Abstract:
There is presented a system for providing a digital multimedia presentation. The system includes a processor and a memory. The system further includes a presentation content database stored in the memory, the presentation content database configured to store a plurality of episodes of a media series each of the plurality of episodes including and a credit portion. The system also includes a media player for execution by the processor and configured to play a selected episode of the plurality of episodes of the media series, and a review and redirection application for execution by the processor and configured to determine a next episode of the selected episode in the media series, where the processor executes the review and redirection pane during or after the credit portion of the selected episode to present a consumer with the next episode of the selected episode in the media series.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/588,568, filed Jan. 2, 2015, which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/229,467, filed Aug. 22, 2008, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/124,193, filed on Apr. 14, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the management of media content. More particularly, the present invention relates to computer mediated selection of digital media content. 
       2. Background Art 
       [0003]    Traditionally, the availability of publicly accessible media content, such as broadcast television (TV) content, has been managed by the entities, such as TV networks, providing the content. As a result, consumers had a fairly limited menu of content items from which to identify desirable content. In that traditional media environment, consumers identified and located desirable media content through a program listing, which in the early days of broadcast TV was typically a paper listing, and more recently began to be provided as an electronic listing, such as an Electronic Program Guide for example. While this conventional approach to enabling identification of desirable media content may have been helpful to consumers when their choices were relatively limited, it has grown progressively more inefficient, and less effective, as available media content has proliferated. 
         [0004]    The emergence of the Internet, for example, as a computer network resource enabling consumers to obtain media content online, has only made the deficiencies of the traditional approach more acute. Paradoxically, the ready availability of so much content so easily obtained, may have served as much to hinder as to enhance accessibility of that content to consumers, and may make it actually less likely that the consumer will successfully identify and locate content of genuine interest to them. For the consumer of today, identifying and locating content of real interest can be a time consuming and frustrating experience despite its abundant availability. 
         [0005]    For example, consider the case of a consumer seeking to access a digital multimedia presentation corresponding to desirable TV programming, online. One conventional approach to assisting a consumer to locate desirable content borrows from the broadcast TV model by merely providing a listing of available content. That approach is particularly inefficient due to the vast amount of content from which the consumer can typically now choose. 
         [0006]    Another conventional approach utilizes standard computer based information management tools to assist the consumer in identifying the desired presentation from a library of available content items. According to that approach, the consumer might be required to sort through the available content items, categorized according to genre, subject matter, or other criteria, to locate a particular desired presentation. This latter approach provides the consumer with some ability to discriminate among available content items according to broad themes, but provides a relatively rudimentary means for discovering specific content of genuine interest. 
         [0007]    The greater variety of media content now available to consumers also has consequences for advertisers seeking to target a viewing audience. In the traditional broadcast TV environment, for example, advertisers could simply purchase advertising time and be reasonably assured that consumers, i.e. TV viewers, were being exposed to the overt marketing content delivered during those intervals. In the online media consumption environment of today, however, advertisers must more actively attract consumers, and sometimes do so by embedding marketing content into an advertising product that also comprises a substantial entertainment component, such as an interactive puzzle or game. 
         [0008]    This relatively recent approach to providing marketing content may provide consumers with a heterogeneous advertising product comprising a suite of content including overt marketing materials, interactive entertainment content, and content elements blending those two concepts. A subset of that content may be provided to a consumer in a predetermined advertising spot, resembling a conventional commercial, while the remainder of the content may simply be available for the consumer to engage at will. A significant challenge for advertisers utilizing this approach may be to regain the attention and interest of the consumer after the predetermined ad spot has played, so that the consumer will voluntarily engage the remaining advertising content, and thus more fully absorb the embedded marketing message. 
         [0009]    As has been explained, conventional approaches to providing media content no longer effectively assist consumers in identifying desirable content within the ever growing media libraries from which that content can now be selected. Furthermore, those conventional approaches no longer adequately assure advertisers that marketing content is being delivered to targeted consumers. Accordingly, there is a need to overcome the drawbacks and deficiencies in the art by providing a solution enabling consumers to readily identify and navigate to desirable media content. The solution should additionally provide a means for advertisers to deliver marketing content to consumers in a manner that engages the consumer as a participant in an interactive to process. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    There are provided systems and methods for enabling review of a digital multimedia presentation and redirection therefrom, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a system enabling review of a digital multimedia presentation and redirection therefrom, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a more detailed embodiment of a system enabling review of a digital multimedia presentation and redirection therefrom, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart presenting a method enabling review of a digital multimedia presentation and redirection therefrom, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a visual frame displaying an exemplary review and redirection pane associated with a digital multimedia presentation corresponding to an episode of the ABC TV program Grey&#39;s Anatomy, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The present application is directed to a system and method enabling review of a digital multimedia presentation and redirection therefrom. The following description contains specific information pertaining to the implementation of the present invention. One skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention may be implemented in a manner different from that specifically discussed in the present application. Moreover, some of the specific details of the invention are not discussed in order not to obscure the invention. The specific details not described in the present application are within the knowledge of a person of ordinary skill in the art. The drawings in the present application and their accompanying detailed description are directed to merely exemplary embodiments of the invention. To maintain brevity, other embodiments of the invention, which use the principles of the present invention, are not specifically described in the present application and are not specifically illustrated by the present drawings. It should be borne in mind that, unless noted otherwise, like or corresponding elements among the figures may be indicated by like or corresponding reference numerals. 
         [0017]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 1  is a block diagram of system  100  enabling review of a digital multimedia presentation and redirection therefrom, according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , system  100  comprises multimedia presentation server  110  including presentation content database  112 , media player  120 , and review and redirection application  140 . Also included in  FIG. 1  are packet network  118 , client computer  150 , and consumer  158 . It is noted that although client computer  150  is represented as a personal computer (PC) in  FIG. 1 , in other embodiments client computer  150  may comprise another type of mobile or stationary personal communication device or system, such as a tablet computer, mobile telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), gaming console, digital media player, or home entertainment system, for example. 
         [0018]    According to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , consumer  158  may utilize media player  120  and/or review and redirection application  140  to access content available on presentation content database  112 . In one embodiment review and redirection application  140  may be configured to provide a user interface enabling consumer  158  to review the contents of a digital multimedia presentation, interact with advertising content associated to with the presentation, or be redirected away from the presentation to recommended alternative content determined on the basis, for example, of consumption history, consumer preference, or predetermined recommendation criteria. Review and redirection application  140  may be implemented in combination with media player  120 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , or may function independently of media player  120  as a stand alone application for enabling review of and redirection from digital multimedia content items stored on presentation content database  112 . 
         [0019]    Review and redirection application  140  may be utilized by consumer  158 , either alone or in combination with media player  120 , to experience supplemental features associated with digital multimedia content items available on presentation content database  112 . Review and redirection application  140  may be used to view a synopsis or recap of a particular item of digital multimedia content, presented on a review and redirection pane integrated with a contextual background appropriate to the content being reviewed, for example. 
         [0020]    In addition review and redirection application  140  may provide consumer  158  with one or more recommendations and links to alternative content. In one embodiment, recommendations may be editorially predetermined and associated with the item of digital multimedia content being reviewed by consumer  158 . In another embodiment, review and redirection application  140  may comprise a recommendation engine (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) configured to recommend alternative digital multimedia content items based on past viewing habits of the consumer, ratings provided by the consumer, or other selection criteria generated interactively or otherwise. 
         [0021]    Furthermore, in some embodiments consumer  158  can utilize review and redirection application  140  to experience and/or interact with advertising content associated with the digital multimedia presentation being reviewed. In that embodiment, a review and redirection pane may also provide a list of advertising content associated with the digital multimedia presentation, and provide links to the items of advertising content, enabling the consumer to enjoy the advertising content without viewing or reviewing the presentation with which the advertising content is associated. In that way, the consumer may enjoy desirable games, puzzles, and other entertainments included in advertising content normally provided in advertising interludes during presentation of the digital multimedia presentation, independently of that presentation. 
         [0022]    For example, in one embodiment a consumer viewing the review and redirection pane may not have previously viewed the digital multimedia presentation, but may nevertheless choose to consume and/or interact with advertising content associated with the presentation. Alternatively, the consumer may have recently viewed the digital multimedia presentation and seen brief advertising spots provided during the presentation. In that embodiment, the consumer may have detected desirable puzzles, games, and other interactive items contained in the advertising content, but not have wished to interrupt play of the digital media presentation to enjoy the items at that time. Under those circumstances, enabling the consumer to return to the advertising content after completion of the digital multimedia presentation permits the user to enjoy both the main presentation and the desirable advertising content to their fullest measure. 
         [0023]    Thus, embodiments in which a consumer may selectively return to advertising content associated with a digital multimedia presentation provides benefits to consumers and advertisers alike. Consumers are advantageously empowered with a degree of selective control over the advertising content to which are exposed. At the same time those embodiments advantageously provide advertisers with the opportunity to attract consumers into a voluntary interaction with their advertising materials. As a result, consumers may be less likely to actively avoid advertising content, and more likely to be receptive to the advertising content to which they choose to interact. 
         [0024]    In embodiments in which review and redirection application  140  is utilized in combination with media player  120 , review and redirection application  140  may be configured to launch and display a review and redirection pane prior to completion of play of the digital multimedia presentation by media player  120 , for example. In that way, consumer  158  may be notified of impending termination of the digital multimedia presentation, be given the opportunity to replay the presentation, and be provided recommended alternative content to enjoy, as well as have the opportunity to revisit advertising content provided during the presentation. 
         [0025]    Consumer  158 , may be an exemplary representative of a community of consumers, any of whom may seek to access content stored on presentation content database  112 . Thus, in one embodiment, the digital multimedia content collected on presentation content database  112  may be hosted for the enjoyment and evaluation of such a community of consumers. In that embodiment, members of the community may view items of digital multimedia content collected on presentation content database  112 , and utilize review and redirection application  140  to indicate their level of enjoyment by providing a rating feedback and/or commentary. The feedback from individual consumers may then be collected and made available to other members of the community of consumers. 
         [0026]    Similarly, consumer  158  may access digital multimedia content collected on presentation content database  112 , and provide a rating feedback and/or commentary. In one embodiment, review and redirection application  140  may be further configured to provide consumer  158  with an opportunity to interact with commentary about the presentation provided by the community of consumer, or communicate with members of that community. In another embodiment, consumer  158  can utilize media player  120  and/or review and redirection application  140  to embed a portion of a viewed digital media presentation on a web page selected by the consumer. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , review and redirection application  140  may be accessed through packet network  118 . In that instance, review and redirection application  140  may comprise a web application, accessible over a packet network such as the Internet, configured to execute as a server based application on multimedia presentation server  110 , for example. Alternatively, review and redirection application  140  may reside on a server supporting a local area network (LAN), or be included in another type of limited distribution network. In another embodiment, review and redirection application  140  may be stored on a portable computer-readable storage medium such as a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). 
         [0028]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2  shows a more detailed embodiment of system  200  enabling review of a digital multimedia presentation and redirection therefrom, according to one embodiment of the present invention. System  200  in  FIG. 2  includes client computer  250 , receiving a download via communication link  218  from multimedia presentation server  210 . Multimedia presentation server  210  is shown to comprise presentation content database  212  including contextual backgrounds  214 , media player  220   a , and review and redirection application  240   a  including recommendation engine  242   a . Presentation content database  212 , media player  220   a , and review and redirection application  240   a , in  FIG. 2 , correspond respectively to presentation content database  112 , media player  120 , and review and redirection application  140 , in  FIG. 1 . Moreover, client computer  250 , in  FIG. 2 , corresponds to client computer  150 , in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , client computer  250  comprises controller  252 , web browser  254 , and client memory  256 . Also shown in  FIG. 2  are media player  220   b  and review and redirection application  240   b  including recommendation engine  242   b.    
         [0029]    According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , media player  220   b  and review and redirection application  240   b  are located in client memory  256 , having been received from multimedia presentation server  210  via communication link  218 . In the present embodiment, communication link  218  represents download of media player  220   a  and review and redirection application  240   a , over a packet network, for example. In another embodiment, communication link  218  may represent transfer of media player  220   a  and/or review and redirection application  240   a  from a CD-ROM or other computer-readable storage medium. Once transferred, media player  220   b  and review and redirection application  240   b  may be stored in client memory  256  and executed locally on client computer  250 , where review and redirection application  240   b  may be executed as a desktop application, for example. It is noted that communication link  218  is shown as a two-way communication, to represent ongoing communication between client computer  250  and presentation content database  212  on multimedia presentation server  210 . 
         [0030]    Controller  252  may be the central processing unit for client computer  250 , for example, in which role controller  252  runs the client computer operating system, launches web browser  254 , and facilitates use of media player  220   b  and review and redirection application  240   b . Web browser  254 , under the control of controller  252 , may execute review and redirection application  240   b  to enable a consumer to review, and redirect from digital multimedia content available through multimedia presentation server  210 . 
         [0031]    The systems shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  will now be further described by additional reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  FIG. 3  shows an exemplary method enabling review, and redirection from a digital multimedia presentation. As a specific but non-limiting example implementing the method of  FIG. 3 , let us consider digital multimedia content corresponding to programming presented by a TV network, such as the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), for instance, and accessible online through the website ABC.com. 
         [0032]    In accord with that exemplary scenario,  FIG. 4  shows visual frame  400 , which includes a sample review and redirection pane supporting review and redirection with respect to a particular episode of the ABC TV program Grey&#39;s Anatomy, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Visual frame  400  may be displayed on either or both of client computers  150  and  250 , shown in respective  FIGS. 1 and 2 . It is noted that although for clarity of presentation, portions of the following description focus on one or the other of the systems shown by  FIGS. 1 and 2 , both systems are capable of enabling review of and redirection form a digital multimedia presentation in the manner described. 
         [0033]    Returning to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  shows flowchart  300  describing the steps, according to one embodiment of the present invention, of a method enabling review of a digital multimedia presentation and redirection therefrom. Certain details and features have been left out of flowchart  300  that are apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, a step may comprise one or more substeps or may involve specialized equipment or materials, for example, as known in the art. While steps  310  through  350  indicated in flowchart  300  are sufficient to describe one embodiment of the present method, other embodiments may utilize steps different from those shown in flowchart  300 , or may include more, or fewer steps. 
         [0034]    Referring to step  310  of flowchart  300  and  FIG. 2 , step  310  comprises launching review and redirection application  240   a  or  240   b . As previously discussed, in some embodiments, review and redirection application  240   a  or  240   b  may be a stand alone application, in which circumstance step  310  may correspond to auto-launch of the respective review and redirection application through a self execution process. In those embodiments, launch of review and redirection application  240   a  or  240   b  may occur in response to a command received from the computing environment in which the review and redirection application resides, such as respective multimedia presentation server  210  or client computer  250 , for example. 
         [0035]    Launching the review and redirection application in step  310  allows review and redirection application  240   a  or  240   b  to interact with respective media player  220   a  or  220   b , and/or access digital multimedia presentation content stored on presentation content database  212 . In one embodiment for example, launch of the review and redirection application may occur independently of presentation of a particular digital multimedia content item by media player  220   a  or  220   b . In other embodiments, however, launch of the review and redirection application may be coordinated with play of a digital multimedia presentation by media player  220   a  or  220   b . For instance, in one embodiment, launching the review and redirection application may occur prior to completion of play of the digital multimedia presentation session, perhaps during the presentation of credits near the end of the presentation session. 
         [0036]    The method of flowchart  300  continues with step  320 , which comprises identifying the digital multimedia presentation. Step  320  may be performed by review and redirection application  240   a  or  240   b  through communication with respective media player  220   a  or  220   b , during presentation of a digital multimedia content item by media player  220   a  or  220   b , for example. In an embodiment in which review and redirection application  240   a  or  240   b  functions independently of media player  220   a  or  220   b , identifying the digital multimedia presentation serving as the subject of review and redirection may occur in response to inputs received from the consumer via client computer  250 . 
         [0037]    Continuing with step  330  of flowchart  300 , step  330  comprises determining one or more recommended alternative items of digital multimedia content. Referring to  FIG. 1 , step  330  encourages consumer  158  to enjoy related content and provides guidance in identifying and redirecting to that content. In one embodiment, determining the recommended alternative items of digital multimedia content may reduce to identifying predetermined alternative content on the basis of the digital multimedia presentation identified in step  320 . In other embodiments, such as in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , determination of alternative content may be a dynamic operation performed by recommendation engine  242   a  or  242   b , on the basis of, for example, consumption history of the consumer, consumer provided inputs, or other discrimination criteria. 
         [0038]    Step  340  of flowchart  300  comprises integrating a review and redirection pane with a contextual background corresponding to the digital multimedia presentation. Integration of a review and redirection pane produced by review and redirection application  240   a  or  240   b  with an appropriate contextual background  214  drawn from presentation content database  212 , can be performed by the review and redirection application. In embodiments in which review and redirection is coordinated with a presentation session of digital multimedia content, integration may be performed interactively by review and redirection application  240   a  or  240   b , in cooperation with respective media player  220   a  or  220   b.    
         [0039]    Contextual backgrounds  214  may be presented to provide visual cues reinforcing a theme or motif of the digital multimedia presentation identified in step  320 . For example, a contextual background for the ABC TV program Lost, set on a periodically deserted island, may show an uninhabited tropical beachscape, corresponding to the geographical theme of the program, while the contextual background for the ABC TV program Grey&#39;s Anatomy may show a cityscape of Seattle, Wash., in which most of the events of the drama take place. In one embodiment, contextual backgrounds  214  may be dynamic, perhaps including one or more dynamic graphical asset such as a search plane for the program Lost, or a Life Flight helicopter for Grey&#39;s Anatomy, that might circle continuously in the background sky for example. Alternatively, contextual backgrounds  214  might be made dynamic by virtue of simulating the daily solar cycle, by displaying a daylight background sky during some portions of the day, and a dawn, sunset, or nightfall background at other appropriate times. In addition, in some embodiments, contextual backgrounds  214  may include interactive graphical assets such as consumer polls, games, puzzles, questions, or interactive advertising graphics, for example. 
         [0040]    Referring now to step  350  of flowchart  300 , step  350  comprises providing the review and redirection pane to enable the consumer to play the digital multimedia presentation, redirect to the one or more recommended alternative items of digital multimedia content, or interact with one or more items of advertising content associated with the digital multimedia presentation. A specific example of such a display is provided by  FIG. 4 , which shows a visual frame that includes an exemplary review and redirection pane supporting review and redirection relating to a particular episode of the ABC TV program Grey&#39;s Anatomy. 
         [0041]    Turning to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  shows visual frame  400 , which comprises review and redirection pane  432  supporting episode  434  of Grey&#39;s Anatomy, integrated with contextual background  424 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , review and redirection pane  432  includes replay control  436 , recommended alternative items of digital multimedia content  438   a ,  438   b , and  438   c , and advertising content  440  associated with episode  434 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , recommended alternative item  438   a  is “watch the next episode” of an episode of a TV series just played, recommended alternative item  438   b  is “watch this deleted scene” of an episode of a TV series, recommended alternative item  438   c  is “watch this week&#39;s episode” of another TV series. 
         [0042]    As may be seen from  FIG. 4 , in the present embodiment, review and redirection pane  432  is configured to enable the consumer to play the digital multimedia presentation, i.e., episode  434 , by using replay control  436 . In addition, review and redirection pane  432  is configured to enable the consumer to redirect to recommended alternative items of digital multimedia content  438   a ,  438   b , and  438   c , by selecting their representative visual images, for example. Review and redirection pane  432  is further configured to enable the consumer to interact with one or more of advertising content  440  associated with the digital multimedia presentation. It is noted that the consumer may utilize review and redirection pane  432  to interact directly with advertising content  440 , without playing or replaying episode  434 . 
         [0043]    As previously described in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , in embodiments like that shown in  FIG. 4 , in which a consumer may selectively return to advertising content associated with a digital multimedia presentation, significant benefits may accrue to consumers and advertisers alike. Consumers are advantageously empowered with a degree of selective control over the advertising content to which are exposed, while advertisers are provided with the opportunity to attract consumers into a voluntary interaction with their advertising materials. Consequently, consumers may be more receptive to the advertising content to which they are exposed. 
         [0044]    The embodiment shown by  FIG. 4  is merely exemplary, however, and in other embodiments review and redirection pane  432  may enable the consumer to provide feedback regarding episode  434 , such as rating the desirability of the episode, or providing commentary on the episode. In one embodiment, review and redirection pane  432  enables the consumer to embed all or part of episode  434  on a web page selected by the consumer, perhaps by providing a field for entry of a destination Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), such as a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) associated with the selected web page. In yet another embodiment, review and redirection pane  432  is configured to enable the consumer to interact with commentary about episode  434  provided by a community of consumers, by linking to and participating in a group chat, or viewing party, for example. 
         [0045]    Thus, the system and method enabling review of a digital multimedia presentation and redirection therefrom disclosed in the present application enhance and render the consumer experience of identifying and accessing desirable digital multimedia content both more enjoyable and more intuitive. Moreover, the disclosed system and method provide a means for advertisers to advantageously deliver marketing content to consumers in a manner that engages the consumer as a participant in an interactive process. 
         [0046]    From the above description of the invention it is manifest that various techniques can be used for implementing the concepts of the present invention without departing from its scope. Moreover, while the invention has been described with specific reference to certain embodiments, a person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. It should also be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is capable of many rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention.