameters such that the packets cease to function if
separated from all or a designated portion of the original Content.
Such embodiments provide Users with some measure of control by
preventing data included in a Data Packet from being associated
with Content that is not congruent with the nature of association
intended by the User. For example, if a User so designated, an
n-User would not be able to associate a Data Packet related to
ecclesiastical material with pornographic content. Thus, the Data.
Packet will not, for example, extend invitations to pornography
viewers to join an ecclesiastical social network, or vice
versa.
9) identification of Objectionable Content and/or Objects; Denial
of Use of Service
[0149] Promoters may not want their brand names, products, Objects,
or identity associated with Content which includes objectionable
material. Therefore, once the User transfers Content to the Service
servers, at 702, during registration for using the Service to
associate Markers with the Content, the Service can review the
Content for the presence of objectionable material, at 704. This
can be accomplished by human review of the Content, or by using a
pattern recognition system (e.g., software). For example,
representatives of the Service (or certain of its Viewers or
Promoters) may visually detect the presence of objectionable
material. If objectionable material is identified in the Content,
at 706, representatives of the Service (or certain of its Viewers
or Promoters) can deny use of the Service and its tools and
capabilities (e.g., Marker and insertion processes) with regard to
the Content including the objectionable material at 708. In this
manner, the Service can `filter out` Content containing
objectionable material, and prevent Service Markers and Promoters'
Objects from being associated with objectionable material.
[0150] Alternatively, the Service may be able to provide an option
to the user, a third party, and/or an automatic or selective
software program to insert clothing or some other cover over a
partially or fully nude body, or other objectionable material in
the Content.
[0151] Additionally, the Service can detect (by various means
including possibly by a software program, by visual scans by
representatives of the Service, by Viewers, or by Promoters) and
deny use of the Service to Content including depictions of, or
Content which in and of itself constitutes certain illegal
activities, including, but not limited to: [0152] a) content or
activities that constitute or cause, directly or indirectly, a
breach of any contractual or other duty owed by the User to a third
party; [0153] b) content or activities that constitute a tort or
other legal wrong of any kind against a third party; [0154] c)
content or activities that constitute a violation of any national,
state or local law, regulations, ordinance or other applicable
restriction; [0155] d) content or activities that constitute or
involve computer hacking, the creation of computer `viruses` of any
kind or description, and/or the negligent, reckless or intentional
distribution of such viruses; and/or [0156] e) activities that
involve, foster, or are in the nature of bulk emailing, `spamming`,
or similar mass distribution activities.
[0157] The Service can detect (by various means including possibly
by a software program, by visual scans by representatives of the
Service, by Viewers, or by Promoters) and deny use of the Service
to Content including depictions of, or Content which in and of
itself constitutes certain potentially harmful activities,
including, but not limited to: [0158] a) tobacco, alcohol, and or
drug use; [0159] b) use of weapons; [0160] c) gambling; [0161] d)
content that sets a bad example for young children, and/or that
teaches or encourages children to perform harmful acts or imitate
dangerous behavior; [0162] e) content that creates feelings of
fear, intimidation, horror, and/or psychological terror; and/or,
[0163] f) incitement or depiction of discrimination or harm against
any individual or group based on gender, sexual orientation,
ethnic, religious and/or national identity.
[0164] Additionally, the Service may identify (by various means
including possibly by a software program, by visual scans by
representatives of the Service, or by Viewers, or by Promoters)
Content that is libelous, defamatory, threatening, abusive,
fraudulent, harassing, that violates the privacy rights of any
individual, that is of a political nature, or that is copyrighted,
trademarked, patented or otherwise protected content for which
there is no prior express written consent for use from its
owner.
[0165] In much the same way as described above relative to Content,
Users, Hosts, Viewers, and a Service itself may not want
objectionable material inserted and/or overlaid at Markers in
Content. This is particularly true considering that Content may be
of a nature that young children may generally view, for example,
and the objectionable nature of material inserted/overlaid within
the Content may not be apparent until a child has already been
exposed to it. Therefore, a Service may also wish to review Objects
for objectionable material before allowing them to be inserted
and/or overlaid at Markers. This may generally be unnecessary due
to contractual provisions between a Service and a Promoter
prohibiting such material in Objects or linked to by Objects.
However, such capability provides an added layer of protection in
case of breach of such a contract, or some other situation in which
objectionable material may otherwise be inserted and/or overlaid in
marked Content.
10) Control Over Content, Markers, and Inserted/Overlaid Objects:
Flagging and Digital Rights Management Controls
[0166] The Service can exert control over Content, Markers, and
inserted/overlaid Objects in several ways. One method of control
includes providing tools and capabilities to Viewers to `flag`
problems with Content or inserted/overlaid Objects. With reference
to FIG. 8, a Viewer may identify objectionable material in marked
Content, at 802, or inappropriate marking of Content, at 804, such
as Markers that are not put in the right place or in the right
context within Content.
[0167] In either case, the Service can provide the Viewer with
capabilities to initiate `flagging` of the suspect Content and/or
Marking, as at 806. Flagging may be initiated, in embodiments, by
selecting an icon in a toolbar, by opening an email or other
messaging dialogue to the Service, or by some other method or tool.
However activated, the Viewer-initiated flagging causes the Service
to become aware of a Viewer-perceived problem with marked Content.
Therefore, at 808, the Service detects the Viewer-initiated
flagging, and either immediately or at some later time review the
Content and/or its associated marking for problems. The flagging
may allow the Viewer to provide information identifying and/or
describing the general or specific nature of the perceived problem.
For example, the Service may provide a list of selectable
categories of general problem types, or may provide a text entry
box into which a Viewer can describe the problem from the Viewer's
perspective. Additionally, the flagging process may `capture` the
unique Content identification of the flagged Content so that the
Service can readily and accurately associate the reported problem
with the correct Content.
[0168] As mentioned, in general, the Service may not retain Content
on Service servers after the Content is marked by a User.
Therefore, the Service can either review the Content by accessing
it where it resides at the Host, or cause the Content to be
transmitted or copied back to the Service servers to be reviewed
there.
[0169] After reviewing the Content in light of the Viewer-initiated
flagging, if the Service determines that a corrective action is
warranted at 810, the service can then implement an appropriate
corrective action at 812. Examples of corrective actions can
include, but are not limited to, removing or deactivating all or a
subset of the Markers in the Content, deleting inserted/overlaid
Objects from Content, fixing or prompting a User to fix the
placement of all or a subset of the Markers in the Content,
deleting or requesting a Host and/or User to delete Content or to
otherwise prevent Viewer access to Content, and/or or other actions
as deemed appropriate and/or effective to mitigate the problem at
hand. In a situation where multiple Objects are inserted/overlaid
at a Marker, and only a subset of the Objects is/are related to
objectionable material, any one or more of the Objects can be
removed from the Marker while leaving the other Objects in place.
Thereafter, the Service can terminate the Viewer-initiated
flagging, at 816.
[0170] Alternatively, after reviewing the Content and/or associated
flagging in light of the Viewer-initiated flagging, the Service may
determine that no corrective action is required, as shown at 814,
and therefore terminate the Viewer-initiated flagging, at 816.
Whether or not corrective action is taken, the Service can notify
the Viewer regarding the determination and result.
[0171] Another type of control that Service can employ for Content,
Markers, and insertions/overlays is Digital Rights Management
(DRM). DRM can be used to protect marked Content, active and/or
interactive, so that it cannot be altered later. For example, DRM
can prevent marked Content from being later edited to include or be
included in objectionable material. With reference to FIG. 9, after
a User associates Markers with Content, at 902, the Service can
apply DRM to the marked Content, at 904. Thereafter, if an n-User,
or even the User himself, breaches the DRM of the marked Content,
at 906, the Markers associated with the Content become inactive, at
908. This may mean that the Markers can no longer receive inserted
and/or overlaid Objects. It may also mean that any Objects already
inserted/overlaid at Markers in the Content are deleted from the
Content.
11) Promoter Control and Updating of Inserted and/or Overlaid
Objects
[0172] Embodiments of the invention provide Promoters with
capabilities to control which Objects are inserted/overlaid at
Markers, and allow updating of inserted/overlaid Objects to meet
the Promoter's needs. With reference to FIG. 10 at 1002, after a
Promoter has provided the Service with access to a first Object for
insertion/overlay in marked Content, a Promoter may identify or
select a second Object to replace the first Object. Therefore, the
Promoter disables capability for insertion/overlay of the first
Object, at 1004, and enables capability for insertion/overlay of
the second Object, at 1006. Disabling insertion/overlay capability
may involve removing the first Object from the Promoter's server, a
Service server, or a third party server, or removing the Service's
access to the first Object on the Promoter's or a third party's
server. Likewise, enabling insertion/overlay capability may involve
adding the second Object to the Promoter's server, a Service
server, or a third party server, or providing the Service with
access to the first Object on the Promoter's or a third party's
server. The second Object may be provided to the Service or a third
party by other means as well, such as by providing storage media
including the second Object, although other alternative may also be
used.
[0173] Once capability for inserting/overlaying the second Object
is enabled, when a Viewer selects marked Content for viewing at
1008, the second Object rather than the first Object is inserted
and/or overlaid at a Marker in the Content.
[0174] The ability to update Objects can likewise include Objects
already selected by Viewers and stored for later review. Further
detail on this capability is provided in FIG. 11 and described
below. As shown at 1102, a Viewer selects a first Object in marked
Content, and the selection is stored so that the Viewer can access
and/or review the Object at a later time. Alternatively, the Viewer
may have downloaded and stored the Content itself without selecting
a specific Object, although the Content already includes Objects
inserted at Markers.
[0175] Sometime after the Viewer selects a first Object or
downloads the Content, the Promoter decides disables capability for
the first Object to be inserted/overlaid, at 1104, and instead,
enables capability for insertion/overlay of a second Object. The
Service, upon some pre-set time interval or some triggering action
(e.g., Viewer connects to Internet, Viewer selects stored Content
for viewing, Promoter sends request), alters the Viewer's stored
selection so that the first Object is replaced with a second
Object, at 1108. When the Viewer then accesses and/or reviews the
stored selection (or Content), at 1110, the Viewer is provided with
the second Object and its associated data rather than the first
Object. The System may detect that the Viewer has limited bandwidth
for transferring information, and may regulate the rate at which
Objects are downloaded to the Viewer to prevent overloading the
Viewer's bandwidth.
[0176] With the capability to update Objects as described,
Promoters can ensure that Viewers receive the latest, most
up-to-date and most relevant information that a Promoter wishes to
provide. Further, Viewers can obtain updated information from
previous selections, eliminating the need to access Content and
repeat selections each time the Viewer wishes to learn about, for
example, a Promoter's latest sale items, updated news stories, or
promotional discounts or packages.
12) Insertion of Virtual Environments for Advertising, Additional
Content Viewing and Sharing, and Social Networking
[0177] Virtual environments represent another class of embodiments
of the invention that a Service can enable for Users, Viewers, and
Promoters, to further enrich a Viewer's Content-based
experience.
[0178] With reference to FIG. 12, once a User registers Content
with a Service, at 1202, the Service provides the User with the
capability to associate visible depictions of code (`Code`
hereinafter) (e.g., icons) with the Content, at 1204. As with
Marker data, a Service will receive from a User and retain a record
of data relating to the placement of Code, including
characteristics relating to the placement of the Code relative to
the Content. The Code enables a Viewer to see Objects
inserted/overlaid in such virtual environments as virtual product
rooms, virtual meeting rooms, virtual social networks (including as
detailed in the above referenced provisional patent application),
or other virtual environments, whether live or static. Such virtual
environments can include capability for voice over internet
protocol (VoIP) communications, text messaging, or other means of
communications between a Viewer and others.
[0179] By associating the provided Code with Content, at 1206, the
User enables virtual environments to be inserted/overlaid at a
Marker associated with the Content, or elsewhere such as at the
beginning or the end of the Content (e.g., a video), in a Content
title, or somewhere within the Content (as described in U.S. Pat.
No. 7,168,051 referenced above). A virtual environment, once
activated by a viewer by selecting an icon or other Code at 1208,
can exist as a virtual world overlay on top of the visible Content,
or as an environment that is separate from the confines of the
visual Content.
[0180] Viewer-selected depictions of code can, in an embodiment, be
used to link the Viewer into a live social network with other
Viewers who are simultaneously engaged in Content having the
same/similar context or metadata of the selected Code, or who are
engaged in the same/similar depiction of Code, for live (e.g.,
concurrent, contemporaneous, simultaneous) communications with each
other.
[0181] For example, if the Content is a digital photo, selecting
(e.g., mouse clicking on) the Code icon, or perhaps clicking on the
photo image itself, will expose to the Viewer a virtual environment
around, on, or within the photo. If within the photo, the virtual
environment could have spatial dimensions such that an image of the
photo is visible to the Viewer, for instance on a wall of a virtual
room. Thus, at 1210, the Viewer perceives the virtual environment
associated with the Content. Content displayed within a virtual
environment can include advertisements and/or other branded items
having some relevance to and/or representation(s) of a promoter's
products, commercial identity, or message, and will generally be
intended and/or configured to attract a Viewer's interest.
[0182] A virtual environment, according to embodiments of the
invention, allows simultaneous access to more than one Viewer. A
Viewer will be able to see and interact with other Viewers of the
Content who, by also selecting associated Code, can also enter into
the Virtual environment with the Viewer. Each Viewer in a common
virtual environment can be represented visually by either a live or
static image, avatar, or some other graphic or pictorial
identification that others in the virtual environment can see.
Alternatively, Viewers in a common virtual environment can be
invisible to each other, and/or can permit or prevent other Viewers
from interacting with them.
[0183] Once a Viewer activates a virtual environment, as at 1302 in
FIG. 2, numerous options may be available. At 1304, the Viewer can
view active and/or static content in the virtual environment, and
at 1306, select Objects inserted/overlaid within the virtual
environment. For example, a Viewer viewing Content may select an
Object which takes the Viewer to a McDonald's branded social
networking room. The room could contain McDonald's branding
throughout, including further selectable Objects linked to
McDonalds related brand and/or product information. In another
example, a Viewer could select an Object branded with a clothing
brand (e.g., Versace, Gap), which would open a virtual environment.
The Viewer could then take a virtual walk through a store, and even
try on clothing using a virtual mannequin having/representing the
Viewer's physical dimensions (e.g., height, weight) and/or the
Viewer's face/head. The Viewer could interact with other Viewers
also in the virtual environment, as at 1308, getting
recommendations for links to other clothing websites, talking with
company representatives and/or sales people, meeting new friends,
and carrying on other social networking activities. Additionally,
selecting or otherwise interacting with a branding Object in a
virtual environment can link the Viewer with others (e.g., whether
also inside the virtual environment, outside it, or both) based on
matching and/or similar metadata descriptors associated with the
Object.
[0184] If, for example, a Viewer selects and enters a virtual
environment for a department store, the Viewer can select Objects
inserted/overlaid within that virtual environment which take the
viewer into other virtual environments. For example, the Viewer may
want to wander back and forth between the department store virtual
environment and virtual environments of various merchandise
companies, by selecting Objects representing the merchandiser's
brand or products. The Viewer can even invite other Viewers in the
first virtual environment to come with them into the other virtual
environments, as at 1314. In this instance, the invited Viewer,
accepting the invitation, can cede control, allowing the inviting
Viewer to take both viewers into the second virtual environment
simultaneously.
[0185] A virtual environment can include a plurality of virtual
rooms (which can also be scenes, environments or other depictions
of an n-dimensional environment wherein `n` is greater than or
equal to 2, and a Viewer can `move` about within the virtual
environment, at 1312, such as from one room to another. This may
involve selecting Objects representing `doors` to other rooms, or a
Viewer may be able to select and drag or otherwise move a
representation of themselves (e.g., an avatar) in a virtual
environment through a virtual environment representation of a
doorway, or some other method. The movement of the Viewer may be
visible to other Viewers in the virtual environment. Likewise, the
Viewer may be able to see other Viewers, or viewable
representations thereof, moving about within the virtual
environment, much as if all the Viewers were in a real world
environment. Users can move within the virtual environment and move
to and within other virtual environments in an expansive virtual
world.
[0186] Each virtual room can contain movie screens, areas for
displaying photos, videos, and/or text content, and/or
inserted/overlaid Objects that link to Other types of Content. The
Viewer could select and play a video on one screen, while viewing
photos on another area of the virtual room, and simultaneously
selecting playing uploaded music on a virtual audio sound system
embedded into the virtual environment. The Viewer could invite
other Viewers in the virtual room to enjoy the sights and sounds,
and can converse with them via email, text messaging, voice and/or
video chat, VoIP, or any of a number of other communications
methods. A Viewer, while in a virtual environment, can also contact
friends or associates who are not simultaneously in the same
virtual environment, and invite them in to share a rich virtual
environment experience, as at 1310. For example, in addition to the
communications methods listed above, the Viewer might select and
drag a listing for a friend out of a `buddy list` and into the
virtual environment. As a result, a message may be sent to their
friend inviting them into and providing information on how to
access the virtual environment.
[0187] The effect of a virtual environment, as a shared social and
entertainment experience, is that a Promoter can create a
relatively `captive` environment, immersing Viewers in a fully
branded environment replete with the Promoter's identity and
products. The longer a Viewer stays inside a virtual environment,
the longer he is exposed to brand names or branded objects, and the
more completely and effectively a Promoter can convey information
to the Viewer. Therefore, in an embodiment, a virtual environment
can present a collection of commercial transaction access points
and/or commercial exposures, such as a virtual trade show, virtual
mall, virtual department store, virtual entertainment complex,
virtual commercial directory, or any combination thereof. In one
example, in a real estate context, a real estate agent could take a
client on a virtual tour around the exterior and/or interior of
multiple homes, and can refine presented virtual environment based
upon the client's desired features (e.g., number of bedrooms,
etc.). Selecting different doors in a virtual environment can take
the client to different properties, to different sales agents, to
different geographical markets, etc.
[0188] Similarly to how Viewers can be invited into a virtual
social networking environment, as already described, Data Packets
associated with Content can serve the same or a similar purpose.
Thus, a Viewer selecting a Data Packet may be invited into, or
perhaps taken directly to, an n-dimensional (e.g. 2, 2-1/2D, 3D,
etc.) environment including avatars of other already, present
members/participants. Upon entering, there may be a welcome message
and instructions on how to participate inside that environment.
These instructions may include information on how to assume an
avatar form, how to chat with other participants, how to move about
within the environment, and other activities. Likewise, entry of
the Viewer into the environment could activate a signal to other
participants who may want to initiate interaction with the
Viewer.
[0189] As shown at 1316, once the view activates a Virtual
Environment, the Viewer can be concurrently linked with other
Viewers in a live social network, wherein the other Viewers are
concurrently engaged in the same and/or similar Virtual
Environment, context, or Content.
13) Generating and Distributing Revenue Gained Through
Insertion/Overlay of Content
[0190] A system as described in an embodiment herein therefore also
includes a revenue collection mechanism. Generally speaking, the
revenue collection mechanism identities instances of specified
payment-obligation-incurring actions which, when taken by certain
entities, for the basis for a payment obligation. Several examples
of `specified actions` are described below. A revenue collection
mechanism, upon identifying an incidence of a specified action,
creates a record indicting one or more of a payment obligation, an
entity obligated to provide payment, and one or more entities
entitled to receive all or a portion of the payment. Such record
can be stored at a memory (data storage) means of a central server
or otherwise.
[0191] There are numerous ways by which a Service can generate
revenue through the numerous embodiments described herein. The
Service can charge Promoters to place their Objects at the
Service's Markers. Charges can vary based on the number of Objects
inserted/overlaid, or the duration of time over which a Promoter
has access to Markers for inserting Objects. The Service can
receive payments from a Promoter based on the amount of sales
and/or profit the Promoter generates through Viewers selecting
inserted/overlaid Objects, or the total number of `hits` a
Promoter's Objects receive, regardless whether sales result from
those `hits`. Promoters could be charged for access to different
geographic areas. Charges could also increase for placing Objects
at Markers in highly popular Content, or Content accessible through
particular Hosts. These are only a few examples, and should not be
taken as limiting the possible revenue generating embodiments in
any sense.
[0192] With regard to distribution of revenues or payments of other
types, there are also many options conceived with regard to
embodiments of the invention. For example, Viewers could be paid to
recommend Objects to other Viewers, for example by using a tool
and/or capability provided by the Service. A Viewer, before,
during, or after selecting an Object, or while viewing Content,
could select an icon or other command, and send a message to
another Viewer recommending the Content and/or Object. The message
would have information associated and/or embedded within it which
would inform and/or provide the receiving Viewer with information
guiding them to the recommended Content and/or Object. The payment
may be based solely on the recommendation, and/or may include some
payment for any sales that result from the recommendation. Viewers
may also receive payment or some other value for identifying and
flagging problems with Content and/or Objects inserted/overlaid in
Content.
[0193] Users, Promoters, or others could receive payment for any
revenue and/or profit resulting from Objects inserted/overlaid at
Markers the User associated with Content. This serves as an
incentive for Users to mark Content, and could form the basis of a
new business model. Additionally, Users, Promoters or others could
receive revenue based on the amount of time Viewers spend in
virtual environments/worlds (VE) triggered by selection of an
inserted/overlaid Marker, Object, Data packet, Icon, or other
similar code, or selection of inserted/overlaid Markers, Objects,
Data packets, Icons, or similar code within a VE initiated by a
Viewer action relative to marked Content.
[0194] Hosts may be compensated for referring Users to the Service,
and for providing the Service with functional access to marked
Content located on their server(s) and/or websites. Functional
access may include, as described above, the ability to edit Content
or Markers in Content, for example when offensive material is
detected in Content through flagging. Likewise; the Service may
need to be able to remove the Content entirely from the Host site
and/or return it to affect corrective actions related to
Content.
[0195] Objects in content or in a virtual environment could also be
used to provide a Viewer with coupons for products or services. For
example, the Viewer could select and `open` a virtual refrigerator
or cabinet and be presented with one or more Objects (e.g., food
items, household items, entertainment events, etc.). The Objects
may include an indication that a special offer (e.g., coupon,
rebate, etc.) related to an aspect (e.g., appearance, etc.) of the
Object is available to the Viewer. For example, the Viewer may see
an object appealing as a bottle of ketchup, with visual
highlighting distinguishing it from other similarly placed Objects.
By selecting the ketchup bottle object, the viewer can obtain a
coupon usable for a commercial transaction (e.g., a purchase,
rental, lease, etc,) related to the item. The commercial
transaction utilizing the coupon could be a virtual transaction
(e.g., in a virtual world such as Sim City), an on-line actual
transaction (e.g., at Amazon.com), a real-world physical
transaction (e.g., at a grocery store), or any other commercial
transaction. Revenue could be generated by obtaining payment from
Promoters for, placement of objects providing access to coupons,
etc., such as by auctioning object placement to the highest
bidder.
[0196] In general, embodiments of the invention provide the
capability to, and indeed anticipate, a broad range of new business
and revenue producing models not limited to those examples
specifically listed herein.
14) System for Creating, Distributing, Hosting, and/or Viewing
Marked Content
[0197] With reference to FIG. 15, a system is described herein by
which viewable content can be marked, distributed, hosted, and/or
viewed, and objects can be inserted and/or overlaid relative to
marked content. Embodiments of a system need not include all
features or elements depicted according to FIG. 15, and can include
other features or elements as would be understood to those having
ordinary skill in the art.
[0198] An embodiment of a system can include between one and
n-servers, where `n` can represent either a fixed or variable
number of servers in a system. A Service server 1502 can retain
Marker-relevant data, Content-relevant data, and User-relevant
data, as well as other data useful to facilitate placement and use
of Content Markers according to embodiments of the invention. A
User server 1506 may be present for posting Content for
distribution, such as when a User is also a Content Host, although
it is not limited to only such situations. A Host server 1508 may
be present in embodiments to provide hosting for marked Content. An
example of a host server would be a server maintained by a website
provider (e.g., YouTube, Google Images, Kodak Photo Gallery, a
government agency, an educational resource, or others).
[0199] An embodiment of a system may include a Promoter server 1510
where Objects can be retained, or from which Objects may be
provided to the Service for inserting and/or overlaying relative to
marked Content. A third party server 1512 may be present, and may
provide data retention, transfer, processing or other functions or
services on behalf of a Host, Promoter, Service, User, or
Viewer.
[0200] Any and/or all servers in a system according to embodiments
will generally, but not necessarily, be connected in some form to
the internet 1500 (or another network). Connection to the internet
1500 may be provided through a third party internet service
provider (ISP), or through a proprietary internet service provided
and/or controlled at least in part by a Host, Promoter, Service,
User, and/or Viewer. Connections may be wired or wireless, and may
utilize any of the numerous wireless technologies (e.g., 802.11a,
802.11g) and/or wired technologies (e.g., high speed electrically
conductive cable, telephone modem, fiber optic cable) currently
available and/or known to those having skill in the art. Various
equipment and/or devices such as. routers, repeaters, modems,
relays, switch boxes, transmitters, network card devices, and other
devices may also be utilized to facilitate and/or enable data
transmission between servers (and/or devices) and the internet, and
with other servers (and/or devices) through the internet. Any such
equipment and/or devices, either individually or collectively, can
be considered a data transmitting means in an embodiment.
[0201] In addition to servers, a system according to various
embodiments also includes devices for creating, marking, storing,
viewing, editing, and/or otherwise transmitting, receiving, and/or
utilizing marked Content, although the use of devices is not so
limited. A User device 1504 and/or an n-User device 1518 provides
numerous functions as described above with regard to creating
and/or marking Content, and uploading Content, marked or unmarked,
to a Service and/or a Host. A User device 1504 and/or an n-User
device 1518 can also be used for viewing marked or unmarked
Content, editing Content, selecting Objects, and processing
Object-linked data, among numerous other uses and activities.
[0202] A Viewer device 1514 and/or an n-User device 1516 can
likewise be used for viewing marked or unmarked Content, editing
Content, selecting Objects, storing selections, and processing
Object-linked data, among other uses and activities. A Viewer
device 1514 and/or an n-User device 1516 can also provide for
communicating with other Viewers and/or n-Viewers, via email, text
messaging, instant messaging, voice messaging, VoIP, or other
communications technologies and/or methods currently in use or
known to those having ordinary skill in the art.
[0203] Viewer devices 1514 and/or User devices 1516 may transfer
data with and/or via the interne by any of the devices,
technologies and/or methods listed above regarding servers, as well
as by any other technologies and/or methods currently in use or
known to those having ordinary skill in the art. However, viewer
devices 1514 and/or User devices 1516 may also operate temporarily
or for extended periods of time without having an active connection
with the internet, either wired or wireless. Thereafter, such
devices can then be connected with the internet, and data can be
transferred with and/or via the internet.
[0204] A User and/or a Viewer device will typically include some
type of software generated `desktop` comprising all or some portion
of the viewable display of the device. The desktop may be
functionally enabled by software resident on the device (e.g.,
Microsoft Windows desktop, Mac OSX desktop, or others), or on a
peripheral connected device. Alternatively, it may be a web desktop
(a.k.a. `webtop` or `virtual desktop`) enabled at least in part by
a remotely located software source acting over the internet and
interacting with browser software (e.g., Microsoft Internet
Explorer, Safari, FireFox, Netscape Navigator, or others) on a
device.
[0205] It should be clear, therefore, that any device and/or server
listed or implied to exist in the embodiments described herein may
be connected with any other device and/or server listed or implied
to exist herein via permanent, lasting, temporary, and/or
occasional connection with and/or through the internet. Further,
Service-related activities can be enabled and can transact via an
entirely web-based interaction. For example, all software, files,
programs, and/or capabilities of a Service or otherwise useful to
practice the invention can be accessed and employed by a User,
Promoter, Viewer, n-User, or n-Viewer via the internet or another
network. This arrangement enables practice of an embodiment of the
invented methods from any internet-linked or linkable device, no
matter where located. For example, a User need not use the same
device or access a Service from the same location at each instance,
but can remain mobile. Also, an embodiment of the invention can be
practiced on, by, or through any internet-linked or linkable
device, even if the device has not been prepared in any particular
way for such practice. For all practical purposes, even a device
which has no capability for storing files, software instructions,
Content, etc., can practice an embodiment of the invention. This is
because any and/or all instructions, files, Content, etc. can be
accessed and executed via the internet, and a beneficial result can
then be transmitted to a Viewer or other for Viewing and/or other
purpose at the device.
[0206] User and/or n-User devices (1504 and 1518, respectively, and
Viewer and n-Viewer devices (1514 and 1516, respectively) may be
any electronic device capable of and/or aiding in viewing,
processing, storing, editing, manipulating (e.g., altering frame
rate, image contract, tone quality), transferring, or otherwise
using marked and/or unmarked Content, Objects, and/or Object-linked
information. Examples include, but are not limit to, personal
computers (e.g., desktop, mobile, palmtop), personal data
assistants (PDA), electronic game systems (e.g., Playstation III,
X-box 360, Nintendo Wii), mobile telephones, televisions, digital
video recorders (DVR), satellite enabled devices (e.g., navigation,
radio, communication) and other devices or instruments. This
includes such devices and/or instruments whether they are generally
considered consumer, commercial, enterprise, scientific or
industrial in nature.
[0207] Devices and/or servers according to embodiments of a system
described herein also generally include peripheral input and/or
output devices. Examples of such I/O devices may include a
keyboard, mouse, display (`monitor`), wireless card, antenna,
printer, facsimile, scanner, enabling device (such as a may be
visually, physically, and/or hearing impaired), port replicator,
docking station (e.g., for media players including iPod, for mobile
phones, for mobile personal computer), although the embodiments are
not so limited.
[0208] Likewise, devices and/or systems described herein may be
capable of operation utilizing various operating systems, including
but not limited to those provided by or based upon Microsoft,
Apple, Novell, Linux, Unix, or other commercial, open, and/or
proprietary technologies, and whether 32-bit, 64-bit, or some other
architecture currently available or know to those having ordinary
skill in the art.
[0209] As a relatively centralized data-handling entity, a Service
can send, receive, accommodate, interpret, store, compile, connect,
recognize, manipulate, alter, process, pass-through and/or ignore
numerous types and quantities of information to and/or from
numerous types and quantities of information sources and/or targets
(e.g. requestors or designated recipients). Other data-handling
activities are also possible. A Service can recognize and record
transactions, and provide a record for later retrieval or other
action. A Service can recognize Marker, Object, and data packet
related activity whenever a device or entity undertakes such
activity (e.g., selection, execution, placement, association, or
others) and the device or entity is concurrently, or subsequently
becomes, electronically connected with the internet. Likewise, a
Service can retain a record of every Marker, Object, and/or Data
Packet associated with Content, as well as the information (e.g.,
textual, graphic, audio, or other) comprising an Object or Data
Packet, and various other relevant information (e.g. temporal
information, User information, or other information) related to the
same.
[0210] Therefore as shown in FIG. 16, Viewers in live social
networks and/or n-dimensional virtual environments can communicate
with each other, share advice, trade content files and partake in
other interactive activities involving `information`, as at 1602,
and a service can record and store some or all of the information,
as at 1604. At 1606, Viewers can access this stored (historical)
information at the same time or at a later time when selecting
Objects, Markers, or Content, such as when entering into a specific
social network and/or a specific virtual environment within which
and/or from which such information originated. As shown at 1608 and
1610, respectively, the accessed information can be use by Viewers
to create live social networks and/or Virtual environments, and a
Service can use the information for commercial purposes. Therefore,
storage and availability of information arising within social
networks and/or n-dimensional virtual environments for concurrent
and/or later use is contemplated within an embodiment of the
invention.
[0211] Therefore, as described herein, the embodiments of a system
for creating, distributing, hosting, and/or viewing marked Content,
among other activities and/or operations described herein, may be
quite broad and inclusive.
[0212] If will be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the method or detail of construction, fabrication,
material, application or use described and illustrated herein.
Indeed, any suitable variation of fabrication, use, or application
is contemplated as an alternative embodiment, and thus is within
the spirit and scope, of the invention. This can include altering
the sequence of operations depicted in the figures according to
various embodiments, as well as the sequence of various figures
should not be interpreted as limiting the scope, character,
operability or utility of alternative embodiments of the
invention.
[0213] From the foregoing, those of skill in the art will
appreciate that several advantages of the present invention include
the following:
[0214] Embodiments of the present invention provide Content
creators (Users), Hosts, and Promoters with new and highly adaptive
opportunities to generate revenue streams. Embodiments of the
invention have the realistic potential to enable entirely new and
innovative business models.
[0215] Embodiments of the present invention prevents Content from
quickly becoming irrelevant and uninteresting, and allows Promoters
to target information to those Viewers most likely to have an
interest in their information.
[0216] Embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to
prevent Promoters' names, brands, products, and information from
being associated with objectionable material, thereby providing the
ability to protect their image while simultaneously increasing
their marketing reach and effectiveness.
[0217] Embodiments of the present invention provide Content Viewers
with ready access to highly relevant, interesting, fresh, and
helpful information, and keep Content interesting. In essence,
Content becomes a dynamic information source and a rich experience,
including even an access point to interactive virtual environments
populated by others sharing similar interests.
[0218] Embodiments of the present invention cumulatively possess
the potential to save all parties involved, Promoters, Users,
Viewers, Hosts, and others enormous amounts of at least two
precious resources; time and money. This is accomplished by
enhancing of relevance of Content, which can be tailored by
Promoters, Users, Viewers, and perhaps even Hosts, to connect those
who want with those who have, quickly and efficiently.
[0219] Embodiments of the present invention also provide a system
and a method for enabling the above mentioned advantages, including
a Service that provides the enabling tools and services. Thus, the
Service provides the ability to reshape the way people interact
with each other, with providers of mod, services, and information,
and with the Content that so strongly influences social
culture.
[0220] The advantages listed here do not constitute an exclusive
list, nor should they be interpreted, either individually or
collectively, as a statement of the complete intents and/or
purposes of the present invention.
[0221] It is further intended that any other embodiments of the
present invention that result from any changes in application or
method of use or operation, method of manufacture, shape, size, or
material which are not specified within the detailed written
description or illustrations contained herein yet are considered
apparent or obvious to one skilled in the art are within the scope
of the present invention.
[0222] Finally, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the
invented method, system and apparatus described and illustrated
herein may be implemented in software, firmware or hardware, or any
suitable combination thereof. Preferably, the method system and
apparatus are implemented in a combination of the three, for
purposes of low cost and flexibility. Thus, those of skill in the
art will appreciate that the method, system and apparatus of the
invention may be implemented by a computer or microprocessor
process in which instructions are executed, the instructions being
stored for execution on a computer-readable medium and being
executed by any suitable instruction processor.
[0223] Accordingly, while the present invention has been shown and
described with reference to the foregoing embodiments of the
invented apparatus, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art
that other changes in form and detail may be made therein without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in
the appended claims.
* * * * *